A Guide to Winter Restaurant Week on Grand Street 2024

Monday marks the beginning of Restaurant Week, Grand Street’s semi-annual restaurant event! From January 22nd to February 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to try 16 of Grand Street’s restaurants both new and old at lower than ever prices. 16 of the best eats in Williamsburg are offering 3-course prix fixe dinners at discounted rates from $20 to $35 in North Brooklyn’s annual celebration of local cuisine. With all these offerings on 6 blocks, it might be difficult to make a decision. This guide is here to give you all the answers 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 and bars has special Restaurant Week menus, so just ask if you don’t see one.

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

Follow @grandstreetbid on Instagram and Facebook for the most up-to-date information on the event!

Critically Acclaimed on Grand

All pasta at Ammazzacaffè is made in-house

AMMAZZACAFFÈ—$35

702 Grand Street — menu

Winner of a coveted Bib Gourmand title from Micheline Guide, Ammazzacaffè has already built its reputation for affordable fine dining at its best. Be sure to try the Tartare crostino with sea trout, Lettuga salad with Botarga, and sunchokes as an appetizers. For your entree, try the Reginette—pasta with pork shoulder ragu — it’s a perfect dish. Finish the night with their daily dessert offering for the perfect date or special night out on Grand Street.

The Backyard Burger from BK Jani

BK JANI—$35

679 Grand Street — menu

There are a lot of burger joints in Williamsburg, but only BK Jani’s burgers come with mint chutney as a sauce option. Featured on Infatuation’s Best Restaurants in Williamsburg, you can’t go wrong with a burger here. They’re offering Two Lamb Chops to start, then any burger of your choosing. We recommend The Jani Burger; ½ pound of custom blend ground beef, cooked medium rare, mint chutney at the bottom, grilled tomato and a touch of raita. Included in their special is a soda or one of their house drinks.

Grand Street Classics

GRAND MORELOS—$29.50

727 Grand Street — menu

A Grand Street staple, Grand Morelos has been with the neighborhood day and night for decades. The late-night 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 & Chips is our go-to appetizer, but we also recommend the Chicken Wings if you’re extra hungry. Bistec Con Camarones (Steak & Shrimp) for your entree will fill you if the app didn’t, but try to save room for the Tres Leches. Flan and NY Cheescake are your other options for 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.

Shawarma from Dar525

DAR525—$23

525 Grand Street — menu

A Grand Street classic, Dar525 just celebrated its 12th year on Grand Street back in February. Serving up Middle Eastern classics, Dar525 is offering extreme value to Restaurant Week’s with four courses for only $23. You can start with hummus or babaganouj, but they’re offering other apps as well. Next you can choose from kibbeh or a cheese and parsley roll. For the main course you’ve got a variety of protein choices including the vegan falafel and the not-so vegan chicken shawarma. Top your dinner off with baklava or basbous for a fantastic four-course meal at amazing value. (Cover photo for this article is @ Dar 525)

HAAB—$35

202 Leonard Street — menu

This Grand Street classic has been serving classic and vegan friendly Mexican food to the neighborhood for years. We recommend starting with the Elote Placero, offered in a both vegan and non vegan option. Follow that up with some classic Birria Tacos - or if you’re eating plant based go with their Seitan Fajitas. Birria Tacos with a Margarita simply is a must - if you have more of a sweet tooth go with the Tres Leches.

THE CLONARD—$25

506 Grand Street — menu

Known for their lager and bar food staples, The Clonard has been open for just over a year but is already Grand Street Classic. They’re offering bar staples Mozzarella Sticks and Jalapeño Poppers to get the appetite going. Then you can enjoy an 8oz burger, with the option of going for a Beyond Burger if you’re looking for a vegan option. Enjoy a Clonard Lager, or a glass of Pinot Grigio if you’re feeling classy, with your meal for the full bar eatery experience.

Pupusas from Bahia

BAHIA—$25

690 Grand Street — menu

Bahia has been on Grand Street for over 20 years, serving up pupusas and other delicious Salvadorian dishes. We recommend you start with their famous Pupusas; you can choose from a wide variety of options but some favorites include the revueltas pupusa stuffed with pork, refried beans, and cheese, or jalapeño pupusas .For the main entrée enjoy their delicious Carne Asada, Pollo Sorpresa, or Tilapia al Sarten. A glass of either Sangria or Wine is included in your meal, alongside a delicious slice of Amaretto Cheese Cake to finish.

MAMA PHO—$20

580 Grand Street — menu

The most affordable of all of this year’s Restaurant Week deals goes to Mama Pho - a classic Grand Street Vietnamese restaurant that’s been dishing out delicious Pho for over a decade. Start with the Shrimp Summer Roll, and then choose between your two Pho options: Ribeye Pho or Chicken Pho. Finish your meal with a refreshing Lemon Green Tea to cap off a cozy dinner.

Filling Favorites!

TACO EDITION—$24

800 Grand Street — menu

Taco Edition variety of Taqueria classics never disappoints. The prix fixe menu starts with a choice of Esquites, Chips and Guacamole, or Fried Sweet Plaintains. We, of course, recommend any of these delicious options. With three hearty options to choose from for dinner, our favorite are the Nachos. Don’t miss out on this tasty dish that comes with chicken or as a vegetarian dish. Churros are for dessert, served with a chocolate sauce it’s the cherry on top of a perfect meal - if that’s not your speed you could also grab a beer instead!

Chicken from Mad for Chicken

MAD FOR CHICKEN—$25

617 Grand Street — menu

There’s no better place to go for classic Korean Fried Chicken than Grand Street’s very own Mad For Chicken! Swing by and start with their 4-Piece Dumpling to get you appetized. For the main, we recommend their Chicken and Fries Combo: you’re gonna go Mad for this Chicken. If you’re feeling a different vibe, their Bulgogi over Rice is also fantastic. Alongside your meal you can enjoy a glass of Sangria or a beer.

LA CHACRA—$32

613 Grand Street — menu

La Chacra’s got traditional Peruvian cuisine straight from the “Chacra” or farm in Spanish. Our most recent Get to Know Grand story covered the awesome story of La Chacra, and now they’re here for their first Restaurant Week! Begin your meal with a delicous Ceviche de Pescado if you’re feeling seafood, or their Papa Rellena: a golden fried potato stuffed with beef stew, onions, olives, and eggs. For the main entree we reccomend the Lomo Saltado, strips of skirt steak sauteed with onions, tomatoes in a soy sauce served with fries and white rice, or the Arroz con Mariscos, a classic Peruvian Paella. Enjoy your dinner alongside either a beer or Punta Sal Margarita.

Brisket Pho from Lucy’s Vietnamese

LUCY’S VIETNAMESE—$22

649A Grand Street — menu

Lucy’s Vietnamese is coming in hot with it’s second Restaurant Week on Grand Street. Coming in at $22, Lucy’s is offering a Summer Roll, a bowl of Pho or a Bánh mì, and one of either their of their in house made Vietnamese Coffee or Iced Tea. At the core of Lucy’s dishes is its brisket which is smoked for 14 hours. They also offer other proteins including chicken, vegan chicken, and tofu. With a wide array of proteins available in their dishes, Lucy’s is covering all bases. If all of those options overwhelm you, you can’t go wrong with their signature Brisket Pho paired with the refreshing House Iced Tea.

Curry from Thip Osha

THIP OSHA—$25

795 Grand Street — menu

This Thai spot nearby the Grand Street L station always feels cozy. With a diverse prix fixe menu, Thip Osha has altogether 50 combinations to choose from. 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 Thom Yum soup to start and the Pad Thai noodle with your protein of choice for the main entree. You can’t go wrong with the delicious Coconut Custard for dessert. Stop by this tiny spot for big flavors.

