Get to Know Grand: Grand Morelos

Get to know Grand Morelos! Grand Morelos is a Mexican Diner that’s been at 727 Grand Street since 1996. Grand Morelos was at first a Greek restaurant, until Co-owner Raul Gonzalez stepped in to bring flavors from Morelos, Mexico to the neighborhood. Serving traditional Mexican food alongside American diner classics, Raul’s key to success is by “keeping every customer happy”. From chilaquiles to cheeseburgers, Grand Morelos has been serving up delicious meals on Grand Street for 28 years. Raul Gonzalez caught up with us to talk about his time on Grand Street and what Grand Morelos has to offer:

Produced by the Grand Street BID in partnership with OWLEY Studios.

Grand Street's Guide to Winter Restaurant Week

Breaking down the best of 45 courses on Grand Street from Feb 18 to March 1

Restaurant Week is back on Grand Street for its 7th Winter Edition from February 18th to March 1st. 15 of the best eats in Williamsburg are offering 3 course prix fixe dinners (5 - 10pm) at discounted rates from $12 to $35 as Brooklyn’s annual answer to Manhattan’s pricier Restaurant Week. All along 6 blocks, it might be difficult to choose where to go or decide where new to try. Well here’s your answer as to why you should visit each participating restaurant on Grand Street and what you can order for the best experience. Each of the following restaurants has special event menus, so just ask for a Restaurant Week menu if you don’t see one.*

As always, take a picture of your dinner and post with #DineonGrand for a chance to win $50 to a Grand Street BID restaurant of your choice.

Follow @grandstreetbid for the most up to date information on the event.

Mainstay Must Experiences

Bahia Restaurant—$25

690 Grand Street — menu

It all starts with pupusas. If you’ve never had one, Bahia owners Luis and Felix say to think of them as like the “tacos of El Salvador”. The prix fixe menu at Bahia starts with 2 pupusas of your choice, a salad, or tamal de pollo. We, of course, recommend some of the best pupusas in NYC. Plenty of options for dinner, but our favorite is the Carne Asada: grilled boneless choice shell steak. You get two sides with the entree of your choice from a few options like mixed vegetables, rice, and roasted potatoes. Flan is for dessert and your meal is paired with a glass of delicious red or white sangria.

A hometown favorite, Bahia has been a dedicated community member of Grand Street for 20 years. In 2019, the restaurant doubled down on their dedication to the neighborhood with a complete interior and exterior renovation in order to stay ahead in a changing Williamsburg market. It’s not just about looks though, Bahia is confident that once you’ve had their pupusas and try a glass of their homemade sangria you are certain to return for more. Photo at top of article.

Los Primos—$25

704 Grand Street — menu

With 31 years of experience cooking on Grand Street, Los Primos has proven they have the chops to remain a hit. Despite their long history on Grand Street, they’re relatively new to our Restaurant Week. On joining, Christian who’s father owns the restaurant said, “being here for a while, it was like, let’s ride along with you guys and join the holiday – join the Grand Street BID in this journey” -Bkylner.

For your starter, go with nachos: chicken, ground beef, or cheese—your choice. Fried pork chops are a best seller and also on the Restaurant Week menu, so we recommend you take advantage. But the steak with onions and pork mofongo are also favorites. Finish the night with cheesecake (but the tres leches and flan are good choices as well).

If you visit on Sunday, take advantage paella deal at Los Primos for $10—offered every week.

Grand Morelos—$20

727 Grand Street — menu

Another Grand Street staple, Grand Morelos has been with the neighborhood day and night for decades—literally. The 24/7 diner & bakery has seen us all at our finest and not-so-fine hours. The Grand Morelos bakery is also one of the better kept secrets of our food scene, so take advantage. Guacamole is our go-to appetizer, but we also recommend the cheese quesadillas if you’re extra hungry. Hanger steak fajitas for your entree will fill you if the app didn’t, but try to save room for the Oreo cheesecake. Impossible chocoflan and tres leches cakes are your other options for Restaurant Week dessert. Once you’ve fallen in love with Grand Morelos stop back in for affordable cookies & doughnuts from the bakery and amazing iced coffee (not just by diner standards) any time you want - literally.

