d.b.a.

d.b.a.d.b.a.
d.b.a.d.b.a.
Bar, Eatery

41 1st Ave
New York, New York, 10003-9426
United States

(212) 475-5097 | map
places.singleplatform.com/dba/menu?ref=google
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.95
Reviews:
72
Ratings:
80
pDev:
13.16%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bonbini26:
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Reviewed by bonbini26 from New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
A- I stopped in during off hours, so I can't really comment on this seems like it could be a pretty good spot, decent size bar area, with a few tables and a pacman machine. There is an outdoor garden with tables and covering.
Q- They list the date that each beer was tapped, thats pretty good quality in my book
S- The bartenders could have been a little more chatty, I was the only one in there at the time, didn't give the most informed discription when i asked about some beers
S- about 15 taps, mostly from US (5), UK (3), Germany (4), Belgium (3). and (2) cask lines. Bottle list is pretty extensive from all over.
F- they don't serve food here, but do offer free cheese on Monday's and allow you to bring food in.
V- beers were $6 during happy hour (nothing happy about that) $7 regular hours, a lot of beers on tap were 10oz pours (lame)

Overall, I don't think i would go out of my way to head back here, but who knows maybe for their sunday brunch thats about it, its not a destination
May 01, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 5 by Noelito76 from New York

Mar 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.93 by thundersnow from North Carolina

Jul 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by almostjay from Virginia

Feb 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by JoeMans from New York

Aug 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by banger7 from California

May 31, 2014
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Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

4.17/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
I've been several times while enjoying the sights and sounds of NYC. It can get a little crowded if you're here during peak hours. Service has always been prompt and polite. There are a variety of drafts from which to choose, as well as a really nice selection of single malt scotches and tequilas. No food available, but you can bring in your own (there are pizza and Mexican restaurants on the same street). The outdoor seating in the back is especially pleasant. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
May 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by seanchai from Virginia

Dec 31, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by BfloBrewHound from New York

Oct 18, 2013
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Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina

3.87/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.25 | selection: 3.75
I rather like this place with with the mostly lighter wood interoir and fairly large bar space. I would forewarn anyone that is looking to try this place out that it gets quite busy on weekends including Thursday night. If you go when it is really busy you will find the service slower and it will be very difficult to get a spot at the bar or a table. The place has decent lighting (which is nie when you are wanting to really enjoy a beer and see what the appearance is like) but also gets quite noisy, to the point where it can be hard to have a conversation - not loud music just the noise of the other patrons in the smaller space. There is also a nice outdoor space when the weather is decent.

I have always had beer well poured and served in the proper glassware with the proper amount of head.

The service can be real hit or miss when visiting d.b.a. as I have had great service and horrible service (sometimes within a single visit). There are definitely bartenders that are quite professional and do a great job serving you while others that you can barely get their attention and they seem annoyed that you interrupted their conversation with a co-worker.

The selection is pretty good, the bottle list is generally always a little more impressive than the drafts. For drafts, they usually have some very nice NYC area beers and other quality craft offerings but nothing exceptionally rare. Often they have some cellared offerings that can be quite interesting.

I don't remember ever getting any food here so I'm not going to add anything to the review about it.

Prices are in line with other bars in the area, not unreasonable but a touch pricey.
Jun 16, 2013
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Reviewed by Mr27 from New York

4.56/5  rDev +15.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
This place is great, right up my alley. Low key quiet and great atmosphere. Awesome selection of beer and not too pricey. Service was very great. Was a little disappointed they didn't have a live jazz band like the one in Williamsburg but all and all still a really great place. The outside back park encased in glass is awesome as well. Love a bar with an outside to sit.
Mar 17, 2013
Photo of beenitty
Reviewed by beenitty from New Jersey

2.06/5  rDev -47.8%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2 | service: 1 | selection: 3
Of all the beer bars in NYC area that I've been to this is the ONLY one that I could actually give a bad review...

I've been to approximately 25-30 hotspots for beer in the city and I was very dissapointed in my experience at DBA because I'd consistently seen the bar on people's list of best beer bars.

First the service was really really bad. If you look around on Yelp and other rating sites you'll find a myriad of ppl complaining about the service. The tales are true. The bartenders really dont care if you get a drink or not, theyll ignore you, theyll take breaks and walk around cleaning stuff, they are not at all professional.

