The Red Hook Star-Revue launches ‘Red Hook Stars,’ a community appreciation award
In December, the Red Hook Star-Revue will hand out awards to local businesses as part of the first annual “Red Hook Stars” community appreciation awards.
At the Star-Revue, we believe that a thriving community is created by people, businesses, and institutions supporting one another. “Red Hook Stars” is, therefore, a community-driven award, where our neighbors in South Brooklyn—specifically Red Hook, Columbia Waterfront, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, and Gowanus—are the ones who nominate and vote on their favorite local businesses and nonprofits.
Awards will be given in 30 categories, covering everything from restaurants and wellness spaces, to barbershops and event venues. (All categories can be found in the nomination form, at https://bit.ly/redhook-stars.)
Winners will be featured in a special December holiday issue of the Star-Revue, and all nominees will receive an official “Red Hook Stars” nominee certificate and a personalized letter of recognition.
The first round of voting ends on Nov. 10.
These are the current leaders:
Red Hook Stars: Community Appreciation Awards
Current Polling Leaders — Voting Still Underway!
Voting is actively ongoing for the annual Red Hook Stars Community Appreciation Awards, celebrating the neighborhood businesses, cultural staples, and community leaders that make Red Hook unique.
Below are the current top three leaders and contenders in each category based on survey ballots tallied to date. With voting remaining open until November 10, 2026 ahead of the final awards announcement in the December Holiday Issue, these standings are preliminary and subject to change as more ballots come in.
Food & Dining
Best Restaurant Overall
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Brooklyn Crab |
17 votes (24.3%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 (tie) |
Café Kestrel |
4 votes (5.7%) |
Contender |
| 2 (tie) |
Good Fork |
4 votes (5.7%) |
Contender |
Also receiving votes: Hoek Pizza (3 votes, 4.3%), Bar Mario (2 votes, 2.9%).
Best New Restaurant
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Val’s |
14 votes (41.2%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 (tie) |
Café Kestrel |
3 votes (8.8%) |
Contender |
| 2 (tie) |
Brooklyn Crab |
3 votes (8.8%) |
Contender |
Best Pizza
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Marks |
15 votes (26.3%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Hoek Pizza |
9 votes (15.8%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
F&F |
7 votes (12.3%) |
Contender |
Best Burger
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Ice House |
10 votes (26.3%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Red Hook Tavern |
9 votes (23.7%) |
Contender 1 |
| 3 |
Good Fork |
5 votes (13.2%) |
Contender |
Best Deli Sandwich
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Defonte’s |
19 votes (48.7%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Court Street Grocers |
Nominated |
Contender |
| 3 |
Caputo’s Fine Foods |
Nominated |
Contender |
Best Italian Restaurant
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Bar Mario |
8 votes (24.2%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Café Spaghetti |
4 votes (12.1%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
Cremini’s |
Nominated |
Contender |
Best Mexican Restaurant
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Flores Taco Truck |
14 votes (50.0%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
San Pedro Inn |
4 votes (14.3%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
Chela |
Nominated |
Contender |
Best Asian Restaurant
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Goog |
12 votes (41.4%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Boran |
5 votes (17.2%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
Good Thai? |
5 votes (31.2% in early tally) |
Contender |
Best Bakery
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Baked |
14 votes (34.1%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Runner & Stone |
Nominated |
Contender |
| 3 |
Poppy’s Brooklyn |
Nominated |
Contender |
Best Coffee Shop / Café
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
High Beam |
10 votes (23.3%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Black Flamingo |
8 votes (18.6%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
Baked |
7 votes (16.3%) |
Contender |
Best Bodega
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Stop 1 Deli |
16 votes (47.1%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Pioneer Market |
3 votes (30.0%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
Van Brunt Market |
Nominated |
Contender |
Bars & Nightlife
Best Bar
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Sunny’s |
8 votes (16.0%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Good Fork |
7 votes (14.0%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
San Pedro Inn |
5 votes (10.0%) |
Contender |
Best Live Music / Entertainment Venue
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Sunny’s |
8 votes (33.3%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Jalopy Theatre & School of Music |
7 votes (29.2%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
Pioneer Works |
Nominated |
Contender |
Retail & Local Shopping
Best Bookstore
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Books Are Magic |
6 votes (18.8%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Freebird Books |
4 votes (12.5%) |
Contender |
| 3 |
Red Hook Books |
Nominated |
Contender 1 |
Best Boutique
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Tiburon |
7 votes (50.0%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Gioletti |
Nominated |
Contender |
| 3 |
Fulla Shirts |
Nominated |
Contender |
Best Vintage Store
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Tiburon |
8 votes (36.4%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Buffalo Exchange |
Nominated |
Contender |
| 3 |
Erie Basin |
Nominated |
Contender |
Best Hardware Store
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Mazzone Hardware |
10 votes (71.4%) |
Current Leader |
Best Pet Shop
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Hooked on Pets |
7 votes (70.0%) |
Current Leader |
Best Florist
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
The Fleurista |
1 vote (100% early leader) |
Current Leader |
Community, Health & Services
Best Gym / Fitness Studio
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Red Hook Recreation Center |
4 votes (28.6%) |
Current Leader 1 |
| 2 |
Red Hook Pilates |
2 votes (14.3%) |
Contender 1 |
Best Yoga / Pilates Studio
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Red Hook Pilates |
5 votes (31.3%) |
Current Leader 1 |
Best Doctor / Medical Practice
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Dr. Victor Masi |
3 votes (23.1%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
NYU Langone / Red Hook Clinic |
2 votes (15.4%) |
Contender 1 |
Best Community Organization / Nonprofit
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Red Hook Art Project (RHAP) |
21 votes (63.6%) |
Current Leader 1 |
Best Art Gallery / Creative Space
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Pioneer Works |
7 votes (33.3%) |
Current Leader |
| 2 |
Red Hook Art Project (RHAP) |
3 votes (14.3%) |
Contender 1 |
Best Architect / Interior Designer
| Rank |
Nominee |
Current Tallies |
Status |
| 1 |
Andrew Magnes Architecture |
3 votes (42.9%) |
Current Leader |
Voting remains open to all community members and readers through November 10, 2026. Final results and award certificates will be published in the December 2026 Holiday Issue.
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George Fiala has worked in radio, newspapers and direct marketing his whole life, except for when he was a vendor at Shea Stadium, pizza and cheesesteak maker in Lancaster, PA, and an occasional comic book dealer. He studied English and drinking in college, international relations at the New School, and in his spare time plays drums and fixes pinball machines.
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