What’s your favorite spots or “hidden gems” in Bay Ridge?
We’re going by this unofficial [Google Map overlay](https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1VYN-6Vkk01byUCF7P13rT6ORT5g) as a GENERAL outline as to what the neighborhoods are. It’s not a strict requirement but try not to go too outrageously far outside of the boundaries. Alternatively you can search for “Bay Ridge” in Google maps and it will pull up a more “official” boundary.
by crazeman
25 Comments
Mike’s Donuts has many good donuts and pastries
Tanoreen
Brooklyn Roots. Killer italian. Cebu is delicious as well. Chadwick’s for the old school steakhouse experience. It may look like a time warp, but their food is exceptional.
I visited Bay Ridge last week and apparently it is home to a pretty big Middle Eastern population so they have a ton of Middle Eastern spots. I’m not that familiar with Middle Eastern food so I love to see some recommendations.
[Brooklyn Baklava](https://goo.gl/maps/typtsoxRwgeE9QP36) is a Lebanese Bakery. Ended up leaving with a pack of assorted baklava, Knafeh (I think, it didn’t have cheese though), and a Green Za’atar Pie. They were all pretty good.
[Antepli Baklava](https://goo.gl/maps/nbeSc5Pc5YHF5UV18) is a Turkish Bakery. Picked out a bunch of random baklava/pastries from their window.
I don’t really know the difference between Lebanese vs Turkish Baklava to appreciate the difference but I liked the ones from Brooklyn Baklava better. I also passed by like 3 other Middle Eastern bakeries during my walk there. I was tempted to get more to try them all out but at that point I had already spent like $40 on Baklavas.
[Mike’s Donut](https://goo.gl/maps/bWd63Y97STnf79Ef8) is a old school donut/coffee shop that’s been operating in the neighborhood for over 30 years. The donut is good but nothing special. Seeing how all the old school donut shops have been largely replaced by Dunkin’ Donuts nowadays, I think it’s somewhat of a “hidden” gem. The only other “old school” donut spot I can think of is Peter Pan.
Also I used to live in the area up until I was like 5, I don’t remember much but I have fond memories of my parents buying me a birthday donut (probably because we were too poor for cake lol). So it was at trip down memory lane and I love to see a place like Mike’s still floating around. It was actually my reason for venturing out to Bay Ridge.
Also I’m taking any suggestion on how to improve any future posts.
I will probably randomize the neighborhood list after the first few but I wanted to start out with a decently sized neighborhood that has a food scene and one where I can at least contribute.
I also thought about having to combine some of the neighborhoods. Like for example, I’ve literally never heard of Vinegar Hill before until I went through the map and it’s a 3×5 block neighborhood lol. I had thoughts that maybe it should be combined with Dumbo but maybe having some smaller threads for the smaller/less known neighborhoods is fine too.
I will most likely go neighborhood by neighborhood since I don’t think I’m knowledgeable enough about every neighborhood to know when to combine and not combine.
Al Aqsa Bakery for one of the best shawarma sandwiches ever. Gino’s for chicken parm. Elegante’s square slice. Pho Hoang for pho.
Pasticceria Rocco for cannoli and the bridgeview diner. Also shore road park is worth a visit
Georgian Cuisine
Ruzana has great shawarma.
Philadelphia Grill, amazing Philly cheesesteaks
Really cool concept. Hope you continue this
Yemen Cafe!
Karam’s is where you’ll get the best Lebanese food in bay ridge
Beets and carrots is a delicious farm to table spot and last I checked it was byob but I moved out about 3 years ago.
Elia is delicious upscale Greek
I saw someone mention tanoreen – this is only my opinion but as someone who is Lebanese, I always preferred le sajj instead.
Mid-east bakery for the good syrian bread to take home although they sometimes hold out and keep the good stuff in the back.
Brooklyn roots – phenomenal italian
Anopoli for some ice cream
The burger at Hunter’s happy hour is one of the best deals in NYC, you have to eat it at the bar.
ETA: jic tourists read this, walking down to the water and looking at the Verrazano is a must as well.
Pegasus Diner. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall that has some of the best diner food in the entire city. (The Bridgeview Diner down the street has a much more scenic “classic diner” interior, but the food is decidedly mediocre.)
King’s Souvlaki, Karam and Come On Thai are all staples for me down here. King’s has locations elsewhere, but they make as good a gyro as you’ll find. Karam’s got the goods on shawarma and Come On Thai has your standard Americanized Thai menu but executed extremely well.
