X

The Village Voice made a useful map of BK’s essential eats

Paper plates, lunch trays, cue-card receipts and all— BK’s scrappiest eats like Tortilleria Los Hermanos still rank among Brooklyn’s best. Via flickr user Robyn Lee

Forget everything you’ve read on Yelp: Brooklyn’s food scene is here to stay. In fact, according to this roundup on The Village Voice, our food scene is downright essential! Hey, we’ll be the first to agree about that. They’ve compiled a list 99 strong, with BK favorites new and old. The best thing about this map, though, is that it actually covers a large swath of the borough, as opposed to just hanging out off of one train line. You’ll almost certainly find a neighborhood spot on here that’s close to home, wherever home is for you.

The list isn’t restricted to white tablecloths and origami napkins: greasy spoons like Tom’s Restaurant and Pies N’ Thighs make the cut, too. Also on the more affordable side of things are café bakeries like Four & Twenty Blackbirds and Dough, famous for signature sweets as opposed to pricey omakases. On the savory side of savings, we’re looking at dreamy little hole-in-the-wall outfits like Tortilleria Los Hermanos and SCRATCHbread.

Now, this is not to discredit the Peter Lugers and Maison Premieres. They’ve been plenty famous for years and still make for splurge-worthy experiences. But this is Brokelyn, folks. Many of us can’t remember the last time we ordered a steak dinner, so we’re more attracted to the upstarts low-ballers on the Voice’s list.

Even so, there’s something on here for everyone! Ice cream or crème fraiche; a greasy slice or a delicate margherita; farm-to-table, or just eat off the table. I may sound like a broken foursquare ad, but I’m only telling you this because I care about you. Pick some places off this list to try ASAP. Quick! Before all the tourists read it and your secret spots—yeah, the ones that don’t take reservations—are suddenly too famous to enjoy.

Sam Corbin :Writer and performer based in Brooklyn. Made in Canada.