Whether it’s because they’re hitting up a show at BAM or leisurely buying some books at Greenlight or grocery shopping at Greene Grape, most Brooklyn residents who live in other neighborhoods are in Fort Greene on a regular basis. It’s easy to hit up the same beer gardens time and time again—and they’re great—but for a push to something else, here’s a list of the gems and standbys in the area.
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Colonia Verde
219 Dekalb Ave.
This is a pan-Latin restaurant with contemporary American influence that does brunch, lunch and dinner, serving duck confit tacos, smoky mushroom arepas, baby kale and sorghum salads, half-roasted achiote chicken and the “Brooklyn Mess” for dessert, which is a selection of La Newyorkina ice creams with toppings.
Greene Grape Annex
753 Fulton St.
A perfect, big café serving from morning through night, meaning a freelancer can start their workday with a coffee and pastry and end it with a beer. Always a great place for meetings, too.
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Habana Outpost
757 Fulton St.
Habana Outpost is certainly not a hole in the wall hidden gem, but when it’s slower on the summer weeknights can provide a good reprieve and some nice snacks.
La Caye
35 Lafayette Ave.
Haitian cuisine in a gorgeous space with a backyard. Go for akra, which is fried malanga with a side of spicy slaw, grilled conch in spicy mango sauce, or any of the big plates, like legim brejenn, a stew of vegetables like eggplant, cabbage and chayote with lima beans.
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METTA
197 Adelphi St.
Fire is the way at Metta, a carbon-neutral restaurant with an eye toward cutting waste as much as possible. All dishes are seasonal and rotating, using local ingredients, and while the concept was created by a trainee of meat-focused Argentine chef Francis Mallmann, there is more than enough for a vegetarian to eat. There’s also a short but excellent beverage list.
Olea
171 Lafayette Ave.
Breakfast through dinner is served at this neighborhood spot that serves a Mediterranean menu, like artichoke-heart-stuffed falafel, olive oil granola, “green eggs and lamb” and small or large Greek salads. This is a go-to for work-from-home days or casual meet-ups, but it can also serve a group.
