Bua is one of my favorite bars in the East Village. I love the exposed brick ways, the decorative candles and the cute bartenders. Furthermore, the bar offers a good variety of beers. My only complaint is that it can get a bit crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. read more

Bua - An Unfamiliar Bua - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Dear fellow New Yorker, BUA previously Sin-É, where Jeff BUCKLEY used to perform and where he also recorded his Famous EP " live @ Sin-É ". BUA has decided to honor Jeff's memory hanging his picture in the RESTROOM Area where people pee, poop & piuck when drunk. I came to BUA for a visit and was chocked to witness the way BUA chose to honor or should I say dishonor Jeff's memory. I cordially did let them know about that. Because they have no respect, as we could witness, BUA chose to solve the problem by REMOVING Jeff's picture. I did ask updates on & on, they ignore my messages. That is How Much BUA care about the East Village's LEGACY.. Acoustic music sessions took place @ Sin-É in a spontaneous and creative atmosphere. Patrons included emerging writers, photographers, artists, designers and musicians. Later, as a more established venue, performers played for tips. Seasoned performers such as Sinéad O'Connor, Jeff Buckley, Marianne Faithfull, Shane MacGowan, Hothouse Flowers, The Waterboys, Allen Ginsberg, Star Drooker, and the band Native Tongue also appeared at Sin-é, giving impromptu performances. New York history is vanishing cause of people like BUA Crew who manifest such a poor consideration towards places that used to carry a SOUL. BUA, if you take over Sin-É, HONOR this PLACE, don't Baffle it. Don't turn it into a random Burger place. Soulful Artists shared some of their Essence. Remember this. read more

The food choices were limited but what we ordered was delicious, fries and chicken tenders. The happy hour was until eight, which was a huge plus. The drink specials were great and quite delicious. Beer election was alright but didn't have any quick "go to" options. However, I'm a huge beer fan so that was okay with me. The big downfall was the service. There appeared to be one waitress for the entire seated area. I had to remind her about my drink orders and felt prepared to orders next one as soon as I received the one before. We had a good seat for a bit more privacy than the rest of the establishment which was good for this night since it seemed pretty packed. Overall, we really likes it here but were quite deterred by the service. read more

Bua is a cool little bar on St. Marks, with a huge retractable front window, lots of wood everywhere, and tasty cocktails. A friend and I came in here for a round of drinks, and were impressed that the bartender did a quick "straw test" on each of them (something that seems usually reserved for speakeasy-type joints). My only gripe with this place is the regular drink prices are a tad high, and (as others noted) the bar area is VERY small, so if you don't have either a seat or a ledge, you're kinda SOL here. read more

Came in at about 1am on a Thursday night (morning?) after leaving another bar across the street. It was live inside - a good amount of people and loud techno-ish music playing. Not my fave, but there were two open seats at the bar as soon as we walked in, so we took this as a sign from the universe and grabbed them quickly. Drinks were not the cheapest, but this is a NY standard right? Our bartender was kind of my favorite part of the night though - I regrettably don't remember his name. James perhaps? He told us they had Jaeger, but sadly, no bombs. And then he came back 3 minutes later to tell us that he had 2 red bulls that he brought in for himself that he would let us have! Customer service at its finest, we happily took both. (What's a brother sister vacay without Jaegerbombs?) We then asked him for a rum and coke - heavy on the rum - and he gave us two glasses filled just about 95% with rum. I had to ask for a glass of OJ on the side for a shooter. Expensive yes, but (maybe) James made sure we got our money's worth. I understand everything I described above makes me sound a little bit like an alcoholic, but if you're coming to a bar and your sole purpose is to drink, then Bua will not disappoint. Come in and ask for James! If no one there is named that, look for the awesome guy behind the bar with the accent. read more

We came here for a Saturday mid-day happy hour as it's just a few steps away from Tompkins Square Park. The decor is cozy and there was a large picnic-style table with long benches for our large group to sit at. The water pitchers were old Bulleit Bourbon bottles which was a nice decor touch. The Shacksbury cider ($8) was served in a can from the bar, the beers were served in glasses. Definitely worth a stop for a casual drink with friends if you're in the area. read more

