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Klimat Lounge
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges American (New), Lounges
77 E 7th St(between 1st Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: East Village
(212) 777-1112
- Nearest Transit:
-
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
2 Av (F)
1 Av (L)
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
72 reviews for Klimat Lounge
Review Highlights
"Really enjoyed a hearty Eastern European meal here."
(in 34 reviews)
"you definitely can't beat imported beers on tap."
(in 7 reviews)
"We shared 2 entrees, the stuffed cabbage and pierogi."
(in 4 reviews)
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72 reviews in English
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Review from Jonathan C.
Manhattan, NY
8/25/2011
Looking for the friendliest bartenders in New York City? Want to try every beer on the menu in the equivalent of a miniature shovel frenzy at your local gelato joint? Klimat is your East Village destination for a fantastic rotating selection of European beers.
The gentlemen behind the bar really know their stuff and are willing to offer expert advice per your request. That being said, if you stumbled in here and ordered a Bud heavy and a shot of Jameson nobody would raise their chin and sniff all UES hoity toity like
Great bar. Great beer. Come here. -
Review from A K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/1/2012
Are you looking for a place that is cozy, not trashy, with good food and great drink choices that won't force you to pay the minimum on your credit card? Okay, then go to Klimat.
My husband is Polish and introduced me to this place a few years ago...why I haven't been a regular is beyond me. It's cozy, cute, has a good energy and the waitstaff are cool.
What I liked:
1. the atmosphere: it's chill. The lighting is just right. When you walk in, to your left is a larger "lounge" area where you can sit on couches and relax and to the right is a smaller loungy area. The rest of the back are tables for eating yummy food. Pierogies are to die for!
2. The drinks: yum! This place has mulled wine! Odd factor: the hot wine is served in wine glasses, not mugs. Not cool. There are an array of decent beers. If you are not a coors light drinker, you'll like it here.
My worst experience there was only once: walked in, smelled puke, walked out. I hope that was a fluke. I'll check it out again, just to make sure. :) -
Review from darcey h.
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
We came here after having a very unfriendly experience at Jimmy's No. 43 a few doors down to find that Klimat is the friendly, cozier, younger brother.
The waitress was more than happy to let us sit anywhere we wanted regardless of our desire to only have a couple of beers. However the food looks quite good and i'm hoping to investigate a bit more.
It was pretty quiet the night we were there so i'd be curious to see how it fares on a Bridge & Tunnel night. At that point it may become only we weekday favorite. but that's all right, we all need those too. -
Review from Athena C.
Klimat is an Eastern European bar with delicious food. The menu is quite simple but every item we have tried is excellent.
The waiter worked the whole place by himself. He was pouring drinks as well as waiting tables. However, he was pretty attentive and quite funny.
We tried the Mediterranean dip, which comes with bean dip, hummus, feta cheese and another yogurt with cucumber dip. They come with basket of pita bread and they are addictive. i think we had about 3 baskets in total!
We also got their Garlic fries. They are so addictive too that we don't and can't stop eating with the special house dip.
We shared 2 entrees, the stuffed cabbage and pierogi. I have tried stuffed cabbage from all the major Ukranian and Polish joints around my apt and this is definitely the top one. Same applies to their pierogi.
The price is also very affordable. We would definitely return for some European beer and dishes!Listed in: My Hood - East Village Local…
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Review from Kelley C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/22/2012
We hosted a private party here last night and couldn't be happier with Klimat. The atmosphere was great, bartenders were super accommodating and pleasant, the price was reasonable. I highly recommend Klimat!
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Review from B F.
Columbus, OH
1/30/2012
Great bar. Tried some Tempranillo, which was sublime. The music is very niche (at least to my unaccustomed ears), and the ambiance very relaxed, yet stylish.
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Review from Michel V.
Manhattan, NY
12/16/2011
Best eastern european beers in the city. Great food and the service is excellent. I'm sure I'll be back. I'm sure if it. =)
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Review from Jeniffer A.
Bronx, NY
7/12/2011
I am a very recent convert to beer. And up until 6 months ago it was basically "Nothing but wine, White Russians or Disaronno, please!"
