Start the New Year with a good meal. And, for big portions of well cooked, filling food, head to Brooklyn's ethnic restaurants.
Here is a selection of some of Brooklyn's best ethnic eateries, organized by cuisine: Italian, Mexican, Polish, Thai, Turkish, and Jewish-style Deli.
1. Italian: La Villa Restaurant (Park Slope and Mill Basin)
A huge menu, with huge portions of ... everything. Italian food's the thing here, and it's the perfect way to kick off the New Year. Brooklyn has two La Villa restaurants, one in brownstone Park Slope, and the other in Mill Basin not far from the Kings Plaza Mall. Both feature great pizzas but if you're looking for an affordable meal with really a lot of food, start with a salad or appetizer to start, and then plow into any of their robustly portioned pasta, chicken or fish entrees. Mere mortals will need to take some home in a doggy bag. Moderately priced. Open on New Year's Day for lunch.Info:
- Park Slope location: 261 5th Avenue between First & Carroll Streets
- (718) 499-9888
- How to get to Park Slope
- Mill Basin location: 6610 Avenue U
- (718) 499-9888
2. Jewish Style Deli: Juniors (Downtown Brooklyn)
Is your New Year's resolution to eat more...cheesecake? Junior's is the place to start. The decor is so retro it's almost back in fashion. But at Junior's they don't skimp on portion size, including when it comes to cheesecake. On a normal day, two could share a triple-decker sandwich and split a piece of cheesecake. Keep it simple: go for standard deli food, like a turkey club with a side of slaw and fries. And then just try it: Junior's cherry cheesecake isn't famous for nothin'. Yuum.You can reach Juniors by walking over the Manhattan Bridge. Or, there are a ton of nearby subways: Take B, D, N, Q, R to DeKalb, the 2,3,4 or 5 train to Nevins.Open on New Year's Day from 6:30 A.M. until midnight.
Info:
- 386 Flatbush Ave Ext
- (718) 852-5257
- Official website: Www.orderjuniorsbrooklyn.com/
3. Polish: Teresa's (Brooklyn Heights)
Located in the heart of upscale Brooklyn Heights, near a promenade overlooking the Manhattan and NY Harbor that's listed in many tourist guides to the Big Apple, Teresa's is a good place to drop in for a bowl of borscht or hearty barley soup. It's also known for reasonable prices and ample servings, so if you are starving, or carbo-loading before a competitive run, or recovering from the Coney Island Polar Bear swim, you might come here for wonderful french toast, potato pancakes, stews, chicken or meat dishes, pierogi and other house specials. Trendy it's not, unless you're in the blue rinse set; Teresa's is a favorite of local oldsters. It's fun to sit at the counter; table service is fine, too.Take the 2,3 to Clark St, or 2,3,4,5 to Borough Hall stop, just 5 minutes ride from Manhattan. Open on New Year's Day from 10 A.M. until 11 P.M..
Info:
- 80 Montague Street
- (718) 797-3996
4. Mexican: Tacos Matamoros (Sunset Park)
So your New Year's resolution list starts with saving money? The food is so cheap at this humble Mexican joint in the Latino section of Sunset Park that one person can order for three and still come out ahead. In fact, if you're carbo loading, then order double just to start with. You can stick with the their specialty, tacos. Or, try the chicharrones or enchiladas with green sauce. Tacos Matamoros is cheap and do take credit cards. It helps to be able to hablar un poco Espanol. Open on New Year's Day 11 A.M. to 10 P.M.To get there, take the N or R trains to 45th or 53rd Street in Sunset Park.
Info:- 4508 5th Avenue (near 45th Street)
- (718) 871-7627
5. Polish: Krolewskie Jadlo (Greenpoint)
Polish food, almost by definition, is carbohydrate-rich. The menu at this ethnically-authentic Greenpoint standard varies somewhat seasonally, but you generally can get such Polish standards as borscht, thick slices of bread, pierogies, blinis filled with various things (try the cherry), smoked salmon, and of course that tummy-filler, fried potato pancakes. Top it off with cheesecake. Affordable. Open on New Year's Day from 2 P.M. until 10 P.M..To get there, take the G train to Nassau Avenue or to Greenpoint Avenue.
Info:
- 694 Manhattan Avenue (between Bedford Avenue and Norman Avenue)
- (718) 383-8993
6. Thai: Sea Thai Restaurant & Bistro (Williamsburg)
Sea is a huge place, a Williamsburg standard with low lighting and famously loud music. Customer reviews vary as to service and food quality: some love it, some hate it. But there's universal agreement on this: the portions are big. Be prepared to wait, especially on a weekend, at this happening place. But if you like Thai food, and especially if you go during the week, which in Williamsburg means Monday to Wednesday (the Williamsburg weekend starts on Thursday night), this is a good bet.It's near the L train Bedford Avenue stop. Open on New Year's Day from 4 P.M. - 11 P.M..
Info:
- 114 No. 6th Street at Berry Street
- (718) 384-8550
7. Turkish: Tacis Beyti (Midwood)
Go off the beaten track of "known" Brooklyn restaurants, and head to this very affordable, very good Turkish restaurant. The salads are fresh.The kebabs and rice are tasty. The cheese-filled pastry dough called boreks are excellent. And, if fried liver cubes are your thing, you can get them here, too. Plus, you can't beat the huge portion size. No alcohol. Affordable.Tacis Beyti is located not far from Tuoro College. By subway, take the Q or B to Kings Highway stop, but check the MTA transit schedules on for weekend route changes. Open on New Year's Day from noon until 11 P.M..
Info:
- 1955 Coney Island Avenue between Avenue P and Quentin Road
- (718) 627-5750