It's been a week. I can't stop thinking about the muddled lemons in vodka with a touch of cranberry juice. I was taken back to the days I ran a lemonade stand, and wish I thought of pouring vodka in and selling to the adults for a hefty profit. This was an awesome happy hour venue, with drink specials ($5) lasting until 8. Cozy wooden table atmosphere for your trendy suit wearing folks and your visiting hipsters alike. The bathroom was huge, with an equally large door that I could barely comprehend. I want another lemonade. I want another 3. I want to come back. You should go too. Don't judge too hard when the wait staff is slow, the drinks are worth it. read more

SOLID HH! In the middle of the summer, and in the dead of the winter, you can count on having a great time here! Great bartenders, delicious friend pickles, all around great bar. I personally love their Pomegranate Lemonade. I always grab a seat at the bar, best seat in the house if you ask me. And who doesn't love a bar that has more than ONE restroom.. they have THREE! Talk about keeping the line movin'. read more

wow. so gonna complain a bit about the first come first serve seating (in a very small restaurant) yet a $20 minimum once you sit. additionally when i ordered the $18 carafe of pino during happy hour the bartender closed another $30 tab with my card after waiting 20 minutes for the drink.. all very annoying things. BUT...but once we were seated, we had a very lovely waitress and the food was absolutely incredible. we had a party of 3 and shared cauliflower bites, fried pickles and fries and i kid you not, had probably the best fries of my life. incredibly seasoned and perfectly thick and fried OH MY GOD THEY WERE AMAZING. then i ordered the fried chicken sandwich. i almost passed out after my first bite. seriously some of the best food i've had in NYC. would give a 5 star rating if it wasn't for the annoyances in the beginning but i will definitely be bringing back everyone i know read more

Bua - fried chicken sandwich - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Stumbled upon this place on a rainy sunday when a lot of things were quiet but this place was happening - all tables outside were taken. We opted for a table inside and was just regretting that decision (think dark wood ambiance perfect for evening cocktails but on a rainy afternoon would put you to sleep) when we were told that a table outside freed up woooo!! I got the warm apple cider with rum and it was delicious!!! Not too sweet and the warmth was perfect for the rainy weather. Fries were good as well. Looking forward to coming up and getting an actual meal here. read more

Great place, hilarious patrons and AWESOME service. When I was in NYC we checked this place out and it was really a great bar. Chill atmosphere and a great selection of Whiskey :) Great location and just an all around cool place, check it out when you're in the area. If you live in NYC you will become a regular, I know I would read more

Great place to wait for PDT since it's right across the street. Love the interior rocky deco, and the open panes -- sit inside and you can still people watch, love it. Good for draught beer ($6 for an ommegang witte and the like). They also have a small menu of cocktails here. read more

Great spot. But the bartender I had had an attitude. Young thing who apparently was new. Too much carbonation in my drink. She says 'tell me how to fix your drink' in a pressed & forceful manner. Uh, no. You're the bartender. You should know how to fix my drink if I don't like carbonation. This isn't a crazy science. GET IT TOGETHER. *sigh* I go to other places, I don't get attitude. Because they're skilled bartenders... Anywho, drink made again, super strong. Could have been better but eh... Atmosphere is nice. Modern yet rustic if that makes sense. Dimly lit lighting. The bathroom doors are neat: sliding wood. But super heavy (and yes, they were heavy prior to me having my drink). 5 stars for the spot, minus 3 for the bartender. equals 2 but I'll tack on another star since its close to PDT. I'll MIGHT go back on a different day with a different bartender. HOPEFULLY, my experience will be better. read more

