Best Trendy Restaurants in Fort Greene
13 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Sukh
Immersive, traincar-inspired Thai dining with a menu that highlights regional dishes rarely seen elsewhere in Brooklyn.
Notable Picks
#1
Sukh
8.8
Sukh is a traincar-inspired Fort Greene Thai restaurant where Northern and central Thai dishes get the full Brooklyn-restaurant treatment—thoughtful plating, cocktails, and a menu built for both a la carte and prix-fixe nights. Dishes like Khao Soi, Hor Mok, and crab fried rice lean bold and spicy rather than toned-down, making it a splashy option steps from Barclays and BAM.
Must-Try Dishes:
Khao Soi curry noodles with braised chicken, Hor Mok steamed fish custard with crab, Khao Pad Pu jumbo lump crab fried rice
What Makes it Special: Immersive, traincar-inspired Thai dining with a menu that highlights regional dishes rarely seen elsewhere in Brooklyn.
#2
Walter's
8.7
Walter's is a Fort Greene American restaurant where a serious cocktail program meets a bistro-leaning menu built around oysters, fried chicken, and a signature burger. Locals use it as a go-to for elevated, but still relaxed, dinners before or after BAM and neighborhood nights out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Walter's Burger, Fried Chicken with spicy honey, Oysters on the Half Shell
What Makes it Special: A polished neighborhood American spot where cocktails, oysters, and a benchmark burger share the same bar-driven room.
8.6
Next Level Burger is a plant-based burger counter inside the Fort Greene Whole Foods where vegan burgers, fries, and shakes run steadily until 10pm every night. With hundreds of Google and Yelp reviews and regular love from outlets like The Infatuation, it’s the most validated late-night burger option in the zip if you’re open to meatless patties.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Burger, Classic Burger, Brooklyn Burger
What Makes it Special: A high-volume, fully vegan burger counter doing fast-food classics until 10pm.
8.5
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Happy Hour Hotspots
Directly off Atlantic Avenue, The Simpson is a Caribbean-influenced restaurant and bar where business lunches skew celebratory—think oxtail, jerk-seasoned mains, and rum-forward cocktails in a clubby dining room. Weekday lunch is calmer than evenings, making it a strong choice when you want to impress a client or reward a team with something more memorable than salads and wraps.
Must-Try Dishes:
Braised Oxtail Platter, Jerk Chicken Entree, Rasta Pasta
What Makes it Special: A polished Caribbean dining room steps from Barclays where lunch can double as a celebration.
#5
Mito
8.4
Mito is a high-ceilinged Japanese fusion lounge by BAM where sushi sets, signature rolls, and grilled dishes share space with cocktails and a value-focused three-course menu. It functions as a flexible pre- and post-show hangout that feels polished without being stiff.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mito Sashimi for 2, Chef’s Sushi Set, Four Ways: Tuna
What Makes it Special: A large, lively modern Japanese room steps from BAM with sushi, grills, and cocktails under one roof.
8.4
Down a side street off Fulton, Fradei drinks like a natural-wine bar but cooks like a minimalist bistro, with a short, constantly changing menu and serious attention to ingredients. The narrow room and small backyard feel tucked away even by Fort Greene standards, drawing industry folks and neighbors who treat it as a low-key special-occasion spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal crudo of the day, Housemade pasta with seasonal ragù, Olive oil cake
What Makes it Special: A tiny, wine-first bistro hiding serious seasonal cooking.
#7
Aita
8.2
A small, natural-wine-friendly trattoria that rewards focused ordering—seasonal pastas, a strong starter, and one cleanly executed main. The room is intimate and the menu shifts, so your best bet is to follow what’s cooking best that night and keep it paced.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oxtail Ravioli, Burrata, Branzino
What Makes it Special: Seasonal pasta cooking with a natural-wine backbone in a tiny room.
#8
Theodora
8.2
A Fort Greene dinner room that pushes Mediterranean into a more produce-and-fire-driven lane, with a buzzy open-kitchen energy and a natural-wine-friendly mood. The menu rewards pacing—bread first, then a fish or grill centerpiece—so the meal feels intentional instead of snacky. It’s chef/owner Tomer Blechman’s next step beyond the Miss Ada universe, dialed a bit more “stay awhile.”
Must-Try Dishes:
Za’atar kubaneh, Butterflied trout, Baklava sundae
What Makes it Special: A fire-kissed, seasonal Mediterranean menu with a high-energy open-kitchen room.
8.2
Peaches Prime is a modern neighborhood brasserie from the Peaches group, serving Southern-leaning American comfort plates, steaks, and seafood just steps from BAM. It’s used as a flexible pre- and post-show option where oxtail fettuccine, shrimp and grits, and a house burger share space with cocktails in a lofty dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Peaches Prime Burger, Oxtail Fettuccine, Garlic Shrimp Scampi
What Makes it Special: A Peaches-branded brasserie combining Southern-inflected comfort dishes with a sleek room right across from BAM.
#10
Baba Cool
8.1
All-day Fort Greene cafe and restaurant with a vegetable-forward menu, brunch plates, and a small lineup of sandwiches like brisket and pulled spiced chicken. The bright room and backyard patio make it a flexible choice for a lighter sandwich lunch, coffee, or pre-BAM bite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Brisket Sandwich, Pulled Spiced Chicken Sandwich, B.E.C. Breakfast Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Cafe-style sandwiches and bowls served in a design-forward space with a hidden garden patio.
#11
Thea
8
A bakery-cafe with a chef-y edge where sweet pastry technique and lunchable savory builds share the same level of care. It shines when you order with intention: one standout pastry, one sandwich, then stop before it turns into a scattered tasting flight.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mango labneh maritozzi, Tahini banana bread, BLT on focaccia
What Makes it Special: Pastry and savory builds that feel chef-driven, not generic.
#12
Strange Delight
8
Contemporary oyster bar blending New Orleans‑inspired seafood with a refined Brooklyn sensibility. Charbroiled oysters and creative preparations make this a standout for adventurous diners in Fort Greene/11217. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Must-Try Dishes:
Charbroiled Oysters, Blackened Swordfish Belly, Shrimp Remoulade
What Makes it Special: NOLA‑inspired seafood with bold charbroiled oysters
Worthy Picks
7.7
The Rockwell Place is a Fort Greene cocktail bar tucked just off Flatbush, popular with BAM and Downtown Brooklyn crowds for its creative drinks and daily happy hour. The space feels like a dressed-up neighborhood bar, with strong cocktails and light bites rather than a full dinner play.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cocktail du jour, House Old Fashioned, Marinated olives
What Makes it Special: A tucked-away cocktail bar near BAM with rotating specials and an intimate happy hour.