CAFÉ ZOUAVE —$35

759 Grand Street — menu

Grand Street’s newest French Bistro has arrived to Restaurant Week, bringing with it delicious cuisine! Start with the Onion Soup for a classic French appetizer. For the main entree you’ll have some difficulty choosing between 8oz NY Strip with Frites, Salad, and Peppercorn sauce and their Roasted Salmon with Ratatouille and Mash Potatoes — be warned a bite of the Ratatouille may send you into a flashback reminiscing on a favorite childhood memory. Finish your meal with a Crepe Suzette with a butter and orange sauce, or a sweet Tarte Tatin with vanilla ice cream. There is no wrong option at Café Zouave, we guarantee you’ll have a fantastic evening dining on delicious French cuisine.

A tostada from Los Tacos Mcondo

LOS TACOS MCONDO—$28

502 Grand Street — menu

Los Tacos Mcondo is a classic taqueria, offering some awesome deals this time around. They are cash only - so make sure to come prepared! Start with their Corn on the Cob for a fun bite before you dig into their wide variety of main courses: Burritos, Nachos, Tostadas, Quesadillas, Enchilladas, or a Queso Fundido with Chorizo. You wont find this many options at most other participating restaurants! End your meal with some refreshing and delicious fruit, with your choice of a Mexican Mango with lime, salt, and chili powder or Churros that also come with a side of fruit.

Winter Restaurant Week returns to Grand Street 2024

We are ecstatic to announce the return of Restaurant Week to Grand Street! Restaurant Week offers fine dining, quick eats, and drinks for awesome prix fixe prices. A wide variety of restaurants are participating this time around, showcasing the excellent dining and nightlife scene on Grand Street. The two week celebration of local cuisine begins on Monday, January 22nd and runs through Sunday, February 4th. Check out our Restaurant Week Guide for tips on how to navigate the event.

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. You can find the full list of the 16 participants and pricing below. Prices at restaurants range from $20 to $35 and apply only to sit-down dinners, starting at 5PM — tax and tip not included.

For this season’s Restaurant Week event we have 16 restaurants joining in on the fun - an all time high amount of participants! Many of our staple restaurants are returning to participate this time around and some, like Grand Morelos and Thip Osha, are featuring exciting updates to their menus. We’re pleased to welcome a newcomer to Grand Street, Café Zouave, a restaurant serving up delicious French cuisine in a Bistro setting. You can read our latest story on Café Zouave here, where you can learn about owner Jeremie’s culinary journey that led to him fulfilling his dream in owning his own French Bistro.

BK Jani is returning with their renowned burgers that have been spotlighted on Infatuation NYC’s best restaurants in Williamsburg list. Grand Street classics like Taco Edition, Carneval, and Los Tacos Mcondo are also participating again with many Restaurant Week’s under their belts. Haab and La Chacra are both longstanding restaurants in the neighborhood that have also joined in to participate! Restaurant Week pricing ranges from $20-35, with a variety of different cuisines at great value at each price point. At a steal of a price of $35, Michelin Bib Gourmand winning Ammazzacaffè is offering fine dining Italian cuisine. Dar525 ($23) and Bahia ($28) are both offering a fourth course, bringing amazing value to the table. Mama Pho is offering the lowest priced Restaurant Week special this year, offering an appetizer, entree, and beverage for only $20.

Be sure to 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!

Follow @grandstreetbid on Instagram & Facebook for the most up-to-date information on the event.

Get to Know Grand: La Chacra

Get to know La Chacra! La Chacra is a Peruvian restaurant that’s been on 613 Grand Street since 2020. Owner, Ricky, opened the original restaurant in Bath Beach in 2011. La Chacra offers traditional Peruvian dishes, inspired by a mix of Peruvian street food and home-cooking. All of the spices are imported from Peru, a fact Ricky takes pride in. Ricky wants his customers to “feel like they are in Peru” with every aspect of La Chacra; from offering dishes like Ceviche and Anticuchos, to the Incan craftsmanship adorning the walls. Ricky himself built out most of the bar’s interior from the ground up, from the kitchen to the bar.

La Chacra is a family run restaurant, with Ricky’s son and wife doing their part in supporting the business. When their original location burned down in 2012, the entire family came together to build it back up. Opening a restaurant had been a dream Ricky inherited from his father, who comes from a lineage of farmers back in Peru. La Chacra translates to “The Farm” in Spanish, a callback to Ricky’s family’s history of farming. Originally from Peru, Ricky came to New York at 19 years old. He worked in construction initially, transitioning to the restaurant industry and then eventually opening his own restaurant.

Swing by La Chacra on 613 Grand Street to try their delicious Peruvian cuisine and finish your meal with some Helado de Lucuma!

Grand Street Passport

The Grand Street BID is proud to announce the Grand Street Passport: a passport book that offers freebies & deals at select restaurants, nightlife businesses, and other eateries in the BID. Participants will use their passport when shopping at participating businesses to get the passport deal and get a stamp in their passport. When passport holders accumulate stamps, they’ll unlock prizes! 

The Grand Street Passport is on sale now. Deals will be active from 2/15 - 4/30. Passports cost $40 and offer over $200+ worth of value in freebies and discounts! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to North Brooklyn Angels, a volunteer-driven, hyper-local nonprofit that organizes direct action projects to address the needs of a rapidly changing community. Its small staff, supported by scores of daily neighborhood volunteers, serves up to 1,800 hot, healthy meals per week at various locations in the area, engaging over 500 unique volunteers annually.

22 participating businesses are joining in on offering discounts, including Grand Street favorites like  Ammazzacaffè, Blinky’s Bar and BK Jani to name a few. Scroll down below for the full list of participants and deals! Click the button below to purchase a passport.

You can only get the deal at each business once per passport. Deals do not include tax or tip. Please don't forget to tip! Participating businesses may choose not to honor Passport deals on March 17. Passports will be delivered a week before the start date.

Participating businesses

Ammazzacaffè awarded "Bib Gourmand" For Fourth Year

The award recognizes culinary excellence in “good value” restaurants

The sleek dining tables are mentioned as a highlight for the Italian trattoria.

Ammazzacaffè has just been recognized by Michelin as part of their 2023 guide’s Bib Gourmand selection. The award was created in 1997 to highlight restaurants that achieve Michelin guide quality at more affordable prices.

Michelin states that Ammazza is "bound to surprise you from the moment you enter” It goes on:

“The large and welcoming space draws you in thanks to an impressive wood bar, sleek dining tables and a handsome penny-tiled floor. Both the tables and light olive-tinged walls are dressed minimally—the former with wild flowers and the latter with beautifully framed photos. The garden outside will transport you to a trattoria in Umbria—on a dime. The well-edited menu spins to the season, but start with sea trout tartare, a dish that has been on the menu since the beginning. Follow it up with a plate of pasta or tuck in to dry-aged duck with sautéed faro and cherry amaro sauce. Tiramisu is a classic send-off.”
— Michelin Guide

This is the fourth year that Ammazzacaffè has been selected for the Michelin Guide, joining the ranks of just 12 total Brooklyn restaurants named for the award. Opening at 702 Grand Street in 2016, the restaurant’s name directly translating to “coffee killer” and alludes to a traditional Italian liqueur consumed with an after dinner espresso. The restaurant also happens to be at the location of author Betty Smith’s childhood upbringing, that inspired her novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Ammazzacaffè is a regular participant in both our summer and winter Grand Street restaurant weeks, where you can enjoy their Michelin quality cuisine for prix fixe prices up to $35. See more information on our last restaurant week here.

Find Ammazzacaffè’s full menu here, make a reservation, and follow @ammazzacaffe.nyc for updates on their events, such as weekly jazz performances on Sunday from 7pm to 9pm.

