Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

Best New Brooklyn Restaurant of 2010?
Sam Sifton lists his ten favorite new restaurants of 2010 in the New York Times, and only one of them is in Brooklyn — Williamsburg’s Fatty ‘Cue, where Southeast Asian flavors meet American barbecue. And in Sifton’s top 15 dishes piece, Fatty ‘Cue was once again the only Brooklyn joint that made the grade. He recommends their smoked crab laska: “A funky smokiness runs along like a bass line in this luscious bowl of soft, thick lai fun noodles, with a melody made up of cold-smoked lump crab meat, tiny anchovies, maitake and shiitake mushrooms, grated daikon, brown-rice vinegar, unrefined palm syrup and fiery chili heat, addictive as Marlboros.” Any other suggestion for Brooklyn’s best new restaurant or best dish of the year? Photo by Tungsten Property.

Brooklyn Restaurant and Bar Openings
Eater claims that the Garden Spot Cafe opened on New Year’s Day in the old Greenpoint Coffee House space at 195 Franklin Street: “The new owners spiffed up the old dining room, it now serves cheap, standard diner fare, including an extensive line of breakfast burritos.” Plus, at 286 Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, “Tuffet, a cheese/meat/bar from a Market Table alum is now open, with 15 rotating cheeses, cured and cooked meats, salads, and a full bar with wine on tap.” …Time Out New York reports that Freddy’s “is making a comeback in early January” at its new digs at 627 Fifth Avenue between 17th and 18th Streets… And Eater shares a Park Slope tip that “a restaurant called PS BKLYN is building out at 833 Union St in the space that once housed Bussaco.”

Manhattan Comes to Williamsburg
Grub Street reminds us that La Esquina is taking over the old Relish space, the Meatball Shop is opening an outpost at 170 Bedford Avenue near North 7th Street this spring, and now ‘inoteca‘s Jason Denton has signed a lease at the old Ciao Bella place at 138 North 8th Street between Bedford and Berry, and the place should be opening in March. Truffled egg toast without leaving Brooklyn? Yes, please.

After the jump: Lucali heads to Manhattan, Time Out talks knives and bitters, James offers a new deal for the new year, and more…

Lucali Takes Manhattan
Both Eater and Grub Street are buzzing about Lucali Kenmare, which is “slated to open on Kenmare between Mott and Elizabeth Streets.” But anybody know what’s going on with Lucali‘s South Slope work-in-progress, Giuseppina’s?

Quick Bites
Time Out New York chats with Gowanus knife-crafter Joel Bukiewicz and Brooklyn bitters brewer Louis Smeby… Grub Street spreads the word that James in Prospect Heights “will offer two dinner specials to celebrate the New Year. On Sundays, the restaurant will feature a $25 three-course prix fixe menu, including favorites from the regular dinner menu. On Mondays, James will host Monday Burger Night, featuring half-price burgers and fries.” … And Sherri Eisenberg, author of A Food Lover’s Guide to Brooklyn tells the Daily News about her favorite local eats.