Ayat got a lot of press but I was thoroughly unimpressed by everything I ordered from there. Somehow, inexplicably, it was all bland and dry. I vastly prefer Le Sajj to it, though I know the cuisines are different.
Red Bowl and Grand Sichuan for Chinese. Grand Sichuan does a great cumin lamb and has a spicy Qong Qing chicken with Sichuan peppercorns that’s equal amounts blazing hot and numbing.
Not a restaurant, but Kimchi Kook’s Kate’s Kitchen has some great kimchi and Korean offerings. Schnitzel Haus has some excellent beer on tap as well as some great made on site wursts.
For pizza, I’m a big fan of Lil Frankies (formerly Lombardos) of Bay Ridge if you’re looking for a wood fired pie. For a slice joint, can’t beat either Pizza Wagon or Espresso Pizzeria.
Italian is surprisingly unimpressive in Bay Ridge for the most part, though I really enjoyed the meal I had at Amuni. Have only been there once, but intend on going back.
A solid bowl of ramen can be had over on 5th at Tanoshii Ramen, and Oishii Noodle Bar has that and then some in the form of some other Japanese and Korean dishes.
Sandwiches are typically the domain of Dyker Heights and Lioni’s, but Paneantico serves up a pretty solid set of paninis and other cooked food.
Tanoshii Ramen, Grand Sichuan House, Tanoreen, Shangri La Vegetarian, Bay Thai, Lil Frankie’s, The Common, H&L Bagels, Fushimi
Halal cart on 86th and 5th (the one on the southeast corner in front of the citibank). Get the spicy rice.
Kimchi Kooks Kate’s Kitchen for kimchi.
Le Sajj for Labanese.
For brunch: Pegasus Diner for pancakes and fresh OJ, The Common is a standout with more variety.
Beets & Carrots for amazing farm to table. BYOB!
Brooklyn Roots for Italian, the Lobster Pasta is a must.
Coszcal de Allende for Mexican (they’re sadly closing in mid July though due to a rude landlord so go soon!) they have awesome drinks and a lovely backyard too. Really nice family ownership.
Ayat and Tanoreen for perfect Palestinian and Lebanese.
Ruzana has a good super authentic shawarma on Bedouin bread with just toum and pickle. Karam is more of a shawarma you’re used to with tomato etc, but it’s also excellent.
Espresso pizza for a classic pie, Frankie’s for a sit down pizza dinner.
Pippin’s has a solid burger, but you have to list out everything you want on it.
Bagel supreme on 5th is my personal favorite bagel spot in the neighborhood but lots of people like H&L as well.
Polonica for excellent polish food, the white borscht is so delicious.
Charlie’s makes my favorite Italian sandwich. I get the #7 Che Se Dici with hot peppers.
Chadwick’s for a sit down steak dinner and perfect blue cheese olive dirty martini.
Gino’s for red sauce Italian.
Shore Road Park.
Mike’s Donuts.
RIP Brooklyn Beet Company.
I did something similar a few years ago. I was not super impressed with Ayat but I did really enjoy the tea and it came out on a silver platter with teapot etc. So could be a nice break in between other meals. If time permits, a stop at Balady Halal Foods for groceries is great. It’s next to Yemen Cafe (I’ve been to the other location on Atlantic several times and that place is also solid). If you walk back along the water you can see some insane, gaudy architecture and get city views as you walk north. The Gingerbread House is a famous example.
Lots of great stuff mentioned, I’d also add The Brooklyn Firefly on Ovington and 3rd Ave, which has some really great pizzas, including a number of vegan options.
A few I haven’t seen mentioned here yet:
Bay Ridge Pizza – the squares are the best slice in the neighborhood imo
Mike’s Royal Diner – classic diner
Hemo’s Spot – great no nonsense smoothies/juices
The Mexican food truck in front of the Mcdonalds on 3rd/72nd. – This place is a mystery to me because there’s not much online about it, but the food is great. I believe it goes by Birrieria Tacos los Poblanos and might be related to a place in Sunset Park. (If anyone knows about it, I’m very curious)
Karam has some good shawarma. This one girl I met from Lebanon said it was the one place she found at the time with shawarma that reminded her of home.
Cancun bar and restaurant on 3rd by 72nd. My partner and I popped in for dinner one day randomly and their happy hour was nice. Food portions are large too! I got flautas which I expected to be small and they were massive. Partner got 3 tacos. 3 drinks and food was only like 50 bucks before tip.