Is there a happy hour at Defonte’s?
Defonte’s has been feeding Red Hook since 1922, when it opened to serve the longshoremen working the piers, and four generations later it’s still the neighborhood’s oldest eatery and one of the best Italian hero shops in New York. The signature is the Nicky Special — ham, capocollo, salami, fried eggplant, and hot salad piled onto Italian bread — and the paper-thin battered eggplant alone is worth the trip.
This is a stand-up counter operation with no real seating, cash only (there’s an ATM inside), and hours that run from early morning to 4pm before it closes for the day. The block was even co-named “Daniel J. Defonte’s Way” in 2023 in honor of the late longtime owner — a fitting tribute to a genuine, unpretentious NYC institution best experienced grab-and-go.
What to Expect
Defonte’s does not have a happy hour, which makes sense for a daytime sandwich counter that’s closed by late afternoon and shut entirely on Sundays. There’s no bar and no drink service beyond the cold cans in the case — regulars grab a cheap cold beer to go with a hero, but there’s no discounted window. Come for lunch, keep it simple, and remember it’s cash only.
The Room
A no-frills, stand-up counter shop in a free-standing green-and-red brick building — order at the counter, eat along the wall or take it to go. No table seating; the vibe is pure old-school Brooklyn lunch spot.
Who Defonte’s Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Grab-and-go lunch | A single hero is an enormous, portable midday meal — perfect to take to Valentino Pier and eat by the water. |
| Sandwich pilgrimage | Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and “best sandwich” lists for good reason, it’s a bucket-list stop for Italian-hero devotees. |
| Feeding a crew | The heroes are big enough to split, making it an easy, cheap way to feed a hungry group on a Red Hook outing. |
| Old-school NYC fix | A century-old, cash-only counter serving fried-eggplant heroes is about as authentically old New York as lunch gets. |
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Defonte’s FAQ
Does Defonte’s have a happy hour?
No. Defonte’s is a daytime sandwich counter with no bar that closes by 4pm, so there are no happy-hour drink or food specials.
What should I order at Defonte’s?
The Nicky Special — ham, capocollo, salami, fried eggplant, and hot salad — is the signature. The Golden Boy, roast pork with hot salad, and the potato-and-egg hero are other favorites.
Is Defonte’s cash only?
Yes, Defonte’s is cash only, but there’s an ATM on-site if you need it.
What are Defonte’s hours?
It’s open Monday through Saturday from 6am to 4pm and closed on Sundays — it’s a lunch spot, so go early.
Happy hour times and deals last verified June 2026. Details can change — confirm with Defonte’s before visiting for a specific deal.