A Guide to Winter Restaurant Week on Grand Street 2024

Monday marks the beginning of Restaurant Week, Grand Street’s semi-annual restaurant event! From January 22nd to February 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to try 16 of Grand Street’s restaurants both new and old at lower than ever prices. 16 of the best eats in Williamsburg are offering 3-course prix fixe dinners at discounted rates from $20 to $35 in North Brooklyn’s annual celebration of local cuisine. With all these offerings on 6 blocks, it might be difficult to make a decision. This guide is here to give you all the answers to why you should visit each participating restaurant on Grand Street, and what you can order for the best experience. Each of the following restaurants and bars has special Restaurant Week menus, so just ask if you don’t see one.

As always, take a picture of your wine and dine experience and post with #DineonGrand for a chance to win $50 to a Grand Street BID business of your choice.

Follow @grandstreetbid on Instagram and Facebook for the most up-to-date information on the event!

---

Critically Acclaimed on Grand

All pasta at Ammazzacaffè is made in-house

AMMAZZACAFFÈ—$35

702 Grand Street — menu

Winner of a coveted Bib Gourmand title from Micheline Guide, Ammazzacaffè has already built its reputation for affordable fine dining at its best. Be sure to try the Tartare crostino with sea trout, Lettuga salad with Botarga, and sunchokes as an appetizers. For your entree, try the Reginette—pasta with pork shoulder ragu — it’s a perfect dish. Finish the night with their daily dessert offering for the perfect date or special night out on Grand Street.

The Backyard Burger from BK Jani

BK JANI—$35

679 Grand Street — menu

There are a lot of burger joints in Williamsburg, but only BK Jani’s burgers come with mint chutney as a sauce option. Featured on Infatuation’s Best Restaurants in Williamsburg, you can’t go wrong with a burger here. They’re offering Two Lamb Chops to start, then any burger of your choosing. We recommend The Jani Burger; ½ pound of custom blend ground beef, cooked medium rare, mint chutney at the bottom, grilled tomato and a touch of raita. Included in their special is a soda or one of their house drinks.

Grand Street Classics

GRAND MORELOS—$29.50

727 Grand Street — menu

A Grand Street staple, Grand Morelos has been with the neighborhood day and night for decades. The late-night diner & bakery has seen us all at our finest and not-so-fine hours. The Grand Morelos bakery is also one of the better-kept secrets of our food scene, so take advantage. Guacamole & Chips is our go-to appetizer, but we also recommend the Chicken Wings if you’re extra hungry. Bistec Con Camarones (Steak & Shrimp) for your entree will fill you if the app didn’t, but try to save room for the Tres Leches. Flan and NY Cheescake are your other options for dessert. Once you’ve fallen in love with Grand Morelos stop back in for affordable cookies & doughnuts from the bakery and amazing iced coffee (not just by diner standards) any time you want - literally.

Shawarma from Dar525

DAR525—$23

525 Grand Street — menu

A Grand Street classic, Dar525 just celebrated its 12th year on Grand Street back in February. Serving up Middle Eastern classics, Dar525 is offering extreme value to Restaurant Week’s with four courses for only $23. You can start with hummus or babaganouj, but they’re offering other apps as well. Next you can choose from kibbeh or a cheese and parsley roll. For the main course you’ve got a variety of protein choices including the vegan falafel and the not-so vegan chicken shawarma. Top your dinner off with baklava or basbous for a fantastic four-course meal at amazing value. (Cover photo for this article is @ Dar 525)

HAAB—$35

202 Leonard Street — menu

This Grand Street classic has been serving classic and vegan friendly Mexican food to the neighborhood for years. We recommend starting with the Elote Placero, offered in a both vegan and non vegan option. Follow that up with some classic Birria Tacos - or if you’re eating plant based go with their Seitan Fajitas. Birria Tacos with a Margarita simply is a must - if you have more of a sweet tooth go with the Tres Leches.

THE CLONARD—$25

506 Grand Street — menu

Known for their lager and bar food staples, The Clonard has been open for just over a year but is already Grand Street Classic. They’re offering bar staples Mozzarella Sticks and Jalapeño Poppers to get the appetite going. Then you can enjoy an 8oz burger, with the option of going for a Beyond Burger if you’re looking for a vegan option. Enjoy a Clonard Lager, or a glass of Pinot Grigio if you’re feeling classy, with your meal for the full bar eatery experience.

Pupusas from Bahia

BAHIA—$25

690 Grand Street — menu

Bahia has been on Grand Street for over 20 years, serving up pupusas and other delicious Salvadorian dishes. We recommend you start with their famous Pupusas; you can choose from a wide variety of options but some favorites include the revueltas pupusa stuffed with pork, refried beans, and cheese, or jalapeño pupusas .For the main entrée enjoy their delicious Carne Asada, Pollo Sorpresa, or Tilapia al Sarten. A glass of either Sangria or Wine is included in your meal, alongside a delicious slice of Amaretto Cheese Cake to finish.

MAMA PHO—$20

580 Grand Street — menu

The most affordable of all of this year’s Restaurant Week deals goes to Mama Pho - a classic Grand Street Vietnamese restaurant that’s been dishing out delicious Pho for over a decade. Start with the Shrimp Summer Roll, and then choose between your two Pho options: Ribeye Pho or Chicken Pho. Finish your meal with a refreshing Lemon Green Tea to cap off a cozy dinner.

Filling Favorites!

