Brownstone Brooklyn at table: Italian-American on Court Street, Smith Street's restaurant row and Frankies 457 still serving a meatball plate.
Mark Iacono's candlelit Carroll Gardens pizzeria in New York City turns out a coal-fired Brooklyn pie and a calzone, cash only, BYOB, no reservations.
Signature: New York slice, Charred Brooklyn pie
Order: The plain margherita, charred-crust slice.
Tip: Walk-in only. Put your name down at 17:30, then come back at 19:30; the wait is the room's whole social fabric.
The two Franks have served Brooklyn-Italian on Court Street in New York City since 2004: handmade pastas, escarole salad, sausage cavatelli in a garden out back.
Signature: Cavatelli with hot sausage, Meatballs
Order: Cavatelli, hot sausage, brown butter and sage.
Tip: Sit in the garden in warm weather. The meatballs over polenta is the second pick if cavatelli has sold out.
Parlor Coffee roasts in a Brooklyn barbershop annexe in New York City since 2012. Direct-trade single-origin beans, four espresso machines on the bar, wholesale to top cafes.
Tip: The Saturday cupping session is open to walk-ins. Order beans the day they are roasted; the website ships Wednesdays.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Burundi, Costa Rica, Honduras
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Other Half on Centre Street has pushed hazy IPAs out of Carroll Gardens Brooklyn New York City since 2014. Can releases pull queues around the block on Saturdays.
Tip: Saturday can release day brings 90-minute lines. Wednesday afternoons are the easy walk-in for the taproom.