Table 87, Still Going Strong

Over a decade ago, my mom and I were walking home from a doctor’s appointment in Brooklyn Heights and decided to stop for lunch on Atlantic Avenue. We noticed a charming new place called Table 87, aptly located at 87 Atlantic Avenue, and decided to stop in. We were immediately met by a one-woman welcome wagon named Monica who greeted us warmly and took our order. We had a fantastic coal-oven pizza Margherita and an equally fantastic calzone. It was an exceptionally great lunch!

We returned to Table 87 regularly back in those early days and spread the word to friends and relatives. My family used to have a pizzeria on Van Brunt Street for many decades so I like to think that we know our pizza. When my great-uncle Moe visited us from Colorado, a big group of us met up at Table 87 where we were blown away by the burrata pie, calzone, and fried calamari. I still remember the friendly pizzaiolo named Marco who told my uncle he would figure out a way to ship him a pizza.

In October of 2014, Table 87 opened a new location on 3rd Avenue and 10th Street in Gowanus. I went there early on with my friends and was once again greeted by lovely Monica who we discovered split her time between both locations. Her hospitality resulted in us happily staying to closing one night while we lingered over dessert. We found parking to be a little easier so we started frequenting that location. We always order a pie, usually a Margherita or a clam pie (they are one of the few local places that serve clam pies), appetizers and a salad, sometimes an entrée to share and a dessert. And we are never disappointed.

Last week, my husband and I decided to return to the original Table 87 location on Atlantic Avenue for old times' sake. Lo and behold, there was Monica, as gracious as ever. She told us the business survived Covid largely due to takeout, outdoor seating, and the legalization of cocktails to-go. We also had a chance to chat with Mike, a Gowanus native, who has been tending bar at both locations for the last five years. The entire staff—including Max, the busboy—are all hardworking and attentive. And once again we enjoyed a great meal: a Caesar salad, a perfectly charred pizza Margherita with a zesty sauce (accompanied by Table 87’s whole roasted garlic cloves and hot chilies), and my favorite four-cheese calzone.

In the last few years, both Atlantic Avenue and Gowanus locations have expanded, adding adjoining storefronts with additional seating, full-scale bars and additional coal-burning ovens. There is also a location at Industry City on 36th Street and a kiosk at the nearly Saks Off Fifth. They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with indoor/outdoor dining, take-out and catering available. The Atlantic Avenue location offers a very popular Happy Hour every day from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring seasonal cocktails.

The Gowanus location offers a variety of events, both indoor and outdoor, including Vinyl Night with a live DJ on alternate Saturdays from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Late Night Eats on Fridays and Saturdays with the kitchen open until midnight. There are outdoor movies on the big screen every Wednesday night during the warm weather months and an outdoor concert series, also on the big screen, will take place in September beginning at 8 p.m. on September 7th with a 60s tribute, followed by a 70s tribute on September 14, an 80s tribute on September 21st and a 90s tribute on September 28th. You can reserve an outdoor table or bring your own chair but whatever you do, be sure to order something delicious - a perfect pizza, a delicious calzone, a great big salad, a hero, a pasta, or some great appetizers like rice balls, croquettes, baked clams, blistered shishito peppers, or wings, and definitely a cocktail. It will be a perfect evening!

Table 87 Locations:
Brooklyn Heights
87 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-797-9300

Gowanus
473 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-965-8400

Industry City
238 36th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11232
718-499-2198

Dining Room Hours:
Sunday - Thursday 11a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11a.m. - 11p.m.

Side note:
A few years back, my husband was watching an episode of Shark Tank (he is a fan) and there was a pizza-maker from Brooklyn making a pitch for frozen pizza to the "Sharks"; it was none other than Table 87 proprietor Tommy Cucco along with Marco. One of the Sharks agreed to back him. In truth, the Shark wasn’t able to deliver the exposure that Tommy was looking for so he started reaching out on his own. With the help of another investor, Table 87 frozen pizzas have become a great success with a huge production facility on 42nd Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. These are not your typical frozen pizzas but a truly superior line of both whole pies and slices, including pepperoni, mushroom with truffle oil, prosciutto, and the classic Margherita which heat up to perfect crispiness in a few minutes. They are available at a wide range of stores, including Union Market, Whole Foods, Dumbo Market, Prospect Market, Stop and Shop, Wegmans, and various Key Food markets.