Andrew Tobia
Food & Drink Editor
The Christmas season is one of the most-travelled times of the year, second only to Thanksgiving. (A little more information courtesy of the Bureau of Transportation, if super-dry statistics are your thing.)
This year plenty of Bushwickites (Bushwickers? Bushwickonians?), transplants and natives alike, will be boarding planes, trains, and automobiles to travel the country in search of familial companionship.
Plenty of others, though, will be staying put — whether because all their family is already here, they can’t/won’t travel, they don’t celebrate Christmas, or damnit they just don’t feel like going anyplace.
That doesn’t mean you can’t dine in celebratory style. These five Bushwick spots have got you covered.
Mominette, 221 Knickerbocker Ave.
This cozy French bistro on Knickerbocker Avenue, just a block away from Maria Hernandez Park, will be open for brunch on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Their popular brunch menu will be available, as well as some to-be-determined holiday specials.
Roberta’s, 261 Moore St.
Neighborhood stalwart Roberta’s Pizza will be closed for Christmas Day, but open all day long on Christmas Eve. They’re offering a special Christmas brunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., including prime rib, house-smoked ham with all the trimmings, and as-yet-unnamed dinner specials from 4 p.m. till midnight.
Heavy Woods 50 Wyckoff Ave.
This homey café-bar and Tchoup Shop, their resident purveyors of fine Cajun cuisine, will be open for brunch, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on both Christmas Eve and Day. There will be no holiday-themed specials on the menu, but their standard brunch is regularly held in very high esteem.
Idlewild, 24 St. Nicholas Ave.
If 5 p.m. is too early of a closing time for you, or if you find yourself craving the unique flavors of Southeast Asia, head over the Heavy Woods’ sister bar, Idlewild. They’re open all day on Christmas Day, 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Rangoon Noodle Lab provides the eats there.
Bunker, 99 Scott Ave.
If Southeast Asian sounds pretty good to you but localizing it down to Vietnamese in particular sounds even better, head over to Bunker. They’ll be open regular hours, from 12-10 p.m., and will be serving their signature starters, bánh mì, and pho, as well as TBD holiday specials.
So there you have it, folks — five delicious Bushwick spots to get your Christmas celebration on at, should you find yourself in the neighborhood this week. And this list is far from comprehensive — if your favorite spot is open on Christmas Eve or Day, shout about it in the comments.