Spitzer's Corner

tnova

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev -12%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Okay, so I have never posted a review before, so bear with me...

My boyfriend (bigs) and I went to Spitzer's Corner in the beginning of September. My boyfriend's band was playing across the street at a bulgarian bar. Needless to say, there was not much of a selection there. I had remembered that we had walked by two industrial looking bars on the walk over. All I could see was taplines. Once he was finished tooting his tuba, we decided to grab a beer at this place.

We strolled up to the bar and both ordered Triple Karmaliet on draft. The bartender had no idea how much it was (or how to pour it...WAY past the line...good for me though). Coming from RI and knowing the outrageous inflation in NYC, I was thinking $10 each (maybe more). He came back and said they were $7 each. Score!
We grabbed a seat. If you like to people watch, this is a good place to do it. The windows are floor to ceiling and make up an entire wall facing the street.

All in all, the beer selection was on point. We ordered some other brews, but alas, my memory is clouded...all I know was that I hadn't tried them before (and after a trip to Belgium and my bartending skills at Track 84, that's saying a lot).

They have food, but we didn't order. The service was not good. Our waitress was running back and forth between the 2 places. It took over 20 minutes to get another beer. I assume (read-hope) this will be worked out. Opening a new place and trying to hire people and train them is time consuming. I'm planning on going back there the next time I am in NYC.

09-28-2007 02:52:52 | More by tnova

DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.79/5  rDev -5.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

Spitzer's is a classy-cool beer bar in the heart of LES. Lively but not too crazy on a Friday evening, happy hour time. Cool vibe with dim lights, open windows to the street in this pleasant November day... lots of wood and communal tables.

Big beer list divided in lagers/wheats/seasonals/ales (this one a mixed-bag category with tripels, blondes, IPA's and porters). Nothing super crazy on the list, but some solid references: I had a Founders Breakfast Stout and a Green Flash Imperial IPA.

Prices are not-so-cheap at $7-$8 per brew, but happy hour comes with two dollars off! Now that is a rarity in New York City. Sour young hipster-ish bartenders, disengaged but efficient enough. She even smiled at me.

Surprisingly quiet for a Friday evening, I had a good time. Didn't try food but will do next time, as it looks better than your average beer bar's grub.

11-21-2012 22:19:31 | More by DoubleSimcoe

jgasparine

Maryland

3.81/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

This place is aesthetically attractive, but I had the feeling that the crowd was comprised of yuppies rather than true beer fans.

Patrons not withstanding, the draught selection was good... predominantly domestic craft beer, but an impressive selection nonetheless. While the beer manu was impressive with overall content, I was disappointed with the way it was put together... they begun categorizing beers by style (wheat, bock, ipa, etc.), but then seemed to get lazy by lumping roughly 30% of the beer in a catchall "ale" category. I was further disappointed to see their best bottled beer, Samiclaus, described as "strong shite from Austria".

The beer itself was served inacceptable glassware, and tasted fresh. I didn't have the opportunity to assess the knowledge of the server, but have no reason to doubt his knowledge based on service itself.

Overall the beer was good, but the atmosphere left something to be desired...

01-31-2010 21:51:27 | More by jgasparine

Billolick

New York

3.85/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

Eastern Village quality beer spot...open floor plan with large windows out onto the vibrant and busy street ...Long communal tables, and generally a friendly comfortable feeling. Loads of quality draft options...you fill find something very BA worthy to consume and enjoy.

The reason I would not frequent this place all that often is the crowd...Hipsters, tourists, clothes shoppers, meh just not my sceene...if you find yourself in the neighborhood and are in the mood for a tasty craft brew, its worth dropping in to...beyond that I cant say much more positive...the kind of place I might take some of my french cousins to for a visit

09-17-2011 15:47:22 | More by Billolick

sleazo

New York

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

This was more laid back than I was expecting. Thought it would be over the top trendy but it really wasnt. The place had its windows open wide to the nice warm weather we we having in NYC so that was a plus. Seating for food is at communal benches like a beer hall which I personally like as you can strike up conversations with strangers. Mostly old looking wooden decor yet a bit more modern.

Beer wise there were about 40 or so beers on tap. A pretty good selection of Belgians, locals and American micros. I had a Sixpoint Gorilla Porter, Dogfish 60 and a Harviestoun Old Engine all on tap. Other beers I remember seeing on tap were Tripel Karmeliet, St Bernardus 8 and 12, Bear Republic Racer 5 and Hop Rod Rye and Stone IPA. Everything tasted reasonable. There was also a good bottle selection that I didn't delve too deeply into.

