Great summer spot in Brooklyn! You have the option of indoor or outdoor seating and it definitely has that "brooklyn on bikes", feel. I arrived with a few friends and we were immediately able to find a place on the patio and everyone seemed to be enjoying their time. This is a place that reminds you how great Brooklyn is in summer and nothing is better than a few good friends and beers on a patio surrounded by a mix of Brooklyn-like professionals and hipsters. I am not really even sure what I mean by, "Brooklyn-like professionals", but hopefully you get the idea. The reasonsI took two stars away is because the service was way too scattered. There are various servers for one table. I don't mind this kind of restaurant structure but communicating with one-another is KEY to making this kind of dynamic work. The food was good. My friend decided to describe the chip options as the,"Trinity", stating that it was sweet, salty, and fatty. I was also a little surprised there was not more draft beer options. I feel like there should be a few seasonal choices as well as perhaps another IPA? Other than that, if you are in the area, its a great place to meet friends and enjoy life! read more

Lavender Lake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Came here for a party / drinks! Really cool space, that's my favorite part about this spot. It's a big area to spread out and that feels nice. I had a cocktail with mezcal (LA something-or-other), and it was OK. At $14 a piece, I expected it to be a bit better but I was a little disappointed. Nice selection of beers and wine, though. Didn't try the food but it looked delicious! read more

So happy to participate in a very smooth checking of vaccination cards at the door. Fries and cocktails delish!

I simply adore brussels sprouts, and their fried brussels sprouts (with sweet lemon aioli) is easily one of the three best brussels sprouts dishes I have ever had, in a hotly-contested, neck-and-neck race with The Vanderbilt's fried brussels with honey and sriracha and My roasted brussels sprouts with apple cider and maple syrup (seriously... if you don't believe me, just come on over). I loved my burger with copious amounts of blue cheese as well. This is a fun, spacious place with a lovely outdoor area. It is a bit of a pain to get to (bit of a walk in either direction from the F at Carroll or the R at Union St - just far enough to be annoying in shitty weather), but worth the trek. Even if not (only) for the sprouts. read more

Very cute patio in the back. Lots of space between seats! The food was good. The cocktail wasn't to my party's taste. Would come back again!

Amazing food & ambiance. Came here with a group of friends on a Friday and we all had an amazing time. It was busy but not overcroaded. The margaritas are chef's kiss! All the staff had masks on and we felt very comfortable in terms of Covid Safety. Definitely consider checking this spot out. read more

Was back here on a beautiful Friday night. Lavender lake has something for everyone, really happy this place is here. Great food, try the fried Brussels sprouts. FYI the homemade hummus appetizer is served with crunchy, not soft pita pieces, still pretty fun to snack on. If there were no outdoor seating this would still be a cool bar-the inside is very sleek, nearly romantic because its very dim but definitely good for a group, but everyone is drawn here for the outdoor space. The outdoor space is large with lots of picnic tables and waiter service if you can get it. We ordered our food inside and on a busy night it took about 40 minutes to be delivered. They have everything from a $4 beer to a $12 cocktail, so you can bring all your friends here . They project movies on the wall outside ( although you can't hear them because of the music, which is cool so really who wanted to watch a movie anyway?)The funk music that was playing made for a pretty laid back vibe without feeling pretentious. They leave pitchers of water on the tables with plenty of glasses. I also really appreciated the neatly organized menu: -white -red -rose -draft -can -bottles -cocktails or -liquor Note about the bathrooms: they are both unisex. The crowd led me to wonder...Is this suddenly the coolest place this end of Brooklyn or is it just finally nice out??? read more

This spot is great! Came here with a group of 8 and sat in the back patio. I had the fish tacos which were great. I had a few different beers on tap which were great too. Service was good. read more

Went to this place on a freezing Saturday night recently. While I had been to Lavender Lake before I had only ever had drinks. But on my most recent visit I ordered food. It was amazing! The cauliflower Ruben is insanely good. I also had the chili special, which was perfect. It was even served with toasted pieces of bread for dipping. Everything we ordered was fantastic and I can't wait to go back. read more