Surprisingly spacious (packed, but so much better than the shoulder-to-shoulder atmosphere at Ten Degrees Bar) and great happy hour until 8 PM. It was busy throughout the night, but we managed to snag seats at the bar. Two large, unisex single-stall BRs in the back. The girls who tended bar were friendly and incredibly fast when it came to clearing empty glasses/napkins. Non-alcohol orders took a while (to the point that I was served items I had forgotten I even ordered), but the drinks came out a little faster. I'd return here, but only if there were seats available within 15 minutes of waiting. -Salt and Vinegar Chips w/ Dip: Extra vinegar-y, thin, crispy. -Salt and Vinegar Fries: Where's the sour? My friend enjoyed the Bua Burger that came with it though. read more

Nice laid back place for drinks. The vibe is casual but still a tad upscale with nice finishes. The pineapple daiquiri (Without added sugar) was the best drink. The pimms cup was also refreshing with nice fresh strawberries and cucumbers. Good place for a hot summer afternoon drink. read more

My daughter ordered fish tacos, which she said tasted okay and I ordered the burger. I informed the server that I did not like yellow cheese and asked for white cheddar or any white cheese. The server said she would check with the kitchen. The server did not return and when the burger arrived, it had yellow cheese on it. The burger was flat, with a thick cut of tomato and thick cut of onion on a cold bun. Which was a shame, because the burger was tender and nicely seasoned. I asked the server for mayonnaise that never came, so after waiting about 4 or 5 minutes without seeing the waitress return, I just ate the burger. Also, when taking the order, the server asked if we wanted fries with the food and we said no. When the food arrived, it included fries. When I summoned the server and told her we did not order fries, she responded "You don't want the fries?". When I responded "no" for not the third time she said "Okay, I'll take it off the bill." We never received any utensils and the bottle of water on the outdoor table was unopened.i acknowledge that the place was busy but the service could have been better. read more

Drinks (4 stars) -- typical drinks, would give 3 stars but since the bar tender personally made a special fruity drink for me, he gets that extra star! Location (3 stars) -- 3 blocks from the heart of st marks (6 train stop), not a far walk but the streets are pretty dark after you pass 2nd avenue Came here on a late Saturday night and it was so packed! My friends and I sat by the bar. Had 2 shots of tequila. Then the bar tender recommened the spicy tequila and he had one with us, what a fun bar tender! It was pretty yummy! I wouldn't mind having another one of that. You do taste the jalapeno spicy flavor but it goes away really quick. Since I was the only one without an actual drink, the bar tender made me a fruity drink. It was nice, it had a lot of strawberries! (my fav!) I forgot the name of it or what alcohol was in it lol. I believe it was gin? I don't know... I'm not sure if I'll ever come back to this spot since there are a lot of other bars in st marks I haven't tried yet... we'll see! read more

Bua - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped by this solid establishment with a friend during happy hour. Our waitress, Andee, was very pleasant and super attentive throughout the night(even after the place filled up with people). Ordered the fried chicken sandwich with fries. The sandwich was tasty and the fries were great too. Everything is well priced for the area. My only suggestion is for them to include jalapeños with their smoked and spicy margarita. It wasn't spicy enough. Had a really great time here and will definitely be returning. read more

This is the best bar in the east village. The bartenders are fantastic and the crowd is always fun. New York City is a very diverse place and it is hard to find a single location where the diversity of NYC can come together and feel at home. Every big holiday like New Years, St. Patrick's Day, or celebrating some of the regulars' birthday, BUA is treated to a song and dance by, Maria, the resident personality. By far the best times I've had in NYC over the past year have started or ended at BUA. It doesn't get any better than this. No Doubt! read more

Bua - BUA Anniversary Party - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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The hamburgers here are tasty, but skimpy. Fries are good. The fried pickles should be sliced thinner and be crunchier. The pub had a decent selection of beers, several on tap. Service is good. Menu only has about six or so items on it. read more

Little dimly lit bar nestled on 1st Ave - gets pretty packed as the night goes on. Crowd seems to be in their 20s to mid 30s Came with a friend to have a couple drinks while waiting to get into a restaurant nearby. Fortunately, happy hour was still on so we got a couple cocktails ($7 each) and sat in front of the window (we got there around 630 so luckily we were able to snag a couple seats). Our cocktails weren't really that strong, but slowly crept up to me (to a point where I was just a little tipsy). Bartender was friendly, and overall seemed to be a pretty chill place. read more

Great spot. They do a great Guinness. The staff are friendly. The chicken tenders are a great bar snack. So are the deep fired cheese curds.

