Roberta’s was a pioneer on the hipster Brooklyn restaurant scene, and still remains the benchmark. And it has celebrity chef approval: the grand dame of locally-grown cuisine, Alice Waters, helped fund the restaurant’s onsite rooftop garden; and French mega-chef Michel Bras has made the pilgrimage out here too. 

The compound centers on the restaurant, of course, and a takeaway bakery to the side. They source their greenery from the garden and maintain their own beehives, bringing a new meaning to “local” and “farm-to-table”. In summer, lines spill onto the sidewalk for the restaurant’s tiki bar-slash-beer garden, a pleasant place to pass the sweltering New York summer with a cocktail in one hand and a pizza in the other. No matter the season you some, we recommend trying the Bee Sting pizza, a Roberta’s original, where layers of tomato, mozzarella, sopressata and hot honey meld on a pillowy, charred crust for a spicy, sweet and satisfying experience. 

Now occupying most of the block in what has recently become a trendy corner of East Williamsburg, we also recommend rounding out the experience and heading to Syndicated, a bar, movie theatre and kitchen all in one, across the road for a movie—and perhaps some more wine.

Ursula Parade with Grimm Sunshine Pop



Mozzarella, parmigiano, littleneck clams, calabrian chili, parsley, garlic, and lemon, Berliner Weisse