Park Slope’s Beloved Eateries of the Past
700+ locals shared which Park Slope eateries they remember most fondly - here are the first 7 we’re celebrating.
Last year on @parkslopeliving, we asked followers: “If you could bring back a past Park Slope restaurant or bar, what would it be?”
We received an overwhelming 700+ comments, and I’ve been wanting to cover each of these places in depth on Park Slope Pulse - revisiting them in their glory days, including your favorite dishes and drinks.
We’re kicking off this series with the top 7 most-mentioned spots. I was fortunate to have dined at 5 of them before they closed - and wish I could have tried Applewood & Dizzy’s Diner (I got very hangry while writing this post)!
Do you have memories to share about these spots, or other favorites you’d like to see featured? Drop a comment below! If you enjoy this post, please like it - and if there’s enough interest, I’ll continue covering 7 more places in the series.
Applewood
Applewood, a beloved New American restaurant that closed in 2016 after nearly 12 years in business, was known for its commitment to the Slow Food movement and farm-to-table cuisine. Applewood hosted monthly "Meet the Farmer" dinners where farmers would bring their produce, and the restaurant's chef, Sam Sherman, would prepare a six-course tasting menu.
[Photos of Applewood from Yelp]
Owners David and Laura Shea sourced ingredients mainly from local farms, featuring hormone- and antibiotic-free meats and poultry, and wild-caught fish. Laura Shea ran a cheese shop upstate called Bimi's that supplied cheese to the restaurant.
Located in a beautifully restored townhouse, the restaurant had a cozy, farmhouse atmosphere with wide-planked wooden floors, exposed brick, and a crackling fireplace.
📍 501 11th St, Brooklyn
Now: Park Slope Desk
Cafe Steinhof
Cafe Steinhof, which closed its doors in October 2020 after two decades in Park Slope, was a beloved Austrian restaurant known for its authentic comfort food and cozy atmosphere.
Dishes & drinks people loved:
Authentic Viennese Cuisine: traditional dishes like Wiener Schnitzel, goulash, and a variety of sausages, alongside classic desserts like apple bread pudding and linzer torte. I personally loved the spaetzle!
Extensive drink menu featuring Austrian and German beers on tap
[Photos of Cafe Steinhof from Yelp]
📍 422 7th Ave, Brooklyn
Now: Miolin Bakery
Dizzy’s Diner
Artwork of Dizzy’s via alltherestaurants.com (you can purchase this artwork from Park Slope artist John Donohue!)
Dizzy's Diner, a beloved Park Slope eatery, sadly closed its doors in October 2020 after a 22-year run at the corner of 9th St & 8th Ave due to the financial strain brought on by the Covid pandemic. Dizzy's served as a local hub where neighbors gathered for all meals through the day.
~~~ This post continues after the paywall, including 4 more Park Slope eateries from the past ~~~