It’s summertime. Coronavirus is waning and New York recently reached a 70% vaccination rate. People are celebrating. The outdoor dining scene in Brooklyn is hot, hot, hot. Nowhere is it hotter than the busy streets of Dekalb Ave and Fulton Ave in Fort Greene, Brooklyn! Last year I wrote a post about the 5 restaurants in Fort Greene worth crossing the bridge for. That post focused on the 5 best restaurants of Fort Green/ Clinton Hill – the ones we believe are worth going out of the way for.
In this post, I will cover some of the countess other neighborhood spots in Fort Greene that you might consider searching out if you are nearby. Maybe you spent an afternoon at Fort Greene Park? Or hit up the Citypoint shopping center (if you do, check out South African lifestyles company, Kimberly House). Or you are planning an evening at the newly reopened Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)? Alternatively, you are looking for a change in venue from your own neighborhood spots.
A longtime NYC resident, I know that every NYC neighborhood has their own favorites. But among all the places I have lived in the last 25 years, Fort Greene definitely ranks among the best for its hopping restaurant scene. You really can’t swing a cat around here without landing on some terrific eats and lively atmosphere.
The downside: post COVID has resulted in everyone wanting to eat out. Resy is a must for even the most casual spots in Fort Greene.
Where is Fort Greene?
Fort Greene is in the Northwestern part of Brooklyn, just South of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and West of Downtown Brooklyn. It is known for Fort Greene Park, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and its lively restaurant scene. The main drags are Fulton St., Dekalb Ave, and Myrtle Ave.
Best Restaurants on Dekalb Ave
Corner of Adelphi & Dekalb
Dekalb Ave is probably the most exciting block in Fort Greene for restaurants, so let’s start there. The 4 way corner of Adelphi and Dekalb is likely the liveliest corner in all of Brooklyn right now!
I struggled to decide if Evelina should go on my 5 Restaurants Worth Crossing the Bridge For list, or if it should just be on my list of great neighborhood spots. I decided on the latter, but Evelina is still pretty great and worth a trip to go out of your way. This charming trattoria did a stupendous job of keeping the joy in Fort Greene during Covid, with their well heated outdoor dining and inventive take away cocktails. Their street side dining is far superior in Fort Greene, and last week they even added a Gelato cart. (211 Dekalb Ave at Adelphi). Two doors down from Evelina is the magical backyard and mouth watering burgers at the latin inspired Colonia Verde. This restaurant is on my 5 Best Restaurants in Fort Greene list so details aren’t included here.
On the opposite corner of Dekalb and Adelphi lies two great neighborhood spots. Imani Caribbean Kitchen reliably pumps out good reggae music and mouthwatering jerk chicken. Their significant patio space is the place to be for Sunday brunch. Their sweet plantains are the best I’ve had. (271 Adelphi St.) Two doors down is Dino, your traditional Northern Italian neighborhood spot and a great place for lunch or dinner. I recently had the Farro Porridge there and felt transported to my summer in Spannocchia, Italy. (222 Dekalb Ave.)
Near Fort Greene Park
Further down Dekalb towards Fort Greene Park, is one of my very favorites in the neighborhood- Walters. Walters is the kind of place that feels like home. I can sit at a cozy table for hours enjoying the ambiance. The American pub food is uniquely good and my teens say they have the best french fries in Fort Greene. (166 Dekalb Ave.). Finally, any good neighborhood worth its salt has a reliable French bistro. With cozy sidewalk seating and simple French comfort food, Cafe Paulette offers just that. Walking by on a Friday evening I can almost imagine I’ve been transported to a sidewalk cafe in Paris. (1 South Elliott Place)
Best Restaurants on Fulton St.
Fulton Street is another lively block in Fort Greene and a definite must if you are looking for a place to eat.
Near Cuyler Park
It will be impossible to choose between the two deuling German spots on Fulton Street, so I am keeping both on this list. Even as a non beer drinker, I am a die hard fan of the cool vibe and relaxing atmosphere at both of these spots. Die Stammkneipe (DSK) sits right on the triangle where Fulton and Hanson Place meet, making this a great spot for casual get togethers. The overflow into the little adjacent park makes for a super fun Friday night. It’s also a great place to watch a game on their big screen TV. Plus, we sometimes go with the teens for Trivia Night. Pictured below during a snowstorm and in a snow globe. (710 Fulton St.)
Near Fowler Square
Black Forest is a few doors down on Fulton Street and deserves extra kudos for their Covid friendly set up. Your crew can taste test from their extensive beer selection at the beautiful and lively sidewalk chalet, or at a table right on Fowler Square. We greatly appreciated the cabins on Fowler Square during the winter months. (733 Fulton St.)
Other favorite spots on Fulton Street include Peaches Hot House, National and Las Santas. Peaches Hot House is one of 4 Southern style restaurants in B&C Restaurant Group. The one on Fowler Sq specializes in Nashville style Hot Chicken. Their prime location and outdoor cabins (pictured above) are a nice added benefit to the excellent food. (87 S. Elliott Place).
National doesn’t look like much from the outside, but their excellent Thai dishes and really affordable wine list make this one of my favorite go-to’s (723 Fulton St.).
Finally, an additional bright spot for us during Covid was the Mexican Gastro Bar, Las Santas. We ordered from this spot once a week during the lockdown. They always came through with a margarita and a box of masks especially when they were hard to find! Aside from the masks and margaritas, the sidewalk ambience is as divine as the authentic food. (572 Fulton St)
Other Casual spots in Fort Greene
There are a few additional Fort Greene gems that are not on the main strips of Dekalb or Fulton but are worth a mention. The super nice folks at Graziella serve up delicious wood burning pizzas and authentic Italian dishes with a smile. We love the neighborhood camaraderie, the outdoor dining and that they pay close attention to pleasing the gluten free crowd (232 Vanderbilt). And bonus, if you are heading to the park, grab a sandwich at their newest outpost on Vanderbilt, Brooklyn Hero Shop.
Tacombi has 10 locations in NYC and the one on Lafayette is always a good choice. What was once a taco truck in Mexico has since become an impressive chain of Mexican taco culture (25 Lafayette Ave.)
Finally, I would spend more time at some of the many Myrtle Ave restaurants if there weren’t so many great spots on Dekalb and Fulton (which are closer for me). One standout that we like on Myrtle is Osteria Brooklyn, which we discovered post pandemic because their outdoor seating setup is so welcoming. Their signature dish is Fettuccine Osteria which features a wine infused homemade fettuccine pasta with fresh summer truffles and cooked in a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheel. (458 Myrtle Ave.)
Just for a drink in Fort Greene
Last week Gov. Cuomo ended the NY State of Emergency, which along with it, ended the takeout alcohol law. So, back to the bars we go for a drink. Fortunately, there are a few great cocktail spots in Fort Greene.
My husband and I love a Saturday afternoon glass of wine at Great Georgiana. The busy sidewalk and killer burger make it a go to for us on a cool fall day (248 Dekalb Ave.). On a cold winter night however, you will find us huddled in a small dark corner at The Rockwell Place with a beautiful glass of wine(31 Rockwell Place).
Our summer escape is the little known Rooftop Reds on the roof of a building in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It is NYC’s first and only rooftop vineyard and a fab place to spend an afternoon. Note that reservations are necessary to gain access (299 Sands St. Building 275). It’s no longer my speed, but for a more party atmosphere, Fort Greene has two don’t miss bars. Dick & Jane’s at 266 Adelphi Street, or Mo’s Bar and Lounge at 80 Lafayette Ave.
Do you have a favorite in Fort Greene that we missed? Leave it in the comments!