I want to go back! It's a couple subways stops plus a short walk away but totally worth the trip. Cute country bar that plays non-country music on the jukebox. This is totally one of those places where you can have a conversation with a table of friends. The servers were laid back and friendly and the scene was completely douche-free. Hoegaarden on tap and my whiskey & soda came in a mug. Fun! One star removed for two specific reasons: First, the food was "okay"; friend thought his wings were tough, my steak tips were good but salad was odd, husband liked his burger. Second, the server, although super friendly about it, asked if she could close us out early because they were switching shifts. We were probably ready to leave soon anyway, and we "got" it, but, I can see some people taking offense to this. I will always remember this is where I was when I found out about Whitney. There were moments of shock as patrons spread the news and then an impromptu Whitney medley on the jukebox. There was an amazing sense of bonding. See you soon, Branded Saloon! read more

I think I like this place. The few times i've been, the bartenders have been super nice, I've seen bingo, I've drank delicious beers, and I've had some of the best chicken strips I've ever had (cilantro ranch, and chipotle whatever are both really good sauces). I guess the prices aren't anything to write home about, and the vibe is odd for some reason.... not to mention the rooms in back (downstairs?), which I haven't had the guts to venture to yet. The place is literally on my block, so I assume I'll get there eventually. read more

I am, by no means, a cowgirl or someone who frequents saloons. But if I lived in ProHeights, I would be a regular here. I wish I caught the bartender's name, but he was awesome. Drinks are the right price, and they have a lot of local microbrews as well as cider on tap. I rarely see cider on tap. Hell I rarely see a place that offers mulled wine, spiked hot chocolate, spiked milk shakes...and the list goes on. Why WOULDN'T you want to go here? By far, one of the best burgers I ever sank my teeth into is the Branded Burger. Sooo good, my mouth is watering just writing about it! Go there, have fun. Enjoy the bathroom. The sink is made of a barrel. And the walls are all written on, I took extra time drying my hands to read the various messages. This place has character...this place is awesome :) read more

I kind of want to like this place. The food seems to be pretty good - they make a tasty veggie burger, usually the low point of a bar menu - and the vibe is friendly. It's not too loud and the western theme is cute. The beer menu is varied and drinks are fairly priced. But the service makes me disinclined to think of it as anything other than a basic bar. First of all, it was really really slow. There were two guys working behind the bar and doubling as waitstaff, and they rarely made it all the way to our table. I had to go up to the bar to order drinks, to get a refill on one of our beers, and to ask for the check. It was pretty busy, so that might account for it, but it was frustrating after a while. Second, they got our check all confused. Two of us found that there was an extra drink tallied on the tab (3 beers listed instead of the 2 I had), and there was also a top-shelf drink that none of us had ordered at all - an added total of $20! On the bright side the staff were very apologetic and happy to correct the mistake. On the less bright side we tried to make things complicated and split the check between cash and a card, and expected to get back about $1.50 change, which we didn't receive. So, I can't tell if the staff was feeling particularly harried that night, or what - I'm kind of withholding judgment until I make it back. But in the meantime I guess keep it simple here - burgers and beers, done and done. read more

Tried this place a few weeks ago, ordered takeout. The food was decent but I think was affected from being in boxes for a little while and resulted in some sogginess. Overall it was good... I think I'll try it again soon in person read more

At one point, there was a rumour that the owner/management was trying to pacify the heteros and minimize teh ghey presence, going so far as to remove the rainbow flags from flying above the door and bar. That seems to have backfired and the colours are back. But I still hold a small grudge. I am less interested in Ru's show than I am in the live Switch N Play performance. I love the diversity the crowd brings and the performances are always top-notch. Make sure to bring your dollar-dollar-dollar bills for the tipping. Also, the food is good. The burgers are reliable. Their drinks get the job done. Caveat: make sure to differenciate between water and vodka when you order the Brunch Bloody Mary Bar option. One is much better for you to gulp than the other. read more