This place is beautiful, the food is tasty, try the chicken fried rice, truest me you gonna love it

WARNING: So me and a few people ordered the burger here which was good but the waitress ask for a temperature. When the burgers came the guy delivering the food just handed the burgers out. We asked which one was which (temp wise) and his answer was "we don't do temps". Ok.. then we order some fries in which I ordered my own since I wanted the cheese fries that I see on google and in the photos here on yelp. Fries come out with cold cheese just thrown on top. I asked them to melt the cheese and they respond with "we don't melt the cheese, we don't do cheese fries". For some reason there are photos of the fries with melted cheese on it. The food runner was rude as well so even though the burger was good I wouldn't recommend Bua since they falsely advertise cheese fries in pictures but don't actually have the item. Also it would Have been nice to have been told they don't melt or do cheese fries before I ordered it. So I wasted money on the fries and they weren't that good either. It's safe to say this will be my first and last experience here. They also clearly just scrapped the cheese off the fries and re served them to me. Which is a huge no no at a good restaurant. I'd advise taking down pictures of food you clearly don't serve. read more

I used to really frequent Bua back in my EV days, but recently the crowds on the weekends have been unmanageable, so it's been a while since I've been back. Came most recently on the Memorial Day Monday afternoon. It was really confusing at first because we went to the bar and they charged us happy hour prices, and when we sat down and got table service, the server promptly told us they weren't doing happy hour because of the holiday. So curious. That being said, it was cleared up right away, so it's safe to say that the staff is pretty chill. The popularity of Bua, in my opinion, stems from the outdoor seating arrangement, which is very comfortable, slightly nicer than your average dive bar, and has pretty easy access to the bar. Somewhat hard to come by in the East Village. It's also relatively well-protected from passers-by and it's easy to do some people-watching, if that's your thing. Happy hour is a big pull here too, with $4 draft beer and $15 wine carafes. Not too shabby. Their cocktails are pretty solid, although don't expect any crazy concoctions or huge ice cubes. The bar food they have consists of your typical burgers, fries, fried cheese curds and...black kale salad? Interesting. Service is generally pretty great, although can be spotty during busy hours, per usual. The fact that the staff is so chill is sort of double-edged sword, because while it makes the ambiance super comfortable, sometimes all you want is a nicely-expedited beer or cocktail, brought to your table. Prices are pretty standard for EV at around $7 for draft beers during normal hours, and $8-9 for a glass of wine. It's hard to say when I'll be back at Bua, due to the overwhelming popularity, suffering a similar fate to another one of my favorite bars, Blind Tiger in West Village. Nonetheless, it's always been a pretty solid place for a beer, and some random bar bites. I'll be back when it's not busy. read more

Bua is probably the most chic Irish bar I've ever been to. We posted up at the bar while we waited to get a call back from PDT, which is directly across the street (we had an amusing time watching people try to figure out where the entrance of PDT was). It was actually the perfect place to do some pre-PDT drinking. Loved the casual vibe of the place, which was filled with East Village regulars. The space had a nice warm glow from all the candles sitting in the little nooks of the exposed brick walls. The bartender was cool, chatting it up with patrons. We were hoping to get a second round of drinks from their cocktail menu, like their French 76, but our time was cut short by a quick call back from PDT. I could see this being a cozy date spot, or a low key spot for larger groups to hang out in with some pints or cocktails. They're open until 4am, so it makes for a nice late night stop. read more