TACO EDITION—$24

800 Grand Street — menu

Taco Edition variety of Taqueria classics never disappoints. The prix fixe menu starts with a choice of Esquites, Chips and Guacamole, or Fried Sweet Plaintains. We, of course, recommend any of these delicious options. With three hearty options to choose from for dinner, our favorite are the Nachos. Don’t miss out on this tasty dish that comes with chicken or as a vegetarian dish. Churros are for dessert, served with a chocolate sauce it’s the cherry on top of a perfect meal - if that’s not your speed you could also grab a beer instead!

Chicken from Mad for Chicken

MAD FOR CHICKEN—$25

617 Grand Street — menu

There’s no better place to go for classic Korean Fried Chicken than Grand Street’s very own Mad For Chicken! Swing by and start with their 4-Piece Dumpling to get you appetized. For the main, we recommend their Chicken and Fries Combo: you’re gonna go Mad for this Chicken. If you’re feeling a different vibe, their Bulgogi over Rice is also fantastic. Alongside your meal you can enjoy a glass of Sangria or a beer.

LA CHACRA—$32

613 Grand Street — menu

La Chacra’s got traditional Peruvian cuisine straight from the “Chacra” or farm in Spanish. Our most recent Get to Know Grand story covered the awesome story of La Chacra, and now they’re here for their first Restaurant Week! Begin your meal with a delicous Ceviche de Pescado if you’re feeling seafood, or their Papa Rellena: a golden fried potato stuffed with beef stew, onions, olives, and eggs. For the main entree we reccomend the Lomo Saltado, strips of skirt steak sauteed with onions, tomatoes in a soy sauce served with fries and white rice, or the Arroz con Mariscos, a classic Peruvian Paella. Enjoy your dinner alongside either a beer or Punta Sal Margarita.

Brisket Pho from Lucy’s Vietnamese

LUCY’S VIETNAMESE—$22

649A Grand Street — menu

Lucy’s Vietnamese is coming in hot with it’s second Restaurant Week on Grand Street. Coming in at $22, Lucy’s is offering a Summer Roll, a bowl of Pho or a Bánh mì, and one of either their of their in house made Vietnamese Coffee or Iced Tea. At the core of Lucy’s dishes is its brisket which is smoked for 14 hours. They also offer other proteins including chicken, vegan chicken, and tofu. With a wide array of proteins available in their dishes, Lucy’s is covering all bases. If all of those options overwhelm you, you can’t go wrong with their signature Brisket Pho paired with the refreshing House Iced Tea.

Curry from Thip Osha

THIP OSHA—$25

795 Grand Street — menu

This Thai spot nearby the Grand Street L station always feels cozy. With a diverse prix fixe menu, Thip Osha has altogether 50 combinations to choose from. There is surely something that will please everyone from curry to noodles to fried rice. Out of all of those choices, our favorites are the Thom Yum soup to start and the Pad Thai noodle with your protein of choice for the main entree. You can’t go wrong with the delicious Coconut Custard for dessert. Stop by this tiny spot for big flavors.

CAFÉ ZOUAVE —$35

759 Grand Street — menu

Grand Street’s newest French Bistro has arrived to Restaurant Week, bringing with it delicious cuisine! Start with the Onion Soup for a classic French appetizer. For the main entree you’ll have some difficulty choosing between 8oz NY Strip with Frites, Salad, and Peppercorn sauce and their Roasted Salmon with Ratatouille and Mash Potatoes — be warned a bite of the Ratatouille may send you into a flashback reminiscing on a favorite childhood memory. Finish your meal with a Crepe Suzette with a butter and orange sauce, or a sweet Tarte Tatin with vanilla ice cream. There is no wrong option at Café Zouave, we guarantee you’ll have a fantastic evening dining on delicious French cuisine.

A tostada from Los Tacos Mcondo

LOS TACOS MCONDO—$28

502 Grand Street — menu

Los Tacos Mcondo is a classic taqueria, offering some awesome deals this time around. They are cash only - so make sure to come prepared! Start with their Corn on the Cob for a fun bite before you dig into their wide variety of main courses: Burritos, Nachos, Tostadas, Quesadillas, Enchilladas, or a Queso Fundido with Chorizo. You wont find this many options at most other participating restaurants! End your meal with some refreshing and delicious fruit, with your choice of a Mexican Mango with lime, salt, and chili powder or Churros that also come with a side of fruit.

Celebrate the anniversary of the Pickleback

The Bushwick Country Club is throwing a party on March 12th

The house special at Bushwick Country Club consists of McClure’s + Old Crow Whiskey

A ‘Pickleback’ is an order you’ll hear in bars across the country and even overseas, but did you know that the whiskey + pickle brine shot combo has its origins here on Grand Street?

The story goes that in the Bushwick Country Club on March 12th, 2006 while the bartender was snacking on McClure’s pickles (which at the time had just started next door) a bar patron asked to share a shot of whiskey chased by the McClure’s pickle brine. The bartender then poured two shots of Old Crow Whiskey and two shots of pickle brine and instantly loved the drink. He reported his finding to Bushwick Country Club owner John Roberts the next day and since then BCC has made the shot famous as the first to sell it in NYC.

The unique shot has conversely made Bushwick Country Club into the gem of Williamsburg that we know it as today. So, they are hosting a party on the drink’s 14th birthday next Thursday at 6pm with no cover, free barbecue, lots of pickleback shots, and all of the big buck hunter/ photo booth / mini golf (weather pending) fun that you can rely on finding at Bushwick Country Club.

