Best Bar in Park Slope

Anonymous wrote: Hey all,

I posted a bit upthread about The Royale, defending it as a longtime bartender there.

Not so much with the love, now.

Y'see the owner just sold his majority share to a new manager, who promptly fired all us employees. Right before rent, a month before Christmas. Thanks Scrooge! Might we have a few kicks to the crotch on our way out?


Apparently the manager wants to take the place in a new direction. Think Plasma TV, Sports, Bimbos and gell-headed striped shirt dudes, hip-hop and top 40 dj's. Just what the neighborhood needs, right? Gah.

So, you may have liked the bar, or hated it, or somewhere inbetween, but I hope you'll all have a little sympathy for those of us who just lost our only source of employment.

Nooooo! That's crap. Aren't there already too many of those generic sports bars in PS already? Gah, indeed. Now I regret not having gone there in the last month or so.

Lucky 13, Timboo's and Jackie's 5th all scare the be-jeezus out of me.

My partner and I were initially all about Buttermilk, but it seems very hipster-snobby now. And I've found the reverse is true for Commonwealth. At first, we thought CW was like a wanna-be Manhattan lounge, but it's developed a fun, comfortable personality all its own. It won us over with the beer specials and is now our default happy hour bar.

I still love Royale!

Great Lakes is cool, but only if there's room at the bar (i.e. early-ish on a weeknight).

Union Hall is good when it's empty (almost never). I can't handle the crowd there. UGH.

Bar Reis is a good atmosphere, but their drink selection sucks.

I like the Gate for what it is, but don't wanna hang out there on a busy night. My mom's friends (a fun couple in their 60's) came to visit and we took them there. That worked out great!

Loki can be fun or kinda goofy... The crowd can be kinda B-n-T.

I enjoy the Park Slope Ale House. Good, chep bar food and good bartenders!

Ginger's was better when it was Carrie Nation, but is still OK. I guess. Haven't been in there much lately.

Been to CattyShack a few times. I took my boyfriend once and he seemed to do OK, so I don't know about the alleged man-hating. ?

Hope that helped. Have fun!

barlicious wrote: Loki can be fun or kinda goofy... The crowd can be kinda B-n-T.

Ummmm... It's in BROOKLYN! Do you know what B-n-T means?

Anonymous wrote: Hey all,

I posted a bit upthread about The Royale, defending it as a longtime bartender there.

Not so much with the love, now.

Y'see the owner just sold his majority share to a new manager, who promptly fired all us employees. Right before rent, a month before Christmas. Thanks Scrooge! Might we have a few kicks to the crotch on our way out?


Apparently the manager wants to take the place in a new direction. Think Plasma TV, Sports, Bimbos and gell-headed striped shirt dudes, hip-hop and top 40 dj's. Just what the neighborhood needs, right? Gah.

So, you may have liked the bar, or hated it, or somewhere inbetween, but I hope you'll all have a little sympathy for those of us who just lost our only source of employment.

that's AWFUL! ugh. so sorry, and good luck finding a new job! there aren't very many good barkeeps around, so I hope you're employed soon!

Sorry, 200 5th has been around a long time. Longer than 10 years. The owner's kid and my kid were in school at 321 at the same time and my kid is in college now. The restaurant part was there at least 15 years ago (I remember going there for dinner with some friends who we haven't spoken to since their wedding and they have been married 14 years), back when you were taking your life in your hands walking down 5th avenue after dark.

Oh, I have lived here for 19 years.

MichaelKeys wrote:
- Bar Reis: thuggish, ghetto crowd. (white AND black AND brown)

What I want to know is, when did Bar Reis become so ghetto? When I first moved to Park Slope in 2003, it was a nice little hangout place, where a woman could go alone and have a good time without being harassed. I haven't been in there in about 2 years, because all of a sudden it was filled with Kevin Federline lookalikes.

I like 12th Street Bar and Grill's bar - small but laidback, and they have darts. Farrell's is good for the old-school Brooklyn feel. Can't wait to try Cherry Tree and the Living Room.

Loki can be fun or kinda goofy... The crowd can be kinda B-n-T.

Ummmm... It's in BROOKLYN! Do you know what B-n-T means?

Ha. I maintain B & T is a state of mind, rather than a state of address. That said, Loki can be kind of a tool shed.

Guest, you may enjoy 12th St. only if you promise not to stand outside yakking your fool head off at the top of your voice until 5 a.m. on a weeknight. Is it wrong that some nights I've thought of using a SuperSoaker to get people to simmer down? Didn't think so.

barlicious wrote:
Been to CattyShack a few times. I took my boyfriend once and he seemed to do OK, so I don't know about the alleged man-hating.

I know for a fact that two of Park Slope's better known male bartenders were denied access until they produced a female companion to vouch for them. On separate nights. And I've gotten confirmation of the routine nature of this sort of thing by ladies who patronize Catty Shack.

