The best restaurants for a birthday dinner in Brooklyn

This coveted Italian spot is hard to get into, but a table there would be a great birthday gift in itself. The dishes are simple yet perfected, and the pasta is the focal point. Sheep milk agnolotti with saffron, porcini, and veal pappardelle, and ricotta gnocchi with broccoli pesto can be paired with simple meat options or seafood. And every meal should end with gelato – the “Italian Job” is a unique vanilla soft-serve made with fennel pollen and hearty glugs of olive oil.

A (very) long wine list is also available, along with classic cocktails like Negronis and Manhattans.

The interior is slightly industrial but leans more effortless than pretentious – a tough feat in Williamsburg. Concrete floors and spotty-painted brick are paired with wooden beams and big windows, making it a great low-key spot for a birthday dinner.

Lilia can host up to 20 birthday dinner guests in the semi-private dining room, and large parties receive a rotating seasonal set menu served to share.

If you and your friends haven’t collected enough PTO for a birthday trip to Cabo, head to Oxomoco instead. The resort-like, welcoming atmosphere will take you there in both flavor and vibes, with a greenhouse-style patio, hanging vines, and terra cotta accented walls. The big, round booths are ideal for groups who want a perfect view of the guest of honor. Sure, it’s not the most authentic Mexican cuisine, but the trendiness is outweighed by the fresh and experimental food.

Table dishes are to share, and appetizers include chips and salsa, smoked guacamole, and escabeche popcorn. Choose a few of their wood-fired tacos and split with friends: there’s swordfish with labneh, grilled American wagyu, and lamb barbacoa topped with squash blossom, as well as vegetarian options like beet chorizo. For dessert, you can bring your own cake for a plating fee, or try their Oaxacan chocolate cake or raspberry Tres Leches. Of course, you can find banging margaritas and mezcal cocktails on the drinks menu, as well as wine, beer, agua fresca, and black sesame horchata.

Large, family-style group dining packages are available for brunch and dinner, or you can reserve a booth for up to 6 guests.

If the long-lost days of classroom pizza parties and Chuck-E-Cheese birthdays have made you nostalgic, invite your friends for a low-key meal at Leo. Simple, bistro-style tables in a brightly-lit Williamsburg corner building make for an easygoing dining experience. You can get a walk-in for a small group pretty easily, and it makes for a great last-minute weeknight celebration. Bring a candle in your purse and stick it in the Tiramisu when nobody’s looking, whisper-sing Happy Birthday, and sigh in relief that a group of waiters (or terrifying animatronics) didn’t come to sing to you.

Leo is known for a unique sourdough crust, a mix between the crispiness of NY style and the chewiness of Neopolitan. Pizzas range from a classic Margharita to a white-sauce Clam pie, or you can opt for an 18-inch NY style which is great for sharing. Antipasti include their famed butter beans and oysters, and you can get other dishes like tagliatelle bolognese and hanger steak. Wines are available by the glass, bottle, or on draft. Cocktails include spritzes, negronis, and the Leo Tini, made from celery-infused vodka.

For groups of 8 to 20, a four-course family-style set menu is available for $50 a person. Choose from a Pizza Party or Bistro Dinner to share, or opt for Brunch for $35 a person. A full buyout of the restaurant is available for groups of 20 to 75.

Step out of the concrete jungle and into a greener one at Fandi Mata. Eclectic dining paired with sprawling greenery and bohemian decor will help you take a breath of fresh air – sometimes all New Yorkers want for their birthday is to relax with friends in an open-layout space with 28ft tall ceilings fitted with glass skylights.

The menu varies from seafood like branzino with jasmine rice and seared salmon to veggie-forward mezze platters. A large dessert menu has tropical sorbets, gelato, panna cotta, and an ube basque cheesecake. Pair your meal with local Brooklyn-brewed beer, and international wine, or choose from signature cocktails like the FN Negroni (lavender gin, Campari, and orange blossom).

There are several group dining options in this two-floor, 6,000 sq. ft. space. The main dining room has a 26-seat bar and 100-150 seats for a full buyout. The mezzanine is a semi-private option for up to 70 guests, with rustic wood tables and lantern lighting. The outdoor pergola is available in the summer for 30 to 40 guests. A prix-fixe family menu is available for parties of 10+ guests for dinner and brunch.

If you dream about hosting your friends in your make-believe Park Slope brownstone, Dinner Party will hold you over until that lucky lottery ticket comes through. A tiny space full of vintage furniture and fixtures, this Fort Greene space is guided by the ethos of its name, designed to foster connection through communal dining.

A full buyout holds 22 guests, and includes a customized four-course meal with beverage pairings. Normal reservations of 6 to 8 can be accommodated at communal tables. The menus are handwritten every day, rotating weekly, and illuminated by candlelight for added charm. Add a custom playlist or table settings to make it feel even more like home. Cuisine includes inspiration from France, Italy, and coastal America. If you’re an early bird, head there for brunch.