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[title]The following venues are expected to open by December 4th. Always call ahead, as openings can be delayed.
Dosa Royale The popular Brooklyn Flea vendor brings its South Indian specialties to Carroll Gardens with this 60-seat restaurant, decorated with exposed brick walls and a pressed-tin ceiling. Along with their signature dosas—Indian crêpes made from a black-lentil-and-rice batter—the spot serves an expanded menu of samosas, breads and curries. Cocktails also highlight Asian ingredients, including calamansi juice and a house-made tamarind syrup. 316 Court St between DeGraw and Sackett Sts, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-576-3800)
Fort Grace Local The farmers’-market focus of this sweets parlor is no contrivance—the nook is an extention of the locavore eatery the General Greene. Pastry chef Elle Lawrence (Mille-Feuille) takes a seasonable stance on dessert: Find a daily selection of cakes (rosemary-infused apricot-pistachio, clementine pound) and small-batch ice creams in Asian-pear, salted-caramel and pumpkin-pie flavors. A rotating roster of muffins (honey-cream-cheese-and-corn), cookies (malted chocolate chip) and house-made candies (ancho-chili cinnamon bark) are also on offer, along with Counter Culture coffee. The 18-seat space sports requisite Brooklyn digs—it’s dominated by a communal farm table—but also takes design cues from ‘50s soda shops, with vintage lighting and a marble-tiled floor. 229 DeKalb Ave at Clermont Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (no phone yet)
Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn Forget backpack-toting tourists and suit-clad commuters—you’ll be knocking elbows with stroller-pushing locals at the Brooklyn outpost of this legendary seafood restaurant. Spanning the ground floors of three connected buildings, the spot maintains the midtown location’s decor: A seven-foot-wide chandelier comes directly from Grand Central, while arches mimic the iconic vaulted ceilings. In addition to the 150-seat dining room, there’s a more modernist lounge, featuring a marble-topped bar, plus white tables and chairs by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen. In an open kitchen, seafood-loving toque Justin Ernsberger (Lobster Joint, the Mermaid Inn) dispatches signature dishes like oyster stew and pan-roasted lobster, as well as new pasta dishes (linguine with white clam sauce, crab-and-chili tagliatelle) and kid-friendly fish sticks. Bivalves are still the star, but the midtown list of 30 has been trimmed down to 16 for this location. 256 Fifth Ave between Carroll St and Garfield Pl, Park Slope, Brooklyn (347-294-0596)
Hungry Ghost Java fiends can recharge at this 20-seat café, the Brooklyn coffeeshop’s third location. At a stone-topped bar, pick up Stumptown brews and Serendipitea teas, along with sandwiches and pastries by local baker Pete Solomita, formerly of Little Buddy Biscuit Company. 781 Fulton St at South Oxford St, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-797-3595)
La Brochette Like uptown’s Prime KO, this three-floor steakhouse from Avi Cohen (Taam Tov) focuses on kosher chops and sushi. In the 185-seat, earth-toned spot, chef Angel Ramirez—a holdover from the space’s predecessor, La Carne Grill—sears beefy offerings like peppercorn-crusted prime fillet, steak au poivre and center-cut rib eye. You can also find Asian-inspired plates like short-rib spring rolls, Peking duck confit and standard sushi (spicy tuna, dragon roll). 340 Lexington Ave between 39th and 40th Sts (212-972-2200)
Silk Cakes Watch bakers layering Asian-inspired confections at this white-walled takeout bakery. The shop offers more than ten treats, including yuzu cake with green-tea buttercream and pandan cake with coconut frosting. 98-14 Metropolitan Ave between 69th Rd and 70th Ave, Forest Hills, Queens (718-830-3838)