(Photo: Pap and Boerewors dish, via Madiba)

It may sound trite, or perhaps even grandiose, but Brooklyn is somewhat of a microcosm of the world.  Countless national, ethnic, and religious groups have left their original homelands to establish new ones in our fine borough.  Among the many things this densely packed human diversity produces, is a selection of incredibly varied (and delicious) food.  Maybe it’s cliché, yet one could really take an international culinary trip around the borough, stopping in Central Europe, Australia, The Middle East, The Caribbean, and more, to sample the culinary delights of these geographically-based cuisines. 

TASTE THE TROPICS

For a sunny taste of the tropics, stop by The Islands, a seemingly miniscule restaurant one block away from the Brooklyn Museum that serves remarkably delicious and true-to-origin Caribbean cuisine.  Don’t let the proverbial “hole-in-the-wall” element undercut your culinary experience; this is food you don’t want to miss out on.  Piquant and tender jerk chicken, flavorful calypso shrimp, spiced and gamey curried goat, meltingly braised oxtail, and sweet bread pudding are among the alluring options.  803 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights

AUSTRO-GERMAN GRUB

Head towards Café Steinhof for some Austro-German grub.  This restaurant serves central European food with comfort in mind: hearty celery and potato soup, pumpernickel bread sandwiches, goulash, spaetzle, linzer tortes, and schnitzel galore.  Steinhof’s prices are reasonable, its atmosphere attractive and homey, and its food comforting.   422 7th Avenue, Park Slope

ISRAELI CUISINE

For some superlative Israeli cuisine, make the trek to Mimi’s Hummus in Ditmas Park.  Yes, it’s off the beaten path, and yes, the restaurant is housed in a tiny space (they only have 8 tables), but the velvety hummus is so authentic you may as well have ordered it while dining at a sun-drenched outdoor eatery in an olive tree studded neighborhood in Jerusalem.  There’s excellent grainy and herb-flecked tabouleh salad, slightly tart, yet savory grape leaves, and Bedouin originated creamy labneh (a super strained yogurt).  1209 Cortelyou Road, Ditmas Park (Photo: Serious Eats)

ETHIOPIAN

If you’re in the mood for a communal and interactive dining experience, check out Bati.  Named after a town in Northeast Ethiopia, Bati offers traditional Ethiopian fare in a well-designed, low-lit setting.  Dip that Ethiopian spongy carb specialty, injera, into a variety of beef, chicken, vegetarian, and even vegan entrees.   747 Fulton Street, Fort Greene

POLISH

If you want to sample Poland’s earthy, wintry delicacies, take a trip up north on the G to Greenpoint.  Unsurprisingly, there are many Polish restaurants to choose from in Brooklyn’s “Little Poland,” but Christina’s Restaurant stands out among the herd.  This neighborhood fixture serves such tantalizing items as egg sandwiches with kielbasa and Babka French Toast for breakfast; and for lunch and dinner there’s fuchsia-hued borsht, braised stuffed cabbage, fiery boiled beef with horseradish sauce, goulash, and a wide range of pierogies and blintzes.  All dishes pair well with an icy polish beer.  853 Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint (Photo: Christina's Restaurant)

DOWN-UNDER

For a stop in “down under” head to Park Slope’s Sheep Station.  This spot features bona fide gastropub Aussie cuisine.  There’s plenty of Australian beer and wine, traditional minced meat pies and burgers, and fresh seafood served Aussie style.  Sheep Station’s interior boasts a tasteful rustic/outback ambiance.   149 4th Avenue, Park Slope

TURKISH

Simply prepared and impeccably fresh Turkish cuisine is served in the mammoth sized Sahara Restaurant.  Turkish delicacies include lemony-garlicky hummus, homemade baba ghanoush, salty feta salads, fresh pita bread, lots of chicken, lamb, and fish kebabs and gyros, and sweet, crispy phyllo dough pastries for dessert.  The meats drizzled with cooling yogurt sauce are a must-have.  2337 Coney Island Avenue, Coney Island (Photo: Fat Man Dave)

SOUTH AFRICAN

South African cuisine is hard to come by in the states; in fact there are only a handful of South-African restaurants in all of NYC.  And lucky us, Fort Greene is home to Madiba, one of the city’s best.  Chicken livers with chilies, beat root salad with cumin and mint, and ostrich carpaccio are among the appetizers, while traditional South African tenderloin sausage with onion gravy, salmon burgers, and curried ground beef topped with egg custard are available as entrées for dinner.  You can even sample Nelson Mandela’s allegedly favorite soup, a corn and bean stew. 195 Dekalb Avenue, Fort Greene

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN

La Superior serves authentic Mexican street food (without the threat of food-born illness).   There’s queso fundido, jalapenos rellenos, lots of taco options (including tacos con lengua), and torta ahogada (a hot sauce infused, bean-topped version of a pulled pork sandwich).  If you’re feeling especially adventurous, order the pork brain quesadillas.  Side effects may include auditory hallucinations of mariachi music.   295 Berry Street, Williamsburg (Photo: Antenna Mag)