Medusa Slithers On To 618 Grand Street

Medusa Brooklyn slithers on to 618 Grand Street! Medusa Brooklyn is a gastropub, offering a variety of cocktails and other alcoholic beverages alongside small bites. They’re owned by seven different people, some from the acclaimed Our Wicked Lady in Bushwick. Medusa’s dishes take inspiration from Greek and Western cuisine, with a full menu to come soon. A wide variety of drinks at different price points are offered at Medusa, inclusive of everyone’s different tastes.

The interior is beautifully designed with a mixture of art-deco and greek motifs, inspired by the Greek mythological figure Medusa. A snake-scale diamond shaped wallpaper adorns most of the walls. Underneath the bar is the same snake-scale pattern in a neon-green lit LED light fixture. The rest of the interior includes an exposed brick wall, stone tiles, and a ceiling that are all remnants of the original Bushwick Country Club (which used to call this space a home). The backyard gives off a cozy vibe that emanates from the solar powered lighting adorned on top of the various New York perennials that they’ve planted outside

The owners of Medusa explain that they take inspiration from Medusa as a strong and resilient woman who’s a stoic survivor. They see Medusa as an empowering feminine figure, not as a monster in the way much of Greek mythology paints her. Medusa has seven different owners, all who played a part in the design and building process - Xandra, Hugh, Harlan, Jimmy, Zach, Ramsey and Keith. Their decor was designed and built by Max Graves, Chris Cornwell, Chris Perme, Keith Thomas, AJ Jankins and Alex Amini. Swing by Medusa at 618 Grand Street for a drink and a bite!

Ubi Market Arrives to 655 Grand Street

Ubi Market has arrived at 655 Grand Street! Ubi Market is an Asian Grocery store specializing in a variety of imported goods from Japan, Korea, and other parts of Asia. Owners Jesica and Jay were inspired by convenience stores in Korea to open Ubi Market, bringing their own spin to a staple Korean business. Alongside the variety of imported Asian goods, Ubi Market also has a DIY ramen station, freshly made rice balls, and a combination fresh juice/bubble tea bar! Other goods, like fresh produce, are available; with a focus on groceries that are essential in Asian cooking. Bok choy, Lemongrass, and Daikon radish are amongst the variety of imported produce you’ll find at Ubi Market. Jesica is passionate about “bringing Asian goods and introducing new foods” to the neighborhood, leading her to stock Ubi Market with so much variety.

Freshly made juice at 655 Grand Street may seem familiar to you if you’ve been around Grand Street for a while; Jesica’s brother Armando and their mother have run the now closed To The World Farm in the same location for over 15 years. Jesica says she has “fond memories of coming to the store and sleeping under the counter” when she was a child. She’s seen the neighborhood change and grow over the years, now returning to run Ubi Market. After running a successful business elsewhere, she’s excited to come back to Grand Street with a fresh vision for her family’s business. Stop by Ubi Market at 655 Grand Street for a variety of asian inspired goods, and enjoy some freshly squeezed juice while you shop!

Familia / Famiglia

The Grand Street BID is excited to showcase Familia / Famiglia, a mural we have commissioned on the north-east corner of Grand Street and Graham Avenue! Artists, SON-CORO and Danielle Mastrion worked together to reflect the history and culture of the neighborhood and bring beautiful, vibrant artwork to this important corner. Supporting Son and Danielle on the project are the Grand Street BID, the art production & mural company Dripped On Productions and local media group, OWLEY Studios.

The Making of the mural

“FAMILIA / FAMIGLIA“ . Created by OWLEY Studios.

“FAMILIA / FAMIGLIA” - The Grand Street neighborhood has historically served as a home to many cultures. Its intersection with Graham Avenue has acted as an epicenter for these communities to come together - allowing multiple cultures to co-exist and exchange with one another. Through this project, the Grand Street BID endeavors to honor the culture and historical importance of this intersection with artwork that feels representative of the community even as it continues to change and evolve.

To find the right artists to carry out this vision, the BID recruited art production & mural company Dripped On Productions. Dripped On found two artists with deep ties to both the neighborhood and the Puerto Rican and Italian-American communities; Danielle Mastrion and SON-CORO.

Danielle Mastrion is an Italian-American artist, born and raised in Brooklyn, whose work often amplifies local communities and icons. Her work on this mural reflects her Italian-American culture, like the horn that wards off the evil eye, local Italian business signage, and Italy’s national flower, the white lily. She chose to paint a portrait of her grandmother who originally immigrated to Williamsburg and settled on Grand Street with her family, as a representation of that era. This figure is seen enjoying a cup of coffee with the woman to her right, bringing time and cultural traditions together.

SON-CORO is a Puerto Rican-born, local resident of the Grand Street neighborhood. He has been painting murals here for years, balancing multiple careers outside of his art practice while rapidly developing his painting skills. He often paints Puerto Rican themes in his murals, “it is something in my heart and I can’t get it out.” Son chose to paint a portrait of his wife acting as a character called “Musaraña”, a combination of imagery from icons Celia Cruz and Iris Chacon. The two women sharing coffee represents a cultural bridge that crosses the two street signs; a bridge, not a border, that cascades over a vibrant gradient of color.

The Grand Street BID hosted a community meeting in May to hear people share stories about what they would like to see represented & what it means to be in a community that is constantly changing. This input was used to help the artists design the mural, leading to the creation of a beautiful and vibrant piece of artwork that is representative of the fabric of our community.

The sharing of the coffee is representative of cultures coming together, collaborating, and existing together in this area for many years. The two women are shown enjoying a shared cultural staple while laughing and conversing, enjoying a moment of joy and peace. The coffee crosses the intersection, between the two street signs, to connect the cultures and represent that all cultures can thrive when they share, communicate, and share commonalities.

behind the scenes

Dripped On Productions - Behind the scenes

Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op Opens At 521 Grand Street

Welcome Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op to 521 Grand Street! Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op is a cooperatively owned vintage store with a wide variety of vintage furniture, clothes, and other household items. They were originally founded in Greenpoint back in 2016, but have since expanded to Williamsburg. Their original Williamsburg location was opened in 2018 on Graham Avenue, and has since relocated to here on Grand Street! 

The space at 521 Grand Street is spacious, with enough room to show off their entire selection. The lighting is dim, giving Dobbin St a cozy vibe that makes you want to sit on one of their couches and not want to get up. With merchandise like velvet couches, bamboo framed mirrors, and swivel chairs from the 70s, the owners of Dobbin St have carefully crafted a chic and groovy selection. The focus is on furniture at Dobbin St, but a small selection of vintage clothes and trinkets are also available in store. Dobbin St sources most of their merchandise from estate sales all across the east coast, from Philadelphia to Long Island, Connecticut, and then some. The owners all have a keen eye for pieces that fit into the vibe. 

Check out Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op’s new location on 521 Grand Street to peruse through their vintage furniture and trinkets the next time you’re around! 

Cover photo courtesy of Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op

Grand Street (L) Station Now Fully Accessible With Completion of Elevators

Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA celebrated the completion of two elevators on the corner of Grand Street and Bushwick Avenue today, allowing easier access to the Grand Street (L) Station. The Grand Street (L) Station is now fully accessible, becoming the fourth station to be upgraded to fully accessibility in 2023.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when ridership significantly decreased, the MTA prioritized expanding accessibility improvements in the subway by completing 15 accessibility projects. Following today's announcement, there are 142 accessible stations and 30 stations in construction for accessibility upgrades, eight of which are expected to be complete by the end of 2023.

“The Grand Street station is the most recent example of our hard work to ensure that no New Yorker has to worry about whether they can safely access public transportation,” Governor Hochul said. “The MTA shares our commitment to delivering accessibility improvements across New York City and will continue to strive to make transit accessible to all.”

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “When it comes to accessibility, the MTA is delivering on an unprecedented commitment – both in terms of dollars or number of stations – and we are going to keep going at the same pace and level of investment until we achieve full accessibility.”

