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Top-Rated Fort Greene Restaurants You Should Check Out

Fort Greene is one of the most diverse and accessible neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and it sits in the northwestern part of the borough. The area got its name from General Nathanael Greene, who supervised the construction of an American Revolutionary War-era fort in 1776.

medium-well beef with sauce in fort green restaurant

Fort Greene’s diversity is evident in its cultural history and thriving mix of casual restaurants & entertainment joints. Best of all, the community is tightly knit and anchors everything together, and all these factors make Fort Greene an ideal place to live in or visit.

If you happen to visit the area, the best way to experience the diversity of Fort Greene is by trying out the local cuisines on offer. The neighborhood has several eateries, but I have picked those that stand out. Check out my list of the best restaurants in Fort Greene, Brooklyn below!


Olea

171 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Phone: 718-643-7003
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Olea
Source: Olea

Perched on a corner at Adelphi Street and Lafayette Avenue, Olea sits under a beautiful canopy of trees that make the outdoor seating a pleasant experience. Outdoor seating is weather-dependent, though, but some of the structures have infrared heaters to keep you warm.

The taverna has been part of the Fort Greene community since 2005 and serves some of the most delicious Mediterranean dishes. Try some of their Greek chicken platter, tapas, and Greek yogurt, and you won’t be disappointed. They also serve gluten-free dishes and have a dedicated deep fryer to cook food containing gluten so that the rest make the healthy options.

There is also a bar, so you can drink sangria while relaxing in the bohemian, plant-filled space.


Colonia Verde

219 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone: 347-689-4287
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Colonia Verde
Source: Colonia Verde

Colonia Verde is about a 3-minute walk away from Olea, along Dekalb Avenue (between Adelphi Street and Clermont Avenue. It adopts a more airy and rustic ambiance with a greenhouse-like section at the back.

The restaurant is Latin American, and they serve fire-grilled Latin American meals like poblano pepper pasta, half-roasted achiote chicken, and a variety of tacos. Most of their cocktails are also Latin, with ‍Luz De La Luna and La Chingona being some of the best.

Perhaps the best time to visit the eatery is on one of the Sundays lined up for the Asado series. During one Sunday each month, the joint invites chefs and grill masters from all over to set up in the backyard for an afternoon of culinary delight.


Miss Ada

184 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone: 917-909-1023
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Miss Ada
Source: Miss Ada

The owner of Miss Ada is Tomer Blechman, an Israeli-born chef, and he named the eatery from the Hebrew word for restaurant, Misada. The root of this word is Seuda, which means coming together of family and friends at the dinner table.

Miss Ada lives up to its root meaning because it serves delicious Mediterranean cuisines that bring everyone to the dining table. The restaurant uses a blend of local and seasonal ingredients to add a twist and uniqueness to each meal.

I enjoyed their hummus bowls and shawarma dishes, but you can also try some of the Yemeni pastries for brunch. Drinks are plentiful here and include several cocktails, wines, beer, and non-alcoholic options.

Miss Ada is only a 2-minute walk away from Colona Verde along Dekalb Avenue.

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Roman’s

243 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone: 718-622-5300
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Roman's
Source: Roman’s

Dekalb Avenue is like the restaurant capital of Fort Greene because several of them line the stretch, including Roman’s. Nestled on the corner of Vanderbilt and Claremont Avenues, the joint is only a minute’s walk away from Colonia Verde.

It is one of the vintage-chic and hip spots in the neighborhood that serves locally sourced Italian dishes. The restaurant believes & commits to sustainability and has partnerships with local farmers to supply farm produce to support the community.

Chef Jacob Handy and sous chef Jose Genao are responsible for the meals, including the variety of three-course meals plus dessert for dinner. The joint only serves lunch on Saturday and Sunday, and the menu options include meals like potato frittata and artichoke & pistachio ravioli.


Locanda Vini & Olii

129 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Phone: 718-622-9202
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Locanda Vini & Olii
Source: Locanda Vini & Olii

Locanda Vini & Olii sits in a building that once housed a drugstore and tailor shop. Constructed in 1894, the century-old structure is on the corner of Cambridge Place and Gates Avenue, and the first thing you will notice when walking in is the history due to the “Drug Store” storefront label.

