A Guide to Halloween Drinking and Dining in Brooklyn
Unless you have kids, gone are the days of trick-or-treating door to door on Halloween. So what can adults do to celebrate the holiday, besides stay home and watch scary movies, or join the drunken crush at some massive warehouse party, surrounded by a swarm of sexy pizza rats? Keep it classy this weekend, by attending one of the following restaurant-based shindigs instead, from a masquerade ball at Kimoto Rooftop Beer Garden, to a six-course Day of the Dead dinner at Fonda.
Kimoto Rooftop Beer Garden: This sky-high Asian restaurant is commemorating its first Halloween with a massive masquerade party, selling $21 tickets that include access to an open bar from 9-10pm, complimentary masks, and tunes from DJ E-Class. And you don’t even need to scour the streets for greasy late night takeout afterwards, since chef Brian Tsao will be cooking up his already infamous spam sushi dogs and disco fries, smothered with daikon chili, sriracha and beef brisket.
216 Duffield Street, Downtown Brooklyn
Bill Baker’s: Williamsburg’s newest, exceptionally spacious gastropub is ushering in Halloween with a pre-party on Friday (think various drink specials), followed by a bi-level bacchanalia on Saturday night. Festivities begin in the downstairs vault (admission is granted through the ‘haunted’ secret door), preceded by a rock n’roll show, free shot and drink giveaways, and prizes for the best costumes.
364 Grand Street, Williamsburg
Speedy Romeo: Head to ‘Spooky’ Romeo for Brooklyn’s ultimate Halloween pizza party, starting with kid-centric celebrations from 4-6pm (featuring pony rides and folk songs from Hopalong Andrew), followed by an adults-only assembly hosted by DJ Nick Nolte, complete with drink specials, a ‘Bottomless Pit of Haunted Hallowe’en Punch,’ and full food service up until the witching hours.
376 Classon Avenue, Clinton Hill
The Wythe Hotel: The tony Wythe Hotel is teaming up with one of NYC’s top party planners, No Ordinary Monkey, for a Victorian-inspired All Hallows Eve bash. Expect séances, photo booths, tarot cards and palm readings, as well as all-you-can-drink Hendricks Gin, Tullamore Dew, Milagro Tequila and Budweiser. The party will rage until 2am, but you’ll probably want to make your way down to Reynard before midnight — oysters hollandaise and pizza bianca make an excellent antidote to all that booze.
80 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg
Fonda: On Tuesday, Nov. 3rd, Roberto Santibanez is welcoming top Mexican chef Roberto Solis to his Park Slope location, for a collaborative, six-course Day of the Dead dinner. For $75 per person, dishes will include turkey consommé with masa dumplings; black tempura onions dipped in chile-spiked mayo; quail stuffed with pine nut and raisin-studded picadillo stew; and a “Snow White Delight” dessert; coconut ice cream, mousse and jello, served with almond shortbread and rosemary ashes.
434 7th Avenue, Park Slope
Toro Ironworks: Owner Sebouh Yegparian (the former manager at Birreria), is taking advantage of his Eataly connections, bringing in head brewer Fred Avila from October 31st-Nov. 1st for a weekend of tastings and beer history. Day of the Dead beer will be paired with offerings from the Greenpoint taco spot’s extensive menu, including “Queen of the Night” Pale Ale and “Pay the Ferryman” Porter. 254 Driggs Avenue, Greenpoint
Gran Electrica: Papered with skeletons frolicking in tres Brooklyn tableaus, this DUMBO mainstay honors the Day of the Dead all year round. But they’re going the extra mile over Halloween weekend with a costume competition on Saturday night, along with DJ’s and drink specials such as the Dia de los Muertos punch ($9 a glass or $40 for a carafe) on both evenings.
5 Front Street, DUMBO
PDR: The Carroll Gardens catering company, Naturally Delicious, holds regular dinners in their private tasting room and garden. And if you stop by for the five-course Day of the Dead feast on Sunday, you’ll be treated to a trio of mezcal-tinged cocktails, followed by assorted hors d’oeuvres, market fish ceviche, kuri squash soup, cochinita pibil, and pan de muerto bread pudding topped with silky horchata ice cream.
487 Court Street, Carroll Gardens