Ahead are the restaurants that I've gone to on multiple occasions - for after-work drinks, birthday dinners, and brunches - and they've never let me down. While all of my favorites are located in northern Brooklyn, it's no disrespect for the rest of the borough, which I'm now beginning to explore as part of phase two in my Brooklyn explorations.
My top picks are all also within a relatively low price range - the highest is a pizza for $25. I suggest you split that with good friends.