Top Kosher Restaurants in Crown Heights

As I’ve mentioned ad nauseum, Crown Heights has turned into something of a Kosher foodies haven. Trends are made there, dishes are debuted there, and everyone wants to go there to try the latest and greatest. For good reason too: By our count, there are over 30 Kosher restaurants between Atlantic Avenue and Rutland Rd (approximately) in Crown Heights. 

These are our favorites.

• The Meat List
• The Dairy List

The Meat List

Abe’s Corner

Born in March of 2020, Abe’s Corner is a survivor. A sports bar and gastropub, Abe’s Corner has an extensive drinks menu with custom signature cocktails, screens for viewing the current sports game, and incredible food. 

What to get:

Beef Poutine. Try this for a starter. The poutine is made with a base of french fries, layered with incredible shredded meat, and topped with spectacular authentic gravy. 

The Moty Burger makes for an amazing main dish. It features a perfectly just-done meat patty, pulled brisket, pickles, arugula, onion jam and it has a fried egg on top!

Abe’s has beers on tap, great house-cocktails, and a decent wine list.

Abe’s corner is on Rogers Ave, on the corner of Clarkson. 

You can read all about Abe’s Corner here.

The Stats

Mama Kitchen

Israeli cuisine meets Arabian Peninsula. Mama Kitchen features dishes like Tunisian Burikas and Ethiopian Injun Pulled Beef, but the real draw is the smell of everything- spicy, fragrant and delicious. And honestly, the food is even better. 

What to try:

Hummus! This dish made Mama Kitchen famous (in my opinion, anyway). You can top it with beef for a mouthwatering experience. It comes with 2 pitas, and its a great dish to split with a friend. 

Schnitzel Sandwich- a classic Israeli dish, which comes with the requisite Israeli salad, tahini dressing and pickles on the side. 

Mama Kitchen is located at Rochester Ave and Fulton St. 

We dont have a review yet on Mama Kitchen in Brooklyn, but you can read all about the Queens location (with its very similar menu) here.

The Stats

Gruit

Located on Empire Blvd and Rogers Ave, Gruit is a gastropub with an eclectic menu. The food is old-Kosher-diner reminiscent, with items like baked pretzels, pickles and salami with chips and dip. 

What to try:

Hot Honey Mustard Pretzel! This is a really great starter, and when I went to Gruit we ordered 3. Just saying.

Seared Duck Breast- an explosion of flavors, with persimmon, pomegranates and sunflower seeds, and tahini. So good. 

Gruit also has fun alcoholic drinks: I’d recommend the Berry Mojito.

You can read up on this restaurant here.

The Stats

Alenbi

Alenbi is heavy on tahini, extremely good flavor, and gorgeous decor. This Israeli-food restaurant serves dishes like Lamb Araiis, Deconstructed Falafel, and Steaks. It’s pricey, but also- very worth it. 

What to try:

Lamb Ariis. I’m telling you, you’ve never tasted arayas like these. Every bite is better than the last. Served with charred veggies and a medley of sauces: raw tahini, black eggplant cream, sweet harissa and amba.

Edmund Alenbi. A cocktail with grapefruit juice and arak. Out. Of. This. World. 

Alenbi is located at Nostrand Ave, on the corner of Crown St .

Read all about Alenbi here.

The Stats

KT2

One of the newest kids on the block, KT2 is the little sister of Koshertown (which appears in our Dairy department). For now, KT2 sells falafel, sandwiches and all the takeout items that Koshertown has available. Like my very favorite dip, Tehina with Eggplant. So good.

What to try:

Falafel! Those in the know have called this a five-star falafel.

Stay tuned- more dishes will be added to the menu by Summer 2022. 

KT2 is located at Kingston Ave, between Union and President. 

You can read about Koshertown here, or wait for the official KT2 review- coming soon!

The Stats

MEAT

MEAT is technically just a restaurant, but it is the fanciest meal I have ever been to. My recommendations: Lamb Chops. The Duck Fettuccini. The Sambusak. Any of the desserts. And a glass of wine to go with it all. Absolute perfection.

What to try:

Charcuterie Board. It’s a collection of dried, aged, smoked and raw meats, beautifully arranged on a platter. Each slice has its own magnificent taste, and paired with a glass of wine, this might just be the best starter in Crown Heights. 

MEAT is located at the corner of Kingston Ave and Bergen St. 

You can read more about it here.

The Stats

Izzy’s Smokehouse

Izzy’s is possibly the only place in Brooklyn (the whole NY? The world? Who knows?) where you can legitimately eat smoked meat with a plastic spoon. Every bite has an explosive flavor, so soft that it falls off the bone. 

What to try:

Candied Sweet Potato. This appetizer is a terrific companion to the heavier meats that are offered for Mains. Simply roasted sweet potatoes, topped with candied pecans. 

Get the Dino ribs- you will not regret it. These short ribs are 1.5lbs of awesome flavor, and are smoked to perfection. 

