The more Bed-Stuy grows in popularity, the more interesting its dining scene becomes. It’s a neighborhood full of locally owned, unique restaurants serving up casual gastropub bites, farm-to-table meals, and authentic ethnic dishes. While it’s hard to narrow down a list of neighborhood favorites, here are five restaurants that exemplify the neighborhood’s diverse dining scene.
Do or Dine
For some of the most inventive food in one of the hippest spaces in Bed-Stuy, make plans for dinner at Do or Dine. Started up by Top Chef alum Justin Warner, Do or Dine serves up foie gras donuts, pond wings (frog legs, spicy Dr. Pepper glaze), and chimichangas. If you’re not feeling quite as adventurous, there are more traditional items on the menu like steak tartare, duck breast, and fish and chips. Overall, it’s a quirky space with great food — a restaurant worth a trip to Bed-Stuy.
Rice Skate at Do or Dine photo courtesy of Facebook.
Daily specials | via Bombay Heights
Bombay Heights
Every neighborhood needs a solid, dependable Indian restaurant, and Bombay Heights is it. The place serves a variety of East Indian cuisine for both lunch and dinner. You can’t go wrong with classics like Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan, or any type of their curries.
A nice, hearty lunch | Jason B. via Foursquare
Alice’s Arbor
Part restaurant, part general store, Alice’s Arbor is a quaint spot serving farm-to-table fare and selling local and organic groceries. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner; there’s also a casual bar menu. Expect classic salad and sandwich combos for lunch, and hearty dishes like steak, pork chops, rigatoni, and snapper for dinner.
Lobster mac and cheese | Sumito A. via Yelp
Black Swan
This gastropub is perfect for a casual night out. In the front of the space, locals crowd the long bar, where there’s a great selection of beers. There’s a sit-down restaurant in the back, which is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner every day. The menu features typical gastropub fare such as burgers, mussels and fries, fried chicken, and the signature mac and cheese.
Classic Senegalese at Joloff | via Facebook
Joloff
For authentic Senegalese food, one of the best spots in all of Brooklyn is Joloff. The restaurant relocated to Bed-Stuy after serving Clinton Hill for 17 years, but the popular, tasty menu is more or less the same. Popular dishes include the Yassa Yapp (grilled lamb in lemon and onion sauce) and fish pastels in tomato sauce.