Quick Bites- Greenpoint
Where to go for a quick bite in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
We’re back (after quite a long break) with another edition of Quick Bites – more laid back, but still delicious spots for a weekday dinner or lunch – Greenpoint Edition.
Radio Bakery: Run by the same people behind Jeremy Allen White’s favorite restaurant, Rolo’s, Radio Bakery is a must for pastries and sandwiches. They make everything fresh daily and as they are a small spot, they make limited quantities that they offer until sold out. Starting at 7:30am, they sell a wide variety of pastries, including some specials. Their Cheesy Pretzel Bearclaw is what savory pastries strive to be. The pastry is buttery and flakey, and the inside is filled with melted cheddar and whole-grain mustard. Each bite has a great balance of tang from the mustard and salt from the cheese. Another great savory option is the Scallion Sesame Twist, which is exactly what it sounds like and is really great! For sweeter options – the Earl Grey Morning Bun is a perfectly buttery bun that is dosed with a delicious mixture of sugar and earl grey tea leaves. It is so different from anything I’ve tried before and it is another must try. Also, their Brown Butter Corn Cake is a sweet corn cake that is so perfectly moist, I’m always shocked each time I have it.
At 10am they bring out their fresh made focaccias, which are another work of art. They are the perfect balance of charred and chewy. I had their Shakshuka slice with tomato sauce and boiled eggs and it was really great. Starting at 11am, they sell their lunch sandwiches all on their stirato or focaccia breads. The Spicy Tofu Sandwich with a scallion tahini sauce and chili crisp is a great option full of different flavors and textures. The Tuna Salad Sandwich is another hit, filled with lots of lemony tuna salad and a bit of a kick from the pepperoncini.
The lines are long on the weekends and they usually sell out around 1/1:30pm, so if you can go on a weekday, it is your best bet. Otherwise, bring a friend and wait in line (it goes by pretty quickly) for your delicious baked goods!
Chrissy’s Pizza: If you read my posts, you know quite arguably my favorite pizza of all time is Chrissy’s. After their late night residency at Superiority Burger (full article on that here), they have finally opened their own brick and mortar shop in Greenpoint. Their pizza remains one of my favorites and if you can bear to wait in line – go, because it is so worth it. The crust is so crispy and their sauce to cheese ratio is perfect. I recently got their special pizza which was a spicy white pie with fresh mozzarella, seasoned ricotta, calabrian chiles, hot honey and black pepper. As someone that normally does not like white pies – I was blown away by how good this was. Everything tasted so fresh and I loved the kick from the calabrian chiles and black pepper. The only downside is that you might wait an hour and a half in line and to get your pizza, but I hear that on cold days there is no line – so bundle up and get some pizza!
Jubilee Marketplace: This is going to be a bit random, but in Jubilee Supermarket in Greenpoint, they have a cafe where you can get a $2.55 smashburger that is actually really good. Is it the best burger you’ll ever have? Definitely not. But if you are in the area and want a snack (I say snack, because they are quite small), this is a pretty solid option.
Restaurant Relax: Restaurant Relax is a very casual, Polish diner-style restaurant. As someone who is Polish, I can say that they make authentic, comforting Polish food. Everything we had felt like it was made at one of my family members’ homes. I highly recommend their Tomato Soup, which comes with noodles. It is like a hug in a bowl. Polish side salads are my absolute favorite and I got a couple of them – lettuce with sour cream (might sound weird, but trust), grated carrots with horseradish, cucumbers in sour cream (yes, we love sour cream), and beets with horseradish (you see a pattern here?). The salads are all so fresh and crisp, they are a great addition to any mains that you get. The Pierogi are also a great option – I got the potato and cheese ones and they were so soft and good. They make their pierogi from scratch everyday and you can really taste the difference. Lastly, their Chicken Cutlet is soooo good! It is topped with mushrooms and served with your choice of sauce and a side (I opted for potato dumplings). The chicken is so juicy inside and has a great crispiness on the outside. Anything you get here will be delicious!
Forma Pasta Factory: Forma is a fast, casual pasta spot, serving really delicious pastas for a very reasonable price. My favorite is the Fettuccine Funghi (sautéed wild mushrooms, rosemary & thyme cream sauce, parmigiano reggiano), which is so creamy and indulgent. Another great option is the Gemelli Pesto (basil pine nut pesto, confit cherry tomatoes, parmigiano reggiano). They make simple pastas, but they are full of flavor and just a delight to eat!
Hell yeah what a great list!