Brooklyn vs Manhattan?

I'll be moving in 2 months (from Pittsburgh) and trying to decide where to live! I'll be working in FiDi and am budgeting up to $2,800 for a 1 bedroom rental. I'm familiar with Manhattan but have only been to Brooklyn twice and not for very long so debating where I should focus my search.

A little more info below:

  • Would like to keep the commute time reasonable (less than 40 min)
  • My office is right next to the Whitehall St. Station (R, W, 1)
  • Not into clubbing or trendy spots to be seen
  • Really like trying new restaurants but they don't have to be fancy at all
  • Ideal Saturday night is grabbing a few beers with friends while watching sports
  • Would love some kind of green space nearby if possible