Where to Eat: Ask Becky
Babies, bratwurst and Brooklyn nostalgia
Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite thing to do. Let's answer some reader questions, my friends! I'll be doing these on a monthly basis, giving my new co-writer, Luke, a much-needed break from scouring the city for dollar slices, tofu hot dogs and brain tacos. As for the rest of you, please keep the reader questions coming! I want your restaurant requests, the more specific the better, and I'll take them in a few forms: via email at wheretoeat@nytimes.com, as a submission in this form, and on my Instagram, where I'll post story prompts for you. This week, I'll dive into questions from readers seeking an actually good German restaurant, a taste of Brooklyn 2000s nostalgia, and a restaurant where parents can pridefully roll in with strollers.
Where it's always brat summerAre there any good German restaurants left in New York City? Most are mediocre at best and expensive for what they serve. — Mason There sure are, and Zum Stamtisch, a beloved institution since 1972, is one of them. The room alone — carpeted, paneled with dark wood and decorated with antique steins and taxidermy — felt to me as if it were airlifted straight from Heidelberg to Glendale, Queens. In keeping with tradition, you should get a steering wheel-size pretzel, served warm with two types of mustard and biting horseradish sauce, and a wurstplatte with housemade smoked wursts and kraut (a steal, by the way, at $20). My favorite bite, I was surprised to find, is an American invention: the bratburger. It's a delightful little sandwich served on a toasted English muffin with a taut, springy bratwurst patty and two thick slices of ham under a blanket of melted Swiss cheese. 69-46 Myrtle Avenue (70th Street), Glendale
The East Village goes BrooklynFormer Brooklynite looking to daydream and relive the nostalgia of the early '00s (think: peak Roberta's, Diner, etc.), but with newcomer recommendations. — Malcolm I'm going to send you to the new East Village location of Ops, a Bushwick darling since 2016. You'll appreciate the three owners' aughts-cool pedigrees: Variety Coffee, Achilles Heel and Buvette. As a regular patron of the original Ops, I was surprised to find that the new location is even better, with plenty of new menu options: a bowl of rich lentils topped with a pile of garlicky salsa verde, Hawaiian tavern pie, a salad of bitter lettuces with a creamy feta dressing, and, of course, the pizzas. The Rojo pie, with pickled peppers and cloaked elegantly in slices of mortadella, lives at both locations. The crispy-bottomed tavern pies cut into small squares, however, are unique to the East Village location. Never thought I'd be a pineapple-on-pizza girl, but the restaurant's Hawaiian changed me with a crackerlike crust that miraculously holds up to a rich layer of Gouda and Parmesan, and thin, crispy slices of ham. 176 Second Avenue (East 11th Street), East Village
If you're a mother, no dramaWhere in Manhattan and Brooklyn can I comfortably enjoy a fun, tasty lunch or dinner with a group of six or so fellow new parents, each accompanied by their infant and bulky strollers? In a city infamous for tightly-spaced restaurant seating, group dining with babies is tough! — Addie Oh man, I did some calling around and, quickly realized what you've learned the hard way: A stroller-friendly group spot can be a tall order. One of the best bets I found, however, was Smør, a day-to-night cafe with locations, as requested, in both the East Village and Clinton Hill. I called to triple-check the stroller scene, and they said they're very prepared for an influx of strollers, though there are no changing tables in the bathroom, unfortunately. Foodwise, you'll be set for any time of day: Nordic-inspired breakfast and lunch until midafternoon that's heavy on the seeded rye, smoked fish and elegant open-faced sandwiches. For dinner there's sesame-breaded schnitzel, Danish hot dogs, charcuterie plates and a solid range of natural wines. Enjoy, parentals! Multiple locations, East Village and Clinton Hill
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