The Village Voice's Sarah DiGregorio has put together a top-ten list of Brooklyn's best bars.
First of all, I need to state that I hate lists like this. They're essentially meaningless, utterly subjective and usually negate their rankings by pitting apples against oranges. But I feel compelled to comment. (That's why they put these damn things together, to get readers riled up, right?) First, old school dive bars like Smolen Bar and Grill, Sunny's, Montero's and Denny's shouldn't even be talked about in the same breath as egghead, artisinal cocktail and beer joints like Clover Club and Beer Table. They're not even in the same room. It's like saying the pyramids and the Flatiron Building are two of the best buildings. More specifically, I like Brooklyn Social, but it makes better cocktails that Clover Club, Weather Up, and Quarter? And Beer Table would be on anyone's short list.
Anyway, here's the crazy list.
10. Palace Cafe (206 Nassau Avenue, Greenpoint, 718-383-9848)
9. KeBeer Bar and Grill (1003 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brighton Beach, 718-934-9005)
8. Smolen Bar and Grill (708 Fifth Avenue, Greenwood Heights/Sunset Park, 718-788-9729)
7. Freddy's (485 Dean Street, Prospect Heights, 718-622-7035)
6. The Brooklyn Inn (148 Hoyt Street, Boerum Hill, 718-625-9741)
5. Tip Top Bar and Grill (432 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy, 718-857-9744)
4. Sunny's Bar (253 Conover Street, Red Hook, 718-625-8211, open Wed., Fri., and Sat.)
3. Brooklyn Social (335 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, 718-858-7758)
2. Montero's Bar and Grill (73 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights, 718-624-9799)
1. Spuyten Duyvil (359 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, 718-963-4140)
Our 14 runners up, in rough order of preference:
Irish Haven (5721 Fourth Avenue, Sunset Park, 718-439-9893)
Clover Club (210 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, 718-855-7939)
Denny's Steak Pub (106 Beverley Road, Kensington, 718-435-2156)
Ruby's Bar and Grill (1213 Boardwalk West, Coney Island, 718-372-9079)
Quarter (676 Fifth Avenue, Greenwood Heights/Sunset Park, 718-788-0989)
Weather Up (589 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights)
Beer Island (3070 Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island)
Barcade (388 Union Avenue, Williamsburg, 718-302-6464)
Botanica (220 Conover Street, Red Hook, 718-797-2297)
Franklin Park (618 Saint Johns Place, Crown Heights, 718-975-0196)
Union Pool (484 Union Avenue, Williamsburg, 718-609-0484)
Beer Table (427 Seventh Avenue, Park Slope, 718-965-1196)
Moonshine (317 Columbia Street, Red Hook, 718-852-8057)
Sycamore Bar (1118 Cortelyou Road, Ditmas Park, 347-240-5850)
