Spuyten Duyvil

08/21/07

Worst Service, Overrated

by oliveolive at Citysearch

Spuyten Duyvil has a backyard and a selection of wine, beer, and cheese options. This is true. But it is also seriously overrated and has terrible service. Expect large crowds full of pretension, either yuppies who came all the way in from Manhattan to spend the day touring new condos or badly dressed hipster artistes, a tiny hunk of cheese for waaaay too much money, and frat boyesque bartenders who act like you are rude for placing an order with them.

The first time I went there I placed an order with the bartender for some cheese and a glass of wine. I was served the wine, but told by the bartender that they would bring the cheese out to me (I was sitting in the back.) After waiting twenty minutes for my order, I went back to the bar. It was busy, and I tried (fruitlessly) to get the bartenders attention. When I finally did, he acted as if I was lying about my previous order, told me I'd have to wait, and continued to help others, ignoring my reorder for the cheese. I had to ask the other bartender to get the cheese plate, but it took a bit of a wait to get that as well. There was no apologie for forgetting my order. Rather this macho attitude of, "I"m the man behind the counter, and I decide what happens here. If you don't get your cheese, I could care less." This would be acceptable if this place were serving free peanuts or hamburgers, but you pay a sizeable amount for their tiny servings of "gourmet" cheese and "fine" wine.

In case you can't tell by the name, this place is trying desperately to be something it's not. That is, a fine European style bar. Expect better service at your local dive and leave this one to newbies with fat pocketbooks.

• Pros: Backyard
• Cons: terrible service, over crowded, over priced

11/10/06

Worth the short trek to Brooklyn

by juicewheez at Citysearch

Always seems to have one really nice 20 oz tap beer for $6. Great selection of bottles, although expensive. Staff is very friendly and will give recommendations. Delicious olives and cheeses as well. Love the atmosphere - kind of wish it was my apartment...

• Pros: Great beer and atmosphere
• Cons: A little pricey

11/02/06

Beer Heaven

by keithwags at Citysearch

The selection of beer is amazing. What keeps me coming back is the rotating selection of beers on tap. Knowing that there will always be a new, delicious beer on tap that you've never tried before is a great reason to come back to a bar. Plus, the bottle selection is amazing, with beers from all over the world. The cheeses are great, the staff friendly, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Probably one of my favorite bars in the city.

• Pros: Beer selection, cheese, friendly people

07/21/06

Belgian ales and well-aged furnishings are the specialty of the house.

by Karen Hudes at Citysearch

Inhabiting a former railroad apartment, this Williamsburg beer and wine bar has a cozy radiance that attracts a crowd of neighborhood regulars. The slender room is decorated with a red-painted pressed-tin ceiling, chalkboard beer listings and an assortment of price-tagged vintage finds--including wooden tool boxes, '50s diner tables, anatomical posters and Chinese checker sets. The bar (whose name loosely translates as "spitting devil" in Dutch) stocks more than 80 international beers by the bottle, six on tap and a rotating cask-pulled ale. Belgian brews make up the majority of the list, which is enhanced by a selection of wines, sakes and even mead--a honey wine with notes of sherry.

01/31/06

Expand your beer palate & knowledge

by scorpioel at Citysearch

I love beer, not just any beer - microbrew and artisanal beers. So when my boyfriend and I discovered Spuyten Duyvil, you could imagine our delight. They have a crazy selection of bottled beers (about 100 - most never seen before or anywhere else) and beers on tap you rarely see. The staff also knows their stuff, so if you dont know what you want/like, they will help you out, which is a great place to bring non-beer drinkers because they will find something for everyone - if not they also have wine. Their gourmet meat and cheese platter (3 for $10/1 for $3) is awesome the selection changes frequently and comes with nice rustic bread. Its a bar that has great character in the decor and people, a great place to go with friends and try and enjoy some great new beers youve never had before.

• Pros: Beer Selection, Staff Beer Knowledge, Meat & Cheese Platter
• Cons: Can be Crowded, Can be pricey

05/28/05

they just get it...

by ebernth at Citysearch

can you imagine a bar that you can be an adult with taste? where strangers seem familiar just because they too have discovered this haven. the ale selection is always right on target and the the wines... the wines.... what can be said but yes! i can no longer imagine living a week without going to spuyten duyvil to see what treasure they have for me. and if dan could be cloned, i would vote yes!

and the smell mentioned by a previous review was the christmas spiced wine that is treat.

• Pros: perfect ales, perfect cheeses, perfect wines

01/19/05

The Duyvil is my friend

by misshell at Citysearch

This place is amazing. The vast array of beer and wines will make your head spin, considering you probably never heard of most of them. The bartenders are engaging, funny, and very sweet. I spazzed out and flipped over two beers, one practically empty, and they gave us two new ones (not cheap beers, mind you) for free. Be prepared to spend the cash here--it is worth every penny. Excellent cheese plates as well. I'm sad that the dorky Williamsburg 20-somethings have discovered this bar, but don't let that stop you. There is a pretty good mix of people here.

• Pros: excellent variety, great jukebox, nice bartenders

11/29/04

Whats with that smell?

by alex swingle at Citysearch

Was here the day after Thanksgiving. Now Ive been here before and the staff has always been nice and helpful, the beer selection is astounding, music and decorations (especially the old maps of England and Germany) are cool, BUT WHAT IS UP WITH THAT SMELL? It was this really bad sour smell I couldnt identify. I would have stayed longer if it wasnt for that.

Also the hipster doofuses which unfortunately permeate the Williamsburg scene were especially annoying, particularly the ones in the front that gave this smug look at those of us who didnt wear "the uniform".

• Pros: Beer, Decor/Music, Staff
• Cons: , Patrons

10/12/04

Rock the Duyvil

by ceebee at Citysearch

Spuyten Duyvil is the best bar I've ever been to. Huge beer selection, seldom mentioned JUKEBOX with rotating eclectic tunes, and cool people working there. Great atmosphere and a "must visit" no matter where you're from.

• Pros: Beer selection, Jukebox selection, staff

01/31/04

Cute

by dinnerdude at Citysearch

Cute little place on the outskirts of Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood. Hard to find if you don't know where it is. Belgian bottled beers can be found in abundance, as can nice sake and decent wines. Not much in the way of food unless you like bread, cheese and pate, but the overall atmostphere is very warm and euro-cafe like.

• Pros: friendly service, interesting design
• Cons: , small, no hard liquor