Park Slope's Hidden Food Scene

Park Slope is a mecca for foodies, considering the number of restaurants that call the neighborhood home. Most of those familiar with the food scene in the Slope have visited, or at least heard of, popular establishments such as Song, Al Di La, Thistle Hill Tavern and Jpan. But what else is out there waiting to tantalize taste buds? I’ll tell you:

12th Street Bar and Grill | 1123 Eighth Avenue b/w 11th /12th Street
This family-friendly restaurant near the park attracts crowds for brunch, lunch and dinner. It is separated into, as the name suggests, a casual bar area and a slightly more formal dining area with different menus for each. The bar offers a delicious and unique curried mussels dish while the enormous burger topped with bleu cheese and frizzled onions is consistently satisfying (and more than enough to share). The wine list is impressive and the server’s knowledge of each offering is equally remarkable. (Photo: via 12th Street Bar and Grill)

Applewood | 501 11th Street b/w 7th/8th Avenue
A small, homey restaurant with a working fireplace, Applewood is perfect for fall or winter Sunday brunch. The husband and wife owners pride themselves on a complete devotion to local farmers, their exclusive use of hormone- and antibiotic-free meats and poultry, their use of wild fish instead of farmed and their on-site butchering of whole animals. With offerings such as grilled beef flatiron served with sunny side up eggs and thyme jus or braised Vermont lamb omelet with pickled chiles and collard greens, Applewood may just be the best brunch in all of Brooklyn.

Baba Deli | 559 Fifth Avenue b/w 15th/16th Street
This unassuming South Slope store looks like every other NYC corner deli and offers much the same, including chips, Snapple, newspapers and lotto tickets. But Baba Deli differs greatly when it comes to one thing: giant homemade cookies. Even those claiming to lack the all-too-common sweet tooth have succumbed to the powers of these cookies – their gooey goodness is other worldly. Choose from macadamia nut, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, s’mores or chocolate peanut butter.

Toby’s Public House | 686 Sixth Avenue b/w W 21st/22nd Street
Technically, this pizza joint is located in Windsor Terrace, but it’s a mere two blocks from the border of Park Slope. Many who have visited Toby’s have claimed it is the best pizza in New York – a seriously strong statement. They serve up personal-sized pies that are baked in a wood-burning oven clearly visible to all and offer toppings such as mussels, black truffle cream sauce and prosciutto di parma. The crust is thin and firm all the way around and, remarkably, stays stiff under the pressure of generous toppings. (Photo by Eduardo Angel Photography)

Lotus Vietnamese Sandwiches | 229 5th Avenue b/w President/Carroll Street
There is definitely more than one option when it comes to bahn mi sandwiches in Park Slope, but there is one tiny Vietnamese sandwich shop on 5th Avenue that stands out: Lotus. Their veggies and bread are always fresh and service is helpful and given with a smile. People rave not only about their traditional bahn mi, but also about their sardine sandwich and vegetarian options.