Spitzer's Corner
Categories: American (New), Lounges [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Lower East Side101 Rivington St
(between Essex St & Ludlow St)
New York, NY 10002 (212) 228-0027
- Nearest Transit:
Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Grand St (B, D)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12:00 p.m.-4:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun 11:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Late Night
- Best Nights: Tue, Wed, Thu
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking: No
28 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Murray Hill
"I hosted a going away shimmie there and invited about 25 people. It was beyond a monsoon, however the outside tent was more than perfect for…" read more »
65 Reviews for Spitzer's Corner
Great spot in the Lower East Side... Met someone we're working with here for a few beers. Front room + back room + lots of beers on tap + plus a gastropub menu.
we grabbed some space in the front room - there are two large communal park style bench tables - unfinished, with stainless steel legs - cool look for sure.
I just had a few cold ones - franziskaner hefeweizen, a leffe white and a magic hat no. 9 - all off the tap. I've had the no. 9 bottled before, but it was far better off the tap.
Can't vouch for the food, though I was thinking about getting the herbed popcorn...
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This place has a great ambiance. The inside of the place is all covered in wood and you can see beautiful people at this join.
The best thing about this place is the selection of beer on tap.. they have 40. Yes 40 beers on tap.
I am in love with the bartender that works on Tuesday she is super nice.
However, the food is horrible to say the least. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and I can tell you that I can prepare better ones at home.
Also I ordered some foie Gras that was the worst I have had.
Basically this is my recommendation if you go to this place for the beer. I believe it would be a okay choice, but avoid the food at all cost.
Three stars only for the beer selection
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Stumbled upon this place while searching for a place to eat brunch (not on purpose just that it happened to be noon and we hadn't eaten anything yet...as tempting as the McDonald's we passed was...).
What sold us what the advertisement for a brunch menu and that they had 40 beers on tap. Any place that has that many beers has at least that going for it.
It's very nice inside. All dark wood tables and floors. You sit picnic table style but that was OK. It wasn't very crowded so we had our own space. They also have the windows open so you can catch a breeze from the street. Nice.
The brunch menu is decent. Not a ton of options but what they do have is tempting. I ended up with the French toast and my other friend's had the omelet and the Spitzer scramble. The French toast was good. REALLY good. It had this great caramel sauce that was perfectly sweet so much so that I didn't even feel the need to add extra syrup. Great bread they used too, nice and thick. The omelet was also good, so said the friends, though not super big and the scramble was also approved, it had some good sausage. The most interesting thing about the egg dishes is that they come with this duck fat potato cake. I've never seen anything on a menu advertised as such. Usually naming the fat something is cooked in is unnecessary and kinda makes it sound gross. In the end the cake was innocuous and kinda bland. So much for sounding interesting on the menu.
Overall it had good atmosphere and decent food (not very large portions though for those that like to eat...I personally could have had something else. Probably should have got an egg on the side). Not overly pricey but not cheap either. Service is OK, but seemed slow though it wasn't crowded. I think my biggest peeve was that they don't take Discover OR AMEX. Bleh.
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I don't know what to say about the mixed reviews, but I LOVE this place.
Spitzer's is a sweet place to head to relax and have a few drinks after work. Right across the street from 'Inoteca and Babeland, Spitzer's is a gastrointestinal beer garden-- sans the err, actual garden-- perfect to head to while waiting for food or if you want a small bite and drink. Boasting a very large selection of artisanal and damn good beer, the delight is in reading their menu. The drinks are described as "with hints of rose" or "laced with vanilla and cinnamon spice," or "citrus kick, with lemon and...", etc, etc, that you quickly forget that you're reading about beer. The bartenders are also very knowledgable about what they're offering and can quickly make a suggestion for you if you tell them your preferences. Spitzer's also offers paired meal selections, like a leffe white with their kobe burger, mac and cheese with a certain lager, etc. But be wary of what you are ordering-- prices are cheap (dishes are listed from $5-11ish, I think) but portions are super-tiny. Plates are the size of a tea saucer, which is fine, because the food is yummy (we tried the mac + cheese, and the soft shell crab) but not for the price. If you do want to munch on something, I suggest the fries-- for $5 you get a delicious and large helping of seasoned fries, which are among the best I've had in a while. The popcorn looked good too, but then again, I have problems paying more than a dollar or two for something I can make with the push of a microwave button at home.