Fabulous. It's the little things that make Lavender Lake so awesome. My friend and I couldn't make up our minds about what to order, we selected Fried Chicken Sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. Service was fantastic and every one working here was incredibly nice and helpful. All around excellent experience. read more

Perfect Place and Perfect Food !!! I order LL bacon Burgers and my boyfriend fried chicken sandwich And I can't choose which one was better!!! DELICIOUS!!!! For dessert we order The Banana bread with peanut butter was so good !! 100% recommended read more

Lavender Lake - LL Bacon Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I love this place in the summer. I don't know what is it but the backyard here is one of my absolute favorite places in Brooklyn. It's always lively but not too loud that you can't have a conversation. Drinks are great. The cocktails always change, they have an awesome happy hour with cheap beers/wine. Also the outside bar has rum punch & michalada's for $5 and shots for $3. Price you won't find often. And let me tell you, based on how I felt the next morning, none of their drinks are lacking in alcohol. The food here is pretty good. Not the best ever but good enough to still come for dinner. Breakdown: -Brussels sprouts: a must, everyone orders them. Crispy to perfection with a fantastic aioli -deviled eggs: really creamy which some vinegar tang - Mac n cheese with hot dogs: this was a special, it was very underwhelming -fries: AMAZING they're crispy but sport, salty and made with potatoe skin on which I love. They make their own ketchup which has jack Daniels in it I think and I love it, gives it almost a smokey flavor I just wish they served dessert! Like pie from Steve's key lime pies or 4 & 20 blackbirds. It would just round the place out nicely read more

Lavender Lake - Mac n cheese special, fries, brussle sprouts, deviled eggs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I love the name of this place! I was excited to check it out. The place is rather large, it has a decent size bar, spacious seating area and a beautiful patio. I enjoyed the atmosphere quite a bit! It is inviting warm and cozy. It was a very busy Saturday night for them and the bartenders were working hard. They were fast, attentive and professional. They introduced me to an amazing cider that I have never tried called Bad Seed. It has NO additional sugar and is made with local apples. I loved it! The only negative about that evening was that the crowd felt more like a Manhattan crowd. There were large groups of very loud and not very considerate people who kept bumping into everyone and everything around. All is well!!! read more

Lavender Lake - One of the best ciders I have ever had. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I have been sitting here for 40 minutes after ordering a chicken sandwich and a poke bowl. We've been told "the kitchen is totally backed up because the garden is full." I never understand this as a business model, taking way more customers than you can accommodate. No end in sight. I asked for chips or something, and the waitress said, "we don't give complimentary things." Lovely. read more

Lavender Lake used to be great. I used to be somewhat of a regular, at one point coming once a week for over 4 months straight. It is unfortunately no longer worth my time and money. I recall that a year ago, the bar had pleasant bartenders, attentive staff, and decent food and drinks. I particularly enjoyed their happy hour burger special (huge burger with side of fries) and fried brussels sprouts. I returned recently during Monday's all-day happy hour to find a significant decline in the quality of almost every aspect of this bar/restaurant. I first noticed a different menu, which in itself is not an issue. The real offense was the food. $6 for literally a dozen cold tortilla chips and a literal spoonful of salsa. $10 for maybe 5 pieces of fried calamari. $14 for two cold, unappetizing fish tacos. And $10 for the the world's smallest grilled chicken sandwich. Cocktails, at $14, are overpriced for a dive like this. On top of it all, the service was terrible. Our food took more than 45 minutes even though there weren't many dishes coming out of the kitchen at all. Our server took our order and didn't come back to check in on us until we asked for the check an hour later. Such a disappointment and even more so considering how much I used to enjoy the place. read more

