Advice for friends wanting interesting Brooklyn lunch

[Robin Garr]

So some friends of ours will be in downtown Manhattan on a Thursday or Friday, and they'd love to get over to Brooklyn - somehwere in Brooklyn - for an interesting lunch. Not necessarily fancy; interesting ethnic would be fine. They're Louisvile folks and probably not all that familiar with New York outside Manhattan, so ease of access would be a good thing, too.

Please share your good ideas, the more specific the better.

Hmm, lots of good restaurants in Brooklyn, but I've never had lunch there. Maybe Grimaldi's if they don;t mind lines/waiting. Good halal food along Atlantic Ave, but no specific places. I emailed a couple of Brooklyn board participants to see if they can come up with ideas

I guess if they are way downtown Broohlyn makes sense, but for ethnic food I generally think of Queens (Sripraphi, Chinese in Flushing, Kyclades or other Grek in Astoria, Indian in Jackson Heights).

Robin, your question is very broad, of course. As I know my own nabe best, I'll say most about that: The two most interesting strips of restaurants around me are:

1. along Atlantic Ave between Court St and Henry St -- many are Middle Eastern but there is also a "chippie", a serious ale house, a thin-crust pizza place, and a Spanish restaurant
2. along Smith St between Atlantic Ave and Union St (and even beyond) -- this is the restaurant row, so I can quickly think of places for vegan, French (several), Japanese (several), Peruvian (down from 3 to 1), Italian (several), Thai (several), Indian, Dominican, Vietnamese; there are also several excellent cocktail places, if it's going to be that kind of lunch...

To get to #1, take the 2/3/4/5 train to Borough Hall and walk. To get to #2, you could do the same or take the F/G train to Bergen Street.

Area map: http://tinyurl.com/3qgt5uh

W/r/t Dale's suggestion of Grimaldi's: that is down by the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, where there is a lovely new park, so it might be worthwhile.

[ Is this the kind of help you're seeking, or would you rather that I try to name a specific place? If your friends have preferences, that helps. ]

Outside my nabe... they can take the L train to Williamsburg (all hip and chic), or they can take trains to Park Slope (lots of choices).

Please, no Grimaldi!

The good ethnic food is a little deeper into Brooklyn. If you want fantastic Middle Eastern food then google Tanoreen and go there, it's probably my favorite restaurant in NYC. Thai is in Queens (Ayada or Chao Thai). Chinese is in Flushing (too many to name).

Closer to downtown Manhattan you might try Al Di La (fabulous casual Italian in Park Slope). Or just take the F train to Carroll or Bergen and walk around Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill. Very fun places to walk and just pick out a nice place to eat.

Please, no Grimaldi!

Heh. I know what you mean.

But it's not like anyone can get into Lucali's.

[Robin Garr]

Thanks, all! I've passed all this on to our friends. They're on their way now, Louisvillians wandering in Noo Yawk, heads tilted back to stare at all the tall buildings.

Do by all means send them to Nathan's in Coney Island. The fast (but not junk) food par excellence. Best will be to start with a hot dog or two (they first boil them and then grill them) on buns, with those French fries (Brooklynites like their French fries with mustard). To follow those up with a hamburger, two or three on buns, those with fried onions and as much or little hot sauce as they want. And then bien sur on to as many lobster rolls as they like. The de rigueur beverage is draught beer and the ideal position in which to dine is while standing, elbows propped up at one of the outdoor high benches.

If while at Coney Island they decide on any of the amusement park rides (roller coasters, parachute rides, moveable ferris wheels, be sure they do that before dining.

Best
Rogov

So, where did they go?

Daniel you have a wonderful way with words. You've made me actually want to go to this beautiful lowbrow paradise called Nathan's, which I know to be a greasy haunt for canned, frozen, tasteless food full of cultural appeal but utterly lacking in culinary appeal.

[Robin Garr]

So, where did they go?

I haven't seen them since they got back ... will find out and report.