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Brooklyn Social
- Nearest Transit:
-
Carroll St (F, G)
Bergen St (F, G)
Smith - 9 Sts (F, G)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 2 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 4 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Tue, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
127 reviews for Brooklyn Social
Review Highlights
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"Good atmosphere, lighting, pool table, perfect little place." In 20 reviews -
"Great vibe, wonderful bartenders, awesome music." In 41 reviews -
"and yummy cocktails on the menu (I recommend a ginger." In 27 reviews
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127 reviews in English
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Review from Logan M.
Brooklyn, NY
5/23/2012
"NON-MEMBERS WELCOME" reads the sign on the door and Brooklyn Social's website. More than an actual policy, BS's slogan pays homage to the Italian men's social club the space housed for thirty years, from 1973 to 2003. Owner Matt Dawson did well when he acquired this bar space from Societa Riposto. Rather than gutting the place, he left much of the charming interior intact, including the awesome red tin ceiling and the vintage cash register. He even went as far as to frame pictures of the elderly gentlemen who preceded him, which are displayed proudly behind the bar. The history is there, but it's not in your face-it has managed, however, to somehow imbue this neighborhood bar with an incredibly nostalgic feeling, and the concise, focused cocktail menu and solid sandwiches solidify Brooklyn Social as a gem of a neighborhood bar. In a city where bars close like it's going out of style, there's a reason Brooklyn Social has been around for nearly ten years.
The drinks were awesome, and at ten dollars (cash only), each of BS's ten cocktails represent a nice little value. Matt's Ginger Old Fashioned (bourbon, ginger, cherries, orange bitters) was simple and refreshing, surprisingly served tall on crushed ice. The Brooklyn was even simpler (rye, orange brandy, bitters), but it was nicely balanced and potent-everything a "classic" style cocktail should be. The Rosa Cooler (gin, muddled grapes, Sicilian rosato, prosecco, rosewater) was the most inventive of the bunch, but it was also sufficiently endowed, balanced and tasty-probably the best rosewater cocktail we've tasted, and a definite date drink. Guys, listen up: bring a girl here, order this drink, and if you don't get laid, well... we can do no more for you.
Fittingly, three types of panini are served at eight bucks a piece, and the goat cheese and marinated artichoke panini we tried was perfectly toasted and awesome. Next time I'll work up a heartier appetite and try the Esposito's homemade soppressata, Fontini cheese and pesto panini. With ten drinks and three food offerings, all listed concisely on the front and back of a tiny laminated menu, BS's bar/food program and menu itself is one of the cleanest, most well-presented we've seen anywhere. I'm a big fan of razor-sharp focus, if what's there is well-executed. Doug? He's simply obsessed.
Brooklyn Social rounds out the package with a jukebox, a billiards table in the back room and a cozy back patio down a short flight of stairs. Our quiet, humble bartender worked efficiently with no flourish, but he delivered a great experience, and he looked sharp in a checked shirt into which he tucked his skinny tie. On the night we visited the bar was all but empty, although we hear the place can get overrun by South BK hipsters on peak nights. Go on an off-night, sit at the bar, and ask the bartender for a recommendation-you won't be disappointed. There's no BS at BS.
One Drink Ahead -
Review from Douglas P.
Manhattan, NY
5/23/2012
Though BK Social's barroom is small, it has almost everything you could ask for in a bar--a jukebox, a pool table and even a sweet little patio out in the back. It's a shame that this place doesn't offer a more original food menu, because if it did, it would be a perfect bar.
One Drink Ahead -
Review from Ryan W.
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place puts the "easy" in speakeasy.
Why? Well, first, it's pretty easy to find. It's right off the Carroll Street stop, sandwiched between Carroll and President on Smith. The entrance is nondescript (you can just barely make out the words "Brooklyn Social" on the door), but the noise of the happy crowd and bumpin' soul music gives it away.
