Where To Eat In Carroll Gardens

Lucali makes some of the best pizza in New York City. Naturally, you’ll need to show up hours before they open to get a table—and wait hours more before you can actually eat at this legendary BYOB spot. Even though it opened in 2006, Lucali feels like a holdover from old-school south Brooklyn, with well-used taper candles and hand-labeled jars of tomato sauce. There are only two things on the menu: pizza and calzones. You can choose from a handful of toppings, but we recommend keeping the pizza simple, and adding hot peppers and pepperoni to the calzone.

At Frankies (457) Spuntino in Carroll Gardens, the windows are permanently fogged up and someone celebrating their birthday is always on their third martini. It’s a great option for a not-too-stuffy special occasion meal, complete with tender meatballs in garlicky tomato sauce, and cavatelli with sausage and crispy sage. Those are always on the menu, and if they ever took them off, Carroll Gardens citizens would probably start picketing outside. Go find out why.

From the team behind Frankies 457 Spuntino, F&F is a counter-service slice shop located in a converted garage, cranking out the most buttery clam pies we’ve ever encountered. But even the plain slice is noteworthy—the crust is crispy, the sauce is incredible, and the cheese tastes like it was just delivered by a friendly dairy farmer hours before being baked. There’s a nice sidewalk patio out front where you can stare lovingly at your half-finished slice, and wonder how many of the world’s problems could be solved by bringing together a few people who treat bread like a vitamin.

Ugly Baby brought Thai-focused destination diners from around the city to Carroll Gardens, and Hungry Thirsty, its literal and spiritual successor, is doing the same. Make sure to order a Thai iced tea slushy in a Care Bear mug, because you’re going to climb spice mountain here by way of fiery yellow shrimp curries. Mellow it out a bit with panang (that’s also pretty spicy) with perfectly braised beef shanks.

F&F is from the same people behind two other spots on this list (F&F Pizzeria and Frankies), but it’s a little more grown-up than its predecessors. The tables are well spaced out, it’s never too loud (but it's also never too quiet), and the wine flows just enough but not too much. Bring your parents who always ask for the music to be turned down just a little, and share a few personal pies, the ultra-lemony scampi, and a slice of burnt cheesecake for dessert.

Of all the things one can get at an Italian restaurant, we don’t know if we’ve ever been dying to order the spaghetti pomodoro. But if there’s anywhere to eat your rent-week favorite in public, it’s Cafe Spaghetti, where a simple tomato sauce on handmade pasta is surprisingly rich and buttery. This restaurant also has one of the best backyards in Brooklyn—complete with a decorative baby blue Vespa and limoncello-colored umbrellas—where you can sit with a spritz and pretend you’re in some prestigious food documentary about discovering regional Italian cuisine.

After you spend all summer drinking spritzes in Cafe Spaghetti’s backyard, head around the corner to Swoony’s for the indoor season. The American bistro is Spaghetti’s sister restaurant, and further proof that these people know how to create neighborhood restaurants made for the movies. Swoony’s feels like an extension of the area’s idyllic brownstones, finished in nautical shades of blue and filled with old photos, fine china, and other tchotchkes. Picture-perfect charm aside, it’s the nostalgic comfort food, creamed spinach, wedge salads, and a double patty burger with thousand island dressing that’ll turn you into a regular.

Carroll Gardens has a lot of great options for New York-style pizza, but it’s also home to Nate’s, a Detroit-style slice shop. Their thick, heavy pies shimmer with red sauce and drizzles of olive oil, all encased in a blistered crust that tastes like the burnt edges of the very best grilled cheese. There’s a steady stream of takeout orders, and a tiny seating area crowded with neighborhood folk, especially on Tuesday when they sell $1 cheese slices from 5:30-6:30pm (or until they sell out).

The deli counter at Court Street Grocers has a cult following for its overstuffed sandwiches with unusual but delicious combinations like the Tunaberry, a mix of tuna salad, horseradish mayo, white onion, cranberry sauce, and arugula. They also make very good breakfast sandwiches. There’s no indoor seating, but Carroll Park is a 10-minute walk away. Court Street Grocers also sells gourmet pantry items like hand-rolled couscous and fancy tinned tomatoes.

Avlee Greek Kitchen is no Taverna Kyclades, but for the price, it’s exactly what it needs to be. For around $20, you can get a platter that comes with pita, two sides, and your choice of protein. You can pick from a bunch of different things like falafel, halloumi, and lamb souvlaki, although we tend to go with the grilled chicken breast skewers (paired with the greek fries). This place is about as casual as it gets, with some homey decor and a handful of small tables, so head over and grab dinner when you’re too lazy to cook.

Vinny’s is a longtime neighborhood staple that specializes in homestyle Italian cooking. Come here when you want unfussy, delicious comfort food that you can eat in your comfiest loungewear while still getting a change of scenery from your couch. (This place also does a lot of takeout and delivery.) The dining room is built around a giant steam table that serves as the basis for much of the menu. The fried calamari and rigatoni alla norma are solid orders, and if you’re just grabbing something to take back home, get the eggplant parm sandwich. It’s massive, saucy, and very cheesy.

Pretty much every neighborhood in NYC has a cute, casual Italian restaurant where you can grab dinner for around $40 per person. In Carroll Gardens, that restaurant is Gersi. The long, dark space has enough exposed brick and candlelight to qualify as romantic, and the menu involves red-sauce classics like spaghetti al limone and tagliatelle bolognese, as well as some more seasonal items like grilled asparagus and various vegetable-topped crostini. Focus on the pasta, and don’t ignore the free bread that comes with a bean dip on the side.

Court Street Grocers gets all the hype, but have you heard of Sea & Soil? It’s a bit more low-key, but if you’re passionate about sandwiches, you should pay them a visit. Behind the hot pink door, you’ll find a counter staffed by people ready to have a detailed discussion about what you should order. We were very happy with their recommendation of The Lucy, with salty smoked trout and sweet pepper jam, but maybe you’re a better candidate for The Isaac (roast tofu) or The Elliot (smoked turkey). Everything at this worker-owned bakery is made in-house, and the sandwiches are sold on a sliding scale ranging from $12-$18.