A Juror's Dozen
Armando's
143 Montague Street (Clinton & Henry) (718) 624-7167
Traditional Italian place with nostalgic touches like iceberg lettuce. A favorite
of lawyers and pols.
Billy Glenn's
120 Lawrence (Willoughby & MetroTech) (718) 858-2194
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Pub-type atmosphere. Fried chicken basket-dry & crispy-plus big
french fries for $5.95. Also sandwiches, soups, salads, and great burgers.
Brawta Cafe
347 Atlantic Avenue (corner of Hoyt) (718) 855-5515
NewYork Press calls it the Best Jamaican in NYC. We love the spicy jerk chicken
& the mellow stewed brown chicken. The curried goat, veggie patties, &
homemade ginger beer arenít bad either. Entrees come with rice & red beans
(they call it rice & peas). The NYTís Eric Asimov says donít miss the
traditional Caribbean beverages, like sweet-and-spicy soreel, and the thick
sea moss, a legendary boon to male virility.
Cafe Buon Gusto
151 Montague (Clinton & Henry) (718) 624-3838
& Heights Cafe, 84 Montague (corner of Hicks) (718) 625-5555
These co-owned trendy Italian sidewalk cafes have homemade pastas, good salads,
& delicious breads. Our favorite is the rosemary-topped bread. Pretty
good people watching.
Fountain Cafe
183 Atlantic Avenue (Court & Clinton) (718) 624-6764
Tara George of the Daily News calls it “one of the best deals in Brooklyn,”
and suggests you stick to the daily specials. For $6.95 you can choose from
14 entrees, most of which come with salad and a choice of baba ganoush, hummus,
or rice. She likes the couscous with lamb & the vegetable stew.
Grimaldi's
19 Old Fulton Street (Front & Water Street) (718)
858-4300
A bit of a hike, but many think it indeed has “the best thin-crust
pizza in the Big Apple.” It was voted NYC’s second best pizza by
Zagat. The uphill walk back to the courthouse will help you burn off the calories.
La Bouillabaisse
145 Atlantic Avenue (Clinton & Henry), (718) 522-8275
Voted one of the city’s top French bistros by Zagat. Long lines at dinner,
but you can get a table at lunch. We like everything that chef Neal Ganic
makes--the bouillabaisse, soft shell crab, and grilled duck are fab--and so
are the desserts. Ganic’s new shop, Petite Crevette (Little Shrimp),
127 Atlantic 858-6660, has fried fish, outrageous seafood salads, sandwiches,
and fresh fish to take home.
Moustache Pitza
405 Atlantic Avenue (corner of Bond) (718) 852-5555
A self-proclaimed slow food establishment that’s worth the wait.
Astonishingly good pita pizzas. Try any dish that has the hot lamb sausage.
Newsday’s Sylvia Carter likes the lahambajin (lamb & beef pizza)
with the combination salad plate of fava beans, tabbouleh, hummus & baba
ganoush. Served with the house specialty--10-inch pita bread. So-o-o good.
Queen Italian Restaurant
84 Court Street (Livingston & Schermerhorn) (718)
596-5954
Old Style Italian with formal service. Newsday’s Carter recommends the
Spiedini alla Romana (Americans call it grilled cheese) served with savory
anchovy sauce; tender, osso bucco; and long fusilli with toasted bread crumbs
and broccoli. Gastronomic bliss=homemade mozzarella w/ basil & roasted
red peppers.
Saigon Garden
153 Remsen (Court & Clinton) (718) 858-3388
Downtownís only Vietnamese. Try the Pho (say ìfuhî)--giant bowls of traditional
Vietnamese soup with noodles, bean sprouts, vegetables and beef, chicken,
or seafood if you want them. We also like the roast pork bun & the spicy
curried squid.
Teresa's
80 Montague Street (Hicks & Montague Terrace)
(718) 797-3996
Polish home cooking at bargain prices, with big servings and sidewalk
dining. Love the light, crisp, golden potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, &
the pierogi. If you get to jury duty early try the banana pancakes or eggs
with kielbasa. Zagat's says it has "early Polish decor with all the charm
of the DMV."