Biggest Discount

Indian Kitchen—$12 to $36

739 Grand Street — menu

Restaurant Week is made for sharing. Indian Kitchen wants you to bring your friends to max out on the deal. With 3 people Indian Kitchen provides a vegetable and meat appetizer, three entrees, two orders of naan, and Kheer (rice pudding) for dessert. On a typical night all of that could cost over $60—so make sure Indian Kitchen is one of your top spots for this event.

Fine Dining Experience

All pasta at Ammazzacaffè is made in-house

Ammazzacaffè—$35

702 Grand Street — menu

Winner of this year’s coveted Bib Gourmand title from Micheline Guide, Ammazzacaffè has already built its reputation for affordable fine dining at its best. Take advantage of Ammazza’s Tartare crostino with sea trout, caponata verde, and umeboshi as an appetizers. For your entree, try the Reginette—pork shoulder ragu—which Michelin called “Italian cuisine in all its glory”. Finish the night with buttermilk pannacotta with cherry and hazelnut for the perfect date or special night out on Grand Street.

If the food isn’t enough, visiting Ammazza offers a bit of historical experience. Their location at 702 Grand Street was the childhood home of Betty Smith, inspiring her classic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. RSVP.

Best Quick Bite

Churros from Taco Edition

Taco Edition—$19

800 Grand Street — menu

A longtime participant in Restaurant Week, Taco Edition is one of our favorite spots for lunch or a quick afternoon bite. Even though the service is fast and the environment is seat yourself-casual, during Restaurant Week you’ll get a lot more than a 5 minute snack. Start with the jalapeño popper balls, move on to the chilaquiles verde with eggs, and finish with the yummy churros you see to the left.

New Faces on the Block:

Ham & cheese empanadas from Masa

Masa Empanadas—$12

804 Grand Street — menu

Masa Empanadas opened from the same owners of Piccoli to Go—remaining dedicated to the neighborhood and providing quick eats empanadas, salads, and pizza. Masa is offering two combos for deals featuring the range of their menu:

1. 2 dinner empanadas—see options here (spicy crab not included); 1 dessert empanada—banana nutella or apple cinnamon; and a salad—caesar kale or Italian vinaigrette arugula

2. 1 pizza—classic, spicy chorizo, or 4 cheese; a salad; and a drink

Our favorite empanadas are ham & cheese, corn, and apple cinnamon. All three pizza options are good but we tend to stick to the classic and the kale caesar is our salad of choice.

Chongkho—$20

562 Grand Street — menu

Butterfly pea lemonade and Thai iced tea

Chongkho opened in August with an eccentric gate mural by well-known artist JPO and serving Thai home cooking. A family owned restaurant, Chongkho offers a warm dine-in environment with welcoming service.

The chicken curry puffs are an appetizer to die for, followed by either drunken noodles or red curry for the main course. The Thai iced tea is truly a standout and Chongkho is preparing a crêpe specially made for Restaurant Week as an option for dessert.

Bright colored decorations and drinks reflect the up-beat atmosphere in Carneval

Carneval—$25

507 Grand Street — menu

Carneval also opened in August featuring specialty cocktails and Latin-inspired cuisine. Owner Mike Cruz grew up just blocks from the restaurant and has created a go-to spot for Williamsburg natives and newcomers alike. A mural of a carnival-themed festively packed J train along the back wall of the restaurant demonstrates Mike’s inspiration and commemorates the Latin heritage of our neighborhood. Carneval is also regularly host to performances and hosted their own toy drive for the holidays.

Most Filling

Ryujin—$25

513 Grand Street — menu

Something about the ramen from Ryujin leaves us stuffed after every bowl. Now add an appetizer and dessert to the mix to really make the most of a 3 course dinner. Keep it light with your app so go with the Japanese pickles or the fried shishito peppers. You can choose from 8 different options of ramen bowl, but our favorite is the spicy miso bowl. Finally, the meal is paired with either beer, sake, or ice cream. The jury is out here so we’ll leave that choice to you.

