Delicious food, super wine selection and cute outside dining scene in a spacious backyard with oodles of space, heaters, and great service. We will come back often! read more

I had heard positive rumblings about Popina buzzing around my office. I popped in with my wife on a Saturday night to find it was very busy and luckily got a table within minutes. The wait staff was very friendly, helped pair wine with our personal tastes from their expansive wine list. Their wine offering was nothing short of eclectic, sourcing bottles from a variety of European regions across price points. Note - This is not your mothers Italian restaurant - the menu bids to change your mind on how "italian cuisine" should taste. Subtle spices and updates to classic recipes charm the palate. An example was the spicy chicken which paired great with the suggested Montepulciano. The homeade pasta was fantastic, calling us back to previous trips to Italy. Great ambiance - both the owners (Manager & Chef of Mialino Pedigree) visited our table and others to check in as a added touch. Highly recommend - from a romantic date to a intimate dinner with close colleagues Popina will accommodate and satisy. read more

We had a wonderful meal at Popina last night. To start we shared the arancini and brussels sprouts. Both were delicious. We shared a couple of pastas (linguine and clams & cavatelli which was the winner) and split the hot chicken milanese for our main. I am still thinking about it. For dessert we shared the chocolate chess pie. So good. The staff as helpful and attentive. What a welcome addition to our neighborhood. We will be back. read more

We visited on the first cold Autumn night this season and were quickly enveloped into the warm and cozy atmosphere that is Popina! Small, intimate spot that is reminiscent of your favorite European trattoria, this is the spot to linger with friends and enjoy a wonderful meal and great wine list that featured a great selection of wines from Italy that we were opting for this night. Our table started with arancini and focaccia starters that were delectable and so flavorful and crisp and a bruschetta made with catfish that surprised and delighted. On to the fresh pasta dishes and again impressed by chef's combinations of ingredients and flavors. Pappardelle with ham hocks and collard greens, bucatini with bread crumbs and sage and a tagliatelle special with shaved truffles at table. Could not get enough of these! Rounded dinner out with the hot chicken Milanese served with radicchio and an escarole with beans side. Again, Italy meets the South with great success. This dish has a kick but doesn't overdo it and allows the flavors to come through. Finished our meal with the best olive oil cake I've ever tasted, served with persimmon and bourbon cream. A meal like this was enjoyed even more because of Popina's ambience and the great staff! Can not recommend Popina enough and can't wait to come back! read more

Finally got here tonight and was so pleased to discover a new gem in the neighborhood. Amazing food. Wonderful service. The pastas were incredible, and the chicken was super tasty. We can't wait to go back. read more

We got there the night they had a health inspection. Although we ate for free...not satisfied with food. Health inspector made them throw out their bread... I don't want to know why. read more

Unaccomodating place. Asking for menus (there were 6 of us with 1 menu) was like pulling teeth and the server was rude. Nice wines, good tasting food, but missing menu items, one of the 2 desserts had a foul aftertaste, and no coffee, which seems like a poor decision on management's part. I guess they didnt want us to linger and enjoy ourselves. Too bad, I'd be a regular. This was my 3rd time, and probably last. Not one star because I've had worse. Fish of the day was octopus. when i ordered it the waiter wanted to know if i realized that it wasnt squid. what a dick. read more

Great service! Had the arancini as an appetizer, and pappardelle pasta as the main (split it with my girlfriend). That was enough for the both of us! Meal was delicious - pasta was cooked perfectly -- the wide pasta noodles with the light sauce and ham hock meat was delightful. We also got cocktails with dinner; they were refreshing as well. GREAT place for a date night or to catch up with a friend in an intimate setting. read more

Popina - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

One of life's rare experiences where everything is PERFECT from beginning to end. We were stuck in traffic on the bqe and randomly stumbled onto this gem. Intimate setting, perfect mood lighting, attentive and informed servers, lovely cocktails.. and then there's the food.. a handful of appetizers and entrees each magnificently prepared with absolute love. We can't wait to try this place again! read more

