Hunky Dory

"Claire Sprouse built a restaurant that served as a true community anchor." - Eater Staff

"Hunky Dory owner Claire Sprouse, who has hosted over 30 pop-ups during the pandemic at her spacious Crown Heights outdoor bar, posted on Instagram that the situation had made her consider how Hunky Dory’s pop-up program had kept the bar afloat in the pandemic’s earlier days while the small business owners hustled through backbreaking days to set up, put out deeply personal food for four to seven hours, and then break everything down to do it again in another unfamiliar kitchen the next day." - Erika Adams

"In a fluke of real estate, Hunky Dory, a bar and restaurant in Crown Heights that was only a year old when the pandemic hit, sat next to an empty lot — that just so happened to be owned by its landlord. So as restaurants across the city scrambled to co-opt former parking spots, owner Claire Sprouse was able to build a patio larger than her bar and dining room combined. Last summer’s bare-bones setup evolved to include lighting, haystacks in the fall, a hoop tent with garlands in the winter, and a built-out roof offering full shade and rain cover. Now, as the weather heats up, locals are swarming the place more than ever for its fun cocktails, straightforward seasonal menu (from spring ceviche to “fancy chopped salad”), and exciting lineup of pop-up chefs. The patio may be reclaimed by the landlord come October, but Sprouse plans to keep the party going for as long as she can. —Amanda Kludt" - Eater Staff, NYMag Staff

"Hunky Dory moved away from using the tipped minimum wage during the pandemic." - Erika Adams

"Bajan Yankee’s Shirwin Burrowes is bringing salt cod fritters and jerk pork rice bowls to Crown Heights bar Hunky Dory for a pop-up this Wednesday, from 4 to 9 p.m. Pre-orders are available here." - Erika Adams