In a city of choices, football fans all over Brooklyn must make an important decision every winter — they must pick the best bar in which to watch the NFL playoffs. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly — one wrong choice and you’re stuck with expensive beer and obnoxious fans. A good call, on the other hand, and you’re in wing paradise with fellow fans rooting for the right team. But hey, no worries: you’ve got us to help out. Behold, our list of Brooklyn’s best bars, with the best specials, to ensure you’re with the right crowd as you watch America’s greatest game.
1. Farrell’s Bar and Grill, Windsor Terrace
It’s not every day that you can get beer by the quart — unless you’re at Farrell’s, where the 32-ounce serving of suds goes for $6. It’s a man’s man’s joint — the 79-year old place only started allowing women in the 1970s — but it’s the place to watch the Giants game, with some of Brooklyn’s most true-blue fans.
[215 Prospect Park W. between 16th Street and Windsor Place in Windsor Terrace, (718) 788-8779] Open Monday–Saturday 10 am–4 am, Sunday, noon–4 am
2. Cody’s Alehouse Grill, Cobble Hill
Before Cobble Hill was full of sleek cocktail bars and happening coffee shops, there was Cody’s — a solid bar with restaurant-sized menu. The wood-paneled establishment, which is over 20 years old, is a bit of a Steelers hotspot, but expect some clashes as the postseason heats up and the large place draws impassioned fans of other clans now that the towel-wagging team from Pittsburgh is out.
[154 Court St. between Pacific and Amity streets in Cobble Hill, (718) 852-6115] Open daily from 11:30 am–2 am.
3. d.b.a., Williamsburg
Given its New Orleans roots, it’s no surprise that the good times are rolling at d.b.a in Williamsburg, the Brooklyn version of a Big Easy bar by the same name. The place is turned into a carnival of sorts every Saints game: pop-up restaurant, Tchoup Shop, takes over the joint, serving up eclectic Louisiana fare such as duck gumbo and crab hush puppies. Be sure to wash the game down, victory or defeat, with $4 Abitas and $5 “Sly and a rye” — Sly Fox IPA with a shot of whiskey.
[113 N. 7th St. between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, (718) 218-6006] Open daily from 1 pm to 4 am, for more info visit www.drinkgoodstuff.com.
4. Angry Wade’s, Cobble Hill
Lambeau Field is far away, so “Angry” Wade Hagenbart’s Wisconsin joint is the bar of choice for the borough’s Packers fans. The bar features cookouts every Sunday with beer brats, burgers and other tailgating fare, and like the home team, these guys aren’t stopped by a little cold weather: the outdoor barbeque will go on, rain, snow or sleet. Hagenbart says he’ll even ship in cheese curds from America’s dairyland to fry up if the Pack makes it to the Superbowl.
[222 Smith St. between Butler and Douglass streets in Cobble Hill, (718) 488-7253] Open Monday through Friday 3 pm–4 am, Saturday and Sunday, noon–4 am.
5. Lone Star Bar and Grill, Bay Ridge
If you think the best way to enjoy a football game is by eating and drinking in quantity, then Lone Star is the place for you. The bar is hosting a barbeque and setting up screens outside — but if it gets too chilly, you can always head in to watch the game on one of their 23 indoor TVs. All-you-can-eat barbeque and all-you-can-drink for $50, what more do you need to know?
[8703 Fifth Ave. between 87th and 88th streets in Bay Ridge, (718) 883-5180] Open daily from 11 am–4 am, for more info visit lonestarbarandgrill.net.
6. Peggy O’Neill’s, Coney Island
Who says Coney Island is only fun in the summer? Peggy O’Neill’s, the tried-and-true staple on this side of Keyspan Park, offers football watchers this hefty deal for playoff pigskin: a pitcher of beer and a pitcher of wings (yes, a pitcher of wings) for $25.
[1904 Surf Ave. between W. 17th and W. 19th streets in Coney Island, (718) 449-3200] Open daily from 11 am–2 am.
7. Charles’ Ale House, Midwood
Who needs drink specials when beers are less than $4? At Charles’ Ale House, domestics are $3.50 and imports are $4, and there’s bound to be a sizeable contingent of Giants fans flocking to this neighborhood establishment.
[2943 Avenue S between Haring Street and Nostrand Avenue in Midwood, (718) 627-6100]
8. Oxcart Tavern Alehouse, Ditmas Park
It’s an age-old dilemma: you want to watch the game, but the person you’re with doesn’t.
The Oxcart Tavern, a relatively new addition to Ditmas Park, is your solution. The tavern features two TVs, visible from most of the small tavern’s tables, where you’ll be able to enjoy the restaurant’s respectable dinner fare — pan-roasted chicken and potatoes, a stand-up burger — all while keeping an eye on the game. They’re even serving up homemade pepper wings for the games.
[1301 Newkirk Ave. between Argyle and Rugby roads in Ditmas Park, (718) 284-0005] Open Monday–Wednesday, 5 pm–midnight; Thursday and Friday, 5 pm–2 am; and Saturday and Sunday, noon–midnight. For more info visit www.oxcarttavern.com.
9. Brooklyn Ice House, Red Hook
Sports bars are typically thronged for the NFL playoffs, so if you’re looking for a calmer place to grab a seat and watch the game, the Brooklyn Ice House is your joint. The small dive in Red Hook, with $3 pulled-pork sandwiches and a good selection of drafts and bottled beers, is a great bar year-round, but with 50-cent wings and $2 Highlife/PBRs for the playoffs, you can’t go wrong during game-time.
[318 Van Brunt St. between Pioneer Street and Visitation Place in Red Hook, (718) 222-1865. Open daily, noon–4 am]
10. Wheeler’s, Sheepshead Bay
The Sheepshead Bay standby is a good as place as ever to watch the game and with some great bar food to boot. Most beers are under $5.
[1707 Sheepshead Bay Rd. between Voorhies Avenue and Shore Parkway, (718) 646-9320. Open daily from 11 am–2 am]
Reach reporter Eli Rosenberg at erosenberg@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2531. And follow him at twitter.com/emrosenberg.