Brooklyn Social
Brooklyn, NY 11231-4607
Phone: (718) 858-7758
- Cross Street:
- Between Carroll Street and President Street
- Directions:
- F, G at Carroll St
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-4am
Editorial Review for Brooklyn Social – by Kara Zuaro
The Scene
Brooklyn's members-only establishments--hidden in the windowless ground floors of brownstones and marked only by neighborhood patriarchs smoking cigars out front--are a subject of intrigue. Brooklyn Social caters to this curiosity. In this dark watering hole, the former home of a real Italian social club, vintage-chic regulars grab bar stools, shoot pool, smoke cigarettes on the back porch and soak in the nostalgic decor. A pressed-tin ceiling and long stately bar add to the ambience.
The Draw
Classic cocktails match the old-school environs. Bunches of fresh mint and rosemary, ready to be muddled into mojitos and specialty Riposto cocktails, embellish the bar, and dapper bartenders hand over the martini list with a snappy "What can I fix for ya, sister?" The Ginger old-fashioned, made with sugar and maraschino cherries, satisfies a sweet tooth. Tough guys opt for the Brooklyn martini, straight-up rye with a hint of orange brandy.
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Insider Tips
The ExtrasThree sublime sandwiches pile smoked mozzarella, fresh basil, artichokes and prosciutto on ciabatta bread from nearby bakery, Caputo's.
Know Before You GoBeers and well drinks are slightly pricey for this neighborhood, but expertly mixed house specialties--at $8 each--are worth it.
Where to SitGroups should arrive early on weekends to grab two large tables in front. For privacy, seek out the tiny alcove marked "Ladies Auxiliary."
User Reviews for Brooklyn Social
09/06/2008 Posted by MrTtwo
Love the classic cocktails, especially the old fashioned. bartenders in ties and white aprons. tuesday nights are great when Ivan's behind the bar. The other night the music ranged from Duke Ellington to some scratchy old Italian opera. old school w/o being pretentious. love it! we just moved to the hood...this is our new spot.
Pros: ambience, drinks, bartenders
Cons: gets too crowded on weekends.
05/04/2008 Posted by 2985
I don't know about this place. On the one hand, I was not allowed in such places earlier in my life (in my family girls and "nice" women were prohibited), so it's fascinating for me to actually be able to go into one. The memorabilia brings back happy memories of my older relatives, and the juke box has Neapolitan song and Italian American standards. On the other hand, as the night goes on it gets jammed with hipsters and the use of my ethnic heritage to create a little theme park for them becomes kind of appalling (and what is it with these male hipsters and the stupid-looking knit hats they're all using to express their idiosyncratic countercultural genius this month?). Go early, on a night when bartender Ivan is around.
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