Caribbean and Prospect Park
What this foodstroll is
Our take on the best Caribbean food and things to do near Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
Why this foodstroll works
Crown Heights is home to one of NYC’s largest Caribbean communities, and our favorite Jamaican and Trinidadian restaurants in Brooklyn can be found just six blocks apart. Both spots are located a mile from Prospect Park, which allows for pleasant strolls down Eastern Parkway or through Prospect Heights. The area is loaded with activities for families, most of which are free for kids, and considering you can’t spend more than $30 on Caribbean food, this adventure lands firmly in the affordable category.
Strolling
Most of the destinations are walkable, and the stroll from Prospect Park to the food spots and back will help you work up an appetite. Eastern Parkway has exclusive bike and pedestrian paths, but if walking is out of the question, an Uber/Lyft takes just 5 minutes.
Grand Army Plaza, intended by the architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to be the main entrance to Prospect Park, is Brooklyn’s own Arc de Triomphe. Situated on a site of the first consequential battle of the American Revolution (the Battle of Brooklyn), there are several memorials, monuments, and statues inside. The most famous is the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arc (1892), which contrary to the grounds that it occupies, is a Civil War memorial, dedicated to the “Defenders of the Union”.
The Brooklyn Museum is the third largest in NYC and is a spectacular structure. Designed in 1895 by legendary architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White, it was intended to rival any museum in the world at a time when Brooklyn was rivaling New York City for global recognition. Three years later the two cities were consolidated... Exhibits are always changing and you can see what is currently on view here.
While we wouldn’t consider it a destination for children, they do offer a fair amount of engagement. Admission is a suggested donation, and its ok to “donate” for adults only.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is right next door on Eastern Parkway. It’s best in late Spring/early Summer, but in the Winter admission is free! Designed in 1911, among other things it contains the Brooklyn “Celebrity Walk of Fame”, which honors 100 or so famous Brooklynites, from Walt Whitman to Barbara Streisand.
The Prospect Park Zoo is small and perfect for young kids. You can reserve tickets in advance and see it all in less than 45 minutes. The lovely old Prospect Park Carousel, which dates back to 1912, is right next door. Together the two attractions compliment each other well.
Boathouse on the Lullwater of the Lake in Prospect Park, as it’s known, is an especially nice place to picnic, assuming you can make it that far carrying food. The Italian Renaissance structure was built in 1904 by architects Helmle & Huberty, proteges of the aforementioned McKim, Mead, and White. The architects designed it to resemble the original Pennsylvania Station (1910). The station was demolished in 1968, but the boathouse should stick around for a while, being on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972.
While strolling through the park, keep an eye out for its five famous arches. You’ll be sure to cross under a few. The Endale Arch, dating back to 1868, recently underwent a five year restoration, and the results are stunning.
If you have time, stroll along Prospect Park West near Grand Army Plaza. You’ll be treated to some of NYC’s finest Romanesque Revival architecture, like this mansion at 50 PPW dating back to 1889. Back then the area was developing from farmland into a wealthy bedroom community, and you can imagine how homes like this must have looked against a rural landscape. Other examples are the homes on Montgomery place between PPW and 8th Ave, and 119 8th Ave, almost all of which were designed by the famous late 19th century architect C.P.H Gilbert.
Food Spots
1. Gloria’s Caribbean Cuisine
Gloria’s is our favorite Trinidadian spot in NYC. They have a great selection of rotis and stews, along with seventeen different traditional Caribbean side dishes. They had two locations, but the one with indoor dining recently closed. They’re looking for another space, but in the meantime it’s takeout only from their location on the corner of Nostrand and Empire Blvd.
The Vegetarian Dinner allows you to choose four side dishes and turn them into a platter over rice. Pictured is Macaroni Salad, Callaloo, Pumpkin, and Coo Coo. Macaroni Salad and Coo Coo, which resembles polenta, are good for kids.
A Boneless Chicken Curry Dinner over peas and rice looks like this. All dinners come with two sides, and some of our favorites are Bhaggee, which remind us of collard greens, and Macaroni Pie, a big hit with our kids.
Our favorite order at Gloria’s is the Curry Conch, which oddly our kids like almost as much as we do. Curried conch is typical in the West Indies and it’s a much milder example than curried goat or beef. This time we ordered it with Dhal, a Trinidadian split pea soup, and Sweet Plantains.
2. The Islands
The Islands is a family friendly BYOB spot in Prospect Heights serving excellent Jamaican comfort food. As we’ve mentioned in past articles, we’re rather fond of BYOB restaurants.
The Ox Tail with Rice and Peas is a traditional Jamaican dish. It’s fairly mild for a curry and our kids like it. The Jerk Chicken is also great but it’s actually spicier than the Ox Tail.
The Garlic Shrimp with Jasmine Rice is basically a Jamaican shrimp scampi. It’s the mildest thing you can order and our kids like it as much as we do.
As mentioned earlier, it’s BYOB, but they do sell Jamaican Kola. Other things you should try are the Mac ‘n’ Cheese, and of course some Jerk Chicken.
3. The Social
The Social is a brand new ice cream shop from the same family who opened Ample Hills a decade earlier. We are huge fans of some of the new flavors, and especially of the M&M Cookie Cone option.
Right on the border between Prospect Heights and Crown Heights, it’s about a five second walk from the Brooklyn Museum. In addition to ice cream, they have a selection of doughnuts that make for excellent take home treats.
Transportation
The 2/3 trains stop at Eastern Parkway Brooklyn Museum, the 4 a few blocks east at Franklin Ave, and the B/Q not too far away at 7th Avenue or Prospect Park. The Franklin Ave Shuttle S also stops nearby at Botanic Garden.
The Botanic Garden has a parking lot and rates can be seen here. Streetside parking near the food spots is possible, and we recommend strolling from there toward the park.