Wayward Fare

Mediterranean restaurant · Prospect Heights

Wayward Fare

Mediterranean restaurant · Prospect Heights

554 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Highlights

Wayward Fare is a cozy Brooklyn gem where creative dishes shine, friendly service reigns, and every meal feels like a Michelin-star experience.

554 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238 Get directions

waywardfarebk.com

@waywardfarebk

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

@infatuation

"Wayward Fare is a Mediterranean spot where you can eat things like wood-fired bread and eggplant dip, or porgy dusted in baharat, or maybe some lamb merguez-stuffed manti. The chef is from Alta Calidad, and it’s located right next door in Prospect Heights." - will hartman, bryan kim

NYC’s New Restaurant Openings

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@eater

"Akhtar Nawab is known in Prospect Heights for his neighborhood spot Alta Calidad, a Mexican restaurant with twists. Now, he’s expanded next door with Wayward Fare, a restaurant that takes a journey along the Silk Road. The meal kicks off with a complimentary tea-based drink, as a nod to its theme. From there, start with the wood-fired bread with dips like a pate with currants and crispy onions (though we wish more bread was provided to lap up), and then move on to the oysters with Parm and cherry peppers (both make use of the oven inherited from the previous pizzeria tenant). For entrees, dishes like swordfish with saffron aioli and lamb merguez manti dumplings feel nourishing on a cold night. The dining room is glossy and warm — many customers on a recent visit appeared to be Nawab’s longtime regulars." - Emma Orlow

The Best New Restaurants in Brooklyn, March 2025: According to Eater Editors

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@infatuation

Wayward Fare - Review - Prospect Heights - New York - The Infatuation

View Postcard for Wayward Fare

@eater

"A Mediterranean-focused restaurant by Akhtar Nawab, using a pizza oven from the former tenant." - Emma Orlow

NYC New Restaurant Openings, December 2024 - Eater NY

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Sara Ali

Google

I had the pleasure of dining at Wayward Fare and I’m still raving about it! This new gem in Brooklyn effortlessly combines outstanding culinary creativity with impeccable service. It’s truly a Michelin-star caliber experience in every sense. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with a perfect balance of modern elegance and cozy charm. But what truly steals the show is the food. Every dish is a work of art, crafted with attention to detail and an adventurous twist on familiar flavors. I have to highlight the prawns—absolutely divine. The oysters were fresh, briny, and perfectly complemented by a delicate mignonette. And the squash dish? It was nothing short of extraordinary. The balance of flavors and textures was a true testament to the chef’s skill, with each element enhancing the next. Service was equally exceptional, with staff who were knowledgeable, attentive, and passionate about the menu. From the moment we walked in, we were made to feel like honored guests. Wayward Fare is a standout. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again for both the food and the experience. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

EB Atler

Google

My overall experience at Wayward Fare was so memorable. The service was seamless, which was no surprise since Alta Calidad, their sister restaurant, has always been hospitality-forward, and everyone who came over to the table was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The food was excellent. I was thinking about the cabbage with freekeh for days, the roasted chicken was so good with unexpected flavors, the dumplings and pasta were delicious, and I could eat the bread and every mezze daily. The tea at the beginning of the meal and chai at the end were also a nice touch. WF is great for a regular night out or to celebrate a special occasion.

Bryant Rockoff

Google

Without a doubt one of the best new restaurants I’ve been to in the City this year. The mezze was some of the best I’ve ever had, the lamb dumplings (!!) were insane, and the porgy was one of the lightest, most well done fish I’ve had in a long time. The cocktail and wine list is also incredibly well done. Easily the best restaurant on Vanderbilt Ave in 2024, highly recommend for a date night, or a nicer dinner out with friends. Amazing price to quality.

Lindsey Rosenthal

Google

The food and drinks were outstanding! Just some new restaurant kinks to iron out that led me to leave 4 stars instead of 5. The food and drinks were amazing. I had the spiced sour to drink and my friend had the spritz. To eat, we shared the wood fired oven bread with 3 dips - pate, egg, and cheese, prawns, dumplings, and swordfish. All were fantastic. The service was impeccable at the beginning of the evening, however in the second half of the evening, that changed drastically. The waiter disappeared and we waited for quite a long time for someone to check in on us after we had finished our entrees, and then again for the check to be brought after we asked for it. Additionally, they do not have a system for the coats they take and we could not find my jacket at the end of the evening which caused me, my friend, and two waiters to have to search the different restaurant coat hooks for wherever the host put my coat. All in all, would definitely come back but just a few logistical items to sort through!

Mariel Mayz

Google

I have only good things to say about my dinner at Wayward Fare. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful but still welcoming, the staff was very warm, and the experience from beginning to end was different than any other restaurant I have been to. From the drinks to the mezze and dessert, there was no dish I did not love. The food was exactly what I look for in a restaurant— flavors that were unique and perfectly balanced in dishes that I knew I probably wasn't going to find elsewhere and could never replicate at home. Nothing was too salty, too spicy, too overpowering; everything just excellent. Loved how many pescatarian/vegetarian options there were as well. The chai tea at the end of the meal was the cherry on top.

Kate Castonguay

Google

Haven’t had dishes this flavorful and unique in a long time! The mezze, chicories salad, prawns wrapped in grape leaves, oven-roasted oysters and swordfish are all standouts. The wine and cocktail list is carefully curated as well (not to mention they give you a complimentary nip of a drink at the beginning, a small sip of chai at the end). Hospitality and ambiance are A+ too — the wood-burning oven makes the restaurant feel warm and cozy (and simultaneously adds a delicious smoky flavor to some of the dishes). My friends and I absolutely loved it — we kept ordering more and more because it was so good we didn’t want to leave. We’ll be back!

Billy LePage

Google

Excellent addition to the neighborhood. High-quality, FLAVORFUL, fun, elevated dishes that don’t break the bank. On top of that, great service and a vibey 70’s atmosphere. Cocktails looked amazing, too. Great spot for a first date or small group dinner. I had the mezze dips (divine) and the wood fired steak with garlic butter that was tasty. Looking forward to coming back and seeing how the menu evolves!

James Cranston

Google

Experience was great! Came here the other night, had some great dishes! The food was seasoned well and full of flavor. The bartender Jesus was great & funny. The space is nice, cozy and warm! The oysters are my favorite!