Are you a property owner that wants to sell their condo, investment property or needs to rent an apartment or retail space in New York City? Call or text me: Sam Moritz, licensed real estate agent, 917-727-4309.
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The food scene in Williamsburg continues to amaze me. There are so many places to eat — and somehow, the list keeps growing.
I lived in Williamsburg for a while and moved out almost a year ago. Even in that relatively short time, it feels like the already massive number of restaurants, cafés, and fast-casual spots has increased noticeably. New places open constantly, and many of them arrive fully formed: polished interiors, clear concepts, and lines out the door.
I really realized just how intense the Williamsburg food scene has become two weeks ago.
A Monday Night in North Williamsburg
It was a Monday night, and I had just finished showing a one-bedroom apartment rental on Havemeyer Street around 6 p.m. I decided I’d grab a poke bowl before heading back uptown, where I live now. For whatever reason, poke bowls are strangely hard to find near me in Upper Manhattan. But in Williamsburg — especially around the Bedford Avenue L stop — there are three poke spots within roughly a ten-minute walk of each other.
I set out toward my former go-to poke spot, not realizing that a mini food tour of North Williamsburg was about to unfold.
Havemeyer Street: Four Restaurants in One Block
Walking down Havemeyer toward Metropolitan Avenue, I immediately passed four strong sit-down restaurants: Have & Meyer, Recette, Rude Mouth, and St. Anselm (currently under renovation after a fire). That’s four solid dining options within a single block.
If I’d walked one block in the opposite direction, I would’ve passed The Four Horsemen, plus several more restaurants — probably five — along a short stretch of Grand Street. This kind of restaurant density is typical in Williamsburg, but it still manages to surprise me.
Pizza in Williamsburg: No Shortage Here
I turned onto Metropolitan Avenue, passing my former go-to slice shop, Rosa’s. And if you’re wondering whether pizza is well covered in Williamsburg — it absolutely is.
Within about a ten-block radius of this spot, there are at least seven slice shops: Rosa’s, Joe’s, Best Pizza, Vinnie’s, Fini, and L’Industrie. If you’re in the mood for sit-down pizza — what I like to call luxury pizza — there’s Leo on Havemeyer (a personal favorite) and Ace’s Pizza. Emmy Squared was also nearby until recently.
New Restaurants Keep Opening
I continued toward Bedford Avenue. I’d only walked about four blocks since leaving the apartment showing. Along the way, I passed The Butcher’s Daughter, another poke spot, and then two restaurants that didn’t exist when I moved out last June.
One is Cafe Landwer, which looks great. The other is The Nest, which seems like a café-style space that’s ideal for working. What struck me most wasn’t just that these places were new — it was how finished and intentional they already felt. Williamsburg restaurants don’t ease in; they arrive fully operational.
Bedford Avenue and “Fast Casual Alley”
I turned right onto Bedford Avenue, the main artery of North Williamsburg. My original poke destination was only a few blocks away. As I crossed North 4th Street, I passed a stretch my fiancée aptly named “Fast Casual Alley.”
On that single block between Bedford and Driggs, there’s Just Salad, Dig, Cava, and Sweetgreen — all side by side. Whole Foods sits directly across the street, offering its own extensive prepared food options.
That’s an impressive lineup for one block.
When the Craving Changes
I was one block from the poke spot when my craving suddenly shifted. I hadn’t had a slice in a while, and I was standing right next to Joe’s. I stopped in and had two.
Afterward, I was still a little hungry, but I figured I’d head home and grab something later. I walked toward the Bedford Avenue L station — and then stopped.
Right above the subway entrance was a restaurant that absolutely did not exist last June: Peonia.
A New Pasta Spot Above the L Train
Peonia is a fast-casual pasta spot where you choose your pasta, sauce, and toppings. I wasn’t that hungry anymore, but curiosity won. I ordered fettuccine with pesto and broccoli, fully intending to eat a few bites and take the rest home.
The person behind the counter asked if I wanted truffle oil. I said yes.
I sat down with the cardboard takeout box and took a few bites.
It was really good.
I kept eating, telling myself I’d regret it because I genuinely wasn’t that hungry. I didn’t stop. Before I knew it, the entire portion was gone. Between the pizza and the pasta, I was extremely full — but the pasta was worth it.
Is Any Neighborhood More Food-Dense Than Williamsburg?
By the time I finally left Williamsburg, I had passed — or at least seriously considered — roughly twenty-two sit-down and fast-casual restaurants within a ten-block radius.
Does that level of restaurant density exist anywhere else in the world? It honestly feels impossible.
The Northside of Williamsburg might be unmatched.
Are you a property owner that wants to sell their condo, investment property or needs to rent an apartment or retail space in New York City? Call or text me: Sam Moritz, licensed real estate agent, 203–209–3640.
Do you know a property owner that might need real estate help? Refer me! I provide great and professional real estate services across all five boroughs.
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