Incredible! Having recently visited Italy and experienced home cooked meals, I can assure you this is as good as it gets. The combination of flavors and ingredients with authentic Italian inspired flare is by far the best you can have in the US. Chef Chris McDade is an artist and a host like no other. The dishes were prepared to perfection with a great balance of flavors, spice and interesting twists to classic recipes. Our group enjoyed every bite and had to inquire about bread to soak up the last bit of sauce. The pairings of wine were excellent and their knowledge was superb. The meal, service and charm of the restaurant could not have been better. We would recommend Popina to anyone looking for a masterfully executed dish and we will dine here again for sure! read more

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Loved this place!! Sat outside in the backyard on a perfect evening. The only flaw is that it took a while for any server to notice us, and we finally asked the host if we could be waited on. (Watched another couple leave waiting to be served.). We we're immediately taken care of. After that - delicious cocktails, amazing peach & tomato salad, the steak and the tripe pasta were both divine! Will try again. read more

Came in last night with a large group. We shared all the meals which gave us an opportunity to taste everything. Compliments to the chef! Incredible selection of wine and just an overall great setting. Warm lighting with a cozy atmosphere is always a win. It was a bit cold to go out, but can't wait to go back when it's warmer to utilize their outdoor space. I saw a Bocce ball court waiting to get played! read more

Awesome food and service. If you're in the area, hell even if you're not in the area...get Popina on your list!

Wonderful night at Popina- read about them on eater and wanted to treat my team (all restaurant managers) to a night out. Could not have picked a better spot. Great food, great wine pairings, great staff and NOT Fussy! Great night in BK, THANK YOU CHEF and TEAM read more

Really excellent food in a cozy spot. The Italian style dishes are enhanced with the flavors of southern food like ham, collards, and red peas and the combination works perfectly. Make sure to try a pasta dish along with the squid appetizer. Also, the chocolate pie is one of the best desserts I've ever tried at a restaurant. read more

Great find!!! We were around the area so decided to try them out, got there exactly at 5:30 so we were seated right away and the service was very fast. All their staff is really nice, there was small inconvenient with out pasta. They gave us a comp and what was really nice was that the chef came personally to apologize for what happened, something we completely understood since we work in the culinary business too. Overall the food is really good, the place is cozy and hip. Definitely worth the visit. read more

We arrived Saturday at 7:30 for dinner and waited about 1hr and 15 min. We decided to sit at the bar for dinner. The server was lovely and very sweet. Ordered the Brussels sprouts that had a delicious Caesar style dressing on them which was very refreshing so much so we ordered another round !The skirt steak was cooked perfect, the Gorgonzola cheese it was topped with was rich and creamy. The Milanese chicken was excellent, juicy breaded chicken cutlet with a spicy oil nice twist on a old favorite! Very nice experience. read more

Have returned several times to this awesome spot and LOVE the backyard space, which is beautifully done with a relaxed atmosphere and a bocce court in the way back that is a great addition. Great spot for groups! read more

Simply, just not worth it. For a tiny, personal space, it doesn't have the home vibe that makes me want to go back. Pleasant but not friendly, simple, but not warm. The portions are small, the prices fairly high and our main dishes just ok. The cocktails not great, the heat inadequate for a small space -- my legs and feet were icy. We heard the desserts were very good but passed because no coffee or tea available to go with-- very odd, I thought. Sorry, was hoping for more. read more

Love love! Best food in years! The service and food are to die for! I am a private cook and I need lessons from them! Amazing!

Absolutely loved our dinner last night. We come to town several times a year, and always try to go to good restaurants for dinner. Popina was recommended by our daughter, and was she ever right. Like eating in a restaurant in small town Italy. Great staff, friendly, warm service, and the food was terrific. Combinations of flavours that were both traditional and innovative, always delicious, and perfectly done. Pastas were to die for, but then again so were all the appetizers we ordered. One of the best Italian restaurants we have ever eaten at. Try the backyard patio if you can get a table there. read more

Absolutely delicious food for a date night! Came early and was able to get a table with no problem. Really loved the Arancini, the Papardelle, and the Milanese. Very friendly waitstaff. Highly recommend! read more

