Red Hook Tavern

329 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, United States
$$$ American restaurant
(1108 Reviews)
Price Range $30–50

Red Hook Tavern is a classic American restaurant tucked into the industrial charm of Brooklyn’s waterfront neighborhood. The space is warmly lit and cozy, with candlelit tables creating an inviting, relaxed atmosphere that nods to the neighborhood’s unpretentious vibe. Whether you sit inside among the softly dimmed lighting or choose the outdoor seating when the weather’s right, the setting encourages lingering conversations and easy, comfortable dinners.

This spot is well known for its focus on straightforward, expertly executed American fare. The dry-aged Red Hook Tavern burger stands out as the highlight—the patty carries a rich, beefy flavor that’s elevated by careful aging and cooking to order, often cited as one of the best burgers in the area. Complementing the burger, the fries with cheese are a classic accompaniment that hit the spot with familiar, satisfying flavors.

Other dishes like the wedge salad with bacon, French onion soup, and shrimp cocktail offer variety, serving those who want lighter or more traditional starters before settling into heartier mains. While seafood options like oysters and prawn cocktails make appearances, the food generally emphasizes rustic, approachable comfort over high-concept cuisine.

Service here tends to be run by a young, dynamic team who balance friendliness with efficiency, enhancing the neighborhood bar-and-bistro feel. Reservations help secure a spot without a wait, but the outdoor patio also attracts a steady flow of diners, especially early evenings on weekdays when crowds are thinner and the lighting softens.

Red Hook Tavern fits naturally into its Brooklyn setting—it’s a place where locals come to enjoy consistent, well-made dishes in a space that doesn’t feel rushed or overly styled. It’s especially suited for those craving a solid burger or classic American dishes with a bit of a refined touch, paired with casual drinks from a cocktail menu that complements the food without overshadowing it.

Given its location away from the nearest subway stations, it often feels like a destination for those willing to walk a little further or drive in for a meal that balances quality with a familiar, welcoming neighborhood environment. A quiet Tuesday or Sunday early evening is likely the best time to enjoy the experience without the weekend bustle.

Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves food
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Best for
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
No wheelchair-accessible car park
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Paid street parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

05:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Tuesday

05:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Wednesday

05:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Thursday

12:00 PM - 02:45 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Friday

12:00 PM - 02:45 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Saturday

12:00 PM - 02:45 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Sunday

12:00 PM - 02:45 PM

,

05:00 PM - 09:30 PM

1108 Reviews
Massimo

06 Dec 2025

Red Hook Tavern feels like one of those neighborhood spots that’s been there forever. It’s warm and a little dim, with candles on the tables. Simple and comfortable. We had a reservation, so we didn’t have to wait, but outdoor seating looked nice too, and the wait seemed around 30 minutes on a Tuesday night. The burger was the reason we came, and it really was great. It’s dry-aged, so the flavor is strong and a little different, in a good way, but definitely something to know before you order. The potato chips were thick and fresh, the cheese was melted perfectly, and the pickle was honestly one of my favorite parts. I never thought I’d say that about a pickle, but it was that good. It’s not a cheap meal, and you can tell part of what you’re paying for is the place’s reputation. The food’s solid, the space feels genuine, and the whole experience just fits together nicely.

R P

04 Dec 2025

Great joint. Their burger is delicious, cooked rare as requested, and ranks high in my personal list of all time great burgers globally. Note to self: I should have avoided the unnecessary shrimp cocktail, that was bland at best (and probably recently defrosted) The young team running the show is dynamic and friendly, not to mention very efficient, and the vibe is neighbourhood-ish. I was there 30 minutes before their lunch opening and joined a small queue which grew much bigger by the time they flung the doors opened. Reservation is therefore highly recommended.

Adam Cohen

24 Nov 2025

This place is no joke. I drove in from Westchester for a 630pm reservation. Finally, hit the push notification on resy in time. Sat at the bar, which is the best spot in my opinion. Started with a dozen oysters, just amazing, the served it with hot sauce, onion sauce and some orange slush, the onion was my favorite of the three sauces. Went to the kale salad next, I could of ate another, very fresh ingredients, then moved on to an absolute mouth watering burger, served on a light brioche role, to die for. I had to top everything off with some rainbow cookies, 4 to an order, I split them, could of ate eight my self. They are from Hafley Baked in BK, so I’ll have to stop by there one day and get an LB.

Kyle Dahl

21 Nov 2025

Overall: Definitely lives up to the hype! The good: One of the better burgers I've ever had, right up there with some of the best. The vibes are great, regardless of whether you're sitting inside or out (though inside is definitely more cozy). Great drink menu and the fries really hit the spot. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. The not-so-good: The french onion soup was fine, I'll try something else if I go back again. I've heard the wait here can get crazy, but we were able to walk right in on a Wed evening. Food/drink: 8/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10

NJ

05 Nov 2025

They deserve their reputation of serving one of the best burgers money can buy. Simply done, generous burger of top quality. I got here about 15 mins before they opened on a Sunday and got in around 20 mins and was seated. Good service too. Highly recommend this place. Not much else around this area and not near a subway station but worth walking the extra mile if you’re in town. Check it out.

Syed Ashrafulla

30 Oct 2025

The burger was a moist thick patty so for those who are secretly anti-smash come here. I suggest sitting outside where the environment is calmer. Inside is warm but a bit too cramped compared to the lovely crisp air. Also highly recommend the romaine wedge. It's a full romaine heart layered with a great dressing and crumbs. The French onion soup was deep and hearty, for those who want a light meal consider just the soup and an appetizer. The waitstaff were excellent and the tavern captures the vibe of the local community. Highly recommend.

Isobel Kelly

21 Sep 2025

Came on a Monday without a reservation at 5pm and sat at the bar. Ordered the Dukes martini, croquettes, wedge salad, oxtail cavatelli and the burger. The place filled up after about 20 mins. Wedge salad was delicious and large! The sauce on the croquettes was delectable. The burger was buttery and big. Brought the cavatelli home as I was stuffed (the sauce was lovely, a hint of sweetness). They were playing 60s and 70s tunes

asmaa odeh

18 Sep 2025

Got a last minute reservation from a friend who couldn’t go anymore and I’m so glad! We sat at the bar and it wasn’t extremely comfortable but it wasn’t bad at all. The bartender/our waiter was extremely kind and took care of us even when he was super busy, like talking to us, asking us about what the food, he was very sweet. The food was amazing!! I love oysters and those were great quality and they added some cool toppings for them. The prawns were 10/10, definitely get them if you go like don’t skip them. The main star of the show is the burger of course and it was really good!! The beef was amazing and you can just taste how amazing the quality is. I feel like in a world of smash burgers, it’s nice to have a burger like this. We also got this ricotta sweet corn pasta dish and ehhh not my favorite, pretty forgettable. Lastly, desert was good and perfect to end the meal. Oh yeah, cocktails were amazing too!!

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