Gowanus Yacht Club

(718) 246-1321

323 Smith St (at President St.)
Brooklyn, NY 11231 40.6811 -73.9941

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Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens

Hours:

May-Oct

Mon-Fri, 3pm-2am

Sat-Sun, noon-3am

Last updated 4.14.11

Category:

Restaurants, Beer Gardens, Bakeries, Catering, Juice & Smoothie Shops, Bars & Clubs, Bagel Shops

Payment Methods:

Cash

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Bar Menu

Bar & Club Special Features:

Outdoor Seating

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Gowanus Yacht Club

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – This kitschy beer garden with a beach-shack feel serves up Jever in styrofoam cups and 10 kinds of dogs, including a sizzling polish sausage (made locally) and the infamous vegan Not Dog. With no fries, no frills and a completely outdoor setting, the owners of Patois and Uncle Pho have created a warm-weather antidote to some of the block's stuffier eateries. Longtime neighbors mingle with edgy newcomers, but everyone uses the same Porta-John. – – The Draw – Dollar Pabst Blue Ribbon and a mustard-laden Sabrett are a cheap date's dream, and the jumble of…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Seats are often at a premium. Try to beat the after-work crowds or the late-afternoon weekend rush for no waiting and no hassles.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Very fun and relaxed.”
  2. “Used to love Gowanus Yacht Club - in the past, it had good atmosphere, affordable beer, friendly service.”
  3. “Crowd is really fun and friendly, staff is friendly and quick, grill options rock, indoor bathroom has been added, and it's outdoors.”
drinks
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “This is probably the best juice bar--not over-priced and they'll make anything you want.”
  2. “The beer is cheap, the people are friendly, but the porta-potty, though clean, should be replaced by indorr plumbing.”
  3. “the coffee is decent for deli coffee and the sandwiches are enormous, fresh, and reasonably priced--highly recommended!”
  4. “The coffee is decent too, well when they remember to clean the machines.”
  5. “Bad attitude, disgusting toilet, surly service, not-so-great beer, too-cool-for-school patrons, etc.- gone downhill”
  6. “After forgetting my food order a couple of times the waitress had the nerve to charge me for an extra pitcher of beer.”
  7. “Warm breezes, cold beer”
  8. “Dont order the large iced coffee or smoothie unless you are a family of 4, their large is basically a popcorn bucket with a straw in it.”
  9. “Used to love Gowanus Yacht Club - in the past, it had good atmosphere, affordable beer, friendly service.”
food quality
76.91999912261963% positive
  1. “the coffee is decent for deli coffee and the sandwiches are enormous, fresh, and reasonably priced--highly recommended!”
  2. “If you go very early on a Sunday morning to get a bagel & the paper you can smell the sour smell of OLD Beer & fresh P!”
  3. “Nice place for a quick fresh bagel sandwhich if you're doing your laundry or sitting in Carroll Park.”
  4. “After forgetting my food order a couple of times the waitress had the nerve to charge me for an extra pitcher of beer.”
  5. “Generally really good bagels and sandwiches, also very good smoothies (although they're expensive).”
  6. “When the second sandwich was finaly done, the bimbo behind the register laughs and says, "oh, ha ha, didn't you order the 'american hero', I say 'Yes we did', She laughs and says "he made the wrong one, do you want this one"?”
  7. “Get home, the bread is stale, the tomatoes on the sandwiches are the end pieces with the green leaf still on, brown as sin avacado chunks and lettuce so brown a starving rabbit wouldn't eat it”
  8. “Great food great prices!”
  9. “love this place for cheap simple things like eggs and cheese on a bagel.”
  10. “So after removing all the extra ingredients from the stale bread, we take a few bites.”
