Waterfront Ale House

(212) 696-4104

540 2nd Ave (30th Street)
New York, NY 10016 40.742229 -73.977732

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Neighborhoods: Kips Bay, Midtown

WATERFRONTALEHOUSE.COM

Hours:

Kitchen: Sun-Thu 11:30am-11pm

Fri-Sat 11:30am-12am

Bar closes at 4am

Last updated 8.07.11

Category:

Bars & Clubs, Sports Bars, Bars & Pubs, Brew Pubs, Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Waterfront Ale House

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Popcorn-flecked linoleum floors and nicked wood tables give this neighborhood pub the worn appeal of a pair of faded jeans. Though monochrome sepia lighting and a lager-tinted expanse of wall-to-wall paneling threaten to leach the room of its already subdued charm, a typically large and sociable crowd of all drinking ages injects the space with vitality. A not-too-loud recorded stream of rock and jazz adds to the pleasant mood. – – The Draw – Far beyond its unassuming ambience, Waterfront's inventive dishes and fantastic regional and seasonal brews--with 20…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
If you can't decide whether to have a drink or a dessert, ask for the house specialty known as Grandma's Apple Pie. Offered as a winter treat, this potent concoction of apple-marinated vodka is the perfect after-dinner drink.
The Extras:
The success of Pete's Waterfront Ale House in Brooklyn Heights inspired the bar's owners to open the second Waterfront in 1995. While Pete's food selection is basic, its drink menu is just as adventurous as that of its Manhattan kin.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “comfortable neighborhood bar in its own right, the Waterfront specializes in having a great beer selection on tap and creative specials on the lunch/dinner menu.”
  2. “Best burgers and fun atmosphere”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “(it's not so great if you get a favorite beer and You have to wait a months before You tast it again ).”
  2. “used to enjoy frequenting this relaxed, local spot since i live close by & usually enjoy a nice beer from the friendly bar-tenders, & the fact that this bar is not your typical murray hill joint.”
  3. “always go to Waterfront on Fridays to finish my work week with friends for great food and beers.”
  4. “Great beer good food!”
  5. “Kinya says it's "a good bar, with good music, and SAFE.”
  6. “It always has great specials and different beers.”
  7. “It's very small, but it's a good place to sit down get a burger and a beer.”
  8. “Excellent selection of all sorts of beer, plus good beer specials for the thrifty.”
  9. “Great bar food.”
  10. “The pulled chicken sandwich is killer, and they have a decent draught beer selection with very knowledgeable barstaff.”
  11. “However, this place is PERFECT if you want to just lay back, relax, and enjoy some food and drink with friends.”
  12. “comfortable neighborhood bar in its own right, the Waterfront specializes in having a great beer selection on tap and creative specials on the lunch/dinner menu.”
food quality
81.57999992370605% positive
  1. “always go to Waterfront on Fridays to finish my work week with friends for great food and beers.”
  2. “This place has the best burger and the free popcorn is not to bad either.”
  3. “Best burgers and fun atmosphere”
  4. “The food is served with wetnaps, and is standard but good barfood.”
  5. “really enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich.”
  6. “The food was very good and it was a busy night, but there is absolutely no reason for employees to treat a customer the way that I was treated.”
  7. “Beer selection and food specials the big draw”
  8. “Great bar food.”
  9. “The pulled chicken sandwich is killer, and they have a decent draught beer selection with very knowledgeable barstaff.”
  10. “However, this place is PERFECT if you want to just lay back, relax, and enjoy some food and drink with friends.”
  11. “Great waffle fries”
  12. “They have the best waffle fries around and also the best popcorn ever.”
  13. “They also hve very good drafts if that is what you like but the food.”
  14. “Decor is not that great, but it all makes up in house smoked specialtys like the ribs, brisket or my favorite pulled pork!”
  15. “but steer clear of the waitresses & don't expect great food.”
  16. “It's very small, but it's a good place to sit down get a burger and a beer.”
  17. “rude wait staff- disappointing food”
  18. “Dangerous food, horrible customer service, and incredibly rude staff.”
  19. “Great beer good food!”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The pulled chicken sandwich is killer, and they have a decent draught beer selection with very knowledgeable barstaff.”
  2. “Beer selection and food specials the big draw”
  3. “My suggestion is to ignore the menu and order off the blackboard.”
  4. “Excellent selection of all sorts of beer, plus good beer specials for the thrifty.”
  5. “comfortable neighborhood bar in its own right, the Waterfront specializes in having a great beer selection on tap and creative specials on the lunch/dinner menu.”
  6. “The menu is always good, the specials are always interesting and never a let down.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's very small, but it's a good place to sit down get a burger and a beer.”
  2. “Friendly service rounds out a great neighborhood place.”
service
65.0% positive
  1. “Not to loud, a good bunch of staff to see that your well taken care of.”
  2. “rude wait staff- disappointing food”
  3. “Friendly service rounds out a great neighborhood place.”
  4. “used to enjoy frequenting this relaxed, local spot since i live close by & usually enjoy a nice beer from the friendly bar-tenders, & the fact that this bar is not your typical murray hill joint.”
  5. “Turns out the order was never placed because the wait staff was too busy to take the order from my fiancee who had a similarly rude experience when trying to order over the phone.”
  6. “Dangerous food, horrible customer service, and incredibly rude staff.”
  7. “The food was very good and it was a busy night, but there is absolutely no reason for employees to treat a customer the way that I was treated.”
  8. “but steer clear of the waitresses & don't expect great food.”
  9. “staff is all pretty nice too!”
  10. “she was extremely rude as if i given her this huge burden because i didn't fancy the manure-colored bowl of puree loaded with garlic cloves she put in front of me.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “happy hour has nice prices.”
  2. “she was extremely rude as if i given her this huge burden because i didn't fancy the manure-colored bowl of puree loaded with garlic cloves she put in front of me.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/19/10

