“This is April Bloomfield’s place. Her food is simple, but it’s really deceptive: There’s lots of flavor, lots of layers. It’s focused on seafood. The restaurant itself is just gorgeous; there’s a beautiful little bar with a few seats. The wine list is really good, and the service is really good. If you’re a fan of April Bloomfield, it’s good to see her back.”

“Bittersweet is a great coffee place, but they also have dog treats. So after I walk my dog in Fort Greene Park, she pulls me in that direction. They also have simple sandwiches: a breakfast sandwich with eggs and prosciutto, a simple salami-and-butter sandwich. It’s a good spot.”

“Besides being a great Italian-ish restaurant, Evelina also has an amazing gelato bar out front. There’s always a vibe inside—you feel like there’s a party going on. I remember going there for the first time not knowing anything about the restaurant—they have a very active Instagram following—and I just thought it was absolutely delicious. Good, honest, delicious food.”

“Margot, which does French bistro cooking, is another hard spot to get into. It’s a young staff, very casual, with good, straight-up bistro food. You can get a great steak frites, salads, and more. There’s a well-priced wine list—it’s not going to break the bank.”

“You cannot get into Theodora. I know the chef, and even when I call, he’s like, ‘I can get you in at five o’clock.’ It’s a Mediterranean spot where fish and meat come off a wood-burning grill. It’s so busy. It’s right at the top of a subway stop, and they’re still packed every night—there’s a line of people out of the door trying to get bar seats.”

“Colonia Verde has been around for a long time. It’s not complicated; it’s just a really, really good neighborhood restaurant. You can go in shorts and a t-shirt, or if you feel like putting a jacket on, that’s fine too. Good staff, good cocktails, and simple, straightforward, good food.”

“This place is from the same people who own Theodora. They’re both Mediterranean, really tasty, and very, very busy. The chef worked at Gramercy Tavern, though not when I was there.”

“On the corner, you’ll see Walter’s, but if you walk through, there’s a little door in the back, and you’ll find a hidden Japanese bar: Karasu.”

“This space, which is more in Clinton Hill, used to be a drugstore, and they kept a lot of the fixtures and cabinetry, and the sign is still up. It’s pretty neat. It’s a simple Italian spot with really good pasta. They have prosciutto, salads, sardines, a nice lasagna. In the fall, they have a wild boar pasta I liked a lot. You can find salt cod there, which is hard to find.”

“Fan Fan—though it’s technically not in Fort Greene—is just great for doughnuts. It’s woman-owned; the owner is in there every day baking. The doughnuts are fantastic.”