Brooklyn’s dining scene is making news on both ends this week — a beloved barbecue institution in Gowanus served its last plate, while the borough just welcomed a cult-status pizza brand from Nolita and a completely reimagined Sicilian classic in Carroll Gardens. Here’s what’s happening in your neighborhoods right now.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Closes on Union Street — The Final Plate Was May 13

If you were a regular at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que at 604 Union Street in Gowanus, you already know: the restaurant served its final meal on May 13, 2026. The closure was announced weeks prior, tied to a double blow — the lease on the Union Street space was ending, and the building itself is slated for demolition to make way for new apartment development.

Dinosaur opened in Gowanus in 2011, and for 15 years it was a neighborhood fixture that punched above its weight in a city that already had strong barbecue opinions. The sprawling space, the live music, the brisket plates that could feed two people, the no-frills atmosphere that still managed to feel welcoming for families and first dates alike — all of it worked, until the lease said it didn’t.

The original Dinosaur Bar-B-Que remains open in other cities (the brand started in Syracuse), but the Gowanus location was the New York outpost, and for many Brooklynites it was the one that counted. Its loss comes alongside a wave of other mid-tier closures across the borough — the kind of casual, high-capacity places that anchor neighborhoods but are increasingly squeezed by development pressure and rising rents. The lot at 604 Union Street joins a growing list of demolished Brooklyn landmarks that will soon become apartments.

Prince Street Pizza Is Now in Carroll Gardens

The good news: something new arrived on Smith Street. Prince Street Pizza, the Nolita slice institution famous for its spicy square pepperoni pies, opened its first Brooklyn location at 271 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens on April 23. If you haven’t made it yet, the lines during peak times are real — this is a brand with a devoted following — but the payoff is genuine.

Prince Street Pizza built its reputation on a few things: the spicy square slice, which has become one of the most talked-about pieces of pizza in New York; a counter-service format that moves fast; and a consistent product that holds up to the hype. For Carroll Gardens residents who have historically had to make the trip to Spring Street for this particular fix, the Smith Street location changes the math.

The spot is counter service, with slices and grab-and-go pies available throughout the day. Smith Street between Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill has had a lot of turnover in recent years, and Prince Street Pizza is exactly the kind of established concept — low frills, proven product, loyal customer base — that tends to stabilize a block. Nearest subway: the F/G at Bergen Street.

Bar Ferdinando Reimagines a 121-Year-Old Sicilian Space

Also in Carroll Gardens, one of the neighborhood’s most storied addresses is getting new life. The space that housed Ferdinando’s Focacceria — a Sicilian restaurant that operated for 121 years before closing — has been taken over by the team behind neighborhood favorite Cafe Spaghetti and is reopening as Bar Ferdinando. The new concept honors the original’s Sicilian roots while bringing it forward with updated dishes, a proper bar program, and the kind of flexible dining room that works for both early family dinners and late-night drinks.

Early previews from people who visited during soft opening rounds describe it as feeling immediately at home in the space — which makes sense, given that the room itself carries 120-plus years of neighborhood memory. The team has updated the kitchen while keeping the feel intact, and early reviews of the menu point toward updated Sicilian classics done with care. If you knew the original Ferdinando’s, Bar Ferdinando is worth checking out for what it preserves as much as for what’s new.

More From Brooklyn’s Spring Opening Wave

April brought a wave of openings across the borough that residents are still discovering. In Greenpoint, Chama Mama opened at 113 Franklin Street with authentic Georgian cuisine — khachapuri, pkhali, and hearty stews — serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. In Bay Ridge, Iguazu Bar & Bistro opened at 9226 4th Avenue celebrating the culinary traditions connecting southern Brazil and Argentina, from the team behind the well-regarded Saravá Bistro. In Cobble Hill, Kasbah Bakery arrived at 275 Columbia Street with fresh pastries and café fare near the Columbia Waterfront. And in Carroll Gardens, Grabstein’s Bagels landed at 142 Smith Street with hand-rolled bagels and a “new school vibe” for a quick breakfast or morning run.

Looking ahead, Café Bar J.F. was slated to open at 50 Withers Street in Williamsburg around May 13, bringing a neighborhood tavern with seasonal cooking to the area. In Bushwick, Bark Barbecue is expanding from its Dumbo market stall to a Bushwick flagship with a full bar program. And in Prospect Heights, the team behind Grimm Artisanal Ales is expected to open Grimm Tavern in the former Olmsted space at 659 Vanderbilt Avenue in June.

What You Need to Know

• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (604 Union Street, Gowanus) is permanently closed as of May 13 — the building is being demolished for apartments
• Prince Street Pizza (271 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens) opened April 23 — spicy square pepperoni pies, counter service, expect lines at peak hours. Nearest subway: F/G at Bergen Street
• Bar Ferdinando is reopening in the historic Ferdinando’s Focacceria space in Carroll Gardens — same address, new team, Sicilian-inspired menu with a full bar
• Chama Mama is now open at 113 Franklin Street in Greenpoint for Georgian cuisine, including lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch
• Grabstein’s Bagels opened at 142 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens — hand-rolled, good for a quick morning stop
• More openings expected in Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Prospect Heights through June