Brisket and Fried Chicken From Prospect Heights Outward

Gertrude's gives solo diners a bar seat and a different smoke reference: smoked fish beside brisket corned beef. For anyone deciding where to eat in Prospect Heights, I'd start here before chasing barbecue. Ask about smoked fish platters first, then decide whether oysters deserve the next order.

Morgan's ribs and cornbread make the stronger opening order; I'd skip its uneven mac and cheese. After 4pm, take a short walk to The Layup for truffle fries and wings, a side-by-side test for a solo sampler rather than another full dinner. Choose the fries if appetite is fading.

Little Mo on Myrtle Avenue takes the solo hunt farther across Brooklyn, trading yesterday's ribs for Korean fried chicken banh mi. The lotus fries give this Vietnamese spot a side worth comparing rather than another meat-heavy plate. Ask for those first; choose the chicken sandwich over a sprawling order.

Mighty Quinn's in Gowanus supplies the week's clearest barbecue benchmark: slow-smoked brisket and burnt ends. A counter order keeps the tasting manageable alone after yesterday's sandwich. I'd start with brisket without sauce, then compare the pickled cucumbers against the rich beef; choose fries over the reportedly dry cornbread.

BK Halal Grill on Nostrand Avenue moves the hunt toward Jamaican and soul-food comfort, with crispy fried chicken and yams beside braised meats. Solo tasters can build around fried chicken and yams instead of another beef-heavy order. Ask about today's seasoning before committing; make the chicken, not a sprawling sampler, the priority.

Brooklyn Hungry Kitchen suits a solo side-dish obsessive ready for a farther Brooklyn detour. Its Soul-Caribbean menu moves the comparison from Friday's fried chicken toward baked mac and greens, with wings and oxtail egg rolls as alternatives. Saturday service starts at 1pm; choose pickup, then decide whether wings merit the extra order.

Popina on the Columbia Waterfront closes the week with hot chicken Milanese, a different answer to the chicken-and-crunch brief. The backyard offers the visual contrast I'd choose after counters and grills. For a solo visit, Sunday service begins at noon; order the chicken first and decide whether Basque cheesecake earns the finish.