Olmsted

A Brooklyn neighborhood restaurant that’s unlike any other Brooklyn neighborhood restaurant.

GO HERE: for chef Greg Baxtrom’s refreshingly whimsical, ambitious cooking—a welcome reprieve from the rustic chicken-under-a-brick approach this borough is famous for. His dishes reflect his impressive résumé (Alinea, Blue Hill at Stone Barns), and yet Baxtrom offers them at surprisingly reasonable prices. (All entrées are under $25.)

THE BEST SEATS: are in the small but impressively manicured back garden, where you can start the meal with a cocktail in summer or end it with s’mores in winter.

ORDER THE: carrot crepe with littleneck clams (sounds weird, tastes divine), lamb porchetta, and flawless chocolate mousse.

THE VIBE IS: intimate enough for a date, polished enough for parents, and casual enough to meet a friend here on a weeknight. Lots of greenery both inside and out adds charm to an otherwise typical storefront.

GETTING IN: Olmsted is one of the rare ones that takes reservations. In a nice gesture to the neighborhood, Mondays are reserved for walk-ins. Don't sleep on the weekend brunch menu.