Let’s Talk About Fall Restaurant Openings

Rachel Silberstein -

photo via HPS

The Times just released their fall restaurant preview, and of the eight Brooklyn picks, two are in Park Slope — a pretty good showing for the neighborhood, especially given that two others are along 3rd Ave in Gowanus. And, at least in terms of bragging rights, Gowanus is sort of Park Slope. Sort of? Also importantly, there’s not a single North Brooklyn restaurant on the list. (Not that it’s a competition, but HA!). And so we present the Park Slope edition of:

Fall Restaurant Bonanza, or What Florence Fabricant Is Excited About 

Brooklyn Central, set to open in October, gets a mention for its forthcoming wood-fired pizzas emphasizing Brooklyn ingredients. 289 Fifth Avenue (at First Street).

Meanwhile, Franny’s, one of the biggest names in Brooklyn upscale pizza, gets a mention. The pizzeria itself may not be new, but the perennial favorite is moving across Flatbush in January 2013 to double the space. The old digs will be then become the new home of Marco’s, a mysterious non-pizza restaurant by the Franny’s team slated to open in the early spring. 348 Flatbush Avenue (at Eighth Ave).

Then in the Park Slope periphery — actually Gowanus — there’s Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue and Runner & Stone both opening in late September. Fletcher’s does indeed do barbecue, and Runner & Stone is a bakery/restaurant by a pair of flea market favs. Fletcher’s 433 Third Avenue (at Seventh Street); Runner and Stone: 285 Third Avenue (at Carroll).

Issuing their own internal response to the list, the Times’ Dining writers dreamed up a New York Restaurant Wish List of things that aren’t opening this fall, but wouldn’t it be great if they were?

Julia Moskin wants good Mexican street food on the UWS. Pete Wells wants trendy top-notch Vietnamese, first-rate Cantonese, and a Moroccan place with a “chef who pays attention to ingredients.” Sam Sifton thinks Brooklyn needs a really good white table-cloth French restaurant, and also better bagels in Carroll Gardens. Florence Fabricant herself wants better options around BAM. And the it goes on.

So let’s play the neighborhood version: what’s on your Park Slope Restaurant Wish List?