61 Comments
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Azora Zoe Paknad's avatar

Ok I’m choosing violence by saying anything at all but 12 years in Brooklyn compel me:

— I fear I have to hard disagree on Bernie’s, which now feels like it’s only for 22 year olds! It lost something when the TikTok hordes descended…

— the move is to go to Chrissy’s when the weather is bad or on a weekend afternoon. Recently we had both— no line at all. Is it overpriced tho? Yeah…

—I’m sorry to say cafe Panna is good and the move is also to go on a weekday afternoon or order ahead

— if you like Kijitora, an absolutely awful line that I willingly will wait in every time is for an amazing amazing matcha at Brooklyn ball factory! It’s leagues beyond Kiji, imo— or maybe I just am exhausted by the $12 matcha situation there

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Madeline Marcella's avatar

i love brooklyn ball factory

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Azora Zoe Paknad's avatar

I hate how good it is !!!

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Madeline Marcella's avatar

thank you so much for your thoughtful response! i loved learning about your opinions truly 💭 ✨

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Gabrielle Scelzo's avatar

Pre order caffe panna (cookies & panna + whatever special sounds best to you) and pick up the pints to take home. Do it ASAP!!!!!! And come to Lucali w me I live around the corner <3

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Madeline Marcella's avatar

🥹 🍕

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Tash's avatar

+ Thai diner brunch is worth it to me 🥲

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Olivia Weiss's avatar

Chrissy’s and Panna are worth it 100% !!!!!!

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Madeline Marcella's avatar

omg ok i trust u

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Sarah Meadow's avatar

Kazunori any day…. West village location is superior and usually a lot smaller line than union square

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Madeline Marcella's avatar

yes.

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Eric K's avatar

Nice list! I remember some tech bro telling me you could hire someone to wait in line for you, which seems so wrong. A somewhat similar piece i think would be a fun/interesting read would be: places worth the 5p/10:30 or 11p reservation (mine is Semma)

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Brian W's avatar

I am happy for the proprietors who have concocted a product/vibe worthy of this kind of virality. Kudos to them in what is otherwise a very precarious venture to jump in the food business in New York City. Also, I curse that same virality as someone lacking the patience to endure these Disney World-esque slogs. I am sure I am missing out but I just can't bring myself to queue up at 4 to hope to squeeze into limited bar seating at 5 then be finished with dinner at 6:30. Maybe I will develop a FOMO gene but for now impatience wins out.

I appreciate your work to report on which should be skipped and recognize the collective time suck it took to arrive at those conclusions.

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Giulia Bardelli's avatar

Tried Petit Chou when I last went to NYC and it was SO GOOD! Think we were lucky because we went on a weekday so no queue in sight! Apparently the cinnamon buns are a must try too!

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Natalie Trotta's avatar

imo waiting in the Lilia day-of reservation line is worth it! 100% success rate so far

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kalista's avatar

Saving this eventhough idk when i will be able to go to new york (everyone pls pray for me)

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Care's avatar
Apr 4Edited

Can confirm that Lucali is worth the wait. Ideal way to do it is to go on a Sunday afternoon and put your name down for a dinner reservation. Then you can spend the day frolicking in Brooklyn. Just remember to pick up a bottle or two of wine before since it’s byob. My sister and I did this in February so we trained to bath house (prior to the UTI, mold and worm outbreak¡) but if you go in the summer you could have a day bar hoping in Red Hook

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Dina Fierro's avatar

Caffe Panna is so good and, to be fair, the line generally moves quickly.

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aleah's avatar

Thank you for your service 🫡

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Sara Parcesepe's avatar

I am acquaintances with the owners of Welcome Home and went on their first weekend - 💯 agree it’s worth it!!!!

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Sam's avatar

Looking at this with photos makes me so hungry!

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Tash's avatar

I think Librae is worth the wait, specifically for their plain croissant or Jerusalem bagel and labneh. Sometimes it’s too long though…you have to feel it out!

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