For a casual, Middle Eastern lunch in Williamsburg, Samesa is where it's at. This tiny spot, inspired by a hole-in-the-wall falafel joint, offers a some seriously colorful, vibrant, and flavorful food. Both meat and veggie options abound, and I always tend to start with some of their freshly baked pumpernickel pita and housemade dips. The carrot romesco with urfa biber and roasted beet with sumac dips are both faves of mine, but you really can't go wrong with any of them. The mezze plate above makes for a legit lunch in itself, and involves beet-pickled eggs along with the chef's choice of various dips, salads, and other pickled goodies- so delish! Fresh dishes like the raw squash and zucchini salad with smoky eggplant purée make for a light and healthy option, while the braised lamb and chickpea sandwich is the perfect choice for the meat-eaters. Samesa also makes some pretty tasty and unique smoothies- the tahini date with coconut & cinnamon tastes like a creamy milkshake, but is actually vegan! As you can see, there's truly something for everyone, and I highly recommend you check it out, stat!
saltie
If you’re looking for an easy, but satisfying lunch in Williamsburg, I highly recommend Saltie. I’m not sure why it took me so long to get there, but this tiny neighborhood spot makes some seriously delicious (and unique!) sandwiches. Whether you're a vegetarian or meat-eater, if you're looking for breakfast or lunch, I'm sure you'll find something that hits the spot. I loved my "clean slate", which was a fluffy naan just overflowing with hummus, bulgur, and fresh & pickled veggies. Just check out how charred and chewy that focaccia looks! Keep an eye out for daily specials, like rotating seasonal egg bowls and salads, as well as refreshing beverages like a turmeric tonic. I can't wait to go back and try some of their desserts! The massive cookies (chocolate chip & pistachio or oatmeal with caraway & pumpkin seeds) looked particularly tasty!
olmsted
Olmsted has been on my must-try list for some time now, so I was excited when my husband and I finally made it there for my birthday dinner! This Brooklyn hotspot has been getting rave reviews for its seasonal, ingredient- driven menu. They even have their own backyard garden and living wall, which provide produce for the dishes. Chef Greg Baxtrom, who has an impressive list of restaurants on his resume including Per Se and Alinea, partnered with farmer Ian Rothman to create a vegetable-forward restaurant with a strong focus on sustainability. Talk about right up my alley!
The menu draws inspiration from many different types of cuisine, and even has a secret "menu within a menu" called the Yakitori Olmsted. Ask for it for a fun departure from your typical neighborhood restaurant menu! We stuck to some of the classics, and were not disappointed. The duck chakna, while not something I would typically order, was so full of flavor, and the accompanying red lentil naan was like a fluffy pillow of doughy goodness! The rutabaga tagliatelle was a creative take on pasta- the ribbons of rutabaga giving us that perfect al dente bite! The highlight of the meal for me, and something I was looking forward to before we even arrived, was dessert (shocker, I know). At Olmsted, guests can roast their own s'mores, complete with homemade marshmallows and artisan graham crackers, right outside in the backyard. How fun, and something you don't typically see in New York City! My husband, being the wonderful man that he is, had them surprise us with all the desserts on the menu, so in addition to our freshly roasted s'mores, we got to indulge in caramel apple donuts and chocolate mousse as well! Click through the photos to read about the rest of our tasty dishes. Sounds like a dream meal to me!
