See why we’re crushing on this family-run restaurant in Brooklyn
The minute you step inside Winona’s, it feels like home—and that’s by design.
Winona’s evolved from Backroom Dinners, a word-of-mouth series that Cressida hosted at home. When she was ready to take the burgeoning supper club to the next level, the storefront next door offered a prime locale.
On the eve of the pandemic and with a baby on the way, Cressida Greening and Emir Dupeyron took on a feat not for the faint of heart, even under normal circumstances: opening a restaurant in New York City.
A year and change later, Winona’s (named after the family dog) is a neighborhood hub thanks to Cressida’s carefully curated wine list, head chef Kirstyn Brewer’s fresh take on farm-to-table and interiors inspired by the owners’ own apartment next door.
“We wanted it to be a neighborhood restaurant,” says Cressida. “Since there aren’t many in this area, it had to be a worthy destination, too.”
The key ingredients
Working with interior designer Moe Gabr on a lofty 2,500-square-foot reno, Cressida and Emir doubled down on three things:
■ Low intervention: “We didn’t want things to look too perfect,” Cressida says. “We exposed the beams, left the cracks in the concrete floors and incorporated texture with ceramic lamps and such.”
■ Light as a theme: “There are a lot of plants and natural light in the space, so I wanted the menu to reflect that,” says Kirstyn. “It’s seasonal and vegetable-forward, and a few things on the menu change every week.”
■ A big reveal: “In our apartment, we have a long corridor that opens to a large open space, and that was our inspiration here,” Cressida says. “There’s a small cafe and wine bar in the front, then guests walk into a bigger dining room for that wow factor.”
“Food has always fostered connection but now more so than ever. It’s about trying new things and having fun.”
—Kirstyn Brewer, head chef
For Cressida, food is personal—a way to bring people together. She wanted the restaurant to feel equally welcoming, comfortable and inspiring.
A variety of light wood and terracotta tones bring warmth to the space. Eye-catching channeling appears throughout, from the wood bar to the upholstered banquette seating.