Celebrate Thursday, and if you’re looking for more similar event at Bushwick Country Club then come back for our St. Patrick’s Day Bar Hop on Tuesday the 17th and for BCC’s anniversary on June 19th.

From Bushwick Country Club.

Grand Street's Guide to Winter Restaurant Week

Breaking down the best of 45 courses on Grand Street from Feb 18 to March 1

Restaurant Week is back on Grand Street for its 7th Winter Edition from February 18th to March 1st. 15 of the best eats in Williamsburg are offering 3 course prix fixe dinners (5 - 10pm) at discounted rates from $12 to $35 as Brooklyn’s annual answer to Manhattan’s pricier Restaurant Week. All along 6 blocks, it might be difficult to choose where to go or decide where new to try. Well here’s your answer as to why you should visit each participating restaurant on Grand Street and what you can order for the best experience. Each of the following restaurants has special event menus, so just ask for a Restaurant Week menu if you don’t see one.*

As always, take a picture of your dinner and post with #DineonGrand for a chance to win $50 to a Grand Street BID restaurant of your choice.

Follow @grandstreetbid for the most up to date information on the event.

Mainstay Must Experiences

Bahia Restaurant—$25

690 Grand Street — menu

It all starts with pupusas. If you’ve never had one, Bahia owners Luis and Felix say to think of them as like the “tacos of El Salvador”. The prix fixe menu at Bahia starts with 2 pupusas of your choice, a salad, or tamal de pollo. We, of course, recommend some of the best pupusas in NYC. Plenty of options for dinner, but our favorite is the Carne Asada: grilled boneless choice shell steak. You get two sides with the entree of your choice from a few options like mixed vegetables, rice, and roasted potatoes. Flan is for dessert and your meal is paired with a glass of delicious red or white sangria.

A hometown favorite, Bahia has been a dedicated community member of Grand Street for 20 years. In 2019, the restaurant doubled down on their dedication to the neighborhood with a complete interior and exterior renovation in order to stay ahead in a changing Williamsburg market. It’s not just about looks though, Bahia is confident that once you’ve had their pupusas and try a glass of their homemade sangria you are certain to return for more. Photo at top of article.

Los Primos—$25

704 Grand Street — menu

With 31 years of experience cooking on Grand Street, Los Primos has proven they have the chops to remain a hit. Despite their long history on Grand Street, they’re relatively new to our Restaurant Week. On joining, Christian who’s father owns the restaurant said, “being here for a while, it was like, let’s ride along with you guys and join the holiday – join the Grand Street BID in this journey” -Bkylner.

For your starter, go with nachos: chicken, ground beef, or cheese—your choice. Fried pork chops are a best seller and also on the Restaurant Week menu, so we recommend you take advantage. But the steak with onions and pork mofongo are also favorites. Finish the night with cheesecake (but the tres leches and flan are good choices as well).

If you visit on Sunday, take advantage paella deal at Los Primos for $10—offered every week.

Grand Morelos—$20

727 Grand Street — menu

Another Grand Street staple, Grand Morelos has been with the neighborhood day and night for decades—literally. The 24/7 diner & bakery has seen us all at our finest and not-so-fine hours. The Grand Morelos bakery is also one of the better kept secrets of our food scene, so take advantage. Guacamole is our go-to appetizer, but we also recommend the cheese quesadillas if you’re extra hungry. Hanger steak fajitas for your entree will fill you if the app didn’t, but try to save room for the Oreo cheesecake. Impossible chocoflan and tres leches cakes are your other options for Restaurant Week dessert. Once you’ve fallen in love with Grand Morelos stop back in for affordable cookies & doughnuts from the bakery and amazing iced coffee (not just by diner standards) any time you want - literally.

Biggest Discount

Indian Kitchen—$12 to $36

739 Grand Street — menu

Restaurant Week is made for sharing. Indian Kitchen wants you to bring your friends to max out on the deal. With 3 people Indian Kitchen provides a vegetable and meat appetizer, three entrees, two orders of naan, and Kheer (rice pudding) for dessert. On a typical night all of that could cost over $60—so make sure Indian Kitchen is one of your top spots for this event.

Fine Dining Experience

All pasta at Ammazzacaffè is made in-house

Ammazzacaffè—$35

702 Grand Street — menu

Winner of this year’s coveted Bib Gourmand title from Micheline Guide, Ammazzacaffè has already built its reputation for affordable fine dining at its best. Take advantage of Ammazza’s Tartare crostino with sea trout, caponata verde, and umeboshi as an appetizers. For your entree, try the Reginette—pork shoulder ragu—which Michelin called “Italian cuisine in all its glory”. Finish the night with buttermilk pannacotta with cherry and hazelnut for the perfect date or special night out on Grand Street.

If the food isn’t enough, visiting Ammazza offers a bit of historical experience. Their location at 702 Grand Street was the childhood home of Betty Smith, inspiring her classic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. RSVP.

Best Quick Bite

Churros from Taco Edition

Taco Edition—$19

800 Grand Street — menu

A longtime participant in Restaurant Week, Taco Edition is one of our favorite spots for lunch or a quick afternoon bite. Even though the service is fast and the environment is seat yourself-casual, during Restaurant Week you’ll get a lot more than a 5 minute snack. Start with the jalapeño popper balls, move on to the chilaquiles verde with eggs, and finish with the yummy churros you see to the left.

