Williamsburg's Best Places for Lunch

Lunch in Williamsburg is a deliciously impossible game of roulette, and you have to know how to play it. On any given afternoon, you can bounce from the sun-drenched patio of Cafe Mogador, where the lamb shank tagine collapses in a savory heap, to Lilia’s meticulously crafted pastas, then pivot to the pure comfort of baby back ribs at St.

Anselm—or, of course, a transcendent baklava pancake at Baby Blues. Between the refined elegance of La Nonna and the fiery South Asian crunch of a Namkeen hot chicken sandwich, this neighborhood runs the gamut from white-tablecloth romance to dirty-fingernails delight.

The only real question is whether you save the hazelnut pancakes at Sunday In Brooklyn for a post-lunch nap, or make them the main event. Here is the list, ranked with the sort of authoritative bias you've come to expect from us.

Cafe Mogador

Highlights
Best mezze in Brooklyn
Luxurious yet cozy bar
Swift service with warmth
Spotless from bar to bath
Lamb shank tagine shines

Cafe Mogador is the kind of place that makes you want to linger long after the last bite of that lamb shank tagine, which, by the way, falls off the bone with a gentle nudge of your fork. The mezze spread here is simply the best in Brooklyn, each dip and salad arriving with a brightness that feels like a small celebration. The bar is luxurious yet cozy, all velvet and warm wood, and the service is swift with a genuine warmth that makes you feel like a regular on your very first visit. From the gleaming bar to the spotless bathroom, everything is immaculate. It's a lunch that feels like a mini-vacation, and you'll be planning your return before you've even paid the bill.

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Sunday In Brooklyn

Highlights
Fluffy hazelnut maple praline pancakes
Unforgettable fresh, fluffy focaccia
Crispy, perfectly seasoned breakfast potatoes
Attentive, welcoming service from Nico
Plenty of vegetarian options available

Sunday In Brooklyn is where you go when you want your lunch to feel like a special occasion, and the fluffy hazelnut maple praline pancakes are the undisputed stars of the show, each bite a cloud of nutty sweetness that practically dissolves on your tongue. But don't skip the focaccia, which is so fresh and fluffy it could be a meal on its own, or the crispy, perfectly seasoned breakfast potatoes that arrive with a satisfying crunch. Nico, our server, was attentive and welcoming, making sure our water glasses were never empty and our smiles were wide. With plenty of vegetarian options, this is a spot that welcomes everyone, and the only problem is deciding what to order first.

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Cafe Colette

Highlights
Excellent service despite busy
Quick, delicious food
Fair prices, great value
Cozy, intimate atmosphere
Yummy orders, tasty coffee

Cafe Colette is a masterclass in doing a lot with a little, and even when the place is buzzing with the lunch rush, the service remains excellent, a rare feat that deserves applause. The food arrives quickly and tastes delicious, with every order hitting the table hot and satisfying, and the coffee is genuinely tasty, a perfect pick-me-up. The prices are fair, making this a great value for the quality you receive, and the cozy, intimate atmosphere makes you want to tuck into a corner with a book and a croissant. It's the kind of neighborhood spot that feels like a secret, but you'll want to tell everyone about it.

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Baby Blues Luncheonette

Highlights
Cozy diner atmosphere
Delicious Greek breakfast plates
Perfect frothy coffee
Fluffy, tender blueberry pancakes
Baklava pancakes are a treat

Baby Blues Luncheonette is a charming little diner that feels like a warm hug on a chilly day, and the Greek breakfast plates are a delicious surprise, with flavors that transport you straight to a sun-drenched taverna. The coffee is perfectly frothy, a creamy cap of foam atop a rich, robust brew, and the blueberry pancakes are fluffy and tender, studded with juicy berries that burst in your mouth. But the real treat is the baklava pancakes, a genius mashup of flaky pastry and pancake that's sweet, nutty, and utterly indulgent. The cozy diner atmosphere is inviting, and you'll find yourself lingering over your plate, savoring every last bite.

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St. Anselm

Highlights
Standout steaks: butcher and NY strip
Crispy, shareable sides: spinach and mashed potatoes
Can't-miss apps: bacon and clams
Decadent desserts: sticky toffee pudding and cheesecake
Warm, cozy vibe ideal for group outings

St. Anselm is the place to go when you want a lunch that feels like a feast, and the steaks are the undeniable stars, with the butcher and NY strip both cooked to perfection, juicy and charred with a beautiful crust. The sides are crispy and shareable, with the spinach and mashed potatoes providing the perfect counterpoint to the rich meat, and you absolutely cannot miss the bacon and clams, which are so good they might steal the show. The desserts are decadent, with the sticky toffee pudding and cheesecake both worthy of a final course, and the warm, cozy vibe is ideal for a group outing where everyone can dig in and share. It's a carnivore's paradise, but even the sides are so good you'll be fighting for the last spoonful.