Summer at Spitzer's Corner is sweet because they open up all their glass windows and have a few outdoor seats. The place is very open, but a little dark, with its wooden benches and communal tables. Still, it's big-- with two rooms/bars upstairs, outdoor row of seats, and a downstairs area. Check it out and have a beer, even though I've been once, I'm already a big fan.
PS. The hostess was also really sweet and so chill, and our waiter, while a bit of a ditz, was really accommodating and tried really hard! Extra points for great hospitality
One Star...
...that's right, ONE STAR, it doesn't deserve ANY!!!
I have been there so many times(at least once or twice a week) and now I will never go back.
The food is just ok and what you're really paying for is the atmosphere and beer...
...but man has this place started to go sour big time.. I don't care about how hip you think your place is but when your Manager, and he seemed to young and completely displaced in the otherwise friendly environment, attitude is this bad and the Servers are rude to the customers then why don't you just stop pretending you run a restauraunt and just turn the place into a plain ass bar.
I ordered their burger with fries and my friend had the mac and cheese.
The burger was OK and the fries were great but took over half an hour to come to the table and it wasn't even that busy. The mac and cheese, on the other hand, forgot to come out. Then came very quickly after they had noticed it wasn't there. Makes you wonder why my food took so long.
What really made me mad was when we had had enough and wanted to leave they made us wait FORTY-FIVE MINUTES for our check. It took 3 servers and again the manager to finally get it to us and it was wrong! I went straight to the manager and spoke to him, he abruptly snatched the check from my hand went into a back room and handed me a new check that WAS STILL WRONG!!! Incredible!! No real apologies from any of the 4 people it took to get the check, truly truly poor service!!!
No reason to go here unless it's late, it's cold out and you're really lazy...
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came here last weekend with some girlfriends for brunch. all the windows were opened so it was inviting place on a summer day as we wandered around downtown.
the have a limited brunch menu but each of us enjoyed what we ordered. the caramel apple french toast was great if you have a wicked sweet tooth. i had the spitzer scramble which was ok taste wise and filling in portion size. service was slow (even though the place was half empty) and we had to catch our waitress each time to request water refills or the check - but she was new.
none of us were in a drinking mood that day but the beer list does look good and the picnic table style seating is interesting. i'm not sure if i'd go out of my way to come back, but if i'm in the area - i'd probably stop in again.
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I have a feeling that this place got a (albeit small) jump in popularity after the Client 9/Kristin scandal. But that is beside the point. This place is a good, laidback hangout and makes a good attempt at promoting a large, group atmosphere. The setup is long wood tables with bench seating, and then long wood benches surrounding on the walls. I would plan on coming with a large group of friends... and then making that group even larger! There's a decent beer selection on tap, and the prices are a little high for the "chill, laid back corner place" but about right for any other LES spot.
Here's why I've giving Spitzer's Corner 3 stars.
1. Great set up and location in the LES. The owners did it right by creating communal tables and offering over 40 beers on tap, plus a great selection of bottled beer/wine. The vibe is very LES: large groups of diverse people sitting together and having a great time and yes, there are a ton of beautiful babies dispersed throughout the darkly lit cavernous "lodge." The staff has also been very friendly, even providing Team Billyons free pickles after we had cancelled our pickle order due to the wait.
2. I would suggest the food is way above average for a neighborhood brew pub if you know how to order and pair your food with the immense selection of beer. By pairing food, I do not just mean "I'll have a burger and a Heineken," I mean carefully taking the time to select one beer and then correctly pairing it with a specific appetizer or entree. Plus, I've met one of the chefs who had a hand in creating the most recent menu and has worked at some of the premiere restaurants in the city, including March and Varietal. Although both of those restaurants closed due to the skyrocketing rent New Yorkers face, his cuisine has always been upscale yet affordable and it's no different here. I've tried Spitzer's sliders, mussels, and the aforementioned dates filled with foie gras, and although I do agree the dates/foie gras combo was not that appealing, I was very pleased with the sliders and mussels as they pair with beer better anyway. The pickles are from Gus' and are an LES staple: you can't go wrong with them unless you pair them with a Guiness or another stout.
