Three years ago, I was at the tail end of a weeklong solo trip in Copenhagen. I look back fondly on every part of that journey — the chill in the air, the serene fall scenes, ripping my fixed-gear bike rental between Nørrebro and Østerbro, the seeded buns with butter and cheese, the counter seats overlooking immaculate kitchens, long sauna sessions, and longer walks along the canal. It was an impactful week for me — to be exploring on my own, to have that time fully to myself, to listen to my intuition about what to do next. It was also one of the quietest weeks of my life.
As soon as I landed in Denmark and walked off the plane, I reached for my pocket and noticed my AirPods case wasn’t with me. And once my loose buds reached their inevitable demise, there was no bringing them back to life.
There was no soundtrack to my week in Denmark. No podcasts as a companion on the treks around town. Not even a droney ambient track to support a session at the Louisiana Museum. Copenhagen already operates at a shockingly low, peaceful volume — and without anything in my ears, I felt like I fully experienced it. And enjoyed it.
New York, at baseline, is not exactly a quiet place, but every year around this time, I do my best to channel some of the mid-fall Scandinavian energy. The temps have dropped, the leaves are crisp — I’ve been slowing things down, and turning down the volume after a summer on the move.
It feels good: to move a little more intentionally, to set out for the day without a pair of headphones, to take my time at a café on the weekend. To read, to linger, to talk with strangers on the street instead of reaching for my phone to call a friend. They’re subtle shifts, but I notice the difference — in how I carry myself, and in how connected I feel to the world around me.
Settling into fall feels like the right moment to take stock of the past few months in New York — and to draft a proper refresh of Flood’s In Rotation. That’s what we’re doing today.
If you’re new here, In Rotation is a series that captures the places I’ve been visiting most in New York City. There are plenty of restaurants I enjoy and am inspired by — but far fewer that I frequent. This isn’t about one-off meals; it’s about sustained excellence. It’s a snapshot of New York as I’m currently experiencing it.
As a reminder, I consider “frequenting” to mean at least three visits in a six-month rolling period. The spots In Rotation are a mix of approachable, accessible, and repeatable.
In the spring, I published the first edition of In Rotation, where everything was technically new to the list. For this fall update, I’ve noted what’s truly new — and what’s been dropped.
The list is sorted by proximity to home — in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Frequenting a place on my block often comes down to utility, while trekking across town usually means there’s something special to offer.
Alongside In Rotation, I’ve included updates to Flood’s Worldwide — New York for paid subscribers: new hits added to the mix, and freshly awarded stars.
In Rotation: NYC, Fall 2025
SUKH Fort Greene, Brooklyn
I probably take SUKH for granted. It’s just around the corner — easy to stroll into for a bite, and even easier to carry out from. It makes me so consistently happy. Sunday night pad see ew, while I’m finishing up writing, has become a bit of a tradition.
[new] Los Burritos Juárez Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Past the mild pandemonium on Myrtle Ave lies a solid, casual lunch option that I’ve been running back to again and again. Chicken braised in a pasilla–morita mole, wrapped in a chewy flour tortilla, plays so well in all situations. I’m fortunate to have this spot close by.[new] al Badawi Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
They do good, honest work at Badawi. Nothing flashy, but with a few more frills than you might expect from the outside looking in. The chicken kebab platter might be the best example of that work — flavorful, with a perfect char. Served with a crunchy, zesty salad, garlic sauce, and a basket of freshly baked pita. I’m a fan.
Radio Bakery Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Radio continues to grow on me. I’m sure there are plenty of die-hards out there who would loveeeee to say I told ya so. It’s the sandwiches, more than the pastries, that have changed my tune. The roast beef sandwich running right now — with castelfranco radicchio and chimichurri on focaccia — is very good.Otway Bakery Crown Heights, Brooklyn
A weekly stop for freshly baked sourdough — I think they have the best in town! I’ll often grab a ciabatta too. And sometimes a pastry.Cafe Mado Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
I love the slight transition Mado made, now operating super casually on weekdays, with counter service and lots of seating to linger. It’s an easy place to slide into for coffee and a breakfast sandwich, and to knock out an hour or two of work. It’s even more repeatable than it already was.
[new] Court Street Grocers Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
You know, I’ve thought pretty hard about it, and there isn’t a sandwich I enjoy more than Court Street’s Italian Combo. It’s the perfect park sandwich. Or plane sandwich (iykyk). Sturdy, substantial, balanced. But you can’t really go wrong with anything at Court Street.THISBOWL Noho, New York
They tried to slander ‘em. They came back stronger. THISBOWL forever.[new] Apollo Bagels East Village, New York
Apollo is actually the only bagel shop I’ve gone to in the past six months. Their expansion to FiDi and Williamsburg makes those crisp sourdough beauties easier to get than ever. Sesame with scallion cream cheese and tomato is my go-to.
[new] Soothr East Village, New York
There’s plenty of good Thai food in this city, but no one’s doing it better than Soothr. It’s the most dependable restaurant I can think of — an operation that hums like no other. And it carries out exceptionally well.
[new] Cho Dang Gol Koreatown, New York
The lunch combo at CDG is out-of-control delicious, and an outrageous value. Spicy chicken, tofu kimchi stew, all the banchan, a steaming bowl of rice — $20. I love this place. One of my favorite restaurants in all of New York. I could go weekly and not get sick of it.
Most Visited Cafés: Villager Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Abraço East Village, New York, [new] Principles GI Gowanus, Brooklyn
Villager remains my reliable neighborhood café, even though it’s a bike ride away. Abraço is the café I spend the most time at — a place to slow down and spend a few hours reading, journaling, or simply existing. New to the list is Principles GI, a big, warehouse-y space in Gowanus with very good coffee and lots of room to spread out and open up a laptop. An honorable mention goes to La Cabra, whose beans I’ve been using around the apartment lately.
Most Visited Bars: [new] Cellar 36 Two Bridges, New York, [new] Swift Hibernian Lounge Noho, New York, [new] Sharlene’s Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Most Lower East Side nights include a stop at Cellar 36 somewhere along the way. Swift is such an easy play for a quick pint — still one of the best in town. Sharlene’s is everything you want in a neighborhood bar: approachable, cheap, dimly lit, and comfortable.
Out of the Rotation:
Forma Pasta Factory — Still a favorite, just consumed a little less pipette ragu than usual this summer.
Sailor — Had a nice dinner in June, but haven’t made it back in since. The new bar room and renovation should make it a little easier to slide in, and I will soon.
Yemen Café — Colder days ahead will call for lamb haneeth. Yemen Café will almost certainly return to the list come spring.
Ha’s Snack Bar — As predicted, I haven’t been able to get back into Ha’s. The endless stream of press and accolades hasn’t made it any easier.
Torrisi — I’m due for a celebratory-feeling, blowout meal. One where you order a little more and spend a little more than you should. Torrisi is an excellent place to do exactly that.
Kisa — I went to Kisa twice, but not a third time! So it’s right on the edge. Still a very fun room, and still a value.
Mariscos El Submarino — The Greenpoint location was closed for most of the summer, and Clinton Hill only opened a few months ago. I love the aguachile verde so much. Good chance this returns to the list.
Taqueria Ramirez Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Only hit it once this summer. Just how it goes sometimes.