The Habitat

Was in Brooklyn and got to check out a few spots. The Habitat was close to my friend's house so I went there a few times.

Small, woody bar with only a few tables.
Quick, attentive service. We didn't sit with empties ever, at a table or at the bar. Bartender let me try a few of the local beers too. They have a printed tap list which seems silly since they seem to blow thru kegs fairly fast. Have about a dozen taps, leaning toward ambers and lighter beers. One barleywine, one IPA, and one DIPA the few days I was there.

Burgers were very good quality, cooked perfect, although they looked like tennis balls in a bun. Quite tasty.

Tried a few other appetizers and they were all good sized portions and high quality ingredients.

Place wasn't too noisy on a Friday night, even though it was full. Nice atmosphere, nice bar.

Got some time before the promo event for that brewery at that bar in Williamsburg, so I'm going to meet Randy somewhere that isn't Philly. Got in early, landed a spot and looked up, and found myself parked right out front on Manhattan, I don't even have to try. Not having a job enables one to see the inside of a bar while there's daylight. 2 for 1 makes happy hour twice as happy, that's all I'm saying...

You know, it's really a small, small place. Front glass doors and large windows to both sides, one with a bar counter seating 3, the other with a forward booth, a single table past there, and then a raised corral with 3 square tables (we've relocated to there) and 2 low tables sharing common "L" benchiness, and 2 raised bar tables adjacent to the bar below the pen. Potted plants on the sills around the front booth.

Slab "L" shaped concrete topped wood trim bar seats 14 on wrought iron stools with round tops and no backing, much to Randy's chagrin. Barback holds tiered booze to both sides of a center run of a dozen taps over a stainless steel panel, and shelved glassware below. Taps printed on a horizontal blackboard above the taps, and framed boxes to both sides with wines displayed and lying down, and wines and happy hour specials printed on boards above the boxes with a single flat screen in between.

Slate floors, blue, green & beige walls and wood siding to the rear with windows to the kitchen, looks like the side of the house. Prints of all sizes & shapes in bunches on the far wall. They're good shit, someone's got a great eye, shutterbug. Baby spots on the wall above the prints and the tap & special boards, drop lamps above the bar and large sunken spots throughout in the black ceiling, they not be on just now, and ceiling fans. Stained glass panel with potted plants hanging from exposed rafters. Drop lamps towards the front and sunken spots in the rear overhang.

12 taps; a mix of micros New York (Sixpoint Sweet Action, Captain Lawrence Double IPA, Blue Point Dunkel Weisse, Ithaca Nut Brown, Ommegang, Southern Tier IPA), and not (Legacy Hedonism Ale, Penn Gold, Long Trail Winter White, Anchor Liberty, Fort Collins Chocolate Stout, Green Flash Trippel). Plus a not a lot of bottles; a single micro (Brooklyn Lager), a good import (Sam Smith Nut Brown Ale), a meh import (Zywiec), a macro import or two (Amstel Light, Corona), a cider (Magners), and an N/A (Clausthaler). Something for everyone. I drank an Ithaca Nut Brown, and washed, rinsed, repeated.

For ets, I had me a steak & vegetable wrap (thinly sliced sirloin, Julienne vegetables, grilled green onions and hold the horseradish cream please). It was damn tasty. Got a little messy some of the way through, or more likely I just got it that way. And 'cause it's never enough, I also ordered Cajun fries although Randy picked the winner with the waffle fries that even he liked, and he's not known for liking. His fries were better than mine, so I secretly hated him for it. Decent menu, they also do whatever an empanada is, and pressed sandwiches, salads, and various small & large bites.

The place is kind of tight, it lost ½ it's depth to the kitchen. Some tunes good (Shaft & Superfly) and some techno not. I was comfortable, thought it was a decent enough place, whereas Randy did not like the corral we were seated in, and was not shy about it, and more than once. Mostly after work people here just now, and will fill in further once the wing thing time kicks in. Good for Greenpoint.

A good addition to Greenpoint, which is looking better to me all the time.

Atmosphere is well produced with the attempt at making the place seem like some outdoor wooden house with a thick rugged feel. It works well enough. Quality of beers seemed appropriate and the selection was good, though only on the taps. As was noted previously, the bottle selection is thin with only a couple noteworthy choices. No problem though as the draft selection is good enough. Service is chill and attentive. The little of the food I tried was motivation to come back for more. A nice chill spot. Worth checking out.

This is a nice little addition to the Greenpoint bar scene. Located in North Greenpoint, I dont know if this is a destination beer bar like the Diamond is, but it is a place for good beers.

The front is entirely glass which lets in a lot of light, especially around happy hour. Inside it has a cool set up as well. It sort of makes you feel like you are on a back porch of a nice country house but inside. Cool outdoorsy photos complete the scene.

They have only been open a short time but everything I have had has been fresh. The twelve taps on had have a good local feel to them. I usually end up with a Sixpoint Sweet Action(2for1 at happy hour) but they have Keegan's stout, Capt Lawrence Liquid Gold, Prima Pils, Gaffel Kolsch, Blanche de Bruxelles plus a few others. I haven't had any bottles, but the selection is somewhat limited. Fittingly they do have Zywiec.

I havent had any food yet, but it has all looked and smelled good.

The owner/bartender is very nice and good to chat with. Since they are so new, she always asks for beers that I would want on tap which is good too. They have always been on point when I needed a beer as well.

Pricewise, everything is $5 or $6 and they have a 2 for 1 on Sixpoint or Victory.

Overall they have a good but small selection of beers. While not a destination place, I would recommend this to anyone in the area. A good local open aired friendly bar. Yet another good stop for a Greenpoint bar crawl.

This is a relatively new place on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint Brooklyn. The interior atmosphere is that of a jungle habitat (surprised?) with a very rustic/organic feeling. Definitely an interesting space. Only negative I'd say is that it's on the small side, but it hasn't been packed any of the times I've been there yet.

The service at this place is top notch. The owners/bartenders are all extremely nice and very friendly.

The selection has been good thusfar. It seems at least one tap will rotate every 1-2 weeks. Right now their taps include: Sixpoint Sweet Action, Avery Brown Ale, Victory Prima Pils, Crop Circle Amber Ale, Captain Lawrence Pale Ale, and Mother's Milk Stout among others. There's also quite a few bottles available as well.

The food here is GREAT! I highly recommend the Twice Baked Potato. But really, everything is good.

Prices range from $5 - $9 but they also have daily specials as well.

All in all, it's a great addition to the neighborhood for both food and beer.