New Faces on the Block:

Ham & cheese empanadas from Masa

Masa Empanadas—$12

804 Grand Street — menu

Masa Empanadas opened from the same owners of Piccoli to Go—remaining dedicated to the neighborhood and providing quick eats empanadas, salads, and pizza. Masa is offering two combos for deals featuring the range of their menu:

1. 2 dinner empanadas—see options here (spicy crab not included); 1 dessert empanada—banana nutella or apple cinnamon; and a salad—caesar kale or Italian vinaigrette arugula

2. 1 pizza—classic, spicy chorizo, or 4 cheese; a salad; and a drink

Our favorite empanadas are ham & cheese, corn, and apple cinnamon. All three pizza options are good but we tend to stick to the classic and the kale caesar is our salad of choice.

Chongkho—$20

562 Grand Street — menu

Butterfly pea lemonade and Thai iced tea

Chongkho opened in August with an eccentric gate mural by well-known artist JPO and serving Thai home cooking. A family owned restaurant, Chongkho offers a warm dine-in environment with welcoming service.

The chicken curry puffs are an appetizer to die for, followed by either drunken noodles or red curry for the main course. The Thai iced tea is truly a standout and Chongkho is preparing a crêpe specially made for Restaurant Week as an option for dessert.

Bright colored decorations and drinks reflect the up-beat atmosphere in Carneval

Carneval—$25

507 Grand Street — menu

Carneval also opened in August featuring specialty cocktails and Latin-inspired cuisine. Owner Mike Cruz grew up just blocks from the restaurant and has created a go-to spot for Williamsburg natives and newcomers alike. A mural of a carnival-themed festively packed J train along the back wall of the restaurant demonstrates Mike’s inspiration and commemorates the Latin heritage of our neighborhood. Carneval is also regularly host to performances and hosted their own toy drive for the holidays.

Most Filling

Ryujin—$25

513 Grand Street — menu

Something about the ramen from Ryujin leaves us stuffed after every bowl. Now add an appetizer and dessert to the mix to really make the most of a 3 course dinner. Keep it light with your app so go with the Japanese pickles or the fried shishito peppers. You can choose from 8 different options of ramen bowl, but our favorite is the spicy miso bowl. Finally, the meal is paired with either beer, sake, or ice cream. The jury is out here so we’ll leave that choice to you.

Most Controversial

Mad for Chicken—$20

617 Grand Street — menu

Boneless or bone-in? Luckily both genres of wing are on the menu. The chicken at MFC is shipped in daily from a farm in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania and the wings are coated with a unique sauce of soy, garlic, and various fruits. On the appetizer menu, the standouts are the small crab salad or the truffle/ Parmesan fries. We recommend the 10pc wings (with or without bones—your choice) for entree, but kimchi fried rice and kimchi quesadillas are available for non-wing lovers. For a drink you can choose between any draft beer, a glass of sangria, or a soda on the house.

Favorite Mom & Pop

The Sandwich Shop—$20.75

658 Grand Street — menu

The cozy lunch and dinner spot has brought high-quality deli style sandwiches to Grand Street since 2013. The space also feels like a deli, with just a few stools around the bar to dine-in, so get there before they fill up.

Valued members of the community, the Shop has collected and donated over 200 lbs of food in our annual Holiday Food Drives. You can also find The Sandwich Shop in the Wall Street Journal from our last Restaurant Week. All sandwiches, bowls, and wraps are available—but the best bang for your buck is the turkey double decker sandwich to go along with the combo of a beer and bag of chips.

Best Cocktail

Crystal Lake Brooklyn—$20

647 Grand Street — menu

Antique lounge area at Crystal Lake. Photo courtesy of Crystal Lake Brooklyn & JD Hall Photo

The bar is best known for its antique bar and large back space which regularly hosts comedy shows and similar type events. Teaming up with Tacos Lokos 4Ever, Crystal Lake has the best drink and food combination in the event. The entree is a pair of tacos with the meat of your choice or veggies with a side of rice and beans. The cocktails provide the biggest discount and your choices are a cucumber vodka ricky, rose vodka spritz, watermelon gimlet, or the Zebra-Rita.

Most Options

Thip Osha—$25

795 Grand Street — menu

Roasted duck noodle soup from Thip Osha typically costs $16

A cozy Thai spot nearby the Grand Street L station. You may have already tried Thip Osha at Taste of Williamsburg & Greenpoint this past summer. Altogether, there are exactly 50 options on the prix fixe menu at Thip, so there is surely something that will please everyone from curry to noodles to fried rice. Out of all of those choices, our favorites are the crispy chicken wings with red chili sauce to start, roasted duck noodle soup, and banana sticky rice for dessert.

Best Late Night

Los Tacos-McOndo—$28

502 Grand Street — menu

The chic bar and taqueria is a cool spot for late night dinners, dates, and eats after a night out. Open until 3am on the weekends and at least 1am on every other night, Los Tacos is one of the most high quality late night restaurants in Brooklyn. The nachos are absolute standouts at Los Tacos, and you can choose them either as a starter (mini nachos) or as an entree. We recommend at least one of those in your mix. The queso fundido is also very good, but if you’re limiting carbs you can choose the Mexican steak to go with the nachos. Churros with fruit are for dessert, with mango and chili powder as the primary flavors. Note that Los Tacos is cash only.

*Dine-in meals only. After 5pm and no later than 10pm. Tax and tip not included in price. Price is per person and cannot be shared. Event discounts are in effect from Feb 18 to March 1. Restaurants may be closed any time during the event period at their discretion. Price and participants subject to change. Contact info@grandstreetbk.org with questions.