The proliferation of gastropubs has, at least in my book, been a net positive for the combined eating drinking experience; adding improvements to the prototypical bar food and bringing better alcohol and cocktails to normal restaurant menus. Unfortunately, Lavender Lake generally fails this trend, as the meal I had was a massive disappointment. When we arrived at Lavender Lake, we were recommended to start off with the Brussels sprouts for an appetizer. This was the highlight of the meal, as the entree I ordered was a disappointment. Wanting to see what their burger . However when it came out, the first bite was unpalatable, and the subsequent ones did not improve. While I had asked for the burger done medium, the entire burger was charred to a near unrecognizable crisp, making every bite drier than a trip thru the Sahara desert. A quick survey of the table revealed that everyone else's burgers also tasted like they had fallen right off the grill and left in the fire to char to a crisp. Overall the seating is better for small groups, as our party of ten was seated at the only long table they had which was divided by an intrusive support beam, making conversation with the entire table difficult without having to get up and walk around to the other side of the table. read more

As soon as my husband and baby walked in we were told to leave. To discriminate against families is funny because parents spend money you dummies. But have fun expecting good tips from the under 25 crowd. Call us when you allow families who just want beer and food at 4 o clock on a Saturday. Are you trying to be a cool bushwick dive bar or a Michelin star restaurant on the upper east side? Both aren't working. Just embrace the culture this fine area of Brooklyn has to offer & if it sometimes involves a stroller and a sleeping infant then so be it. read more

It's a conundrum. Do I rave about this off-the-beaten-path dream of a spot, risking sharing the secret of the large outdoor space, or gorgeous rustic/relaxed interiors with both yummy cocktails and yummy bites? Or ... do I keep it all to myself, mmmmwahahahahaha!!!! Fine, I'll share. Go. Go. Go. Yeah, it's "all the way" in the Gowanus, but deal with it. As I've said before in other reviews: You're young. Walking's good for you. How can I prove to you it's worth the walk? Here: About three weeks ago, I spontaneously popped in there to meet a friend for a quick drink. After an hour of solid cocktails, our charming catch-up turned sour. I had clearly hit a nerve with my friend ... something about me suggesting that she's not over her ex-boyfriend or something. What transpired next was rather icky. She threw some swear words at me, dramatically jumped up from our communal picnic table with her oversized bag (people, please stop buying these crazy-big bags!) and stormed out, all aflutter. It was so Real Housewives of Gowanus, I can't even explain to you. I haven't talked to her since, but I wish her well. All this to say, this unfortunate event has not diminish my love of "LL." It's quite something. I love it here. It's ... peaceful, and fun, with oodles of cute patrons and an incredible garden. Nice mingling and people watching. Yes, the service is a little iffy, but they totally allow you to buy directly from the bar too, even if you've been seated with waitress service. So, where's the problem? There isn't one. I love it here. And to my friend, if she's reading this, I do hope you got home okay. read more

F this place. Went with a group this weekend (around 4pm) and was immediately told to leave by a very rude bartender because I had my sleeping baby in a carrier on my chest. "We're 21 and over," he said. Pretty sure the baby was not going to drink anything and also was, you know, a baby. Dogs are allowed, fyi. We hung out outside in the front for a bit and heard multiple people complaining about the a-hole bartender and rude staff. I won't be back here and would encourage other young parents to choose other, better places in the area like Pig Beach. read more

A perfect Monday night here. Look, this place opened not that long ago (like two weeks?), so ignore anyone who had bad service in July 2012. We sat outside, we had beer and a cocktail, we had food. It was delightful. The backyard is amazing; they even grow their own cooking herbs out there. The house potato chips are outstanding, as is the tomato salad. I'm looking forward to seeing what seasonal changes they make to the menu. And the Pimm's fizz was spot on. Overall, a gem of a place. Would be great for a second date or a last-minute casual group outing. Lots of space and worth trekking to for the food and cocktails. This is one of the places you should take your Manhattan friends to show them how much better life is in Brooklyn. read more

Excellent food and drink, mostly bad service. I'm sorry, but I don't think a New York restaurant should get a grace period on service. Just because they just opened doesn't mean their servers have never been servers before and the kitchen is so brand new that it takes them longer. They didn't have a lot of menu items because it wasn't dinnertime, that's totally understandable, so we tried the little things. The fried brussels sprouts with aioli were delicious, the hand cut chips were a good last minute call too. My friends liked the potato leek soup, I thought it was just ok. The salad was whatever. We loved the brussel sprouts so much we ordered more, but they were out. At 3 o clock you're out of your best item? I hope they sent someone out to get more before the dinner service. There was one menu for the entire backyard. We basically had to fight the people next to us to be able to order, and then we just resorted to making the servers explain all the drinks to us each time we wanted to order. There was one very friendly and excellent server, the other one could not have cared less we were there. Hire more people, print some more menus, and stock up on the brussel sprouts. read more