I was told that my alcoholic preferences were "lame" and "stupid" and that I should really give beer a chance. Which I did, and slowly but surely, grew to actually like and enjoy enough that my beer-loving companion decided to take me out "for beers". We first went to McSorley's which was crowded, loud and AWFUL. And then we walked down the street and tucked gratefully into Klimat which is relaxed, cozy and PERFECT.
I loved the sofa seating but we decided to sit at the bar where the super easygoing bartender asked about our palate ("light, not too bitter" for me and "dark and hoppy" for my beer guide) and we were presented with two awesome beers that we both loved.
And we just really had a wonderful time--the space is very romantic with low lighting and warm colors and it's not too loud that we can't enjoy having a conversation. The ambience was matched by the awesome selection of beers and really great service so YES, I will definitely be drinking beer at Klimat again, soon. -
Review from Morris B.
5/4/2011
$30 minimum for using a debit card? That's a foul. Flagrant foul. Wish I would have known that beforehand.
I enjoy Eastern European beers, they have Czechvar, Staropramen, and Zywiec, all of which I like. The problem here was not the beer nor the dark lit interior.
In my personal opinion, such a payment policy seems ludicrous. -
Review from Julia B.
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Eastern European bar with an impressive beer menu. I was happy to see the Weihen Stephen ($7) on the list.
Dimly lit, exposed brick walls and wood paneled walls give it a classy atmosphere. Cushions make it comfy on the seats along the wall. There's some sexy sofas by the front to accomodate groups.
Music was low so you could have a normal conversation with your friend, always a good thing!
Quick and friendly service.
Overall, a great spot! I'll come back and try their food next time. -
Review from Stephanie C.
New York, NY
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm giving a beer place five stars and I don't even drink beer! Thank you again Yelp for suggesting this East Village joint for me to get my Eastern European on.
I came here on a Friday night at 8pm with two girlfriends. For the hell of it, I made a reservation- which I recommend only if you come around 8:30-9. When we got there, it was still pretty quiet. The hostess/waitress (who was so sweet) sat us in the lovely spot near the door- with two big chairs and a sofa!
The decor is intimate- dark, and wooden. I guess with that old Russian feel. I kind of felt like I was in a pirate ship. HA. I can't say much for the bartender, but the waitress knew we'd had a reservation right away and sat us down. She was working solo, so yes there was some serious lag time in taking orders and whatnot but I didn't mind. I'd arrived earlier than my friends anyway.
After some waiting, the waitress came to take my drink order- which of course had to be from the selection of Eastern European beers- Poland, Czech Republic mainly... there were some guests from Germany. Most of the wines were NOT native to the region (I mean, dur) so expect those to be from the likes of France, Italy, etc. They did have hot wine though, which is Russian...didn't try it though because it's summer!
The beers were all so reasonable too- like some $7 in a pint glass. The waitress was helpful in selecting what suited my taste (I know nada about beers). I even got to taste a few before ordering. I asked for a not too bitter, dark ale and got like... a Czech beer that was dark and began with a K. Sorry I don't feel like looking it up. It had a sweet taste and sort of tasted like a flat coke (not a lot of carbonation). Took me forever to finish though- it was heeaaavy. The menu has great description of things though, so no worries. My gf got one of the lighter Czech beers.
We ate here too. One friend and I both went for the Polish pierogis (YUM!)- which she got fried and me boiled. It came with the best, creamy sour cream I've ever had, and sauteed onions. Damn I wish they gave us more than a dollop. I think there were 8 of them- medium sized, hand made and fresh. We both got the traditional potato and cheese (sooo good) but they had other (healthier) options like mushroom, sauerkraut...and some meat I think.
Our other friend got the chicken sandwich which came with awesome garlic fries. The fries were hand cut, and not too deeply fried- but had fresh minced garlic on them with dill and other yummy spices. We eventually got a whole bucket of this later....
I didn't try my friend's sandwich but she said it was good. There were some other middle eastern items here- hummus, and whatnot. I guess it all comes from the same region... maybe.