Winter Restaurant Week on Grand Street returns

Winter Restaurant Week is back in its 7th edition on Grand Street offering 3 course prix fixe discounts to some of Williamsburg’s best fine dining and quick eats. The two week celebration of local cuisine begins on Tuesday, February 18th and runs until Sunday, March 1st. For the winter edition of this semi-annual event, we have 15 participants from neighborhood mainstays like Los Primos to Grand Street newcomers.

The Sandwich Shop is participating once again—see their mention in the Wall Street Journal from our Summer Restaurant Week.

Our 3 new participants—Chongkho, Carneval, and Masa Empanadas— joined the neighborhood within the past year and each offer a dynamic new addition to the restaurant week lineup. Chongkho opened in August with an eccentric gate mural by well-known artist JPO to add to the neighborhood’s collection and serving Thai home cooking. Carneval opened in the same week featuring specialty cocktails and Latin-inspired cuisine. Owner Mike Cruz grew up just blocks from the restaurant and has created a go-to spot for Williamsburg natives and newcomers alike. See a preview of Chonkgho and Carneval from their interviews with News 12 about the event. Masa Empanadas opened from the same owners of Piccoli to Go—remaining dedicated to the neighborhood and providing quick eats empanadas, salads, and pizza.

Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand winner Ammazzacaffè is joining the lineup once again, providing award winning quality dining for a steal at $35 for 3 courses in a prix fixe menu. Los Primos, Crystal Lake, and Mad for Chicken are also rejoining Restaurant Week after debuting in the event this past summer.

Stop by at any participating location to get in on discount dining offers exclusive to Grand Street—and only during Restaurant Week. Just ask for a restaurant week menu when seated. Click here for our official guide giving insight into each restaurant and suggesting our favorite dining options, and you can find the full list of participants and pricing below*. Prices range from $12 to $35 and apply only to sit down dinners (5 - 10pm) —tax and tip not included.**

And remember—snap a picture of you, your meal, or your friends on your night dining out with #DineOnGrand for the opportunity to win $50 to a Grand Street BID restaurant of your choice!

Follow @grandstreetbid for the most up to date information on the event.

Enjoy 3 courses for $20 from Chongkho

Chongkho – $20 (new) —menu

Masa Empanadas – $12 (new) — menu

Carneval – $25 (new) — menu

AmmazzaCaffè – $35 — menu

Bahia Restaurant – $25 — menu

Ryujin – $25 — menu

Mad for Chicken – $20 — menu

The Sandwich Shop – $20.75 — menu

Thip Osha – $25 — menu

Indian Kitchen – $12 — menu

Los Tacos McOndo – $28 — menu

Grand Morelos – $20 — menu

Taco Edition– $19 — menu

Los Primos – $25 — menu

Crystal Lake – $20 — menu

*All prices and participants subject to change.
**Dine-in dinner discounts begin at 5pm and is served no later than 10pm. No takeout or delivery. Price does not include tax or tip. Price is per person and cannot be shared.

Food Drive Collects 509 lbs of donations for local families

13 Grand Street businesses hosted collection boxes for St. John the Evangelist’s food pantry

After 3 weeks of 13 businesses on Grand Street collecting food donations from shoppers, merchants, and community members—the Grand Street neighborhood was able to donate a whopping 509 lbs of food for the holidays.

Our annual food drive supplies the St. John the Evangelist Church (198 Maujer Street) food pantry with needed supplementary meals to local families during the holiday season. With this year’s haul totaled up, the community’s combined efforts over the past 3 years have collected and donated 1,361 lbs of food for the church’s meal program. With the donations in supply St. John’s has already assembled 100+ family meals with over 150 lbs of non-assembled food to go—helping to keep a well-stocked pantry through the winter months.

We’re thankful for all of our small businesses that took part—a few standouts being Bravo Supermarket which collected an amazing 148 lbs of donations, the Sandwich Shop (133 lbs), Los Primos Restaurant (63 lbs), Absolute Power Fitness (48 lbs), Groomers & Pomade (43 lbs), and Brooklyn Dental Professionals (31 lbs). All of our participants were enthusiastic to contribute and went an extra mile to give back to the community this season.

We will continue to collect donations at our office (246 Graham Ave)—please contact info@grandstreetbk.org to connect with us. Next, follow us @grandstreetbid for the earliest news of our Winter Restaurant Week taking place in February.

Grand Street gives back with holiday food drive

13 Grand Street businesses are collecting food donations for the holiday season

Grand Street businesses are giving back to the community December 1st through 19th by participating in the Grand Street BID's 3rd annual Grand Street Holiday Food Drive. 13 small businesses will host collection boxes for non-perishable food items to be donated to families in the St. John the Evangelist (195 Maujer Street) food pantry program.
The food is used to help the 150-200 weekly recipients of the parish’s hot meal program as well as their food pantry which serves 20-30 families, all of whom live here in the Grand Street neighborhood. The most typical recipients are senior citizens on fixed incomes and working families whose combined incomes don’t allow for full meals by the end of the month. Over the last two years, the food drive has collected and donated 852lbs of food.

You can bring non perishable donations to the following businesses:

• Burnside (506 Grand Street)

• Carneval (507 Grand Street)

• The Laundry Taxi (578 Grand Street)

• Empire Lock (648 Grand Street)

• Eleva Coffee (649 Grand Street)

• The Sandwich Shop (658 Grand Street)

• Brooklyn Dental Professionals (700 Grand Street)

• Los Primos Restaurant (704 Grand Street)

• Forum (717 Grand Street)

• Absolute Power Fitness (750 Grand Street)

• Bravo Supermarket (785 Grand Street)

• Z2A Repair (793 Grand Street)

• Groomers & Pomade (796 Grand Street)

To donate, just stop by any of our participating businesses and drop the food items in the holiday wrapped collection box. That’s it! Use the list below to pick out groceries at a participant like Bravo Supermarket (785 Grand Street) to check out and donate in one trip. Perishable and pre-cooked foods will be also collected by us (246 Graham Ave) so you can pick up a warm meal from any restaurant to help a small business and a hungry family.

