If you like Mexican food, Bushwick is the neighborhood for you. If you don’t like it, you may go to bed hungry if your apartment is devoid of any food you’d consider eating, and you’re too lazy to make the trek to the Food Bazaar.

I frequent many Mexican joints in my neighborhood, but mostly Cholulita. On a Saturday morning, I stumble out of bed and pick up the phone to place my order, which is usually fraught with a misunderstanding or two, probably owing to my accent and complete lack of ability in Spanish. My roommates usually get a kick out of hearing me desperately try to ensure I get my food exactly the way I want it: “Egg and cheese and bacon on a BAGEL, with TOMATO” or “TWO, just two beef tacos.” After getting off the phone, I laze around for a few minutes, throw on some clothes, and head over the street to collect my breakfast.

Cholulita makes a pretty good egg sandwich and other staples like chicken and beef tacos, fries, Philly cheese steak, guacamole and chips, salads, papaya smoothies, quesadillas, enchiladas, etc. Their spicy green sauce is a winner; a taco is not complete without it. Stop in next time you’re in the neighborhood.

Cholulita is located at 888 Broadway Avenue (between Belvidere St & Arion Pl), Bushwick, accessible via the Myrtle-Broadway JMZ station. Telephone (347) 435-0813.

I recently discovered Juliette in the heart of Williamsburg, a boutique-style café with friendly service and a mouth-watering brunch menu offering value for money. After being ejected from the rooftop area, which we were told is for drinking only (can’t waiters go up stairs?), we sat in the cheery garden room on the first floor filled with plants and vines and natural light.

Without hesitation I ordered the steak and (fried) eggs – it was delicious, but the steak was not quite as large and juicy as it might have been (I was comparing it to Veselka’s Friday night steak, the best I’ve had in New York). The steak and eggs were on their own, unfortunately – a few home fries would have gone down well. A friend ordered the House Cured Scottish Salmon Benedict, which came with a lemon-caper hollandaise sauce, and she was thoroughly impressed. Another friend loved his eggs, too.

We shared the Brioche French Toast, nice and plump with a tangy lemon curd and plenty of berries, but best of all was the Apple Pancake. This was no ordinary pancake – not thick and heavy, but light and crispy, like a puff pastry apple pie or an apple turnover left unturned, only better. It was simply divine, and we toyed with the idea of ordering another. By this stage it was nearly 5pm, and our waiter, seeing our enthusiasm for the food options, offered us the dinner menu, which we seriously considered for a moment. Next time!

Juliette is located at 135 N 5th St (between Bedford Ave & Berry St), Williamsburg, accessible via the Bedford Ave L train stop. Telephone (718) 388-9222.

After you ride a crowded subway and traverse a crowded sidewalk, stand at a crowded bar and wave your hands (amongst the crowd) for a dry martini, it’d be nice to have some elbow room, don’t you think? That’s why we love Berry Park, a neat-o bar in Williamsburg’s least insufferable quartile (i.e., the one close to Greenpoint).

Essentially, Berry Park is what you get when you close your eyes and imagine the opposite of a New York bar — plentiful seating, clean bathrooms, affordable prices, and room to smoke. (Or, um, enjoy some fresh air.) BP features a pleasant and affordable menu of apps, sandwiches and entrees, with weekend brunches from noon to 4 p.m. The bar — or should we say bars? there are two — has 16 beers on tap and everything else you might expect.

berry park

But the highlight, of course, is the rooftop “beer garden” — presented in quotes because said spacious arena lacks the degenerate vibe we associate with the term. That being said, if we could strip all of our preconceived notions of beer gardens away, and recognize the term as simply a garden with beer, perhaps said label is appropriate.

Check out Berry Park at 4 Berry Street at N. 14th Street in W-Burg. 718.782.2829.

We wrapped up our Markowitz-themed post yesterday with a shout-out to Blue Marble, the organic ice cream spot for Brooklyn hipsters and… whoever else goes to Blue Marble.

With vicarious brain-freezing already altering our frontal lobes, we couldn’t help but notice our friends at Brokelyn debating the merit of two of Blue Marble’s peer institutions: Red Mango and Pinkberry. Brokelyn is accepting votes via comment — plus, all voters are eligible to win a $25 certificate to the froyo establishment of their choice.

At Brooklyn NY News, we took this question very seriously. Lists were made, ballots were taken. We briefly considered MacGyvering a podium.

But after said debating, one thing became clear: the winner is Red Mango. It’s always been Red Mango.

Why? Three reasons:

1. Bigger is better. Red Mangos are typically spacious and serene, affording New Yorkers used to rubbing elbows on the Subway/escalator/sidewalk/everywhere a chance to enjoy a larger sphere of personal space. Maybe somewhere there’s a Pinkberry with such immense dimensions, but we’ve never seen it.
2. Healthy delicious beats regular delicious. It’s a rare thing to enjoy something tasty without having to stifle any guilt, but Red Mango affords this experience every time. Comparing the pomegranates, for example — RM’s is juicy and light, while PB’s still feels heavy and sinful. And not good-sinful.
3. There’s actually a Red Mango in Brooklyn. Our borough is admittedly lacking in froyo eateries, but between Red Mango and Pinkberry, the score is 1 to zero. BK’s sole Red Mango is on Court St. in Brooklyn Heights. And, ugh, there’s even a Pinkberry in Queens. Bros before Flushing, man.

Photo via delsolr on Flickr.

I straighten my hair every morning to glossy perfection. So, whenever it rains, I usually prefer to stay inside. Where it’s dry.

But last night I decided to venture out in the Prospect Heights vicinity toward Dutch Boy Burger — or, as I call it, “That place with the bourbon milkshakes.”

