They say it’s all in the details, and not one is overlooked in each New American plate at Chestnut. This Carroll Gardens charmer exudes culinary buzz words like “locally sourced” and “seasonal” without affectation thanks in part to Chef Daniel Eardley. Channeling childhood days on his family’s upstate New York farm, he dishes out food with diverse textures and flavors while showcasing fresh, hand-selected ingredients, some of which he forages himself.
Avoid the weekend descent of both regulars and destination diners by stopping in on Tuesday or Wednesday when the complete dinner menu is available as a $30 prix fixe. In late 2008, the restaurant expanded to encompass the adjoining space, now a cozy bar that doubles as a waiting area with exposed brick walls, a carefully considered drink list, and complimentary caramel-coated popcorn that will have you saying, just one more…
The warm ambiance, soft conversations, and jazzy notes of Sidney Bechet remind us why we love to dine out. To start the meal, long time Chestnut employee Greg suggests the homemade potato gnocchi with prosciutto and oyster mushrooms ($10), followed by the two-inch thick pork chop, which is stuffed with armagnac prunes, and presented over a bed of white polenta ($22). For dessert, churro’s with spicy Mexican hot chocolate and a homemade bon bon ($9). Go nuts.
How to get there: Take the F or G train to Bergen St. or Carroll St. (Chestnut, 271 Smith St., Brooklyn, 718.243.0049, chestnutonsmith.com)
Photos: Courtesy of Chestnut and gsanjose, dessert dish by Danielle Jakubowski
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