However, once you get in, everything changes because the interior is not old and does not resemble a drug store. There are tables outside, so you can pick whether to eat indoors or outdoors.

The restaurant is Italian and serves Northern Italian cuisines, with pasta varieties like Ai Funghi and Al Tartufo being the Primi. For the Secondi or main course, you can try out Tagliata or the spare ribs, which I found very delicious. 


Black Forest Brooklyn

733 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 718-935-0300
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Black Forest Brooklyn
Source: Black Forest Brooklyn

Black Forest Brooklyn is part of two restaurants operated by the same management. Fort Greene opens for lunch, brunch, and dinner, but the Smith St. branch opens for brunch and dinner only.

The restaurant is trendy and features an indoor dining room plus a sidewalk chalet and seasonal beer garden at the Fowler Plaza as outdoor seating options. Both outdoor options allow dogs, but I recommend the sidewalk chalet due to its divided design and interior heating.

Since the eatery is German, you can expect to get only the best German home-style cooking. There is also a unique selection of wines, draft beers, and craft spirits from the country.


Evelina

211 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone: 929-298-0209
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Evelina
Source: Evelina

Evalina adds to the number of restaurants found along Dekalb Avenue and is only a few feet away from Colonia Verde.

The upscale bistro is also very close to Fort Greene Park (two minutes away), while the G and C lines are five and eight minutes away, respectively, by foot. Therefore, accessing the place and other joints along this street is easy.

Once you get there, you will not miss the spot because the restaurant’s chairs and tables line the corner of that block (Dekalb and Adelphi).

On the menu are Italian and Mediterranean cuisines, with both the lunch and dinner menus having a variety of pasta dishes. The brunch options are also delicious and include braised wagyu short ribs, some of the best beef you will ever taste.


Walter Foods

166 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 718-488-7800
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Walter Foods is a one-minute walk away from Miss Ada and is on the opposite side of Fort Greene Park. Even though the restaurant’s interior is hip, I found the outdoor seating on the chalet to be more relaxing due to the greenery of the tree-lined street and view of the park.

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The eatery is American, and some of the delights you should try out include Walter’s burger and grilled bar steak for dinner. If you prefer raw seafood, Walter Foods has a raw bar serving oysters on a half shell and shrimp cocktails.

It opens till late, so you can grab your meals up to midnight on Friday and Saturday and up to 11 pm for the other days.


Café Paulette

1 S Elliott Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 718-852-8582
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Café Paulette
Source: Café Paulette

If you fancy French cuisines, Café Paulette serves classic and seasonal French dishes plus a selection of natural wines. The restaurant is only a 3-minute walk away from Walter’s and faces the beautiful trees of Fort Greene Park, especially from the outdoor seating.

Dishes like Escargots De Bourgogne (with burgundy snails) make the perfect appetizer but if you do not like trying something entirely new, go for the burgers.

Music lovers can enjoy their visit while listening to a live jazz session every Tuesday night. The alternative is to have brunch, lunch, or an afternoon meal, then walk to the Barclays Center, Theatre for a New Audience, or BAM for a game or performance.

However, if you prefer wine more than food, the Petit Paulette wine bar is right outside, facing the park, and serves natural wines plus small plates.


Dino

222 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone: 718-222-1999
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Dino
Source: Dino

There is no shortage of Italian eateries in Fort Greene. Dino adds to the list and is a Northern Italian restaurant that mainly serves traditional dishes. You can get a variety of homemade pasta options on the menu, including the gluten-free versions of the meals for an extra $3.

The interior space is cozy, and although small, there is sidewalk seating on the front patio and a large picket-fenced garden at the back. There’s also a private dining room available for events and parties.

Located at 222 Dekalb Avenue, the joint is almost directly opposite Colonia Verde and a few minutes away from Fort Greene Park. The Pratt Institute is about a 10-minute walk away, so you can grab a bite there after classes.


The Quarter

87 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 347-987-4012
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The Quarter
Source: The Quarter

Perhaps the best thing about The Quarter is its outdoor garden sitting area, which is a beautiful space with plant-lined walls. The restaurant is American and serves American dishes with inspirations from all over the globe to add on an international flare.

Some of the items on the brunch menu include Mexican Chilaquiles, Cavatelli Pasta, and the Brooklyn Eagle. Dinner begins at 4 pm and goes till late (midnight), but you should take advantage of the happy hour eats & menu, plus beer n burger Thursdays.