Very good food and service! As somebody born and raised in northern Italy, I have to say the Italian elements at Popina's are vague at best -- they serve Italian-influenced new American (not authentically Italian) cuisine -- but once that crucial fact gets established and you know what to expect, the dishes are delicious. I had the pork chop (melt-in-your-mouth divine) and my husband had the pappardelle. The only disappointment was dessert. We had the "budino", which turned out to be not a budino at all, but a super sweet butterscotch fudge. Next time we'll skip dessert, but we'll be back for sure. read more

With Italian less is more and here it's all about more. It all adds up to being too much that it's hard to enjoy. Too much salt, Cream, spice you name it. And over priced for what it is. Dessert was best part. read more

Popina has the potential to be great. The space is great. The French restaurant that used to be here was a neighborhood staple before the waterfront became a destination. Management needs to figure out the front-of-house operations. It's chaotic and the person behind the bar is rude. Sure, it just opened so here's hoping things will change. I certainly hope so and will enthusiastically change my review if that's the case. But at this price point and considering the legacy of the people involved, you don't expect JV squad. You expect the best and the brightest. You expect major leagues. Here's hoping you get there, Popina. read more

This place is 100% worth the trip to Brooklyn for. Amazing food and a fantastic wine selection. The staff is beyond helpful and accommodating. I can't wait to go back! read more

Told no reservations but we still went. Seated quickly. So loud and noisy you couldn't hear the person sitting directly across from you. Service good. Menu very, very limited. Portions very small. Too salty. Really not worth the visit. read more

This place is silly good...an absolutely standout neighborhood restaurant that elevates flavors. Small, warm place that doesn't take reservations but it worth any wait. Service was top shelf, great job on the floor. We had the Rice balls, Brussel Sprouts, Cavatelli , Paperadelle Each was a standout in its own way. Just do yourself a favor and get here for dinner, you will have a great meal read more

The food here is amazing. Arancini, Clam Toast, Chitarra and HOT CHICKEN! The wine list is fairly priced and has some cool off the beaten path Italian selections. Tiny restaurant, but the backyard is great with pretty string lights and bocce ball. A great addition to the neighborhood. read more

Popina is a delight and easily cracks the top 5 all-around restaurants in south Brooklyn. The stand-out Italian-heavy wine list is both approachable and innovative; we learn something new each dinner there and James is a capable and friendly guide. The reserve list is remarkable. Chris' menu manages the impressive feat of being original and familiar simultaneously. The Southern and Italian fusion goes well past clever (though the menu reflects a clear sense of humor) to introduce dishes that seem to shuffle culinary memories together into a well-seasoned, harmonious hand. ham hock collards papardelle is a revelation. the "hot chicken" milanese with a buttermilk radicchio is a sensational entree, an elevated guilty pleasure. even the little things (cacio e pepe butter !) are creative and well executed. Popina is the sort of neighborhood staple that is worth traveling to, where a party of 4 should just order everything on the menu, and then come back the following week to refresh... read more

great space great people great food.they were so nice that the table was not ready so they bought a round of drinks for 4 people.at the famous franca table which is a nice touch.puts a smile and gets ya thinking how the menu originated. read more

One of the worst meals I've had in recent memory. The food was mediocre, poorly prepared and served with a glib indifference by the waitstaff. The room itself, very small, was freezing; a request to turn up the heat were promised and then ignored (one of the waiters wore a knit cap and a scarf, which was, well, rather telling.) The chicken Marsala was bone dry and seasoned with so much tarragon that one could not taste anything else; the accompanying radicchio was smothered with a blue cheese sauce that was bland and overly abundant. Expensive drinks arrived as if they had been half consumed. Our companion's fish was served cold in the center and when it was sent back, it arrived--20 minutes later--cold in the center. The waiter's comment upon reserving it: "Sorry if it was not to your liking." Not sorry we did such a poor job of preparing it. A terrible dining experience. The fish was comped, but such would have been done at any responsible restaurant. Overall, Popina has a cold indifferent vibe. I will never go back. read more