Crown Heights: Top 10 Date Night Picks

Seriously one of the best, authentic Neapolitan style pizzas we’ve had outside of Naples - with thin and chewy, but crispy dough, these brick-oven pizzas are served up with tasty traditional toppings using freshly sourced ingredients. It’s hard to move past the simple perfection of the margarita, but another Barboncino classic are the Neapolitan Meatballs, with organic italian tomatoes, fior di latte, house-made meatballs, parmigiano reggiano, basil and extra virgin olive oil (YUM!). They also have a good selection of antipasto, like fire roasted peppers, charcuterie, and cheeses plus salads which are a good side dish to your pizza. Bonus points for having “Mike’s Hot Honey” on the menu and award-winning cocktails.

Reserve this one for ‘date night proper.” Alenbi is a modern Israeli restaurant, with a six seat chef bar looking straight into the kitchen, and an intimate dining room with custom designed and made in Israel furniture - also with a great view into the open kitchen. The space is moody and sexy, the food is more than satisfying, with things like the Babaghanoush, which is actually a full charred eggplant, or the elevated Israeli Souvlaki, o4 the Shuk Tasting - a culinary journey with Chef Elior Balbul. Alenbi is kosher too, FYI.

I mean, it always feels a bit special when you enter a restaurant directly through the kitchen. But wait, where’s the menu? Oh, there isn’t one. So just trust us, and them. Oxalis offers a carte blanche tasting menu each night, which changes regularly and includes six courses for $70. The menu changes often and is revealed to you only when you sit down, and to be honest part of the experience is the unknown, so don’t go trying to find the it on Google now. If surprises aren’t your thing, they also offer an a’la carte menu in the bar and garden room backyard. We’d suggest putting this one on the calendar for a night when you’re feeling Eleven Madison style, but without the stuffy style itself - Uptown class with Brooklyn vibes, what a fabulous thing.

The closest to NOLA you’re going to get in NYC, Lowerline is a “Classic New Orleans Joint,” and in true NOLA style, it comes with a nice big helping of friendly southern service too. Haven’t been to New Orleans? Well, you’re in for a treat - expect a good amount of spice and seafood - freshly shucked oysters on the half shell, hot roasted beef po-boy sandwich, dripping with gravy, or a steaming bowl of seafood gumbo (a Creole specialty), all made from scratch, every day. Enjoy it all in a gorgeously, intimate, cozy space and a few icy cold beers.