Situated along Lafayette Avenue, The Quarter is only a 4-minute walk away from Café Paulette and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.


Baba Cool

64 Lafayette Ave Suite B, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 347-689-2344
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Baba Cool
Source: Baba Cool

The name suggests the restaurant is cool, and it is. Baba cool opened its doors in 2014 and has since grown to open a second location in Williamsburg in 2021. The founder, Gabriella, is a menu developer and entrepreneur who opened the restaurant to fuel her love for food and to bring people together.

Her passion for food is evident in the unique and delicious menu options like choux, jo, and baba bowls. There are also unique sweet bowls (warm and strawberry chia pudding) to try out.

Like The Quarter, baba cool sits along Lafayette Avenue and is only a minute away by foot.

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Dinner Party

86 S Portland Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 347-463-9173
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Dinner Party
Source: Dinner Party

Dinner Party has an interesting story behind it. The founder, Cami Jetta, first hosted a dinner party in Berkley, California.

It was in a one-bedroom apartment (living room floor), and she served her 15 guests a five-course meal on the same plate, which meant the crumbs of the previous course added a new layer of flavors to the next one.

The dinner was unforgettable, and now she hosts a dinner party serving light bites and conversations at salon hours and around dusk. However, she only hosts a two-course brunch on Sundays. The menu changes each week, but you can be sure of mouthwatering meals made using local and regional ingredients.

Dinner Party is only a minute away from The Quarter along S Portland Avenue.


Halalbee’s

378 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone: 347-916-1488
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Halalbee's
Source: Halalbee’s

We all need burgers once in a while, and Halalbee’s is the home of burgers, fries, and shakes in Fort Greene. The expertly crafted burgers contain 100% natural grass-fed beef with no antibiotics or hormones.

Another advantage that the restaurant has is affordable prices because almost every menu item is below $10. It remains closed on Sunday, though, so if you want a properly made, 100% halal burger, stop by from Monday to Saturday.

Halalbee’s is roughly six minutes away from Evelina and three minutes away from Fort Greene Park.


Endswell

773 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 929-276-3150
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There are few French American restaurants in the neighborhood, and Endswell is one of them. Located along Fulton Street and only a minute away from Dinner Party, Endswell is a chic bistro that serves French-inspired classics, cocktails, brunch, and small plates.

If you are a vegetarian, there are several options on the menu, like the veggie burger and French onion soup.

My favorite time to visit Endswell is from 5 – 7 pm every Monday to Friday because of the happy hour deals on drinks, fries, olives, and popcorn.


Loreto Kitchen & Bar

280 Ashland Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 718-554-1121
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Loreto Kitchen & Bar
Source: Loreto Kitchen & Bar

Located just two minutes away from the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Loreto Kitchen & Bar is an Italian restaurant with executive chef Pietro Aletto as the man behind its fresh new menu. The eatery serves traditional Neapolitan meals from recipes passed through generations of the chef’s family.

Any gourmand will find at least one favorite meal from the wide variety of homemade pasta and pizza.

Part of the menu contains a wide selection of handpicked wines, which the restaurant displays on a wall behind the bar like a work of art. Visit from 5 – 6:30 pm Monday to Wednesday to take advantage of the happy hour deals at the bar.


Chic-hen

1 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Phone: 718-504-3030
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Chic-hen
Source: Chic-hen

Chic-hen is only a minute away from Endswell, and as the name suggests, it is a chic restaurant that primarily serves chicken.

However, it’s not just any chicken. The eatery focuses on making healthy meals by soaking chickens in brine overnight to drain fat and impurities. Additionally, they use fresh, high-quality ingredients and make gluten-free batter and sauces.

The result is delicious chicken sandwiches, fried rice, fried chicken, and various small bites. There are no alcoholic drinks on the menu, so the place is kid and family-friendly.


Fort Greene is an exceptional neighborhood in Brooklyn, and as you can see, it has a diverse mix of restaurants that reflect the vibrant mix of cultures in the area. 

Steakhouses are probably the only missing types of restaurants, but you can find these all over Brooklyn.

Did I leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave a comment, and I’ll check it out!

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Quora, Google Guide and Facebook.