It had been quite a while since Jamie W and I strolled around DUMBO, and it felt more congested…read morethan ever, especially on the waterfront promenade. The last time we were at the pier off Water Street, the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory still had their small fireboat shack here, but it has since relocated and expanded into a bar restaurant nearby. In its place is a Van Leeuwen ice cream window and this weather-dependent makeshift outdoor bar. After having a delightful brunch at Cafe Gitane, we decided to have a mid-afternoon cocktail here before taking the East River ferry back to Midtown Manhattan. We were surprised it wasn't more jam-packed given its central location and the swarms of loitering tourists. Cocktails were on the high side but not for this neighborhood, and several small plates (except the lobster) seemed like a relative bargain. Without a struggle, we plopped ourselves at the bar. Jamie tried the $17 Victory Chimes, a pink mix of tequila, watermelon, mint, lime, and seltzer. It was basically lemonade served at a slight gallop. I went with the $18 Permanent Vacation aptly named for the mix of three aged rums, blue curaçao, coconut, and pineapple (Photo 8). The Caribbean sway of the drink's balmy breezes fed into its tropical attitude. We needed the $9 French Fries with sage aioli just to counterbalance the sweetness (Photo 9). COCKTAILS / FOOD - 4 stars...creative tropical libations in a colder climate, a bit on the sweet side AMBIANCE - 4 stars...great views of lower Manhattan, busy area SERVICE - 4 stars...no complaints, an industrious crew TOTAL - 4 stars...adult alternative to ice cream CORRESPONDING REVIEWS Cafe Gitane: https://yelp.to/D61N9BUkgh Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory: https://yelp.to/gCm7J6C-JN Brooklyn Bridge: https://yelp.to/K3SXc02Kqc RELATED - Exploring Brooklyn? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/MiRYGrUrs6

This place was such a great vibe!!! The lobster roll was very refreshing and had big chunks, which…read moreis always great. The oysters and sides were also so fabulous. Probably had one of the most delicous refeshing cocktails ever here - the Victory Chimes. I really recommend this place for a nice meal in the sunshine with a nicde view. While the staff operations did seem quite disorganized, all the servers were very kind and positive. And goes without saying - definitley a little pricey for what you get - but worth it for a meal on the water.

Overall rating: 4.9…read more Happy hour M-Th: all night?! Fri - Sat: 4-7pm OMG. Best mojito I've ever made. IT WAS SO GOOD. I'm still thinking about it as I write this. Only came in for 1x drink because I had an activity with a friend in the area. I definitely want to come back and will be in my rotation moving forward. Wish it wasn't so far from other places in Williamsburg, but highly recommend!

It was my first time visiting and I absolutely loved it. The Guacamole was very good! Well…read moreseasoned. The street corn was good as well. For dinner I had the Pulpo à la Parilla, that creamy habanero-avocado sauce was EVERYTHING! The service was excellent! I can't wait to go back!

First of all, this place is beautiful…read more Secondly, the food was amazing! We went for the bottomless brunch. Definitely not balinese food but the food was delicious. We ordered the tuna, steak and eggs and eggs benedict. For drinks, we fell in love with the Garden of Eden. It was tasty, unique and strong. The service was great as well! Definitely coming back :)

I've been writing the review for months... lol. However, I am a fan of this place!!! The look of…read morethis spot alone is picturesque. Definitely Instagram worthy. Who ever did the decor I would like them to do my apt. LOL This night we literally just ordered apps & sides... Watermelon Crudo Waygu Empanadas Mee Goreng Grilled Cheese Blistered Green Beans Fries We got everything within maybe 20 or so mins. Definitely happy w/ the service. I want to make a trip here for brunch. We shall see!

Had a fun night out with a friend at La Caverna last weekend!…read more This Tex Mex night lounge has a very unique theme! Once you go inside, you're underground and are immediately immersed in a cave-like atmosphere. The stone walls, waterfalls, and bull paintings really contribute to its overall theme. Ambiance rate: 10/10. My friend and I only ordered their speciality cocktails. 1. La Caverna Cosmo: This drink was good! It incorporated an equal amount of cranberry juice and tequila. Rate: 7.5/10. 2. Lychee Rita: This drink had more a stronger alcohol flavor instead of a lychee flavor. Nevertheless, it was still good! Rate: 7/10. 3. The Altamira: This drink was delicious! It had the perfect amount of sweetness, and didn't have an overpowering alcohol flavor. Rate: 8/10. The staff were super friendly and attentive, and the service was very quick. Service/staff rate: 9/10. One critique I want to mention is if you're only having a drink, you can only stay at the bar. It would've been nice if the tables could've been for customers who ordered food or drinks. Also, at 10:30pm, they start removing the bar stools and blocking out the tables to prepare for their nightclub. Best to keep that in mind if you're only planning to get food or drinks. Overall, this one of a kind night lounge is one to visit if you want to enjoy great drinks, and have a fun time!

I stopped by after work yesterday, and the place is nice. We ordered chicken wings, fries, nachos,…read moretacos, and a steak quesadilla. The wings came out nice and crispy, and the regular fries were really good. My friends enjoyed the tacos, while the steak quesadilla was just okay. The drinks are a bit pricey, but probably average for the area. The bartenders were fine, though not particularly friendly. My biggest complaint was the music, it really killed the vibe for me. I guess it's not a priority since the DJ doesn't start until 10:30 PM, which is when the younger crowd begins to come in. By around 11 PM to midnight, the lines to get in were extremely long.