NYC Transit President Richard Davey said, “We're excited to welcome Brooklyn L customers to their new, accessible station, which also has also been enhanced with freshly installed eye-catching mosaic artwork by a local Brooklyn-based artist. This has been a summer full of accessibility milestones in the system, from enhanced wayfinding for customers with disabilities to a number of newly accessible subway stations. We will keep up this momentum, and I look forward to celebrating several more accessible stations opening later in 2023.”

MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “Newly-accessible stations like Grand St are the fruits of our efforts to execute projects better, faster, and cheaper through innovative delivery methods such as contract bundling. We are on track to complete this particular eight-station package of ADA upgrades, which will greatly improve accessibility not just in Williamsburg but throughout our transit system.”

State Senator Julia Salazar said, “The installation of ADA-compliant elevators at the Grand St station is a needed and welcomed improvement that will provide thousands of our neighbors with the accommodations they need to navigate the City. I thank the MTA for listening to our community about the need for accessible public transit.”

Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, “People of all physical abilities have the same right to access our mass transit system but that hasn't been the reality for far too long. With the opening of the new elevators at the Grand Street station, the MTA is one step closer to achieving its obligation. I thank everyone for working so diligently to get this done.”

Assembly Member Maritza Davila said, “As thousands of New Yorkers commute every day on the subway, it’s paramount that we work to make the transit systems more accessible. It’s great to see that the train elevators are ADA compliant and the project is completed. This will benefit a lot of commuters who live in the vicinity, especially in a high foot traffic location. Though there is still more work to be done, the ultimate goal is to make our subways systems safe, clean, efficient and accessible for all.”

Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez said, “I am thrilled that the Grand Street L station ADA project has been substantially completed, and marks an important step in expanding the inclusivity and accessibility of our neighborhood. I'm deeply grateful to the local community for their patience and understanding, as well as their advocacy, throughout this essential project.”

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, “Today’s announcement is cause for celebration. Accessibility is freedom, and ADA projects like this are essential for enabling Brooklynites to move about our borough easily and comfortably. I’m excited that these elevators are finally up and running, and I look forward to continuing to work with the MTA to build a transit network that prioritizes equity and inclusivity.”

Click here for the MTA’s full press release. Photos and quotes courtesy of the MTA.

Outdoor Dining On Grand Street

If there’s one shared love all Brooklynites have, it’s dining outdoors! Most of the bars and restaurants in the Grand Street BID are lucky enough to have backyard space ideal for warm Summer days and cooler Fall nights; while others were able set up sidewalk and street seating. Our outdoor dining guide highlights all the available outdoor seating and is updated regularly to reflect available seating at our local restaurants and watering holes. Stop by to enjoy the perks of outdoor dining on Grand Street!

If you’re looking to enjoy a meal away from the hustle and bustle, escape the busy streets by relaxing in one of our notable backyard dining areas

Outdoor Dining at Ammazzacaffè

Ammazzacaffè: This large yet cozy backyard space is used to serve excellent Italian specialties along with live music on select evenings. Take a break from the street and enjoy the ambiance of their secluded outdoor dining area while dining on cuisine that’s been featured on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list.

BK Jani: Stop by for an award winning burger from BK Jani in their cozy little backyard. They transformed the space to create an intimate dining experience.

Taco Edition’s backyard

BK Jani

Taco Edition + Best Pizza: These two businesses share a backyard space, splitting it right down the middle. Behind the small storefronts is a bright and comfortable setting filled with greenery - perfect for enjoying either a taco or slice of pizza.

Mini-golf at Bushwick Country Club

Café Miguel: Grand Street’s newest Cafe has a gorgeous backyard filled with lush greenery. Try their Mexico City inspired dishes involving masa (corn dough), sopa (soup), and nopales (cactus), with proteins like chicken and ceviche to be rotated in occasionally.

A number of our bars have backyard seating as well as sidewalk service! Check out any of them for some tasty drinks and snacks.

Bushwick Country Club: Home to the pickelback shot, BCC has both the vibe and history of a classic dive bar. Check out their mini-golf located in their backyard while sipping on a frozen slushie.

Crystal Lake: Grab a table out front at Crystal Lake. This neighborhood staple is continuing to offer their happy hour drink specials from 5-8pm with pop-up BiTcHn KiTcHn serving up comfort food classics with a modern twist!

The Starlight Tavern: Check out the skee-ball inside before lounging in The Starlight Tavern’s backyard area. Enjoy a variety of cocktails amidst retro décor - and try classic bar staples like burgers and a skirt steak.

Grab a drink and relax in Blinky’s backyard oasis

Blinky’s

Redd's Tavern: Redd’s Tavern is serving up specials in their backyard and small front patio. With a rotating food menu and daily cocktails designed by the bartenders, this local watering hole is well worth a visit.

Lady Jays

Blinky's: Blinky's is now well established on Grand Street with a big and lush backyard setup, perfect for hot summer evenings. Stop by & try one of their famous spicy margaritas.

Lady Jay's: This backyard is open for business and serving up rotating snacks to accompany their drinks. Shade from the trees couple with a large mural makes this space have great vibes.

Haven: This bar on Grand Street has a swanky interior and a small backyard to welcome everyone for the summer months. Play a game of pool and then take a seat out back to enjoy your drinks.

The Clonard: This Irish pub has sidewalk seating in front and a newly renovated backyard. Grab a beer and a burger or stop by for weekend brunch. This lively pub is the place to be (They are the featured photo for this article).

The Last Call: Formerly Koko's, The Last Call offers a variety of Japanese themed cocktails, sake, and yakitori in their gorgeous backyard. Enjoy there unique cocktails in a large space filled with seating set for big groups.

Be a part of the Action! Many of our restaurants have comfortable and cozy sidewalk setups, take a seat and dig in!

Thip Osha: This bright façade is enhanced by three outdoor tables complete with large umbrella for a shady experience. Enjoy elevated Thai dishes at one of their cozy seats.

Outdoor Dining_Thip Osha.jpg

Thip Osha

Link Thai: One of Grand Street’s best Thai restaurants has a few tables set up outside their storefront to enjoy their classic Thai dishes and comforting noodle soups.

Grand Morelos: The cheery sidewalk tables at Grand Morelos are occupied at all hours of the day by customers enjoying classic Mexican dishes and drinks beneath the shade of their awnings and umbrellas. This spot is a hidden gem for breakfast!

Alita Cafe: Enjoy a coffee and an egg and cheese biscuit outside on Grand Street. Alita cafe is serving up delicious drinks and homemade baked goods. Stay and sip at one of their few sidewalk tables and enjoy the neighborhood!

Dar525

Carneval: This lively Latin American bar and restaurant has a bounty of backyard patio seating. Upbeat music and warm tables and cocktails makes this the place to stop for good food and good vibes.

La Taqueria: This corner joint has several tables lined up alongside their storefront, serving classic Mexican food and tasty cocktails.

Mcondo Los Tacos: Located on the busy corner of Grand Street and Union Ave, outdoor tables at Los Tacos wrap around the block. Between the tacos, frozen drinks and shady tapestries seating fills up quickly!

Outdoor Dining_Mcondo Los Tacos.jpg

McOndo Tacos

Mama Pho/SoJuice: Mama Pho and their sister store SoJuice share a small sidewalk dining area in front of their shop, offering Vietnamese classics and freshly squeezed juice.

Dar 525: Dar 525’s unique storefront has a built in wood clad patio complete with a roof which frames the main entrance. This seating area is perfect spot to shield yourself from the elements while chowing down on delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

Haab: One of the only storefronts in the BID without a storefront along Grand Street, Haab has the luxury of creating a small curbside oasis around the corner on Leonard Street. The colorful setup provides ample outdoor seating for customers to enjoy the extensive Mexican menu.