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Montesacro

Highlights
Lovely back garden seating
Food quality genuinely excellent
Pleasant, friendly waitstaff
Patience required for service

Montesacro is a lovely escape from the bustle of the street, and the back garden seating is a serene oasis where you can enjoy your meal surrounded by greenery. The food quality is genuinely excellent, with each dish showcasing fresh ingredients and careful preparation, and the waitstaff are pleasant and friendly, always ready with a smile. However, patience is required, as the service can be slow, but the relaxed pace is part of the charm, allowing you to savor your meal and conversation. It's a place where you go to unwind, not to rush, and the food is worth the wait.

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La Nonna Ristorante & Bar - Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Highlights
Real deal Italian excellence
Exceptional from bread to dessert
Attentive, warm, friendly service
Fresh, hot, perfectly cooked dishes
Reasonable prices, cozy comfort

La Nonna is the real deal when it comes to Italian excellence, and from the moment the bread basket arrives, you know you're in for something special. Every dish, from the antipasti to the pasta to the dessert, is exceptional, fresh, hot, and perfectly cooked, with a homemade quality that feels like a Sunday dinner at your grandmother's house. The service is attentive, warm, and friendly, making you feel like part of the family, and the prices are reasonable for the quality, offering cozy comfort without the hefty bill. It's a place that reminds you why Italian food is beloved, and you'll leave with a full heart and a happy stomach.

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IWAK Sushi + Kitchen

Highlights
Fresh, high-quality sushi
Excellent service, amazing server
Quick, fresh, tasty dishes
Great vibe, worth returning

IWAK Sushi is a bright spot in the neighborhood, and the sushi is fresh and high-quality, with each piece tasting like it was just cut from the ocean. The service is excellent, and our server was amazing, attentive without being intrusive, and the dishes arrived quick, fresh, and tasty, making for a seamless lunch experience. The vibe is great, a lively yet relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to linger, and it's definitely worth returning to explore more of the menu. It's a place that proves you don't need to go to Manhattan for top-notch sushi, and you'll be planning your next visit before you leave.

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Birds of a Feather

Highlights
Best Chinese in Brooklyn
Kung Pao chicken incredible
Warm, intimate dining space
Attentive, friendly service
Perfect matcha mochi finish

Birds of a Feather is the best Chinese food in Brooklyn, and the Kung Pao chicken is nothing short of incredible, with a perfect balance of heat, numbing spice, and crunch. The dining space is warm and intimate, with soft lighting and comfortable seating that makes you want to settle in for a long conversation, and the service is attentive and friendly, always ready with a recommendation. The meal ends on a perfect note with the matcha mochi, a sweet and slightly bitter finish that cleanses the palate. It's a place that feels both familiar and exciting, and you'll be dreaming of that chicken for days.

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High Lúa

Highlights
Fresh, well-marinated grilled pork
Homely comfort for cold days
Warm, kind, professional service
Genuine, high-quality pho
Soothing atmosphere to decompress

High Lúa is a soothing haven for cold days, and the fresh, well-marinated grilled pork is a standout, with a smoky char and a tender bite that warms you from the inside out. The pho is genuine and high-quality, with a rich, aromatic broth that feels like a hug in a bowl, and the service is warm, kind, and professional, making you feel cared for. The atmosphere is calming, a place to decompress and let the world melt away, and the homely comfort is exactly what you need when the weather turns. It's a spot that feels like a secret, but you'll want to share it with everyone.

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Lilia

Highlights
First bites worth savoring
Fantastic wine, cool staff
Pastas unique and tasty
Fresh mozzarella appetizer
Intimate vibes, big flavors

Lilia is a place where the first bites are worth savoring, and the fresh mozzarella appetizer is a revelation, creamy and delicate, setting the stage for the pastas that follow. The pastas are unique and tasty, each one a study in texture and flavor, and the wine list is fantastic, with options that pair beautifully with the food. The staff are cool and knowledgeable, adding to the intimate vibes, and the big flavors make every dish memorable. It's a lunch that feels like a special occasion, and you'll be thinking about those pastas long after you've left.

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Namkeen Hot Chicken

Highlights
Bold South Asian flavors
Massive, generous portions
Creative sandwich combinations
Saucy loaded Pataka fries
Swift, friendly service

Namkeen Hot Chicken is a bold and exciting addition to the lunch scene, and the South Asian flavors are a welcome kick in the taste buds, with a heat that lingers just enough to keep things interesting. The portions are massive and generous, so come hungry, and the creative sandwich combinations are a fun twist on the classic, with each bite offering a new layer of spice and crunch. The saucy loaded Pataka fries are a must-order, a glorious mess of toppings that you'll want to share, and the service is swift and friendly, getting you in and out without sacrificing quality. It's a place that doesn't take itself too seriously, but the food is seriously good.

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