And inside, it's packed but not uncomfortably so; on a Saturday night, we were able to grab a few seats at the bar without much trouble, the better to watch the bartenders pour cocktails and beers with the speed and accuracy of machines in starched shirts. Hooks keep your stuff from grazing the floor, and a juke keeps your head from hitting the bar. There's a few pool tables in the back and a juke for the buzzed and the restless. And a vintage cash register with a personality all its own keeps watch over the crowd behind the bar. (Note: they didn't have plastic money in the Prohibition days, so don't be surprised that this place is cash-only.)
These places are almost cliché in Brooklyn now, but it's that cliché that keeps the crowds down, I think, so that's nice. Thus, I'd back it as a solid choice for a low-key Saturday night in the 'hood. -
Review from Chris B.
Happened to be in the area, it was raining, really needed to find a bathroom, and after checking out their menu--became instantly thirsty for cocktails.
We tried the Fellini, Sicilian Fizz, and Palermo Fix (all pictured above).
Dimly lit and we found a cozy corner to chill.
Very tasty and a nice surprise treat for a bathroom break.Listed in: What? You've never had a…
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Review from Roberto A.
Brooklyn, NY
2/6/2012
We almost walked right by... maybe I'm just blind, but it seems like a lot of places are forgoing prominent signs.
Once inside, there were a good number of people but not enough for it to be difficult to navigate. This place is cash only; I was glad I asked. We did not have much cash on hand so we rationed our money carefully. They have a list of specialty cocktails that run $10 each, but beers are around $6. The old school cash register is pretty cool too.
Be careful if you are in the back area with the pool table: the room is not large enough to accommodate the table and the players, so every now and then people hit the walls or other patrons. If only they had watched the Maestro Seinfeld episode before putting the pool table there.
Also in the back in a tiny 2 person alcove with a few black and white photographs showing dinners and balls for some social organization. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Jersey City, NJ
12/29/2011
Brooklyn Social is an excellent option, if of course, it's what you're looking for. Looking for a private-club-turned-public type of place where bartenders spend time and effort on carefully crafted drinks in a small, dimly lit atmosphere? Then this is for you. If you're looking to have a few beers and aren't interested in paying $10 for a cocktail, then it isn't.
BS (giggle giggle) was extremely crowded last night and it was a Wednesday evening. Seating is very limited and the space is very small. With how crowded it was, I was surprised we found a table for 6, but we honestly just got lucky. The bartenders were on top of their game, and while it did take a while to get your drink order in, they were very good at making eye contact with you and even telling you they'd be right over.
The bar is Italian influenced, but doesn't go overboard. Drinks are strong and while there are a few unique flavors or combinations, it stays pretty safe. Order the Brooklyn if you like seeing drinks set on fire. Served in a martini glass with Rye Whiskey and bitters, the garnish is an orange peel that gets set ablaze. The Neapolitan is a take on a Cosmopolitan but more citrus influenced, and slightly sweeter with Pomegranate juice. The Reposto may be the most unique combination due to the fresh Rosemary, and is still surprisingly refreshing.
Beer options are limited and taps include Stella, Six Point or Brooklyn. They have a small menu of about 3 paninis, none of which we tried. I would definitely return, as the atmosphere and drinks remind me very much of a private social Milk and Honey type craft cocktail establishment, but much easier to
get into. -
Review from Reana K.
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Brooklyn Social is cut from the small, intimate, mixology cloth that is slowly draping itself across cities everywhere. The space is small, on busier evenings the Ladies' Lounge (i.e. powder area, which is located outside the rest room) is taken over by larger groups as a private party corner and/or is turned in to an impromptu coat check by bundled merry makers. The drinks are lovely and carefully mixed, you could do worse for $10 that's for sure.
The vibe is dark, cozy, speakeasy style even. Outside there is hardly a sign to speak of, the bar hides in the shadows of the neighboring businesses, waiting for those in the know to sneak on in. When I was there it was soul music and 50s/60s pop classics on the stereo, which made me oh so pleased. Minus one star because the bartender was so enthralled with his friends at the end of the rail that he seemed to ignore the customers as they piled up and took a rather long time to get each drink out, "expertly mixed aperitif" not withstanding. I know its all about aloof with mixology bars these days, but I prefer my drinks to be the schmancy ones, my bartenders more down to earth. -
Review from Kenneth A.