The waitress was really nice. That's all I have to say about the service- she even offered to split the check. I'd say the ambiance of the place as a whole has a truly authentic Eastern Euro feel.. i.e. it was someone's birthday and they wanted everything in the whole restaurant try their cake. It was an epic celebration. (We eventually didn't get any but it's the thought that counts).
In the end, it's a good pre going out place, and I totally loved it and would go back for sure. -
Review from Ryne D.
Brooklyn, NY
4/10/2011
Short version: overpriced, non-tasty beers in a classy looking place.
Long version: This is an odd little place. I love beer. I love trying new beers, so I was excited to try some Eastern European beers that I had not heard of. Unfortunately, they only have a total of like 6 beers that are actually lesser known. And those beers, to be blunt, are pretty crappy. For 6-8$ a beer you can do much, much better.
Atmosphere wise, it is quite nice inside. Reasonably dark, interesting decor, and a moderately trendy feel. That was completely negated by the random top 40 music playing. I would not recommend this place. -
Review from Jason G.
12/28/2010
Really enjoyed a hearty Eastern European meal here! Got some avocado salad, kielbasa, and a hot wine. The hot wine had cloves, cinnamon, and brown sugar... yum! Just like a nice spiked warm apple cider. The avocado salad was huge. The kielbasa was just right, and they brought out French mustard to go with it. Everything was presented well, with sprinkles of parsley all over the place. Had a great convo with the bartender, a French guy named Emorie (spelling??).
Would definitely come back again! Can't wait to try to the garlic fries with dill. -
Review from Nyasha N.
Brooklyn, NY
10/9/2011
I had a super fabulous time at Klimat one Wednesday night (last days of summer) with my hangout partner. The bartender was awesome, made our stay very comforting....He played 80's rock all night (yes, we stayed till closing). The ambiance was perfect, especially for midweek...It felt nostalgic. The colors... warm, lovely display of art and I was opened up to a German beer called Golden Pheasant. Met a cool Polish friend too...timing is everything.
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Review from Jennifer Z.
Bronx, NY
3/5/2011
Very relaxed and laid-back vibe here without the usual East Village bar noise/shouting/drunken-ness. This is my backup when it seems like every other restaurant or bar has at least an hour-long wait for a table.
The appetizers and small plates are great. The garlic fries are yummy, and their pita bread is to die for. There's also an extensive international beer list and good wine list. I like to order a couple plates to share and a couple beers. The space is small, but it's rarely too crowded. They tend to keep the music pretty low, which makes this place ideal for conversations and catching up with old friends. -
Review from Andrea Carolyn P.
New York, NY
7/24/2010
Oh, Klimat. Your brunch is amazing. The "crepes with cottage cheese and fresh fruits" is really the way you tell Americans what Polish nalesniki are. Regardless of what you call it, they are amazing, and even my Polish mother approves. Also, $12.50 for a giant plate of food, plus unlimited coffee AND orange juice is a steal in NYC. You'll be full for hours, trust me.
The inside of this restaurant is a rustic wood but airy feeling interior with a very cozy, small cafe type feel. The waitstaff is attentive without hovering. They are more than happy to always recommend a dish, or explain something further.
Overall, one of my favorite brunch places. I absolutely love it, and my only complaint is I live far too close to this place for my own good. -
Review from Brian V.
Chatham, NJ
7/26/2010
First I thought I was going to write a really good review of Klimat. Then I thought it was going to be a REALLY bad review. But, it ended up being a good review.
I picked Klimat for my birthday dinner because it was nearby where we were meeting people for drinks later on. The menu looked interesting and based on the reviews of my prior yelpers, it seemed like my kind of place.
I got there and grabbed the last table across from the bar. There was a England Ex-Pats MeetUp group happening at the same time, so we were getting a steady diet of the Stones and Zeppelin which just added to the overall great ambiance.
The beer all fits in with the overall Eastern European vibe. The staff know there stuff too, everyone in my group told the waiter what they liked generally and he was able to offer good suggestions. We got a bunch of appetizers (the dips platter was especially good) and everything was going great ...
Until my stomach started to hurt, a lot. I made it through the rest of my dinner and the bar, but not long after that I was in the bathroom and it seemed like everything I had consumed that day was coming back up. It wasn't pretty. Birthday, ruined.
