Once known as “Murder Avenue,” Fort Greene’s northern border, Myrtle Avenue, is now Brooklyn’s go-to spot.
Le Petit Bakery
354 Myrtle Ave., 718-875-6500, lepetitbakery.com
Looking for a doughnut-croissant mash-up without waiting in line? Head to this Brooklyn bakery, where they serve a Cronut-like pastry called the “Squat” ($4.50). Square in shape and offered in rich flavors like chocolate with bacon crumble, they are available only on the weekend (or in orders of a dozen during the week). It’s worth visiting during the week, too; the bakery has an assortment of other sugary goodies on offer daily, including an Oreo with white chocolate ganache ($1.25) and some of the best damned Nutter Butter cookies ($1.25) you’re likely to ever taste.
Splitty
415 Myrtle Ave., 718-643-BUNS, splittyny.com
Take a cool, low-lit bar, add a smattering of intriguing snacks, throw in a splash of stand-up comedy and you’ve got Splitty, an eclectic watering hole the owners of Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg opened last year. On Thursday nights comedians commandeer the space in the back, and we’re not talking local yokels, either. Jon Benjamin from “Archer” and “Jon Benjamin Has a Van” recently performed, as did Kristen Schaal, the saucy “Daily Show” correspondent. But stand-up comedy is just one day of the week — every night, Splitty serves up Chinese baos stuffed with mushroom, kale and potato, or peppery pastrami and kimchee under a blanket of melted cheese ($6 apiece). Their cocktails aren’t to be missed, either: The chai whiskey ($11) tastes like a classic White Russian, but with the Christmas-y taste of chai, perfect for the coffee bar generation.
Lulu & Po
154 Carlton Ave., 917-435-3745, luluandpo.com
OK, this one isn’t on Myrtle Avenue exactly, but it’s just off it, and the deep-fried Brussels sprouts with sweet chili sauce ($8) justify its inclusion. Dimly lit, with seating for only 30, this modestly sized small-plates restaurant has cooking that’s anything but modest. Spanish octopus ($14) is nicely charred and soft to cut into, with a tangy green herb sauce; scalding hot bones filled with glistening marrow serve are the filling for wonderful make-your-own tacos ($13). And it’s all served to a fun, unpretentious soundtrack — Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones. Good food, good times.
The Runner
458 Myrtle Ave., 718-643-6500, therunnerbk.com
With Brussels sprouts, kale and cabbage in a pistachio dressing, the chopped salad here is a healthy, delicious thing of beauty. But the Runner, which just opened a couple of months ago, also has plenty of worthy, less virtuous menu items, including a rich, well-seasoned burger with fries ($14) and something called honey bun bites ($4). The latter are essentially little circles of fried dough drenched in the sweet stuff, and they’re not to be missed. Just make sure you order them last — otherwise, you might spoil your appetite for your main course.
Peck’s
455A Myrtle Ave., 347-689-4969
With shelves stacked with rice vinegar and Kewpie mayo, this coffee shop and market could be a general store from old Brooklyn that time somehow forgot. It’s actually a 3-month-old establishment where you can grab everything from growlers of beer to La Colombe coffee to artisanal cheeses and creative, made-to-order sandwiches, like brisket and kimchee on a fluffy, flour-dusted roll ($8) — somehow it works! And Peck’s ample offerings are about to expand — they’re getting ready to open up their backyard for summer.
SoCo
509 Myrtle Ave., 718-783-1936, socobk.com
Few things excite the college-aged more than a meal that would harden their elders’ arteries. No wonder SoCo, the 2½-year-old Cajun/Creole/barbecue/soul food spot, is so popular with Pratt students. If you can squeeze your way in on a Sunday afternoon — and ignore all the best medical advice — go for the crispy, salty fried chicken and red velvet waffles ($20) and wash it all down with $4 mimosas.
Putnam’s Pub and Cooker
419 Myrtle Ave., 347-799-2382, putnamspub.com
There was a time when Brooklyn’s bar scene was dominated not by the trendy hipster dive, but by the Irish pub. Putnam’s, which opened less than three years ago, honors that sacred memory — but with “fresh ingredients” and Brooklyn flair. It’s a madhouse of activity on the weekends, with the festive atmosphere a good pub should have: couples chowing down on burgers ($11), big groups of friends, singles on the make — and now that the weather’s nice, sidewalk seating!
Brooklyn Tap House
590 Myrtle Ave., 347-750-7557, brooklyntaphouse.com
The happy hour here is so good it’s reminiscent of those glorious days before the epic financial collapse, when every institution with a liquor license was practically giving away their hooch — selected bottles and $3 domestic craft beers on tap. After 8 p.m. the prices go up to $6 to $8, and this big, open barnyard of a bar (which launched about two years ago) is a good place to enjoy them while watching the Yankees once again blow all their institutional advantages on one of the big-screen TVs.