Brooklyn, NY
2/1/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Classy joint. Fine drinks. Talented bartenders. I dont think even the boldest Brooklynites would wheel a stroller in here. It is a well themed place but not tacky obnoxious. I dont go on the weekends because it gets too crowded, but that is only to their credit for doing what they do quite well. Cheers.
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Review from d'N'L m.
Brooklyn, NY
10/10/2011
Me and the lady hit the town and made this one of our third or 4th stops.. The drinks were great, the bartender was great, bought us a couple of rounds even.. My one complaint is that the ice cubes at this place suck.. They have gone through all the trouble with the decor, with highering awesome bartenders, making a drink program, the whole thing.. Except for these dinky little ice cubs..
When you are creating a cocktail, there are very few elements which make up your drink.. One being the ice cubes.. If there is too much ice, or the cubes are so small they melt quickly, all of this water throws off the balance of the cocktail.. Not to mention, you get a mouth of ice, or end up having to use your teeth as some sort of blue whale krill filtration system...
That aside, good stuff, awesome bartender fun crowd. -
Review from Jonathan E.
Brooklyn, NY
10/18/2011
This is the type of place, back in the day, where little Tommy shined shoes and Henry got to park Cadillacs out front while 12 guys named Pauly hung out, discussing the best veal in the city.
It's authentically aged (unlike Joan Rivers) and full of character (unlike Lindsay Lohan), but like a Lohan, is chock full of fancy cocktails. It's not really a food destination and can get pretty packed, but it's definitely a good stop for drinks with friends or a crawl down Smith. In warmer months, there's a small backyard space, which if I lived above, I'd invest in a rope ladder to descend here and wet my whistle. -
Review from Sebastian L.
Beverly Hills, CA
10/20/2011
Apparently this place actually used to be a private club, which I find kind of hard to believe, given how small it is. Basically a long rectangular interior bar space with a back porch and garden to sit and smoke in. Throw in a couple of restrooms and...voila! that's Brooklyn Social.
Drinks were fine. Crowd was young and tragically hip. Had a good time with the group I was with on Saturday night. But ultimately, Brooklyn Social seems like the kind of place that's one of many stops to experience on a given evening; it's not the final destination.
And I do wish they would give people who are hanging out on the back patio a bit of notice before summarily closing the lights and ordering everyone back inside. -
Review from Morgan C.
9/16/2011
Meh... I've definitely had better.
Pros:
-Well executed interior which has a welcoming vibe with the white walls and dark stained wood trim & and old group photos of past social clubs
-Intriguing specialty drinks & generous mixed drinks
Cons:
-Rude staff, who would rather talk to each other while making you wait to get a drink... last time I checked, bigger tips = bigger paycheck
-Ordered the same drink 3 times and was charged different prices
-Inconsiderate & annoying patrons who were moaning about hipsters -
Review from Gina M.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2012
Love this place. Went here for the first time on a Saturday night. A bit crowded, but not too bad. We got a table in the front and it was nice and cozy. Fantastic drinks. They make a killer Perfect Manhattan. Bartenders were very nice. No snottiness at all which you can sometimes get a places like this. Reasonably priced drinks. Love the ambience. You definitely feel like you're in an old Italian social club. Old school vibe without trying too hard. Will definitely go back.
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Review from Jax W.
Brooklyn, NY
11/28/2010
Want a place where the bartenders are not called bartenders but 'mixologist'? where seating is limited? Where drinks are set on fire? Well, then friend, this is the place for you.
It's a cute, dimly lit spot with not too many barstools, only 3 areas for table seating (get there early to grab one) and jazzy/loungy music. My issue was how damn long it took me to get the stinking drink, maybe I was just really, unbelievably thirsty but 10 minutes to make a 'Felini'? I understand if he had to lit the drink on fire like the cocktail called, 'Brooklyn' but not the case it was simple. I hate slow bartenders, oh sorry I mean mixologist.