I'm all eager to write a scathing review of Klimat but then I remembered I did eat something the afternoon before I left. I all of a sudden had a very nervous feeling in my stomach (and it wasn't the remnants of the prior day's food poisoning), and I go to the fridge.
Yeah, the mayo I hadn't bought but used in my tuna fish sandwich was THREE WEEKS past due. Oops. Won't be doing that again.
So Klimat, accept my apology for ever thinking about writing a bad review. Your staff is great, your beer is great, your food is great, and none of that is what made me projectile vomit in a bathroom on my birthday. Well done. -
Review from Elise A.
New York, NY
5/13/2010
I have to say Klimat, you're cool. Can I call you that? I feel like we're friends now.
I came here to catch up with an old roommate. We snagged the front couch in the open part that looks out onto the street. I was hoping we could get it. Yesss.
They have a great dinner special (clearly why I came): dinner for 2 and a bottle of wine for $50. Considering the bottle of wine my friend and I chose was supposed to be $40, that was an amazing deal.
They even let her choose an appetizer and two sides instead of an entree because they didn't really have a vegetarian option -- without hesitation. Everything we had was delicious.
One of my favorite moments was when we were ordering our dinner from the bartender and as always, I couldn't decide between two entrees.
me: "I'm debating between the steak and the goulash, what do you think?"
bartender (let's call him Jim): "Is that really a question? How do you not choose the steak in any of those scenarios?"
me: "Hmm, yeah I guess you're right. I love hungarian goulash though."
Jim: "Yeah, well, I love steak. Gotta love a big piece of meat in your mouth."
me: Look at him. Look at the one guy sitting at the bar. Look back at him.
Jim: "Yeah, that just happened."
Thanks Klimat.Listed in: East Village Heaven, Cozy time.
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Review from Jeremy G.
New York, NY
4/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
Good selection of Czech beers and nice ambiance. Music could use some work but hey... the bars in Eastern Europe don't play the best tunes either.
If you want some unique bar food try the Spicy Works.
I'm a fan of the czechvar (known as Budvar in CZ).. -
Review from Bryce A.
New York, NY
10/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Comparing the food to the food I have eaten in Poland, it is just O.K.
~The beer selection is eastern European, which is a nice touch. -
Review from yo sub k.
2/13/2010
Quick and straight to the point.
Australian Bartender Mike (ABM) - Amazing. Friendly. Well-dressed.
Drinks - free tastings. ABM cares about your tastes. He wants you to be happy in your tummy.
Free random fries!
In the words of Chandler Bing, could this place BE any better?
The answer is no.Listed in: I love you, I really really…
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Review from Renee C.
New York, NY
2/21/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Great place, great beverage selections, awesome staff, laid back vibe and above all in a great neighborhood.
I loved their garlic fries! The Bigos was good too! I loved how the fried worms are actually deep fried sausage shreds....:)
Their Eastern European beer selection was pretty impressive and the waiter/bartender knew his stuff:)
There's a bottom semi-private room on the bottom floor, which would be a great spot for a get-together for under 30 people.
The decor was interesting....exposed brick meets medieval chandelier meets contemporary art....I thought it worked pretty well.Listed in: Wine Bars
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Review from Jon S.
New York, NY
8/20/2008
So I'm sitting in this neighborhood bar that could pass for a tapas lounge, drinking some Czech beer that I can't pronounce, watching the Olympics while the waitstaff sitting next to me carries on in their native language, all while the iPod DJ is bumping a serious set of Michael Jackson tunes.
Word.
Very nice, chill bar nuzzled on a relatively quiet street in the East Village. Almost loungey but still keeps the neighborhood bar atmosphere. I had three beers I've never heard of before--they have a collection of nice Eastern European brews here, on tap and by bottle. Very cute waitresses - God bless the Slavic peoples and their hotness!
I question the music though.Listed in: NYC Bars
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Review from Mike S.
