Winfield’s Opens in Old Manny's Space in Bed Stuy, Slinging Burgers, Salads, Bagels

Winfield’s, a new family-friendly, diner-style restaurant, has opened on Bed Stuy’s Patchen Avenue offering breakfast and lunch at affordable prices, with plans to extend to dinner and brunch service.

Currently the restaurant, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., serves bagels, breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and an array of sides with prices ranging from $2 to $15. Owner Winfield Harrell Jr. said he wanted to keep everything affordable to ensure the space is accessible to everyone in the neighborhood.

Harrell, who grew up in Bed Stuy and now lives in Clinton Hill, owns the building at 212 Patchen Avenue and had previously opened Want’z Pizza and Crave in the space. He was also a partner in popular restaurant Manny’s, which operated out of the building on and off between 2012 and 2019. Gone are Manny’s white subway tile walls and decorative wood mantel with blue tile. Winfield’s embraces an eclectic, nostalgic vibe with photographs, pop art, mirrors, and corrugated iron on exposed brick. Mismatched metals chairs surround the mostly red-topped tables inside.

Harrell said he always planned to reopen a restaurant after Manny’s closed, but after undertaking renovations in the building, the Covid-19 pandemic arrived, setting off a two-to-three-year limbo period. “I’m from the community and I wanted to do something in the community,” Harrell said. “Growing up, all the stores were owned by the people in the community who were Black and I wanted to leave something for my community.”

He said, at age 65, he was ready to set up the business and leave it for the next generation to take over. “I will walk out of there and drop the mic, I’m doing it for the younger people to take over so they have something. It’s really harsh for them, it was much easier when I was younger,” he said, adding as long as he was breaking even he was happy.

He said he chose the diner style menu and informal look for the new restaurant because it is of his era, adding it sets a comforting tone for customers. His aim, he said, is for Winfield’s to be a place where families can come and relax, kids are welcome, and mothers can feel comfortable.

Manager Jess Master added the team is “really trying to have something for the community here.”

“We wanted to do some healthy options for vegetarians, vegans, and people that just want to do something a little bit healthier, but in a space that they can also get some comfort foods, like french fries or whatnot,” she said.

As well as intending to extend the hours and menu for dinner service, Master said, the team is also looking to add brunch service in the near future and to serve beer and wine.

Winfield’s adds to the new offerings on Patchen Avenue alongside new neighbor Early Yves (previously called Montage Brooklyn) and the recently opened Passionfruit Coffee on the corner of Madison Street. They join longer standing local establishments Grandchamps and Marian’s, formerly The Wilky.

[Photos by Anna Bradley-Smith]

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