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Mill Basin: Waterside living, Brooklyn style

By Craig Raphael | Special to amNewYork

May 28, 2008

The meals at Mill Basin Deli are sizeable and always very fresh. (Katya Pronin)

Until the early 20th century, the inlet that constitutes Mill Basin was largely swampland. Avenue U, now a residential and commercial thoroughfare separating Mill Basin from its northern neighbor, Old Mill Basin, was a small stream.

The area remained rural for hundreds of years, with its settlers surviving off of the plentiful shellfish in Jamaica Bay. In the early 1900s, marshes and streams were filled in, Flatbush Avenue was extended to the Rockaway Inlet, and heavy industry plants were constructed. By 1920, the area had developed into a major commercial and industrial center.

Residential development stagnated during the depression when plans to extend the subway to far-Eastern Brooklyn went unrealized. A housing boom erupted after World War II consisting of brick bungalows erected on stilts, which were later replaced by semi-detached one- and two-family houses.

Today, the area has a quiet suburban feel, and its residents view it as an oasis, even as concerns about overdevelopment grow.

"I consider Mill Basin a Long Island town within a half hour of Manhattan," says longtime resident Ray Luhrs. "That's why I think it will never lose its draw."

Find it

Brooklyn's Mill Basin is bordered by Avenue U on the north, and to the east, south, and west by the Mill Basin/Mill Island Inlet.

TO EAT

Mill Basin's restaurant scene consists of the classic New York mix of Italian restaurants, kosher delis, and Asian fusion eateries.

Mill Basin Kosher Deli

A billboard outside boasts the "Best Pastrami Burger in Brooklyn," and inside locals feast on mouth-watering corned beef sandwiches, chopped liver, and other deli favorites. The space also doubles as an art gallery, showcasing original works of Art Deco master Erte as well as pieces by Lichtenstein and Chagall.

5823 Avenue T. 718-210-4910

Kar

An extensive sushi menu featuring creatively named special rolls (Kiss with the Chef and Christmas in July, among them) is complemented by a full Chinese menu filled with surprises, including whole wheat vegetable dumplings and jumbo shrimp in a smooth wine sauce.

5908 Avenue N. 718-531-8811

Pinocchio's

True to its name, this restaurant is awash in memorabilia of the beloved long-nosed character, who sits alongside giant mirrors lined with Christmas lights. Classic Italian cuisine is the perfect complement to this playful atmosphere.

5811 Avenue N. 718-444-3537

La Villa

Locals breathed a sigh of relief when the original branch of this Brooklyn chain reopened after a fire ravaged the Mill Basin Shopping Center in March. The old regulars have returned in droves to enjoy the famous pizzas and huge portions of Italian comfort food.