I thought I should address this early on in the newsletter—the quintessential malady faced by New York food scene people in 2024. You want to go out to dinner on a Friday night, naturally, and you absolutely did not make the reservation you told your friend you had taken care of two weeks ago.
The post-covid, post-virality restaurant world in New York City can be frightening. It seems as though you need to plan dinners an entire month in advance and, even with that foresight, you still aren’t guaranteed your reservation of choice. While not every restaurant will pull a Via Carota and literally turn you away at the door at 5:30pm without a reservation, you probably don’t really want to spend your Friday night waiting two hours for a table. I will say, as a rule of thumb, last minute reservations are exponentially easier to snag in Brooklyn than its neighboring borough. Additionally, I’ve had many top-tier meals and evenings out in Williamsburg, so Friday night off the L train certainly doesn’t sound so bad.
The restaurants to follow are a few favorites that may be booked up on Resy but are great for walk-ins with manageable wait times—perfect for last minute planning.
Leo
LEO! A forever favorite. This is not your typical New York slice, nor does it try to be. Occupying the corner of Havemeyer and Grand just a few minutes from the Metropolitan L/G, Leo’s two-part space is one of my favorite places to sit in the entire city. From the team behind the undeniably delicious Ops in Ridgewood, Leo is a sourdough pizza spot with a simple menu. Salad, pizza, select pastas, a couple veggies, and a flawless drink list. And, to boot, if you aren’t feeling a sit-down dinner/ whole pie/ bottle of wine at a dimly-lit marble table, fear not. Right next door is an equally cozy slice shop slinging individual pieces of select pizzas and counter service for the salads/apps on the full dinner menu. Wine and dessert are available here, too, and the best bagels, sandwiches, and coffee on weekend mornings if you can get there before selling out.
Leo’s slice shop is walk-in only, with ample outdoor seating for the warmer months, and a quick turnover for the few tables located inside. The restaurant is walk-in friendly too and you can often snag a cancellation or last-minute reservation on Resy.
I’ve had the entire menu, I think. Don’t skip the wine, vermouth service, caesar salad, olives, butter beans, NY Slice Pie, tiramisu, and the rotating soft serve. Genuinely, you can’t miss here so order whatever strikes your fancy. If you are hitting the slice shop, do what Hallie and I do as often as we can get over there—one potato slice and one Rossa slice (marinara pizza). Ask for a corner piece if you’re brave.
Bonus points because everyone that works here is cool and nice. I could write an entire email about Leo so I will cut it here.
*Reservations are often available day-of. Plan to book a few days ahead if you are hoping for a weekend rez!*
Di An Di
At the very end of Greenpoint Ave, just before you reach Transmitter park, a slurry of new restaurants have begun to pop up. As eager as I’ve been to try all these new spots (see today’s want to go list), there are a few tried and true restaurants I regularly crave, and find myself returning to time and time again. Di An Di is an enduring favorite. Opening in 2018, Di An Di is by no means a long-standing restaurant but they are a veteran amongst their neighbors. This is a restaurant where everything on the menu is delicious, and it’s not a well-kept secret. While reservations may be scarce, there is plenty of room for walk-ins, and their wait is never nearly as long as they predict. In any case, it’s worth the journey just north of Williamsburg.
Behind the busy host stand is a classically on-trend and cute interior: pink accents, plenty of greenery, and sleek wood booths. Always busy and incredibly lively, the environment is warm and welcoming, and perfectly upbeat. The food meets the ambience in character—flavorful, perfectly executed, and nice to look at. The following are my go-to’s but again, you can’t go wrong. Gỏi Gá (chicken and cabbage salad), Bánh Bột Chiên (rice cake omelette with a stellar dipping sauce), Bún Đậu Hũ Chả Giò (tofu skewers with vermicelli noodles), Phở Chay Hà Nội (INCRED vegetarian mushroom pho). The vegetarian options here are exceptional!
*Reservations open two weeks out, but don’t be afraid to walk in*
Cafe Mogador
N 8th and Wythe, St Marks and 1st
You can absolutely call me biased for this one, maybe even predictable. Too bad! I am nothing if not loyal. Prior to moving to New York, Mogador was the spot I most wanted to visit when I was in town to see my sister. Following my junior year at Wesleyan, I left home for the summer to live for a few months in Brooklyn. I was lucky enough to be employed by the lovely folks over at the Cafe Mogador in Williamsburg. The best parts of this job were plenty; fun coworkers, great guests, and (!!) a meal at the end of every shift. That is to say, I ate Mogador every single day for an entire summer. It was the best.
A perpetual hot-spot, the dimly lit Moroccan restaurant used to be entirely without reservations. They have since moved over to Resy, where tables are available pretty close to day-of. They also hold spots for walk-ins and have pretty quick turnover, especially for two-tops. Snagging a corner table on a weekend evening is truly ideal. If you can’t get a reservation, walk-in, put your name down, and stroll over to Dolly’s for a quick beer while you wait for the call.
Here’s your order: Hummus platter, falafel & tahini, labne w/ zahatar, eggplant & tahini, olives & pickles, halloumi, GREEK SALAD, side of fries. This is my favorite falafel and greek salad and I would eat it every single day if it was convenient and/or free. The chicken kebab also rocks, but I can’t speak to the lamb/sausage offerings.
Also, go for brunch. The french toast and country breakfast…. ugh.
*Reservations open two weeks out, but do not be afraid to walk in*
As promised… my top three this week!
If you’re enjoying the newsletter, please share! AND send a note if you visit any of the spots suggested <3 xo
Púsù looks so amazing the streets need to pay you back 100 times over for putting them on. and need to attach a reminder to not look at this right before bed... I get hungry every time!
No love for marthas country bakery smh