BESTOFBK.COM • WINNERS GUIDE • DIME BEST OF BROOKLYN 2019 17
FOOD
BEST HOT DOG
NATHAN’S FAMOUS
1310 Surf Ave.
(718) 333-2202 – www.nathansfamous.com
What day at Coney Island would be complete
without a trip to Nathan’s to enjoy the best hot
dog in Brooklyn? The Brooklyn-born fast food
chain started at the corner of Stillwell and Surf
Avenues in 1916 and has reigned as the hot
dog champion of the world ever since. The hot
dogs are grilled to order, and you can get them
however you please — with sauerkraut, onions,
mustard, even cheese. You don’t have to be
like Joey Chestnut and eat 60 of them in one
sitting, but just one Nathan’s frank, and you’ll
understand why these hot dogs are simply the
best.
BEST ICE CREAM
LADY MOO MOO
365 Chauncey St.
(212) 464-7104
Lady Moo Moo offers quaint counter-service
storefront doling out gourmet gelato, sorbet &
other frozen treats. Lady Moo Moo gives you all
of the options you could want in an ice cream
store. Conveniently located on Stuyvesant
Ave., they serve the people of the borough of
Brooklyn with sweet treats every day. There
are even some healthy options. However,
Lady Moo Moo is hear to satisfy the sweetest
of sweet tooths. The prices are as convenient
as the location and the ice cream tastes so
good, you’ll want enough to get an ice cream
headache. Lady Moo Moo is proud to serve
the community and proud to offer the best in
delicious ice cream. You’ll be glad you stopped
in for a taste one of their signature ice cream
treats.
BEST LOBSTER ROLL
RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND
284 Van Brunt St.
(718) 858-7650 – www.redhooklobster.com
It’s a six-hour trip by car to Maine, the state
that prides itself on delicious lobster rolls.
Fortunately, Brooklynites don’t have to travel
that far to get an amazing lobster roll right in
their backyard. Red Hook Lobster Pound was
the brainchild of Ralph Gorham and Susan
Povich in 2008. While sitting at their dining
table in Red Hook, Brooklyn devouring fresh
lobsters that they had just brought back from
a friend in Portland, Ralph proposed a crazy
idea to his wife Susan. He suggested they
open a lobster pound in an empty storefront
in the building that they owned but were
unable to develop due to the contracting credit
markets. Red Hook was a natural location for
a fish business; it was on the water and like
the lobstering communities of Maine, it was
inhabited by fiercely independent people. As it
is cut off from most of Brooklyn by the BQE, it
has developed a supportive community just like
the Maine lobstering community.
BEST MEATBALL
GIACOMO’S WOOD FIRED PIZZA &
TRATTORIA
7902 3rd Ave.
(718) 439-6993 – www.giacomopizza.com
Mamma mia! The meatballs at Giacomo’s
Wood-Fired Pizza are something amazing.
Their meatballs are authentic Italian cuisine
and will have you coming back for more.
Giacomo and his family have been in the
Restaurant/pizzeria business for over 40 years.
They love their customers, that’s why they offer
online ordering through their website and their
easy to use mobile app. Place your order for
pickup or delivery and make sure you download
our app to stay on top of special deals and
promotions!
BEST PASTRAMI
SANDWICH
MILL BASIN DELI
5823 Avenue T
(718) 241-4910 – www.millbasindeli.com
Classic Jewish deli standards are served at Mill
Basin Deli surrounded by fine art from the
likes of Chagall & Erte. Mill Basin Deli have
a wide selection of delicious kosher cuisines.
They have everything from sandwiches, wraps,
burgers, and more! Come try their hot pastrami
sandwich, crispy salmon, or build your own
giant burger. They are located on the corner
59th St. and Avenue T. and not too far from
Monsignor Crawford Field. The most popular
order on the menu may be their overstuffed
sandwiches, which will challenge even the
biggest deli meat lover to see how much
pastrami they can handle. No matter what, it
tastes great. In a city that values the deli over
most eateries, this is a truly authentic deli
experience.
