Important Update:The City Guide web experience will be sunsetting on April 28, 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more.Fort Defiance
(Now Closed)American Restaurant, Breakfast Spot, and Cocktail Bar$$$$
Red Hook, Brooklyn
The experts at The Wall Street Journal and Eater recommend this place
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194 Tips and reviews
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Village VoiceApril 3, 2015You'll see solo diners here at all hours of the day. In the daytime, they're often posted up with a book and a sandwich, by night; they sip cocktails, slurp oysters, and dig in to burgers. Read more
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If a bar could encapsulate my concept of happiness, this would be one of them. Be bold on your drinks selections, you won't be disappointed. And please get the chicken liver mousse. Seriously.Upvote5Downvote- Village VoiceAugust 4, 2014Lovely things to eat include perfect oysters, deviled eggs with creamy, whipped centers that taste of good mustard and yolks, and the brick-red cashews fried with smoked paprika. Read more
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Noah WeissJune 7, 2015One of the best brunches in NYC. French toast with mascarpone, blackberries, and slabs of bacon was great. So was the Charleston w/ cornbread, poached eggs, and collard greens. Bourbon milk punch.
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Bin YangMay 1, 2016Everyone is right about the deviled eggs - amazing. Rich, a little tart, and a slight kick of mustard, boom. Get a burger with bacon onion jam and pair it with a sixpoint oyster stout.Upvote1Downvote- Village VoiceAugust 4, 2014The sandwiches are particularly good, including a stellar reconstruction of the New Orleans muffuletta, and a banh mi filled with pork paté. Don't miss the bluefish rillettes which sometimes sell out. Read moreUpvoteDownvote
Jay AlstonOctober 2, 2018This place has a killer burger!! I added bacon and it was da Shiznit! Plus, our waitress was bomb!! Love this place...a must try!!
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Amazing brunch. Super refreshing Bloody Mary, awesome corned beef hash & feast your peepers on this Dutch pancake, y'all! Don't miss out on the Prix Fixe either- comes w/ a main, a coffee & cocktail.
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Elle F.September 21, 2016Weekend Brunch, 9AM-3PM. Try the Bourbon Milk Punch. Good Drink and Food Selection for Snacks/Lunch/Dinner. Try the Pina Colada. Wednesdays $1 Oysters, 5-11PM. Thursday Night is Tiki Night.UpvoteDownvote
might be my fave brunch spot in all of NYC. get a side of the jalapeño marmalade and smother whatever you ordered in it. you won't regret it.
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__TR3VJuly 18, 2014Welcome to Red Hook! Very quaint spot. Got there early to avoid the inevitable wait for brunch. Service is on point. French toast-amazing. The scrambled eggs were EVERYTHING! #mustgo #FortDefiance
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Elyse EstradaMay 20, 2013The huevos rancheros are incredible and pretty huge. Go splitsville and try something else like the andouille red beans on toast. Wash it down with bourbon milk punch.Upvote1Downvote
Condé Nast TravelerOctober 27, 2016Get yourself to Red Hook, order the All American or the huevos rancheros, and keep your joy at having discovered the best brunch spot in Brooklyn to yourself. Read more
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If you're here for brunch (if you aren't, be sure to come back for brunch), get the huevos rancheros and a bloody maria. Perfection.
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Elvis RodricksJanuary 10, 2015Located in the hipstery hood of red hook, this place meets something enchanting. Had the richmond and biscuit egg and they were simply fresh and delicious. Get the irish coffee for a unique treat.Upvote1Downvote
Amber NagleJune 14, 2015Yummy collared greens and amazing cocktails. They can chill their legendary Irish coffee for summer brunch- highly recommend! Also the cucumber Collins is very refreshing.UpvoteDownvote
On the GridNovember 21, 2016The burger, with a generous dollop of onion/bacon relish, is outstanding. Any place with bar stools at their window on the sidewalk is OK in my book. Read more
UpvoteDownvote- Village VoiceAugust 4, 2014This congenial neighborhood café peddles small wonders like proper seltzer, a strong Tom Collins, and delicious country-style paté. Read moreUpvoteDownvote
Benjamin PalmerJuly 6, 2014Great drinks, nice to sit outside. Steak is good. The local greens salad with radishes and pumpkin seeds is phenomenal I almost got a second oneUpvote1Downvote
Red & BrownMay 12, 2015If you don't get an Irish coffee you need help. Best ever. Thursdays' Sunken Harbor Club is always great for a tiki fix. The food is great too; try the chicken liver mousse.UpvoteDownvote
marley magazinerAugust 7, 2011The breakfast martini is amazing and our braised greeens and grits were awesome. Bloody marys were meh and had no tasty garnishes. Order cocktails from the menu for best results.Upvote1Downvote
Delicious brunch here. The biscuit sandwich is really good with a jalapeño jelly that makes it spicy, sweet and salty all in one sandwich.
