Beer Table Pantry

MikeDNYC

1.55/5  rDev -56%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 3 | selection: 1 | $$$$

The chick working there was hot.
Only reason to even walk in.

Seriously - only for the "in a rush in a bind crowd" - went there today and saw many of the large format beers are $5-$7 more expensive that City Swiggers on 86th - a mere 4/5 train and 10 mins away. Maybe 100 beers - most of them shit. Didnt see anything I haven't seen before. If I lived or worked within blocks of GCT I still wouldn't go there. Sure your rent is high, sure it's a good idea, sure...bet you're out of biz by next year. People who love beer wont come here - clowns who need beer for a gift will.

01-04-2013 18:59:24 | More by MikeDNYC

Ralphs66

New York

3.73/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$$$

I'm a regular here, stopping in at least 2-3 evenings a week before my dreaded train ride home from midtown to somewhere too far north. The beer carts in GCT suck (although the very recent addition of Goose Island was a slight step up), so the arrival of this joint afew months back was welcome. The redhead who manages the place is a hottie, so if nothing else, seeing her a few times a week makes me happy. The selection is always interesting, but given my go-to beer place back home carries 1000+ labels, the Beer Pantry is limited for me. And CRAZY expensive. C R A Z Y expensive....just in case you missed my point. Expect a minimum 40-60% mark up on everything. But hey, it's NYC, it's GCT and it's unique. You'll pay to enjoy. I do.

11-23-2011 15:21:48 | More by Ralphs66

DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.74/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$$$

I added this place to BA so it is about time I reviewed it.

I was a little excited about a quality beer place at Grand Central (not sure why, considering I don't frequent the station often).

Finding the store was a little tough at first, what with the maze of passages and stores inside Grand Central. This is a hole-in-the-wall of a shop, nothing but a huge floor-to-ceiling shelf with a ton of bottled beer and a small growler station with four taps.

I've stopped by a couple of times but have never felt compelled to buy anything. The growlers are not badly priced ($12 per refill, if I'm not mistaken), but the bottles are outrageous. I remember seeing a Southern Tier bomber for something like fourteen dollars. I almost fainted right there on the spot.

To be fair, they are the only good-beer option around, beyond the Bud Light stands at the train tracks, so if you do need to swill a craft brewsky on the train, you gotta come here. Always good stuff on tap, like Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and Dogfish Raison d'Etre. Good selection of beers too, with a lot of imported stuff from Brewdog, Evil Twin and the likes.

Service is very nice, the growlers are pressure-filled and they have gourmet snacks to go with your overpriced beer.

Why not? You live in Connecticut, after all.

01-18-2012 22:06:07 | More by DoubleSimcoe

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.86/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$$$

Made a turn out of the Terminal Market and stumbled upon a closet-ful of craft brews, right in a GCT hallway. Had no idea this ever existed, but my days of the Fosters Oil Can on the Metro North ride home are officially over.

Very small facility, but probably 40-50 different beers ranging from the ordinary (Brooklyn) to the premium (interesting Belgian section). Everything is available warm or cold - but you'll need an opener to enjoy on the train itself. Plus, 4 brews on tap for take home growlers.

Very helpful staff - I knew what I was doing, but a few people wandered in who were lost, and they were very helpful.

Be prepared for sticker shock - you are definitely paying for their GCT lease. So not likely to be your beer run place, but to buy stuff in NY you have to pay NY prices, so just sit back, relax, and enjoy not having to drink crappy brews on the train ride home!

12-24-2011 12:55:08 | More by KTCamm

Billolick

New York

4.08/5  rDev +15.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$$

This place is an off shoot of the boutique beer spot/small restaurant in Brooklyn.

GC location, just north of the main food market in the station (which includes a Murray’s cheese location BTW).

They have 4 counter pressure (nice) filling lines, and a moderately sized wall nearly filled with boutique (surprise) quality bottles. They have all the beers at room temp. and also cold in a behind the scenes cooler area. Small in size, staffed by 3 knowledgeable workers.

Some of the bottles were quite pricey, but I was happy to buy a single Lagunitas IPA for $3, not bad at all by Grand Central standards. (I’m sure hundreds of commuters a day are paying the same rate for a beer but getting BMC) Growlers seemed to be priced at a more reasonable level.

They also stock have some mustards, beef jerky, a few other snack options and also the BA magazine, which made good reading on the train back home.

Convenient if you pass through GC and need a good bottle or growler and don’t have time to go to a more neighborhood type of lacation.

Follow Beermenus.com for updates on growler options

01-15-2012 16:10:14 | More by Billolick

scott10010

North Carolina

4.14/5  rDev +17.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$$

This is a small but well curated bottle shop. Rarely do I see more than one or two beers from a single brewery, they carry the best a maker has to offer and look for other styles from a different maker.

They have some exotic bottles and a great location if you commute through Grand Central. Prices are steep for the bottles, not bad for growlers. This isn't a place to do all of your shopping, but a good place to find something special domestic or imported. Seems to have an emphasis on Italian craft beers. Employees all seem knowledgeable after a few visits.

12-27-2011 20:48:04 | More by scott10010