A Guide to Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street 2023

Monday marks the beginning of Restaurant Week, Grand Street’s semi-annual restaurant event! From August 14th to August 27th, you’ll have the opportunity to try 11 of Grand Street’s restaurants both new and old at lower than ever prices. 11 of the best eats in Williamsburg are offering 3-course prix fixe dinners at discounted rates from $20 to $35 in North Brooklyn’s annual celebration of local cuisine. With all these offerings on 6 blocks, it might be difficult to make a decision. This guide is here to give you all the answers 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 and bars has special Restaurant Week menus, so just ask if you don’t see one.

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

Follow @grandstreetbid on Instagram and Facebook for the most up-to-date information on the event!

Grand Street Classics

GRAND MORELOS—$29.50

727 Grand Street — menu

A Grand Street staple, Grand Morelos has been with the neighborhood day and night for decades. The late-night 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 & Chips is our go-to appetizer, but we also recommend the Chicken Wings if you’re extra hungry. Bistec Con Camarones (Steak & Shrimp) for your entree will fill you if the app didn’t, but try to save room for the Tres Leches. Flan and NY Cheescake are your other options for 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.

Ramen from Ryujin

RYUJIN—$25

513 Grand Street — menu

This Grand Street staple has been serving Japanese comfort food to the neighborhood for over 12 years. 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 pork bun or the edamame. You can choose from 6 different options of ramen bowl, but our favorite is the samurai miso bowl. Finally, the meal is paired with either beer, or mochi ice cream. The jury is out here so we’ll leave that choice to you.

THE CLONARD—$25

506 Grand Street — menu

Known for their lager and bar food staples, The Clonard has been open for just over a year but is already Grand Street Classic. They’re offering bar staples Mozzarella Sticks and Jalapeño Poppers to get the appetite going. Then you can enjoy an 8oz burger, with the option of going for a Beyond Burger if you’re looking for a vegan option. Enjoy a Clonard Lager, or a glass of Pinot Grigio if you’re feeling classy, with your meal for the full bar eatery experience.

Shawarma from Dar525

DAR525—$23

525 Grand Street — menu

A Grand Street classic, Dar525 just celebrated its 12th year on Grand Street back in February. Serving up Middle Eastern classics, Dar525 is offering extreme value to Restaurant Week’s with four courses for only $23. You can start with hummus or babaganouj, but they’re offering other apps as well. Next you can choose from kibbeh or a cheese and parsley roll. For the main course you’ve got a variety of protein choices including the vegan falafel and the not-so vegan chicken shawarma. Top your dinner off with baklava or basbous for a fantastic four-course meal at amazing value.

Critically Acclaimed on Grand

All pasta at Ammazzacaffè is made in-house

AMMAZZACAFFÈ—$35

702 Grand Street — menu

Winner of a coveted Bib Gourmand title from Micheline Guide, Ammazzacaffè has already built its reputation for affordable fine dining at its best. Be sure to try the Tartare crostino with sea trout, Lettuga salad with Botarga, and sunchokes as an appetizers. For your entree, try the Reginette—pasta with pork shoulder ragu — it’s a perfect dish. Finish the night with their daily dessert offering for the perfect date or special night out on Grand Street.

The Backyard Burger from BK Jani

BK JANI—$35

679 Grand Street — menu

There are a lot of burger joints in Williamsburg, but only BK Jani’s burgers come with mint chutney as a sauce option. Featured on Infatuation’s The Best 20 Burgers in NYC, you can’t go wrong with a burger here. They’re offering Two Lamb Chops to start, then any burger of your choosing. We recommend The Jani Burger; ½ pound of custom blend ground beef, cooked medium rare, mint chutney at the bottom, grilled tomato and a touch of raita. Included in their special is a soda or one of their house drinks.

BAHIA—$25

690 Grand Street — menu

Bahia has been on Grand Street for over 20 years, serving up pupusas and other delicious Salvadorian dishes. After decades on Grand, they’ve been recognized as one of The Best Restaurants in Williamsburg by Infatuation NYC. We recommend you start with their famous pupusas; you can choose from a wide variety of options but some favorites include the revueltas pupusa stuffed with pork, refried beans, and cheese, or jalapeño pupusas .For the main entrée enjoy their delicious Carne Asada, Pollo al Limon, or Tilapia al Sarten. A glass of either sangria or wine is included in your meal, alongside a delicious slice of amaretto cheese cake to finish.

Filling Favorites!

TACO EDITION—$24

800 Grand Street — menu

Taco Edition variety of Taqueria classics never disappoints. The prix fixe menu starts with a choice of Esquites, Chips and Guacamole, or Fried Sweet Plaintains. We, of course, recommend any of these delicious options. With three hearty options to choose from for dinner, our favorite are the Nachos. Don’t miss out on this tasty dish that comes with chicken or as a vegetarian dish. Churros are for dessert, served with a chocolate sauce it’s the cherry on top of a perfect meal - or grab any of their beers/frozen cocktails!

Brisket Pho from Lucy’s Vietnamese

LUCY’S VIETNAMESE—$20

649A Grand Street — menu

Lucy’s Vietnamese is Grand Street’s newest restaurant, and most affordable Restaurant Week Special! Coming in at $20, Lucy’s is offering a Summer Roll, a bowl of Pho or a Bánh mì, and one of either their of their in house made Vietnamese Coffee or Iced Tea. At the core of Lucy’s dishes is its brisket which is smoked for 14 hours. They also offer other proteins including chicken, vegan chicken, and tofu. With a wide array of proteins available in their dishes, Lucy’s is covering all bases. If all of those options overwhelm you, you can’t go wrong with their signature Brisket Pho paired with the refreshing House Iced Tea.

Curry from Thip Osha

THIP OSHA—$25

795 Grand Street — menu

This Thai spot nearby the Grand Street L station always feels cozy. With a diverse prix fixe menu, Thip Osha has altogether 50 combinations to choose from. 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, green curry with chicken, and banana sticky rice for dessert. Stop by this tiny spot for big flavors.

CARNEVAL—$35

507 Grand Street — menu

Carneval is inspired by the owners’s own cultures and carnivals from countries they’ve visited around the world. This comes in the form of a wide variety of different cuisines all fused into one. Start with Carneval Bao Buns, then follow it up with Dominican style fried rice dish Chofan. Finish your meal with either a delicious Coconut Flan, or Nutella Crepes.

Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street Is Back!

We are ecstatic to announce the return of Restaurant Week to Grand Street! Restaurant Week offers fine dining, quick eats, and drinks for awesome prix fixe prices. A wide variety of restaurants are participating this time around, showcasing the excellent dining and nightlife scene on Grand Street. The two week celebration of local cuisine begins on Monday, August 14th and runs through Sunday, August 27th. Check out our Restaurant Week Guide for tips on how to navigate the event.

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. You can find the full list of participants and pricing below. Prices at restaurants range from $20 to $35 and apply only to sit-down dinners, starting at 5PM — tax and tip not included.

Dar525

For this season’s Restaurant Week event we have 11 restaurants joining in on the fun. Many of our staple restaurants and bars are returning to participate this time around and some, like Grand Morelos and Carneval, are featuring exciting updates to their menus. We’re pleased to welcome a newcomer to Grand Street, Lucy’s Vietnamese, a Vietnamese restaurant specializing in 14-hour smoked brisket. You can read our latest story on Lucy’s Vietnamese here, where you can learn about owner Johnny Huynh’s culinary journey that led to him opening this fourth location here on Grand Street.

BK Jani and Bahia are returning with staple menu items that have been spotlighted on Infatuation NYC’s best restaurants in Williamsburg list. Grand Street classics Taco Edition, Thip Osha, The Clonard and Ryujin are also participating again with many Restaurant Week’s under their belts. Restaurant Week pricing ranges from $20-35, with a variety of different cuisines at great value at each price point. At a steal of a price of $35, Michelin Bib Gourmand winning Ammazzacaffè is offering fine dining Italian cuisine. Dar525 ($23) and Bahia ($25) have both decided to offer an extra fourth course this time around, bringing amazing value to the table. Lucy’s Vietnamese is offering the lowest priced Restaurant Week special this year, offering an appetizer, entree, and beverage for only $20.

