Tavern on Dean sits one block away from Prospect Heights’ main drag of Vanderbilt Avenue, but it’s well worth the stroll. Since opening in 2000, it’s become a neighborhood hangout for new and longtime residents of the area. The menu reflects the culturally diverse clientele serving solid new American fare, English pub grub, and a few soul food dishes. The country-fried chicken is crispy, the sirloin steak club with black pepper mayo and bacon is tangy, and the warm apple crisp is served a la mode. Most nights, owner Mick Pearce will greet you himself, ushering you to your choice of three dining areas, including a vast enclosed garden that is open year-round. Check out their rotating exhibits of Brooklyn artists, squirrel away to the back for a romantic dinner, or sit at the mahogany bar and watch the game. Tavern on Dean is Brooklyn at its finest, and unlike some other upscale restaurants blooming in the area, it doesn’t try to be Manhattan-over-the-bridge. — Lisa Selin Davis New York Magazine