Items that are especially helpful are as follows: Canned vegetables, breakfast cereals, peanut butter, oatmeal, rice, beans, canned fish, baby formula + food, granola bars, raisins + dried fruit. Also, pre-cooked meals or food that can be eaten without much heating or cooking required.

*Bring perishables to our office at 246 Graham Avenue between 10am to 5pm. Please call ahead of time at 718-218-8836.

Grab a drink with a "Pour Writer" at Thompson Brooke

Literature + cocktails: Writers take over the bar at Thompson Brooke for “Pour Writer” events

Menu from a previous “Pour Writers” event with Ann Brashares

Banter with your bartender may never be more interesting. In an ongoing series, Thompson Brooke invites prominent authors to take over bartending responsibility for the night. Most recently, Michelle Ruiz Keil took the helm, who’s debut YA novel in May All of us with Wings won her critical praise.

Next up is A Series of Unfortunate Events author Daniel Handler, who writes often under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket. Other notable authors such as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants author Ann Brashares and author Andrew Ridker of New York Times editor’s choice The Altruist. Each Pour Writer has their own specialty cocktail for the night, Ridker’s was Gin & Generosity and Brashares dished out Manhattans.

Thompson Brooke is a New England style tavern famous for their oysters located at 631 Grand Street. Brooke Costello, who also founded Brooklyn catering company Red Table owns the restaurant and hosts the “Pour Writers” series.

Follow @thompsonbrookerestaurant for updates on the series, and catch Handler behind the bar with delmonico cocktails on Wednesday, October 23rd from 8-10pm.

It was a Grand summer in Williamsburg--Let's recap what happened

Grand Street has changed a lot since May, here’s what you may have missed.

Artist Don Rimx with neighborhood students

7 new murals celebrating our community

The summer kicked off with the painting of Olor a Azucenas, el perfume del barrio at 609 Grand Street by Don Rimx. Simultaniously, Chris Jehly painted Internal View on the gates at 98 Bushwick Ave. Rimx drew influence from the small business community on Grand Street and the Puerto Rican heritage of the neighborhood to produce his work as an ode to the community. Jehly used his style of “in the moment” creativity to create surrealist works reflective of the vibrant and colorful commercial corridor. This project was funded by Council Member Stephen Levin and managed by the Grand Street BID. The BID hired a local curation business Owley to record and produce videos to document the process, which you can see here.

Artist Chris Jehly painting the gates at Grand Seafood

These murals were followed up quickly by the BID partnering with the Lisa Project and Pride NYC to paint 4 Pride inspired murals at 723 Grand Street. Artists Damon Johnson, Paid MSD, Paul Richard, SINNED + Ria Burns-Wilder visited the neighborhood in June to bring each of their unique styles to create an original work to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. You can see their work below. Read our full article here.

Left to right: Paid MSD + SINNED

Damon Johnson returned to the district again in July to complement the BiscoSmith work “SET THE PACE” by painting hummingbirds and flowers on the Western facing wall of Key Food with his style of bright colors contrasting the stark work to its left. Read the story here.

Original work by Damon Johnson

Summer Restaurant Week Triumphs

14 restaurants on Grand Street took part in this year’s iteration of the annual summer foodie event. With prices from $12 to $35, the event offered an alternative to diners in BK who didn’t want to have to travel to Manhattan to enjoy a Restaurant Week. The event drew attention everywhere from national press like the Wall Street Journal to local blogs like Bushwick Daily. With a complete guide to every participating restaurants’ specials, locals were able to find deals at their favorite spots and try something new at a discount. See the guide and full list of menus here.

DOT parking regulations change the roadway

Shot of the new south side bike lane on Grand Street

To accompany the two new protected bike lanes on Grand Street, the DOT has placed new parking regulations designed to finalize the comprehensive plan for the roadway. Here’s what has changed:

Commercial Only Loading Zones have been added mid-block on the North side of Grand Street and at some side street intersections, enforced from 7am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday. The loading zones convert to regular 1 hour metered parking from 4pm to 10pm.

Metered parking has changed on Grand Street from 2 hour to 1 hour and is enforced from 8:30am to 10pm Monday to Saturday.

Meters have been added to the cross streets of Grand at Union, Lorimer, Manhattan, Humboldt, and Bushwick avenues. Side street meters will be 2 hours and enforced from 8 or 8:30am (depending on the block) to 7pm Monday to Saturday.

We’ve also seen increased enforcement on parking in commercial loading zones and bike lanes. To see the fees associated with each violation, click here.

New plantings + tree guards decorate the streetscape

The Hort planting perennials on Grand Street

With funding support from Council Member Reynoso, the BID oversaw the installation of 22 additional tree guards in the district from Bushwick to Leonard along Grand Street. Additionally, the Hort, with funding from the Council Member, planted additional Brooklyn native plants in tree pits throughout the district.

While the summer may be wrapping up, you can still look forward to more neighborhood improvements from the BID. With fall and winter months ahead, you can look forward to expansion of our savings/ discount programming as well as holiday decorations + events in the neighborhood.

