King's Men

Malcolm X Blvd is home to a cool crop of restaurants and bars, but this all-day eatery, which quietly opened last May, is my favorite. The vibe is cozy through and through, thanks to the design (think weathered wood floors, low vintage lighting, and a mishmash of quirky antiques) envisioned by Brooklyn's BLANK Design. The cooking is Japanese-inspired – I dream of the nanban fried chicken smothered in tartar sauce and seared salmon bowl with shiso and pickled ginger – but there’s plenty of other comforting dishes to tuck into as well. The music is always tasteful, and played, unlike so many other Brooklyn restaurants, at a hushed level – so you’re fully engaged in your conversation and food. But perhaps what I love most about Trad Room is its reluctance to heavily promote itself. (The owners have never used a publicist, and their social media presence is refreshingly modest.)