Best Hidden Gems Restaurants in Brooklyn Heights
13 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Al Badawi
Palestinian feasts built around wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and shareable mezze in a Michelin-recognized setting.
Notable Picks
#1
Al Badawi
8.8
Al Badawi brings Palestinian home cooking to Atlantic Avenue, turning a narrow Brooklyn Heights dining room into a busy hub for mezze and family-style platters. Since opening in 2021, it has earned Michelin Guide attention for wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and generous hospitality that make it a destination well beyond the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Msakhan with sumac-roasted chicken and onions, Lamb chops over rice with roasted peppers, Warm house flatbread with hummus and mezze
What Makes it Special: Palestinian feasts built around wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and shareable mezze in a Michelin-recognized setting.
#2
Henry's End
8.6
Henry's End is a long-running Brooklyn Heights bistro known for wild game, pepper steaks and hearty, sauce-driven plates in a cozy brick-walled space. Neighborhood regulars treat it as a reliable spot for carnivorous date nights and old-school comfort that predates the current restaurant boom.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak au poivre, Duckling in honey-soy, Walnut-crusted chicken breast
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Brooklyn Heights institution for game-focused plates and peppery steaks.
8.5
Cloudy Donut Co. brings an all-vegan donut lineup to a minimalist Brooklyn Heights storefront just off Joralemon Street, with weekly-rotating flavors that feel closer to plated desserts than basic coffee-shop rings. Locals and visitors line up for brioche-style donuts with inventive glazes that stay surprisingly light for how indulgent they sound.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grapefruit Mimosa donut, Pina Colada donut, Salted Caramel Whiskey donut
What Makes it Special: Plant-based donuts with pastry-chef-level flavor combos in a tiny, modern space.
8.4
Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop is a century-old Syrian bakery on Atlantic Avenue known for its fresh pita, baklava, and prepared Middle Eastern specialties. Dating back to the late 1920s, it draws neighborhood shoppers and destination carb-seekers for trays of sweets, savory pies, and pantry staples that taste rooted in home cooking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Assorted baklava and pistachio pastries, Spinach and cheese pies, Falafel or shawarma sandwiches on house pita
What Makes it Special: A historic Syrian bakery where locals stock up on pita, pastries, and grab-and-go Middle Eastern dishes from long-running family recipes.
In Brooklyn Heights, Dellarocco's specializes in Neapolitan-style pies with a well-regarded gluten-free crust baked in a wood-fired oven. Locals lean on it for classic margheritas and white pies that feel like proper restaurant pizza rather than an afterthought for gluten-free diners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gluten-free Margherita Pizza, Broccoli Rabe and Sausage Pizza on GF crust, Quattro Formaggi Pizza on GF crust
What Makes it Special: Serious Neapolitan pizza with one of the neighborhood’s most reliable gluten-free crusts.
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
Taqueria Al Pastor is a counter-service spot on Court Street known for its spit-roasted pork tacos, homemade tortillas and fast-moving line. Downtown Brooklyn workers and Brooklyn Heights residents use it as a reliable stop for quick lunch plates, late-afternoon taco runs and casual dinners. The focus stays on well-seasoned meats, salsas and value rather than elaborate decor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor tacos with pineapple, Carne asada quesadilla, Nachos with pastor
What Makes it Special: Counter-service tacos al pastor carved fresh onto warm tortillas.
#7
River Deli
8.3
Tucked onto a quiet brownstone block near the Brooklyn Heights waterfront, River Deli focuses on Sardinian-inspired dishes and Italian wines in a small, brick-lined dining room. The menu leans toward pastas, seafood, and antipasti that feel homey but regionally specific, making it a go-to for date nights that avoid the main drag. Its location off the promenade keeps it slightly under the radar even for neighborhood residents.
Must-Try Dishes:
Malloreddus sausage ragu, Bottarga-topped pasta specials, Sardinian seafood stew
What Makes it Special: Sardinian-leaning Italian cooking in a quiet, brownstone-lined corner.
8.2
Sushi Gallery is a compact Clark Street storefront where loyal Brooklyn Heights regulars come for fresh fish, friendly service, and specialty rolls that feel more personal than chain sushi. It’s a low-frills dining room but an overachiever on quality for both dine-in and takeout.
Must-Try Dishes:
Marshall roll or other house specialty roll, Assorted nigiri sushi set, Salmon sashimi with ponzu
What Makes it Special: Tight, unfussy sushi counter with quietly excellent fish and local-regular energy.
#9
Boutros
8.2
Boutros is a chef-driven spot on Atlantic Avenue where modern Middle Eastern flavors meet Brooklyn bistro energy in a dim, lively room. It’s a flexible choice for birthdays and group celebrations that want mezze, cocktails, and inventive entrées without a white-tablecloth vibe.
Must-Try Dishes:
Short-rib shawarma sando, Duck entree, Challah French toast
What Makes it Special: Modern Middle Eastern cooking with a lively, design-conscious dining room.
#10
Dellapietras
8
Dellapietras is a Brooklyn Heights butcher specializing in dry-aged USDA Prime and Choice steaks, with a small prepared-foods counter and sandwiches. For home cooks, it functions as the neighborhood's steakhouse pantry, supplying cuts and aging levels you usually only see in high-end restaurants.
Must-Try Dishes:
Porterhouse steak (USDA Prime, dry-aged), Bone-in ribeye (dry-aged), Italian steak sandwich
What Makes it Special: Dry-aged butcher where restaurant-quality steaks and sandwiches come from the same counter.
#11
Fortune House
8
Fortune House is a Brooklyn Heights stalwart that has been serving Chinese standards for decades in a narrow, lightly updated dining room. It’s the sit-down choice locals use for family dinners and casual gatherings when they want familiar dishes, warm service, and portions that comfortably fill the table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Egg Roll, Beef Chow Fun in Soup, Hunan Beef
What Makes it Special: Long-running neighborhood Chinese spot where table-service dinners and takeout coexist comfortably.
Worthy Picks
#12
Ferrane Bakery
7.9
Ferrane Bakery is a newer Swedish-style bakery in Brooklyn Heights from the team behind Scandinavian candy shop BonBon. Cardamom-laced buns, cinnamon rolls and seasonal cakes anchor a small but focused menu that gives the neighborhood something different from traditional American bakeries.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cardamom bun, Cinnamon roll, Princess cake slice
What Makes it Special: Scandi-inspired buns and cakes bring a Nordic angle to the local bakery scene.
7.7
Brooklyn Heights Deli is a neighborhood bodega-style deli where made-to-order heroes and grill items anchor a long menu of cold cuts, hot sandwiches, and platters. It’s more about big portions and everyday convenience than curation, but locals praise the hefty chicken cutlet and turkey combinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Cutlet Sandwich with Mozzarella and Avocado, Turkey Hero, The Fat Boy Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Bodega-style deli turning out stacked heroes and hot sandwiches.