BEST PIE
FOUR & TWENTY BLACKBIRDS
439 3rd Ave.
(718) 499-2917 – www.birdsblack.com
Melissa and Emily Eisen were born and raised
in the rural farm town of Hecla, South Dakota.
Their mother and her sisters owned the
popular Calico Kitchen restaurant for which
their Grandmother Liz made all the pies. After
finishing a degree in Finance at the University
of South Dakota, Melissa traveled throughout
Scotland, New Zealand and Australia before
settling down in Brooklyn to make pie. Emily
has lived in Brooklyn for over fifteen years and
has a BFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute,
Brooklyn. The sisters learned to appreciate
the art of pie-making from their Grandma
Liz, and have taken inspiration from her
culinary traditions along with their passion
for seasonal ingredients and creativity with
flavor combinations and put their pies on
the international culinary map. The sisters
originally custom-baked pies in their Brooklyn
apartment before opening their popular
flagship Four & Twenty Blackbirds pie and
coffee shop in 2010.
BEST PIZZA
GIACOMO’S WOOD FIRED PIZZA &
TRATTORIA
7902 3rd Ave.
(718) 439-6993 – www.giacomopizza.com
Out of all the amazing pizzerias in Brooklyn,
Giacomo’s Wood Fired Pizza and Trattoria
stands alone as the borough’s champion of
cheese, dough and sauce. Their pizza is the
main event and will wow you with a taste of
Italy. Giacomo and his family have been in
the Restaurant/pizzeria business for over 40
years. You can enjoy so many kinds of amazing
toppings on your pizza, and the experience will
have you coming back for more.
BEST SALAD
GINO’S PIZZERIA
7414 5th Ave.
(718) 748-1698 – www.ginosbayridge.com
Family owned & operated since 1964, Gino’s
Restaurant is a long standing tradition in Bay
Ridge. Gino’s invites all of their guests to enjoy
a fine dining experience with quality service,
full bar and spirited atmosphere. Their salad
will provide you with a healthy option without
sacrificing taste so that you can have a delicious
meal that feels as good as it tastes. It’s part of the
fantastic food, nice ambiance & great service that
Brooklyn residents have come to expect.
BEST SMOOTHIE
BAYA BAR
9417 3rd Ave.
(718) 360-5005 – www.thebayabar.com
Smoothies and smoothie bowls are handcrafted
at Baya Bar to increase freshness, fiber,
fuel and fun. Made with organic coconut milk,
our products are packed with healthy fats
and nutrient-rich ingredients to power you
through your day. They take pride in balancing
wellness and flavor to improve your mood,
your productivity and your energy level. Baya’s
commitment to organic base ingredients,
NO added sweeteners and organic dairy
alternatives give you all of the good... without
the bad. The staff is so friendly and the place is
spotless. Something as fresh as their delicious
Bella Nutella açai bowl can be made in just a
few short minutes! Consider Baya Bowl to be
a version of fast food that allows you to eat
healthy, feel good and get on with your day.
BEST SOUP
YEMEN CAFÉ
176 Atlantic Ave.
(718) 834-9533 – www.yemencafe.com
Yemen Café and Restaurant was established in
1986. Serving authentic Yemeni food. Cuisine
is well known for its flavor, freshness, and use
of spices. Cultural platters are their signature,
hospitality and gratitude are their nature. The
restaurant has a warm casual atmosphere,
which makes it an original and satisfying
place for customers. Menu features a wide
array of great selections served in generous
portions. You can decide to eat in or take to
eat out. Despite the expectation of red meat
bliss — chops and fresh fish are also on the
menu for anyone who thinks he or she has been
steered in the wrong direction, as well as their
excellent soups. Yemen Café and Restaurant is
upscale, but never uptight, with a welcoming
neighborhood vibe and outstanding service that
keeps locals coming back and visitors raving.
BEST SPECIALTY PIZZA
GIACOMO’S WOOD FIRED PIZZA &
TRATTORIA
7902 3rd Ave.
