hello crown heights!

Hey people, I'm moving up to your area in a few short weeks (from PH for the past 5 years so really only moving a few blocks), and figured I'd ask you guys what's good? Food, groceries, shopping, hanging out, etc. Seeking advice!

Also I saw something about a CSA in the area? Is anyone doing that?

Hi! You'll love Crown Heights.

Franklin Park is an awesome bar.
My cat spins there on Tuesdays!

Ha! Awesome. I've walked by it a couple times. Will have to go in when I have a chance! Tuesday nights noted for cat DJing. Might bring my camera as no one will believe me!

Welcome...I just moved from PH after 5 years, too...

Thumb's up on Franklin Park...

I am doing the CSA this year -- it's going really well. We get a really interesting variety of veggies each week - probably 1/2 are things i would regularly buy anyway (herbs, lettuce, scallions) and 1/2 are things that are making me try new things (bok choy, radishes, turnips) which is cool too. It's full this year, but you can stop by to ask questions and look around on Tuesdays from 5-8 at Franklin Park. ...It's also nice because happy hour means $4 drafts at Franklin Park...so before picking up veggies you can get a pint..or two..

Bristen's backyard is a nice spot for breakfast on the weekends... its close and I get super lazy on the weekends, so it fits my bill.

i like Bristen's, but for breakfast it just isn't enough food - brunch is the one meal where i want to stuff my face. good atmosphere there, though, for sure.

chavellas is great for all meals. abigails is good too. we brunch there much more often than bristens.

I agree with you on the portions aspect xlizellx. Personally, I'm a big lunch person. For that I'll muster the energy to walk to Toms Diner for sure.

Blech, abigails. Don't get me started.

Sterling2000 - ah ha! Another PHer moving further east! Glad to know it's not particularly unusual.

xlizellx - I love Chavella's! Haven't tried Bristen's although I did walk by Abigail's. Looked ok from the outside.

BackinBrooklyn - agreed on Tom's Diner. They do know how to fill you up. Although the last couple times I've been there I seem to get seated in the "do not serve these people coffee" zone.

Whatchuwant - Ok, now I'm curious about Abigail's.

Abigail's is very hit or miss. great food - if they have it. and good service...sometimes. often you'll get great food and have a good experience. but also you will often get waited on once an hour and they won't have anything you want to eat.

xlizellx - awesome. sounds like an experience to have at least once.

Thanks everybody! Totally looking forward to moving up towards Franklin Ave. Looks like it's got a lot of good stuff.

welcome!

abigail's would be passable if it weren't for the uniformly terrible service. we gave 'em 18 months and about 5 tries, they never got their shit together, game over. sorry. there's plenty of other places to eat and drink around here. personally i'd rather walk the extra block over to cheryl's.

on franklin ave, ceasar's wine shop, bombay masala, a slice of brooklyn, and the spice is right are all great. bombay masala is an absolute gem in that it's not just a bunch of poorly-made punjabi food passed off as 'indian' food-- the guys there really know what they're doing. Fariba is awesome if you're in the mood... and i miss la higencia for the wickedest garlic chicken in the world.

the associated, south of EP is the best grocery store in the area. and sal's makes a wicked egg&cheese sandwich.

it's a few blocks north of CH proper but if yr in the mood for a walk, D&D doubles on nostrand & Macon... just wow... wow...

where is sals? i used to love the bodega on the north-east corner of lincoln and franklin for egg and cheese ... but maybe its because i lived nextdoor and it was so close...

TeReKeTe - Awesome info! I'm really excited that there's good indian nearby. Something I was worrying about a bit. Also info on the associated supermarket is great. I saw a few various markets and bodega places so figured I wouldn't starve. But I do like shopping for food (and everything else) from local stores and not getting Fresh Direct or walking around with Trader Joe's or Whole Foods bag unless it's for a good reason.

Also what's D&D doubles? The wows have made me curious. And I love trying good food.

The Associated is okay. They've gotten so much better over the past few years. The prices are pretty reasonable and you kind find most of the basics. I'm not the biggest fan of their produce. It's really hit or miss. I might be a bad person to judge produce having moved here from Cali where there is a daily farmers market with almost every fruit you can thinkg of year round in most major cities.

Bit of warning. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS check the expiration dates. I've purchased a couple of old items there. They will gladly take them back, but who wants to go through all the trouble of going back to the store?

xlizellx wrote: where is sals? i used to love the bodega on the north-east corner of lincoln and franklin for egg and cheese ... but maybe its because i lived nextdoor and it was so close...

Sals is on the south-west corner of Franklin and EP.

Ishtar - Great! Thanks for the warning on the expiration dates. This is true for the Met Foods on Vanderbilt and the Key foods on Flatbush too. I've learned (after a few bad experiences) to check it all. As for produce... well... yeah. Most supermarkets have sort of hit or miss produce here.

The Spot on Grand & Prospect has great brunch options from 11:am to 4:pm on weekends. Outdoor seating too.