If you've wondered where to find the best Bloody Mary in Manhattan, look no further than this little bar on St. Mark's. Sure, it's not a brunch spot like Prune where you have to wait an hour to indulge in a little Bloody variety. And they aren't unlimited for $20 or anything like that. But these BMs will beat the pants off the competition - literally. Sporting about 5 ounces of vodka, Guinness, tomato, Worcestershire, and maybe 14 other sauces and spices and topped with pickle slices and olives ... it's a delicious and addictive masterpiece. Sandwich it between a Zantac and a Spicy Redneck from Crif Dogs across the street and you'll be sitting pretty on a Sunday afternoon. I should note also that as a bar, Bua is a solid choice for after dinner beer or booze. Avoid the weekends here when it's packed with college kids. On weekdays it's a nice, rustic wood walled spot to swap stories with friends and listen to good beats. And in the summer, they've got a few tables out front for prime people watching. read more

A spicy pickle martini!? I'll have two. It may be a long, long time before I taste a pickle in the same way again, but for this brief moment in time (I lie, it was like 5 hours), it was pickle bliss. Spicy. Get it with vodka (not gin) for the smoothest taste (group consensus). It's basically a dirty martini, but ain't no olives, just pickles. You likea da pickle? You likea the booze? You likea this. Their cocktail menu also should get some attention. The shandy was next on my list, but after 2 pickle martinis my date for later that evening cut me off. Good thinking, but I'll be kicking back a shandy at some point. St. Marks my words. I met a long lost pal of mine for drinks late Saturday afternoon. She had perched herself perfectly at an outside table (the people watching is supreme) and we drank and laughed and watched people go about their days with dogs, babies, mohawks and the like. Our group of 2 grew to 7 over the course of our 5 hours, but it all just seemed to work out the way it should. Stools pulled over, the rain didn't stop us...covered by the awning, we continued. Rounds and rounds of beers and cocktails... Our waitress was quick, and efficient...sweet even. The bathrooms were clean. The crowd was laid back. The vibe was relaxed. It was not overly crowded. These were all the makings of a great Saturday afternoon of drinking. This is not something I typically do, but with a place like Bua to do it, I think I could absolutely get on board. Great place to take folks that aren't into the scene. Also, reasonable prices (relatively speaking). Martinis were huge and $10. Beers about $6. Most of cocktail list under $9. 4-stars. Will be back for food and shandy, will update! read more

Bua is a great little spot to grab drinks with a friend or a date and catch up but also set the mood. The bar itself has a great feel to it with exposed brick and cozy corners. The bartenders are cool too and nothing about the place feels pretentious. It's the sister to Wilfie and Nell in the WV and reminds me of exactly what I'd expect its younger EV sister to resemble: more auspicious, a little less sophisticated, but it'll show you just as good a time. The Bees Knees cocktail, is well just that - the bees knees! For $5 a pop until 8pm you will leave falling head over heals for Bua. A perfect spot for any weekday happy hour or to cap off your night. read more

I went to Bua for a hot second this past weekend during the friggin' heatwave (HOLY SMOKES! 45 DEGREES HALLELUJAHHHH!). It was my first time. I can't tell you anything about the ambiance at Bua because I couldn't see it - the back room was dark and it was packed, exposed brick wall to exposed brick wall. It was unfortunate. It looks like a great little place (the food options looked good), but way too crowded. Not to mention, someone farted close by, and it was just like... I am at a loss for words. I write really long reviews if you haven't noticed, and I. am. speechless? If you were at Bua on Saturday night (2/7/2009) and farted, pat yourself on the back! Sent us scurrying for gas masks. The bartenders were good and got us our drinks quick (and they were fairly priced too). My friends and I downed our beers as quick as humanly possible and bounced. I'll be back to Bua at a hopefully off-peak time (if there is such a thing) to enjoy. I think that besides the Great Stink of 2009, the place is pretty sweet. 3.5 with 4 to 5 star potential. read more

Great neighborhood bar. We came out of the schvitz at Russian-Turkish Baths and cooled off with some suds here. Bartender was great. Really low key. Bar bites are solid too--had the chicken tenders and cheese curds. Yum. read more