Listen, I understand when East Village pseudo dance joints like Baraza discourage swarms of unaccompanied dudes in an effort to prevent a "sausage party," but this is ridiculous.

I'm not their target customer--Gen-X, straight male--so they could care less what I have to say, or where I spend my money but on principle they should be called out on their deliberate, exclusionary tactics. Like I said before, what if, say, Commonwealth decided that lesbian couples were not welcome? Oh, my...

Anonymous wrote: Hey all,

I posted a bit upthread about The Royale, defending it as a longtime bartender there.

Not so much with the love, now.

Y'see the owner just sold his majority share to a new manager, who promptly fired all us employees. Right before rent, a month before Christmas. Thanks Scrooge! Might we have a few kicks to the crotch on our way out?


Apparently the manager wants to take the place in a new direction. Think Plasma TV, Sports, Bimbos and gell-headed striped shirt dudes, hip-hop and top 40 dj's. Just what the neighborhood needs, right? Gah.

So, you may have liked the bar, or hated it, or somewhere inbetween, but I hope you'll all have a little sympathy for those of us who just lost our only source of employment.

My deepest sympathies to all of you who lost your jobs at Royale. While I had not been in the bar for quite a while I had quite a few fun nights that I will remember fondly. And about that new manager: karma has sharp teeth and loves to feast on the posteriors of dudes like this one. (One question, though: what have you got against striped shirts and hip-hop?)

The silver lining for the rest of us in this quite unfortunate situation is that, hopefully, this kind of crowd will have another joint to patronize, thereby minimizing the possibility of them wandering into and disrupting the vibe at any of the other bars. (Although if I were Commonwealth staff I'd brace myself: they'll be right across the street!)

Anonymous wrote: [quote=Anonymous]Hey all,

I posted a bit upthread about The Royale, defending it as a longtime bartender there.

Not so much with the love, now.

Y'see the owner just sold his majority share to a new manager, who promptly fired all us employees. Right before rent, a month before Christmas. Thanks Scrooge! Might we have a few kicks to the crotch on our way out?


Apparently the manager wants to take the place in a new direction. Think Plasma TV, Sports, Bimbos and gell-headed striped shirt dudes, hip-hop and top 40 dj's. Just what the neighborhood needs, right? Gah.

So, you may have liked the bar, or hated it, or somewhere inbetween, but I hope you'll all have a little sympathy for those of us who just lost our only source of employment.

My deepest sympathies to all of you who lost your jobs at Royale. While I had not been in the bar for quite a while I had quite a few fun nights that I will remember fondly. And about that new manager: karma has sharp teeth and loves to feast on the posteriors of dudes like this one. (One question, though: what have you got against striped shirts and hip-hop?)

The silver lining for the rest of us in this quite unfortunate situation is that, hopefully, this kind of crowd will have another joint to patronize, thereby minimizing the possibility of them wandering into and disrupting the vibe at any of the other bars. (Although if I were Commonwealth staff I'd brace myself: they'll be right across the street!)Ain't a damn thing wrong with most hip-hop. I know I'd much rather listen to the new Ghostface Killah than The Decemberists (P.Slope Heresy!).

Problem is, this new manger is going for the Union Hall crowd, the high-fivers and collar poppers. Coors light and the requisite $2 PBR in a can.

The white collar acting like blue collar douchebag frat crowd.

Yeah, Commonwealth oughta watch out.

Anonymous wrote: Problem is, this new manger is going for the Union Hall crowd, the high-fivers and collar poppers. Coors light and the requisite $2 PBR in a can. ...

Why are we hating Coors Light and P.B.R.?

Subject: Re: PS bars

MichaelKeys wrote: - Buttermilk: it may not be a big deal but it's one of the very few bars in the 'hood where--male or female--you can show up alone and not feel like a loser. (Try that at Commonwealth or Bar 4 and see if you don't get weird looks.)
- Commonwealth: solid jukebox, great to meet friends NOT to hookup

That's not the Commonwealth I know ... the reason I like the place is that every time I've gone there - by myself - I've felt instantly welcomed by people and have always gotten into at least one conversation and had a great time. And, I had one guy try to hook up with me, but I have a bf.

I feel terrible about the Royale, I hope everyone who worked there gets great new jobs.

Username: * wrote: Why are we hating Coors Light and P.B.R.?

Nothing against PBR but Coors Light is swill.

Hate to break it to you but PBR is a step below swill. That shit is rank.

erikka wrote: Hate to break it to you but PBR is a step below swill. That shit is rank.

True, but I could see drinking it if you must - when I was busted, a six pack of the pounders was $2.69 or something ridiculous; put 'em in freezer for awhile and they're not bad in the summer.

But yeah, if you can afford better the whole irony thing is a little absurd. Do people still do it? It's been awhile since I've seen someone drinking a Pabst in a bar...