Branded is a great spot, food is awesome & Drinks are great. The staff is so friendly and they are a lot of fun as well. My BF and I come here often and can not say a negative thing about Branded. Keep up the good work guys:) read more

Love this place. Bingo night is the bomb (I won nail polish once) and the key lime martin was off the chain. Burgers are always a hit but the brunch is good too. They even have live music in the back sometimes. read more

Nice and relaxing place. The wait staff was a little funny style, but after a while they warmed up to us. I guess everyone needs to ask for water in NYC. Anyhoo, I digress. It was Saturday so we were in the mood to order several rounds of drinks to get the evening started. The drinks were a little on the sparse side and they ran out of ice cream for the whiskey milk shake. The fries were good, but let me warn you, they are real heavy on the garlic. It's a cool place, so the next time I'm in Brooklyn, I'll give them a second chance. read more

We started calling this place Rawhide, and I kind of hope they will read this and change the name. As its kinda cool - a country western bar in deep Brooklyn? Where so many small plates/wine flights/dim sexy lights lounges have sprouted that they are starting to be no longer special. I'm a huge fan of small plates and wine flights but not when they have a paint-by-numbers lounge of the month feel. So extra points, Branded/Rawhide, for daring to be original. Decor: swinging half-doors, wild-west style. Stuffed moose head. Mismatched wood furniture, huge TV in back (good for sports), and belly-up-to-the-bar bar. All super awesome in a free-to-truly-be-me kind of way. Menu: Burgers, wings, crudite, fries. Kind of boring, average bar food. Still love the down home vibe, that they will help keep Vanderbilt real. Pluse I can add them to the list of places to go to that are practically guaranteed to be stroller-free. Nothing will ever take the place of super-cool and sexy Barrette, but extra points for being another original outpost. Will return, hoping to see the gay crowd that someone describes here. read more

I waffled back and forth between three and four stars on this one. I've been to Branded a couple of times to see my hubby play music in the back room, and there is a lot to recommend this laid back juke joint. The atmosphere is a little overworked in its theme-iness, but I don't hold that against them much. On the plus side: There are lots of cozy booths up front. The staff are attentive and sweet as pie, and the management is great about supporting local music. It's largely a DIY affair in the sound mixing department, but that's fine in such a small room. I also like that the live back room music is amplified into the front bar to draw more attention to the fact that it's going on. Much of the food is quite good, especially the Branded burger. The beer selection is diverse and interesting. In the negative column, the configuration in the back room is kind of uncomfortable, especially the bench seating in back.. I would also gladly donate a few bucks if they would put up some coat hooks. Some of the food misses the mark, most notably the desserts. My friend also mentioned that her alcoholic milkshake was full of ice chunks. Neutral but worth noting: there is a large downstairs game room, but it has been deserted both times I was there, on Saturday night. Strange. Overall, Branded is definitely a great option for those who like their bars low key (like I do), in a neighborhood with somewhat limited options. read more

If I lived in this neighborhood I'd head over for a frito pie every now and again. This world needs more frito pies in it. Live music + food, on a random Wednesday night = YAY read more

Such a fun place! Nice ambiance, fun atmosphere, clean bathrooms (I love the beer barrel sink!). Food is great. Mac & Cheese is to die for. If you just want a snack, that's what I would order. I also tried the Branded Burger and it was great - spicy, but not too much - just right. The service was extraordinary. Clientele: 50:50 boy-girl ratio. A good blend of "everything" = a good time! In the back room they always have something going on: a live band playing, bingo, Karaoke, etc. Check the website for details. The staff is very friendly and doesn't forget about you even on a busy night. If you like to listen to your favorite songs bring a few bucks for the jukebox. I can guarantee that you will love this place! Next time I am in NY I will stop by again :) read more