Second, the beer menu is broad but not impressive. Typically most beer bars have beers that are somewhat hard to get and or highly sought after. They have pretty much anything you can get in your average store plus a few above average offerings, not many standard Belgians like Rochefort etc. (not that Rochefort is criteria for variety, but you get the point)

Their draft list is probably a bit above average considering the number of drafts available but if you can get served, then you cant really enjoy the beers.

Dont waste your time at this place, Blind Tiger and Against the Grain are both much better in terms of variety and service.

If you end up at DBA, dont say I (Jason and Todd) didnt warn you!

Highly NOT NOT NOT Reccommended
Feb 16, 2011
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Reviewed by david18 from New York

4/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
I've been to this bar a few times and definitely like it a lot. There is always at least one, often two, beers on draft and a great selection of those. The bartenders are knowledgable and the service is also very good.

The bottle selection is outstanding. However, the draft selection is not as good as it could be. Not too many obscure beers and not a huge number. Not like Rattle & Hum, Ginger Man or Blind Tiger. However, the bottle selection is one of the best in the city.

Haven't tried the food.
Jan 28, 2010
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Reviewed by franklymyrhett from Georgia

3.86/5  rDev -2.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
I loved this place when I went. It was very nice inside. It can be a very crowded on the weekend. We went really late and it was not too crowded. I sat at the bar. The attractive bar tender did not know anything about beer but the selection was good so I didn't care. They had the Goose Island Bourbon county on draft. Amazing. I love this place and will go back anytime I am in NY. They have a wide variety of scotch's as well. I met some very interesting people as well as an old movie star. Go here!
Nov 15, 2009
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Reviewed by yemenmocha from Arizona

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Visited on a Sunday afternoon and had a pleasant experience here. I fear that a return visit or two will yield an experience similar to others I read here on Beerfly.

Chalkboard overhead indicated the taps and the server was very generous in offering samples without having to ask. She was a bit older than most servers, and was very polite and attentive. We never had an empty pint glass more than a minute or so.

Prices were about the same as other beer bars in NYC. Atmosphere was mellow with oldies music in the background, though the bathroom was a bit sketchy.
Nov 13, 2009
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Reviewed by sbe1 from New York

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
I was rather surprised to read the Alstrom brothers reviews of this place. They have some points about the service and the bathroom, but give me a break. Most NYC bar bathrooms are horrifying, and despite what they say this place is not a dive, but rather pretty average in terms of Lower East Side bar atmosphere. Also, if you lived on the lower east side, like I did for several years, you'd have a chance to know this place a little better.

That said, I like the atmosphere of the place, except one thing about it is that it seems to attract a lot of out of towners who've heard that this is the place to go on the Lower East Side.

Beer selection is great and so is quality. Service is about average for bars in the area, though sometimes clueless and lackadaisical.

Overall, I like the place and recommend it if only for their great selection of beers.
Aug 29, 2009
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Reviewed by brow1901 from Minnesota

4.34/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Visited d.b.a. in east village on my NYC trip. This place is great, it has a great selection. The best part about this bar is that it's somewhat casual, and local. I went there on a friday afternoon expecting the place to be packed but it wasn't too busy, I was able to find a couple seats for me and the lady at the bar. The service was good but they were a bit understaffed as the place started to fill up so it took a while to get a drink. I didn't ask them any questions about the beers but I saw some other people and it seemed like at least one bartender was able to say something about the beers. Another good thing was the prices, it wasn't nearly as expensive as other bars in NYC.

The thing that I liked most about this place was the local crowd, I chatted it up with some fellows who were really nice. We bought each other a couple of rounds and b.s.ed.

The only down side was they had a pretty big tap selection but no printed menus, and I was unable to read the chalk board. No big deal tho. The other thing that i didn't like was that they ran out of beer glasses. So one of my beers was served in a water glass, again nothing major.
Mar 21, 2009
Photo of rtepiak
Reviewed by rtepiak from Poland

3.96/5  rDev +0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
beer bar on the lower east side. has a great selection of bottle and about 12 taps. when i was there each time it seems like about a third of the clientele orders mixed drinks, and this was on a thursday. so not a lot of beer drinkers here. a bit of yuppies, art types, and punks. been here a handful of times. service is always different. its been quite shotty and quite good. the bartenders are nice at time. crows a great guy. and not at others. they seem to ignore you more so than some bars but that may be because of the inconsistent beer drinking clientele. prices are great on some stuff and not so much on others. unibroue is a bit pricey for NYC. although i had a 750ml of Brasserie de Blaugies - Bière Darbyste for 16 bucks. great place during the week with friends for sure. selection is good but most of the great beer is down stair and there list can be a bit off.
Nov 25, 2008
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Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
August 2008:

With its long stretched bar congested and its benched walls and table sets stuffed, the place was no doubt busy on this Friday evening, but I wouldn't go so fas as to say too crowded. There was no line to get in, nor to use the washroom, and it didn't take me too long to get a drink. Finding a place to sit was a minor difficulty, someone would eventually offer up a chair and we nestled a spot at one corner of the bar, resting our drinks on an old Ms. Pac-Man machine.

Directly behind us lay one of the coolest things I'd see in New York. It was a sort of voodoo shrine to the Yankees. There were years worth of newspaper clippings - headlines about the team and its progress - stamped to this small carving in the wall. There were vigil candles with the names of players lit next to their bobble heads. A small doll with New Orleans beads and Carnival mask stayed guard of the shrine. It might be more humorous elsewhere, but take into account the baseball culture in NYC and it is equally fascinating. Don't miss it!

There was also an outside patio area that seemed it could easily fit another 25 or more people. There were tables and chairs dropped amongst hanging flowers, candles, and vines. It is the kind of patio you would dream of having a good beer on. I myself would have loved to, however it was closed, due to that afternoon's rain I can only assume.

The draught selection is quite simply solid. With around 15 or so taps, as well as two hand drawn casks, you will have no problem finding a beer of nearly any style to satisfy your thirst. There is a high turnaround rate and so the taps are not only fresh, but constantly changing as well. Not to mention the only five or seven dollars a round which makes their prices not only reasonable, but among the lowest of Manhattan's great beer bars.

Perhaps even more impressive would be their bottle menu. Spread in tiny writing across many chalkboards I was not able to count the number of offerings, but did make note of the many Belgian and American essentials they offered. It had range in both styles and producing countries. I'd recommend a good look at what's on draught first, not only can the selection be otherwise overwhelming, but the dim lighting can also make perusing the chalkboards a bit of a strain on the eyes at night.

Unlike some of the other great beer stops in NYC, this bar also stocks full varieties of whiskeys, tequilas, rums, sakes, vodkas, aperitifs, and wines. I know nothing about scotches or tequilas but their selection seemed fit for those of more attuned tastes. They will also do cocktails and more generic mixed drinks. All in all, it can be said that d.b.a is a place for those who enjoy a good drink, whatever that drink may be.

I saw a sign advertising a new opening location of theirs in Brooklyn, which along with the existing one in New Orleans, might mean we can consider d.b.a to be a chain. Regardless, I liked the atmosphere at d.b.a. and its aura seemed every bit as authentic as anywhere else we stopped. This was a hip place to be on a Friday night in Manhattan and more than just its beer list made me glad I'd stopped in.
Aug 26, 2008
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Reviewed by leftmindedrighty from New Jersey

3.96/5  rDev +0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
This was stop #3 on the Philly Does New York pub crawl, and our first stop in Manhattan.

Upon walking in, you're hit with numerous chalk boards detailing their alcoholic offerings. Huge lists of Tequila, Bourbon, Whiskey, and of course, beer. The beer list wasn't the biggest, but it was quality. Of note they had on tap: Goose Island IPA, Jever Pils, Sierra Nevada Porter (For some reason, you rarely see this on tap in Philly), and Troubador.

We sat out on the "patio" and talked and threw back some awesome beers for a while. Pretty good atmosphere, but crowded, as you might expect on a Saturday in Manhattan.

I really liked d.b.a., but would love to come back here and sample their Bourbon and Whiskey selection.
Aug 24, 2008
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Reviewed by Nickls from District of Columbia

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Edit: I've since re-visited and need to up the score a bit. I know that my previous review was a little harsh, but will let most of it stand as a couter-example.

I've had the opportunity to visit d.b.a. on a number of occassions, most recently over this past weekend.

The bottle list is pretty extensive, and you can find a good number of interesting brews on draught. Draught, like most places, tends to be the best value. I'm a huge fan of the outdoor seating, but the overall atmosphere is nothing special. It's a great place for an early afternoon beer or two, but after that it gets pretty packed and loud. Not necessarily the time you get to contemplate a beer.