Most Controversial

Mad for Chicken—$20

617 Grand Street — menu

Boneless or bone-in? Luckily both genres of wing are on the menu. The chicken at MFC is shipped in daily from a farm in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania and the wings are coated with a unique sauce of soy, garlic, and various fruits. On the appetizer menu, the standouts are the small crab salad or the truffle/ Parmesan fries. We recommend the 10pc wings (with or without bones—your choice) for entree, but kimchi fried rice and kimchi quesadillas are available for non-wing lovers. For a drink you can choose between any draft beer, a glass of sangria, or a soda on the house.

Favorite Mom & Pop

The Sandwich Shop—$20.75

658 Grand Street — menu

The cozy lunch and dinner spot has brought high-quality deli style sandwiches to Grand Street since 2013. The space also feels like a deli, with just a few stools around the bar to dine-in, so get there before they fill up.

Valued members of the community, the Shop has collected and donated over 200 lbs of food in our annual Holiday Food Drives. You can also find The Sandwich Shop in the Wall Street Journal from our last Restaurant Week. All sandwiches, bowls, and wraps are available—but the best bang for your buck is the turkey double decker sandwich to go along with the combo of a beer and bag of chips.

Best Cocktail

Crystal Lake Brooklyn—$20

647 Grand Street — menu

Antique lounge area at Crystal Lake. Photo courtesy of Crystal Lake Brooklyn & JD Hall Photo

The bar is best known for its antique bar and large back space which regularly hosts comedy shows and similar type events. Teaming up with Tacos Lokos 4Ever, Crystal Lake has the best drink and food combination in the event. The entree is a pair of tacos with the meat of your choice or veggies with a side of rice and beans. The cocktails provide the biggest discount and your choices are a cucumber vodka ricky, rose vodka spritz, watermelon gimlet, or the Zebra-Rita.

Most Options

Thip Osha—$25

795 Grand Street — menu

Roasted duck noodle soup from Thip Osha typically costs $16

A cozy Thai spot nearby the Grand Street L station. You may have already tried Thip Osha at Taste of Williamsburg & Greenpoint this past summer. Altogether, there are exactly 50 options on the prix fixe menu at Thip, so there is surely something that will please everyone from curry to noodles to fried rice. Out of all of those choices, our favorites are the crispy chicken wings with red chili sauce to start, roasted duck noodle soup, and banana sticky rice for dessert.

Best Late Night

Los Tacos-McOndo—$28

502 Grand Street — menu

The chic bar and taqueria is a cool spot for late night dinners, dates, and eats after a night out. Open until 3am on the weekends and at least 1am on every other night, Los Tacos is one of the most high quality late night restaurants in Brooklyn. The nachos are absolute standouts at Los Tacos, and you can choose them either as a starter (mini nachos) or as an entree. We recommend at least one of those in your mix. The queso fundido is also very good, but if you’re limiting carbs you can choose the Mexican steak to go with the nachos. Churros with fruit are for dessert, with mango and chili powder as the primary flavors. Note that Los Tacos is cash only.

*Dine-in meals only. After 5pm and no later than 10pm. Tax and tip not included in price. Price is per person and cannot be shared. Event discounts are in effect from Feb 18 to March 1. Restaurants may be closed any time during the event period at their discretion. Price and participants subject to change. Contact info@grandstreetbk.org with questions.

Winter Restaurant Week on Grand Street returns

Winter Restaurant Week is back in its 7th edition on Grand Street offering 3 course prix fixe discounts to some of Williamsburg’s best fine dining and quick eats. The two week celebration of local cuisine begins on Tuesday, February 18th and runs until Sunday, March 1st. For the winter edition of this semi-annual event, we have 15 participants from neighborhood mainstays like Los Primos to Grand Street newcomers.

The Sandwich Shop is participating once again—see their mention in the Wall Street Journal from our Summer Restaurant Week.

