Throughout the years, with a tight rental market and low vacancies in popular, young and hip neighborhoods, residents and those new to the Big Apple, have been looking to expand in neighborhoods that still have edge, easy transit, and the possibility of an up and coming dining scene. Prospect Heights and Crown Heights, an area also known as ProCro, in the last decade, has been slowly turning into the affordable, Brooklyn hot spot. 

The neighborhood is made up of brownstones built in the 1890s and new luxury apartment buildings. Walking down many side streets you see the classic Brooklyn stoops with thick banisters along the sides that have lions' heads spouting out toward the streets. Prospect Heights, with its all-embracing architecture, is now an extremely diverse neighborhood, consisting of a mixed white and black culture. This neighborhood is known to be one of the most largest historic districts surrounding Prospect Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The same landscape designers that designed Central Park and the scenic route of Eastern Parkway- Prospect Height's bordering main street where the West Indian Day Parade takes place. There are many reasons to visit this cool Brooklyn neighborhood; it's close to the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Public Library the Botanical Gardens and many new eateries. Here are our two favorites that our worth revisiting.

Barboncino

781 Franklin Avenue

We decided to take a look at a few places on Franklin Avenue. With trendy spots opening to satisfy the young residents and the old cultural establishments learning to coexist with the new ones, we slowly approached one worth trying. Barboncino, meaning "toy poodle" in Italian has a warm feeling pouring from the walls. Chef/Owner Ron Brown opened this establishment back in October 2011, and so far this place is making a name for itself in the neighborhood. This 74-seat dining space offers wood-fire pizzas, appetizers, salads and desserts like Gelato. The pepperoni four-cheese pizza might be the best this area has to offer. We challenge you to find better. They are open from 5pm to 1am and they also offer a late night happy hour from 11pm to 1am. Barboncino also just opened from brunch on Saturday and Sunday days, offering breakfast pizzas and a new brunch cocktail list. 

 

Chevela's 

736 Franklin Avenue 

Right up the street, is another good find. Chevela's is a great Mexican spot in the neighborhood. Their happy hour special, offered Monday-Friday from 4pm to 7pm, includes $2 tacos, $3 beers and $5 margaritas. Their Bistec taco with grilled marinated steak, grilled onions, cilantro and chipotle salsa, and their Carne Enchilada with grilled pork, pineapple and habanero salsa, are bursting with flavor and spiciness. They also have many great vegetarian taco choices. This is definitely the place to go for a Michelada, a mexican beer with spicy tomato juice. At this all tequila, mezcal and Mexican beer bar, their cocktails are strong and delicious. We suggest you try the Sobre Ruedas with mezcal, beet juice and orange liqueur, or a Don Pepino with tequila, cucumber, cilantro and tajin. The space is small and is very vibrant and lively with all the bright colored decorations that makes this restaurant take you out of New York and right to Mexico.