Izzy’s Smokehouse is on Troy Avenue, just off Montgomery St.

We don’t have an official review yet, but stay tuned!

The Stats

Boeuf & Bun

The burger joint with amazing food and great vibes. Bouef & Bun offers a few starters, burger options, and artisanal beers. My favorite part- the menu is just one page of dishes! Hooray!

What to try:

Southern Fried Pickles. ‘Fried pickles?’ you ask. Yes. Yes, fried pickles. Because Boeuf & Bun is the perfect place to try them. Ah- May- Zing.

Baah Baah Burger- a lamb burger, with lettuce, tomatoes, olive spread and a cumin-garlic aioli. Sensational taste, and worth every bite. 

You can read about Boeuf & Bun here.

The Stats

Mendy’s Deli

Mendy’s serves up the fastest fast food in Crown Heights. They have an extensive menu of traditional American favorites (burgers, hot dogs, french fries, steaks). There’s also Chinese dishes (Lo Mein, Sesame Chicken, Egg Drop Soup) and Israeli food (falafel, shawarma, hummus platters and more). Mendy’s has a sushi chef on staff, and a menu of pretty much any fast food you can dream of. 

What to try:

Grilled chicken salad. You can customize all of the salad ingredients, and they will make it incredible fast for you. Total win. 

Chicken Gumbo Soup. Shockingly delicious. It’s like chicken soup, but thicker and creamier, and you can add little bits of shredded chicken to make it even (impossibly!) better. 

Read our review of Mendy’s Deli here.

The Stats

Carbon

The newest kid on the block, Carbon Charcoal Grill and Bar is just finding its feet. So far, the consensus is that it’s pretty great. 

Carbon serves all things barbecue, awesome drinks and a full range of really great desserts. 

What to try:

Wings. Sold by sets of 6, charcoal’s chicken wings are marinated in a house dry-rub and fried or roasted over charcoal with sauce. Finger-licking good. 

American Beef Kebabs. Roasted over charcoal grill with bell peppers, with meat that melts apart in your mouth. 

The Carrot Muffin is amazing. (If you’ve been here before, you know I’m obsessed with carrot cake. Charcoal represents really well.) 

A review of Carbon Charcoal Grill & Bar is right here.

The Stats

The Dairy List

Mozzarella 

Since 2018, Mozzarella has been making a name for itself. Great service, amazing cocktails and mouth-watering food. What more could you ask for?

What to try:

The special of the day is a great choice. Because the restaurant serves fish dishes, the special is sure to be something amazing with the freshest ingredients on hand- and usually a menu option that will not be available again. 

Ben’s Cauliflower. This gorgeous dish is a starter option. The tiny cauliflower shoots are pan-fried until just right, and arranged perfectly on a tray with crunchy quinoa. For the record, crunchy quinoa is the best way to eat quinoa. Ever. It comes with cherry tomatoes, a tahini sauce, and sauteed onions. Actual food goals. 

The Passion Mojito, made with passionfruit juice, rum and simple syrup is my absolute favorite drink. 

You can read all about Mozzarella here.

The stats

Almah Cafe

Almah is north of ‘Chabad’ Crown Heights, which is to say that it is 9 blocks north of Eastern Parkway. Serving Israeli-style cuisine, Almah looks and feels like a tiny Middle Eastern Cafe, complete with tiny blue tiles, wooden tables and chairs, and bright sunlight streaming through big windows. (Yes, it is somehow always sunny there.)

What to try:

The Chef’s Box. This is the ultimate breakfast of champions. The box comes with coffees, and serves a very generous breakfast. Inside is fresh salad, an overly large roasted vegetable sandwich, various bourekas, pastries, a quiche, and an array of mini sides. It’s a ton of food, it’s all delicious, and it’s worth every cent. 

Coffee. Specifically iced coffee. Some cafes have awful coffee and great food, but Almah has the best of both. 10/10 would recommend the Iced Latte. 

We wrote all about Almah- you can read the review here. 

The stats

Basil Pizza and Wine Bar

Basil is a fantastic space for upscale dairy dining. With a gorgeous, bright space, a fantastic wine list and a scrumptious menu, this restaurant is sure to become a favorite. 

Basil switched management about 2 years ago, so if you didn’t love it in the past, there’s no better time to try it again.

What to try:

Bianca Pizza!

With fresh rosemary, garlic confit, fresh mozzarella and ricotta cheese toppings, this pizza is handmade with a thin, crispy crust. It arrives fresh from the fire (Basil has a wood pizza oven), and just the smell alone is heavenly. 

Salmon Burger. Exactly as it sounds, only better. The salmon patty is served alongside a portobello mushroom, sliced tomato and microgreens on a pretzel brioche bun. 

Basil Ice Cream. If you’re up for something very different, get this for dessert. Honestly, it’s as weird as it sounds, but I liked it. 