New York, NY
9/7/2010
Ahh the Czechs...I respect their choice of beers. They don't discriminate here against any of their Eastern European neighbors either. From Hefe Weizens to Baltikas to Czechvar and the Pilsners, this bar provides for a great drinking "climate". In a neighborhood filled with unique shops and people, Klimat does its thing.
I will have to come back and see if the kitchen is as friendly as their bar. -
Review from Ewa M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/4/2009 3 photos
OK, I found my own personal moment of happiness - Klimat. Imagine, walking streets of NYC after couple of beers at Lucy's and craving for some good food and more beer. Imagine walking by and seeing "Klimat", which in Polish can mean many things, but in a bar/pub context means a "cool atmosphere". Is it possible? We are not even in Green Point!
We go in, we order Zywiec (of course), but they have plenty of other amazing Eastern European beers. The menu has a variety of Polish and American items, which would satisfy anybody, but the zapiekanka just blew my fucking mind. I've never saw zapienka except food stands in Poland, so there was no way not to order it. Being Polish, the waitress knew we gonna order it too. Zapiekanka itself wasn't the same as in Poland, but it's the thought that counts, and the ketchup;)
So yeah, I found my personal happiness, Polish beer, Polish food in a chill modern and friendly open-minded atmosphere. I wish there was more places like that, especially in LA, cause we need some Eastern European places here! -
Review from Terrel C.
New York, NY
3/31/2008
If you like a good pils or Eastern European beers this is the place. Klimat offers beers from Czech & Slovak Republics and Poland on tap. you definitely can't beat imported beers on tap!! The staff is very friendly and helpful. If you're like me and haven't had the beers they offer (or just forgot you had it while out and about in Bratislava or Praha) the staff is great with recommending and letting you taste a beer before you get it.
There's also a bunch of beer served in bottles and wine from Eastern Europe.
The atmosphere is great - very chill, clean, and and there are bench style tables. Seems like a great spot to chill out at while the weather warms up.
The food looked good and will definitely have to head over there earlier to try their food.
Reasons for going back: awesome beer, chill atmosphere, good staff and crowd, to check out the food
Reasons for not: None -
Review from Brian C.
New York, NY
2/14/2010
Klimat is an absolutely fantastic bar. What's not to love? They have a fantastic beer selection with lots of Czech beers that aren't really offered in many other bars. The bartenders are super friendly, very knowledgeable and are always willing to give you a taste of a beer that you've never had before. This last time I was in, the bartenders turned me on to a Weihen Stephan (a German beer) which was one of the best wheat beers I've had in ages--bursting of banana flavor! Sooooo good!!
I imagine this place has its days where its gets crowded; but, for whatever reason, whenever I've vistied, it's been pretty chill. My favorite time is for happy hours when they offer 2 for 1s and the huge couches in the front of the bar right behind the windows are open.
Klimat comes close to perfection on all fronts. I will always always always return... -
Review from Lucy L.
12/4/2009
Love the vibe here. Intimate. Perfect date place!
It has very interesting decor, words couldn't really describe it.
I suggest you should just go check it out yourself :-) -
Review from Sonia C.
8/17/2009
Cheap, large portions of tasty food + Good beer selection = Return visit worthy
Came here on a Saturday night after balking at the 1 hour wait at Caracas. The menu seems to have limited entrees (either sandwiches or salads), but there are a bunch of small plates that are entirely shareable. Not feeling particularly hungry, I ordered a chicken salad which was surprisingly tasty with warm marinated chicken on a bed of vegetables. One of my friends ordered the steak sandwich which, judging from the speed it disappeared, was quite tasty. All the sandwiches come rolled in pita bread. I also sampled the stuffed cabbage which was really flavourful.
Didn't get a chance to try their beers, but it seemed like they have a good selection of European brews.
Service is very efficient. The waitress was very eager to take our orders and equally eager to clear our plates. I would come again. -
Review from Josh F.
5/24/2010
Klimat is listed as a new American style restaurant, but it's really something of an eastern European treasure nestled
In the East Village.
Cheerfully hiding on a quiet side steet and cooled by outside breezes through the front facing open wall, (a must for any NYC eatery in the summer) the dim lights, comfy couches, and clever splashes of art set the comfortable mood and serene dining experience here.