My favorite part was when someone ordered a drink that required a egg white from an organic egg... to which my friend leaned in and dubbed the drink 'the pretentious asshole.'
The crowd is mixed, it kept changing but for the most part seemed to be locals, you know the cool locals that pay way too much in rent. Bathroom was cramped and was lacking a mirror, I hate that.
I'd probably come here again if I was in the area but wouldn't go out of my way. -
Review from Marcy C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/13/2012
awesome, awesome ,awesome bartenders !!
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Review from Claire F.
11/27/2010 16 Check-ins Here
They have a drink named after me, so maybe I'm biased...
well not ME, but it's my name, so I'll take it.
Enjoyed some decently crafted cocktails here in a very pleasant, cozy atmosphere with a gentleman caller. We weren't rushed, they let us enjoy our drinks before even asking about a tab or the bill, which was very nice.
And the bartenders wear old timey vests. What's not to like?
I'm looking forward to checking out the back patio when it's warmer.Listed in: F-love, G-funk, Ménage à trois (ou plus), Make Out City, Come, drink with Claire F…
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Review from Becca C.
Brooklyn, NY
6/18/2011
This is a bar that I make my way back to again and again! I personally love their fellini's! In the warmer months they have an awesome patio and when it's not so warm it's pretty cozy inside and if you are lucky you may be able to play pool.
I also love that they kept the photos on the wall from when this place was a local Italian social club! -
Review from Toby S.
5/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
A local hang out. Usually crowded and tough to get seats unless you go on the early side (5:30-6). Cute backyard but again, you have to get there early to get a seat. Bartenders are passable. Mostly quiet unless there is another regular in there. I usually get the beer only because it's quick but their drinks are very tasty and there is a lot that goes into making them. Good atmosphere. Charming photos. Pool table. Gets a little loud in the evenings but it's a bar, so... to be expected.
Good place for a starter cocktail, a late night cap, or a lonely rainy weekend day. -
Review from S N.
Brooklyn, NY
I was skeptical of Brooklyn Social. Oh another craft cocktail nice dim light backyard place in Brooklyn yawwwnnnn.
Until the bartender busted out an AMAZING remix of the Rosa Cooler. I requested a virgin version of this. And it was DELICIOUS. It tasted like roses. The muddled grapes provided excellent flavor and texture. And the man is clearly a genius because he made it with seltzer instead of sprite or ginger beer or anything particularly sugary, so it was light and refreshing. My friend had the regular, booze-ful Rosa Cooler and we both agreed mine was clearly superior. And was only $3!
I think this is probably my favorite drink I've had all summer. And it tastes like roses. So thanks, bartender, for that fantabulous interpretation. I like you. -
Review from Jade M.
New York, NY
8/9/2010
Here is why I give Brooklyn Social 5 stars:
* Delicious drinks
* Emergency paninis
* Intimate atmosphere, yet somehow not overly crowded
* Not filled with B&T or frat house douches
* Effortlessly cool.......
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What someone who wouldn't like Brooklyn Social might say:
- there are better similar bars in Manhattan (well duh)
- the crowd is too young
- the crowd is too old
- the drinks are too expensive
- the drinks aren't made as well as that-other-famous-bar
- too many hipsters
- too many ______ -
Review from Kelly S.
8/2/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Fairly decent drinks (I'll drink anything with lemon, ginger and gin) but not terribly well-executed.
The crowd is a bit dbaggy and YOUNG.
Or I'm just getting OLD.Listed in: Vino Sweet Vino
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Review from Ben L.
10/9/2010
A group of us came here while waiting for our table at Lucali's. Unexpectedly, Brooklyn Social almost became the highlight of the evening.
First of all, the service was superb. Friendly, attentive bartenders with impressive short term memories. I ordered drinks for all seven of us, each drink with unique directives, and the presentation was flawless.
The atmosphere was inviting, warm and old fashioned. Antique chairs and bar, and a jazzy sound. Don't forget about the pool table in the back room.
My last criterion for a bar is their preparation of the gin martini. I ordered it up, bone-dry, olives. They delivered. It was a whopper too, and they even gave me a small side of extra olives as well.
