Looking for a nearby alternative to Wyckoff Avenue – just to mix things up? There are many great bars and restaurants on Grand Street, just a few minutes away on the L train. Over the past year or so, many food and drink spots have popped up the street, joining the long list of businesses already established there.
Here are some new and new(ish) Grand Street businesses to check out!
Having opened just a couple of months ago, The Clonard, an Irish pub, has a large drink menu with a variety of cocktails, mocktails, wines and, of course, beers on tap. And don’t worry, there’s an Irish coffee on the menu too. During happy hour, snag select beers for $5, well drinks and wine for $6, and snacks for either $5 or $6, including mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, onion rings and French fries. Oh, and when you’re there, don’t forget to peruse the sandwiches. The kitchen closes each night two hours prior to closing time.
The Clonard, located at 506 Grand St., is open from Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday & Saturday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Philomena’s Bar
Philomena’s opened in late summer of last year on bustling Grand Street. The luxurious feeling cocktail bar has a generous menu that includes not only cocktails, which are priced at $13 each, but also draft and bottled/canned beer and wine. If feeling hungry, bar bites, including hummus, a duck liver mousse, pickled crudité and more, are available for purchase.
Philomena’s Bar, located at 790 Grand St., is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Friday & Saturday from 5 p.m. until late.
Koko’s
A family run fusion restaurant combining Japanese and Peruvian flavors, Koko’s is an inspiration of Nikkei cuisine. Nikkei cuisine boasts Japanese techniques with the flavor profile of Peruvian food. Having opened up roughly three months ago, Koko’s serves up not only eclectic options for dinner, including baos and ceviche, but also brunch, which is served on the weekends and includes crispy pollo, matcha waffles, avocado benedict and more. A late night kitchen menu is also available from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A variety of drinks including sake, sochu, cocktails and beer are served to pair with the meal of your choice.
Koko’s, located 588 Grand St., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch and 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. for dinner.
Yummy Tummy’s
Owner and baker, Melissa Johnson, a Brooklyn native, opened her own storefront this past November, after 10 years of baking professionally. Johnson’s desserts are baked from scratch with flavors that will keep you coming back for more. The new dessert kitchen is a creation station for specialty cupcakes, pies, brownies, cheesecake, cake pops and more.
Yummy Tummy’s, located at 793 Grand St., is open limited hours.
Alita Cafe
Serving up fresh coffee, tea and homemade pastries, Alita Cafe, co-owned by friends Alejandro Ceballos and Paolo Maliksi, is named after and inspired by Ceballos’ nickname given to him by his abuela. Both Ceballos and Maliksi worked in the coffee industry as they studied classical music and “quickly became enamored with the sense of community it created, the small farms behind each product, as well as the constant innovation.” Alita’s menu consists of not only coffee, but also made-to-order goodies, such as a bacon, egg and cheese on a homemade biscuit with sriracha garlic aioli and a yogurt parfait with homemade jam and maple syrup pistachio pecan granola. You can also often find clever messages on the sandwich board sign outside Alita.
Alita Cafe, located at 797 Grand St., is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Blinky’s
Blinky’s, a cross between a cocktail bar and a local pub, was inspired by time living in the UK and the pubs that fill the streets there. Blinky’s menu offers many unique cocktails, including the Blinky Blue Cosmopolitan, a spicy margarita, the Brooklyn Buck and many more. Cold beer on tap is available, as well as cans from local breweries around Bushwick, Williamsburg and across the city. Blinky’s happy hour is held Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 12 a.m. to close. And on Sundays, its always happy hour! During those times, Blinky’s offers $2 off local beer, wine and liquor. Blinky’s also holds an array of events for the community.
Blinky’s, located at 609 Grand St., is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., Saturday 2 p.m. to 4 a.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Featured image from The Clonard’s Instagram.
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