We found ourselves liberated from childcare one random weeknight and decided to check out the new Thai restaurant that had replaced what had been our favorite local taco joint. We found a stunningly transformed restaurant with eye-catching food.

Mable’s Smokehouse opened in 2011 on the latter end of the New York City barbecue revolution. The restaurant brings Oklahoma-style recipes to the city in a rustic saloon atmosphere, which is the perfect place for my three-year-old.

The place setting and menu at Leo

Leo serves of Neapolitan style pizza in Brooklyn, a trend thats more than two decades old.

The chicken biscuit has still got it

Pies -n- Thighs helped popularize fried chicken sandwiches in gentrified Brooklyn almost two decades ago. We stopped in for lunch to see how whether it still holds up.

The classic lounge-style cocktail menu reminds me of places my grandparents would visit

The Commodore in Williamsburg is one of the few places for a light-night meal. I ordered the classic hot breast.