Our 3 new participants—Chongkho, Carneval, and Masa Empanadas— joined the neighborhood within the past year and each offer a dynamic new addition to the restaurant week lineup. Chongkho opened in August with an eccentric gate mural by well-known artist JPO to add to the neighborhood’s collection and serving Thai home cooking. Carneval opened in the same week featuring specialty cocktails and Latin-inspired cuisine. Owner Mike Cruz grew up just blocks from the restaurant and has created a go-to spot for Williamsburg natives and newcomers alike. See a preview of Chonkgho and Carneval from their interviews with News 12 about the event. Masa Empanadas opened from the same owners of Piccoli to Go—remaining dedicated to the neighborhood and providing quick eats empanadas, salads, and pizza.

Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand winner Ammazzacaffè is joining the lineup once again, providing award winning quality dining for a steal at $35 for 3 courses in a prix fixe menu. Los Primos, Crystal Lake, and Mad for Chicken are also rejoining Restaurant Week after debuting in the event this past summer.

Stop by at any participating location to get in on discount dining offers exclusive to Grand Street—and only during Restaurant Week. Just ask for a restaurant week menu when seated. Click here for our official guide giving insight into each restaurant and suggesting our favorite dining options, and you can find the full list of participants and pricing below*. Prices range from $12 to $35 and apply only to sit down dinners (5 - 10pm) —tax and tip not included.**

And remember—snap a picture of you, your meal, or your friends on your night dining out with #DineOnGrand for the opportunity to win $50 to a Grand Street BID restaurant of your choice!

Follow @grandstreetbid for the most up to date information on the event.

Enjoy 3 courses for $20 from Chongkho

Chongkho – $20 (new) —menu

Masa Empanadas – $12 (new) — menu

Carneval – $25 (new) — menu

AmmazzaCaffè – $35 — menu

Bahia Restaurant – $25 — menu

Ryujin – $25 — menu

Mad for Chicken – $20 — menu

The Sandwich Shop – $20.75 — menu

Thip Osha – $25 — menu

Indian Kitchen – $12 — menu

Los Tacos McOndo – $28 — menu

Grand Morelos – $20 — menu

Taco Edition– $19 — menu

Los Primos – $25 — menu

Crystal Lake – $20 — menu

*All prices and participants subject to change.
**Dine-in dinner discounts begin at 5pm and is served no later than 10pm. No takeout or delivery. Price does not include tax or tip. Price is per person and cannot be shared.

Your guide to Restaurant Week on Grand Street

From fine dining to quick meals, your guide to all the prix fixe highlights August 12th – 25th

Thompson Brooke’s catch of the day + oysters draw foodies from every corner of Brooklyn

Williamsburg’s food scene has exploded in the past decade, and Restaurant Week on Grand Street is the perfect opportunity to explore new cuisines, or patron your favorite spot at a discount. With 14 restaurants on six blocks, sorting through all the menus may seem daunting, but we’re here to guide you through. Click here for the complete list of restaurants, prices, and menus August 12th-25th. Restaurant Week is a celebration of all the chefs, small business owners, and foodies in Brooklyn, so we’re here to keep it simple for you.

The classics:

Bahia Restaurant

Salvadoran pupusas may be the best comfort food you’ve never had. Although it has been on Grand Street for nearly 20 years, the already welcoming atmosphere of Bahia stepped up its game further with complete indoor and exterior renovations. We recommend the combo of 2 pupusas for appetizers, talapia, and flan for dessert with sangria included with your meal for $24.

Mussels from Le Barricou

Le Barricou

Since 2006, the French restaurant has elevated Grand Street’s restaurant scene, becoming a destination for visitors in Williamsburg and even being named one of the top 100 brunches in the country by Yelp. For the ultimate french dining experiences, we recommend the escargot, moules frites, and gelato for $35.

Grand Morelos*

The 24/7 Mexican diner + bakery offers one of the best steals of Restaurant Week, and has some of the best prices for the amount of food you get in all of Williamsburg. Guacamole to start, fajitas for the entree, and tres leches cake from the bakery for $20.

