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JR & Son Returns to Williamsburg With Italian Tavern Flair
May 1, 2025, 5:11.14 pm ET

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Photos: Nick Johnson

A beloved Williamsburg institution is getting a second life. JR & Son (575 Lorimer St, Brooklyn), the storied bar and restaurant that’s been part of the neighborhood since 1936, is officially back—reborn by a standout team of chefs and designers paying tribute to its past while cooking up a bold new future.

Executive Chef Patricia Vega (Thai Diner) leads the charge with a menu rooted in tavern classics and Italian-American comfort. The kind of dishes that make you want to stay all night: stuffed clams a la vongole, paccheri with lobster fra diavolo sauce, and a deeply satisfying spaghetti and meatballs that hits just right. Bread service includes garlic-herb Parker House rolls and green olive focaccia, while the "The Big Ice" offers shrimp, lobster, oysters, and clams served on a bed of ice.


Photos: Nick Johnson

Pastry Chef Amanda Perdomo (Wildair, Contra) brings a sweet finish with modern takes on nostalgic favorites. Her vegan rainbow cookie layer cake—made with coconut milk and toasted coconut—is already a fan favorite. Meanwhile, an orange amaro tiramisu with mascarpone and Cynar keeps things playful and just boozy enough.

Behind the bar, a lineup of amaro-forward cocktails includes the Strawberry Letter 23 (gin, strawberry amaro, campari, lemon), the Godfather Part IV (bourbon, scotch, amaretto), and The Nifty Fifty—a dirty martini with gin, olive, and manzanilla that’s destined to become a signature.

Designed by Nico Arze and Matthew Maddy (Kellogg’s Diner, Lilia), the 50-seat space nods to JR & Son's roots with restored black-and-white tile floors, decorative ceilings, and layers of vintage memorabilia. It’s old-school Brooklyn with a new-school polish—and quite possibly the city's best revival story of the year.



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