Because, if one thing’s going to get me out in the rain, it’s bourbon milkshakes.

Said milkshakes arrived shortly after the food, but they quickly stole the show. Featuring smooth vanilla ice cream (Blue Marble!) and a spicy hint of bourbon, my Dutch Boy shake was a palatable experience I will not soon forget.

What else is there to say? The veggie burgers are good (and better than their meaty counterparts). The Caesar salad — spelled “Ceasar” on my receipt — is a perfect B-. As for me, my flats and lower pants were soaked, my hair de-glossed to tragic degrees. The Dutch Boy’s front doors remained illogically wide open, turning a chilly experience into an even chillier one.

But you know what? It was worth it. That was some milkshake, after all.

Formerly a Dutch boy-themed paint shop, Dutch Boy Burger is located at 766 Franklin Ave., accessible via the 2,3,4, and 5 trains, and the ever-resilient Franklin Avenue shuttle.

I’ve been spending a lot of time canoodling in Crown Heights these days — and despite the convenient Subway access and frequent drug busts, there was a time when I doubted I would ever be able to find a real restaurant (with waiters and everything) within walking distance.

Then I met Chavella’s.

Now, Chavella’s is actually in Prospect Heights, but still well within walking distance of my main squeeze’s CH pad. Anyway.

Chavella’s offers surprisingly authentic Mexican cuisine — the menu is full of spicy, succulent dishes, without a burrito in sight. Plus, it’s super-affordable: choose an inclusive brunch for $11.25, or à la carte options in the $3–$8 range. The drink menu is scant but satisfying, offering beer, sangria, red and white wine, and margaritas at times. (The Cinco de Mayo jalapeño margarita was a once in a lifetime experience — i.e., I wouldn’t try it again. It was delicious, but in a humbling, tongue-numbing sort of way.)

I recommend the tacos, which are $3 apiece, allowing for guilt-free experimenting, as well as the chiles rellenos con queso — the cheese-stuffed peppers that my Crown Heights amigo so enjoyed. But before you get to that stuff, be sure to order the guacamole app. It comes in an innocent looking animal-shaped bowl, but don’t be fooled — it will absolutely ruin guac for you anywhere else.

A member of the Brooklyn NY News team recently returned from a stint below the Mason Dixon line, and her travels reminded us of the few — but critical — goodies that our dear borough does not provide. (And neither does Manhattan, for that matter.)

What are we talking about? Southern fooderies mostly, like Sonic, Denny’s, Shoney’s, and — wait for it — Zaxby’s.

But while these establishments are sorely, sorely missed, we can think of another Southern staple we’re happy to do without. Unfortunately, it’s knocking on Brooklyn’s door.

We’re talking about Walmart, the super-duper chain that’s tried and failed to forge a location in various NYC locations. The latest site is the Gateway II shopping area in Jamaica Bay, Brokelyn reports.

Could a Brooklyn Walmart survive? Brokelyn posits that residents’ loyalties to local shops (and Target) will prevail, but bargains are bargains.

Also, the combined retail square-footage of the Walmart corporation is apparently larger than that of Manhattan. Ouch.

If you’re digging the warm weather like us, you probably hate to go inside, even for some grub. (Or sauce.) To remedy this situation, Brooklyn Based brings us a list of BK food and drinkeries savvy in outdoor cuisine.

Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook features a surprisingly tranquil rooftop bar, perfect for knocking back a couple after a long day.

Crown Height’s Franklin Park provides a much-needed beer hotspot in the neighborhood with a serene front patio. And the 12 brews on tap aren’t bad either.

My Moon (pictured) in Williamsburg isn’t known for its food or wine selection (although both are perfectly acceptable), however the plant-rich patio is downright luxurious.

Check out the whole list here.

No, we’re not shouting – new New Yorkers might not realize it, but DUMBO is actually an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge. As the name suggests, DUMBO is right across the river from Manhattan, making it a real estate hotspot growing more coveted by the day.

Accessible via the A, C, and F trains, DUMBO is a daytime mecca for art and design studios and desirable neighborhood for families. The view of the Manhattan skyline isn’t bad either.

Popular attractions include:

Grimaldi’s Pizza. Famous for its smokey, coal-fired pizza, Grimaldi’s a New York institution. Frank Sinatra was a noted fan.

P.S. Bookshop. If you go there hunting for a specific book, you’re in trouble, but this used bookstore is great for browsing and discovering reads you didn’t know you wanted.

Zoë. For some off-Fifth Avenue shopping, it doesn’t get any better than Zoë, which features such brands as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Rag & Bone.

Image via Flickr

The words “smoke” and “joint” might not automatically connote barbecue in your mind, but all of that will change after your visit our latest Fort Greene find: The Smoke Joint. Located near the Atlantic Avenue mega-stop, this barbecue house is fast and cheap, with a menu full of tantalizing options. You can pick up your grub for takeout, or make a night of it with sit-down service.

The Smoke Joint’s menu is a carnivore’s delight, featuring such choices as beef and pork ribs ($11–$23), sweet and spicy wings ($7.50), and smoked chicken ($4–$14). Alternatively, ladies — and light-eating gents — will love the caesar salad ($5–$9), prepared with just the right amount of dressing and the option to add pork, beef, or chicken. Still not convinced? Nobody can turn down The Smoke Joint’s comfort-food sides, including mac and cheese ($4) and corn on the cob ($2.50).

If you’re looking for booze, you can visit the bourbon-filled Pig Bar adjacent to The Smoke Joint, or order beer or cocktails from the restaurant’s menu. (Let us know how the habanero-infused mango margarita tastes — we were too scared to try it.)

Check out The Smoke Joint at 87 S. Elliot Place in Fort Greene. 718.797.1011.