3. Summertime. New York City. LES. If you're not a drinker and need a place to go, the food and environment are more than enough to make you feel at home, though the tremendous beer selection will either make you hate your life for awhile or make you realize people are WAAAAAY too into beer these days.
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A friend brought me here while I was in town since she knew I really like beer, and this was definitely the right place. There's a great selection of both bottles and drafts (having beers on draft is a huge plus), and it seemed like a decent selection of food and wine, although I didn't have any of those. Beer selection is one of the things I definitely look for in a bar and they had plenty of it.
I also liked the atmosphere of the place. The trendy picnic table look was unique and cool, music was good, and it wasn't excessively loud or filled with obnoxious people. All in all a great place.
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Walked by this place a million times and a half, and every single time, my boyfriend (Simona will probably be shocked to find that I do things with my boyfriend) would comment on how much he wanted to try it. I agreed, that I was curious, and since we like trying new places, we decided to take the walk over especially for Spitzers.
We eyed the menu, prices are in the medium range, and it seems like a cool atmosphere of just a bunch of people hanging out. The seating is bench style, which is cool, but don't expect too much privacy. Really cool scene, and the bar was packed, I made a mental note. But we were here for food, and food we'll eat.
I got the sliders, and the other got the BLT & E. They took forever to come out, and every time we questioned the waitress on the whereabouts of our food, she just smiled and walked away. What? She also did this when we asked her for the bill later. Maybe she doesn't speak English, but I was not pleased that I had to turn a quick lunch into a nearly 2 hour affair.
And then the food was sighted, and I literally had to squint to see these sliders. There were 3 of them, and while they were kind of thick, were probably the size of silver half dollars. No joke. I was nervous as my stomach grumbled on, but to my surprise, they were extremely filling. About three bites each. So... 3 x 3 = 9. Nine whole, filling bites. And the sliders were about $9, so 9 / 9 = 1 ... so it was a buck for a bite. MATH GENIUS IN THE HOUSEEEE WHAT!!! WHOMP WHOMP!!!
Not sure how I feel about this, but I'll take it. It was a good slider, and it is NYC. The boyf was only content about the BLT & E. Not enough B, he complained, but the E was a great touch.
So overall, it was a good little lunch. I wouldn't come back for the food again, but maybe for some draaanks. People looked like they were having mad fun. And being a math wizard, who doesn't want to hang out with me?
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Simply put: I love this place. I'm there a lot.
As a lot of other people have mentioned, it's a little easier to go during the week. However, I will say that I spent just about all of last Sunday there, and it was wonderful.
A few things (both positive and negative, annotated as such [yup: I'm a dork]):
- I always use the entrance on the side and take a seat in the back room. It's just easier. (+)
- Great music. Just great. Like, Tony-the-tiger-style Grrrrrreat. (+)
- The sliders are just wonderful. (+)
- No frat guys (+)
- A little sparing on the chorizo in the 'mussels and chorizo' (-)
- Wonderful beer selection (including Duvel, Dead Guy and Old Speckled Hen (+)
- Walls that open up so it's like drinking outside (huge +)
- The wait staff's service can, honestly, be downright awful (honestly, I'd just recommend walking up to either of the bars and getting whatever you need from there) (-)
All in all, a great spot. You should go. And if you see me there, say hi.
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meh. Ok it's really nice to have open seating and it's always crowded (not a fan) and there are like 2934082309 beers on tap, but seriously?? The food could definitely stand to be better, and as a veggiehead there was like only one option?? ew.