Be sure to 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!

Follow @grandstreetbid on Instagram & Facebook for the most up-to-date information on the event.

Restaurant Menus

Ammazzacaffè – $35 – Menu

Bahia – $25 – Menu

BK Jani – $35 – Menu

Carneval – $35 – Menu

Dar525 – $23 – Menu

Grand Morelos – $29.50 – Menu

Lucy’s Vietnamese – $20 –Menu

Ryujin – $25 – Menu

Taco Edition – $24 – Menu

The Clonard – $25 - Menu

Thip Osha – $25 – Menu

Lucy's Vietnamese Arrives to 649A Grand Street

Brisket Pho (Photo courtesy of Lucy’s Vietnamese)

Lucy’s Vietnamese has arrived at 649A Grand Street! Owner, Johnny Huynh, named Lucy’s after his grandmother Lucy, who’s original recipes from her home country of Vietnam serve as the foundation for Lucy’s menu. Lucy raised Johnny on her own, working three jobs to do so. This work ethic inspired Johnny, leading him to start working in restaurants at 19 years old. He eventually opened a stall at Smorgasborg centered around Vietnamese street food and brisket. In 2015, Johnny opened Lucy’s Vietnamese’s first location in Bushwick. Then, with the help of partners Don, Kyle, Mike and Ryan, the team opened locations in Williamsburg, Bedford Stuyvesant, and now here on Grand Street! At the core of Lucy’s dishes is its brisket which is smoked for 14 hours. This can be had in Pho, Banh Mi, or a Vermicelli Bowl. They also offer other proteins including chicken, vegan chicken, and tofu.

Owners Don, Kyle, Mike and Ryan don’t describe themselves as restaurateurs. They all have different backgrounds in various industries including computer science, engineering, small business management, and real estate investment. Don describes these backgrounds as unique advantages, allowing the team to think outside of the box. Before Lucy’s, Don worked in server maintenance in an IT department; he calls the two industries very similar, saying the end goal of both is to make your product/service as efficient as possible. In both industries, you’re constantly working to fix new problems that arise and make sure the ship stays afloat. Although Lucy’s menu is founded on traditional Vietnamese comfort food, they tweak original recipes with their own flair and are constantly trying to innovate with different ingredient and flavor combinations.

(Photo courtesy of Lucy’s Vietnamese)

During the earlier days of the pandemic, Lucy’s partnered with local hospitals to donate food to frontline workers. This line of work continues in the way owner Don carries himself. He’s most passionate about building relationships with customers and the community around him, using food as the connector that bridges people together. He and his partners chose Grand Street as their newest location “because the neighborhood has a lot of charm and character”. We can’t help but agree! Stop by Lucy’s Vietnamese on 649A Grand Street to say hi to Don and try some of their delicious Vietnamese comfort food!

From left to right: Kyle, Chu, Don, Ryan, Alvin and Benny

Welcome Central Wash Laundromat to 649B Grand Street!

Welcome Central Wash Laundromat to 649B Grand Street! Owner, Ronald Singh, opened Central Wash Laundromat after a career in finance. Using the skills he gained in the financial sector, Ron is running an advanced and efficient laundromat - investing in state of the art washing machines and laundry card dispensers. Ron “takes pride in providing a clean environment with brand new machines”. Central Wash also offers drop-off services, making it very convenient for customers in a rush to get their laundry done. 

Owner, Ronald Singh

As a newcomer to the laundry business, Ron initially didn’t know much about how to run a laundromat. He listened to laundromat podcasts daily, learning the ins and outs of what its like to run a laundromat. This, alongside the advice of a trusted friend who owns and operates their own laundromat, gave Ron the tools to successfully operate Central Wash.

Ron has already felt welcomed by the neighborhood since opening. He describes the neighborhood as “eclectic, and with a large amount of diversity”. Ron takes joy in talking to customers and learning about their favorite restaurants and local spots. He has had customers come in with advice, stories, and tips every day. Stop by Central Wash for your next laundry day!

Familia / Famiglia - New Mural On Graham Ave and Grand St

The Grand Street BID is excited to debut Familia / Famiglia, a new mural we have commissioned on the north-east corner of Grand Street and Graham Avenue! Artists, SON-CORO and Danielle Mastrion worked together to reflect the history and culture of the neighborhood and bring beautiful, vibrant artwork to this important corner. Supporting Son and Danielle on the project are the Grand Street BID, the art production & mural company Dripped On Productions and local media group, OWLEY Studios.

Click here to watch “FAMILIA / FAMIGLIA” , a short film showcasing the making of the mural.

SON-CORO

Dripped On Productions prepping the mural site

Son is from Puerto Rico, now living a few blocks from the mural site. Danielle is Italian American, born and raised in Brooklyn; her mothers side of the family immigrated through Ellis Island to the neighborhood many years ago. The artists collaborated on this wall to represent the importance of integrating cultures instead of separating them. Using the personal relationships that each artist has to their heritage and the local area, various historic and contemporary motifs were used to show the cultures coming together in this historic area of Brooklyn. In addition, Graham Avenues’ dual naming as “Avenue of Puerto Rico” and “Avenue of Via Vespucci” that mark the historic makeup of the neighborhood are featured in their respective portion of the mural.

Danielle’s side of the mural is clad with important Italian-American cultural elements. From left to right there is the famous Giglio Statue carried through the streets of the neighborhood during the “The Dance of the Giglio”; a tradition of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Feast that has been carried out in the neighborhood annually since 1903. The statue blends into the row of typical residential Brooklyn buildings on the bottom. Hanging from the top left is the Italian horn necklace known as a “Cornicello”, which is an Italian amulet or talisman that is worn to ward off and protect against the evil eye (malocchio) and bad spirits as well as promote good luck and fertility. Behind the horn is an old school neon Pastry Shop sign signifying traditional Italian immigrant businesses that still are present in the neighborhood. At the top is the street sign marking the north side of Graham Avenue as Graham Ave Via Vespucci.

The main feature of Danielle’s side is the woman in the left center, holding the espresso cup. This image is a portrait of the artist’s grandmother, Rose (Rosaria Anobile) who grew up in the Williamsburg area after her family immigrated from Italy, hence the Ellis island immigration stamp to her left. Rose, like many immigrant women of all backgrounds at the time, was a seamstress, hence the spool of Italian colored yarn and thimble on the far left.

Danielle Mastrion

Her name is why she sits behind two beautifully painted roses and is surrounded by luscious white Lily’s, the national flower of Italy. Finally, her necklace, a jewelry style typical of both Italian and Puerto Rican cultures in New York City, reads “Italiana” - Instead of the traditional nameplate, representing Italian-American women as a whole. This is also complimentary and matches the other portrait on the wall, who is wearing gold earrings with the words “Boriqua”.

The top right of Son Coro’s portion of the mural depicts the artist’s fiancée as a character she named, “Musaraña”. Musaraña has a combination of characteristics from contemporary icons Iris Chacon and Celia Cruz, with characteristics of a Puerto Rican woman from the 1960s/70s. This character is influenced by motifs from when Graham Avenue was first divided by the street signs “Avenue of Via Vespucci” and “Avenue of Puerto Rico”. In the background an eclipse forms, which only happens under specific circumstances of convergence - A reference to how this mural’s creation took place.

