BESTOFBK.COM • WINNERS GUIDE • DIME BEST OF BROOKLYN 2019 9
the portfolio of Brooklyn Brewery has
grown to a wide-ranging collection of beers,
always keeping an eye to traditional brewing
techniques, even as Brewmaster Garrett Oliver
and his team seek to push the boundaries of
beer. Each season brings beloved seasonals
like Brooklyn Summer Ale and Brooklyn Black
Chocolate Stout back to the shelves and taps,
ushering in the joys of the changing weather.
BEST CATERING HALL
GENNARO’S CATERING HALL
6602 13th Ave.
(718) 236-7252 – www.gennaroscatering.com
If you’re looking for a great place to host
a great event, then look no further than
Gennaro’s Catering Hall. The full-service
establishment brings the finest in Italian home
cooking to any affair. They feature everything
you need, including birthdays, celebrations,
anniversaries, engagements, bridal showers,
baby showers, rehearsal dinners, weddings,
memorial services, gift openings, corporate
meetings, receptions dinners, open houses,
client appreciation events and all seasonal
events & holidays. There’s nowhere in the
borough that features a more comprehensive
stable of events to allow you to celebrate in
style.
BEST COMEDY CLUB
UNION HALL
702 Union St.
(718) 638-4400 – www.unionhallny.com
Laugh away your stress at Union Hall, which
our readers voted to have the best comedy
in all of Brooklyn. Union Hall is a 5,000
square foot bar, restaurant, and live music
and comedy venue in the heart of Park Slope,
Brooklyn. Painstakingly converted from a
warehouse, it offers cozy firesides, a stately
library, two indoor bocce courts, outdoor
garden seating, and a downstairs bar with
music and comedy. New York Press says
Union Hall “offers downtown style mixed
with Brooklyn’s trademark down-to-earth
friendliness.” The artists on display are as
unique as any in the city. The venue features
multiple rooms, all of which provide an
intimate setting to allow you to enjoy some
of the most diverse art you’ll find, not just in
Brooklyn but throughout New York City. The
staff is friendly in helpful and allows you to
enjoy your evening out in style.
BEST DANCE PARTY
HOUSE OF YES
2 Wyckoff Ave.
(646) 838-4973 – www.houseofyes.org
When you want to dance the night away to
unique musical acts, head over to the House
of Yes on the Ridgewood/Bushwick border.
The first House of Yes started innocently
enough- in April of 2007, a friend of a friend
was looking for someone to take over their
lease on a 2,500 square foot second floor loft
located at 1949 Troutman St.. The place was
a wreck, a hippie-punk squat house complete
with hallways filled with trash, leaky ceilings
and curious odors. “It is perfect,” said Anya
Sapozhnikova. She signed the lease. And so it
began. This was a project driven by passion,
not dollars. The goal was to build a true
creative live/ work space that could host an
occasional dance party or circus class.
BEST DIVE BAR
SOCCER TAVERN
6004 8th Ave.
(718) 439-9336 – www.thesoccertavern.com
If you want to “take a break from all your
worries” and grab a cold one in Brooklyn,
head over to the Soccer Tavern, an Irish
pub tucked away in the heart of Brooklyn’s
Chinatown, and has been in operation since
the prohibition era in 1929. The old school bar
encompasses the true spirit of Sunset Park,
and has become a neighborhood staple for
old-timers and newcomers alike, and serves
the community with a drink and a smile as you
enjoy your evening out.
BEST FIRST DATE VENUE
THE OWL’S HEAD
479 74th St.
(718) 680-2436 – www.theowlshead.com
Since 2011, The Owl’s Head has poured Bay
Ridge an eclectic, distinct, and affordable
selection of global wines and craft beers,
paired with ever-evolving menu of savory
and sweet artisanal bites. The offerings are
carefully selected from small producers by
owner John Avelluto and served in a rustic
setting that pays homage to the original
design of the 1904 building. A handcrafted
bar top rough hewn from a single maple tree
complements the restored tin ceilings and
brick walls of the dining room. The Owl’s Head
provides an intimate atmosphere to enjoy
some great wine and beer, tasty bites and good
conversation with friends and family. With
critical acclaim and a stable of loyal customers,
The Owl’s Head remains one of Brooklyn’s
most eclectic places to drink.
BEST GAY BAR
EXCELSIOR
563 5th Ave.
(718) 788-2710 – www.excelsiorbrooklyn.com
Richard Kennedy and Mark Nayden, the
founder of Excelsior, wanted to have an
extension of everyone’s living rooms. They
became a neighborhood bar that catered to
a predominately gay and lesbian clientele.
