Eating Prospect Lefferts Gardens
A guide to my home neighborhood.
Today I walked to meet a friend for breakfast and passed by the market around the corner from my apartment. It was suddenly empty: the bins of fruits, vegetables and flowers were all gone from the street. The inside was being stripped as I watched, the family who owned it packing boxes and shelving units into a waiting U-Haul. I’d been there just days before, buying a container of sliced watermelon and breaking a $20 into small bills for laundry. The market had been my go-to place for flowers whenever I felt like treating myself. I loved walking by the huge buckets of blooms changing with the seasons. The sudden loss felt like a punch. Everything is always changing in this city, and now I am leaving, and the things I once knew and loved will either carry on or morph in ways that I can’t predict.
In that spirit, here is a guide to the food I’ve loved here in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. I moved to the neighborhood in November 2020, mid-pandemic, into a charming studio in a crumbly pre-war building two blocks from Prospect Park. I have eaten so many sandwiches and so much square pizza. I have purchased an unholy number of oat milk lattes so that I could sit and work in a place that wasn’t my apartment. Once, I even ordered some tiny ricotta cheesecakes from a woman who posted flyers about her cheese-making business around the neighborhood. (For the record, I don’t recommend trying that.)
Here are the places I’ll miss most.
Restaurants
Glou - this, to me, is the platonic ideal of a neighborhood restaurant. Oily, crispy square pizzas, a rotating selection of desserts (always excellent), and natural wine. You can always find a seat, and the lighting is perfect at night. You’re my favorite, Glou.
And Sons - a tiny, gorgeous small places spot, the ~fanciest~ option on this list. Go here if you want to spend $20 on a few slices of ham that have been aged for, like, five years and melt like butter in your mouth. They also own the provisions shop next door, which I’ll discuss at length further down.
De Hot Pot - the lines outside this tiny spot are a giveaway that something very special is happening. De Hot Pot is known for their chickpea doubles, a Caribbean sandwich made of curried chickpeas tucked between pieces of fried flatbread. They’re so deliciously oily that you almost feel like you’re eating a savory filled donut. Go when you’re adequately hungry.
Names - a very good, plant-filled ramen joint. The loaded tater tots are perfect. The cocktails are huge and, inexplicably, tiki-themed. There is a tiny bar tucked next door with impossibly cool vibes and on weekends, they serve pizza. None of this makes any sense as a whole, but I’m very glad I only lived a block from it all.
Daleview Biscuits and Beer - if you are gluten-free, you should go here for a biscuit sandwich. The service was very weird the day we went, but the food tasted good, so I’m calling it a toss-up.
Quick Bites
And Sons Buttery - I love a fancy little provisions shop, and this one is the absolute cream of the crop. Their sandwiches are delicious, made on that beautiful type of sourdough where the crust almost cuts your mouth. Baked goods vary daily and are always excellent. You can also buy any of their charcuterie in quarter-pound increments, and there is a huge cheese fridge. I can go on! I would live here if they’d let me.
Empanada City - you’ll have to wait a while for your food because each batch of empanadas is deep-fried to order. The wait will be worth it. Every flavor I’ve tried has been excellent, but I especially love the plain chicken (nothing plain about it!), salt cod, and sweet guava + cheese options.Â
Cinnamon Girl - another excellent provision shop slash bakery. Lots of vegan options. I especially love their chocolate peanut butter bars.
IX - a Guatemalan restaurant that has an outdoor pickup window for coffee and small treats. Their hot chocolate is so excellent, especially the special flavors like rosemary cardamom.
Prospect Park Smorgasburg - the ultimate quick bites destination all through summer and early fall. This food fair is situated inside the Lincoln Road entrance of Prospect Park in an open meadow area with lots of seating and shade trees. There is a bar tent. Go hungry and preferably with friends so that you can split up the line-waiting times and try as many foods as possible.
Breakfast
Mockingbird Taco - a tiny menu offering nothing but breakfast tacos and canned drinks. The flour tortillas are made in-house, and they’re open every day until the tacos sell out. I especially love the potato and egg taco, but everything is high-quality and delicious.
Flatbush Bagels - always busy, service mildly cranky, but it’s the only decent bagel spot in the area so what are you going to do about it?
Bars
Fiona’s Bar - a very solid neighborhood bar with a huge tree standing in the center of the room. They also have grilled cheeses and snacks on offer.
The Rogers Garden - a cool indoor/outdoor setup with garden seating and very delicious frozen painkillers on tap. They specialize in rums, so if that’s your thing you’ll find a lot to geek out on.
CoffeeÂ
Hamlet - this spot is my home base, my absolute favorite place to work. Airy, spacious, with a backyard that includes working outlets (!). The baked goods are always fresh, too, which is decidedly not a given in this city. Try a slice of the sweet potato cake.
Little Skip’s South - if I lived slightly closer, I’d come here all the time. Cute local art for sale, plus random other bits like local compost. Very delicious maple lattes.
Did I leave any of your favorites out? Tell me about them! I want to try everything while I still can.