10/23/07

Great Locale for Great Times

by botastic

Like any busy and popular bar, Buttermilk has its crowding issues, but this should not dissuade anyone from the happy insanity of the CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree. Last Thursday of every month, Buttermilk hosts the open country jam where all pickers and singers can rock out to their favorite Cash / Hank / Willie / Merle / Loretty / etc / etc / etc stompers. Unmissable.

• Pros: CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree, Budweiser, whisky
• Cons: Crowds, Not enough CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree

10/01/07

Going Down Hill -- Especially During Cashank

by countrygal1000

The latest review is right. Cashank has gone down hill. It's a mob scene and the musicians, most of whom aren't paid a dime, are finding less and less a reason to come. The place is kind of a dump. And the barkeep, who makes money off the talents of the musicians, has a penchant for tacky behavior. He's been known to ignore customers so he can make out with his girlfriend over the bar. The bartender before him was a lot more professional.

06/29/07

EXPENSIVE SMALL BAR, VERY CROWDED, CLICKY!!

by rebel1978

Well, the only reason why I go to the Buttermilk is for the Country Music Live Performance that takes place the LAST Thursday of every month. This peformance was once a lot of fun/energetic. However, now instead of just doing Johnny Cash/Hank Williams cover songs as advertised, they now started doing cover songs by other artists as well. It has really gone down hill. However, it just keeps getting more and more crowded and claustrophobic for some strange reason. OH yeah, forget about going to the bathroom if you don't want someone taking your seat. The patrons that frequent this bar are those who tend to have $$ and little respect for others. This is probably why a few people actually said this bar serves cheap drinks. Try again! For those who think this bar serves cheap drinks, compare the prices to the other bars along 5th Avenue and see for yourself how Buttermilk likes to rip you off. Bartender service is fairly good considering how crowded it can get just on a weeknight alone. There are so many better/cheaper bars in the area, so I don't understand why so many are drawn to this dump. When the live band is performing, the patrons don't even seem to respect them and continue to be loud, which drowns out the music. Also, Buttermilk does NOT have PBR (this is a no no for a Brooklyn bar) and don't even serve pitchers!! What kind of bar doesn't serve pitchers!! I really don't recommend this place at all, unless you're stopping by quickly to catch your favorite band.

• Pros: LIve Country Music The Last Thursday of Each Month
• Cons: expensive drinks compared to other bars in the area, clicky, too crowded, no pitchters, no PBR!!

07/18/06

Smart staff, smart customers

by asana

Spacious. diverse in every way...never too young or too stoopid..LOVE this bar. Easy to get used to!!

06/12/06

$1 high lifes

by eatsdrinks

great bar for those that live on the south side of the slope or below. the huge table in the front is perfect for large congregations of friends and uno tournaments. never really found the place to be too pretentious.

04/24/06

good for weeknights

by octopus12

Avoid on weekends. You might as well be in Williamsburg with all the irony and scowls dripping from the faces. Everyone is in uniform on a Saturday night, as their anthems blare from the jukebox. Even the bartendress scowls ... much better on a tuesday or wednesday, not as crowded, better service and there's no feeling of having entered hostile territory. South Slope bars should be a bit more unpretensious than this place.

• Pros: weeknight atmosphere, prices, close to home!
• Cons: weekend atmosphere

09/07/05

User review by patomson

by patomson

The word around 5th avenue bars is that the owners lost yet another of their finest bartenders, and this one was a partner, no less! Now they've raised the prices ($5 for a beer and $6 for a Jameson in South Slope, really?) It still has a pretty stellar cast of pourers, though, and the jukebox still flourishes although there are some signs of laziness in that department. Last time I was there half the lights in the place weren't working, suggesting that some of the love has gone. That's too bad, but I'll still drink there when I can afford it.

• Pros: staff, jukebox
• Cons: expensive, run down, dark

04/26/05

best bar in nyc - hands down

by phattums

this bar is absolutely perfect. great bartenders, great music & atmosphere, and a great neighborhood vibe. i live pretty close to it but would actually travel to it on a weekend because i like it so much. also, beers are $4 and they've got board games! connect 4!!!

• Pros: great music, great bartenders, great vibe

08/14/04

great neighborhood bar

by 18thstreet

This is definitely the best bar in the south slope. Friendly bartenders, good strong cocktails and a great jukebox. The best of Great Lakes but no frat boys.

01/20/04

Thirsty for a hangout, South Slopers find a shorter stumbling distance from home.

by Contributor

The Scene
Someone new to these parts might guess this well-worn drink machine has been pouring pints since folks began ordering them. But unlike the true, old neighborhood haunts--where Gen X and Ex-Lax jostle for seats--the clusters of vintage aluminum office chairs are studded only with young whippersnappers born long after they were made. A long procession of stools and a few booths in back assure room for all generations of beer-lovers, should the elders come around.

The Draw
No historical society gave mandate that a new bar blend in with the dated storefronts along this stretch of Fifth Avenue. But Buttermilk's magnetism lies in its clever camouflage--from mud-brown paint to Venetian-blinded windows throwing shadows on the bar. Glassware is stored in wall-mounted wooden crates, proving divey can be quaint. Only the neon glow of a retro-style jukebox gives the place away: It's crammed to slam with indie rock, at 25 cents a pop.