Tonight marks the opening of a new restaurant in the chronically underserved Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, as the 80-seat Bluebird Food & Spirits (from Jim Mamary, the owner of nearby mainstay Lincoln Park Tavern) opens its doors on Flatbush between Lincoln and Ocean/Empire. Last night, we snapped chef Joe Aponte in the 2,000 SF bar and dining room. That doesn’t count the backyard, downstairs music venue (repurposed from an illegal strip club), and a front room lounge. GM Dave Miss tells us the furniture in the front room can move aside for community meetings, a children’s space, pre fixe guest chef nights (Lidia Leudo of Chelsea Market’s Green Table is lined up), or any other daytime use.

One block south at Flatbush and Maple, whiskey-and-fancy beer bar Midwood Flats (from across-the-street hit Tugboat Tea Company owner Chad Casey) appears poised to open, as well.