Klimat boasts a large menu and a very diverse beer/wine selection. Tap beers from Slovakia, Russia, and Poland are refreshing and unique, and run very cheap during happy hour special time. (otherwise known as Josh special fun drunky hour)
The various eastern European appetizers are great tributes to my early childhood; savory borsht soup, fluffy and full perogis, artful stuffed cabbage, and spicy sausage.
Entered featured meatasaurus pleasing dishes (lamb shwarma shish kabob for my posse, skirt steak for me) with some interesting veggie selections. The meat was tasty and simple, shish arriving with an amazing cucumber dill sauce.
Every entree comes with about 6 selections of sides, from the simple (baked potato, fries) to the sublime. (grilled veggies or bulgar...a cracked wheat rice/cous cous cousin that very tasty)
All of the aforementioned food was very reasonably priced; 12-18$ for entrees, apps 8$ to 15$. -
Review from John N.
Manhattan, NY
3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was my 1st stop on a bar hopping tour for St Patrick Day. The place itself wasn't really crowed but they had good happy hr special like buy 1 get 1 free so that come in handy but 1 beer cost like $8 so it might not seem like a good deal. The drinks on drafts was good and there alot of beer that I haven't seem yet but when I got a chance to try it. It was alittle lite for my taste. I didn't eat anything these but enjoy the nice view looking outside people watching. Overall it is ok
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Review from aaron k.
Astoria, NY
8/9/2008
The selection of beers from Eastern Europe is quite good, and they have a fairly comprehensive wine menu. The beer is all imported so it will run on the more expensive side (min 7 dollars a pint); however, you really can't go wrong with any of the selection as they span several countries a good range of styles within a list of draughts only about 10 long. The wine isn't all Eastern European, but the selection is good.
They do not have a regular bar, so if you come here to drink make sure everyone wants beer or wine, or is content ordering from the appetizer menu and watching their friends drink.Listed in: Mostly Beer (and other bars)
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Review from Teresa L.
San Francisco, CA
6/24/2008
Great beer, nice wine selection, and somehow the hedge fun managers who normally go to Zum Schneider have not turned this into a sports bar - yet. Go, soon, and get some food. I had a lovely trout there just last week, very fresh. My lovely boyfriend had the goulash. We are always very satisfied.
This is an area of some controversy, but I feel they have better pirogi than Odessa. -
Review from Laura B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/25/2008
I first encountered this place last summer when I had to pee so bad. Some nice guys working on the construction site there were nice enough to let me in while they were still working on the place. I vowed I would be back and much later, I've made good on it.
I had quite an enjoyable experience here for happy hour last night. Before 9pm they allow for tastings (3 beer or 3 wine). They've got quite a selection of delicious eastern european beers which I love, but I decided to go for more unknown territory tasting Romanian, Czech and Georgian dry white wines and settled on a lovely Riesling. The woman who presented the wines was very informative, but beer seemed to be her area of expertise.
We also sampled appetizers and I thought they were pretty tasty - perogies and spinach crepe. Next time I'm going to have to try some sort of kilbasa or crackers and caviar.
the ambiance was nice, music wasn't totally terribe, but defintely some sort of 70-80-90's top 40 flashback station. The Zyweic picknic tables were great for groups, and I noticed one wall is a retractable garage door which will make it lovely and breezy when the weather is nice. I guess I'll have to come back in the summer and try out the beer. -
Review from Marissa C.
New York, NY
2/3/2010
Excellent place to go if you're looking for a chill, laid-back atmosphere (and unpretentious as well). Also good if you want something different from the usual beer selection. Friendly staff (and knowledgeable about what they serve - especially the Australian bartender), nice decor, unobnoxious music... and delicious beer! As for the food menu, I've only tried the kielbasa, but it was quite good.
I'd recommend going here if you're catching up with friends or out on a date. I've never had a problem with hearing other people speak or finding a place to sit here, either (then again, I've only gone early in the night or at the end of the night). -
Review from Jaye V.
7/14/2008
This review is only of the bar and not a reflection of the food.
