On Monday, Daily Slope featured a Best of Park Slope list. My opinion is in bold type.
BEST LOAF: Lopez Bakery – Fifth Avenue between 18th and 19th. WOW. I remember when Lopez was on 8th Street and Fifth Avenue where the Subway is now. They do have great bread – they bake for Eli Zabars. The seven-grain bread is fabu (or was five years ago). Glad to hear they’re still in business.
BEST BAKERY: Two Little Red Hens – 8th Ave and 13th Street. LRHs definitely has the prettiest cakes. I love the atmosphere, their cookies, cup cakes and iced coffee.
BEST BODEGA /SMALL GROCER: La Dolce Vita – 7th Ave. Don’t know this place at all. My favorite small grocer is Met Food on Seventh Avenue and 2nd Street. The produce isn’t very good but they’ve got all the breakfast essentials.
TOY STORE: Toy Space on 7th ave around 13th. Yeah, I like that place, too.
CHILDREN’S SHOES: Windsor Shoes on Prospect Park West. I’ve never been there but everyone says they have Stride Rite Shoes.
PIZZA: Pino’s La Forchetta – 7th Ave across from PS 321. I’ve eaten there so many times with my kids I can’t tell if it’s any good anymore. They actually have good ziti. What about Frannys, Two Boots, the place on Fifth just below Union.
COFFEE SHOP: 6th ave and 12th St – Red Horse Cafe. Never been there.
SANDWICH SHOP: Pollios – 5th Ave – Good hoagies and specialty foods. They just moved a block north. Their new digs are nice.
What is the address of Green’s in Brooklyn?
www>greenscakes>com
Pino’s is not a fading star. It is a stalwart. La Villa caters to the nouveau Park Slope, but there’s a reason why Pino’s has survived. Old school is always going to win in the long run.
What is the address of Green’s in Brooklyn? We were given a Chocolate Babka made by Green’s for Christmas and want to get some more. Babka is my newest favorite dessert! Thanks!
e-mail: marjosfo@earthlink.net
Wanted to add my input about Pino’s. When I started going there, a slice was 25 cents with free soda. There are better slices in other, newer places, but nobody makes better meatballs!
Vis-a-vis the pizza argument; All that maybe true, but Pino’s gets props for history. They’ve been there for almost forty years, having seen dozens upon dozens of competitors open and close and with seventh ave businesses in general, only Ace, Clay Pot and Snookies have their seniority. Several generations of Slopees and Brooklynites in general have grown up on their pizza (especially considering that, until Roma opened in the early eighties, Pino’s was the only option for pizza in the area…though we’ll add we’re not sure when Smiling Pizza on 9th opened).
I admit, Two Little Red Hens is quite tasty, but their coffee is horrible. I prefer the Parisian place on 9th st. btw 5th and 6th. Delicious sweets and even better coffee.
You’re gonna get some flak on your choice of best pizza in PS…most consider Pino’s a fading star.
This has recently been discussed on chowhound.com and many feel the honors go to Anthony’s or La Villa, both of whom make Neopolitan-style pizza (thin crust, fresh ingredients) and most agree that both places can be inconsistent.
As for Lopez Bakery, I second the emotion.
Try their whole grain breads (especially the Alsatian bread) and babka muffins.