Los Primos

Los Primos is another Grand Street mainstay that you must visit if you live in the neighborhood. Serving traditional dishes in an atmosphere that feels like your meal is home cooked, Primos never fails to deliver with flavor. Try the nachos, fried pork chop, and homemade flan for $25.

The new:

Thompson Brooke

While Thompson Brooke opened its doors only a year ago, it’s already built a solid reputation with its New England style cuisine and those delectable oysters. Come at happy hour to split an $18 bottle of rose along with your $35 feast. You cannot go wrong with their famous oysters, shrimp and grits, and french toast doughnut.

Mad for Chicken

The latest restaurant to open on Grand Street, Mad for Chicken provides a casual scene to hang out, eat chicken wings, and drink beer. Basically, if you like fried chicken, this is the place to go with your friends. Order the grilled corn, 10 piece wings, and ice cream for dessert for $20.

Enjoy outdoor seating at Tacos Project

Tacos Project

Take advantage of the summer weather and relax for a bite outside. The backyard is filled with greenery and has umbrellas to shade the lawn chair + bistro seating. With a few menu options available, we recommend the arepas to start, pabellón for dinner, and horchata to drink all for $18.

The chic:

AmmazzaCaffe

A surefire hit for a special night out or family dinner, AmmazzaCaffe is Italian dining at its best. Enjoy outside in the backyard or book your reservation for Sunday night from 7-9 pm to listen to live jazz music while you eat. $35 goes a long way when you order tartare crostino (sea trout), reginette (pork shoulder in pasta), and pannacotta for dinner.

Los Tacos McOndo*

A block away from the new G and L entrance on Union Ave, Los Tacos has both the food and convenience. The stylish taqueria and bar make for a nice combo for date nights, casual meetings, and nights out. Queso fundido, quesadillas, and churros with fruit are a great way to go for $26.

(pictured right) Crispy fish tacos from Los Tacos

Indian Kitchen

Indian Kitchen wants you to share your dishes for Restaurant Week. Bring a friend or two and the price goes down to $11 per person. The menu is extremely flexible as well: you get a vegetable appetizer, 2 entrees of your choice, naan, and rice pudding for $22.

The impromptu:

Thip Osha*

The casual thai restaurant has the most options of any restaurant on the list, so if you like to leave a lot of room to decide what you want, then this is your place. For $19 we recommend the dumpling appetizer, the duck noodle soup (because just look at it), and the coconut custard for dessert.

Roasted duck soup from Thip Osha

Sandwich Shop*

Gourmet sandwiches galore. The Sandwich Shop offers a steal with $17.75 for a bag of chips, any sandwich, wrap, or bowl, and a can of beer. Our favorite sandwich is the el penzini, with prosciutto and pear for just the right complement of sweetness.

Lobster fries from Ryujin

Ryujin*

If you’re craving umami, then ramen from Ryujin should be your destination. Their lobster ramen and fries have gone viral for good reason, as its hard to find anywhere else that actually serves you a full lobster in your dish. We recommend the fries, spicy tan tan men, and a cup of sake for $25.

Crystal Lake

Teaming up with Tacos Lokos 4ever, Crystal Lake is jumping into Restaurant Week providing the relaxed bar feel with delicious snacks to go along. You can get a rice & beans app, two tacos, and a Coco Loko (coconut vodka & pineapple) all for $20.

Grand Street Restaurant Week: 5th Annual Summer Event

14 Williamsburg restaurants offer can’t miss prix fixe deals

Pollo from AmmazzaCaffe

The Annual Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street offers North Brooklyn residents fine dining and quick eats for bargain prix fixe prices. Book your reservation at any of participating location to get in on discount dining offers exclusive to Grand Street and only during Restaurant Week. Read through our guide to find the spot for you and see our recommendations. And find the full list below.

Snap a picture of you, your meal, or your friends on your night dining out with the #DineOnGrand for the opportunity to win $50 to a Grand Street BID restaurant of your choice!