I've gone to Lavender Lake many many times in the past and always found the staff to be super friendly. The food is way better than you'd expect, particularly the brussels sprouts. But, if you want to try to arrange a party or event at Lavender Lake, be prepared to be very disappointed. I tried to reserve several tables a few weeks in advance of an event. Since I work down the block, I stopped by in the afternoon and was told to email parties@lavenderlake.com with the details (date, how many people expected, etc.) instead of discussing it in person. I emailed that address and never heard back. After a few days I called to talk to the manager. I was told on the phone to be patient, that reservations for events are based on the order they're received, and that they'd get back to my email. In the weeks before my event I never got a response so I decided to make arrangements at Givers and Takers, a new bar in Gowanus, who were super easy to communicate with. I ended up having a great event at Givers and Takers and I won't be stopping by for a drink at Lavender Lake anytime soon. Also heard from a friend that he had a similar experience trying to book an event. Super disappointed but excited to find a new bar in the area that values its customers. read more

Perhaps the most mismanaged restaurant I've been to this year. I'll save you the details on how disorganized they were and just mention a few fun points: 1) We were a huge party of something like 25 people. Our host had made a reservation, but they had done absolutely nothing to prepare for us. We had to go back and arrange our own seating. We managed to put together an area for our party with zero help from the staff. 2) The food came out in MASSIVE platters, but only one or two platters of each dish. For example, one table got a giant platter of fries (imagine fries for 25 people on one plate... like a garbage can lid full of fries) and the other table got none. When we asked if they could bring the food out in smaller dishes so that everyone could have some, the waiter looked at us as if we had asked for a round of baby clubbed seals. 3) There were only two or three waiters running the whole place (the place is huge). We had to go to the bar and get bottles of wine to bring back to the party, because it would take the waiter up to 30 minutes to return with another round. It was a real $h!t show. And when we were basically done and ready to leave the waiter shoes up with like 10 beers and just puts them on a bench near by. Our host took them and gave them away to nearby diners. 4) Actually some of the dishes were quite good. The "Brooklyn artisanal" vibe is corny, but the artisinal pickles are dope. Overall, some of the dishes were nice but the overall experience was a bloody nightmare.The salads were great. But there was an hour gap between the salads and the burgers. And when the sliders came out they were hard, dry and overcooked. It was such a big let down after all that waiting. Maybe its better for smaller parties. But if I'm reviewing our dining experience I give it a big huge FAIL. What a sucky dining experience. So many of us left irritated and unhappy. If I were in the service industry (which I used to be) I would try to make my best impression on a large group and gain a handful of new customers. These guys did the reverse... read more

Love the cozy warm vibe here with the candles on every table and the lights dimmed. We only had drinks, but would love to come back and try their food. Their french fries smelled amazing! Although their menu is small, it all sounded really good! It wasn't too loud and was an enjoyable place to have a few drinks! read more

The atmosphere and dj were great. The only issue is the restaurant charged me twice and the manager was no help in reversing the false charge. Only advice -- pay cash. The bar/restaurant's lax attitude in assisting with this problem is reason for me never to go back.... read more

I used to work at the Chase bank near here and the owners used to come bank there. My coworkers went there from time to time, usually for office parties or just hanging out after work from time to time. I thought everyone loved it just because they banked with us and were relatively close (and still had happy hour by the time we closed). Wrong. First thing first. Whiskey ketchup. Wha? Whiskey ketchup. Huh? Motherfucking whiskey ketchup. Ingredients: 1. Whiskey. 2. Motherfucking ketchup. It's not enough that the fries are excellent. No but they take some whiskey. Pause. They take some ketchup. Stop. And then they make whiskey ketchup. Why the fuck don't they just normally put whiskey in ketchup? They have burgers, which are also excellent. Beer, good. Other stuff that I don't remember because I can't get past the whiskey ketchup. Last winter they were serving warm apple cider. Also excellent. There's really nothing wrong with this place other than it being somewhere between Narnia and Neverland. Go eat there. read more

