JR & Son is a reborn Brooklyn haunt in Williamsburg. The space started as Italian supper club Charlie’s in the 1930s, then became the JR and Son dive bar in the 1970s, and now, a polished Italian American restaurant and bar that still keeps its worn-in character with dim lighting and dark wood walls. That’s in part thanks to a food menu run by chef Patricia Vega (formerly of Thai Diner), who adds intriguing flavor depths to standard red sauce dishes.
Snag one of the cozy booths, where you can study the walls crammed with old photos and vintage sports memorabilia (go Mets).
Pastry chef Amanda Perdomo turns the iconic rainbow cookie into a luxurious and beautiful slice of cake ($15). Bonus: Made with coconut sponge cake and layers of raspberry jam and dark chocolate ganache, it’s completely vegan!