Brooklyn Roots Italian has only existed in Bay Ridge for a few years (and in Sunset Park for a few years before that), but if you told us it has been around for a century, we’d believe you. The place has all the makings of an old-school Italian restaurant: The portions are massive, everyone sounds like they could be an extra on The Sopranos, and the servers wear shirts that literally say Old-School Italian. (OK, maybe that’s a little on the nose.)
photo credit: Brooklyn Roots Italian
It’s a casual, festive place that’s a shoe-in for a big group dinner, especially if you get the Matty Guns Special, a vodka pasta (rich on its own) with sweet and hot sausage, meatballs, whipped ricotta, and fresh mozzarella. But you could just as easily snag a seat at the bar, meet someone who’s lived in the area since kindergarten, and be convinced by the bartender to order the bread pudding, which is in fact a must.
photo credit: Brooklyn Roots Italian
Food RundownHouse Salad
Approximately 98% iceberg lettuce, 1% toppings, and 1% dressing. Save room for other things.
Matty Guns Special
On your first visit, you’ve got to get the Matty Guns Special. It’s like a crash course in Brooklyn Roots Italian. On your second, you can just get a vodka pasta though. The meatballs, two types of sauce, and three types of cheese are slightly too much.
photo credit: Brooklyn Roots Italian
Chicken Francese
The breading is almost a little too eggy in some parts, but the velvety lemon sauce still makes this chicken francese a worthwhile order.
Tuscan Burger
This off-menu burger is an if-you-know-you-know situation, and the slivers of fried garlic on top are a nice touch. But the meat is a little tough—there are better uses of your stomach space here.
photo credit: Brooklyn Roots Italian
Bread Pudding
This pile of bread pudding is about as custardy as it gets, with a shower of powdered sugar on top. Get it, even if you think you’re too full from the Matty Guns Special.
photo credit: Willa Moore
Dining and Cooking