I have to admit something. The only reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I don't want it to get too crowded. -
Review from Peter D.
9/1/2009
I walked into Brooklyn Social looking for an after-dinner drink. Dimly lit, simply decorated, largely empty...it seemed ideal for my purposes.
We sat at the bar and ordered a couple of martinis. The bartender did a very decent job, and they were cold and refreshing. If they weren't the worst olives I've ever had, I would be completely pleased. As I sipped mine, I glanced around and saw a pool table peeking out of the back room, and my pants suddenly felt tight.
I quickly ascertained that a game cost a dollar in quarters, and downed half my martini so that I could walk to the back without spilling any precious liquid happiness.** I gleefully inserted quarters and racked the balls. I readied myself to break, and *THUNK*.
That was the sound of my cue striking the wall. They need about two more feet in the back room, and then I would never leave. (Perhaps that's why they built it that size.)
They do have a nifty sign forbidding disrespectful language though. However, no one enforces this rule: when I asked the bartender to throw my girlfriend out for calling me a worthless slob, he ignored me.
______
**Why are martini glasses so stupid? They are impossible to drink out of, difficult to carry without spilling, and if you've ever been a waiter, carrying them precariously across a room is often the bane of your existence. Especially considering how easily breakable they are. I hate martini glasses. But I love martinis. Sigh. Isn't life hard? -
Review from Jeff O.
12/24/2007
I really like the Brooklyn Social. Maybe it's the lack of hipness and the infusion of affluence that makes it appeal to my 26-year old self.
I liked hanging out with my friends here. The space is great, not too small, not so big either. There are about 6 nooks where you can sit comfortably undisturbed, but you can take the front of the bar area where you're more likely to be cramped and bump into people(if that's your thing).
The guys that frequent are generally tall and not affronting. The women are pleasing to the eyes. Personalities I cannot attest to, as barriers aren't as easily broken with straight girls. Not their fault. I dont think people come here to meet people so much as to have a good time with great drinks and their friends.
The music is generally unidentifiable but sits comfortably in the background. I like that a lot. (UPDATE: the music is really good if you listen)
I saw the mint leaves on the bar, so of course I ordered a mint julep. I never pass up the opportunity. You can't have a bad time with a mint julep in your hand. It's tested and true. I was impressed by the drinks and the acumen of the bartenders. After reading the other reviews, I see my observations legitimized.
I am usually a beer person. 95 percent of the time. For some reason, the mixeds flow easily here. It's good to see people who know what they are doing creating the drinks. Why get the standard Guinness? Those ties look like they can fix me something good.Listed in: I Drink and I Smile
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Review from Adam D.
Brooklyn, NY
12/8/2008
When I first discovered Brooklyn Social I thought I had found my perfect watering hole--roots blues on the stereo, seemingly-seasonally concocted cocktails, traditional bartender garb behind the stick. Really, what more do I need?
I inquired to the owner about working part-time. I fell in lust immediately.
Well, as with so many of my pecker-driven fantasies the patina of this paradise soon wore off. A few visits later and I easily made some stark realizations.
1. The drinks are not made well.
Not even their own drinks, for Christ's sake. Inconsistent, undependable, and imbalanced. The worst of it was when I ordered one of their drinks--rosemary, lemon, gin I think, muddled--and it came with an orange in it. I inquired--donde esta la lemon, senior? "Oh, well, we're out of lemons so I made it with an orange."
WHAT?! Say it ain't so! The lemons ran out?!
No, seriously folks, who gives a shit if lemons run out. (Though, it was like 10 PM.) But, if you are a real bartender hawking traditional cocktails behind the stick at an establishment with a persona like Brooklyn Social--you are, right? Ok.--than how hard is it to come up with a new drink, using oranges? You don't replace limes with lemons in a mojito.
2. The crowd sucks.
Late at night this place has a serious dbag-saturation problem. Stay clear.
3. It's all for show.
They don't revel in the art of making cocktails, calling to the muses of the past post-prohibition revivals. They make drinks, and found out that being a schticky old-style bar worked.
