Fodor's Expert Review Five Leaves

Tattooed servers wait tables at this prime spot on the corner opposite McCarren Park where chefs take fanciful (and successful) liberties with traditional bistro fare. Popular dishes include the Five Leaves burger with pickled beets and harissa mayo, truffle fries, and ricotta pancakes served at weekend brunch, which can be a mob scene but worth braving if you can’t get here early. The stylish place was inspired by actor Heath Ledger, a Greenpoint fixture who had plans to start a restaurant with the owners before his untimely death; funding from his estate went toward opening it. The sidewalk tables are excellent for people-watching.