Quickly noticed by New York Magazine,
The Village Voice and Time OUT, Excelsior
became a staple of Brooklyn and NYC’s bar
scene. Forced to relocate in August of 2014,
Excelsior is now more than double its original
size, with two floors. Private parties, dancing
and performance will become the norm, but
Excelsior still retains its neighborhood feel and
now is surrounded by other area restaurants
and bars too. Excelsior is a welcoming place
that allows everyone to enjoy themselves for a
night out.
BEST HAPPY HOUR
UNO’S BAY RIDGE
9201 4th Ave.
(718) 748-8667 – www.unos.com
At UNO Pizzeria & Grill in Bay Ridge, the
flavor runs deep as their famous Chicago deep
dish pizza. There’s plenty of flavor served
during happy hour. They’ve always worked
with breweries to bring you a selection of
drafts and crafts. But now they’re upping the
ante. With the power of Untappd, Uno Pizzeria
and Grill in Bay Ridge is bringing a curated
selection of national, regional and local craft
beers on tap, rotating weekly. It’s the power
of a national chain with all of the service and
convenience expected from your local pizzeria,
and the happy hour features an eclectic
combination of drinks and fun to allow you to
enjoy your evening after work, or just relax on
a day off.
BEST HOOKAH BAR
RED OAK
8305 3rd Ave.
(718) 680-0800
Red Oak offers delicious Middle Eastern fare
as well as a hookah lounge & tented back
patio. Red Oak serves lunch, dinner and drinks
and provides services that make it excellent for
a night out with your group. There’s outdoor
seating that can enliven any summer night
for those that don’t wanna go in to eat. They
take reservations or they’ll allow you to take
out and while they do take reservations, walk
ins are welcome. The wait staff is extremely
friendly and prompt. Red Hook allows
customers to enjoy their night on the town
however they wish to do so. The hookah
lounge provides a nice time for folks looking to
walk a little bit on the wild side on their night
in Brooklyn.
BEST HOTEL BAR
THE IDES AT THE WYTHE HOTEL
80 Wythe Ave.
(718) 460-8006 – www.wythehotel.com
Chic, art deco-inspired hotel cocktail bar
with a terrace, snacks & views of the skyline
& sunset. The Ides sets the stage for elegant
cocktail receptions, buffet-style breakfasts,
brunches, and lunches. Their art deco-inspired
bar has floor to ceiling views of the Manhattan
skyline, features marble tables, rich leather
banquets and antiqued mirrors that reflect
the view. The attached outdoor terrace also
overlooks the city skyline, as well as Brooklyn
rooftops, and weather permitting, allows guest
to mingle al fresco.
BEST IRISH BAR/PUB
SOCCER TAVERN
6004 8th Ave.
(718) 439-9336 – www.thesoccertavern.com
Soccer Tavern in Bay Ridge offers all the
comforts of a public house found in Ireland
without having to travel across the Atlantic to
enjoy one. The old school bar encompasses
the true spirit of Sunset Park, and has become
a neighborhood staple for old-timers and
newcomers alike, and serves the community
with a drink and a smile as you enjoy your
evening out.
BEST KARAOKE BAR
OLD CARRIAGE INN
312 7th Ave.
(718) 788-7747
Sing your heart out at the Old Carriage Inn.
Thursday and Saturday’s girl-strong karaoke
jam comes complete with a gender-neutral
emcee and uniformed squads that aren’t
necessarily concerned if they can hit the notes
because they know your night is about having
fun and singing along to the greatest hits from
every decade as well as the modern jams on
today’s radio. It’s a wild night out for anyone.
BEST LATE NIGHT EATS
ROLL-N-ROASTER
2901 Emmons Ave.
(718) 769-6000 – www.rollnroaster.com
“You can have cheez on anything you pleez”
anytime, day or night, at Roll-N-Roaster, the
iconic Sheepshead Bay staple that’s become
Brooklyn’s go-to spot for great roast beef
sandwiches and cheese (cheez) fries. For more
than 48 years, Roll-n-Roaster has provided
people with “simply delicious” food, great
employment opportunities, considerable
charitable contributions and beautification of
the Sheepshead Bay area. After 17,000,000
Roast Beef Sandwiches and four expansions,
Roll-n-Roaster remains the originator, not the
imitator. Through their many, many years of
serving high quality roast beef sandwiches,
Roll-n-Roaster have become a staple of the
community, as well as anyone who’s hungry.
BEST LIQUOR STORE
LONG’S WINE AND LIQUORS
7917 5th Ave.
(718) 748-6505 – www.longswines.com
Established in 1983, Long’s Wines and Liquors
is a family owned and operated business
located in the heart of Bay Ridge. Features an
excellent selection at value prices. Come in for
your favorites, or talk with them to explore
how wines and spirits fit your tastes. Carries
many of the major brands as well as handselected,
unique finds. It’s important to have a
liquor store that feels like a dependable friend.
