What I wrote thereFold it away
Five Leaves (18 Bedford Avenue) is technically in Greenpoint, right at the border with Williamsburg. I’m including it because everyone considers it a Williamsburg brunch spot and arguing about neighborhood boundaries is exhausting.
The ricotta hotcakes ($18) are the signature dish and they deserve the reputation. Light, creamy, served with honeycomb butter. They’re the more refined cousin of Sunday in Brooklyn’s pancakes. Less indulgent, more elegant. Both are excellent in different ways.
The outdoor seating on Bedford Avenue is prime people-watching territory. This is where I bring friends visiting from out of town when I want them to understand Brooklyn.
- Cost$18
- Address18 Bedford Avenue
- From my guide, published June 2026.