  11. “My girlfriend and I ordered two cold cut sandwiches with only one other customer ahead of us.”
  12. “love the avocado chicken bagel sandwich.”
  13. “It took the brilliant staff of 5, not including the rude, stuck up bimbo behind the register, 15 minutes to make the sandwiches.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Crowd is really fun and friendly, staff is friendly and quick, grill options rock, indoor bathroom has been added, and it's outdoors.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place to just hang out.”
service
50.0% positive
  1. “The people that go and work there need to get a grip on reality and realize how pathetic the so called "community" ideal is what makes the rest of the world hate americans and places like this.”
  2. “There is a "waitress" there (long, stringy, black hair, tats, piercings, sullen, surly looks) who typifies the place: bad attitude personified.”
  3. “Crowd is really fun and friendly, staff is friendly and quick, grill options rock, indoor bathroom has been added, and it's outdoors.”
  4. “Is that poor service?”
  5. “Great spot spoiled by rude clientelle.”
  6. “Our waiter wasn't a bad guy despite being a little high on himself, the service was good.”
  7. “however, the waiters are friendly, its a good, cheap staple and for the most part (once you get a seat) , its a good time.”
  8. “rude barmaids and over zealous anti-minority patrons”
  9. “After forgetting my food order a couple of times the waitress had the nerve to charge me for an extra pitcher of beer.”
  10. “Used to love Gowanus Yacht Club - in the past, it had good atmosphere, affordable beer, friendly service.”
  11. “... you know what, I didn't get a single look, nobody gave me attitude and the service was still good.”
  12. “It took the brilliant staff of 5, not including the rude, stuck up bimbo behind the register, 15 minutes to make the sandwiches.”
  13. “Over paid rude people in their 40's & 50's with 4 & 5 y/o kids & ignoring the kids while you try to eat is a turn off, too.”
  14. “Bad attitude, disgusting toilet, surly service, not-so-great beer, too-cool-for-school patrons, etc.- gone downhill”
  15. “Even Alan Harding (the owner of the GYC and ubiquitous restaurateur of Smith St.) walked passed us twice giving a friendly nod, but didn't say anything.”
  16. “The beer is cheap, the people are friendly, but the porta-potty, though clean, should be replaced by indorr plumbing.”
  17. “was hot, miserable, and filled with nothing but hate for the stupid stuff like the rules posted on the chalk board and the fact that the ugly waiter id-ed me.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Generally really good bagels and sandwiches, also very good smoothies (although they're expensive).”
  2. “love this place for cheap simple things like eggs and cheese on a bagel.”
  3. “Used to love Gowanus Yacht Club - in the past, it had good atmosphere, affordable beer, friendly service.”
  4. “Great food great prices!”
  5. “however, the waiters are friendly, its a good, cheap staple and for the most part (once you get a seat) , its a good time.”
  6. “The beer is cheap, the people are friendly, but the porta-potty, though clean, should be replaced by indorr plumbing.”
  7. “It's a pretty good value for the area.”
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. “There is a "waitress" there (long, stringy, black hair, tats, piercings, sullen, surly looks) who typifies the place: bad attitude personified.”
  2. “Nice place for a quick fresh bagel sandwhich if you're doing your laundry or sitting in Carroll Park.”
  3. “It took the brilliant staff of 5, not including the rude, stuck up bimbo behind the register, 15 minutes to make the sandwiches.”
  4. “Crowd is really fun and friendly, staff is friendly and quick, grill options rock, indoor bathroom has been added, and it's outdoors.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/03/08