The service can be a bit slow at times if it is busy, and not all that accomodating if you ask for something off the bottle list. They often have to obtain it from the cellar downstairs, and on a couple of occassions, I've gotten a bottle past its prime. Specifically, I ordered a 750ml of San Coulettes to split with a buddy and it tasted funny. I turned it around to check the date and it was well past it's prime.

Upon politely (it really was polite...not a beer I normally see out and I can appreciate the difficulty of having it there) alerting the bartender about this and our desire to switch out, we got a very poor response. Instead we got two cheaper (comparatively) draughts and the difference was not paid back to us.

It won't stop me from going back b/c it's rare to find a good beer and a chill place outside to drink it in NYC, but just know that it can be a hit or miss at times on several fronts.
Jul 29, 2008
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Reviewed by mltobin from Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Went here on an early afternoon one day and enjoyed a couple nice pints. Since it is the summer, I enjoyed the area in the back with the outdoor seating. The quality and service of d.b.a. are better than average. The selection of brews is good and the chalkboard is not exactly unique in a beer bar, but always fun to see instead of some laminated menu. The food I did not have, so I cannot comment on and the prices are reasonable for the New York City market.
Overall, a fun place with a good staff and good selection that is worth checking out.
Jul 16, 2008
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Reviewed by sholland119 from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
A good beer bar with a great bottle list.

Atmosphere inside is just ok but the outside patio is pretty nice. There was a solid crowd at 6pm and complete mayhem at 11 when we went back.

Tap list is kind of small but generally pretty high quality. The bottle list is extensive and excellent but all written on chalk boards in tiny print.

Service is just ok. You can usually get a refill within 10 minutes or so of having an empty glass.

I'd go back if I could sit outside on a comfortable summer afternoon but probably not otherwise.

HV
Jul 15, 2008
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Reviewed by morebeergood from Massachusetts

3.44/5  rDev -12.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4
Second stop on my NYC pub tour. Came in here kind late around 11pm on a Saturday, and it was packed. Pretty dark in here, so can't really give the place points for decor. Squeezed our way up to the bar to try to read the chalkboard menu. Man, can they write the beers any smaller? You need binoculars to make out the handwriting. Decided to stick with draughts, as at least I can see the tap handles. Decided to go with a Dark Star Expresso stout cask pint. Great taste, weak in the body. Managed to grab a table, but were a few seats short, so I stood. They had some old 90's hip hop rocking the sound system. Made it kinda hard to yell over someone's head the the bar to the bartender to take an order. Place got too crowded to properly enjoy, so we just just had one and done. Would have liked to check this place out on a slower night to get a better feeling for it, as I am sure that the beer selection could have kept me entertained given the chance.
May 28, 2008
Photo of cs45977
Reviewed by cs45977 from California

2.86/5  rDev -27.6%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 4 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3.5
I am really surprised by the reviews on of D.B.A. I have been to D.B.A. a handful of times over the past two years, always hoping it would live to it's reputation.
I kinda think some of these reviews are based on the "potential" the bar has rather than the actual experience.

First the atmosphere is pretty bad. There is an impressive list of beers listed on a chalkboard over the bar but thats it. There's you decor. The walls are completely blank (with the exception of a few no smoking signs) not even a schwag tin pressing, or a promo board. Pretty bleak.

Quality, I have no complaints on quality when you finally get a beer ...

As for service, this place should be avoided any time after 6:00pm. Once the place gets the slightest bit busy, you have to fight tooth and nail for a beer.
When you do get to the bar a very interesting thing happens the servers may decide not serve their full selection.
The only reason this place should be visited is for their selection but the staff will, when busy, tell you they are "out" of a beer because it is at the other end of the bar. In my last visit I had to ask for four different beers before the server and I could agree on a choice. Later in the night the same server brought me my original choice after mistaking my last order.
I would love to say that was a fluke but I constantly saw folks drinking beers that had been sold out.

Price is on par with Lower East Side New York (to the out of towner that means $6.00 pints of common drafts for happy hour).