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🍚May 3, 2015Good restaurant if you live in the area. It's right by ikea so it's a good place to grab a bite after you've done your shopping. Not worth the trek if you're coming from far away and Judy got thisUpvoteDownvote
Nicholas DoyleApril 1, 2016Huevos Rancheros is awesome! Creole red beans are good, but nowhere near as exciting. Milk Punch is quite boozy, too!
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I walked 11 miles for the biscuit sandwich. Totally worth it.
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Cocktails are diverse and delicious. Try the gin fizz, Irish coffee, White Zombie. $1 oysters nights on Wednesdays.UpvoteDownvote
Quite possibly one of the best brunches in all of NYC. The collard greens are especially delicious. Red beans have a nice kick.UpvoteDownvote
Mark KupasrimonkolSeptember 8, 2013The delicious pâté w/ bacon jam is surprisingly light in texture but the portion size is quite aggressive. Definitely share this with a non-kosher friend or two.Upvote1Downvote
Delicious American food, brunch and amazing cocktails! Also had a fairly rare beer from Sixpoint here.UpvoteDownvote
Leigh Anne ZinsmeisterAugust 25, 2014Get the French toast - the fruity syrup varies by season. And the coffee beans are ground for each individual cup!
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Carmen NMarch 13, 2016Some deliciousness: corned short ribs, roasted pork chop with cannellini beans, crostini, wireless marconi cocktail.UpvoteDownvote
I AmosMarch 9, 2013On a sweltery summer day, their Cucumber Collins is the perfect thing. Or you can make your own at home:Upvote1Downvote
Cooper SmithJanuary 12, 2015The Charleston is top 5 brunch items I've ever had in NYC
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lisa limJune 30, 2012If you're on the way to IKEA this is a great spot. The coffee here is excellent and biscuits are also fantastic. Overall, everything we had was really solid.UpvoteDownvote
Emily KaneFebruary 24, 2018I’m starting a religion around the biscuits here. Please, join me.
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Liz CourtneyJuly 29, 2015Good cocktails. I like that they have a service window so you can sit on a barstool on the sidewalk.UpvoteDownvote- Village VoiceNovember 14, 2011Winner of Best Brunch in the Village Voice 2011 Best Of issue! Cold fried chicken with oysters and bacon is the dish that won our hearts.Upvote1Downvote
KIRK STRUBLEMarch 29, 2019Amazing New Orleans-inspired brunch offerings. Great Bloody Mary too.UpvoteDownvote- Village VoiceNovember 26, 2012Great reasonable priced cocktails. Winner of Best of NYC Critic's choice for Best Foodie Adventure: Redhook, BK.Upvote10Downvote
Great, reasonably-priced brunch. Get the Charleston (amazing collard greens).UpvoteDownvote
Jenna DrapkinFebruary 8, 2014Just get whatever drink the bartender tells you to. They're all amazing.
UpvoteDownvote- Village VoiceNovember 11, 2011Winner of Best Cocktail Bar in the Village Voice 2011 Best Of issue! The cocktails change seasonally with the menu, so come back often.Upvote1Downvote
Irish coffee. Irish coffee. Irish coffee. Enough said.Upvote1Downvote
Cocktails are amazing, you can't go wrong. I've always been amazed by the food too.UpvoteDownvote
Nate BlissApril 21, 2012My three favorite foods: fried chicken, oysters on the half shell, and bacon, all served on a single brunch plate. Genius!Upvote1Downvote
LaurenMay 24, 2015Deviled eggs ✔️ | 'Hook Blue' cheese plate ✔️ | An EXCELLENT Bloody Mary you can get with Aquavit ✔️✔️✔️UpvoteDownvote
495 Photos
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Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon, Wed–Fri
- 10:00 AM–Midnight
- Tue
- 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Sat–Sun
- 9:00 AM–Midnight
(347) 453-6672
Features
Reservations
Yes
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Wi-Fi
No
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Parking
Street
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Cocktails
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