Not that bad ... really.

by cwnyI at Citysearch

I read the reviews on this site before I went to GYC and was a little nervous about going to the place. I'm not a big brooklyn fan in general - which I probably shouldn't be admitting on "City Search Brooklyn" - as it seems like there's an air of "too cool for school" that permeates the entire western portion of the borough, but figured I'd go check it out with a couple of my friends that live on Hoyt and Atlantic.

Our waiter wasn't a bad guy despite being a little high on himself, the service was good. He was a little sarcastic, which I get the feeling some people writing reviews about this place have mistaken for rudeness. I bumped him by mistake and it was *totally* my fault ... but he actually comped us a pitcher anyway. Is that poor service?

If you're looking around checking everyone else out, yes, you will notice a lot of younger individuals that seem like they've been transplanted from Murray Hill. Okay, not my cup of tea either, but if the company you're with is that miserable that you feel the need to pass judgement on everyone sitting around you, get new friends.

I will agree the bathroom is gross. It sort of reminded me of summer camp in the berkshires with the concrete floors and faint smell of urine mixed with v-mit. I think it's fitting, though ... really goes along with the ambiance of the place, in a good way. Have a few beers and you won't even notice it.

I'm 30, a floor contractor, live in queens and walked into the place wearing keens and a shirt covered in paint ... you know what, I didn't get a single look, nobody gave me attitude and the service was still good. This place seemed okay ... maybe it's the people writing the reviews with poles up their asses that should just find somewhere else to frequent. If you want to go out, drink, eat crappy food (that tastes good after a few bluepoints) and not worry about how loud your voice is, this place is for you.

  • Pros: decent beer selection
  • Cons: it's in brooklyn
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/10/08

Crappiest people in the world!

by sharonto at Citysearch

It was close to 100 degrees when I went to the Gowanus Yacht club with my boyfriend. I was ID-ed and I didn't have my ID with me. To my surprise I was shut down from ordering a measley PBR. I was shocked that I was ID-ed in the first place since it seems like they're trying to pull off a tacky dive bar on the street anyway -- plus, I'm not ashamed to mention it, I'm cute. I ordered a veggie burger from the greasy looking, waiter, and after he spent five minutes walking around smoking a cigarette, he told me they were out of the veggie burgers. I was hot, miserable, and filled with nothing but hate for the stupid stuff like the rules posted on the chalk board and the fact that the ugly waiter id-ed me. Totally not worth it.

  • Pros: Beer selection
  • Cons: Service, Crowd, Seating
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/27/08

Fresh & Warm

by MrandMrsofBrooklyn at Citysearch

My hsuband & I grab bagels from here at least 4 times a week. They're always warm & always fresh.

The only problem is the smell from the Beer Garden next door. If you go very early on a Sunday morning to get a bagel & the paper you can smell the sour smell of OLD Beer & fresh P!S5.

It's shame.

  • Pros: Fresh/Warm bagels & great counter service
  • Cons: Right Next Door to a Rat-Trap.
3 Star Rating: Average

02/29/08

Fast Bottled Water or Soda - - - NO other reasont o go.

by BensonhurstTransplant at Citysearch

It's an OK shop. Large selection but WAY over priced. And once I found out that this place was owned & run by the same people who own & run the filthy Gowanus Yacht Club I figured how clean could this place be?

A lot of yuppies take their kids in there for a quick bite then head to Carroll Park. Over paid rude people in their 40's & 50's with 4 & 5 y/o kids & ignoring the kids while you try to eat is a turn off, too.

  • Pros: large selection of realtively fresh bagels if you get there early
  • Cons: Same filthy people run/own the the pig sty yacht club next door. I won't eat food from there now!
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/30/07

PRETENTIOUS TRUST FUND BABY CROWD!!!!

by iwantquality at Citysearch

Typical pretentious herd that thinks they are cooler than everyone else. I purposely brought my bay ridge friends to this place just to annoy the hipsters there. I love watching the hipsers look at some of my buddies with thier yankees jackets and erin go bragh t-shirts.

this place is pretentious, you can hear the mindless babble coming from some of these trust fund babies about some gallery opening or some too cool store,

why dont you go out and by a bar a soap with your money instead?

  • Pros: dont know
  • Cons: pretentious, hipster too cool for you crowd

The Details on Gowanus Yacht Club

Place Categories:

  • great place
  • really good bagels
  • really fun crowd
  • really good sandwiches
  • quick rock
  • bad attitude
  • stale bread
  • nice workers
  • affordable beer
  • decent coffee
  • rude people
  • stupid bouncer
  • friendly nod
  • bitter wishwecouldaffordtoliveinles
  • rude clientelle
  • warm breezes
  • favorite summer
  • good riddance
  • brilliant staff
  • great spot
  • good ofr
  • too cool store
  • not good service
  • big brooklyn fan
  • fun very