Brooklyn residents will point to numerous restaurants that are worth a trip to their borough, and one that Manhattanites are quick to agree about is this no-reservation Italian in Park Slope. The Venice-inspired menu includes dishes like malfatti (gnocchi made from Swiss chard and ricotta), squid ink risotto "that will make you feel like you're sitting alongside the Grand Canal" and entrées like hake filet baked with cherry tomatoes or a grilled balsamic-glazed skirt steak. The warm and friendly service is most welcome, especially since you need something to cheer you up after your long wait for a table.