Here's How Brooklyn Restaurants Fared in the 2016 Zagat Survey

Brooklyn is one of the country’s premiere food destinations, but only four of the borough’s restaurants made Zagat’s just-announced list of top 50 New York City restaurants for 2016. Zagat has long been the definitive consumer guide to dining in New York City and beyond.

The eateries that landed in the top 50 were Peter Luger Steak House in Williamsburg (No. 6), Di Fara Pizza in Midwood (No. 35), The River Café in Dumbo (No. 37) and Fette Sau in Williamsburg (No. 40). Park Slope’s Al di la Trattoria, a favorite for years, was dropped from the 2016 list.

Rankings were determined by more than 34,000 contributors, and to be in the top list restaurants must clear a certain number of votes. (That number is classified, a Zagat representative told Brownstoner.) Brooklyn made up about 15 percent of the 2,237 restaurants featured in the survey. 

Though Brooklyn’s portion of the top 50 is small, it’s actually one up from last year. Only three Brooklyn restaurants made 2015’s list: Peter Luger, River Café and Al di la Trattoria.

The first two have also been awarded Michelin stars, and it’s worth noting that Michelin’s two newest Brooklyn additions, Semilla in Williamsburg and The Finch in Clinton Hill, are nowhere to be seen here.

Other notable Brooklyn news is that of the 119 restaurant openings this year, about 15 percent were in Brooklyn, down from 25 percent last year. (To see the full list of 50 top restaurants, go to Zagat.)

While Brooklyn has a small footprint in the overall top restaurants list, the borough’s restaurants fared much better in the more specific categories.

Here’s where the borough landed on top:

Top Newcomers: Delaware and Hudson (Williamsburg)*, at No. 6
Best Bakeries: Bakeri (Williamsburg and Greenpoint)
Best Barbecue: Fette Sau (Williamsburg)
Best Delis: Mill Basin Deli
Best Kosher: Mill Basin Deli
Best Food Halls: Smorgasburg (Williamsburg, Dumbo and now Industry City)
Best Ice Cream: Ample Hills (Prospect Heights and Gowanus)
Best Mediterranean: Olea (Fort Greene)
Best Middle Eastern: Tanoreen (Bay Ridge)
Best Pizza: Paulie Gee’s (Greenpoint)
Best Ramen: Chuko (Prospect Heights)
Best South American: Caracas Arepas Bar (Williamsburg)
Best Southern/Soul: Brooklyn Star (Williamsburg)
Best Spanish/Tapas: La Vara (Cobble Hill)
Best Steakhouses: Peter Luger Steak House* (Williamsburg)
Best Turkish: Taci’s Beyti (Gravesend)
Best Under $40 Full Meal: Paulie Gee’s (No. 1), Totonno’s (No. 2), Olea (No. 3), Lucali in Carroll Gardens (No. 6), Di Fara (No. 7), Fette Sau (No. 10)

*also Michelin-starred

Have thoughts on Brooklyn’s food scene? Join us and our Twitter chat panelists Michelin star-rated restaurant Delaware and Hudson, Eater editor Helen Rosner, and Downtown Brooklyn’s Hill Country Barbeque for a #BstonerChat at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 16. We’ll be asking questions about your favorite Brooklyn eats.

[Photo: The River Café]

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