I visited this place when it first opened- not a bad bar, but the theme seemed a little...forced. It almost felt like it was the faux-saloon from Nat'l Lampoons Vacation. A few years later it seemed to have grown into itself, but still... a little cheesy. It's good for a drink, and the Sunday brunch seems to had really knocked my friend out. I'd definitely be down for trying it again. The space is a little small, but downstairs is really the place to get a seat. read more

Nice beer selection. Friendly service. Good outdoor seating for people watching on Vanderbilt. read more

Branded Saloon - Abita strawberry on draft and thick cut fries :) - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The theme of this bar is pretty skin deep. I would really expect a Country-Western bar to have a larger selection of bourbon than Jim Beam and Maker's Mark. Also, would it kill them to have some honky tonk playing? My first visit was marred by a woman in the back room singing classic rock hits (Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and Toto's "Africa") at the piano. This might be OK if she was confined to the back room, with country playing up front. But they had the entire place wired to hear her caterwauling. But skin deep, the place looks pretty neat, and that whole intersection has an exciting vibe on busy nights. read more

It's a painfully hipsterish faux-western bar. Many ironic cowboy hats were in evidence. However, it has a good beer list (although one of our party ordered a beer, & was brought a different beer from the same brewery. When, on ordering a second round, he specified that he really wanted the OTHER one, was told that they were out. They should really ask before making a substitution & assuming that a customer won't notice.) Points are definitely gained for the "Fancy Drinks" menu, which has entertainly titled drinks with all sorts of fun ingredients (Saint-Germain, yum!). The ones we tried were all tasty, although not inexpensive! They've got bar food, but we only had drinks, so can't comment on that. read more

This is a review for BRANDED AT BRUNCH. Ah, the typical weekend brunch run around- you know, when you meet your friends at original brunch destination only to find a 45 minute wait for 3. Then you figure "we'll just walk around and find something else" and that turns into walking around for a long time and not finding anything without a significant wait. First, we wanted Cheryl's, but that wait was a hot mess. We decided to walk down Washington then remembered that Branded had a make your own bloody mary bar! Done and done. Made it to Branded and there was no wait. We were seated in the back by a nice server who apologized for the 2 minute wait for him to come by our table. I think his name was Kevin. He was great the whole time- completely friendly, quick and so nice! Such a refreshing change from the standard waitertude in Brooklyn where people just act like you're bothering them. Food was a little above average but I actually think food might take a backseat to the whole experience since brunch is such a $***show on weekends. By the end of our time there, it was packed and there were a bunch of ankle biters running around (can't expect anything less in these parts of Brooklyn- even at a bar), but go early, drink often and tip well! read more

As a recent transplant to NYC via Chicago it's been difficult to find the same kind of low-key, friendly, casual spots I used to crawl home from. While I couldn't exactly crawl home from Branded (nor could I figure out how the hell to get back to the train I had taken to get there...I'll blame the whiskey) I was really impressed with everything the bar had to offer. I spent most of the evening in the downstairs area which is equipped with both air hockey and a pool table. The change machine was kind of particular about which dollars it would take but thanks to the incredibly friendly bartenders, we never went too long without our precious quarters. Seriously, those bartenders were awesome - both in change-making and in drink-slinging. Later in the evening, my group wound up singing karaoke upstairs with a bunch of strangers. I have been to plenty of karaoke places in the past and I'm not sure if it was just the people who ended up there this night or if this happens on the regular here, but everyone chose blasts from the past that I've never heard anyone do at karaoke before. It was a hella good time and everyone seemed to feel comfortable and at ease. I'll definitely be back there soon and if I lived closer, I'd probably make it my local hang. read more

Best burger in the whole world. Also, a pool table downstairs with tons of seating and your own jukebox! Sweet! But if this is a gay bar, someone should really let the gays know. (At least that what I thought until I finally went to a karaoke night. Whoa.) read more

Branded Saloon is a great spot! They've got plenty of great beers, however the food is lacking. The service is friendly; I've been here a couple times the bartenders have always made me laugh and quick to get you another drink. They have Karaoke and trivia nights too! A great low key spot especially if you are LGBT read more

Great late night food - I regularly drop in for the grilled chicken blt. Staff is awesome.

