Your fave PS business (with explanation!)

Agree about Save On. They've got tons of stuff and are so friendly!

Leopoldi's Hardware on 5th (between 7/8th sts). They know their stock, can decipher cryptic descriptions of what a customer needs, have never made a bad key copy for me, and have great customer service.

The Pie Shop (DUB pies) on PPW and 16th St. I love pot pies and they have good flavor options, but it should be noted that they are so much better when you get them cold (thawed, not reheated) and heat them yourself (13 minutes in the oven). Plus they have had some great soups and nice staff.

Get Fresh on 5th Ave. The french toast. I hear everything else is great but that's all I've gotten so far b/c I like it so much. Plus they have a nice space.

Some of these are in WT:

- Krupa's Grocery (aka Lovey's). It's simply not possible to dislike the family (2 generations) that own this place. It's not really a grocery - newspaper/lotto store. On PPW btw. 16th/Windsor

- Terrace Bagels. Across the street from Lovey's. Chewey, crunchy, delicious.

- Number One Garden - because they deliver dumplings to my house. Just dumplings. $5. A few doors down from Krupa's.

- The Double Windsor - they get love simply for giving me an alternative to Farrell's. There are many other reasons, but that one is enough. 16th/PPW

- Slope Cellars. Patty, staff and dogs. Plus a nice "cheap and tasty" selection. 7th/14th.

- Shawn's Liquors. 7th Ave. near Carroll (across from Key Food). Because there is a "cat lady there with blue hair who I like. A lot".

- Tacos Nuevo Mexico (5th near 11th) and La Taq. (somewhere on 7th in the named streets) for my Mex fix.

Joe's Pizza....on 5th (near 12th), followed by Joe's on 7th. Both far and away above Joe's on 9th.

Pino's Pizza - for some veal parm. Saucy, like I like it. Every time.

Grab - 7th Ave. near 14th. Better cheese and nicer staff than either Union Market(s).

The Hoff - Cafe Steinhof. Cheese spaetzel. $9. End of story.

Urban Optical - because even though Dr. Adam can't find your order to save his life, they will spend all day with you giving you advice while you try on 1,000 frames.

Oak Park Pharmacy - Bartel Pritchard Square. Because Mohammed and staff will fill your prescription while you wait almost all the time...and definitely ALL the time if you tell them you can't wait. They close too early, they don't have fancy product, but I wouldn't get my 'scripts elsewhere.

Dr. Mike Raffinan - Best GP around. Period.

Southwest Healing - for putting my ankle back together with PT and humor. 11th Ave/Windsor

Yoga Sole - 11th Ave/ Windsor. Good yoga, good vibe, nice owner(s).

Eden Dry Cleaning -10th Ave./Windsor. I don't have as much dry cleaning as I used to, but this is the place to go if you are local. RIP, Linda Woo.

Beer Table: simply the best beer selection around and the tapas/small plates are uniformly delicious. Everyone who works there is great as well.

Grab: for the growlers... it's like having Beer On Demand. And it never hurts to have an amazing selection of cheeses and meats 1 min from my apt.

Steinhof: I'm with Flexi: cheese spaetzle. Plus the farmer's pan for brunch.

Ladybird Bakery: I don't go here enough (thank god for my waistline), but I love this little place. Just a nice, simple bakery that isn't one of those weird Italian places with yukky weird baked goods.

Naidre's: bc they do good sandwiches and coffee and have a nice, prominent queer-friendly vibe that the neighborhood needs.

Grumpy: bc we needed some delicious coffee down this way.

Fonda: same, as Grumpy, but for Mexican food. So good!

Biercraft. Best store in PS IMO. Staff is friendly, but it is the selection of beers on tap that blows me away.

La Villa. Lenny LOVES to talk to me about the Jets, even though he is a Giants fan. Always very nice and I liek the food a lot too. A great neighborhood Italian place.

Dittos for Save on 5th. When that D11 store opened on the corner of 9th street I had a conversation with the owner asking if he thought that the new store would cut in to his business. He was not worried and I think this worry would not have been justified.

Though the stock of both stores overlap somewhat the customers of Save on 5th are loyal. For me it comes down to loyalty (backed by excellent pricing) and the fact that I would rather pay more for the "real' stuff" if I buy Johnson's Baby Shampoo than buy what appears to me the same product but it has been manufactured for distribution in Puerto Rico and in fact is NOT the same product.

VC pet on 9th street (which incidentally is the old name) is the best. Mike is terrific and lately I have noticed that the other staff people are following his lead as far as customer service.

Holla to my sweet boys at 5th ave Market on 5th and Berkeley.
A serious breakfast on roll (cheese, bacon, ham, sausage and 2 eggs on a roll) and great sandwiches (cheesesteak, italian, potabella, pesto chicken...) 24 hours a day. Boys work every holiday, non stop, gourmet/organic options. Veggies, fruit, cheese, nuts,dairy, beer and a fridge full of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Super friendly.

Also Sterling Grapes and Grains liquor store. cheap, friendly and they do tastings too.

I second City Sub, I CRAVE!!! their meatball and hot pastrami subs. Also love the fact that toppings are free and I can ask for a ton of them, like pickles, hot and sweet peppers, tomato, lettuce, jalapenos, olives, bell pepper, vinegar and oil..... by the time I'm done you have an immense sub with all this wonderful veggie toppings. Don't forget to tip your server!
In a whisper:
Also Albaz, best cheesesteak and burger for the price and the cooks are good people. a piece of old brooklyn, not tainted by gentrification or the need to be anything but what it is.
Of course, if Brooklynian had a mascot, it would be El Grand Castillo de la Juaga (aka carne viento). nuff said.

shhh! they're my favorite places! popularity sometimes makes places raise prices and try to get fancy. ruining it. of course I had to open my big mouth :P

Bergen between 5th ave and flatbush. You know it's good because during lunchtime/weekdays the line is full of police and firemen getting a sub.

Ballard Pharmacy (Windsor + PPW): Saj the pharmacist goes above and beyond every time.

Unity Market (next to Farrells) has incredible eggplant parmasan, salads, and meats when I'm in the cooking mood.

Windsor Shoes (Windsor + PPW): when my feet are hurtin' there's always a nice looking pair of shoes there to help out

Catene

9th street corner of 4th ave

Been there forever and the best Italian Deli around...sandwiches..fried Calmari.. Pasta.. take it out and enjoy along with cops, firemen, regulars, who have known the secret for over 30 years.

TOTALLY second Kristin at Park Slope Ale House. She's the best!

How could I forget?!:

Dentist: Dr. Rosenkranz and staff at Park Slope Dental is THE best dentist I've ever been to.

belzjm wrote: YES!!!! dr. rosenkrantz IS truly the best dentist in the world!!!!!

it's actually kinda ridiculous how amazing the guy is.

I never thought much about dentists being very different until I went there (many times to fix what another dentist screwed up) and now I can't imagine going anywhere else. Great on all counts: friendly staff, all are knowledgeable about the practice, dental work is top notch, dealing with insurance is easy, and they manage their time very well.

Some current favorite eats:

Sidecar. Food is amazing! Cocktails, space, and service never disappoints.

Korzo (formerly Eurotrip). Food is tasty and filling (not amazing, but never a let down and portions are generous). Good wines and beers. Great service, nice space, and it's so far south it's rarely as full as it should be.

D'vine Taste: Great selection of foods, spices, cheese, etc. They have some items that I can't find anywhere else - even Fairway. Also great people working there.