Mochaccino. I know, a mochaccino is not real coffee, it’s just glorified hot chocolate. Well, this one is good. Especially on a cold day. It’s not sickly sweet, and the shot of espresso adds just the right kick. It’s good. 

Looking for more on Basil? Here you go. 

The Stats

Kingston Bake Shop

During the 2020 shutdown, Kingston Bake Shop was renovated. And boy, does it look good. They have left the street seating, and made the inside a service-area only, with a giant kitchen in the back. So although there’s only about seating for 15 people, the food is better than ever. In my (not-so-humble) opinion, the Kingston Bake Shop remains the best place to get a Breakfast Special. And to top it off, the service is very, very fast. 

What to try:

The Breakfast Special. Eggs, any style. Fresh Israeli salad. Hash-brown potatoes. A bread roll with cream cheese. And a coffee. All with the freshest ingredients, all extremely well priced. 

Muffins. Anything from the display. KBS muffins are always delicious, but my go-to, when it’s available, is the carrot muffin. So insanely good. 

Review of Kingston Bake Shop is coming soon!

The Stats

Brooklyn Artisan Bakehouse

The first bone-fide French pastries to hit Crown Heights, the BAB became iconic for their buttery cinnamon rolls. Although they had a slightly rocky start, service-wise, this Cafe is now the go-to place for girls brunching, families lunch-ing, and couples looking for an easy dairy supper. 

What to try:

Power Bowl. A rustic take on the breakfast special, this dish is whole wheat sourdough, poached eggs, roasted potatoes and a kale salad. It’s big, filling and fail-safe. 

Chocolate Chip Scone. I am a sucker for these. Egg-glazed and shiny on the outside, the scones are crumbly, not too sweet and just perfect on the inside. No matter what else is on the menu, if they have fresh scones, I’m getting one. 

You can read more about BAB here.

The Stats

Bou’ote

Bou’ote means bubbles in Hebrew. Who knew? This dairy cafe boasts a liquor license! You can order brunch with an actual mimosa, and live out your New York fantasy. Bou’ote has not been around for too long, but they have settled into a reputation of good food and great drinks. The Cafe is also aesthetically pleasing, in a big way: black and white checkered tile floors, black and white accents in the whole space… it’s beautiful. 

What to try:

Classic Sandwich. Cream cheese and lox with capers and fresh dill on a toasted challah roll. What more can you ask for? For real, this is a really great sandwich. 

Eggs Bennedict. Made with a latke base, with lox and capers draped artfully over it, and then poached eggs on top of the lox, and a hollandaise sauce drowning it all… this is not a dish easily forgotten. 

We have not finished our review of Bou’ote yet, but it is almost done! 

The Stats

Patis

A franchise of seven total cafes, Patis of Crown Heights is the go-to for French pastries, breads and savory quiches. The Cafe has indoor and outdoor seating, with space for about 15 customers total. It may be small, but the food is big- and outstanding. 

What to try:

Almond Croissant. Best I’ve ever had, in my life. Consistently good- and I keep going back for more. Buttery, flakey pastry with a creamy, sweet filling and toasted almond slices on top. Absolutely delicious.

Cremini. This is an unsweet pastry, and Patis fills theirs with various cheeses and vegetables like mushrooms and zucchini. It’s perfect for a savory breakfast or a light lunch. 

Review of Patis is in the works!

The Stats

Koshertown

Located at the back of Koshertown Supermarket, the Koshertown Cafe is one of the best gems of Crown Heights. The menu is robust enough for any time of the day, and the baristas are excellent; the coffee here is great. Koshertown has seating for about 20 patrons, and it is consistently full. 

What to try:

Muffins. These come out periodically throughout the day, and you can pull one straight off the baking tray, still piping hot. There are a few options- blueberry is my favorite, but all of them are just delectable. 

Feta Cheese Salad. Lettuce, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons. Pre-made fresh every day. The best part of this salad is the dressing: a house-vinaigrette. You can bring it to the counter and ask them to toss it for you, and then go on and enjoy every bite. 

Check it out here.

The Stats

Chocolatte

Although it is technically a coffee shop, Chocolatte fits into our list of top Crown Heights restaurants because they serve real food too! Set on the main floor of the Jewish Children’s Museum (next door to Mendy’s Deli), this mini cafe has seating in the back and outdoors, alongside the iconic Crown Heights Dreidel. 

Chocolate is where you can get a coffee at 3AM, but also where you can get a toasted sandwich, or shakshuka for brunch-at-any-time. 

What to try:

On The Run. It’s an easy breakfast: eggs anyways, toast with butter and jam, and a coffee to-go. All made right on the spot, and very reasonably priced. A very good option for anytime of the day.

Goat Cheese Salad. Arugula greens with goat cheese, toasted sweet potato, cherry tomatoes and pickled red onion. Get it with a pesto dressing, and ask the staff to toss it for you. This goes great with an iced drink on a hot day. 

Review coming soon!

The Stats