Waited more than 5 minutes to be even acknowledged by a server. Server placed an incorrect order at that

I have been frequenting this place since it opened several years ago. In fact, I brought many a first-date via OkCupid to this place. I love the laid back ambiance and the southern old-fashioned decor. I also love that it's LGBT-friendly and draws a mixed crowd. I would recommend the chicken fingers and the veggie nachos. Bloody Mary was delicious (and loved getting to decide how many olives I could have... i.e. a lot) although the price is quite steep at $13. Bingo night is always a blast, especially when it's run by Tammy. Bartenders are always friendly and this is a good place to watch a game. Rumor has it that it might be switching owners soon. I hope it's not true. read more

Generally end up there with the softball team after games and love this place. Nice beer options. The sliders (especially the veggie sliders) are awesome. The duck nachos kick ass. I'm not a bloody mary person but the make your own bloody mary station seems to be a big hit. Definitely recommend. read more

Listen. This is the first review I have ever been moved to write on Yelp, if that tells you anything. Branded Saloon is a pillar in the community and a lifeline for me personally. The space itself is a haven for queer south brooklyn -- trans friendly, welcoming to all, excellent drag and burlesque shows and queer programming -- there's nothing more you could ask for in a local queer bar. But most of all, the one bartender named Adam. They're usually only working brunch, but occasionally present during the week, and always during a switch n play show -- they. are. EVERYTHING!!! They are the cutest, sweetest, sexiest mixologist I have ever had the pleasure to meet. The French one is ok too, and the lady Ellen, even though she's very old, is super hot and a fun bartender to meet. If you come and Mohan, or Dave, is bartending, just turn around and walk out. It's not worth it. Come back to meet Adam or perhaps Julian. Also, Branded has the most underrated, delicious kitchen on Vanderbilt Ave, when Manuel is running the kitchen. At the end of the day, queer programming at this bar is on point. As long as you steer clear of troublesome regulars like the senile Maria or the football-obsessed Alex, you will have a WONDERFUL time at this queer friendly haven. Goddess bless. read more

Felt like I overpaid for a bad meal after being charged $53 for three drinks here. Shame on me, both for being shy & also not wearing my glasses: I wanted to add a tip to my bill & asked the host for help reading my total since I was too blind to see. He did, but neglected to tell me he had already tacked onto my bill a 20% surcharge, coyly (ironically?) labeled "tip". I admit I lacked the mustard to dispute my inflated sounding total on site. To be fair, $2 were for five stale chips we had to buy for legal reasons. He did manage to mention this latter charge after we finished ordering, as he handed us the chips. I never went here pre-covid. I would love to love it here but am sorry to say I won't be coming back. read more

I absolutely love this place! The branded fries (aka poutine) are so fantastically delicious. My friend had the chicken BLT and loved it and I've had the kale salad on a previous visit, which was also really good. They were also super accommodating - we had a vegan in our group so they did the gravy/cheese on side for the poutine. The service is impeccably friendly and welcoming and the staff always make me smile and laugh in addition to just being responsive and attentive. They also have so much outdoor seating so it's a safe bet that you'll be able to get a spot. I highly recommend and will continue to keep coming back here! read more

Tried the watermelon sangria which was great so figured Id get the carafe of it. Carafe amounted to 2 drinks & was more expensive than what 2 watermelon sangrias would be. Disappointed and found the place was a little overpriced (wanted to order fries) but decided not to and try somewhere else. read more

Absolute garbage service. Waiter didn't bring our food out, probably because we didn't order alcohol, and food was served by someone else 50 minutes after ordering completely and totally cold. Horrible portions for the price as well. read more