Long’s Wines and Liquors provides exactly
that with a knowledgeable staff who are able
to get whatever you need for a night with your
friends, a family gathering or a full-fledged
party. Proud to serve their community and
provide everyone in the Brooklyn community
with whatever they need for wine and spirits to
enjoy their evening.
BEST LOUNGE
DELIA’S LOUNGE
9224 3rd Ave.
(718) 745-7999 – www.deliaslounge.com
Delia’s is a great spot for a casual, friendly
evening out in Bay Ridge, right next to the
Verrazano Bridge. Come relax on Delia’s
Lounge’s cushy couches and candle-lit
atmosphere. Their eclectic, cozy mix of decor
from around the world is sure to make you feel
like you are sitting in your own living room.
Call ahead for reservations so your table is
waiting when you arrive. They have a three
hour party package that includes drinks and
selections from our menu.
BEST MARGARITA
HO’ BRAH
8618 3rd Ave.
(718) 680-8226 – www.hobrahtacos.com
Along with their amazing tacos, Ho’Brah
serves the kind of margarita that would make
Jimmy Buffett sing in delight. They shared
tales of favorite taco joints they’d visited on
vacations around the world; small taco trucks
on the Mexican border in San Diego; wood
paneled surf-taco joints yards from the ocean
in Florida; oversized taco emporiums in
Hawaii; and one truly shanty fish shack turned
taco stand on the Gulf Coast. They are proud
that people from all over New York City, and
the world, visit Ho’Brah to see what the fuss
is about. They want you to see firsthand that
our success comes from our “family first spirit”
and commitment to show each and every
Guest that they consider them to be family too.
BEST MARTINI
CLOVER CLUB
210 Smith St.
(718) 855-7939 – www.cloverclubny.com
Clover Club is the premiere cocktail bar
in Brooklyn. Sure, that means exquisite
cocktails, real food and an atmosphere of true
hospitality. But it’s a Brooklyn cocktail bar,
so that also means no velvet rope, a low-key,
neighborhood vibe, live jazz from time to time
and a cozy back room with a fireplace. Oh, and
brunch, because you need brunch. Available
for delivery, private parties, cocktail catering
and other events. The staff and management at
the Clover Club want you to drink and eat and,
above all, talk, and we do our best to provide
a place where you can enjoy such things to
their fullest. Clover Club will take reservations
for Sunday through Thursday evenings. They
offer tables on a first come first serve basis on
Friday and Saturday nights as well as Saturday
and Sunday brunch.
BEST MOJITO
BOGOTA LATIN BISTRO
141 5th Ave.
(718) 230-3805 – www.bogotabistro.com
Sip on the best mojito in Brooklyn while
enjoying award-winning Colombian & Latin
fare at what’s often called “Brooklyn’s Hottest
Latin Restaurant.” Bogota Latin Bistro is
open everyday for lunch & dinner and serve
an awesome brunch on weekends. At Bogota
Latin Bistro, they’re dedicated to elevating
the status and awareness of Latin food—
particularly Colombian cuisine—and culture
via their food, drinks, music, and hospitality.
Bogota Latin Bistro tries to lead the way in
what New York City Latin restaurants, food,
and service should be about. Hospitality,
professionalism, pride, fanatical attention to
detail, teamwork, and respect for diversity are
the core values that guide their efforts.
BARS & NIGHTLIFE
/www.unos.com
/www.unionhallny.com
/www.houseofyes.org
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.theowlshead.com
/www.excelsiorbrooklyn.com
/www.unos.com
/www.wythehotel.com
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.rollnroaster.com
/www.longswines.com
/www.deliaslounge.com
/www.hobrahtacos.com
/www.cloverclubny.com
/www.bogotabistro.com
/BESTOFBK.COM
/www.gennaroscatering.com
/www.unionhallny.com
/www.houseofyes.org
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.theowlshead.com
/www.excelsiorbrooklyn.com
/www.gennaroscatering.com
/www.wythehotel.com
/www.rollnroaster.com
/www.longswines.com
/www.deliaslounge.com
/www.hobrahtacos.com
/www.cloverclubny.com
/www.bogotabistro.com
/www.gennaroscatering.com
/www.unionhallny.com
/www.houseofyes.org
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.theowlshead.com
/www.excelsiorbrooklyn.com
/www.unos.com
/www.wythehotel.com
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.rollnroaster.com
/www.longswines.com
/www.deliaslounge.com
/www.hobrahtacos.com
/www.cloverclubny.com
/www.bogotabistro.com