Soda Bar

Bar, Eatery

629 Vanderbuilt Avenue
Brooklyn, New York, 11224
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.84
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
6
pDev:
12.24%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.5 by rojapa from New York

Sep 05, 2014
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Reviewed by jbsteiny from Hawaii

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Listen, this is my neighborhood joint, and I'm a bit pissed about their expansion into the next room, the ensuing loss of their pool table, and how blown up it's become (along with the rest of Vanderbilt Ave.), but there's no way that I could front on Soda Bar's selection, food, or jukebox.

As far as ambiance, it's nice, but nothing exceptional. Cool mural, classy mirror behind the bar, a few classic metal promotional beer signs, but that's about it. The lounge space has some sweet couches, but I've always felt they could do more with it. The beers are generally first rate. About 16 taps, and they're always rotating. The standards are things you'd hope to find (Guiness, DT), and the features are great breweries whether local (Brooklyn, SixPoints), domestic (FlyingDog, DogfishHead, GooseIsland), or imports (Kolsteiner, Harviestoun). The bar food is excellent: highly recommend the onion rings and the pierogies. The only thing I can honestly complain about is the table service. The bartenders are great, but they have this one really bitchy waiter who sucks. The waitresses are alright, but this one guy always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, despite all the wonderful beer. I think he works the weekends, so hit this spot weekdays, or better, just sit at the bar. Jukebox rocks. Hard.
Mar 16, 2007
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Reviewed by slander from New York

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
On the move again. I like to keep an eye on the things that have passed through the Beerfly queue (it's a moral imperative). Been out of the loop for some 114 days now, missing good new bars opening and existing places getting a whole lot better trying to keep up, tap lists improving and quality bottle lists growing, and unfortunately, approvals going sight unseen. Not how I like to operate, so it's time to get out and see what damage I've done. We've headed downtownish and circled once, arriving at some place that Randy knows. He insists that I've been here; I'm looking at it and I know I haven't...

A 12 seat "J" shaped bar off to the left over an old slat wood floor, and 5 tables sitting adjacent in a tiled in area. They're 2 seaters with a depressed tray space sharing a common bench along the wall, and a single round table in the corner below one of the front windows. A 40" X 60" mirror over the barback with 3 shelves of tiered booze below. An ancient Coca Cola tin, Dr Pepper ad and a Royal Crown soda calendar from January 1950 on that wall, along with a mounted crate displaying the bottled selections, vintage Rhinegold and Coca Cola boards listing the wine selections and a board listing a simple food menu of wings, burgers, dogs, BLT's, salads, pizzas, fish & chips, rings, fries and pierogi. To the rear of the room is an elevated area with a few chairs and couches. Walls painted yellow, red & burgundy, except for the inner brick wall behind the bar which has a cut doorway leading to another room with forward pastel panels, wallpaper & chipped away stucco over brick, mismatched couches and chairs, an area to the rear for bands to set up, and a doorway leading to a tiered back patio contained by brick & wood, holding upwards of a dozen and a half tables.

Meanwhile, back inside; 3 towers of 6, 5 and 4 on the bar. Some local and regional micros (Brooklyn Lager, Sixpoint Sweet Action, Blue Point Summer, Ommegang Wit), beyond (Harpoon Summer, Sea Dog Blueberry, Sierra Nevada Summerfest), imports (Boddingtons, Guinness, Jever, Stella, Delirium Tremons, Kostritzer Schwarzbier) and a cider. Nearly a dozen bottles there, Duvel being the best of the lot and them dropping sharply from there.

Beers were clean and fresh, the place is nicely comfortable, good vibe here.
Nov 06, 2006
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Reviewed by SCW from New York

4.44/5  rDev +15.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
I can't believe everyone else is sleeping on the place. Prospect Heights hasn't quite blown up like Park Slope has, but I like it better. It's close to the park, rents are lower, and it hasn't been quite as yuppified yet.

Soda Bar has to be one of the best watering holes in the area. About 18 taps in total, there is a constantly rotating selection of fine ales.

You'll see Stone Arrogant Bastard, the IPA, Phin and Matt's, Sixpoint, Brooklyn Brown, Blue Point, and others. What I particularly like is the selection is constantly rotating. Come back in 2 months and there might be the same brewery, but a different flavor.

There is a place to chill out back and scattering of different style seats and chairs in front. There's no pretense, just good beer and good times.

The service is exceptional. My man Mike is always cracking jokes and knows my beer. He also decides to bring in the hoppy beers, which keeps me coming back (Smuttynose, anyone?).
Oct 09, 2006
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Reviewed by GreatPondBrewer from California

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Being the first one to review this I guess I am going to be the template. Vanderbilt Ave is obviously awesome and this place fits right in as being just hip enough without bludgeoning it over your head. Dark bar with multiple rooms and a huge backyard area. Plenty of old wooden tables, metal chairs, couches etc. Bar is in the front with about 15 taps I would say. All pretty decent and included Delerium Tremens, Phinn and Matts, Rogue Dead Guy, Arrogant Bastard, Whitebread, Goose Island IPA and a couple others that were of equal quality. All the beers except for Tremens and one other were $3 a pint which is a great deal. Also plenty of top shelf liquor. The service was friendly and the bartender was quick with the drinks. We sat out in the backyard as it was a nice night out and marveled at the waxing moon. According to my friend the bar food is top notch too so I can't wait to come back and try it out.
Sep 19, 2005
Soda Bar in Brooklyn, NY
Place rating: 3.84 out of 5 with 6 ratings