I want to love Bua as much as other people do, but somehow both times I have been there, I was dissappointed. The bartenders are forgettable, the drinks are forgettable, the place itself is just boring and uncomfortable if you don't have a table. The bar area is confined to like 1/4 of the venue with a wall dividing the restaurant area. Very limited seating. The vibe of this place is......well, there is no vibe. I'm convinced BUA translates to BORING in some other language. I've been here on a Tuesday and Saturday, both times ready to leave after a drink or two. I'm willing to give this place one more shot, maybe in the summer during happy hour and some outdoor seating. I wouldn't give BUA less than three stars, I don't have enough reasons to hate it and the "Pimp's Cup" drink seems to be very popular (although I don't think it's anything special). Sorry BUA, strawberries don't impress me and the drink itself is weak! Go here if you have absolutely nothing to do OR before going somewhere that's actually FUN. Thumbs down. read more

I went to Bua TWICE last night. How bout that? You know you have a problem when you walk into a place, notice that there is a ramp instead of stairs up to the front door, and quietly think to yourself "now I can click on Yelp that this place is wheelchair accessible." Because when you Yelp a place, that's all you're really looking for right?!?! I love the vibe in this place. Rarely do you find a bar that pulls off minimalist decor as well as Bua does. The exposed brick walls, heavy wooden benches and tables and concrete bar make this place very easy on the eyes. The door to the bathroom is a sliding steel door. They bump good tunes (they were alternating between the new Radiohead album and Dropkick Murphys last night). It's hard to get up and leave because its just so freaking inviting. That and the staff is really friendly. My attention was also drawn to this random mini pumpkin with a message written on it. It said "Call my sister: (248) yada yada..." I turned to my friends Kawan and Jenny and said "WOW. Guys, this is a great way to give a pick up line!" My suggestion won me nothing other than awkward glances and scornful burns for the rest of the night. Whatever... I haven't made it to first base with 3 girls FOR NOTHING, HAHAHA. (Did you catch that there? Self deprecation is the new black.) In summation: really good bar. When I visit it more, I'll probably bump it up to 5 stars. read more

I move away from bourbon and towards gin when the weather gets warmer. Something about the floral beginnings of this liquor makes it perfect for a warm evening or afternoon. Mix it with honey and lemon - you have yourself a Bees Knees and it's one of the happy hour specials here. $5 for one of my favorite cocktails? Yes, please. My friend and me ambled our way through conversation, their happy hour specials and their absolutely awesome spicy pickles. When energy flagged - I ordered a wonderful cheddar cheese sandwich while my companion ordered a corned beef. We were very happy with our choices. And I'm happy that I finally made it here. Can't wait to come back. read more

3.5 stars Bua is a dark, carvern-like bar with great bartenders and a fun noisy crowd. A good place to chill, hang out for a couple of drinks and people watch before you move onto the next bar. If you can snag a seat at one of the outside front booths, good for you -- ah well, I like sitting at the bar anyway! The one thing I really don't care for is the choice of music. As much as I love Bon Jovi circa 1980s (really, I do!), other than at a karaoke bar, I don't think Livin' on a Prayer should be played, especially 2x in an hour!?! Guess it all depends on the bartender *shrug* The bar is stocked with just standard brands. I once asked for a sidecar from one of the bartenders, and she didn't know how to make one (I've since just asked for vodka tonics or beers from all of the other bartenders.). Cool points to the kind bartender who entertained my friend's girlfriend's request for "something sweet and refreshing" and created something pink and named it after her ("Summer of '76")! Not my kind of drink at all, but very nice of him :) There is always a big jug of sangria at the end of the bar, and judging by the looks on the faces of those who order one, I'd steer clear of the sangria. Lower than normal NY drink prices - just $5 for a cocktail!!. read more