sauvage
I'd been looking forward to trying Sauvage ever since it opened across from McCarren Park and the ever-popular Five Leaves. Other restaurants have had trouble surviving in this location, but this place just seemed different. Months passed without stopping by, then my husband and I got word that his mentor and chef Damon Wise had taken over the kitchen, which instantly moved it to the top of our list! We dined with a good friend and enjoyed the fresh spring menu, which was full of seasonal favorites like morel mushrooms, strawberries, ramps, and asparagus! Each and every dish was well-balanced and full of flavor, it would be hard to pick a favorite. I loved the chef's unique take on vegetables, from the multicolor carrots with cloumage & ramps, to the roasted cauliflower with broccoli pesto & spicy pistachios, I could easily make a meal of all the appetizers! My black bass entreé just melted into its creamy but light buttermilk broth, and the morel mushrooms added a lovely earthy flavor. You know I love dessert (and usually order multiple), but after such a big meal something light and refreshing was all we could handle, so the yogurt granita was just perfect! Scroll through the slideshow to check out the rest of our ridiculously delicious meal! And full disclosure- since we dined at Sauvage, Chef Damon has left the restaurant and returned to the South, where he's originally from. But it's still his menu and the cooks continue to execute it with ease!
modern love
Whenever my vegan bestie comes to town, she always has a long list of veggie places she's dying to try. And although her trips typically last only a few days, we manage to cram in tons of delicious plant-based eats (see Double Zero and Vedge for examples). Modern Love comes to Brooklyn from famed vegan chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz, who describes the cuisine as "swanky vegan comfort food", and I tend to agree.
Some highlights from our meal included the za'atar pretzels with babaganoush (what's not to love about freshly baked bread?!) and the root vegetable chickpea korma. The rutabaga parsnip coconut curry was so flavorful, and the persimmon chutney was the perfect complement to the rest of the dish! Click through the photos for more details on our swanky homestyle meal. Modern Love may not be my favorite vegan spot in the city, but if you're craving some good 'ol veggie comfort food, it's definitely a great bet!
sunday in brooklyn
I'm all about a neighborhood spot that offers both a feel-good, casual atmosphere as well as fresh and delicious food. Sunday in Brooklyn strives to do just that with a welcoming restaurant, market and coffee counter in South Williamsburg. The owners have taken their favorite day- Sunday!- a day of comfort, adventures, and family, and made it the mission of the restaurant. I was a big fan of Isa, the previous restaurant in this location, so SIB had big shoes to fill in my book. My husband and I stopped in for brunch recently, and are already looking forward to a return trip soon. We started with cappuccinos and a warm, freshly baked pecan sticky bun, which pulled apart in perfect ooey, gooey layers. Since it was Sunday, after all, we indulged in a bloody Mary and spiked hot cider, which were perfectly spicy and sweet. It was hard to decide on entrées as we were tempted by several dishes- the malted pancakes, biscuits & gravy, plus a variety of sweet and savory sandwiches all sounded delicious. We decided on the grain bowl and patty melt, which did not disappoint. And how pretty are the marbled ceramic plates!? Scroll through the photos to see more descriptions of each item. Even better, at SIB it's Sunday every day, so brunch is served seven days a week! Pop into the cute market shop for some ready-made pastries and pantry items, or grab a coffee to-go.
I've also had the opportunity to enjoy dinner at Sunday in Brooklyn, and the meal was fantastic (see below!). I love that they've utilized the upstairs dining area- a space that Isa reserved for private events- because it has such a lush and cozy feel to it that makes it seem like home. Plus the rooftop garden and sidewalk café are open in the warmer months, which is clutch for any NYC restaurant! The spring menu was so fresh, vibrant, and über colorful- the chef knows how to put the season's bounty to good use in the tastiest ways imaginable. Some dishes, like the radishes with koji butter and the beets with nuts & seeds, were truly works of art and just begging to have their photo taken (I was more than happy to oblige, of course). The roasted cabbage with fermented black trumpet mushrooms had such a unique and interesting flavor profile that kept us coming back for more. I'm not even a fried chicken person (I know- who am I?), but the housemade togarashi blend coating the drumsticks really took these babies to the next level- totally addicting! If you can believe it, I didn't get a good photo of our desserts. I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often considering how little discipline I have around sweets. But I can assure you that both the goat ice cream with date molasses & bitter chocolate AND the warm devil's food cake with peanut butter ice cream & cocoa nib praline are to die for! I'm already looking forward to returning soon for an afternoon cocktail in the rooftop garden!