All in all I can leave this one. There are plenty of bars with the sam selection that will treat you much better.
May 21, 2008
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Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
It's your standard bar in the East Village. Chalkboards, low lights, slightly beat up decor, and super smelly bathrooms. Really people, just hose the damn things down already. It's completely disgusting. A little Lysol never hurt anyone, and in this case might save lives. The selection is good here. But I do have one complaint about d.b.a. and that's the service. I have had service all over the chart here. It seems more and more that it leans towards the "I don't give a damn about you" side. One time I had the tender take my money and take at least 4 or 5 minutes to come back with change because he was busy talking to his friend. I mean come on. That's just stupid you little turd. Overall it's a good spot because they bring a lot of good stuff in, but I'm not really going to be running across the bridge to get there too often.
May 19, 2008
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.16/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
I stopped here on a Tuesday night I spent in Manhattan. It was a bit of a walk from the 6-line station, the cross-town trains are still a mystery to a hayseed like me from OH. The atmosphere was dark (candle lighting) and low volumed (some Iggy Pop on the stereo) which was nice. There were maybe 30+ taps to choose from, and at least one beer on cask. I opted for Victory Donny Brook stout as I'd never seen it before. Overall a good stop, but I give the nod to the bars of mid-town (Ginger Man, Hop Devil).
Oct 05, 2007
Photo of StonyB
Reviewed by StonyB from New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
If you live in or near New York City, you already know about d.b.a. If you're visiting from out of town, this is a must stop on your trip. Just know what you'll be going to...

On the plus side, you will have have an excellent selection of beer to choose from. Start with 16 taps, ranging from U.K. beers like Belhaven Scottish and Fullers ESB, to some interesting Belgians such as DeRanke XX and Slaapmutske Triple Nightcap, to classic American micros including Stone Arrogant Bastard and Anchor Porter. Additionally, make sure your eyes wander upwards to the series of blackboards above the bar. Going from the left, you'll find nearly 200 bottles, grouped not only by country, but sub-grouped by style. Impressive. Also impressive is that the draft list includes the date tapped...so if your choices are narrowed down to two, you can see if your beer is completely fresh, or has been around for a couple of weeks...

If for some reason you get tired of drinking beer, d.b.a. offers a wide array of quality spirits and single malt scotches. Just in case.

Service is good, usually performed by attractive and knowledgable women. Prices are likewise just fine...$6 for the average 16 oz pint, but hey, this is Manhattan. It's cheaper for specials, and $1 off during happy hour, which runs til 7:30.

Now on the other hand, don't be prepared to sink into a plush recliner in an immaculately modern setting. d.b.a. is old school all the way. The bar on the left is scratchy and worn, as are the tables and benches to the right and rear. The bar twists and turns near the end, and holds maybe 18, while the other indoor seating can handle another 32 or so. There's also an outdoor patio in the back with several tables, not completely open to the sun but fun nonetheless. Depending on your point of view, the overall atmosphere is either classic old-school NYC, or grungy, crowded dive...

Aside from the beer, there's not much else. 2 TV's elevated at each end of the bar, and a cool Galaga/Ms. Pacman video game console, the kind where 2 players sit down opposite each other. Music by staff selection.

In a nutshell - don't go to d.b.a.'s for the atmosphere. But go for the beer. Call it a rite of passage...

**Stony's Biscuit** - I've got 2 biscuits for you. First, the negative one. The bathroom, at least the men's room, is an absolute hole. Don't bring a copy of "Ale Street News" inside and expect to relax. Hold your breath, get in, and get out. Anyone whose been there will tell you that I am NOT exaggerating.

2nd Biscuit...all 16 oz pints can be upgraded to a 20 oz pint for just 1 buck more. Do the math...it's a good deal.
Sep 04, 2007
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Reviewed by Flyer from Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
This place is outstanding -- it suffers only from the fact that it’s fated to be second-best in its own city, since the Blind Tiger is only about a mile away. d.b.a. has a great, publike atmosphere --unpretentious and sophisticated at the same time, which is not at all an oxymoron. If anything, the selection might be even better (or at least larger) than the Tiger’s -- what keeps it in second place is that the bartenders are only "pretty knowledgable," and not the amazing beer geeks that you can find a mile west (although at d.b.a. they tend to be hot women -- if you feel that reasonably knowledgable hot women trump male beer geeks, I’m not sure I can argue with you). Still, while it’s a friendly place, it scores a notch lower on that "one big happy beer loving family" feeling. Bottom line -- whenever I’m in NY, I make it a point to do a joint Tiger/dba trek, and I’m a happy guy.
Aug 22, 2007
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Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4.04/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
This classic East Village innocuously sits on First Avenue, between East 2nd and East 3rd, a short stroll from Blind Tiger. Since the only natural light comes through a storefront window in the front, it is a rather dark and narrow place that provides East Village drinkers with a beat-up bar, a few rickety tables and a small garden in the back.

