Monday, April 12th, 2010—Bar 92
Day 92—Sunday, April 11th
The Habitat
One of my Twitter friends (yeah, I’ve got Twitter friends, shut up!) Danielle who runs the super-cool website, Living Free NYC, invited me to meet her in Greepoint, Brooklyn to have Sunday dinner at one of her favorite bars, The Habitat. I’ve been meaning to venture out of Manhattan more and sample some of Brooklyn’s bars, so this was the push I needed. So let’s hit the subway and head off to Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Don’t forget your Metro Cards!
Okay, we're taking the F train and then transferring to the G, it's simple as ABC!
And now the waiting begins. Come on train!
Reason number 12,408 to cancel cable.
Alright, here's the train!
Here's our car. After I took this, the woman seated next to me asked if this was my first time in New York, assuming I was a tourist because I was taking photos. I told her no, and then she asked where I was from. I told her 16th street and she truly seemed puzzled.
And through the magic of the internet we're here! In reality it was an hour ride with the G train stalling out for about twenty minutes in the station, one of the reasons I don't leave Manhattan that often.
And here we are at the Habitat. It looks nice and airy, perfect for this nice spring evening.
Some of the specials for the evening. Time to find Danielle.
And here she is, already a drink ahead of me, time to catch up!
And John the bartender is more than happy to help me out, thanks John!
There's a large selection of draft to be sampled here, along with specialty cocktails.
Here's Nicole, one of the owners and a gracious and nice hostess.
Briana and Carlos were seated next to us and wished me well on my 365 day bar crawl.
There's lots of tables and benches in the bar, giving it a bit of a comfortable woodsy lounge feel.
Elyse and Nick are from Australia and were impressed that I was interviewed on the Morning Show there.
Danielle introduced me to two friends of hers at the bar, Soriya and Vichet, cheers guys!
Here's Michelle, May and Rina enjoying their Sunday dinner. Hey, speaking of Sunday dinner I'm starvin' like Marvin over here!
And here it is, delicious mac and cheese and an order of buffalo wings.
Danielle and I point at the food. Seconds later we devoured it. it was a delicious Sunday dinner.
John at work at the bar.
Paul took a seat next to us at the bar. He's just been here for six months and is a sales rep for Great Brewers. Check out their website: Greatbrewers.com.
We ended the evening with shots of Patron Tequila. Cheers!
I didn't feel like taking the subway home and luckily one block away is the Java Car Service. And an ATM world, I think Joey D. lives there.
Wilson is at the wheel and made it back to Manhattan in record time!
Wilson has the last word, "Goodnight everybody!"
Review
The Habitat has the feeling of a rustic cabin meets an open air front porch. It’s a cozy place and if the bar is filled, there’s plenty of tables and seats within the airy bar. It’s definitely a neighborhood scene here, but first-timers like myself are greeted warmly by the bartenders and patrons alike. The antique cuckoo clock and the giant wooden bathroom are just a couple of the talking points here.
If you’re a draft beer enthusiast, this is your place. Just some of the many drafts on tap include: Greeen Flash Imperial IPA, North Coast Red Seal, Nebraska EOS Hefeweizen and Boulder Obovoid. There’s also a flight menu to sample where you can try your choice of any four 8 ounce drafts for 13 bucks. The Habitat also has a decent wine list and specialty cocktails such as: Nicole’s Famous Sangria, Triple Rum Punch and Bourbon Mint Lemonade.
There’s also a full menu of delicious home cooked food. There’s three styles of empanadas to be had, a build your own burger served on an English muffin, goat cheese gnocchi and a crispy chicken sandwich garnished with cheddar cheese, bacon, garlic butter pressed on polish country rye. And the mac and cheese is truly inspired with cabot white cheddar asiago cheese topped with a generous pile of butter bread crumbs. And it’s only five bucks during Happy Hour which runs from 4 pm to 7 pm. Stop by the Habitat and get happy!
The Habitat
938 Manhattan Ave. (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
718-383-5615
1 Reference
Reader Comments (10)
Nice open casual setting.
The Mac and Cheese looks incredible, and at that price
The Partridge Family couldn't get that happy!
A bit farther to crawl, good thing Java was there.
Loved the "First time in New York" comment.
I so love that you had to take a G train to get there:)
all cool things start with a g ya know.. well at least I say so:)
Nice bar. awesome looking food.. I am just now starting to like mac and cheese.. i gotta learn how to make it. as a kid I thought it was the grossest thing ever. might be the fact I dont drink milk or eat a lot of cheese LOL..
And ya "Boris" I was laughing heavily at that comment.. had to read it a few times. Marty you should have told her you live on the train and were taking pics of your new home for yur mum:)
You know, it's amazing the degree that Hollywood has managed to stereotype the view of New York City for people like me who've never been there. Your photos of the subway don't show a single bit of graffiti, and the entire cast of the movie 'The Warriors' weren't there wearing their colors and waiting to relieve you of your camera and everything else of value on your person. I keep wondering how long it's going to be before your bar crawl comes to an abrupt end at the hands of a psychotic mugger, and Hollywood has a lot to do with that too. In 1967, Martin Sheen and Tony Musante made a truly horrifying move that I saw as a kid called 'The Incident' that gave me a blue horror of ever riding a New York subway. Do you ever see a tourist with a glassy sheen of fear in his or her eye while riding the subway for the first time, and do you ever feel tempted to jazz them about it when you do? Inquiring minds want to know!
Good idea, Gidget! Ha ha ha! And I don't mess with tourists, Jaws, as I was once one myself!
ATM world. HA! Now you're just bragging.
Man, that mac and cheese looks good! Love the high ceilings in that place and the open doors too. After the shitstorm of a winter we had, I can't get enough of the outdoor air! Hopefully I'll make it to Brooklyn during a warm weather month - I'd like to stop by this place and get my pirate on with one or four of their triple rum punches. Although, by warm weather month, I do not mean July and/or August. Because, although the warriors and graffiti were missing from the subways, the smell of urine remains! Anyhoo, glad you got to meet up with Danielle for dinner - looks like everyone had a great time! And Nick, I love your shirt!
There is no Mac & Cheese in France ; in fact Chez Whiz is banned in Europe !!!!
This was a bitch to type on a French keyboard ; VIVA LA FRANCE !!!!
So There AMERICAN MOTHERFUCKERS !!!!
I love all things mac and cheese! Looks like a GREAT bar! Thanks Marty!
Nice to see you get out of Manhattan once in a while. That place looks bitchin! The mac and cheese sounds and looks great! Good one!
"I told her 16th street and she truly seemed puzzled." LOL!! I love that!
What a great looking bar and yes, I do enjoy draft beer. It is nice to know that they have such a variety. Danielle looks very sweet and I enjoyed visiting her website. It looks like a great place to chill with friends and the food looks good too!
Thanks for letting me tag along....