I dig this spot. If it weren't so crowded on weekends, it'd probably be a place I frequent quite a bit. Situated on an ideal corner of LES, it's one of those spots you'd be easily tempted to check out as you stroll by... esp with the wide open windows and the happy people inside drinking all sorts of beer and snacking on little plates. With the communal tables, it almost seems like everybody inside is part of one big happy family. Or is that my semi-drunken state imagining the camaraderie? Maybe...
Anyways, the first time I was here was with a group of friends after dinner and a quick party in the 'hood. We, esp the guys in our group, were quite impressed and pleased with the beer selection. I went with a Hitachino white ale while our crew got various beers on tap. Most of us enjoyed the casual vibe of the place and quickly ordered a few more rounds of beer.
My next visit was on a late Saturday afternoon after a trip to the Brooklyn Museum w/ B. Perfect spot to people watch, enjoy some beverages, and a snack... which is exactly what we proceeded to do. This time I had a Leffe Blonde, while B had some obscure Belgian beer with an amusing label (can't remember the name). Good stuff. For food, we tried the French Kisses... prunes filled with foie gras mousse... very good. Really liked the combo of prunes w/ foie gras. Also had the Deviled Ham, which was very good ham w/ onion, parsley and peppercorns. Another strong bar snack. Based on those two dishes, I'm definitely going back to try more of their food. Oh, and try some of those funky international beers as well.
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In my opinion, this is a great new after work hangout. So much so, I'm willing to write a forgiving review and overlook the fact they forgot my grilled cheese sandwich at brunch a couple of weeks ago. The apologetic waitress eventually brought it out and it was excluded from the bill. The brunch menu is very "egg-y", so if that's not your thing, you might want to consider another option. Dinner fare is a little more extensive, but I can't really comment on it because I've only had the grilled cheese w/ tomato chutney at brunch...and it was decent. The bar is the real reason to go. At the main bar, there is a vast selection of beers on tap, over 40 on my last count. There's a back room with a smaller bar that opens up a little later, with plenty of taps to choose from.
They haven't been open that long and it looks as if they're still having some growing pains when it comes to food service, but they're trying hard to improve and hopefully in time they'll iron out the kinks.
I live literally right next door to the place, and I would NEVER go there for food. Why? Because it sucks. Really, bad, bad, wannabe gastro pub food. The menu has changed a handful of times, and after eating there about 3 times, I declare the food to be bad three times over.
However, this place does get 3 stars for its cool, laid back, fun atmosphere. Lots of beers and good times to be had there.
The first thing you'll notice are the banquet/picnic/cafeteria style tables that run lengthwise in the center of the bar. It's a unique set-up but traversing the narrow aisles is akin to walking across a family room floor on Christmas midday in Anytown, USA. i
I am by no means a beer enthusiast, nor do I claim to have even the slightest idea of international beer but this place offers a great selection. The bartenders, however, seem disinterested or maybe they are simply exhausted from having to decode mispronunciations of Chimay Red all night, only to have the guy ordering say, "fuck it Sam Adams!" (I'm copyrighting this slogan by the way)
To that point the crowd here were just occupants in a room nothing more. In fact it was devoid of any distinguishing scene or feel in particular.
3 stars, because of the relative quiet and reprise that can be found in the back area.
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This place is just OK. Lots of beer options if you're into that sorta thing but NO HARD LIQUOR. I am a vodka man. I tried a number of the food items. They're expensive and greasy and not delicious, but they sounded lovely reading them on the menu. I did like the service even though it was a busy Friday night.
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I rolled up to Spitzer's bar yesterday around 6:30 on a Thursday night. It was beautiful outside at the time albeit slightly chilly. They had the windows up and the door open so you felt as if you were sitting outside.
The bar is spacious and you would have no idea that there is a back part until you go to the bathroom which is located down a flight of stairs. The bathrooms are one room each with five rooms. When I was there people go in/out - so no long bathroom wait. Men/Women use the same rest room.