However, d.b.a. is not about aesthetics (nor does the seeker of great beer seek such amenities); it is about the beer, the selection of which includes a hearty choice of European bottles and an eclectic assortment of fresh draughts that are served at the proper temperature in the appropriate glass (an extra buck for the imperial pint). I also appreciated their wide selection of single malt whiskey available; since my next destination was Saint Andrews (see my review), I opted for a Sly Fox Piketown Pilsner, a quenching quaff for a hot July day. They have a fine selection of wine and tequila, but who really cares about these?

A veritable Disney Land of Booze in Lower Manhattan waits to slake your thirst.
Jul 11, 2007
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Reviewed by roan22 from New Jersey

4.56/5  rDev +15.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
I was in NYC last weekend and tried to go to HopDevil Grill but it was unfortunately closed, so d.b.a. was the next logical choice. The two bars aren't that far from each other, maybe 6-10 blocks. Anyway, d.b.a. had a really great staff/bartenders. They were friendly and knowledgeable with us even though I wasn't a regular. Some bottles they featured were a steal...DeRanke XX Bitter, the small size, for 7 dollars! Tria in Philly sells the same bottle for 9.50. The tap selection was good, tried a pale ale unavailable in PA called Captain Lawrence Chester or something like that...it was very fresh. My friend freaked out when he found out that d.b.a. had some rare beer he loved hiding in their basement.

One interesting fact about this bar is that there are 3 sub-basement levels, and the purpose for these existing goes back to the days of prohibition, when you'd need a quick escape route if the speakeasy got busted.

Food score gets an N/A because they don't have food....Huh?? Well, I am from Philly, where a beer bar without food would be against the law I believe, so we do our food up right (Philadelphia used to be the fattest city, and this is why). What d.b.a. does offer is a staff-approved, thick binder full of take-out menus, and you can order from any of them and have it delivered to the bar, and then you eat it there. Strange, but it ended up working out well. My friend and I ended up ordering soul food from a place called Daphne's. Jerk chicken, rice, blackeyed peas and yams, yummy!!!

Last thing is atmosphere...the atmosphere kicks ass in the village so this is a no-brainer. I love the village and this bar did not disappoint.
May 18, 2007
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Reviewed by sleazo from New York

4.21/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
This is my second favourite bar in Manhattan. Dingy bar area with some tables and a huge blackboard with their huge tap and bottle selection. They also have a huge scotch, tequila and probably other alcohol selection. Out back they have a number of benches and tables which can be pretty nice in warm NYC weather. Selection wise they usually have about 15 or so beers on tap, usually pretty eclectic. They also always have a beer on cask which is nice. I had an English bitter last night which was exactly what I was in the mood for. Bottle wise their selction is pretty good too. They dont serve food but you can order in which is nice. This place can get a little too crowded. I usually end up getting pretty drunk here as they have the large bottles of La Fin Du Monde for $10 which my friends and I order by the bushel full. This isnt too much more than you would pay in a supermarket which is nice. The vibe is definitely East Village, with plenty of tatoos, along with the requisite hipsters and suits who are slumming it.
May 11, 2007
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Reviewed by BeerHonky from New York

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5
d.b.a. seems to have a reputation for being a sort of a stereotypical NYC bar. And, by most circumstances it sort of is stereotypical. The atmosphere is pretty nice, in my opinion.

I went on a Wednesday night after work. The place was not crowded at all and I was able to sit at a table towards the back with my friend. My only criticism was that it felt really dark for a beer bar on a weekday evening. So atmospher is pretty good.

Once we had picked out a seat, we approached the nice large bar which was garnished with a nice row of taps. About 15 or so? Hard to say exactly. Draught selection was nice and diverse. Ranging from Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout to an EKU pils. On top of the decent draught options was a decent range of bottles as well. I was rather impressed to see that they had some Fantome Saison. And not just the saison (although they are mostly categorized that way). They had four different bottles and even brought all four to the bar for me to look at. So overall I think selection is great.

Service on the other hand was something to desire. It was not busy by any means and for some reason the bar tender took far too long to even address us. Granted, I only ventured to the bar twice in the evening but each time it was the same situation. Stand around for a while and wait long enough to feel like you're not exactly welcome. At any rate, at least when we were greeted, the bartender was friendly and cordial.

