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.

It doesn’t matter if you call it a sub, grinder, hero, hoagie, Italian sandwich, po’ boy, wedge, zep, torpedo or roll, it’s all the same thing: a delicious mixture of meat, veggies and cheese between two pieces of bread. Personally, I have lived in a lot of places in my lifetime, and I have to say that New York has by far the best subs ever. This is especially true if you go to a deli that really knows what they are doing and has fresh and quality ingredients. Who knows — these subs could end up being your new favorite lunch.

Let’s explore some of the most famous sub-serving delis in and around the Brooklyn area:

First off is Mill’s Basin Deli on Avenue T. This place has one of the best pastrami sandwiches you are ever going to eat. Each sandwich is also served with the deli’s delicious signature coleslaw. Pastrami is not something that anyone can just whip up. You have to have a nice quality cut of peppered brisket to really enjoy this!

Next on the list is Defonte’s Sandwich Shop, with locations on 3rd Avenue and Columbia Street. One of the specialties here is a Chicken Parm hero, which is pretty much a standard at Italian delis everywhere. The thing about this sandwich is that it has to be cooked just right in order to stay crispy and hot. And at Defonte’s they do just that. The chicken is tender and moist, the cheese is really nice and melted, and the bread is always fresh! Another thing that I really like here are the stuffed cherry peppers, which are known for being spicy but delicious.

Next on the list is the ever popular Lioni on 15th Avenue. This place has somewhere around 300 to 400 varieties of hero’s on the menu and each one is made to order. These are not only good quality and flavorful sandwiches, but just looking at the menu is sure to give you a few chuckles. For example, they have a lot of sandwiches named after famous people like The Joe Montana, The Mario Andretti, and The Joe Pesci.

I’m a big foodie when it comes to eating out or getting specific kinds of foods, in this case bakery items. Not just any place is going to do it for me. I often find that the more established a bakery is or the longer it’s been around, the better choice and quality you are going to have.

Some of the main bakeries in Brooklyn you can check out are Monteleone’s on Court St. (which has the best cannolis ever) and B & W Bakery (known for its signature crumb cake).

You can also find various ethnic bakeries as well. I have a lot of Greek in me, so if I can find a place that has good baklava I will be a customer forever! You can also check out Rimini Bakery on Bay Parkway for Italian items, Nordic Delicacies on 3rd Ave. for Scandinavian, Sahadi’s on Atlantic Avenue for Middle Eastern, and Leske’s on 5th Ave. in Bay Ridge for Norwegian. It really depends on what you want and how far you are willing to search for your favorite dessert!

If you just moved to the Brooklyn area you may be wondering about some activities or hobbies you can get into. Frankly, I think Brooklyn is one of those great cities where just about anyone can find something that interests them.

If you are young person or young couple into trends, you might enjoy trying new restaurants like Applewood, Al Di LA or Franny’s. These are some of the newer and “hip” restaurants in the community that get praise all the time for the food, atmosphere and social scene.

On the other hand, maybe you are into the bar or the club scene. If so, like most other metropolitan areas Brooklyn offers quite a few options to choose from such as Building on Bond, Clover Club, Floyd, NY or Last Exit, which is a fantastic mix between a comfortable downtown bar and a trendy lounge.

For children, Brooklyn has tons of great cultural activities and performing arts opportunities. Consider the New York Aquarium, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Prospect Park Zoo, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Lefferts Historic House, and of course Coney Island. At this last stop, your family can enjoy games, rides, food, and the popular Coney Island Museum.

Dazzling a date over burgers and fries is a task best left to professionals. For the rest of us, a trendy restaurant with something interesting on the menu is usually the way to go.

Enter SEA, a destination for Thai cuisine with a decidedly modern flair. From the presentation to the ambiance, SEA comes off as a chic Williamsburg nightclub… with noodles.

SEA’s menu is as memorable as its décor—that is, if you can tear yourself away from the swinging benches and pod seating.  Despite the name, SEA offers a diverse range of courses with a subtle nod toward ocean cuisine, guaranteed to satisfy even dates without their sea legs. When in doubt, the Pad Thai and “Drunk Man” Noodles are dependably delectable.

Of course, nothing is trendier nowadays than saving money, which is great, since entrées at SEA are priced at only $10 to $15.

SEA is located at 114 North 6th Street, off the Bedford Avenue stop along the L. (718) 384-8850.

If you live in Brooklyn or you live around this area and are a regular “foodie”, chances are you like to visit some of the new (and not so new) and upcoming restaurants in the area. There are just some cities in the US that always have new restaurants, amazing chefs, and incredible food – and Brooklyn is one of those places. The nice thing about New York is that you can find almost any kind of ethnic food you want. It’s not all about pizza and pasta here kids. There is SO much more to choose from such as Japanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Classic Italian, French, Steakhouses, and Thai.

From the looks of it, these five restaurants are really going to quench your thirst for some really good food, but also a nice atmosphere as well. The first one is the Peter Luger Steakhouse which unless you live under a rock you HAD to have heard something about! This is obviously a Steakhouse, and one of the best in New York. Average main course is around $75, with a touch of casual ambiance. And as with most other restaurants that are high rated you will need reservations! Check out the porterhouse steak and the sauce they serve with it. Yum!

The second option available to you is a place called River Cafe and they primarily serve brunch, granted it is the best brunch! Not only does this place have good food, but an amazing atmosphere too. You are looking right over the river with the sky above! Check out the suckling pig – it was my favorite!

Next on the list is Elia which is a sweet little Greek place located on Third Avenue. I have been to quite a few Greek places and this one just blows all others out of the water! Great service, great food, good atmosphere and good music!

Fourth, we have Tanoreen, and if you love Middle Eastern food you have to check this place out. Its super intimate – which means it’s really nice for couples and they have everything from Middle Eastern classic dish to French flair and American fare dishes as well. Something that everyone can enjoy. Lastly, is Di Fara – which is of course a pizza place. Though this one is just a tad more expensive than your usual pizzeria and the pizzas are huge.

Everything is handmade here and they use all imported ingredients as well so you know the freshness is definitely there. The only negative thing about this place is that they do not serve alcohol, for all of you Wine & beer lovers out there. Hey, you could always get take-out!