I loved the wood all over and the lighting made the place feel very mellow. I preferred it earlier on in the night before the place filled in. The menu was interesting with a large variety of choices. Everything sounded incredible. I decided on the Mac 'n Cheese. Sounds fairly simple but...
the description read something like "local artisinal cheese, macaroni, lardo, duck cracklings." now...we all know anything with extra fat always taste better. how could i resist? and i was not disappointed. the portion was smaller than i had expected but since it was so good and rich i thought it was acceptable for $9. my friend got the mussels and chorizo which was also done exquisitely. she paid $11.
the beer list was extensive and the wine list also offered some good choices for reasonable prices. i liked how the beer list gave alcohol content and descriptions of the flavors. i tried the gorilla, delirium, and also another one who's name i forgot. i left very happily buzzed.
the wait staff was nice and quick. the music was rock. pretty decent stuff.
i really liked spitzers and am all for recommending it to people who want to go to a cool, chill, bar.
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wow, what gorgeous decor. i love the rustic look inside, with the wooden planks lining the walls, the benches, the floor and the cool exposed bulbs and backlighting that accentuates the material. the blackboard is chock full of yummy food. my friend's peach juice was pretty delectable and with their beer selection, i would have ordered something alcoholic if it wasn't for the night before. i settled for simple eggs and duck fat potato cake since this was an impromptu stop -- more of a chance to give my tired feet a rest after traipsing all over the city with a backpack that got heavier by the minute. well, i really just wanted to try the *duck fat* potato cake. that definitely caught my attention and it was lightly crisped and YUMMY.
The beers are great. The interior design is awesome. The food is good.
Unfortunately, the service I experienced was as BAD as the beers, interior and food is good.
(1) They seated us, then proceeded to move us five minutes later (after taking our drink order) b/c they needed our table for a larger party. But unlike any normal restaurant, who would ask you politely and offer some token of appreciation for failing miserably at their job of holding a reservation properly, they just told us they were moving us and didn't offer anything in return. Strike one.
(2) They managed to bring my food 40 minutes after the rest of my party's. One of our dinner party, who had to leave for a show she was in, was literally fed and gone by the time my food finally arrived at the table. And all the while, there wasn't even that much in the way of apologies....just sort of a "umm, the kitchen screwed up...what did you order again?" and no assurance that I wouldn't have to pay to eat half an hour after everyone I was with (or any offer of snacks or drinks to help make up for the error)
(3) When all was said and done, they comped the food that came 40 minutes late (only after I told them I had no intention of paying to have my group of friends watch me eat alone) and that was it. No "hey, let us buy you a drink", no "hey, sorry your wife ate a cold meal b/c she waited for your plate to arrive".
If you don't mind shitty, amateurish service that doesn't have the first clue how to remedy the kind of inevitable mistakes that happen at restaurants, roll the dice and give Spitzer's a try.
(Sad part for them is -- I loved their beers, and thought the food was good for the price, as did the rest of my party. But b/c of how horribly this was all handled, none of our group (or the party of 10 next to us who witnessed the amateur hour) will ever return. In other words, they managed to turn a potentially vocal advocate, who spends a lot of money on corporate dinners, into a pissed-off dude who will make sure to tell everyone he knows to stay the hell away. Well played Spitzers)
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I've never eaten at Spitzer's, but it's a great spot. I prefer it during the week, when it's a bit less crowded. The selection of beer is impressive, obviously, but it's the casual atmosphere that makes it so great. I even came here for my office holiday party after-party ... it's a lot of fun!
Spitzers is a solid bar top to bottom. Unrivaled in terms of beer selection (besides maybe the whole foods beer store, which doesn't count), location is amazing, and atmosphere is outstanding, especially in the summer when all the windows are open. If there are two knocks on it - the only thing keeping it from a 5 - is that it only has wine and beers, so no cocktails if you're in the mood, and it can get obscenely packed on weekends (not their fault its popular). But, overall, its one of the best "normal" bars in the LES where hipsters and plainfolk are accepted alike, as "enjoying good beer" is the only prerequisite for entry.
30 beers on tap. Reasonable prices. nuff said.
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Incredible selection of beers on tap
There are a lot of mixed reviews on this joint but it seems like the negatives are from picky/prissy people not expecting a slightly polished dive bar.