Drano wrote: But yeah, if you can afford better the whole irony thing is a little absurd. Do people still do it? It's been awhile since I've seen someone drinking a Pabst in a bar...

I was in a bar in MH 'bout a year ago - one of the main attractions: cans of PBR for a buck or two, or somethin'... the place was packed with hipsters that could (I can only assume) clearly afford something better.

WhyFi wrote:
I was in a bar in MH 'bout a year ago - one of the main attractions: cans of PBR for a buck or two, or somethin'... the place was packed with hipsters that could (I can only assume) clearly afford something better.

Was it Welcome to the Johnson's? I used to go there for their $2 PBR when it was filled with us hipsters who can't afford something better (young, working musicians and artists). Then that other faux hip crowd took over. I went in one night and the people were so obnoxious that I haven't gone back. :P

There is better at nearly the same price: Yuengling. Shit, BUD is better and you know it. PBR smells like bug spray, makes you pee every two minutes and even the "working class" in the ironic midwest that people are trying to emulate have moved on. Plus, it tastes terrible. So does Sparks. Grown ups can do better.

Welcome to the Johnsons is probably the most intolerable bar in NYC. Free beer couldn't get me in that place.

But...but...it won a blue ribbon! They don't just give those away!

nothing funnier than my friend trying to order champagne at welcome to the johnson's.

There is better at nearly the same price: Yuengling. Shit, BUD is better and you know it. PBR smells like bug spray, makes you pee every two minutes and even the "working class" in the ironic midwest that people are trying to emulate have moved on. Plus, it tastes terrible. So does Sparks. Grown ups can do better.

All true. And if I couldn't afford better than PBR, I'd give up drinking and take up crying.

alafairnadia wrote: nothing funnier than my friend trying to order champagne at welcome to the johnson's.

some douchey i-banker was trying to order a heineken at the Brandy Library last night. That's like going to Per Se and ordering Spagetti-O's.

erikka wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]nothing funnier than my friend trying to order champagne at welcome to the johnson's.

some douchey i-banker was trying to order a heineken at the Brandy Library last night. That's like going to Per Se and ordering Spagetti-O's.

srsly. and Brandy Library's champagne cocktail is out of control delicious. bitters, brandy and champagne? mmm.

Where is Brandy Library? I could go for a champagne cocktail right about now.....

BklynTransplant wrote: Where is Brandy Library? I could go for a champagne cocktail right about now.....

tribeca - 25 N. moore st.

one of my favorite bars in manhattan - less of a pain in the ass than milk and honey, but that same hushed, calm atmosphere.

There is better at nearly the same price: Yuengling. Shit, BUD is better and you know it. PBR smells like bug spray, makes you pee every two minutes and even the "working class" in the ironic midwest that people are trying to emulate have moved on. Plus, it tastes terrible. So does Sparks. Grown ups can do better.

I realize this now. lol. I haven't had a PBR since I got out of college (a whopping 1.5 years ago). Anyway, I found its just better to find bartenders that are cool and give you free drinks some of the time. Hence--Buttermilk.

[quote="caaahyoko"]

I haven't had a PBR since I got out of college (a whopping 1.5 years ago). Anyway, I found its just better to find bartenders that are cool and give you free drinks some of the time. Hence--Buttermilk.

I'd never had a PBR until a few months ago--tall boy at Doc Holliday's in the EV--and was pleasantly surprised. Not long before that I had a really cold Miller here in PS, at a temperature various degrees below the coldest beer I've ever had in New York. And you know what? That theory about "any beer's OK as long as it's nice and cold" got shot to hell BIG TIME. Bleech! As a general rule I don't drink mass-produced domestic beer, although I've been known to down a Rolling Rock in a pinch. But Bud, Coors, Miller? Ugh!

Love the 'Milk but the draft beer needs to be colder.

Oh, and could you tell Mr. S, that drummer still sucks? hahahahaha

MichaelKeys wrote:

Oh, and could you tell Mr. S, that drummer still sucks? hahahahaha

Not unless I want to sleep on the couch!

I registered so I don't have to be the guest any more.

I stand by my upthread hate-on for PBR. Ass in a can, or on draft. Always being drunk by kids who can afford better.

Also it's shitty for business. Usually you'd get a pack of 4 or 5 dudes taking up bar real estate to sit on their asses for hours sipping at best one or two cans.

Yeah, i know, business is business. But much prefer the cocktail drinkers or beer barons; less obnoxious, better tippers, more $$$ in the drawer.

I'm no beer snob in general, Miller High Life is my tool of choice.

Oh yeah- Brooklyn Lager? Overrated by a friggin mile.

erskelyne wrote: I registered so I don't have to be the guest any more.

Good for you. Now that you're part of the family, you must wash your own sheets and take out the trash once a week.