On the up side, the decor isn't offensive. The pool table sucks, and the crowd, well...see point numero dos above.
The music, when they play pre-60's era blues and jazz, is the best thing this place has going for it. -
Review from Abigail S.
Miami, FL
8/12/2007
Cool looks, cool location, cool drinks, cool bartenders, cool bar.
Don't let the old crooners on the jukebox and bowties on the bartenders fool you--this place is casual as hell (although glamming it could be fun too). The drinks are expertly mixed and if you're feeling adventurous, have the bartender surprise you. I did last night and he made some awesome orange-flavored champagne cocktail that, now that I've typed it up, sounds really gross but was actually kind of amazing.
There's a pool table in back and supposedly a patio (though I didn't see one). The Deco decor and votives everywhere are perfect. The scene is friendly and relaxed and not hip at all, which can be refreshing sometimes. All told, this is one of my favorite Brooklyn bars and a great place to bring out-of-towners of all ages. -
Review from John B.
6/5/2009
I do not understand the persistent assertion that Brooklyn Social recalls the 1930s. Nor do I understand the impulsive association of swanky glamor with that desperate and miserable decade. The old patrons of the Julius Bar or the Stork Club would likely be confused and enraged by Brooklyn Social between the Peroni, The Cardigans on the jukebox and the slummy yuppies sprawled everywhere. The real people of the 1930s, the Okies and the Bowery five cent haircut bums, would be appalled, too, by the prices and the juice and herb muddles.
In other words, this review of Brooklyn Social serves as a surrogate for my total gathered incomprehension of the new cocktail craze. If, in fact, you like a nice drink, leave it at that. Then, be advised that Brooklyn Social serves small drinks at large prices, and that these drinks are only made to a minimal standard of acceptability. I like a rye Manhattan on the rocks and fail to understand why the gentleman who makes me these drinks must wear a goofy necktie and why his making of the basic cocktail seems to require the exertions and warmups of a decathlete. -
Review from vicki M.
Brooklyn, NY
7/24/2008
It's all about the cocktail and the old school vibe. The all male bar staff is clothed in little vintage numbers with bow ties. When I want a martini, that's exactly whom i want serving me.
Most importantly this place isn't pretentious. The crowd seems fair and you will always find a guy that's been hanging in there for sixty years amongst the obnoxious youngins.
Tis a good first date spot too. It's dimly lit and there's a pool table in the back which is helpful if you are hopelessly bored and don't want to have to talk to the person with you are with and/or are not attracted to them whatsoever and but you are trying to be nice and not blow them off in the first half hour.
As most bars on Smith, I would avoid going here on the weekend when it turns into a small, crowded meat market. -
Review from Jonathan G.
Verona, NJ
2/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have certain requirements to really like a bar and they can never be compromised.*
1. Relatively low volume of accompanying music and patrons. I have to be able to hear myself talk and hate nodding my head like I heard something when I didn't hear anything other than the extra volume from the jukebox or iPod through speakers and the extremely witty banter of the drunk patrons surrounding me.
2. Dim to low lighting. I don't want this because I am hiding something horrific about my appearance, I just don't see the need for excessive light in a drinking and relaxing situation.
3. Low percentage of douchebags. This is a tenuous proposition, but I mean the kind of dbags who act like they own the place because they have been there twice in the last year and because they have four or more dbags with them so they all find themselves and their accompanying drunken behavior, funny.
Brooklyn Social met all of these without question. Requirements 1 and 3 mean I don't go to my favorite places on the weekend. I tried Brooklyn Social for the first time on a Thursday night around 7:30. The interior is welcoming and uncluttered and lit in a bar-friendly type of way. There are two tables in the nooks up front which are great if you can get one, however, don't wait for someone to come to you, just go to the bar and order and retrieve.
The bartenders were both friendly and accessible. Although the bar was full, I stood right behind the first line and while he continued to work on drinks, he acknowledged that I was there and that he would be with me in a second. There was only one bartender so this was appreciated, nothing worse than going ignored at a bar.