What a unique place to be having food and drinks!! The…read moreweather was perfect the day we went but might be more challenging during rainy or windy times. We ordered a couple of bottles of wine and discovered that it's tap served. So you could actually try before making up your mind. Scallops could have been better seasoned but the aïoli that they serve with fries goes well with scallops too. Lobster roll was tasty. Get the fries if you think you might be still hungry. Service was a bit slow but we didn't care since we had our wine and loved the rocking of the boat. Great views of the lower manhattan!

Finally tried this place after biking past so many times over the years, and after one missed…read morereservation. We walked in and sat at the front bar on a Tuesday evening. We ordered strawberry cocktails and enjoyed the romantic sunset behind the cityscape. Love the yellow and white striped canopies over the tables. The fries with sage aioli and spiced ketchup were a bit too salty but perfectly fried and crispy. It was a complementary pairing with the watermelon tomato salad with shiso. Had to taste the chocolate gateau made for two garnished with rum-pumped raisins and served with three small scoops of ice cream. Honestly, I wish the proportions of ice cream were in line with the cake. Could've used several more perfect bites. Anyway, the bar seating was decent, we had to move once because they seated us near the silverware rollers which was pretty noisy and also blocking our view. We had asked to be seated at the 10+ empty tables but they said none were available and by the time we had left, those tables were still empty. So I recommend making a reservation if you want an actual table.

Spectacular views, good food, plenty of gluten-free options, but…read more.. They require you to spend $150 per person, so we order a lot of food... But they sit you at a small table with barely any space on it... But the food comes out ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I normally ask them to course it, but I sadly forgot this time, so there was no space on the table for all the food. This means you have a bunch of cold sushi sitting on the table in 90 degree heat, all dying on the table. Which means, even though you over-ordered, you can't take any of the food home because it already went bad and thus went to waste. Which means we just spent $300 for two people to get a bunch of food that is going bad right in front of our eyes. This seems like they are trying to flip tables quickly to make more money, but... The drinks took 30 minutes (no exaggeration) to arrive at our table. All 8 plates and 2 drinks arrived at our table AT THE SAME TIME. Then it took a REALLY long time to get our 2nd round of drinks, our dessert, and our check... So maybe they aren't trying to churn and burn? But then we learn that GRATUITY IS INCLUDED automatically, which explains the awful service. The servers are nice enough, but the timing was horrible. Might be worth coming here, but ask them to course your food in more than 3 courses so the food doesn't go bad and set your expectations accordingly based on the above. If we're going to pay $150/person + 20% autograt, the restaurant should be more diligent about offering coursing and timing. Also, they allowed a dog on their rooftop that yelped constantly and had a VERY high-pitched yelp that very much detracted from the ambiance of the beautiful city views and the sunset. I take my dog with me everywhere, but it's because he's silent and well-behaved. A bit more consideration for the very expensive guest experience would be appreciated. tl;dr - not worth the money until they make some improvements.

Came here on July 4th for some daytime drinks and honestly, it was such a smooth experience. No…read moreproblem getting in during the day, which was a nice surprise given the holiday crowd. The view of NYC is incredible -- unobstructed skyline, open air, and just the right amount of energy without being chaotic. It's the kind of place that makes you pause, sip your drink, and take it all in. Pro tip: if you want to actually sit, make a reservation. Tables fill up fast, and standing around in heels only works for so long. Drinks were solid, music was vibey, and it's definitely a spot to bring friends or out-of-towners for that classic NYC rooftop feel. Great experience overall -- I'd come back for sunset cocktails or a chill day drink anytime.

Came here after the beach with some friends and it was such a vibe! Best fish tacos I've had in NYC…read morewhich is saying a lot because I grew up in San Diego. And their drinks are also super good too, highly recommend the pina colada and fresh watermelon juice.

After a long day at the beach, all I need is good music, tasty bites and a cold drink.... This spot…read morehas it all! The taco station is so rich, you'll want to order everything on the menu. It can be tricky to find a spot to sit, but be patient as people traffic moves so you won't be waiting too long. Pro tip! Stay late night to enjoy the DJ and dance the night away in this open air bar

Cocktail bar conjoined to the Widow Jane Distillery. Full offering of Widow Jane products with many…read morehard to find options. Everything was offered as one or two ounces pours, so you could sample a bunch or relish exclusive bottles. I had one ounce of the Lucky Thirteen for $15. I typically see the bottle at a $200-$300 price point, so it was nice to get a taste without the huge splurge. Wonderful aroma. Sweet and vanilla forward reminding me of marshmallows. Sweet corn flavor too eventually switching over to more spicy flavors from the run in the late flavor and during the finish. Staff was quick, friendly, and helpful. There was one single occupancy restroom. Dynamic atmosphere. Huge sprawling windows allowing plenty of breeze and sunlight when opened. They have monstrous black out curtains which can be draped to instill a classic dim and romantic speakeasy vibe.

While in the area, we stumbled across this bar which was right up my alley. They have a great…read moreselection of whiskey and most of their cocktails are whiskey-based as well. The vibes are classy with an entire wall of bottles lit up for a nice ambiance. Since we had our pup with us, we sat in the patio. I ordered the Rye Tea Punch ($16) while the boyfriend got the 10 Year Old Fashioned ($16). It was so cute how my drink came in a little clear teacup, which was a nice touch. The only thing that was disappointing was the slow service. We had asked for the check, but it never came around after waiting 15 minutes. We had reservations to get to, so the delay was annoying. I ended up walking up to the bartender to close out the tab since we never got our check.