We stopped in here to just grab a quick beer one recent late Sunday afternoon while we were waiting for a table at nearby Caracas Arepa Bar. It looked like it wasn't open, as there was no one in there (but then we saw a bartender) and because a couple of guys seemed to be doing some construction work on the storefront.
I was initially drawn to the place because I saw a mounted Zywiec sign hanging up and to the side of the entrance. Having spent a little time in Warsaw, Poland, I immediately recognized it as a very popular Polish beer that I could never remember how to pronounce because its spelling looks so different from how it's said.
Seeing that my boyfriend is half Polish and has never tried the beer before, we decided to be the first customers of the afternoon. (We noticed that as soon as we sat down inside, it drew more people to look at the menu and come inside themselves.) We were cheerfully greeted by the model-esque, tall, blonde Polish bartender, who offered us tastes of any beers on tap they had. Russian, Czech, Slovak, and Polish beers made up the hard-to-find brews on draught. We still settled on the Zywiec we came in for, and it was delicious. Even more delicious than I had remembered, actually! It was smooth, slightly sweet, a little lemony, ice-cold, and refreshing.
Since they serve brunch quite late (until 4, I think), she offered the menu for us to take a look at. It looked pretty good (although not Eastern European food, if I recall correctly), but we were saving our stomachs for arepas. The full menu on display out front, however, had a lot of Eastern European specialties. Judging from the others' reviews of the food here, it looks to be both authentic and tasty.
It kind of felt like we were hanging out with the staff's family, as several Polish guys stopped in at various times to have a drink or chit-chat with the bartender. The atmosphere was really relaxed and open-air and comfortable. It was a neat discovery and I'd definitely like to go back sometime to try out some of the menu.
P.S. I asked the bartender how Zywiec was pronounced, and although I repeated it successfully at the time, now I still can't remember how it's said. Argh! -
Review from Ed L.
7/29/2008
The Eastern European theme rings through the entire bar/ restaurant form the wide selection of drafts to the waitresses who I could barely understand due to their accents. One thing I clearly understood was that this is one of NY's best value plays for dinner.
Although it is very small, the place is quite cozy with the darkish, communism red ambiance. The tables make you feel like your in a pub and the signs like your in a foreign land where a dime can buy you a feast like Eurotrip. Although the latter is impossible, the prices, in the teens, gives you a hefty portion of food that's nicely done. Lambchops and kielbasa were juicy. Stuffed chicken with fresh veggies and goat cheese with sides of garlic home fries and grilled veggies was awesome. Location is great too for bar hopping after. -
Review from Daniel D.
1/9/2010
What's not to like here? Very nicely decorated (lots of red!). Generous selection of beers and wine, and some cool original ideas. For instance, I had some "hot wine," which smells like a hot cider, but is actually red wine with some cinnamon and spices. Very delicious, but don't drink it too soon, or you'll burn yourself!
I've never eaten here, but I plan to do so at some point. The service was also very nice. -
Review from J A.
Ephrata, PA
7/15/2010
This is only a drinking review. We didn't have any food.
That being said, it was awesome. I found this the other week when I parked near it. It looked really cool so I thought I would try it some time. Luckily we got here during their happy hour. Mon to Fri till 7. I think they open about 3 or 4. My sister was with us and she said the inside of the bar looked like the bars they had gone to in Poland. The waitress even had an accent. Good job sticking with the Polish theme.
The service was great. The beer selection was awesome. Many eastern European beers. Great draft selection. No wussy 12oz bottles here. Only 16.9 ounces like a real man drinks. Give the Lech beer a try -
Review from Mykel B.
New York, NY
12/20/2009
Up-scale Eastern European? Almost oxymoronic. But that's what it is. This small bar has a great variety of Czech and Polish beers found nowhere else I've seen. This includes a great Czech dark beer... I forget the name, but it's listed as "Caramelized taste..." or something like that. They have the usual Eastern E food fare, pirogies, as well as a seafood platter.
The bill for 5 of us, with no main courses, came to $175, and one of us only had 2 beers. Ouch! But the service was great (the Australian born bartender bought us a round of drinks), and the atmosphere was friendly. It's a good night out after mugging some rich guy.