SON-CORO

On the top left of Son’s portion of the mural is the relevant street sign for “Avenue of Puerto Rico”. On the bottom, the Italian flowers from the left side of the mural morph into representative botany of Puerto Rico, the bird of paradise flower and the hibiscus flower. Finally, at the bottom right, perched on the pink Hibiscus, there is an orange Coquí frog. Coquí’s are a species of frog endemic to Puerto Rico and are well known for their loud night calls that sound very similar to their name. Bordering the bottom right are more residential style Brooklyn buildings that warp up to frame the right side of the portrait at the top.

The sharing of the coffee is representative of cultures coming together, collaborating, and existing together in this area for many years. The two women are shown enjoying a shared cultural staple while laughing and conversing, enjoying a moment of joy and peace. The coffee crosses the intersection, between the two street signs, to connect the cultures and represent that all cultures can thrive when they share, communicate, and share commonalities.

All photos provided by OWLEY Studios. Story written by Dripped On Productions, OWLEY Studios, and The Grand Street BID

Café Miguel Opens Its Doors On 636 Grand Street

Miguel with his grandmother and mother, Jessica

Talavera. Photo courtesy of Café Miguel

Café Miguel has opened its doors to 636 Grand Street! Owner, Miguel, is bringing traditional Mexico City inspired dishes and a variety of Latin American coffee blends to Williamsburg with his brand new Café. Miguel aims to make his new business a place that you can work at, relax with friends and family, while also having a really good bite/cup of coffee. Most of Café Miguel’s food offerings are centered around maíz (corn) and are plant based, Café Maíz being the alternate name for the Café. Various dishes involving masa (corn dough), sopa (soup), and nopales (cactus) are offered on the menu, with proteins like chicken and ceviche to be rotated in occasionally. The focus is on the corn and the coffee; Miguel’s vision for the Café is to be health focused and vegan friendly. Their coffee blends are imported, with oaxaca coffee beans from Mexico, Guatemala, and Central America. They offer various lattes, espresso, and everything in between that you’d want from a coffee shop.

Miguel has years of experience in the food and service industry, managing an Italian restaurant for over 8 years. He’s brought this experience and passion for his home country to Café Miguel, adorning the business with various trinkets and artwork inspired by Mexico City. Two walls are covered with talavera, a hand painted tile that’s common in downtown Mexico City. Miguel has fond memories of his mother, Jessica, bringing him to restaurants that were covered in talavera growing up. Jessica is the head chef of Café Miguel, bringing years of experience cooking traditional Mexico City dishes for her family and in restaurants for decades. She, alongside her mother, have helped Miguel with the food preparation and cooking; it’s a family effort where everyone is chipping in.

Miguel’s love for his business and family is clearly shown all throughout Café Miguel; He’s excited to “be able to have my family and not have to work for someone else. Being able to implement all ideas, and flavors of Mexico City and share it with Williamsburg”. Stop by Café Miguel for a coffee or a bite and experience Mexico City right here in the neighborhood!

Photo courtesy of Café Miguel

(be)longing: Art on Grand Street

The Grand Street BID is proud to announce (be)longing: Art on Grand Street. (be)longing is an Art exhibition activating storefront windows on Grand Street, from June 29th - July 23rd in seven different locations. The exhibition will showcase artwork from locally based artists from New York and abroad, reflecting the different types of people our neighborhood comprises. (be)longing aims to understand the different perspectives of feeling what it means to belong to the community. Partnering with curator Emily Markert, we’re proud to bring seven different artists' work to our neighborhood.

We are excited to offer two walking tours of (be)longing with the Grand Street BID and the exhibition curator on Saturday, July 15th and Saturday, July 22nd. Tours will begin at 1:30pm at 760 Grand Street outside of Williamsburg Animal Clinic. You can click the button below to RSVP.

Curatorial statement - emily markert

Although the land between Union Avenue and Bushwick Avenue has been occupied for thousands of years, the stretch we know as Grand Street has been so named since c. 1858. Whether they are pre-war or were built just before the Covid-19 pandemic, the buildings here today have witnessed and held people through myriad unprecedented moments, providing spaces for food, shelter, livelihood, and joy. But what do we see when we catch our reflections in their storefront windows? How do we fit into this neighborhood; this history; this city? (be)longing begins to answer this question by investigating the complexity and challenge of finding one’s place. Featuring the work of seven emerging artists, this exhibition considers varied definitions of home and explores what it means to be part of a community or to yearn for one. While they are all based locally, these artists’ backgrounds are as varied as the materials they use; for example, some grew up in Brooklyn or Long Island, while others hail from as far as Taiwan or Spain. As a result, their artworks present numerous perspectives on finding or creating a feeling of belonging. Through site-responsive installations, their works—some newly created for this exhibition—convey relatable experiences while speaking with and to the specific context of Grand Street.

Whether by chance encounter or deliberate engagement, seen through storefront windows, these works offer viewers moments of literal and metaphorical reflection. By placing artwork that approaches familiar yet intimate struggles in this context, (be)longing brings private thoughts into public space. Thus just as the artworks blend the personal with the universal, the exhibition itself blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior, inviting viewers to consider the possibility of Brooklyn being a place for all.

ARTIST DIRECTORY

Helena Goñi (she/her)

Bird song (selections from archive, 2014–2023)

35 mm photography, printed on vinyl

Helena Goñi’s photographs offer quiet, poetic glimpses of bodies and gestures frozen in time. Yet, when and where each photo was taken is deliberately unclear. Some viewers might immediately recognize a city or individual in the images, while others may make their own associations based on personal memories of completely different people and places. As a result, these images transition from timestamped to timeless, alluding to the universality of our cravings for tenderness and intimacy. 

@helena_goni | helenagoni.com | Located at: 774 Grand Street (Vacant)

Katie Levinson (she/her)

night shades, 2023 | Untitled (windows with gingham shades), 2023 

Pinewood, cotton cloth, embroidery thread, poplar dowels, ring pull

25 x 19 x 3/4 inches each

Blending vocabularies of minimal art, domestic architecture, and textile embroidery, Katie Levinson’s night shades and Untitled (windows with gingham shades) are at once familiar and peculiar. Small and delicate, and framed within the Williamsburg Animal Clinic’s own sturdy, industrial windows, these sculptures raise questions around what windows show and conceal, drawing our attention to the sometimes arbitrary nature of divisions between private and public space. Newly created for this exhibition, these works build upon Levinson’s ongoing interest in and experiments with the window form.

@levindottir | katielevinson.com | Located at: 760 Grand Street (Williamsburg Animal Clinic)

Joseph O'Malley (they/she)

Excerpts from Secret Identities, 2023

Digital photography, archival inkjet prints

These photographs come from Joseph O’Malley’s series Secret Identities, which centers on two individuals dutifully executing mundane, everyday tasks around the city, all while wearing Batman masks. In the artist’s words, “The series draws a stark parallel between the gender identities of the characters and the so-called ‘secret identities’ of superheroes…Secret Identities aims to challenge viewers’ assumptions, asserting that what the cis-het majority sees as a performative spectacle may actually be the most placidly truthful expression for others.” While the images read tongue-in-cheek at first glance, O’Malley’s evocation of Batman has a poignant purpose: asserting the “inherent heroism in authentic expressions of self.”

@josephomalleyarts | josephomalleyarts.com | Located at: 537 Grand Street (Little Lion Salon)

Estefania Velez Rodriguez (she/her)

Atardecer, 2021

Oil paint, spray, raw pigment on canvas. 61 1/4 x 67 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches

This large-scale painting by Estefania Velez Rodriguez features a pair of flower-trimmed archways that do not quite mirror each other; instead, they overlap, as if offering two pathways to the same alternate world. Born out of the artist’s ongoing experiments with pure pigments and other materials, the painting’s palette evokes the vibrant colors of her home of Puerto Rico. Like a bridge between Puerto Rico and New York, the painting serves as a dreamy portal to a hybrid world conjured from memory and imagination, perhaps a place where both cultures coexist in perfect harmony.