The food was not typical bar food, more of a gastropub. The appetizers we had were the spinach with shitakes and duck fat fried potatoes. Both were pretty good. Their sandwiches were both pretty good. I had a sweetbread po boy with tartar sauce which was really good. I for one love good beer and sweetbreads so I was pretty happy. My friend had the duck confit sandwich which he liked. I would like to go back and try the shortrib burger with maytag blue and a fried egg. We also had rosemary popcorn which was a bit too oily. They did have local favourite Gus' Pickles on the menu too.

Service was good considering how busy they were. Even though it was fairly busy we were seated quickly on a Thursday. For the LES it was pretty reasonable. I think the toal was about $90 or so for two people to eat a lot and 8 or so good beers. Pretty cool place, one I will return to.

04-18-2008 15:17:38 | More by sleazo

slander

New York

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Hard time on Orchard, the heat and the street packed with pecks of pickle people, we were wise to start early and get through it and out (I should have scored a tub of all sours at that place on Essex, I don't want to talk about it).
Well, that was an hour of crazy well spent, but now what? Did the quick peeps in on that beer store on Bowery and then lost nearly half our group to Sunday whatever. We can't afford any more casualties; we need a plan for drink and quickly! Backtracking east some...

On the corner of Ludlow & Rivington streets; nice and open breezy with large windows folding up over both streets creating awnings. People seated below them along the exterior of the room are sitting not on benches but the actual window sills. Randy has a word for that. It's "classy". I myself can only imagine how enjoyable it is sitting on them when it's raining out and you get an ass full of wet. Mostly long wooden communal tables in a row (Randy likes them, but wouldn't like sitting with, you know, people), and some tables running solo up against the windows.

Along the back wall, a cool slightly "V" shaped, zinc bar seating a dozen on backless stools. 40 taps sweating in a row on a stainless steel backed panel running the length of the bar back. Bottles in glass front coolers below and shelved glassware over mirrored backings above and to both sides, although no beer appropriate glassware that I can see except for the Delirium snifters.

The place is done up old wooden pickle barrel walls and bar overhead with a track lighting strip. Spots in open glass and drop lamps over the tables where the people seated there could smash their heads on if they were tall and not careful. Gee, I hope that doesn't happen. A single looong horizontal board on the far wall lists tap, bottle and wine selections, plus snacks, sides and plates, and a bench of pain below (the people sitting there look sad, is all). Plank wood floorings and dismal gray pillars in the center of the room matching the bar staff's bleak gray shirts. Down the hallway, another room not unlike the front room with a dozen or so tables and a smaller bar.

40 taps, the list broken out by style. 24 American micros, of which roughly 1/3 are NY state (Southampton, Six Point, Ommegang, Southern Tier, Blue Point), another 1/3 regionals (Smuttynose, Stoudts, Victory, Allagash, Legacy, Magic Hat), the last 1/3 other coastals (Bear Republic, Anchor, Rogue, Sierra Nevada, Stone, North Coast), and the remainder some 7 Belgians, 4 Germs, 3 English/Irish & a pair of dirty Canadians). I have to say the imports were pretty damn boring actually. I drank a Brownstone and a Hennepin, both tasty & fresh, and found that Em drinks the exact polar not-ness of what I would. I think it's 'cause she was born on an opposite continent. She opted first for the Victory Golden Monkey (which... no) and then the Legacy Euphoria when I recommended the Hedonism Red instead. Curious.

Also, some 54 bottles (over 2 dozen Belgian & Belgian style including most of the Trappists, about a dozen each American micros & English/Irish/Scottish combined, and the rest a mix of this and that whatever). Get this... a 375ml of Lindemans Framboise, Peche and disgusting Pomme cost $11, but lovely Orval only costs $9, and DeRanke XX $8, which is okay by me. Costliest bottles are the Chimay Grand Reserve, La Baladin Nora, and the Southampton Saison Deluxe, each priced at $18. Lots of stuff but nothing outlandish, it's a "safe selection".