After brunch at Pequena on Vanderbilt we stopped into Branded Saloon to continue our lazy Saturday and kill time while a friend was at the hair salon. The sign for $4 Draft and Well Happy Hour and $5 Bloody Mary bar brought us in and as we had never been in before we checked out the setting. The back room is setup for multipurpose sports viewing or live music stage. The basement has a Pool Table and Pac-Man as well as additional restrooms, and oh yeah, Tapper in the main bar room. We came in around 2:30pm and were the only people in the bar for about 2 hours so naturally we chatted with the bartender shared some shots and discussed the beautiful relocated bar from the old Montague Street Saloon. When people started entering it turned into a couples bar, which made for fun people watching but a different vibe than our low-key Saturday had thus far been. Definitely will be back to check out the food and ambiance under a non-Valentine's day backdrop and to try the Whisky Milkshake. Looks like an awesome place to have a party and hangout with all your favorite people. read more

I wanted to check a neighborhood place. and this place seems welcoming and friendly when I enter. it has a interesting theme bar and dining place. But the service was slow maybe because it was a busy Friday night. The special came out in 25 minutes and it was not very tasty after all this waiting. And main course was not very impressive at all . As somebody already commented here. I would be back for drinks but not for food. read more

The food and drinks are amazing. I had the fish and chips and it was so fresh and so well seasoned I wanted it again the very next day. read more

Branded Saloon - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

When you go to this restaurant, try the half and half wings! After the first bite your mouth will have a continuous orgasm until the last bite! Delicious! And the pina colada is fantastic! read more

I'm grateful for this place- a gem in the neighborhood. This bar is a safe place for anyone looking for a good time. Fantastic and fun karaoke night on Thursday's, late night food option (my fave chicken fingers), fun folks and always a good time. I'm so grateful for the folks who built such a lovely fun bar and community. They also have a bloody marry bar on weekends for brunch!! Very accommodating for events as well. Thank you for such a great space and hang! read more

Garbage. Never going back. Racist staff. Rude service. Noticed the staff being rude to others and absolutely spoiled our night. At one point a staff member made fun of a persons voice which was super inappropriate. read more

By far one of the most friendly places I have ever been. Located not to far from the Barclays Center and not far from Flatbush Ave, this very Pride friendly bar is close to my heart because it the stomping ground of mine and the ex boo.. Great strong drinks and sliders to die for this place is great for a Saturday night haunt... What makes this place even more special is in the back occasionally there is live entertainment.. Great place check it out read more

Pleasently surprised with the Menu of this more Bar than Restaurant in the Wild West side of Brooklyn. Nice selection of selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and well proportioned dishes for the money to satisfy your appetite. I had the fish and chips. The potatoes were fresh cut, thick and tasty. The fish fresh is crispy with made in house slaw and tartar dressing. Not a bad spot especially when there is live music! read more

Kind of a weird theme for a Brooklyn bar, but I guess if you've always dreamed of getting drunk in a Longhorn Steak House then this your calling card. Drinks aren't the cheapest (~$8 wines add up quick!). Fries were delish. Each fry was like a baked potato. There was a show in the back. I paid the $10 cover because I knew someone in a band that was performing. I wouldn't have otherwise. read more

My friend turned me on to this place & am so thankful he did. There's no where cool to hang in my hood & this is a subway stop away ( or a $2 van!) Bartenders are aware of their patrons (in other words, they look around their bar making sure we r getting our drink on!) & even come looking for u outside when ur food shows up! Sweet, huh?! The layout is perfect, hang at the bar up front or check out cool live music in the back ( Junior Lunch were playing that night.. sidebar, they are amazing!) or get ur game fix downstairs. Ended the evening with the ridiculously rich & tasty mac n cheese. I had to order a couple glasses of Pinot Noir (which was decent for a bar) to cut thru the richness. All good at Branded, I will be back!! read more