Since the summer of 2020, I’ve been regularly meeting a friend for breakfast between our apartments in Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. As we’ve continued our breakfast dates, we’ve been able to revisit beloved restaurants and watch as new businesses open. The more we’ve explored, the better it’s gotten. Here are the gems we’ve discovered.
Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe
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Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe is the quintessential, well, old Brooklyn bagel shop. The interior feels frozen in time, but more importantly, the bagels are delicious. The za’atar bagel, which they claim originated there, is especially good. While old-school, Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe just began accepting credit cards. Currently, there is no seating indoors and outdoor seating can fill up, even on weekdays.
Bien Cuit
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Bien Cuit has an absolutely incredible almond croissant that is twice baked and, like all their baked goods, made with flour from Québec and the Hudson Valley. The bread displayed in the window brings people in, only to make way for viennoiserie, beautiful sandwiches and elegant desserts. In the backyard, there is a garden with sparse seating and a small area for kids to play.
Sit and Wonder
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With Stumptown coffee and a real community feel, Sit and Wonder is a great neighborhood breakfast spot. Their baked goods are all homemade (the cinnamon roll is a particular standout). The backyard offers plenty of covered seating, but the tables along Washington Avenue offer far better people watching.
Patti Ann’s Bakery
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Formerly Evi’s Bäckerei, Patti Ann’s Bakery is located at the back of the main restaurant by the same name. Part of the growing number of establishments from Greg Baxtrom on Vanderbilt Avenue, Patti Ann’s has a distinctly homey feel to it. The picnic tables on Bergen Street offer a perfect place to sit and bask in the sun in the morning while enjoying one of their not-to-be-missed maple crullers.
Ursula
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Ursula hosts a long line on weekends, but the breakfast burritos are so worth the wait. The James Beard finalist for Best New Restaurant features New Mexican food and an unabashed support for their entire team, even if that means a strict rule of no burritos after noon because making them is taxing on the staff. Their baked goods, many of which are made by Lani Halliday and are gluten-free, feature twists on classics, including their incredible take on Pop-Tarts. While Ursula is looking for a new space to accommodate indoor dining, their current space has outdoor seating, both covered and uncovered.
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Bagel Pub
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Offering your standard bagel fair with the addition of a serious juice and smoothie bar, Bagel Pub is a standby on Franklin Avenue. Their lineup of cream cheeses is nearly fantastical, and they taste just as good as they look. On nice weekends, their outdoor seating can be scarce, but there is plenty of room on weekdays.
Ciao, Gloria
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Opened in 2019 by Renato Poliafito, formerly of Baked Brooklyn, along with the former Baked head baker Ginger Fisher Baldwin as culinary director, Ciao, Gloria brings an Italian twist to the American bakery. Their pastries aren’t too sweet, and their coffee and espresso game is on point. They also offer hot breakfast sandwiches, as well as several different types of toasts and frittatas for breakfast. In addition to their indoor cafe seating, Ciao, Gloria has covered outdoor seating.
Dough
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While Dough isn’t new, this location is. It opened last spring after having no Brooklyn location since February 2020. They feature all their usual flavors, along with their seasonal doughnuts. The hibiscus doughnut and passion fruit doughnut are as visually striking as they are delicious. But be warned, these are not a snack-sized affair. They’re big doughnuts. Dough also has an exclusive partnership with Bonjorno Coffee, which they offer as both individual drinks and in 12-ounce bags.
Daughter
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A cafe and wine bar, Daughter opened last spring after a stint of selling just outside their doors from a coffee cart while the space was being renovated. The space has stepped seating that’s perfect for a morning coffee and one of their cinnamon buns. They post their menu weekly on their Instagram. In order to cement their focus on community into their business model, 10 percent of monthly profits go to causes like Ancient Song Doula Services, Heart of Dinner and For The Gworls. In addition, they open from 4 p.m.–5 p.m. every day for Project Family Meal, an initiative through which they share free meals to those in need.
KIT
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KIT (standing for Keep in Touch) is located in the former home of MeMe’s Diner and functions as the current outpost for Black Cat Wines, Solid Wiggles and Libby Lark (former co-owner of MeMe’s Diner), along with frequent pop-ups. Hosting doughnut and bagel pop-ups from the likes of Zoë Kanan and others, it’s always worth looking into what’s available at KIT, usually most easily found on their Instagram.
Nûrish
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Offering juices, smoothies, toasts and eggs, Nûrish is a great place for a wholesome breakfast that uplifts you. Opened by Elijah M. Bah, the menu includes plenty of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly options at an affordable price point. The care put into each item is evident from the staff who work directly behind the counter preparing meals. The acai bowl is especially good, topped thoughtfully with coconut and chia seeds, among other accoutrements.