Good Pulled Pork

by sadzia at Citysearch

Carving a pulled pork sandwich and sweet potatoe fries this is the place. I really enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. It was moist and tender and I can't even go on, I'm getting hungry again. Go have it, its good.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/05/08

Solid cheap eats in Murray Hill

by jmweiss11 at Citysearch

Great bar food. Good brews. The wait can get bad on weekend nights though. Still a solid place to pair with a flic at Loews Kips Bay down the block.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

05/21/08

used to love it, not sure what happened...

by BasedInMidtown at Citysearch

As a friend said, "it's not even on the water!" Not that I would hold that against it, but two recent bad experiences left a bad taste in my mouth. Similar to other posters I was whisked away one evening and actually laughed at when I asked where I could pickup my takeout order (since they don't deliver.) Turns out the order was never placed because the wait staff was too busy to take the order from my fiancee who had a similarly rude experience when trying to order over the phone. That coupled with a night where the waitress would rather go tipless than learn how to work the credit card machine - seeing as I didn't have any cash - left me wondering if I could ever talk myself into going back. Truth be told, I'll probably give it one last shot but three times a charm suckers!

  • Pros: duane wade
  • Cons: al capone
3 Star Rating: Average

09/07/07

rude wait staff- disappointing food

by mujer27 at Citysearch

i used to enjoy frequenting this relaxed, local spot since i live close by & usually enjoy a nice beer from the friendly bar-tenders, & the fact that this bar is not your typical murray hill joint. upon entering last night with my boyfriend we were hastily asked if we were eating or drinking & they kept badgering us to order. finally i ordered this broccoli garlic soup & it tasted awful. i told the waitress kindly that i couldn't eat it. i didn't ask for a refund...but she got so defensive! she was extremely rude as if i given her this huge burden because i didn't fancy the manure-colored bowl of puree loaded with garlic cloves she put in front of me. i have had this waitress before & she is tough, unfriendly & totally class-less.

she said they would replace the meal so i ordered dumplings which were like hot wet sacks of i don't know what. they were just awful.

go for the beer. but steer clear of the waitresses & don't expect great food.

  • Pros: not your usual murray hill bar- chill ,local bar with an older clientele. good beer & popcorn!
  • Cons: food & waitresses
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/23/07

Best burgers and fun atmosphere

by adamski7 at Citysearch

I always go to Waterfront on Fridays to finish my work week with friends for great food and beers. It always has great specials and different beers. (it's not so great if you get a favorite beer and You have to wait a months before You tast it again ). Decor is not that great, but it all makes up in house smoked specialtys like the ribs, brisket or my favorite pulled pork! Also try their seasonal rumpunch if You go in summer. The waitstaff is knowledgable and very friendly! They even make their own hot sauce - its a killer!

  • Pros: food, drink, service

The Details on Waterfront Ale House

Place Categories:

  • enjoy food
  • great nice beer
  • comfortable neighborhood bar
  • great beer specials
  • great waffle fries
  • best burger
  • rude wait staff
  • bad experience
  • bad taste
  • all pretty nice staff
  • not that great decor
  • best fun atmosphere
  • friendly bartenders
  • very knowledgeable barstaff
  • order blackboard
  • good music
  • best popcorn
  • order phone
  • good barfood
  • great different beers
  • always good menu
  • favorite pulled pork
  • very good drafts
  • great neighborhood place
  • huge burden