Celebrate National Night Out with the 90th precinct

The community event combines food, activites, and safety information.

Mark your calendar for August 6th to join your local precinct’s block party. The 90th precinct is hosting their own National Night Out event at two locations: Brooklyn Arbor School Yard, 325 South 3rd Street and Bushwick Houses, 24 Humboldt Street, Humboldt Street & Flushing Avenue (PSA 3).

You can look forward to a family friendly event with BBQ, face painting, bouncy castles, and performances from Nieves Latin Dance Studio, a karate school, and a DJ.

If you don’t have a ride, the precinct is also offering rides for individuals who come to the precinct office (211 Union Ave), and large groups who can request to be picked up at 718-963-5309 with prior notification.

While you enjoy the event, thank your local officers, and look out for your NCOs (Neighborhood Coordination Officers) Officer Tizzio and Officer Melendez to say hello. Post your pictures, tag @grandstreetbid, and #NationalNightOut.

Your guide to Restaurant Week on Grand Street

From fine dining to quick meals, your guide to all the prix fixe highlights August 12th – 25th

Thompson Brooke’s catch of the day + oysters draw foodies from every corner of Brooklyn

Williamsburg’s food scene has exploded in the past decade, and Restaurant Week on Grand Street is the perfect opportunity to explore new cuisines, or patron your favorite spot at a discount. With 14 restaurants on six blocks, sorting through all the menus may seem daunting, but we’re here to guide you through. Click here for the complete list of restaurants, prices, and menus August 12th-25th. Restaurant Week is a celebration of all the chefs, small business owners, and foodies in Brooklyn, so we’re here to keep it simple for you.

The classics:

Bahia Restaurant

Salvadoran pupusas may be the best comfort food you’ve never had. Although it has been on Grand Street for nearly 20 years, the already welcoming atmosphere of Bahia stepped up its game further with complete indoor and exterior renovations. We recommend the combo of 2 pupusas for appetizers, talapia, and flan for dessert with sangria included with your meal for $24.

Mussels from Le Barricou

Le Barricou

Since 2006, the French restaurant has elevated Grand Street’s restaurant scene, becoming a destination for visitors in Williamsburg and even being named one of the top 100 brunches in the country by Yelp. For the ultimate french dining experiences, we recommend the escargot, moules frites, and gelato for $35.

Grand Morelos*

The 24/7 Mexican diner + bakery offers one of the best steals of Restaurant Week, and has some of the best prices for the amount of food you get in all of Williamsburg. Guacamole to start, fajitas for the entree, and tres leches cake from the bakery for $20.

Los Primos

Los Primos is another Grand Street mainstay that you must visit if you live in the neighborhood. Serving traditional dishes in an atmosphere that feels like your meal is home cooked, Primos never fails to deliver with flavor. Try the nachos, fried pork chop, and homemade flan for $25.

The new:

Thompson Brooke

While Thompson Brooke opened its doors only a year ago, it’s already built a solid reputation with its New England style cuisine and those delectable oysters. Come at happy hour to split an $18 bottle of rose along with your $35 feast. You cannot go wrong with their famous oysters, shrimp and grits, and french toast doughnut.

Mad for Chicken

The latest restaurant to open on Grand Street, Mad for Chicken provides a casual scene to hang out, eat chicken wings, and drink beer. Basically, if you like fried chicken, this is the place to go with your friends. Order the grilled corn, 10 piece wings, and ice cream for dessert for $20.

Enjoy outdoor seating at Tacos Project

Tacos Project

Take advantage of the summer weather and relax for a bite outside. The backyard is filled with greenery and has umbrellas to shade the lawn chair + bistro seating. With a few menu options available, we recommend the arepas to start, pabellón for dinner, and horchata to drink all for $18.

The chic:

AmmazzaCaffe

A surefire hit for a special night out or family dinner, AmmazzaCaffe is Italian dining at its best. Enjoy outside in the backyard or book your reservation for Sunday night from 7-9 pm to listen to live jazz music while you eat. $35 goes a long way when you order tartare crostino (sea trout), reginette (pork shoulder in pasta), and pannacotta for dinner.

Los Tacos McOndo*

A block away from the new G and L entrance on Union Ave, Los Tacos has both the food and convenience. The stylish taqueria and bar make for a nice combo for date nights, casual meetings, and nights out. Queso fundido, quesadillas, and churros with fruit are a great way to go for $26.

(pictured right) Crispy fish tacos from Los Tacos

Indian Kitchen

Indian Kitchen wants you to share your dishes for Restaurant Week. Bring a friend or two and the price goes down to $11 per person. The menu is extremely flexible as well: you get a vegetable appetizer, 2 entrees of your choice, naan, and rice pudding for $22.

The impromptu:

Thip Osha*

The casual thai restaurant has the most options of any restaurant on the list, so if you like to leave a lot of room to decide what you want, then this is your place. For $19 we recommend the dumpling appetizer, the duck noodle soup (because just look at it), and the coconut custard for dessert.

Roasted duck soup from Thip Osha

Sandwich Shop*

Gourmet sandwiches galore. The Sandwich Shop offers a steal with $17.75 for a bag of chips, any sandwich, wrap, or bowl, and a can of beer. Our favorite sandwich is the el penzini, with prosciutto and pear for just the right complement of sweetness.

Lobster fries from Ryujin

Ryujin*

If you’re craving umami, then ramen from Ryujin should be your destination. Their lobster ramen and fries have gone viral for good reason, as its hard to find anywhere else that actually serves you a full lobster in your dish. We recommend the fries, spicy tan tan men, and a cup of sake for $25.