@estefaniavelezart | estefaniavelezart.com | Located at: 692 Grand Street (Vacant)

wei wang (they/he)

Untitled (0); Untitled (1, 2, and 3), 2021

Dunnage bag, pencil, canvas, digital embroidery

This series of sculptures by wei commandeers the form of the dunnage bag, a type of airbag used to stabilize cargo transported via ships, trucks, and railcars. Emblazoned with words like “fragile,” these untitled works instantly evoke global interconnectivity and codependence through the lens of trade. Yet, positioned upright at an almost human scale, the sculptures also suggest bodies of migrants who may arrive to new places via the same routes as merchandise, but who must then adapt to new cultures and stigmas. In this way, by elevating this everyday yet rarely seen material, these bags stand “composing a scene that brings the often secondary narrative to the foreground,” as wei describes it.

@_.wei | itswei.me | Located at: 692 Grand Street (Vacant)

wei wang (they/he)

Untitled (Photo Booth), 2021

Copper pipe, massage lightbulb, red flush lightbulb, modeling strap, cinder block

wei’s Untitled (Photo Booth) is constructed with utilitarian materials and bold, red lightbulbs, two of which are massage lamps typically used to warm the body and increase circulation. These mass-produced materials come together to create not a recognizable image but an intimate space of enveloping warmth. Questioning what a photobooth can “capture” and acting as a stand in for both the camera and the subject, the sculpture allows viewers to project their own images and ideas of comfort and closeness onto this pseudo body heat.

@_.wei | itswei.me | Located at: 790 Grand Street (Philomena's)

Daniel Shieh (he/him)

Learning x3, 2018/2023

Chalkboard, oak frame, chalk. Postcards freely available. 2 x 3 feet

Daniel Shieh’s Learning x3 turns viewers into performers. Presented in the style of an instructional schoolhouse chalkboard, the work invites two people—be they strangers, friends, lovers—to speak various questions aloud, but while the performance is for two people, each question appears three times. This imbalance creates an unexpected yet productive space in which one can feel truly heard.

Like much of Shieh’s work, Learning x3 explores ideas of otherness and navigating spaces where one feels like a foreigner or outsider. As the artist writes about this work: “I’m thinking about ADD, about not being focused, about not remembering, about feeling anxious for asking someone to repeat; I’m thinking about my mother, deaf in one ear, and her trouble with hearing; I’m thinking about my partner’s grandmother who has dementia, who asks the same question every few minutes. I’m thinking about not being fluent in English in the United States. I’m thinking about the third time you ask someone the same question, they start to wonder what is wrong with you. I’m thinking about forgetting someone’s name, about forgetting someone’s birthday.”

@danielshieh | danielshieh.com | Located at: 588 Grand Street (The Last Call)

Vee Tineo (vee)

Headstrong, 2019

Woodcut, muslin fabric. 55 x 48 inches

Vee Tineo’s Headstrong is a quilt of printed portraits that form an inverted pyramid. Building upon imagery Tineo began exploring in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, this work explores notions of power, especially the power held by—or owed to—women of color. Like a triumphant flag, the work’s upended, triangular shape invites us to imagine a world where hierarchies of authority and gender are reversed. Also legible as a funnel, Headstrong uplifts the relationship between the many and the individual, positing that one cannot exist without the other.

@la_vaina_es | veratineo.wixsite.com/vtineo | Located at: 679 Grand Street (BK Jani)

Tokyo Mart Has Arrived to 517 Grand Street

Welcome Tokyo Mart to 517 Grand Street! Tokyo Mart is Grand Street’s newest supermarket, specializing in imported Japanese goods and freshly made sushi. Loaded with snacks, skincare, sushi and everything one would need from Japan, Tokyo Mart is offering a slice of Japan to the neighborhood.

Owner, Ken, spent 2 years working in a supermarket in Long Island City before opening Tokyo Mart. Together with his brothers, Tony and Johnny, they decided on Grand Street for the location of their new Japanese Mart after noticing the lack of Japanese goods in the neighborhood. Ken sees the neighborhood as friendly and welcoming two months into opening Tokyo Mart. He’s already begun to have regular customers who frequently ask when his next shipment of goods is coming in from Japan. He says he enjoys talking to customers and getting feedback on the types of products they’re looking for; it’s helped him decide what to prioritize when he imports goods in.

Owner, Ken

Most of the goods Tokyo Mart offers are imported from Japan; these include Japan-exclusive snacks like matcha and strawberry flavored Kit-Kats, roasted nut assortments, and ramen packets to name a few. Tokyo Mart also offers sushi that's made on site, everyday. Available for pickup in store or through major delivery apps (Doordash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub) are a variety of rice balls and hand rolls - all made fresh! Look for them under the name “Tokyo Sushi” on delivery apps, and be sure to walk in to try out their variety of Japanese goods!

Freshly made Rice Balls

Grand Street (L) station Gets New Mosaic

The MTA has commissioned a new mosaic project at the Grand Street (L) Station! Artist Glendalys Medina designed this mosaic by touring the neighborhood, incorporating elements and colors they would see into the art. Walking from the station to their studio, Medina would reflect on their COVID-19 pandemic ritual of walking outside and feeling gratitude for the neighborhood. These feelings and memories were poured into the mosaic, alongside their practice inspired by Taíno culture, Hip-hop, music, Latinx culture, and the way people sort patterns in their minds. All photos are courtesy of Osheen Harruthoonyan.

“The two mosaic panels at the Grand Street station appear on each platform mezzanine. On the Brooklyn-bound side, Medina reflects on the various communities who have comprised East Williamsburg and Bushwick over time. The large color fields represent the original Lenape inhabitants and Pan-African, Irish, Italian, Puerto Rican, and Dominican immigrants. On the Manhattan-bound side, more intimate color studies were derived from the artist’s experience of the neighborhood across seasons. A nearby church, birds in the springtime, the Moore Street Market, and the collar of a passing dog provided inspiration for these compositions of interlocking forms that call to mind schematic design drawings. Fabricated by Miotto Mosaic Art Studios, the two panels feature overlapping shapes that allow the eye to complete forms that are disrupted, inviting viewers to look a little longer and contemplate gratitude.”

-MTA Arts Design

About the artist

Glendalys Medina is a conceptual interdisciplinary visual artist and received an MFA from Hunter College. Medina has presented artwork at such notable venues as PAMM, Participant Inc., Performa 19, Artists Space, The Bronx Museum of Art, El Museo del Barrio, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Vigo, Spain, and The Studio Museum in Harlem among others. Medina was a recipient of a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (2020), a Jerome Hill Foundation Fellowship (2019), an Ace Hotel New York City Artist Residency (2017), a SIP fellowship at EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop (2016), a BACK IN FIVE MINUTES artist residency at El Museo Del Barrio (2015), a residency at Yaddo (2014, 2018), the Rome Prize in Visual Arts (2013), a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Art (2012), and the Bronx Museum Artist in the Marketplace residency (2010). Medina is currently a professor at SVA’s MFA Art Practice program and lives and works in New York.

My practice is inspired by how humans learn, create order out of chaos and make sense of the world; how previous knowledge is essential for learning and perceiving; how the ambiguity of the world increases our reliance on that previous knowledge; how we project that knowledge when we don’t understand; and how we see with our brains recognizing patterns of information. I create work that amplifies marginalized voices, deconstructs and reconstructs image, language and systems to incite a change in cognitive structures that occur as a result of an experience. I am interested in creating moments when previous knowledge gets an upgrade and new perspectives are formed to establish cultural inclusivity. My work exhibits Taíno (indigenous Caribbeans) culture, Hip- hop and Latinx culture and music, and explores personal development as an empowering tool to re-identify societal and personal value structures to gain cultural equity in a transcultural global society.

-Glendalys Medina (About)