Le Barricou – $35 – menu

Thompson Brooke – $35 – menu

AmmazzaCaffe – $35 – menu

Bahia Restaurant – $24 – menu

Ryujin – $25 – menu

Mad for Chicken – $20 – menu

The Sandwich Shop -$17.75 – menu

Thip Osha – $19 – menu

Indian Kitchen – $12 – menu

Los Tacos McOndo – $26 – menu

Grand Morelos – $20 – menu

Tacos Project – $18 – menu

Los Primos – $25 – menu

Crystal Lake – $20 – menu

Grand Street BID Announces 5th Summer Restaurant Week

The annual event will take place from August 12th to 26th.

Taste mussels from Le Barricou with soup + gelato dessert for $35

Foodies look out. The Annual Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street is set to take place again this August, offering fine dining and quick eats for bargain prix fixe prices. Acclaimed destinations Le Barricou, Thompson Brooke, and AmmazzaCaffe will participate again offering 3 course dinners for $35. Neighborhood favorites Bahia Restaurant, Grand Morelos + Sandwich Shop will once again offer steals from $18 for 3 courses.

Our complete lineup will be announced soon, but you can expect many familiar faces in the program, as a sign that the Grand Street Restaurant Week is attracting visitors to patron our thriving restaurant scene and providing opportunity for locals to explore new dining options.

Additionally, our social media contest will again award $50 to a lucky diner who shares their night out with pictures of their dinner, friends or family at one of our participating restaurants with the hashtag #DineOnGrand.

Follow us @grandstreetbid to stay up to date with all of the deals, and its never too early to book your reservation for the 2 week summer event.

Your Guide to Easter on Grand Street in Williamsburg

Where to eat + treat your family this holiday weekend.

Steak and eggs from Thompson Brooke with Rose Sangria

Thompson Brooke (631 Grand St)

There’s nothing better suited for Easter brunch than eggs. Head to Thompson Brooke for eggs florentine, eggs any style, or vegan benedict + a variety of New England fare (including some of Williamsburg’s best oysters).
Opens: 10am, reservations: (347) 681-5646, brunch menu

Los Primos (704 Grand St)

The perfect opportunity to try Los Primos’ Paella special. Only $9.99 for the Spanish specialty to match with sangria + a full menu of Mexican cuisine. If you can’t make this weekend, don’t sweat it as paella is offered fresh every Sunday.
Opens: 10am, reservations: (718) 486-8449, menu

Oven baked pancakes with strawberry butter from Le Barricou

Le Barricou (533 Grand St)

Treat your party to fine French cuisine with a famous weekend brunch menu and pancakes you absolutely must try.
Opens: 10am, no reservations, brunch menu

Bahia (533 Grand St)

This authentic El Salvadorian family restaurant has American + Italian options as well. Try the pollo sorpresa, yuca frita, and fried sweet plantains. Dine-in, take-out, and catering are all available.
Opens: 11:30am, reservations, menu

Desy’s Clam Bar (562 Grand St)

It’s all in the name. Try Desy’s for their seafood with steamed clams, mussels, and traditional Italian offerings.
Opens: 11am, reservations: (347) 599-0267, menu

Arrangements from Flores del Valle won’t break the bank and are sure to impress

Grand Morelos (727 Grand St)

Your first stop for Easter sweets should be this 24/7 diner with a full bakery serving everything from tres leches cake, rainbow cookies, to delicious varieties of flan.
Opens: 24/7, reservations: (718) 218-9441, menu

Flores del Valle (706 Grand St)

Bring spring flowers to brighten the atmosphere with affordable + professional bouquet arrangements from Flores del Valle.
Opens: 9am, order arrangements: (718) 384-6464

DAR 525 (525 Grand St)

Good for Easter or any Sunday, DAR serves a prix fixe bottomless brunch for only $28.95. Unlimited mimosas, bellini, sangria, or bloody marys along with a Lebanese entree choice and gluten free options.
Opens: 11am, reservations: (347) 422-0401, brunch menu

DIY with Key Food (575 Grand St), Ozzie’s Fresh Market (639 Grand St), and Bravo Supermarkets (785 Grand St).
Save a few bucks and make it special homemade with plenty of grocery stores supplying everything you need for the holidays.