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Twenty-one Brooklyn eateries named to New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants list

gage and tollner on nyt 100 best restaurants list
Gage & Tollner is among 21 Brooklyn eateries named to the New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants in New York City.
File photo by Bill Roundy

Brooklyn’s culinary crown just got a fresh polish. Twenty-one of the borough’s most beloved eateries were named to the New York Times’ “100 Best Restaurants in New York City 2025” list this week. 

The list, curated by the Times’ Priya Krishna and Melissa Clark, finds the best 100 restaurants in New York City out of approximately 20,000. The journalists take months to finalize selections, with Brooklyn taking over 20% of the list. Eight honorees are new entries, marking a new wave in the borough’s culinary dominance. 

Among the honorees is A&A Bake and Doubles Shop, a Trinidadian and Tobagonian restaurant in Bed-Stuy known for its aloo pie and fish bakes. The Times praised its fall-apart oxtails and curry chicken, which speaks to “the electricity and multiculturalism of Trinidadian cuisine.” 

people in A&A doubles
The owners of A&A Doubles, which was newly added to the list this year. File photo by Caroline Ourso

Also featured is Gage & Tollner, a restaurant that originally opened in 1892, was revived in the 1980s and was brought back to life in 2021 by co-owners St. John Frizell, Ben Schneider and Sohui Kim. The Downtown Brooklyn chophouse is known for its interior charm, oysters and cocktails, merging timeless charm and modern cuisine. 

Lilia, an Italian eatery in Williamsburg, made its inaugural appearance on the list this year. Known for pasta dishes like malfadine with pink peppercorns and grilled seafood, chef Missy Robbins has cultivated a space where simplicity meets precision, all complemented by a wine list earning high praise. 

In Sheepshead Bay, Randazzo’s Clam Bar continues its decades-long reign as a neighborhood staple. Opened in 1932, the restaurant remains a seafood institution, serving dishes like steamed mussels, fried clams and Times’ praised fried calamari. 

Other newcomers to the list include Cafe Mado, a laid-back French café serving up famous dishes like Caesar salad with horseradish and seasonal vegetable dishes, and Third Falcon, a “cozy neighborhood treasure” in Fort Greene with a rich seasonal menu. 

randazzo's clam bar
Randazzo’s Clam Bar, a longtime local favorite, clinched a spot on the list. Brooklyn Paper file photo

Longstanding favorites like The Four Horsemen, a natural wine bar and restaurant in Williamsburg co-owned by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, and Sohfreh, a Middle Eastern Prospect Heights standout known for its flattened chicken and tahdig — pan-fried Persian rice. 

The Times’ list reflects the cultural diversity Brooklyn has to offer, along with many must-visit eateries. From Caribbean bakeries to in Bed-Stuy to Italian eateries in Williamsburg, the selections highlight the communities, traditions and identities of Brooklyn — all served on a plate. 

Brooklyn’s 21 honorees on the New York Times 100 best list:

A&A Bake and Doubles, Bed-Stuy – New

Aska, Williamsburg

Birria-Landia, Williamsburg

Café Kestrel, Red Hook – New

Cafe Mado, Prospect Heights – New

Chez Ma Tante, Greenpoint – New

Court Street Grocers, Carroll Gardens – New

court street grocers
Court Street Grocers, the beloved Carroll Gardens sandwich shop. Photo courtesy of Google Maps

Ewe’s Delicious Treats, New Lots

Eyval, Bushwick

The Four Horsemen, Williamsburg

Gage & Tollner, Downtown Brooklyn

Hainan Chicken House, Sunset Park

Laghman Express, Bensonhurst

Lilia, Williamsburg – New

Lucia Pizza of Avenue X, Sheepshead Bay

Randazzo’s Clam Bar, Sheepshead Bay

Sailor, Fort Greene

Sofreh, Prospect Heights – New

Third Falcon, Fort Greene – New

Village Cafe, Gravesend

Zaab Zaab, Williamsburg