Food & Drink

5 exciting new eateries in Brooklyn

Winging it

Wangs
671 Union St.
718-636-6390
wangsbk.com

Zandy Mangold
At this tiny, 4-month-old fried chicken stand, chef/co-owner Sara Nguyen serves up succulent bird bits that are brined in Asian spices for 24 hours, then breaded and fried Southern style. “It’s a fast-food concept that goes beyond fast food for people who like to shop at the Coop,” says Nguyen, a Per Se alum who focuses on sourcing quality ingredients, such as chicken from Paisanos and bread for her poultry bread from the lauded bakers at nearby Runner & Stone.

Pickle Up Bar

Pickle Shack
256 Fourth Ave.
347-763-2127
pickleshacknyc.com

Zandy Mangold
At first glance, this 9-month-old spot seems to be a hard-won high-concept operation: a vegetarian gastro-pub, with an emphasis on pickles, a strong beer selection and the vibe of a really good, hops-centric bar. In reality, though, co-owner Neal Harden and his partners have simply done what comes natural to them. “My partners and I have been vegetarians our entire adult lives, the pickle factory around the corner is a related business and one of my partners is friends with the owners of Dogfish Head [brewery],” says Harden. “We wanted to have food that is fun and publike.”

The Sushi Upgrade

Katsuei
210 Seventh Ave.
718-788-5338
sushikatsuei.com

Zandy Mangold
“I’ve eaten so much Park Slope sushi that I’ve forgotten what the good stuff tastes like,” quips Angelina Powers, a 42-year-old film-directors agent who lives in the neighborhood. But with the opening of Katsuei last winter, the Slope finally has some serious raw fish.

Expect bluefin tuna with freshly chopped wasabi, Alaskan white king salmon with homemade soy, and giant clam with sea salt and lemon on the $65 omakase menu. Locals pack the place. “People are grateful,” says co-owner Aye Swe, who learned the business at the Upper East Side’s Sushi of Gari. “They thank me for bringing this kind of food to the neighborhood. I hear a lot of mmmms and oooohs.”

A Sweet Spot

Buttermilk Bakeshop
339 Seventh Ave.
347-689-4376
buttermilkbakeshop.com

Zandy Mangold
Of course, in a neighborhood famous for its helicopter moms, a premier sweets shop is de rigueur. Katie Rosenhouse, a veteran of Bouley and Le Cirque, satisfies that need with her 6-month-old bakery. She prepares delicious Nutella cookies and whoopie pies within plain sight of customers and pedestrians, capitalizing perhaps on her experience as a Chopped contestant and Sweet Genius winner. “We love our sprinkles over here,” gushes Rosenhouse, wearing a vintage-style Dodgers cap, rolling out dough and happy to be cooking for customers rather than snarky judges. “It was important for me to open in a child-friendly neighborhood, plus I live here. So Park Slope was a no-brainer.”

The Soup Nicey

Uncle Arthur’s Cafe
237 Ninth St.
347-916-1418,
unclearthurscafe.com

Zandy Mangold
Restaurateur Richard Gussoff first made his name in the neighborhood with his Soup Bowl, a wintertime pop-up that serves soul-warming bisques and chowders. Four months ago, Gussoff opened this cozy cafe serving everything from spaghetti in tomato sauce to rib-eye steak. For Matthew Capala, a 33-year-old professor/entrepreneur, it couldn’t have come soon enough. “This neighborhood needed it,” he says, sitting with a coffee and his laptop. “You feel welcome, the food is great, and it’s a good place to meet with clients.”