Brooklyn / Staten Island restaurant tour

Because real estate searching is exactly like dating

I do not miss Hinge, but I did not hate dating. There are so many interesting people and if nothing else, New York dating is a very good way to try out some very cute bars. The details of the dates themselves might long be gone, but I appreciate the introductions to Employees Only, Mace, and Raines Law Room.

I’m trying to bring this same positive energy to the heartbreaking slog that is real estate hunting on a budget in Brooklyn by choosing a restaurant in each neighborhood (also known as eating my feelings - this is so much worse than dating). Given my winter proclivities to hermit and to mainly cook at home, this extensive period of eating out has been healing for my soul.

This is a self-indungent piece, but many of these restaurants have been a delight, so I thought why not share them here in case someone else wants to follow along on this mini tour of Brooklyn and bonus stop in Staten Island.

WILLIAMSBURG - Northside Bakery

We all know and love Williamsburg, which is so trendy and filled with the cutest Japanese shops (tokidoki, Shalom Japan, and Kijitora come to mind) that what felt the newest and most trendy to me was this old-school (circa 1992) Polish establishment, Northside Bakery.

Pierogies and pickled beets are much more David’s area, but we stopped by here on the way back from a very crowded apartment visit (too small, despite a deeded parking spot) and were infinitely happier after seeing and buying the pirogies, seeded ryes, and pickled beets. Also, this jar of pickles that I had to bring home because of the label.

CROWN HEIGHTS - Uotora

I never ever eat Japanese food in New York because I delude myself into thinking that a trip to Japan is around the corner (and am picky as all out), but had bookmarked Uotora ages ago on a friend’s recommendation (thank you). It is small and cozy and the fish-to-rice ratio is generous and the fish is fresh. While many sushi restaurants will rush you, the pacing is luxurious. Uotora, you are a gem.

The omakase is relatively affordable so the cuts are on the simpler side, but they do not forget the little touches like slices of myoga.

BEDSTUY - Hart’s

We ordered absolutely everything on the menu except for the olives and the skate. I don’t know that I would go back as there are certain things I have grown more critical of in my older age (inside: too loud / outside: near a dumpster and the Franklin Street subway stop), but I did enjoy my very-dry martini.

PARK SLOPE (?) PROSPECT HEIGHTS (?) - AL DI LA, MUTEKI UDON, SOFREH CAFE

In real estate parlance I struggle with where Park Slope and Prospect Heights divide . Would live here in a heart beat just to have regular access to Al Di La’s ravioli and creme fraiche panna cotta. Some places are trendy and disappoint, but this place is perfect. Friendly staff, beautiful interior, cute plates. No notes.

Also stopped by Sofreh Cafe and Muteki Udon. I do not know what is going on with Muteki’s decor of Shinto torii, but the udon was certainly satisfying on a rainy day (after a visit to an apartment that I loved / David hated, where the realtor, when asked whether the adjoining church might have some bells that we might hear, responded, “there are bells, and the bells do ring”).

Asparagus, snap peas, peas, mint, spinach, pecorino, lemon. Al Di La.

Mushroom udon, Muteki Udon.

Various rose flavored pastries from Sofreh Cafe

FORT GREENE - Strange Delight

I love Fort Greene and wish they had more inventory. I don’t think I am the target person to enjoy the food here, but had a great evening nonetheless. Perhaps it is because they had opened relatively recently, but every table was gifted a plate of bread pudding, a real boon for my sweet tooth.

“Fried shrimp loaf”

STATEN ISLAND - Deninos, Ralph’s, Lee’s Tavern

And a bonus! A friend who is a native son of Staten Island took us around his favorite childhood haunts. Given this was a group of engineers who delight in the Transit Museum, it was a true public transit experience. Should you wish to replicate:

1. Take the NJ Transit from WTC to Jersey City

2. Take the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail from Jersey City to Bayonne (8th Street Station)

3. Walk across the Bayonne Bridge and nerd out reading every sign explaining how it came to be built that are scattered along the walking path

4. Walk to Denino’s; cab it to the boardwalk; walk to Lee’s Tavern (for dessert pizza)

5. Staten Island Railway from Lee’s Tavern (Dongan Hills station) to the Staten Island ferry terminal; and

6. Ferry it back to Manhattan (bonus: we respectively MTA’ed it back to UES / Brooklyn).

The amount of broccoli rabe available on the menu at Denino’s! I grew up in New Jersey so cannot get enough of these old school places where they hand out paper plates that are somehow supposed to stand up to the onslaught of pizza and pasta. I cannot wait to go back.

And across the street is the original Ralph’s for Italian ice. There was a queue, but needed the time away to choose from the enormous flavor list. Ended up with rainbow cookie and spumoni.

I was so tapped out by this point, despite the lengthy walk to get here, but our friend insisted we stop by Lee’s Tavern, given its storied history (a bar that has been serving pizza since 1940).