Boulevard Tavern

579 Meeker Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
view map
718.389.3252

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon 6pm-4am; Tue-Sun 3pm-4am
Subway: G to Nassau Ave.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks
Booze: Full Bar
Happy Hour: Daily, 4pm-9pm; $4 draft and well drinks
NY Mag says:

Despite the fresh paint and free wi-fi, this pub is in truth a Greenpoint relic. Opened in 1928, the bar weathered most of the last century as J & D’s before giving up the ghosts (more than one owner has died on the premises) just after the new millennium. A few years later, the owners of East Village bohemian bar Raven pried off the boards to find a diamond in the rough: To the original high tin ceilings and extra-long, dark wood bar, they’ve added high-backed wooden booths, a pool table, a jukebox and a majestic 12-beer tap that makes it clear that—neon signs and reasonable prices notwithstanding—this is not a dive. When rock bands aren’t throwing after-parties, bemused retirees who still call the joint by its former name make neighborly conversation with the latest 24-year-old graphic designer who thinks he knows better. The bar’s owner, Harold David Kramer, is himself a slice of NYC history, since he’s the grandson of the owners of the Thunderbolt, the beloved, vine-covered Coney Island rollercoaster that was torn down in 2000.

Metromix says:

A great neighborhood bar, especially during the summer months, when the friendly folks at Boulevard fire up the grill in their backyard (every Friday through Monday) and cook burgers and dogs, which go well with their cheap drinks.

Photo by Robert K. Chin, NY Mag

296 Grand Street
(between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts.)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.384.7770

Cuisine: Eclectic Asian/Japanese Tapas
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$
Hours: Sun-Thurs 6pm-12am; Fri-Sat 6pm-1am
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford Ave., L to Lorimer Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
NY Mag says:

Bozu chef-owner Makoto Suzuki has expanded the definition of Japanese tapas (if there is one) to include deep-fried kataifi-crusted shrimp, pumpkin risotto croquettes stuffed with mozzarella, and an unconventional version of sushi. Suzuki’s “bombs” are the shape of things to come—small mounds of rice tinted red from cabbage or pink from codfish roe, and topped either traditionally (salmon, tuna, eel) or not (sun-dried tomato, olive, and caper). These light bites can be eaten at the bar, on epoxy tables ringed with Eames chairs, or on the back deck.

The Village Voice says:

Bozu (“bald-headed”) thrives on taking culinary chances. Tuna tataki ($7), for example, develops a voice and sings via an elfin scoop of strawberry sorbet that melts as the pinwheeled formation is ferried to the table. It brings a welcome pucker to the lips. Against all odds, I liked the “Italian” onigiri (two for $4.50), a newfangled take on the rice ball, Japan’s favorite snack. Mixed with chopped green olives and slivers of sun-dried tomato, it remained more Japanese than Italian.

Bozu eschews normal sushi. Among the seaweed-wrapped maki, find the “salmon stinky roll” ($5), which applies garlic to the bored-stiff orange fish. Another roll, called U.S.A., cryptically incorporates eel, shiso, and asparagus into the compressed pipe of rice. But the predominant form of sushi at Bozu—and the restaurant’s most arresting invention—is the “bomb.” Standing in for normal, finger-shaped sushi are round buttons of vinegared rice topped with raw fish, further extended skyward by ingredients like avocado, cucumber, green-tomato sauce, and frizzled deep-fried noodles of miniature circumference. What is the bomb’s significance? Well, individual pieces are smaller in volume than normal sushi, hence you never have to wonder whether to bite a piece in half or swallow it whole. Individual bombs (there are nine of them) vary in price from $4.50 to $6, but the most impressive way to experience them is via the “party bomb,” a 12-piece selection of four types.

Bozu has been called a Japanese tapas bar, and that’s fair enough. The smaller dishes are certainly the best, including a plethora of composed vegetarian salads featuring grains, tofu, tomatoes, seaweed, and grapefruit, generally dressed with soy and miso. The tofu salad ($6.50)—creamy tofu with avocado and plum tomatoes—is probably the best thing on the menu. The bigger dishes, like seafood stew and sake-marinated skirt steak, don’t fare as well. But who needs them when you’ve got the bomb?

c/o NY Mag

103 Berry St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.302.9811

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon-Fri 3pm-4am; Sat-Sun 12pm-4am
Subway: L Train to Bedford Ave
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: $5 Specialty Drafts, $4 Brooklyns $4 Imports, $3 Domestics & $4 Well Cocktails! Daily until 7pm, Wednesday Happy Hour All Night!
We Say:

One of our favorite Bedford-stop bars. Brooklyn Ale House is completely lacking in pretense and attracts a surprisingly hipster-free and tourist-free crowd. The beer selection is great and the vibe reminds us of the neighborhood circa 1995. Dog lovers especially like Brooklyn Ale House since the bar is dog-friendly.

NY Mag says:

Yes, the name is generic, almost to the point of complete mental irretrievability. And, being a jukebox-with-billiards spot in Williamsburg, it faces fierce local competition: The Sweetwater siphons the punks, the Abbey the mods; Mug’s has greater beer variety, plus food and televised sports. So what nevertheless makes B.A.H. the Northside’s choice watering hole? One word: acoustics. You can talk here. You can speak low and still make yourself heard over the Pixies or the Stones. And since it happens to be a favorite of both dog owners and motorcycle owners, it’s the best place in town to spot a dog on a motorcycle. And that’s pretty cool, right?

c/o Brooklyn Bowl

61 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.963.3369
(Bowling Alley with food by Blue Ribbon)

Cuisine: American/Southern
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$
Hours: Monday – Thursday 6pm-2am; Friday 6pm-4am; Saturday 12pm-4am; Sunday 12pm-2am
Family Days are Saturday and Sunday! Noon-6pm is ALL AGES!
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
We say:

A stunning sprawling space, albeit pricey.

The New Yorker says:

We suggest that you eat with your non-bowling hand,” a note on the menu at Brooklyn Bowl states, in a nod, presumably, to both aim and hygiene, if not to the traditional carelessness of ten-frame dining. This converted warehouse at the northern edge of Williamsburg does triple duty as a bowling alley, a music hall, and a grub house. Its kingpin, Peter Shapiro, the former owner of the bygone jam-bandy club Wetlands, has dreamed up an emporium that combines hedonistic excess (deep-end leather couches, spiked milkshakes, brisket, live music) with eco-consciousness (reclaimed-cork floors, no bottled beer, live music). For the eats, he brought in the Bromberg brothers, the creators of Blue Ribbon, to draw up a rebuke to every limpid water dog and fossilized onion ring you’ve ever downed, then regretted, at Wherever Lanes. They tinkered with comfort-food classics, secure in the knowledge that no bowler will ever crave endive. It’s a menu that begs over-ordering, as well as this remark from your waiter, regarding the procedure for delivering the food: “You guys want it as it fits?” “Fits where?” is one reply; the table is bigger than the stomach.

Still, all you have to do, while stuffed, is take a few steps forward and drop a twelve-pound ball on the floor, so there’s no sin in downing the carefully considered greaseballs the Blue Ribbon boys sling your way. Their fried chicken, dipped in matzoh batter, seasoned with Cajun spices, and accompanied by white bread and honey, has Earl Anthony game. The calamari, commingled with fried jalapeño, is the Dick Weber of fried squid. The San Gennaro, loaded with finely ground Italian sausage, is the Johnny Petraglia of French-bread pizzas: crisp outside, fluffy inside, it has all of the virtue, and none of the vice, of Stouffer’s. There are a few gutter balls; some might find the mac and cheese too creamy and the “Really” Sloppy Joe really actually too sweet. But the score sheet shows more X’s than —’s.

On a recent evening, the lanes were busy but not loud; the pins hang on strings, which helps muffle the din. Giant video screens showed montages from raunchy old B-movies like “The Student Nurses” and “Caged Heat.” Around eleven, the Roots took the stage, the dance floor filled up, and a waiter came by with Nutella-bourbon shakes, a convergence that felt like nailing a spare on a four-ten split. (Open weekdays for dinner and weekends for lunch and dinner. Entrées $9-$19.)

Brooklyn Brewery

79 North 11th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.486.7422

Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Fri 6pm-11pm; Sat-Sun Noon-5pm
Subway: L Train to Bedford Ave
Food/Menu: Chips
Booze: Beer
Happy Hour: Fri 6pm-11pm; $3 beers
Citysearch says:

In a neighborhood that once housed a pre-Prohibition “Brewers Row,” this big-name beer company founded in 1987 does right by its craft and community. Friday nights, the brewery opens up its 300-seat tasting room for happy hour, pouring Brooklyn Lager, Pilsner and up to 10 other varieties, including such seasonal brews as Blanche De Brooklyn. On Saturday’s free tours, visitors learn about the company, walk through the brewhouse and receive a free beer.

The Village Voice says:

It’s Friday night. Rush home from work, grab the gang, and head to the Brooklyn Brewery, where you can take over a picnic table, guzzle fresh-brewed malt beverages, and order food from one of the numerous local Thai restaurants for delivery. For the really cheap bastards, take a Saturday afternoon tour and enjoy the free “tasting” afterwards.

c/o Gothamist

180 Franklin St
Brooklyn, NY 11222
view map
718.389.2806

Cuisine: American Cafe/Diner
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5pm (brunch)
Booze: None
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.; L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Free with $10 Minimum
NY Mag says:

Call it a bustling coffeehouse, an upscale diner, or a calculated hipster haven. This Greenpoint hot spot, on the bottom floor of the Astral Apartments, specializes in being whatever you want it to be. During the day, sunlight bleeds through the oversize windows onto the long, wood bar, where the “self-employed” sip bottomless mugs of coffee and pick at tempeh Reubens while pretty baristas keep the burr grinders buzzing. By nightfall, couples fill out the dark, cushioned corners—tucking into textbook crisp-skinned chicken or one of Brooklyn’s cheapest steak frites and contentedly conversing over a loud, Pitchfork-approved soundtrack. Sure, some menu items vanish mid-service and the disaffected waitstaff look and act like moonlighters from a roving indie band, but what makes this neighborhood haunt worthy of a train ride are the little touches—the whiff of cardamom in a near-perfect cappuccino, the Plugra butter generously provided for your basket of Ceci-Cela pastries, and the house-made hot sauce and ketchup for an otherwise average pile of fries.

City Search says:

This is the ideal Brooklyn neighborhood spot, complete with an unassuming crowd, hot comfort food and good coffee. During the crowded brunch service, plentiful light reflects off the yellow walls and the large restaurant is filled with morning chatter from everyone from athletic cyclists to hung-over hipsters. Details like patches of exposed brick and an artfully distressed ceiling add that funky Greenpoint touch. Homemade American fare like buttermilk fried chicken, biscuits and sausage gravy, burgers, and red flannel hash are all guaranteed to fill you up, while the Mayan, a velvety mix of hot cocoa, mildly spicy pasilla chili and two shots of espresso, will make sure you don’t get drowsy.

c/o NY Mag

593 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718-599-9899

Cuisine: Southern, American
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$$
Hours: Sat and Sun 11 am to 4 pm., Dinner Everyday 5:00 pm to 2 am
Booze: Beer and Wine
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
NY Mag says:

After a kitchen fire closed its original location in 2010, the Brooklyn Star is open in the former Lazy Catfish space. Cook Justin Burchill tells us that he and the rest of Joaquin Baca’s team have been working since last August to build the new restaurant. They’ve installed the old tables, chairs, and benches in a space that’s a bit bigger (there are about 75 seats in the dining room) and best of all, in possession of a liquor license. The downside: No woodburning oven, but the core of the menu is the same, with the addition of dishes like roasted veal marrow bones and a chilled grilled lobster tail. The full menu will be served from 5 p.m. till 2 a.m., and there’ll be a list of whiskey-heavy classic and classic-inspired cocktails from bar manager Simon Gibson.

c/o Buffalo Cantina

149 Havemeyer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.218.7788

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: 11am-11pm
Booze: Beer and Wine
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or Lorimer Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says:

Buffalo Cantina’s Mexican menu has a twist: an extensive wings section. In classic Buffalo, BBQ, and teriyaki flavors, this wings here are served hot, hotter, and suicidal (and they aren’t messing around). You can order them in, but a hundred-count party bucket is ideal takeout for a lowbrow gathering, and a pan-fried tofu substitute ensures that no one has to miss out. Massive burritos and smaller tacos come filled with more than a dozen proteins and wrapped in flour, spinach, wheat, jalapeño or tomato tortillas. The chicken mole comes slathered in a smoky chocolate sauce while the jerk chicken is accompanied by subtly sweet plantains. American influences reappear in the form of sloppy-joe sliders, burgers, fries, and onion rings as well as the bizarre Little King, a buffalo burger crowned with fried chicken and topped with cheese, onions, spinach, tomato and ranch dressing on a bun. South-of-the-border desserts include cinnamon-fried churros, sopapillas, and a pair of banana-and-fudge chimichangas, more than enough to share. With no table service, step to the counter to choose from the large menu boards above. Until your food arrives, you can pass the time with a selection of board games and books or people watch through the restaurant’s glass façade. Three small tables in front are available for outdoor eating.

Citysearch says:

In Short – This casual spot satisfies the neighborhood’s appetite for hearty party fare, i.e. Buffalo wings, nachos, burritos and more. Most customers favor delivery and takeout, so there is always a spot to sit in the fairly large dining area. Everything from jerk chicken burritos to teriyaki wings to fish tacos spice up the menu, although the Buffalo wings (available in quantities of six, 12 or 24) are the main attraction. Mexican beers sit alongside Jarritos, sodas and more in the restaurant’s small refrigerator.

Bushwick Country Club

618 Grand St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.388.2114

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-4am; Sat-Sun 4pm-4am
Subway: L Train to Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily until 8pm buy one, get one free on pitchers. Pitchers of beer, from PBR to Red Tail, run $15 to $17.
We say:

A beautiful addition to the new Grand Avenue bar scene. The restored oak bar will make you feel like you should wear a smoking jacket. The tiny makeshift miniature golf course in the backyard will make you wish you had worn your Seersucker. Several beers are on tap and a full liquor bar is available. Definitely worth a visit.

Citysearch says:

Bushwick Country Club ups the ante on Grand Street’s burgeoning bar scene. A mellow neighborhood crowd mixes in the kitschy bar, with shabby chandeliers, a photo booth and ironically hip action figures and pop culture lunchboxes. In the back yard, pickup games of mini-golf are played for free on a DIY course, with obstacles such as a windmill made of flattened PBR cans and a rudimentary hobo mannequin. BCC carries a range of lowbrow and high-quality beers, wines, bourbons and tequilas guaranteed to improve the putt. Try Delirium: a full-bodied Belgian beer with nine percent alcohol by volume, available for only $6, a relative bargain. Members of the Country Club get that fuzzy feeling of fitting in, with additional perks such as special discounts. The jukebox keeps it all going with everything from Men Without Hats to the Descendants.

1015 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
view map
718.569.0077

Cuisine: Colombian Tapas/Coffee Shop
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash only
Price: $
Hours: Mon 8am-4pm; Tues-Thurs 8am-10pm; Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm
BOOZE: Full bar
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
City Search says:

In keeping with its Colombian roots, this charming cafe’s takeout menu translates the word Greenpoint into its Spanish equivalent, Puntaverde. Bright yellow walls, local artwork and couches set a festive scene for consuming iced cafe con leche and sampling the arepas–the Alimbar packs ham, queso blanco and guava, while the Medellin appeases vegetarians with cranberry beans and green plantains. Seven kinds of salads and sandwiches made with Petrossian bread provide further fuel for bopping along to DJ-provided beats.

The Village Voice says:

This novel Greenpoint coffee shop and wine bar translates Colombian cuisine into the tapas bar genre, with some success. If you’re a fan of East Village arepas–– the moist, white–corn flatcakes that are a staple starch in Colombia and Venezuela–– you won’t be disappointed here: most of the two dozen or so evening menu choices are centered on an arepa topped with a salad or meat-bearing assemblage. Many are quite good, although figuring out what these warms lumps contain is a challenge in the dim light. We especially liked the Medellin (beans, plantains, white cheese, hogao sauce) and the cordillera (rice, beans, Colombian chorizo). A handful of toasted sandwiches, salads, and skewers round out the menu, but the real treat here is the off-priced South American wines.