(718) 439-6993 – www.giacomopizza.com
Sometimes cheese just isn’t enough; you’ve got
to have a pizza with meat and/or vegetables
to warm your stomach and soul. Thankfully,
the specialty pizzas offered at Giacomo’s
Wood Fired Pizza and Trattoria are numerous,
including Arrabbiata, Bianca, Calabrese,
Campania and many more. The authentic
Italian cuisine prepared by renowned Italian
chefs and real brick oven pizza baked in wood
burning oven imported from Italy. Giacomo’s
takes pride in what they cook. Giacomo, the
owner, is always on site making sure everything
is to his standards and on some nights he is
making pizza or cooking in the kitchen. Visit
Giacomo’s and see why their speciality pizzas
are primo.
BEST SUSHI
KATSUEI
210 7th Ave.
(718) 788-5338 – www.sushikatsuei.com
Opened in 2014 in Park Slope, Brooklyn &
Opened in the West Village in 2017, Katsuei
brings excitement to both locations by offering
a Sushi & Sashimi Omakase experience in New
York City at an affordable price. Their chefs
offer a touch of modern creativity to Edo-mae
style sushi (Traditional Japanese-Edo Period).
Many selected fish is flown in from Tsukiji fish
market in Tokyo, Japan & is served at Katsuei.
Each nigiri sushi piece is topped with a flavorful
combination of ingredients to bring a balanced
& harmonious umami experience in each bite.
Let the excellent, helpful and kind cooks and
staff at Katsuei take you on a wonderful journey
of delicious sushi & sake that you will never
forget. Book a Katsuei experience today!
BEST TACO
HO’BRAH
8618 3rd Ave.
(718) 680-8226 – www.hobrahtacos.com
Ho’Brah thought long and hard about what
they loved most about tacos. ‘Bright flavors’ and
‘fresh ingredients’ were popular choices and
soon morphed into ‘healthy lifestyle, summer,
sun, and surf’. They shared tales of favorite taco
joints they’d visited on vacations around the
world; small taco trucks on the Mexican border
in San Diego; wood paneled surf-taco joints
yards from the ocean in Florida; oversized taco
emporiums in Hawaii; and one truly shanty fish
shack turned taco stand on the Gulf Coast. They
are proud that people from all over New York
City, and the world, visit Ho’Brah to see what
the fuss is about. They want you to see firsthand
that our success comes from our “family first
spirit” and commitment to show each and every
Guest that they consider them to be family too.
BEST WINGS
THE KETTLE BLACK
8622 3rd Ave.
(718) 680-7862 – www.kettleblackbar.com
Kettle Black is a chill wing spot in Bay Ridge,
closer to the commercial area, so the place can
get pretty lively. The service is quick, courteous
and accommodating. There even contains an
opening for a dance floor. You can order a huge
plate of wings with several difference sauces, or
just some drinks, which are always well made
and good value. Shrimp sandwich special could
be a delicious surprise with horseradish sauce.
Convenient staff and little waiting for a spot.
The food always comes out quick, so come
hungry. It’s a sports bar that’s great for meeting
up for a Rangers game, but people stay and
come back again and again for some of the best
wings in New York City, right here in Brooklyn.
/www.birdsblack.com
/www.redhooklobster.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.millbasindeli.com
/www.birdsblack.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.ginosbayridge.com
/www.thebayabar.com
/www.yemencafe.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.sushikatsuei.com
/www.hobrahtacos.com
/www.kettleblackbar.com
/BESTOFBK.COM
/www.nathansfamous.com
/www.redhooklobster.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.millbasindeli.com
/www.nathansfamous.com
/www.ginosbayridge.com
/www.thebayabar.com
/www.yemencafe.com
/www.sushikatsuei.com
/www.hobrahtacos.com
/www.kettleblackbar.com
/www.nathansfamous.com
/www.redhooklobster.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.millbasindeli.com
/www.birdsblack.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.ginosbayridge.com
/www.thebayabar.com
/www.yemencafe.com
/www.giacomopizza.com
/www.sushikatsuei.com
/www.hobrahtacos.com
/www.kettleblackbar.com