As Gowanus continues to rise from the ashes of Brooklyn neighbourhood obscurity (common discussion for me: "Where do you live? Gowanus? Where is that?"), establishments like LL will become more prevalent. It's pretty new, so the jury is still out on what this place will become. The decor inside is cool. Rusty exposed metal I-beams and wood add beautiful detail (we lamented that we were so uncool that we painted over our rusty metal I-beams). TONS of interior space, and a patio that was overflowing with people on a perfect Saturday evening. Definitely a good place for groups. Our drinks were okay... I was wishing my jalapeño tequila would actually be spicy. The tomato salad we had was really amazing. Out of this world good. Fresh tomatoes, good feta... I couldn't get enough. So points for that. In the end, I'm going to wait and see what type of crowd this place ends up drawing. They need more staff for the busy evenings (we had to wait a while for our food and drinks... the poor servers were being run ragged). It has the potential to be a good one. Terminator voice: "I'll be back" read more

Plus: (single) * Great outdoor space Minuses: (plural) * TERRIBLE service. You'll have a great time hanging outdoors but you will spend most of your time waiting at the bar indoors * They ran out of Tito's after my first drink All I had were the two drinks I could get in the 3 hours I was there...no food, so can't comment on that. Not sure I'll be paying this place another visit to give it a shot, unfortunately. read more

I was kind of like wait Lavendar Lake, I have kind of heard of this place but can we get a real manly kind of night at a place that sounds so feminine. Whoa, was I wrong, this place was a real winner. There were more spots to go that night but great times here. I got alot of Jameson shots with my friends and we came in already loaded from some other bars. It was really one of those best nights ever. Loved this place, the Jameson was great. Love to come back here sometime soon. The bartenders were really great too. Didn't really head out to the backyard but the weather was really nice. read more

1. The best tomato soup I've ever had. 2. Damned good grilled cheese. Plus: Sweet beer selection and friendly and accommodating waitstaff. read more

I went to Lavender Lake during Labor Day weekend for my cousins birthday. I was appalled that as soon as I walked in they told me I had to leave at 4 o'clock because I have my two-month-old with me. They also didn't allow strollers inside the pub or back garden. We had to argue with the staff explaining that the stroller is compact and folds up pretty small. I also had another family member coming with a baby, and our whole party had to get up and leave since they discriminate against babies. It's a shame because we had a large group and we were spending lots of money. Not to mention the staff was rude. Moral of the story, If you have a family do not go to Lavender Lake! They discriminate against families and babies. read more

Ahhh, Gowanus. A special place. Flanked by picturesque and desirable neighborhoods - Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens and Park Slope - you are like the awkward and unfortunate looking stepchild. In large part, you are an industrial wasteland, with a flowing cesspool (and EPA Superfund priority site!) snaking through your borders. Alas, there is a place to take respite from your harsh and contaminated reality. That lovely place is Lavender Lake. Almost like an apparition, Lavender Lake is an imposing place that seems to appear out of nowhere. With a long bar and open space toward the entrance, and some tables in the back, the room is spacious with a laid back feel. If you continue past all that, there is a great outdoor deck and patio, with more seating, tables with umbrella coverage, and stringed lighting. It's essentially walled in, so it feels secluded and private, and you'd never know where you actually were if someone took you there blindfolded. The beverage list is well rounded, with some wines by the glass, some specialty cocktails, and a nice beer selection. The menu is relatively simple, but there are some varied offerings, from small plates to more substantial fare. Tried an heirloom tomato salad and it was delicious, hopefully an indicator of the overall food quality. Gowanus may not be on the short list of must-see neighborhoods in Brooklyn or greater NYC, for that matter, but Lavender Lake is surely a welcome addition to the area and worth a visit. It's got a very relaxed vibe, the space is comfortable, and the prices are very reasonable. I'll be back. read more