I had two of Matt's Old-Fashioned (bourbon, ginger, sugar, cherries, orange, bitters and soda). They were made well and they were real drinks, replete with a heavy alcohol content. The drinks run $9 and they are well worth it.
After spending more than a couple hours here I saw the place grow more crowded with a younger** crowd than expected and the volume of the music went up and down, but it was not bothersome and really fit the place. This is definitely a place I will come back to soon.
_____________________
* except as part of a drunken night where memory is diminished. At these times, the aforementioned list becomes obsolete and any place serving alcohol becomes A-OK.
** all relative depending on how old you are. It looked younger to me, meaning mid 20's.Listed in: Drinking alcoholic beverages, BoCoCaGow
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Review from Becca S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/27/2008
These days Brooklyn seems to be having a veritable speakeasy explosion, but as far as I can tell, Brooklyn Social was the first. It's not nearly as laid back and cozy as its cocktail-centric contemporaries like Little Branch, East Side Co or the newly-opened Wburg den Hotel Delmano, BUT you can get really delicious old-timey drinks for under $10, and you can play pool! If there are two things I love that are not in the same bar enough, it's fancy cocktails and pool tables.
And hmm...I'm re-thinking my cozy comment, remembering now that last Friday, after a couple of ginger thingies and a flamingo whatsit or two, three of us decided that it was possible to all fit on the setee in the little setee nook. SO cozy! -
Review from Jessica R.
Brooklyn, NY
8/14/2008
I just don't get it. Everyone told me to come here instead of Clover Club--better atmosphere, they said; cheap drinks.
Um...neither. I realized when I walked in that I'd been here before, and thought the atmosphere nondescript. Speakeasy? Maybe, but only because its exterior is unmarked gray. Rather, it seems more like a dive bar that's been painted black. There are a few cute touches (icebox, flowers, bartender outfits) but these are overwhelmed by the rather boring nature of the bar. It's also quite small--fewer than six tables. Most of the seats are at the bar.
The drinks are stronger than Clover Club's, yes, I'll give you that. But this isn't always a good thing.
$9 gets you any of their specialty drinks. Yes, there are ingredients like egg whites and muddled grapes. Yes, the bartender knows what he's doing--but he's hardly a mixologist.
But, again, I don't see what all the fuss is about. -
Review from Jackie L.
South Bay, CA
3/25/2009
Yes. The drinks are amazing here.
Yes. The bartenders are dressed to the nines.
Yes. There is something special going on here.
BUT!
The two times I went, it was crowded and hard to have a conversation, which is hard since I feel like it presents itself as the type of bar where your supposed to have quiet, dark little conversations in quiet, dark little corners.
As dapper and charming as the bartenders are, I also find them a little bit intimidating. This is most likely because I'm an awkward person who can't handle all their sexy, but i found it hard to order my drink with a straight face.
Also, I feel yelpers market this bar as a place for the younger crowd. It's filled with incredibly cool 30-somethings (which is SUPER young!), but my baby 23 year old face felt out of place here. Bars like this make me wish I was a grown-up. -
Review from monte b.
New York, NY
2/9/2011
this is a fantastic local bar. I love the music, the drinks are fantastic and not laughably expensive (average $). The negroni here is VERY good. It can get quite crowded, but if you go early, they'll accommodate you with reserving a large party booth.
They're bartenders who aren't trying to be aloof. Super fun spot -
Review from Victor L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/26/2007
I would much rather go here on a weekday night to just chill, it's made for that kind of vibe. It's old fashioned but when it's packed I really didn't care for it that much, just a lot of loud people, one of those rare places where the jukebox level is actually too low, because the people are too loud.
It used to be a real social club, which i would have loved to have seen. Pool table in the back, classics type jukebox with a few picks out of left field (The Donnas self titled? before they were infatuated with Motley Crue? When they wanted to be the Ramones? Awesome). -
Review from Van Ness D.
