Colonie

This local-food-focused spot has elevated the Brooklyn Heights dining scene; it was born of a community pulling together and donating construction money through Kickstarter. High ceilings, exposed brick and leafy ferns growing horizontally from a wall installation give it character. The commodious bar is especially nice for an intimate date or solo dining, serving oysters, cheese, charcuterie, and beer and a few wines on tap. The menu is seasonal, but small plates might include rabbit mousse with pickles, black risotto with crispy enoki mushrooms, and confited and fried pork belly with pine nuts. Large plates run the gamut from pasta to trout to skirt steak, with quality and sustainability of paramount importance.