Wayward Fare

“I came to Wayward Fare with a group of friends for dinner, and we loved it. The interior is sleek and modern, but warm and welcoming at the same time. The illuminating wood oven at the back set the tone for our evening: the atmosphere was warm and inviting, service was friendly, and food was great. First off, they hand an excellent happy hour with 2 cocktails for $10, including the excellent Olive Branch[1], and $8 wood-fired bread plus an antipasto with choice of eggplant (with roasted peppers, black garlic, and walnuts), black lentil hummus (with black truffle and herb purée), and whipped cured lardo (with pink peppercorn). The 2 choices of pizza (bianca and amatriciana) are a great option to share. The cocktail list holds its own beyond happy hour: four negroni variations, a molasses-and-bitters Figment, an espresso martini available with tequila or vodka, and a rotating spritz selection[2]. AND a choice of 4 zero-proof cocktails for $14. The wine options include Vermentino, which is a white wine variety I absolutely love[3].I think I just found my favorite HH spot in Brooklyn... For starters, we shared the crudo with hamachi, ajo blanco, cucumber, black lime, tamarind-tomato water). The presentation was beautiful, and the dish was very delicate in taste, borderline bland. Perhaps it needed some more seasoning. The housemade tagliatelle with shrimp, preserved lemon, and bottarga (I love bottarga!) were bright and briny; just excellent. The gnocchi alla romana with vadouvan curry, sweet potato, and parmesan was equally great. The special uni spaghetti with black ink was amazing. I love both uni and squid/cuttlefish ink pasta, so I HAD to try this dish. Order it if it's on that night The branzino filet with baharat spice, garlic-herb vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes was perfectly cooked and super-tasty. For dessert, we shared the freshly-made bread pudding with toffee caramel and olive oil chocolate gelato. A perfect finish to a fantastic meal. Wayward Fare is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that's genuinely hard to find: ambitious without being pretentious, globe-trotting without being unfocused. And perfect for any occasion: a meeting with friends, a date, or even a business dinner. -------------------------- [1] vodka, gin, Cocchi, olive oil. [2] $15 spritz with 3 choices: classic, nysa, and Tropez. [3] Highly underrated, Vermentino is hard to fin at restaurants and wine shops alike.”

“Dinner was fantastic. The chickpea crepes & pecorino fondue with hazelnut thyme honey, pomegranate, molasses was one of the best dishes I have had. Done incredibly well. I was very impressed. The bronzino, king prawns, and tagliatelli were all wonderfully done as well. I highly reccomend this restaurant. I’m very tough on Italian restaurants. I find most lazy. These dishes really impressed me. Please check them out!”

“My partner and I came here for Valentine’s Day and they did not disappoint! The vibes were fantastic, we really loved the moody ambiance in the space. They really went above and beyond to make our night special with little details like a red rose and Valentine’s cocktails on the house. A special shoutout to our server, Ava, for being so attentive, fun, and kind. She had great food suggestions and was so helpful and present despite having so many tables at once on such a busy night. We can’t wait to come back and try more of the menu, truly everything we had was delightful.”

“I had the pleasure of dining at Wayward Fare and I’m still raving about it! This new gem in Brooklyn effortlessly combines outstanding culinary creativity with impeccable service. It’s truly a Michelin-star caliber experience in every sense. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with a perfect balance of modern elegance and cozy charm. But what truly steals the show is the food. Every dish is a work of art, crafted with attention to detail and an adventurous twist on familiar flavors. I have to highlight the prawns—absolutely divine. The oysters were fresh, briny, and perfectly complemented by a delicate mignonette. And the squash dish? It was nothing short of extraordinary. The balance of flavors and textures was a true testament to the chef’s skill, with each element enhancing the next. Service was equally exceptional, with staff who were knowledgeable, attentive, and passionate about the menu. From the moment we walked in, we were made to feel like honored guests. Wayward Fare is a standout. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again for both the food and the experience. I can’t recommend it highly enough!”

“This is a great neighborhood spot serving high-quality food inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. The service here is excellent, and all the servers, especially Steven, are friendly and attentive. Their cocktails are good, but their wine list is even better. I love that they offer a welcome drink and closing drink, either with alcohol or zero-proof, as a way to bookend the meal. Their bread and antipasti platter is one of my favorite things to get. The bread is fluffy, and their dips are always good. The grilled king prawns and the branzino are also my favorites.”