The Radio Star is not dead.

A 1940s-inspired diner has opened with a Middle Eastern menu and a green footprint.

Video killed the radio star, or so we thought. Sara Conklin, the restaurateur behind Glasserie, has changed all that. She’s opened Radio Star, a lively vintage diner with a menu from the Middle East at 13 Greenpoint Ave in Brooklyn.

The restaurant is deeply personal to Sara, who has lived in Greenpoint for 20 years, operating Glasserie for 10 years. Her latest, Radio Star, is a Mediterranean-style diner with a 1940s vibe that honors the history of WNYC radio which transmitted from 1937-1995 in Greenpoint’s history Transmitter Park.

Radio Star is open all day, every day, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sara collaborated on the creation of the menu with Yusuf Lovett, who has been the chef at Glasserie for the past two years. He’s using ingredients sourced as locally as possible, including flour from Wild Hive Farm, delivered by the Schooner Apollonia right to a nearby pier in Greenpoint.

At breakfast and lunch expect savory and sweet pastries, sandwiches, and sides with flavors influenced by Sara’s childhood growing up overseas in the Middle East: sweet morning Saffron pastry filled with cream cheese, glazed in orange blossom saffron and cinnamon syrup; cauliflower and goat cheese quiche; merguez in a blanket; mushroom filo pie stuffed with roasted maitakes, slow-cooked onions and Swiss chard with house-smoked labne.

The dinner menu features more substantive entrees—think Smoked Niman Ranch short ribs, rubbed in a dry cure and set overnight, glazed to order and served with smoked heirloom tomato sauce and Marcona almonds; salted cod, seared then gently poached in olive oil with crushed fingerling potatoes; and glazed pork cheeks with gently warmed dates in dry aged beef fat, served with labne and house harissa. For dessert, and Oat milk shake with almond, vanilla, tahini, with or without booze.

To drink, you’ll find an Old World wine list with Greece, Slovenia, and Croatia highlighted, in addition to an eclectic, seasonally-driven cocktail list, and local draft beer selection, including a custom Radio Star lager that Sara created with Michael Messine of Dutchess Ales. There are also refreshing no-ABV drinks, like a No-groni, a ginger shrub, and iced turmeric tea, as well as a full-fledged espresso and coffee program, and tea by the pot as well.

Notably, the restaurant is intentionally a fully gas-free venue. "We take being green seriously and were in lengthy conversations with our favorite neighborhood group, Friends of Transmitter Park, about how to operate in a responsible manner,” said Sara.

She has been composting at Glasserie for some time and will implement it at Radio Star as soon as possible. “We have and will pay significantly more to operate a fully gas-free venue. The kitchen, heat, etc are all electric. This choice was a significant one and makes a statement of turning away from fossil fuels, which is better for the environment as well as the health of staff working on premises.” All of their to-go packaging is compostable. They are utilizing rainwater run-off to water our plants when possible.

"Radio Star is for the people; a place you can go for an espresso anytime, or a full meal,” said Sara. “Pop in for a cocktail at 4pm and then maybe back for a breakfast sando at 8am the next day. We are here for everyone and always good for a chat across the bar."

Radio Star is located at 13 Greenpoint Ave, in Greenport, Brooklyn. 347-799-1190
Walk-ins are welcome and encouraged. Reserve on Resy.

Hours:

Sunday - Thursday: 8am-11pm
Friday & Saturday: 8am - midnight
Breakfast: 8am - 11am
Lunch: 11am - 4pm
Dinner: 4pm - 11pm (midnight on Friday & Saturday)