Crystal Lake

Teaming up with Tacos Lokos 4ever, Crystal Lake is jumping into Restaurant Week providing the relaxed bar feel with delicious snacks to go along. You can get a rice & beans app, two tacos, and a Coco Loko (coconut vodka & pineapple) all for $20.

Grand Street Restaurant Week: 5th Annual Summer Event

14 Williamsburg restaurants offer can’t miss prix fixe deals

Pollo from AmmazzaCaffe

The Annual Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street offers North Brooklyn residents fine dining and quick eats for bargain prix fixe prices. Book your reservation at any of participating location to get in on discount dining offers exclusive to Grand Street and only during Restaurant Week. Read through our guide to find the spot for you and see our recommendations. And find the full list below.

Snap a picture of you, your meal, or your friends on your night dining out with the #DineOnGrand for the opportunity to win $50 to a Grand Street BID restaurant of your choice!

Le Barricou – $35 – menu

Thompson Brooke – $35 – menu

AmmazzaCaffe – $35 – menu

Bahia Restaurant – $24 – menu

Ryujin – $25 – menu

Mad for Chicken – $20 – menu

The Sandwich Shop -$17.75 – menu

Thip Osha – $19 – menu

Indian Kitchen – $12 – menu

Los Tacos McOndo – $26 – menu

Grand Morelos – $20 – menu

Tacos Project – $18 – menu

Los Primos – $25 – menu

Crystal Lake – $20 – menu

Grand Street BID Announces 5th Summer Restaurant Week

The annual event will take place from August 12th to 26th.

Taste mussels from Le Barricou with soup + gelato dessert for $35

Foodies look out. The Annual Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street is set to take place again this August, offering fine dining and quick eats for bargain prix fixe prices. Acclaimed destinations Le Barricou, Thompson Brooke, and AmmazzaCaffe will participate again offering 3 course dinners for $35. Neighborhood favorites Bahia Restaurant, Grand Morelos + Sandwich Shop will once again offer steals from $18 for 3 courses.

Our complete lineup will be announced soon, but you can expect many familiar faces in the program, as a sign that the Grand Street Restaurant Week is attracting visitors to patron our thriving restaurant scene and providing opportunity for locals to explore new dining options.

Additionally, our social media contest will again award $50 to a lucky diner who shares their night out with pictures of their dinner, friends or family at one of our participating restaurants with the hashtag #DineOnGrand.

Follow us @grandstreetbid to stay up to date with all of the deals, and its never too early to book your reservation for the 2 week summer event.

Grand Street celebrates 34th Annual Meeting

The BID brought the community together to look back on the year.

Pictured: Cynthia Rogers of Williamsburg Animal Clinic with BID Executive Director Erin Piscopink.

The BID celebrated another year of accomplishments on June 20th at the 34th Annual Meeting. Keeping the neighborhood clean, sharing our community’s stories, planting trees, hosting events, and bringing art to the district, the BID was hard at work keeping Grand Street a premier Brooklyn destination to live, work, and play.

The community also awarded select individuals and businesses who made extraordinary contributions to the district or demonstrated notable commitment to the neighborhood.

The winners are listed here:

Williamsburg Animal Clinic for exemplary advocacy on behalf of small businesses.

Bahia Restaurant for impressive storefront improvements

Spa Ella for showing commendable commitment to the neighborhood by opening a second storefront in district

Find the full annual report here.

Happy 14th Birthday Bushwick Country Club

The neighborhood watering hole is celebrating on Wednesday, June 19th

The event will have free oysters + barbecue along with a champagne toast.
photo courtesy of DrinkedIn

As many descriptions of Bushwick Country Club note, it’s neither in Bushwick or a country club, but this staple bar has been on Grand Street for 14 years this Wednesday.

You can still celebrate in summer country club fashion however with free oysters, barbecue and mini golf on a 6 hole course in the backyard. The spot has a photo booth and arcade games as well, but beyond the extras the main draw has seemingly always been the sense of home Bushwick Country Club provides the neighborhood. The bar goes extra miles to create a sense of belonging, even creating country club “membership” cards for regulars.

BCC has also made a name for itself over the years, inventing the now well-known “pickleback” shot in 2006. So celebrate everything Bushwick Country Club has brought to the neighborhood over the past 14 years with a champagne toast and a shot with pickle juice for the chaser.

Meet the Grand Street BID: Win prizes

The Grand Street BID is partnering with local businesses to talk to shoppers on the street

The BID spoke with families while passing out free coffee + treats.

Look out for the logo to stop and chat with one of our neighborhood staff about the community while enjoying free treats. On a sunny Saturday this past month, the BID took the streets to share Eleva Coffee, Nick + Sons croissants, and spin a prize wheel for raffles + tote bags.

As part of the Grand Street Neighborhood Initiative, the BID wants to expand our reach to have conversations directly with shoppers and residents of the corridor. We collected feedback through community surveys to see what Grand Street patrons wanted to see next.

Shoppers who completed the survey or signed up for our newsletter spun a prize wheel for tote bags, sweets, or raffles of $50 to a Grand Street restaurant + 2lbs of Eleva coffee beans. Seen below, our winners, Ramona ($50 to Le Barricou) and Tiffany (Eleva coffee) are both residents of the Grand Street community.

Follow @grandstreetbid to find out where + when the next pop-up will be. The BID will continue to partner with our businesses this summer to chat + listen to you.

Winners of $50 to Le Barricou from our pop-up raffle