Bua is a solid, low-key pub option in a neighborhood brimming with places to go. The interior is suitably dimly lit and the exposed brick walls, with nooks created for candles, gives the place a good feel. The bartenders are friendly and the owner, in particular, is a cool guy to talk to. Bua really is a bar and not so much of a restaurant. That said, they do have some food options available that make for good light dinner fare or a late snack. The pulled pork sliders are surprisingly good. Three small buns stuffed with tender, nicely seasoned pork. An interesting side note on the food, which I think is worth highlighting, is the pickle that comes with. The guys at Bua have made nice with a local pickling operation based out of Brooklyn. According to the owner at Bua, the Brooklyn based pickle operation uses a recipe from the founder's grandfather. They vary things up from time to time, so it's not always exactly the same pickle. Returning to the pickle itself though, it's perfectly crispy and excellently seasoned with dill and other spices. Really, if you like dill pickles, this needs to be tried. The pickles they have right now also have some habenero peppers in the mix, which gives them just a touch of spiciness and a zesty aftertaste. That's a lot of space to devote to pickles in a review of a bar, so perhaps I should turn to the drinks. Bua has a full bar and a fair beer selection. There's nothing to the beer selection that really makes it stand out, but it's certainly not deficient, which is key. They're good with the mixed drinks as well and the bartenders are willing to make suggestions, try interesting things, and get your libations to you promptly. The venue and the people at a bar are as important as anything else. Bua has a good ambience, fairly good seating arrangement, and a nice layout to accommodate traffic flow in a place that isn't huge, but can certainly fit a decent crowd. The clientele is eclectic, but generally pretty cool and pretty low key. It tilts a bit toward the 20-something working crowd, but there's a decent mix of students and foreign visitors as well. Oh yeah, I think I forgot a book that I was reading there. Hopefully the bartenders picked it up and hung onto it for me. I better give them a call. Bonus points for Bua if they still have my book. read more

Bua's motto may proclaim this to be an "East Village Local" but the atmosphere is loud to the point of bordering on Murray Hill buffoonery. A strange, two room layout means that you either have to stand opposite the narrow bar or compete for the too few seats in the attached room - accessed via an awkwardly placed door. As for the food, it's a strange amalgam of locovore stylings - the pickles are sourced from McClure's in Brooklyn - English pub food - chips served with salt and vinegar and American bar snacks - I don't remember any chicken strips on my last trip to England. Everything I sampled was passable, but why bother with this place? I've walked by here many times enroute to Alphabet City and places with more character and a better drinking experience. That will continue. read more

I can definitely see why this place gets so many high marks. Two words: eye candy. There's a great atmopshere here with good looking people everywhere. It's a good feeling. But now I have to give my honest opinion on something else. Bua, try not to hire totally douchy bartenders. The tall douchy bartender (whatever his name is) was such a jerk. It doesn't matter how busy you are, there's no need to be a jerk. I ordered two shots of silver tequila, and the guy just ran off and came back with Patron Silver, already poured. I told him that's not what I wanted. He didn't give me one second to say what KIND of silver tequila. His response: "Well I've already poured it, so...." And that was it. You get whatever I pour you dude, was his message to me. Also, he had already run my card, so when I told him I wanted beers as well, he said he'd have to come back to me, and he walked away. I mean really. Bua, please, you're such a cool place. Can the douchy bartender. Seriously. A douchy bartender can really ruin even the coolest place. read more

1 star = "Eek! Methinks not." Bua is really: 0 stars = "Eek! I absolutely know not!" I met friends here around 10:30 on a Saturday. It took 45 minutes for our waitress to make an appearance. Then, after placing the order and waiting another 15 minutes, we gave up and left. After leaving, I spoke with some friends who stayed behind at Bua and found it was another 30 minutes before they received that round of drinks. That means it would have been an hour and a half after arriving before receiving ONE drink! Unbelievable. So much for being a business in a hospitality and service industry... Do yourself a favor and try one of the many other bars in the area. That was my first and my last visit to Bua. read more

Bua, pronounced either Boo-a or Boo-Yaa, is the bar Irish drunks dream of, and Simon and Mark have created a new home for East Village drunkards. Open early to late, it's a joyous place where the owners go shot for shot with you and throw down Irish Car Bombs every hour or so. When I stay in NYC, I sleep above Bua and start and end almost every night there. It's dangerous, but highly recommended. Simon will keep the place open until daybreak if you can keep up with him and stay on your feet. Ask for Simon's special drink, it's a whiskey and ginger conconction that will cure any cold. read more

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