10 Best Eats in Carroll Gardens

There's a lot of good eating in bustling Carroll Gardens, where the neighborhood's old Italian purveyor, Caputo's Fine Foods, supplies fresh mozzarella and bread to many of the new Southern-fried sandwich shops and young bistros. Here are my top spots at the moment to stop in for seriously good lunches, on-the-go snacks, and lovely but casual dinners (for good measure, there's a butcher shop and cocktail lounge in here too).

Added 8/4: With apologies to Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, I consulted a google map for the boundaries. So please consider this a list of great eats from both neighborhoods if you draw the line at Degraw.

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10. Van Horn Sandwich Shop
Owner Jacob Van Horn is from North Carolina and his little cafe on the Cobble Hill border turns out simple, Southern-inspired dishes like dainty hush puppies, fried chicken sandwiches with cabbage, and a lovely riff on a BLT, which swaps out the bacon for fried sweet potato. It's a great, low-key spot to cozy up to the bar with a vinegary pulled pork sandwich and a beer. 231 Court Street, Brooklyn, (718) 596-9707

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9. Buttermilk Channel
Owner Doug Crowell zips around this charming bistro on Court Street, keeping wine glasses full, and making everyone in the dining room feel at home. Ryan Angulo's menu is a celebration of local businesses--pasta and mozzarella from Caputo's, lobsters from the Red Hook Lobster Pound, and ice cream from Blue Marble. For a sweet deal, visit on Mondays for the $25, three-course menu. 524 Court Street, Brooklyn (718) 852-8490

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8. Court Pastry Shop
Brothers Gasper and Vincent Zerilli own this charming Italian pastry shop, popular for its crispy cream-filled lobster tails and old-fashioned cookies. Monster cannoli shells are dark and crispy, with a filling that's as smooth as cake frosting, but during the summer it's nice to head back to the freezer for a steep cone of lemon-flavored Italian ice, which eats like a lemonade slushy. 298 Court Street Brooklyn (718) 875-4820