BEST MEDITERRANEAN BAR OMAR 188 Grand Street (718) 388-0411 www.chez-omar.com A little slice of Paris in Northern Brooklyn, Bar Omar – the sister shop of the original Chez Omar in France – is the best in the borough for cuisine of its kind. Located in the heart of Williamsburg, right on Grand Streeteet, Bar Omar’s buzzy, sophisticated nook serves up creative cocktails and classic North African dishes like couscous and tagine, as well as Mediterranean favorites like lamb and kefta. Adorned with antique-looking mirrors and a storied menu that plays off its predecessor’s in Paris, Bar Omar is a mini getaway for Brooklynites looking for a night of fine Mediterranean dining. BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT CALEXICO 645 Manhattan Avenue (347) 763-2129 www.calexico.net Named after a small town on the border of California and Mexico, Calexico is a familyowned and operated eatery that – with a total of seven locations nationwide – excels in top-notch Mexican cooking. What started as a food cart in SoHo, selling tacos and burritos for a few bucks, quickly grew to become the establishment it is today, including its famed Greenpoint location, which takes the cake for best Mexican in the borough. Its menu boasts all the favorites – from guacamole and carne fries to burritos and quesadillas – to fun and festive dishes like Calexico’s sizzling fajitas. All that, coupled with its tremendous customer service, helps make it the best Mexican restaurant in the borough. BEST MIDDLE EASTERN TANOREEN 7523 Third Avenue (718) 748-5600 www.tanoreen.com Tanoreen is a household name in its hometown of Bay Ridge. The famed Middle Eastern restaurant, deep-rooted at the corner of Third Avenue and 7Sixth Streeteet, has received critical acclaim since its inception in 1998. The Zagat rated restaurant, which showcases the Middle Eastern home cooking its chef and owner Rawia Bishara grew up with, has made a name for itself with its out-of-this-world fare. Its menu, which proudly boasts something to please just about any palette, comes complete with Middle Eastern classics like Hummus, Baba Ghanouge and Kibbie, as well as Mediterranean twists on things like Streetffed Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts (a fan-favorite, fried and doused with a tangy tahini-yogurtpomegranate sauce and topped with pangko breadcrumbs). Pair that with its exceptional dessert menu and unbeatable atmosphere and it’s no wonder Tanoreen was named the best in the borough. BEST ORGANIC EATERY THE COOP 9504 Fourth Avenue (718) 680-0269 Streetll relatively new to Bay Ridge, The Coop has already earned bragging rights. Located just off the last stop of the R line in Brooklyn, this kidfriendly restaurant-meets-espresso bar features an indoor/outdoor play area (or “coop,” if you will), allowing parents and caregivers to enjoy their coffee, pastry, brunch – or even a glass of wine or a tall mimosa – while their kids have a little fun. To boot, the eatery boasts an impressively organic menu (all of its eggs and dairy are organic and/or locally sourced), featuring fan-favorites like the Churro Waffle (doused with cinnamon sugar and love, so say owners), and the Avocado Smash (an Instragram-worthy rendition of the classic avocado toast social media loves so much, topped with onions, tomatoes, microgreens and pink salt). All that and then-some help make it the best . BEST RESTAURANT SERVING VEGAN DESSERTS/PASTRIES VAN LEEUWEN ARTISAN ICE CREAM 620 Manhattan Avenue (347) 987-4774 www.vanleeuwenicecream.com Sweets is the word at this famed ice cream shop. What started out as a buttery yellow truck traveling the streets of New York City, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream prides itself on using ingredients perfect by “nature, not science.” All of its ice creams are made from scratch out of its Greenpoint location, which takes the ice cream cake for best restaurant serving vegan desserts in Brooklyn. The Classic scoops are crafted with nothing more than fresh milk and cream, cane sugar and egg yolks. The Vegan scoops are made with house made cashew milk, organic coconut milk, organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic cane sugar, pure cocoa butter and 12 BEST OF BROOKLYN 2017 • winnERS GUIDE • BESTOFBK.COM organic carob bean. Both recipes result in a rich, decadent, naturally perfect ice cream. All that, and its delectable menu of flavors, make it a clear-cut winner for best of the best borough-wide. BEST ROMANTIC DINNER THE RIVER CAFE One Water Street (718) 522-5200 www.therivercafe.com Who wants to go on a date and stare at a wall? What better way to spice up a romantic outing for two than with the breathtaking views provided by Brooklyn’s own The River Café. This landmark eatery in the heart of DUMBO is renowned not just for its superb food and refined service but, perhaps most notably, for its beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor. First opened in June of 1977, the restaurant – now newly renovated – has been serving up an American menu (which blends both classic and innovative cooking techniques with American and international styles) as well as an unbeatable atmosphere. Its views aside, the décor at River Café is enough to take the cake alone. Walk in and be transported, as River Café is more than just an award-winning restaurant – it’s an experience. No wonder it’s the best in the borough when it comes to a nice night out with your lover. BEST SANDWICH DEAL ROLL N ROASTER 2901 Emmons Avenue (718) 769 -6000 www.rollnroaster.com This famed Brooklyn establishment, deep-rooted in its hometown of Sheepshead Bay, is famous for putting cheese on “anything you please.” This retro fast-food joint – open for nearly half a century – has become a Brooklyn landmark, loved for its unbeatable roast beef sandwiches (which pair ever so beautifully with its ooey, gooey cheese fries, and of course, its late hours). Renowned for being “simply delicious,” this Emmons Avenue gem seems to be sticking around. After all, it was dubbed the home of the best sandwich in the borough. BEST SEAFOOD RANDAZZO’S 2017 Emmons Avenue (718) 615-0010 www.randazzosclambar.nyc Lauded as the best clam bar in all of New York City, Sheepshead Bay’s own Randazzo’s is the best of the best when it comes to seafood in Brooklyn. This longtime Italian seafood joint has been serving up raw-bar fare and red-sauce dishes in a casual waterfront venue for years on end. From calamari to shrimp to mussels and beyond, Randazzo’s Clam Bar does it all, and it does it the best. Its home borough says so. BEST SPANISH SALUD BKLYN 7204 Third Avenue (718) 333-5228 www.saludbklyn.com When you think best Spanish food, you don’t necessarily think Brooklyn. Though, one of Bay Ridge’s newest eateries is hoping to change that – and, thanks to you, it just did. Salud Bklyn, a Latin-American, Spanish and tapas-centric eatery at home on Third Avenue, brings Latin flavor and traditional Spanish dishes (with an added flare) to its hometown of Bay Ridge. Located just blocks from the Bay Ridge Avenue subway station, Salud Bklyn’s menu boasts a number of rich culinary traditions of both Spain and Latin America (like the fan-favorite Chicken Paella for three), which, paired with its intimate fine-dining experience, help make the restaurant a destination, rather than just restaurant. Plus, they do brunch! What more could you want out of a restaurant? It’s no wonder why you voted it the best Spanish restaurant in Brooklyn. RESTAURANTS
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