You'll love Spitzer's if you:
1) Love beer
2) Are down with communal Hofbrau Haus style tables
3) Love beer
4) Enjoy fancy bar food (aka aren't expecting a meal equivalent to Per Se)
5) Love beer
6) Realize that if you go around & behind the bar, there is tons more seating
7) Love beer
8) Aren't completely anti social
The crowd is a good mix, with no subset predominating. Reading a few reviews of hipsters complaining about frat boys and vice versa, but really neither side has much of a representation here. I've been here for the past few weekends and have always had a great time, easy to talk to random people and haven't run into any jerks. Other than Essex Ale House, the LES really doesn't have ANY beer bars with an extensive selection; in my opinion Spitzer's is the LES's answer to Williamsburg's Spuyten Duyvil.
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A nice cozy, place tucked away in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Spitzer's bar is great for social gatherings like After work happy hours and catching up with old friends. great place. good food
This is an easy review to do...they have tons of beers, a great set up, and the food is amazing. I personally am an IPA and Lager guy and their list is great. The burger was a perfect compliment and I could eat it over and over again till there was no room left in my body. Coincidentally "No Room Left In My Body," is going to be the name of my tribute band to Meatloaf (both the singer and the loaf) as well as my self published book about my desire to move back to NYC.
Oh, and just to comment on Nick P.'s review:
Sliders (meatballs) at $14 + 2 Stellas + tip = $45 would mean that the Stellas cost about $12 each...which is BS. So either he left something out, or he was so upset about the portions of his sliders that he tipped 40%. You should leave a bad review when you are not happy with something, but a 1 star review amidst a sea of positive reviews where you lie is just being a douche.
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No Joke. I love this place.
Was hanging out in the LES with friends in the sweltering heat and Spit's was the only place with a/c. So we decided to give it a shot.
The place has a gastropub/biergarten kinda feel to it, which I like. It was pretty empty at the time (4pm) and we had great service from an attractive, leggy, frizzy haired girl.
40 beers on tap and I had a Magic Hat (I know, I know, don't stone me for that, I was bordering on delusional because the 95 degree weather). We also ordered the burgers and fries and anyone who has come in contact with me knows I live for burgers! The short rib burgers were perfectly cooked and the fries hot and crisp. One of the best burgers I've ever had in NYC.
Obviously, you'll see positive and negative reviews. With any place it's sometimes a hit or miss depending on what time of week/day. If you're a "veggiehead", have an order of pickles for God's sake.
Give this place a try, you'll never know until you do. Two burgers up for me!
Kick ass burger. I try to come here on the less busier days - cool crowd and great beer selection. And one of the best burgers in town.
Stupid name (apparently there is some historical connotation, I don't know) but great bar. It's annoyingly crowded on weekends but the communal tables, good layout, and badass beer selection make up for it.
Think Zum Schneider, but not german, and bigger.
Only thing keeping this from 5 stars is that the bartender was completely miserable and unhelpful to my friend who was having beer decision paralysis.
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It's actually officially Debbie's Corner, but I'll allow Spitzer (not Eliot, disappointingly) to have his moment. Despite its proximity to my pad, I hadn't actually hit it up until recently. It's frighteningly packed on weekends but a piece of bar heaven on quieter weekdays.
I found the front tables to be too noisy on busy nights but the back booths were fantastic for catching up and seeing the action. I like the vibe of this place quite a bit... it's cozy and well-lit and has friendly, if not always available, waitstaff. There is quite a selection of beers on tap to try out - maybe my goal should be to get to them all before I move. Ambitious, yes, but noble.
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I went there this pat Saturday and I have to say the place is pretty chill. Yes, there are some annoying people but after a few beers and french fries who cares. The beer list is amazing and the food is good and you can make friends sitting at your communal tables!
Not sure why, but I really like this place. Shocking, as I don't drink beer and have ordered wine everytime I've been here. Maybe I like that it's so laid back and therefore perfect for catching up with friends. Or maybe it's those huge windows that I like. Perfect for people watching, and absolutely delightful when they're open on a warm spring/summer evening.
