Brooklyn’s biggest restaurant openings & closings so far this December

December’s new restaurants are here! Here are the openings we’re excited to try this month. Folk brings cocktails and Indian-inspired bites to Park Slope, Diljān Bakery specializes in Afghan flatbreads and pastries in Brooklyn Heights, Gertie has opened a new deli-counter concept in Prospect Heights, a new Indian restaurant has arrived in Downtown Brooklyn, and Lidl has a new location in Park Slope.

And there’s much more on the horizon: Ingas Bar in Brooklyn Heights will open a sister restaurant in Boerum Hill, Williamsburg will soon welcome a new art deco cocktail bar called The Sparrow, and Carroll Gardens is eagerly anticipating the arrival of Bar Ferdinando, from the team behind Cafe Spaghetti, Swoony’s, and Sal Tang’s.

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Several major restaurant closures have also been announced already this month: Fulgurances Laundromat in Greenpoint, Llama Inn and Fette Sau in Williamsburg, and Winona’s in Bed-Stuy. Read on to learn more!

Fulgurances Laundromat | Greenpoint | Closing December 31

An offshoot of the Paris restaurant offered a unique dining experience, with rising chefs crafting their own seasonal tasting menus. In its place, new restaurant by Fulgurances alum Kevin Finch is in the works. Gigi’s will serve rotisserie and wine. Fulgurances Laundromat will close it out with a New Year’s Eve party.

Fette Sau | Williamsburg | Closing December 21

Fette Sau, which has served Williamsburg barbecue since 2007, will close its doors this month. The restaurant was known for its Texas-style brisket, sausage, and pulled pork. A second location of Fette Sau will remain open in Philadelphia.

Winona’s | Bed-Stuy | Closing December 20

This Bed-Stuy restaurant serving seasonal dishes will close December 20. The team will continue to operate Dolores, also in the neighborhood, which serves Mexico City-inspired food and cocktails.

Llama Inn | Williamsburg | Closing December 20

This Peruvian restaurant under the BQE in Williamsburg will close this month after 9 years in business. While the Brooklyn location is closing, Llama Inn’s outposts in London and Madrid will remain open.

Now open:

Folk | Park Slope

The team behind the Park Slope restaurant Lore has opened a new cocktail bar at 689 6th Avenue. Folk serves both craft cocktails and small plates by chef Jay Kumar (also of Lore in Park Slope) in a cozy space. Dishes include crab risotto, a tuna tartare, biryani arancini, masala latkes, plus shareable snacks like a pu-pu platter and deviled eggs.

Diljān Bakery | Brooklyn Heights

The team behind Little Flower Cafe in Astoria and Blue Hour in Bushwick—which recently closed—has opened an Afghan bakery at 330 Hicks Street. They will make flatbreads using Afghan ingredients such as saffron, cardamom, pistachio, and apricots. Diljān will also serve samosas with ground halal lamb and beef, a pastry called Saffron Shah, filled with saffron pastry cream, and the sheer pira, an Afghan milk fudge topped with custard.

Kashi Indian Cuisine & Bar | Downtown Brooklyn

Lidl | Park Slope

Lidl opened this week 80 Baltic Street, at the corner of 5th Avenue and Baltic Street. The supermarket is part of the Paseo on Fifth development, which includes two luxury apartment buildings and various retailers on the ground floor. Similar to Trader Joe’s and Aldi, Lidl offers a broad assortment of products, including its 49-cent butter croissants, private-label Butcher’s Specialty meats, and Bon Gelati mini ice cream bars. Shoppers can also find gourmet favorites like frozen tiramisu, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, and authentic prosciutto. Lidl will be open 8am-9pm daily.

Gertie | Prospect Heights

Gertie—which closed in Williamsburg in June—is now open in Prospect Heights with a new counter-deli concept. At its latke bar, customers choose toppings like smoked fish, apple butter, sour cream, pastrami, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. The menu also includes bagels, bialys, chicken schnitzel, tuna and whitefish salads, matzo ball soup, pickles, knishes, babka, and black-and-white cookies. They make their own sodas and egg creams and serve creative coffee drinks like the chocolate egg cream latte and the B&W coffee shake. With a full liquor license, Gertie offers cocktails such as borscht Bloody Marys and Aquavit pickle martinis. They take over the former R&D Foods space and share a backyard with R&D Goods next door.

Ingas Bar, a popular neighborhood restaurant in Brooklyn Heights, has announced that they will open a sister restaurant in Boerum Hill, in the former space of Café Kitsuné. They aim to open in late winter or spring. The new spot will have an adjacent bar on Bond Street, which will follow the restaurant’s opening.

Bar Ferdinando | Carroll Gardens | Coming soon

Sal Lamboglia, the chef behind Cafe Spaghetti, Sal Tang’s and Swoony’s, will open Bar Ferdinando, a reimagining of the 120-year-old Ferdinando’s Focacceria, which closed last year. The new all-day spot will serve snacks, focaccia sandwiches, and classics like Sicilian rice balls, pane e panelle, and octopus salad, alongside an Italian-inspired cocktail program. The restaurant will preserve original artwork and fixtures from the historic restaurant as an homage to the neighborhood institution.

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