Where to Eat in Park Slope From Before It Was Cool
Strawberry Croissant at Miolin Bakery
Park Slope, the land of strollers, brownstones, and co-op shoppers, is suddenly the cool place to eat. Frustratingly for me, I moved out of the neighborhood in August, and just since then, Il Leone, Vato, Andamiro, Pangat, Larry’s Ca Phe, and Macario have opened up. With the fifth location of Mariscos El Submarino and the second location of Pies n’ Thighs soon to join the fold, Park Slope is well on its way to being a destination for dining.
However, the neighborhood was more than a mecca for mediocre brunch before these hotspots moved in. This list is dedicated to the spots that were anchoring the Park Slope food scene before its culinary glow up.
Sushi Katsuei
A 7th Avenue staple since 2013, Sushi Katsuei is the neighborhood’s best spot for a casual sushi meal or omakase experience. It’s one of the only places in the city doing an “open-style” omakase, where you can tell the chef how much you are looking to spend, and they will customize an experience within that budget. If that sounds like too much pressure, opt for the $60 Omasu with 9 pieces of nigiri and a handroll.
Konoha Yakitori
Across the street from the perpetual line at the co-op, Konoha Yakitori is a quiet gem whose yakitori punches well above its weight. The 10-piece, $38 yakitori mix set is an easy way to sample the menu offerings, but you’ll still walk away impressed by either the smaller 3-piece chicken ($13) or beef ($18) sets or an a la carte mix of skewers.
Haenyeo
Chef Jenny Kwak’s Haenyeo, which translates to “Sea Women,” named after Jeju Island’s famous team of all-female divers, is her third restaurant in New York City, settling like so many in Park Slope after ventures in lower Manhattan. Despite the name, Haenyeo is not focused explicitly on seafood but on Korean home cooking more generally. Still, the restaurant shines when it does venture into the sea, with highlights including the fluke crudo and grilled oysters. Don’t leave without trying the (popular for good reason) dukboki fundido with Oaxacan cheese and spicy chorizo.
Miolin Bakery
If it weren’t on a sleepy stretch of 7th Avenue, Miolin would be another one of New York City’s hype bakeries with lines out the door every weekend. The chocolate hazelnut and strawberry ribboned (see above) croissants would be the Instagram headliners getting people through the door. But, like some of what you see on social media, they’re actually worth more than the photo, especially the strawberry with jam that is bright and fresh and perfect layers that you don’t often see with filled croissants. Other highlights include the traditional pain au chocolat, ham and Gruyère lattice croissant, and whatever focaccia is on offer. Seasonal weekend specials should also not be missed.
Southside Coffee
Southside is a South Slope takeout-only operation with excellent breakfast sandwiches and pastries. The self-titled Southside is the star — ham, fluffy eggs, cheddar, “breakfast mayo,” and pickled red onion to cut the richness of everything else going on here. The chocolate chip cookie is one of the best in the city, but you can’t go wrong with their whole pastry program. I am not the biggest fan of their coffee (despite ties to Durham, NC, I am not a Counter Culture fan), but Cuppa Hive and the new location of Larry’s are within walking distance to round out a balanced breakfast.
MexSalvador
A block from Greenwood Cemetery and on the southern border of the neighborhood, MexSalvador is making my favorite pupusas in the city. I’ve yet to explore the Mexican side of the expansive menu, but that is only because it’s hard to pass up a pupusa revuelta. They also have a small store in the back half of the restaurant for Mexican and Salvadorian products.
Luigi’s Pizza
A South Slope institution since 1973, Luigi’s feels like a time capsule. The space looks how I imagine it did fifty years ago, and it’s still cash only with a register that looks like it has been in use since they sold their first slice. Today, Giovanni, Luigi’s son and the second-generation owner of the shop, runs the show and is carefully watching over his team as they sling pies. While the grandma squares and classic NY slices can hold their own, Luigi’s fresh mozzarella slice with pesto is a contender for the city’s best slice of pizza.
