Crescent Lounge

The Crescent Lounge is the best place on Earth. I discovered this as I was walking home after the big blackout of 2003. I’ve had several big blackouts since then to commemorate the occasion.
It is rare in one’s life that one can discover a place with which one can so completely become one. Can I say one once more?
I’ll miss this joint. The Noo Yawk corner of our dreams. Those of us who know, know. It would be folly to say much more.
Thanks, John, Amy, Jeune, and everyone. It was really nice to see you, always. I’ll always love you and miss you. Thanks for everything.

I love Crescent Lounge. Perfect, snug, friendly little place in a great neighborhood. Excellent cocktails (I recommend the 11 106 martini) and kind, knowledgeable staff. Comfy couches and chairs and board games on the shelves. When the doors and windows are open on a warm summer night, you can’t beat this place for atmosphere.
I’m a little devastated to hear of its closing. Although we were never regulars, and moved to the west coast over a year ago, my partner and l and I had our first joint music gig and first date (different events) at CL and are now two weeks away from getting married. We’ll always hold Crescent Lounge in a special place in our hearts, and want to express our gratitude to those who made it such a warm and welcoming place. Astoria won’t be the same without you guys. Much love and best wishes.

This is my favorite bar in Astoria, hands down.
There’s plenty of comfy seating, and the place is rarely if ever so full you can’t find a seat. There are a lot of regulars, but like another reviewer said, the bartenders are absolutely friendly to EVERYONE and the regulars will normally strike up a conversation with you if you’re at the bar alone. I’ve never had an unpleasant interaction with someone at this bar — no fighting or creepiness.
I originally found this place with my brother, and I really liked the board game selection so we’d have something to do if we got bored talking to each other (family, you know). Then it occurred to me it’d be a great date spot, and I started bringing guys here on a lot of first/​second dates. It’s really great for a date because it’s quiet enough for conversation, the games give you something to do when conversation lulls, and the martinis are strong. The rest of the bar is always very accepting of my crashing jenga towers.
Also, shout out to Amy for being such a great bar tender. Always very sweet and does buybacks.
Leaving Crescent Lounge was one of the saddest things about moving back to Manhattan.

Great décor, fun punk rock and roll, friendly and knowledgeable staff, delicious drinks. But $ 13 for a Manhattan is going to limit how much time I can spend here no matter who I am with.

This in one of my favorite bars in all of NYC. I’ve been coming here for 7 years, and the staff is still pretty much the same. It’s a friendly, non-​pretentious cozy place perfect for meeting friends and having a conversation.
They have plenty of books and games to entertain.
The martinis are delicious, ask the bartender for her recommendation.
You will not be disappointed, I never have been.

LOVE Amy!!! She’s got special drinks that are always amazing!!! Great playlists too!

I came here last Thursday night after going to Burger Club for dinner. There were only a few people in the bar that night and apparently we missed the Drag show and live music. Darnit! But we were able to get seats on a couch (the bartender knew the guy sitting there and kicked him off for our benefit, thank goodness he was a nice, guy!). We promptly ordered drinks (beers and mixed drinks) and played «drunk» Jenga. It was a fun place to relax and be able to talk without having to scream your head off! We stayed til about midnight when there was really no one else in the bar. I liked the cozy décor, the dark mood lighting, and the friendly bartender. Cute little neighborhood charmer!

Let me preface by saying this: I have a love/​hate relationship with Unilocal due to its shady ranking system. That said, I reactivated my account solely to review this place because I think it’s misrepresented.
First, it is full of regulars, which sounds intimidating, but it’s really not. The bartender knew the names of nearly everyone who walked in, but was extremely friendly to my girlfriend and me the first time we ever went. She also knew how to make a dirty martini and remembered I liked 3:2:1 ratio of olive juice to vodka to vermouth. Service can be a bit slow, but it’s because there’s one bartender and she’s talking to everyone she serves.
There’s a list of speciality drinks and the lighting and atmosphere is really worth going for alone. As others have said, there are board games and couches – it’s perfect for a casual, low key night.

I think it’s silly to hate on Crescent Lounge because the bartender ordered take-​out. God forbid anyone should eat FRIED FOOD in plain sight! Horrors! Anyway, I think they work 12 hour shifts and man the whole place alone, so good for them for eating.
I had always been apprehensive to go as the reviews made Crescent seem almost intimidating/​awkward. The truth is, Crescent is like the somewhat gay Cheers of Astoria. The first and only time I ever visited, the bartender was a sweetheart, poured drinks willy-​nilly, and knew every. single. person. sitting at the bar/​coming in the door. My kind of place. Despite knowing everyone else, she still acted like she knew us forever, chatting us up and asking where we lived.
Crescent is great for a low-​key night, pretty cheap/​strong drinks, and some great conversation. Will definitely return!

Little bar nestled off Broadway in Astoria receives 2 stars for lack of service, selection, and atmosphere. Bartender ordered take out while working at the bar. In plain site. Fried chicken.
Cheesy lights surrounding bar exudes a certain I’m-trying-to-make-this-bar-appealing. Beer selection was at a minimum. They were out of many beers on a weekday night. How does that happen? Visit at your own risk.
Will probably never return.

I was looking for something new and different in Astoria and found Cresent Lounge.
Nice small lounge, comfy couches and board games. Oh what’s you enjoy playing connect four. Not with me, unless your into getting abused. It was a bit dead and with not many people so it makes a great spot to bring a date. Good selection of bottled beers. I would have expected this place to have a cocktail menu based upon the ambiance but disappointingly it did not.
Bartenders were friendly and helpful. Good folks.

I came here on a Monday night, so I didn’t see much going on, but I love the décor of this place. And they have a shelf full of board games. Every bar ever needs a shelf of board games.
It’s a little rustic but comfortable and super chill. I hope the vibe is always like this, but I can imagine it getting packed and noisy. When I went the music was quiet and our group sat around chatting. The bar isn’t pretentious at all and the bartender was nice.
I will report back again when I go on a busier day, but for now, this is a cool spot off Broadway.

I’ve wanted to try Crescent Lounge for months — it’s mere blocks from my apartment. I came here last night after dinner for a dessert cocktail, and was more than pleased. First of all, it’s an adorable interior — almost like coffee shop meets bar. The martinis, especially for NY, are incredibly cheap, at $ 8. I had the double fudge martini and my friend had a peach martini. We shared sips from each other’s glasses to see just how well they turned out. Well, indeed. Mine was really great, and the presentation was good, too. Hers was perfectly peachy.
The bartender was so nice, and really friendly. He forgot to tell me about the $ 25 minimum credit card charge, and so he let me use my card with only $ 16 charged.
I will definitely come back soon. Love the open-​air setting.

A classy, reasonably priced cocktail bar. Not a place for a beer and a shot, but an offbeat, pretty little place which has plenty of comfy chairs to lay back in.
Great variety of martinis and you can actually talk in this place. An eclectic crowd and friendly bartenders. A nice place to bring a date, assuming you don’t date a biker chick.