On a Friday night, insanely loud, my head still hurts 12 hours later, and I only had one drink. About that one drink, avoid getting sour mix drinks here. I got a whiskey sour and it tasted like straight lemon juice with a shot of whiskey over ice, no sugar. read more

BY FAR the BEST bloody Mary I have ever had. The bartender is a genius. Between the horseradish aquavit and the pickled veggies, I was in heaven. I'm so sad we had reservations across the street, because I wanted to have brunch at Lavender Lake. Next time we'll eat and drink here. read more

Lavender Lake is a great addition to the neighborhood. My girlfriend recently threw a 30th birthday party at the bar and the staff was accommodating and great to work with. We had a back table in the patio reserved and a server who was present and helpful. Lavender Lake has a lot going for it: huge backyard, great tasting cocktails, but it also has one of the best burgers I have eaten in NYC. It is a perfect burger and reasonably priced at 10 dollars (hello, DuMont), and comes with delicious in-house made potato chips. The cocktail menu is also very good, and they make a great Pimm's Cup to enjoy for the summer. The decor is great, and I love the outdoor space. Unfortunately, the outdoor space attracts a lot of mosquitoes, so I'd recommend using some bug spray before heading over. Besides the burger, the rest of the menu is a little bit pricier, and I haven't tried that food yet, but it looked good when I passed other tables. read more

Service is a little slow, drinks a little watery. Needs more landscaping, too, maybe a koi pond :) That said, lovely outdoor drinking spot. Stick to the wine and beer and you'll do fine. Sweet to have this in our hood. read more

Meh Ordered a gin and tonic Asked for a straw All I got was a gin and tonic And a dirty look read more

Lavender Lake is a nice sport for a cocktail in the summer. It has a great patio, but you need to get there early in order to get a spot outside, unless you're me and will sit awkwardly on the side of somebody else's table. The bar outside has a few limited drinks, but there is a great selection of craft cocktails inside. I've also eaten here, and all I remember about ti was charcuterie board and something fried that was also delicious. I like this place; it's a good location with a solid menu for drinks and snacks. There are a lot of awesome restaurants nearby, which makes it ideal for pre or post dinner drinks. There aren't enough cocktail focused bars with outdoor space which makes Lavender Lake standout. It tends to get busy here when the weather is great, but not terribly so which is also nice. read more

My friend brought me here this weekend, and I had never been (because your really not exploring Gowanus unless you have a specific destination in mind).. but there is something great about knowing all your outdoor bar options during the summer! We stopped in for a cocktail on the outdoor patio, which was decently spacious, and the tables were waitress service if you wanted to have a sit down. The cocktails: $13, and about 6 different LL special cocktails on the menu- I went with the Sea Monkey-a delicious mix of iced tea and lemonade flavors and my friend went with the Gowanus Mermaid which was equally as refreshing! Both were good but man I always hate spending that much money on a single drink!! The food: I write this review as if we were eating, but really I just wished we ate there!! We had eaten before, but the smells of the crispy Brussel sprouts, and the chicken sandwiches on every surrounding table has convinced me that I will be back for the whole bit! read more

Lavender Lake - This little garden cart out front marks the spot,otherwise you may walk right past it! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

A friend took us to this bar/restaurant last Monday night after dinner in the city. It's located reasonably close to our hotel. I love its ambience and spaciousness (with a large back patio). The all-day happy hour drink and food prices are reasonable: $4 local beer, $6 wine and $9 house cocktails. They certainly helped with trying out something different. The cocktails wit interesting names: Severus (apricot infused Bourbon) and Polly Wog Stew (Hot Toddy also with Apricot Bourbon) were wonderful. I preferred the Other Half (Brooklyn IPA) to the Peekskill Rye Lager. The Malbec red was fine. The appetizers (Fried Brussels sprouts and house cut fries) were delicious. I imagine this place can be a fine venue for holiday parties. I definitely will come back when I visit Brooklyn again next year. read more

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