This spring when Dine-In Brooklyn announced its 200+ restaurant list without a single Bushwick eatery, locals were less than pleased that DiB had overlooked their entire neighborhood. As a response to that slight, a cadre of area eateries organized their own Bushwick Restaurant Week, offering special dine-in deals at spots around the neighborhood today through Saturday, June 22. With so many Bushwick restaurants opening week after week, we thought we’d give you a look at our new favorite spots—including some participating in BRW and some not.
Mama Joy’s
1084 Flushing Ave. (at Porter Ave.), 347-295-2227
This hearty Southern-style spot has quickly become a late-night neighborhood fave for its drink-and-shot specials and rowdy atmosphere, but it’s definitely worth stopping in earlier for food. The menu includes Southern classics with just a little bit of a fancy twist, like hush puppies studded with corn and zucchini, and mac and cheese laced with duck confit.
Bun-ker Vietnamese
46-63 Metropolitan Ave. (at Woodward Ave.), 718-386-4282
Yes, we know this one isn’t technically in Bushwick (or even actually in Brooklyn), but as Bushwick’s DIY aesthetic seeps across the Queens border into nearby Ridgewood, the restaurant scene does, too. The most exciting aspect of that development is this new spot, where chef Jimmy Tu serves semi-upscale takes on traditional Vietnamese street food, including fresh crab spring rolls and delightfully crispy bacon-and-shrimp-stuffed crepes.
Falansai
112 Harrison Place (at Porter Ave.), 347-599-1190
It was a serious coup for the neighborhood when Falansai decided to open on a formerly desolate Bushwick corner. The upscale Vietnamese kitchen has been serving savory dishes like caramelized clay pot catfish and wok-sautéed ginger chicken–one of the tastiest things we’ve sampled this year–for just about a month. They also recently debuted a lunchtime bahn mi menu and are offering 15 percent off during restaurant week.
Mominette
221 Knickerbocker Ave. (between Troutman and Starr sts.), 929-234-2941
A Bushwick take on a classic Parisian bistro (that means there’s a DJ), this cozy new spot combines classic French fare (escargot, moules frites) with some American and Italian touches (a Sunday lasagna special with fresh New York State ricotta), and excellent cocktails (The Bushwick Sour combines rye with grapefruit, lemon and a splash of red wine).
Fritzl’s Lunch Box
173 Irving Ave. (between Stockholm and Stanhope sts.), 929-210-9531
This three-month-old not-just-for-lunch spot is an 18-seat sliver of a space on Irving Avenue. The all-day menu delivers with a mix of simple sandwiches (including a fantastic warm avocado and brie with orange marmalade and alfafa sprouts), more ambitious but affordable entrees like ricotta dumplings with peekytoe crab, plus dessert from Pies ‘n’ Thighs.
Arepera Guacuco
44 Irving Ave. (at Troutman Ave.), 3470-305-3300
It’s true that nobody makes it like mom, which is why, when Leonardo Molina decided to open his own Venezuelan-style arepera, he asked his mother Carmen to cook the lightly fried cornmeal patties that are a staple food in Latin American countries like Colombia, Venezuela and Panama. Carmen’s arepas are ridiculously satisfying, especially when stuffed with pulled pork shoulder or shredded beef with sweet plantains and black beans. For the full experience, order a papelón con límon alongside your arepas–it’s a traditional Venezuelan limeade that’s sweetened with molasses.
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