On the "classic combos" board, there's a pairing of a "BLT & E with a Victory Prima Pils". What could the "E" stand for, I wonder? Edamame? Escarole? Apparently, it's an egg of the fried variety. Why fuck up a perfectly good BLT with an egg I just cannot fathom. Oh, and they've got an Eat Out 2008 award, for "Best gastropub with the least fortunate name". Really? That's a category now? And that there was a critics pick, thank you.

"This place is a wine bar that decided to do a beer thing. There's really not a lot to talk about in this joint; its stark and mundane", says Randy, a douchebag nice enough to remind me that I'm the oldest person here. Looking around, I offer "Yes, but maybe somebody's (like) here with their mom". Didn't take him long. "You're older than her, too". Double douchebag Randy, nobody likes him. For me, as far as just sitting at the bar and having a beer with friends ignoring the younger crowd, I can do that easily enough, although the backless bar stools do suck. I will say that the food menu is not a "me menu", and the beer menu while having some solid selections just doesn't excite me, and with over 90 beers between tap and bottle, it should. This is more a "get a beer 'cause I'm near here" than a destination place.

10-13-2008 23:37:10 | More by slander

rousee

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Checked this place out a few weeks ago as stop 3 on my annual birthday trip to NYC.

Its kind of a trendy young type place that doesnt look as big as it is from the outside. Due to the 20-something age of most of the patrons, we were all carded when we entered and I guess that makes you feel not quite as old when you're celebrating your 42nd birthday.

You enter via this long hall that kind of ends and then opens up to a giant room with the bar on the backside and large picnic like tables lined up throughout the room. Big glass floor to celing windows in fron that look out onto the street. It was really quite busy when we stopped here so getting a seat really wasnt an option.

The beer selection was great--they had tons of great draft selections inclusing many that I dont see around very often. They had some Captain Lawrence, some of the less common Sixpoint varieties, Troegs, Sly Fox, Legacy, Ommegang, Ithaca,etc. The beers were in fine shape and I think maybe a little less expensive than some other places in Manhattan.

The service was decent but nothing spectacular and I was kind of amazed that they were so adamant about seeing my handstamp to prove that I was 21 when I clearly look considerably older than a 20 -something. This place was decent and I would give it another try but Id try to hit it when it wasnt quite as busy. Maybe a Saturday afternoon would work better.

03-07-2009 11:53:39 | More by rousee

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Grilled heavily by the doorman, not a good reception. Came insider - not a seat in the house, except for a bench seat with no table. A bar waiting area. No server ever came by, so we sat with no beers until finally two seats opened at the bar. And still we sat for several minutes - at the bar - until someone even looked at us.

I'm going to go ahead and get all the bad stuff out now. Crowded, full of yuppies assholes, extremely slow service. Do NOT tell the bartender you're not ready - if you are halfway done, get another beer. Ask for your check 20-30 minutes before you want to leave. And if the bartender is giving you any attention, blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, because once he walks away, he's gone.

The food was great. The beers available are eclectic and uniformly excellent. The building itself is cool, especially when the huge windows are open (they close them somewhat arbitrarily it would seem, similar to the policy at the Blind Tiger). I had a wide variety of beers, and they all pulled well from the tap, nothing dirty, sour, or old. Spitzer's is a great place to drink beer.

But damn if there isn't a lot of shit in the way of getting to the beer.

05-16-2010 05:10:07 | More by BretSikkink

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Spitzer's Corner is cool. Nice setup and design with wood everywhere. At night, this place can get really packed. For me, I prefer a more mellow atmosphere, so I'm a lunch time visitor. Plus, the nighttime crowd is...how do I say it...prone to being a-holes? Yes. That's it. So I do it how I do The Blind Tiger. Start the drinkin' early here. If you're in the neighborhood, this is a good place to check out. And the food is quite good. Oh...and there are a lot of taps to choose from.

I think I hear that this is a good place to meet people, at night.

08-30-2012 17:41:21 | More by RblWthACoz

ChimayCC

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

This is a find on the LES. A terrific selection at very reasonable prices. All the Belgians you could ask for and about 24 taps. The prices on Belgians are more than reasonable given its NYC. The only downer is the staff is not all that schooled in their beer knowledge, but you can get past that cuz they're generally easy on the eyes. Food is a notch above bar fare and again is reasonably priced. I have only been twice in the late afternoon, so I can not speak to the crowds during the evenings or weekends. I will be back.

01-27-2008 21:05:30 | More by ChimayCC