The place is huge and the vibe is friendly. Not a pickup joint, but definitely a nice respit from LES spots like Pianos.
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Nice place to grab a drink with some friends. Cool atmosphere but gets packed easily despite its size. Huge selection of beer and wines. Not much else to say but, this is a great bar and a nice addition to the L.E.S.
Ugh. Went there and ordered the sliders, thinking I'd get something similar to what you'd get at Pop Burger - two tiny burgers. Described as with cheddar, bacon lettuce and tomato. Sounded good, $14, I was down.
Out came 3 MEATBALLS. I am not being emphatic when I say that I actually balked at what was brought out. Each had a piece of bacon about 1" by 1" and a matching square of cheddar cheese. A cherry tomato was sliced into three and a HUGE piece of lettuce accompanied them. A RITZ CRACKER WOULD HAVE BEEN LARGER THAN THE MEATBALL ITSELF.
Add in two Stella beers to numb the insult and realized I only added to it. Total bill was $45.
Again:
3 meatballs.
2 beers.
$45.
Not coming back. Fine overpaying as it's kinda accepted in Manhattan, but for the love of god, I might as well be in the West Village at that price, and have some actual dinner while I'm at it.
Horrified.
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This place was so cool. I felt like I was in a sauna because the walls were made of rustic wood and there were only really long tables that you share with other parties. The beer selection was awesome. I was with about 12 people and we all ordered two beers and tried to get different things so we could try out some new stuff. The beer menu was complete. Each beer was described by it's flavor and alcohol content. I suggest you go here to try something new and it is great for a big crowd. The fries are also to die for.
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I love you Unibroue Ephemere, and anywhere that sells you gets at least 3 stars in my book.
Pros:
- Cool long wooden benches/tables
- Chalkboard menu (idk why, I just like them)
Cons:
- My friend said her chocolate stout tasted stale (?)
- $20 min for cards
- Kitchen closed before I got there, and I really wanted to try their chocolate chip cookie :(
I usually like bars where you can just chill,
especially when it has a various beer selection
but for some reason I thought it was too dull.
The music wasn't loud enough to hear over the people
talking which made it hard to even hear the people I was with.
I still like the idea of this place as a meet up spot before the start of the night.
I discovered Spitzer's on Tuesday, and went back the following night -- THAT'S how enchanted I was. Here's why:
1) Guinness. On tap. Delicious.
2) Amazing bar food! It's not really bar food. Over the course of two evenings, my companions and I had the fries (fabu), the mussels w. chorizo and piquillo peppers (also fabu, but the bread is too toasted, to the point where it hurt my mouth), beet salad ( WEAK -- greens w. 4 lil' baby beet pieces...needs some crumbled pungent blue, diced red onion, maybe some tomato), the BLT+E (another winner, but shares the same bread problem as the mussels), and the burger (WONDEROUS, according to my boyfriend, who loves burgers, and who let me try a wee bit that was insanely delicious).
3) atmosphere is lovely -- on night 1, i had no idea that there is TONS more seating behind the bar. night 2 was spent there, at the baby bar in the back...awesome, intimate, a little more mellow than the front.
Things to consider:
1) Our bartender the first night (a dude, dark hair, energetic) seemed nice and attentive when things were dead, but as soon as the scene picked up, he totally lost it. My friend and I were on our 3rd round of drinks and we ordered dinner -- that merits a little TLC. But we were ignored, repeatedly, when trying to get our check (which he screwed up by putting the food and bev on separate checks).
2) There are virtually no vegetarian options here. My friend on night 1 was pretty limited in her ordering choices. There's a grilled cheese sandwich she could have had, but other than a salad, that's about it. IMHO, don't bring vegetarian friends. Cuz the carnivore-friendly food is pretty damn good. Except for the toast, which really did hurt...
This is a fun place. A great selection of beer and pretty standard menu of sandwiches. The staff is nice and the food comes out quick. One caveat: Do not come here during the day if you don't want to be around hung over people. The place is crawling with people looking to feed their hang overs with some hair of the dog.
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