Update: This venue has now closed.
In the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge, at the quiet end of Broadway, Bridget has grown some new roots. Always a bit of a South Side secret, she has shed her old name—Bridge Vineyards Urban Winery—and spruced herself up for new business. By day now, its airy, sun-soaked café lures members of the freelance set who sip artisanal coffees while pecking away at laptops. And by night, it shifts into a sleek wine and tapas bar that gives out a cozy, classy vibe, void of any hipster pretension. Simply, Bridget is a communal epicenter for all things ripe and local.
The place is organic in the best sense of the word. Chef and manager Isaac MacDougal and owner Everard Findlay have rebuilt Bridget alongside a passionate, artistic and community-loving crew, and this is present in all aspects of the venue, from its farm-to-table food to the hand painted bricks (look closely: each is a slightly varied pigment) that make up its walls. “It came together in a sculptural way,” said Findlay. “No architects and contractors in and out; just artists coming together to create the space.” Bridget is quintessential urban rustic, encompassing both the gritty modernity of its location and the homey comfort of the farms that provide its delicious fare.
The food, like the atmosphere, is a bridging of two worlds: dishes to suit the cosmopolitan city-dweller palate while sourcing fresh-from-the-farm ingredients. MacDougal—who prefers to think of himself as less chef, more “steward from farm to table”—personally shops for everything from lamb to goat’s milk at the local green markets. All tapas items ($5-$12) on the seasonal carte du jour masterfully complement the superb local wines offered. Eight bottles rotate every other week, and prices range from $5 to $10. Their Bridge 01 Reserve Merlot and a sparkling wine Lenz Cuvee are popular choices. Bridget has the only tasting room in the city for New York wines and will soon be adding wine tours to its repertoire when trips to their North Fork vineyard are scheduled later this year.
Bridget is also a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) drop-off point, allowing Williamsburgers to buy into a local farm and receive produce twice a month. And those who are wine-inclined can opt for the wine CSA as well. They also promote community togetherness by having social events such as on Tuesday evenings, when local artists screen films under the glow of the bridge. A lot of “bridging” for one tiny tasting room, but Bridget handles it all with aplomb.
How to get there: Take the L train to Bedford Ave. Walk west on Bedford and make a right on Broadway. Take the J/M to Marcy Ave and continue west on Broadway. It’s worth the trip! (Bridget, 20 Broadway at Kent St., Williamsburg, 718.324.2800, bridgeurbanwinery.com)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram