[Jose]

Anyone got the skinny on Beast Bar (638 Bergen St @ Vanderbilt Ave)?

[Isa]

No, all I can say is that I used to live above that place and the owner is a Holocaust survivor and madman who once locked me in my apartment by drilling my door shut while I was sleeping because I was late with my rent. Also, we used to wake up with strange cats in our apartment having no idea how they got there. One morning while my roommate and I were making pancakes, the door opened and he stuck his hand in with a kitten, and closed the door and ran away. He apparantly "thought" all these cats were ours. Anyway, when I lived there that place was PACKED with all sorts of old basement type things, clothing, furniture, albums, dust. And he swore he would never rent it out, so I'm a little worried about whoever rented from him. All that being said, they made the place pretty ugly, no?

[susan]

I heard somewhere that Beast is owned by the same folks as the Belgian restaurant Thomas Beisl across from BAM in Ft. Greene.

[sje]

One persons ugly is anothers beauty. I love the door! Haven't seen inside yet. Can't wait for them to open.

[Jose]

Wait. They haven't opened yet?

[quig]

I was lucky enough to go to a suprise party there on Fri. Great food.

It's the type of place I could see myself hanging out in.

[sje]

Then they did open? Or it was just a private party pre-opening?

[quig]

Private party, I'm not sure when they are set to open.

[sje]

That's what I thought, just walked by there today, and the paper is still on the windows. Come on, we want Tapas!

[rzbby]

I think they are scheduled to open this friday the 25th. I met the owner (of Beast) and she was awesome, I'm looking forward to opening night!

[dailyheights]

I'm going to miss the opening... I'm curious. Somebody report back, please. Don't forget that digital camera.

[Jose]

I'm so there.

[Jose]

What time will the be door we swingin' open?

[Telly]

Spoke with the owner and she says Beast is open for dinner (run! don't walk...the tapas is great) and the bar will be open friday. I'm pumped.

[Jose]

Deb (the owner) emailed me last night. Beast finally has a liquor license and will be fully stocked for Friday night. I won't be able to make it. I'll be there Saturday night. Who's in?

[dailyheights]

I would like to but we'll be out of town. We may be at Soda and Cucina Rustica tonight, in that order, if plans come together.

[Jose]

Andy: Do you go out of town every wknd? I have my weekly chinese poker and sci-fi night in Astoria tonight. I should get back to the nabe at 11. If so, I'm going to Beast.

[jen]

[Guest]

Jen, I don't know what more to tell you. Well, the store that is next to (might even be part of?) Beast used to be a rasta type record store. In other words, a front for pot dealing. So it got busted and I guess Morris decided not to rent it anymore because he wanted to "keep it legal". So the front of Beast was Morris' office and he refused to rent it out. It was packed -PIZACKED- with old clothing and junk, or "vintage" items if you prefer. Sometimes he would let us come in and have stuff. I got a few cool jackets and rickety end tables. I don't know exactly what Morris' deal was. He owned other buildings - the one across the street with the hardware store, plus one on President street and others. I lived above the hardware store but at that time it was a "bodega" and I guess they had a cat pee factory in there because you could smell it half a block away. He used to walk into our apartment and tell us to clean up. So I'd be half naked, asleep at one in the afternoon and there was Morris, telling me to take the garbage out. Thanks mom! Our other friends lived in the building you live in now, on the 3rd and 4th floors so we had quite a street gang going on. Which apartment do you live in?

[Isa]

Oh that was me above!

[Guest]

I'm going to Beast tonight to chat with Debbie, the owner. Anyone want to join me?

[guest]

hey just so you know...beast is fully run by several fierce young women who want nothing more than to feed the people some delicious nutrutious food...oh and get em a little tipsy with some of the finest wines this side of the "bush."
please...go see for yourself. you might want to eat your words. try them on a the side of the rib special...mmmmm...mmmm!
signed a newly beast regular...and oldtime neighbor.

[suzy creamcheese]

great food, $3 beer. i'm going back

[jak]

Beast looks like a Beast. The outside is not inviting.

[JoshB]

A bit skeptical, but went last night: Awesome, delicious food right in the neighborhood. And not too scandalously priced. The burgers were great. Not as sloppy as Soda's, but more flavorful.

[Guest]

I love the food and atmosphere at Beast, what a great addition to the neighborhood! One small complaint, the outside is as uninviting as possible, you can't even tell the place is open. I really wish they'd brighten it up, especially at night.

[jen-]

[11238]

I went to Beast with a friend of mine. It was great. We sat by the bar because I heard screaming kids in the back.

We went to town. We had the Manchego Cheese Fried cubes and the Cayenne almonds to start.

We both had burgers and we shared the smores.

We also each had a HUGE $3.00 beer. I will definitely go back.

[Dawn]

We went last night...and definitely enjoyed the place. The owner (Tina I believe was her name) was very nice. I liked the atmosphere, but I actually like the way the outside looks too- different but I like it. I was so happy to see the tapper game- I love that videogame!!! Unfortunately though the waitresses there absolutely ROCK at it, I couldn't even get my name up- they bested me by 20,000 points.

Not too much for vegans on the menu, (what else is new) but we were happy to see that there were 3 options in the appetizers for us: spiced almonds, marinated olives, and roasted veggies. We had the olives which were tasty and the roasted veggies which were awesome! (brussel sprouts, rutabegas, turnips, beets, & potatoes in a luscious flavorful glaze) When I asked if the veggies were vegan (no butter) she told me that the chef had just been saying how they should have more vegetarian food, so when Tina asked her if the veggies were vegan the chef was like "See?!?!"

So hopefully they will get more vegetarian stuff, because if the roasted veggies are any indication that is one talented chef- very very yummy. There were salads also that we could have had, the sauteed escarole one looked good. Not sure how kid friendly the menu is since I don't have any, but I'd say its at least good probably that they have the whole seperate back room so the kids could sit away from the bar area.

[pantala180]

Hey guys, just came across this board while searching for a view on Beast. My cousin owns the place, Debbie Bicknese. I was invited to the pre-opening party awhile ago but couldnt make it. I'm gonna make it there soon, but hows the food and the place itself? Thanx :)


Jeff

[J. Ro.]

Jeff,
Hey, it's Jennifer. You definitely have to check Debbie's place out. It's got a great atmosphere...a fun place to hang out with your friends. And the food is delicious! She even has one of grandma's recipe's on her menu: the parmesan potatoes. They are even better than I remember! Sorry you missed the party and the opening night. Stephanie was there Take a trip to Brooklyn. You won't be disappointed!

[Jose]

I took Jessie, my bride-to-be, on Sunday night. She hates almonds; I hate olives. She loved the spiced almonds; I loved the marinated olives.

If an establishment can change your mind about a particular dish, it's a damn good place.

[Guest]

I've had several of the items on the menu, and couldn't agree more...food is OUTSTANDING!!!

I especially loved the braised short ribs which literally melted in your mouth....and the lamb kabobs with couscous were out of this world....

I've also tried the parmesan potatoes with melted mozzarella and the fresh roasted veggies. They're SOOOO GOOD!!!!

One of my husband's favorites was a special clam dish. Done to perfection, they were some of the tastiest he's ever had (I was only able to get a small taste out of his dish, but if it's on the menu again, I'll be sure to order it).

Actually, I haven't had a dish I didn't like...

Desserts are worth saving room for; or if you're like us, stuffing ourselves first, and yet still ordering dessert...I really loved the pear Napoleon. My favorite is the pistachio ice cream, which I understand is made on the premises...it's so rich and creamy. Yum Yum....

Even the espresso was special...my husband had THREE!!!

Can't wait to go back...I'm hungry just thinking about it.

[Isa]

If the owners of Beast read this.. add vegan items! Please!

[deedee]

After going to Beast a couple of times for drinks, my husband and I finally tried dinner there with a friend. It was fantastic -- great burger (with homemade ketchup), grilled sardines, piquillo peppers stuffed with salt cod and the braised short ribs. Of course, we started out with the addictive manchego cheese bites. All in all a great meal and relaxed (but attentive) service. For dessert we enjoyed a 3 cheese plate and a grilled bananas with homemade pistachio ice cream. This is fast becoming our favorite neighborhood place.

[Disappointed]

The Beast - what a crazy history! I wanted to like the restaurant, but I just couldn't after getting a look. My first sight after walking in the door was an overweight bartender in a sweaty tank top and a cowboy hat. Second image: perhaps the most atrocious "stained glass" windows in all of creation. The food, dry and salty, scared me right out of the place. At least the liquor was cheap. Run. And run far.

[Big Fan]

Congratulations on the write-up in Time Out New York!! Only open a couple of weeks and you've already gotten a great review. Where most others are listed in an inch square section, you managed to get a quarter page with photo. Way to go!!

I hear that Zagat Brooklyn has also contacted you.....I guess the word is out.

If you haven't tried the food yet, you'd better hurry before they're lining up in the street to get in.

[Guest]

[josh p.]

hi all. my folks are in town this weekend and i'm stuck with em. was thinking of taking em to beast. i see that most of you guys give a thumbs up on ribs, lamb and cheese...anything else good.
anything to totally avoid... i see that there's a post about stuff being salty and dry...what is so i don't order it.

[Knowitallof71]

I love the fact that Vanderbilt is getting its due, and love the space at Beast, and LOVE the food. But while I love the option of Tapas, why not offer entree sizes of each dish too? The food was great, but the sizes being too small required 3 serving to be full at dinner. $33 for dinner entree??? and the only substantial things that would be an entree the Chicken and Burger, they were out of on a very quiet Tues evening I was there. So when I comment to the waitress that its probably a sign people want something a bit more substantial, she harped back, " or maybe they are just good dishes". The space is great, although it could have used a designer, how about the VERY DRAB, back room?? and having an open kitchen, just for the sake of having an open kitchen?? would have made much better use of the space, by slapping the kitchen in the back by the restrooms, and having the whole room around the bar a hopefully bustling dining room. The deserts were tasty too, but again VERY small portioned, I left still feeling like a beast for more food. The concept is great if your over tables full of vegetarians saying "I can't have this, I can't have that" blah, blah,blah! but the decor and concept, let alone the name, lend itself to visions of heartier portions, while the food quality, and unfortunately QUANTITY lend itself to visions of a five star upscale Manhattan boite .

[Knowitallof71]

[parkplacegirl]

just went to beast bar.

liked the manchego bites, parmesan potatoes, dessert, pot de creme, delicious. think it could actually use more small tapas dishes.

nice addition to neighborhood...

[Isa]

[Guest]

Beast = MEAT!!! Not all things to all people.

[Guest]