So overall this place is a good beer bar. I can see that their selection might fluctuate quite a bit if they don't restock or just get lazy about bringing in different stuff.But aside from that I'd go there again. But only on a week night after work. I can see this place getting ridiculously packed on Friday nights as well.
Feb 02, 2007
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Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
I went here with some friends late on a Friday night. It was dimly lit and crowded. A fairly long bar is on the left with small tables on the right and in the back. (The bathroom was gross, by the way.) There were 15-20 assorted craft/imports on tap - nicely diverse selection and an English ale on cask. A board showed an extensive list of bottled beers, some of which were rarities, categorized by style. The bartenders were not very friendly, and service was a bit slow, even for the crowd (They seemed a bit bored and slow-moving.) The beers were fresh. This place is certainly worth visiting for their nice, diverse selection.
Dec 31, 2006
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Reviewed by miskatonic from Massachusetts

2.78/5  rDev -29.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3
I've met the owner of this place and he's a pretty nice guy, and I've been to the othe d.b.a. in New Orleans, so I just can't understand how they continue to let these upity little assholes work behind the bar. I've been here about a dozen times over the past four years, and I always wonder why I don't stop in more often, and I always am reminded afterwards that it is because of the unforgivably bad service. I have only ever been here once when I was not greeted with either complete apathy or outright rudeness from the bar staff, and that was because the young lady with the smile and nice disposition was a transfer from New Orleans (note: she either quit or transfered back, because a week later I came back and they said she no longer worked there). It's not just the fact that you cant get the bartenders to pay any attention to the fact that you have been standing at the bar for five minutes with a $20 bill in your hand while they chit chat with the bar-back, or knit, or read a magazine, or (best yet) just stand there and pretend not to notice you, it's the fact that when these horid young women (and occasionally men) do finally deem you worthy of their attention they are soooo rude it's unfathomable. For example: I once was invited to join a friend who was taking a representative of Thomas Hooker Brewery on a tour of NYC and so I met them here and was a few minutes late. I cozy up to the bar, say my hello's to my friend and his company and order a Liberator Dopplebock, five minutes after serving me my beer the bartender comes over and says (and I quote) "you owe me five dollars for that beer". I replied that my friend invited me to be on his tab and just to add it onto their total, to which he replied " their round is on the house so you still need to pay five dollars". Now I thought that decision was a pretty bad way to treat a customer on it's own, but the way he said the whole thing about me owing him money and then me still owing him money was just so hostile and unfriendly that I wondered if I had at some point wronged this man's momma and forgotten about it. That was the last time I set foot in this place for almost eight months and I had planned it to be my last, but a friend from Louisianna visited recently and insisted we visit the NYC d.b.a. and she walked away at the end of the night wondering if the bartender was on some sort of psych medication due to her complete lack of expression and obvious disassociation with her customers. Ok, so now that I've ranted about the staff, I will praise this place for being a very comfortable and homey space, although the tap handles always seem to be other brand's sticks with hand written paper labels of what the beer on tap is. Also the bottle pricing (and some draught selections) are completely over priced. I mean $14 for a Rochefort 10?!? I like many things about this bar, especially the back courtyard and the friendly owner, but the draught selection is always very lopsided and the bartenders are evil bitches. I think I will continue to work around d.b.a. while I'm at home and look forward to visiting their much friendlier New Orleans location in the future.
Dec 11, 2006
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Reviewed by jfindley from New York

3.45/5  rDev -12.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3
I know everyone knows this place, but I finally had to review it. It is what it is, and is a pretty well known entity. The selection is good - although I'm not big on the huge booze selection. They only had one cask beer on when we were there, but usually have three. The rest of the selections on tap were decent but mostly commonly available brews.

My biggest gripe when we were there (early Saturday evening) was that there was one bartender and one barback for the entire place. It wasn't too crowded when we got in there, but the bartender was hustling. We could barely get a beer as it was. By the time we left there were at least 50 people in the place and no additional help. The bartender was nice, but was barely keeping up. I noticed four guys obviously from out of town that wanted to ask a couple questions. No chance. They could barely get beer at all. Too bad. It's obvious to me that this place could get insanely crowded at times.