Alameda, CA
9/5/2007
LOVE. Love. LOVE. Love. Luv. LOVE. Lub. Lahv. LaaaahV. Love. LOVE. Love. LoVe. LOVE. Love. lOvE. Lahb. Luhv. Lav. Lhavv. love. LOVE. Love. LOVE. Luve. Luv. LOVE. Love. LOVE. Love. Luv. LOVE. Lub. Lahv. lOvE. Lahb. Luhv. Lav. Lhavv. . Love. LoVe. LOVE. Love. lOvE. Lahb. Luhv. Lav. Lhavv. love. LOVE. Love. LOVE! This! Place!
There is a naughty, 'Oh Lawd, forgive me', I feel a little guilty...I said I would never do that to another female...Bad Bad Girl...OMG! *friends turn around*- 'What is she DOING?'...beautiful cocktails bountiful, champagne-filled, unexpected...I'm sorry Wifey! But you really should be watchin' yo' man...French visitor-aplenty, hazy, crazy, chill...mellow...closing down the bar...eventually end the night walking back home with the friends, essentially innocent...(kind of)... Funny story about one Saturday night at this place............But I'll let "Dimple Daddy" tell it.................If he'll ever fess up to it.
BROOKLYN, and SOCIAL indeed! -
Review from Tony M.
Brooklyn, NY
8/27/2006
OVERALL: great place to sit (if there's room) and have drinks with 2-3 friends. great for guys, girls or mixed groups.
ATMOSPHERE: Classic Italian. This place used to be an Italian social club. It's narrow, and can get crowded quickly after 10pm.
SELECTION: The signature cocktails are delicious, look really cool, and are reasonably priced (I think at $7 each). They also offer grilled, pressed panini for $7 or so, in case you didn't get a bite beforehand.
CROWD: 28-38 years old. Mixed. Generally cool people (it is Brooklyn, so the people are almost by definition cool)
I'll go back, definitely.Listed in: My Neighborhood
-
Review from amy s.
Brooklyn, NY
4/18/2008
Brooklyn Social is a lovely little spot with a gracious barkeep and wonderful old-timey feeling libations.
It is tiny but cozy and is a really wonderful place for a drink on a weeknight. weekends get pretty mobbed pretty early and if you can snag a snug booth, youre awfully lucky. -
Review from Ben C.
Brooklyn, NY
10/13/2008
It seems like people who are down on this place have the idea that prohibition-era bars were all about getting dressed up and going to over-decorated, lavish joints where one could throw away all their money in a single night. Sure, those speakeasies existed, and they're the model for overpriced and underwhelming Manhattan joints like Pegu Club.
But Brooklyn Social is more for the unassuming patron who enjoyed a good cocktail and a night out with friends without putting on airs or paying a week's salary. The drinks are strong, fresh, and delicious, and $4 less than you'd shell out for something similar in Manhattan. I particularly liked the ginger old fashioned. The music on the jukebox is eclectic and fun, the pool table has provided me with at least one moment of completely accidental glory, and the bartenders and patrons are all friendly.
It can get too crowded for comfort on weekend nights, which knocks it down one star, but on the whole it's a great establishment. -
Review from Erin M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/20/2008
Walking into Brooklyn Social you feel like you are stepping
into a old speakeasy. Bow-tied and aproned barkeeps
and yummy cocktails on the menu (I recommend a ginger
old-fashion).
You can always find a good game of pool going on in the
back room (or just drunk people squinting an eye and
attempting to not knock over their drink while missing
their shot). Everyone is generally friendly and there are
little hooks under the bar for your coat. I love those little
touches!
Weeknights are the best time to hit up this place as it can
be way too crowded on weekends. -
Review from drea c.
Brooklyn, NY
1/31/2007
You've gotta love the old school feel to this place--a throwback to when cool was laid back and much more classy.
My recommendation go during the week if you want to get away from the crowds and settle in at the bar with one of their great cocktails. Shoot some pool, bring some friends or a date. There's an alcove in the second room that's more private. Dimly lit front tables by the door and a patio out back when its warm. Another plus: the bartenders look good while making you whatever you can think up.
You might even find me there dressed up, a tom collins in hand playing another sinatra song on the the jukebox.