Overall, this is a nice place with a decent selection. Like most NYC bars I'm a little disappointed with the beer selection. It's so easy to continually fall back on Sierra Nevada, Brooklyn, and other huge micros that it all just becomes a step down from the macros. There are plenty of great local and regional beers a place like d.b.a. could feature. On the plus side the beer is fresh (as fresh as it can be from Chico, CA), the lines are clean, and you aren't likely to get an off beer here.
Dec 05, 2006
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Reviewed by MEANxOLDxTOM from New York

4.66/5  rDev +18%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
So it is about time that I have gotten around to reviewing this place...it is one of my favorites, and a definite stop for those in the east village. d.b.a. is a dimly lit place with a large bar and a decent amount of seating along the walls....there is also an outdoor seating area that is open in the earlier evening.

It has never taken me very long to get a drink and the bartenders are usually very knowledgeable....as far as quality goes that this what this place is about...no well drinks, and no macros....I was once at the bar and I heard a woman order a bud light...the bar tender responded I'm sorry we don't carry Budweiser....the woman then requested a miller light...the bartender kindly recommended one of the pilsners on tap and the customer seemed very happy...They always have a great tap list....when I was there yesterday I did not get much further than the Avery brews...having Karma, Czar, and Maharaja all on tap(I also recall Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold)....they also have two casks at all times and one of them was Captain Lawrence Smoked Porter.

As I was saying the selection is wonderful....great bottle and tap lists...as well as high quality liquor. There is even a chalk board behind the bar listing their roughly 15 or so taps....prices and tapped on dates.
Prices are really decent as well....I ordered a pint of Avery's Maharaja during happy hour for only $5...Although someone on BA has even said that I had to be lying for saying that I was served a DIPA in a pint glass at dba...it is true...I personally can forgive the incorrect glass for the wonderful deal. Great value, Great Atmosphere....and a Great location...only a couple blocks from the Second Ave subway stop...if you love beer and have not been to this place you need to check it out.
Nov 20, 2006
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Reviewed by dherling from New Jersey

3.49/5  rDev -11.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4.5
Looks a bit like a dive college bar when you walk in, with a decent size outdoor beer garden in the back. There are seats at the bar, some along the wall, and some tables in the back as well as in the beer garden. The bar is stocked, and not just with beer. There are a number of dry erase boards hanging over the bar with bottled and tapped up beers, as well as extensive lists of scotches, bourbons, tequilas, and other spirits. From memory, they had about 15-20, including two casks. Nice broad selection, and a few things I have tried/heard of at this point. A really nice trea, the onlydownside being the service, which sucked like nothing has ever sucked before. Near nonexistant. At times, it was't like they were busy doing other things, they would chat with each other, or stand behind the bar contemplating their feet. It's a little loud and kind of hard to get their attention. I was waiting three-five minute trying to get their attention for a beer each time, and I was sitting at the bar the whole night. I hear table service in the beer garden is ok though.
Sep 20, 2006
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Reviewed by bjohnson from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
d.b.a. was the second stop on our beer tour of NYC. It was about 4 on a Saturday so not many people were drinking, but there were a few patrons. Glad we stopped into this place.

Pretty large area with a biergarden/outside seating in the back. Long brick based, wood topped bar with about 20 stools. Pretty big area for seats also, with a couple of pew style booths towards the back. The place was pretty dark with not much hanging on the walls, although the bar area was pretty bright. All beer was shown on chalk boards behind and above the bar/hutch that was filled with glasses. Chalk boards set it up nicely with 4 devoted only to beer. Canada and USA on one, England/Ireland, Germany, and Belgium--also included was a "new beer" chalkboard with recent acquisitions and the dates each was tapped. I found this to be awesome. Only 1 tap was over 3 days old. Good selection of booze and wine also in this place. The bartender was very knowledgeable and generous with samples. 1 tv=beer bar=I love it. Excellent music selection.

For the beer...16 taps with 3 cask taps, or hand drawn. On cask was Victory Hop Devil and Six Point Grand Cru. Both were sampled and both were delicious. On tap include dlots of beers from overseas, mostly Germany and Belgium with a few specials from the states. Rogue Anniv. Alt, Heavyweight Baltus, and Avery 13 caught my eye. Large selection of bottles also. All Unibroue with Goose Island rarities, Victory, DFH, Blue Point, and Smutty.

All in all, one the best places I went while in NYC. I will definately go back as all the selections were excellent. Ordered sushi in at this place. Again, I've never heard of this before, but what a great element. At a beer bar chowing down on sushi. I couldn't have asked for more.
Aug 28, 2006
d.b.a. in New York, NY
Place rating: 3.95 out of 5 with 80 ratings