Boilermaker

This place is really cool, then again my experience was in it’s last week of the Santa Parlor theme they put up with tiki type drinks.
We came in and I was hopeful they would keep it going through as it just seemed like the type of fun place where it could be Christmas all year long with lights in Hawaii even though it was in the middle of the city.
We had two cocktails here, very unique; though I think these were recipes made only to go with the theme and would be then changed back to their regular menu.
Very important to state, I was here basically soon after they opened so it was just two of us and the server and bartender were not busy so we chatted, they seemed very cool and like the type of people that would work to ensure you had a good time. That said, I haven’t Ben here when it’s the normal Boilermaker, or when it’s packed, so for that reason, I can’t give it a 5 star (yet).
I do have this on my list of places to bring friends for a quick drink if in town before going to dinner or to hang at a speak easy!
This would also be a pretty cool spot to grab a drink when meeting someone up for the first time, where you don’t really care about impressing or calling all the shots and just want to get to know someone over a beer. :)
Cheers!

Great drinks. Lots of beer on tap. Try the boilermaker options of shot and beer combos that they’ve paired up. Fun hang out just off the subway stop. Easy walk and nice atmosphere. Very laid back bar. We’ve been several times. The wings weren’t bad either.

I like this spot!
I came here on a Saturday evening in December, just after the holidays. It was pretty quiet in the city, so I wasn’t surprised that only half or so of the tables were filled. The food menu is limited but the cocktail list is pretty unique and the drinks I tried were very tasty. I had some pink cocktail that had tequila and grapefruit juice, and was very spicy. I LOVE spicy stuff, and this was even intense for me, but I couldn’t stop drinking it – it was so good!
Everything we ordered was VERY good. We each had 2 – 3 drinks, a single (vs a double) burger, sharing an order of fries and onion rings, and it was just about $ 50 per person with tip and tax. Not bad for fancy cocktails with a casual burger. I enjoyed my experience here, and I’ll definitely be back!

Great location and ambiance, but high prices for the area and none of the cocktails on the Sippin’ Santa menu were that good. I live so close that I want to like this place more, but it’s one of those places that you go in, have a few drinks, and then leave to look for something better.

Loved the Christmas theme but the service wasn’t so great. The drinks were okay. It honestly wasn’t what I was expecting but I did love everything Christmas that this bar had going on.

For a burger and wing place this place is great. The burger is amazing, their wings might be the best I’ve had in a long time. The onion rings melt in your mouth. To the eye the place has that same gastropub aesthetic so many other places have so its a little unassuming when you’re walking by but food is top notch, right by the F subway stop which is a bonus. Plus their Holiday theme during Christmas with the surfing Santa stuff everywhere is incredible! They totally deck out the place with decorations and custom cocktail menu. Great place to drink and eat especially in the East Village.

This place had a very creative approach to Christmas. They have made a special Christmas menu with winter-​style overpriced drinks. Don’t get me wrong. Drink for $ 14 is ok for Manhattan, but not for this type of places. It is a small and cozy bar. Clearly it looks like a tourist Christmas trap. The drink itself does not worth this price.
The burger there is also less than average. Overall this place was a huge disappointment. There are tons of places in that area, so quality would be a huge advantage.
Decorations were great, the service was good as well.

Stopped in here for a drink on Saturday to check out their Christmas theme. The bar was kind of crowded with santas from Santacon but no one was out of control like other places. They had seats reserved so we decided to sit. We ordered some themed boiler makers which were good. The cinnamon shot was made in house we were told.

This cozy little bar turns itself into a cute Santa/​surf-​themed bar in December. A ‘60s surfing movie is projected onto a big screen, playing silently in the background. The servers are outfitted in Hawaiian shirts and the heat is cranked up. It’s like drinking at a tiki bar. They have lots of creative Christmas-​themed cocktails, all of which are $ 14 each. The seasonal menu includes Gingerbread Donuts with Spiced Vanilla Dipping Sauce. My friend liked it, but said it tasted more like soft cookies.
There’s often a short line outside. Our group of 6 waited about 15 min. for seating to open up. Seating is available along the bar, some tables, and two small booths in the back. Two well-​lit, single-​stall BRs are located in the back.

If this place is as awesome Jan-​Nov as it is when decked out for December, then it’s pretty awesome indeed. That’s right, through Christmas Eve, in what seems poised to become an annual tradition, this place becomes Sippin’ Santa’s Surf Shack. And that means every festive trapping you can imagine. Jaunty, poppy Christmas tunes playing. Tables and chairs adorned with gift wrap and Santa’s iconic red and white fur. Drinks from a clever seasonal menu served up in Santa mugs and thematic glassware. Even the bathroom is decked out with ornaments and framed Elvis Christmas records (a wry homage to the king’s place of death?)
Our drinks were great (spiced, spiked cider and the namesake cocktail, respectively) and we devoured our piping hot and well-​seasoned basket of fries woke wishing we had room to sample other items on he reasonably priced food menu. Especially the gingerbread donuts!
Servers here, clad in Santa hula shirts, could not be more friendly. Same goes for the bouncer who was sipping a glass bottled Coke at the door and greeted us jovially.
The scene is lively but not obnoxious. Brought my dad here on a Friday night while he was in town for business, and we had just as swell a time as the posses of my fellow millennials who made up the rest of the crowd.
If Buddy the Elf is your spirit animal and don’t pay a visit to Sippin’ Santas, you’re doing it wrong.

Very cool popup for Christmas– Santa’s Surf Shop or something like that. Clearly, this is an idea you can’t half-​ass and they definitely did not. Everyone is in Hawaiian shirts and there are straw lamps, lei’s across the ceiling… but also Christmas lights and decorations. Coupled with the 60s surf movies, this place nails whatever it’s trying to be.
I had the Sexy Santa which is basically gluhwein with brandy and it’s delicious. The downside is that it cost $ 14 (and so did every other cocktail). I’m used to paying these prices at PDT, Raines Law Room, etc, but this was really steep.
Awesome place to check out the seasonal stuff, but be prepared to pay for it.

Bordering East Village and the LES, Boilermaker is the perfect spot for a casual drink. Although I can’t speak for the food, the burgers look amazing.
Their weekly happy hour specials for both cocktails and beer are a steal, and their beer and shot pairings on the regular menu are also delicious. I opted for ‘Apples and Vanilla’, which was a hard cider and vanilla-​scented rum pairing. Perfect for fall!
The atmosphere here is casual and rustic but tasteful. If you’re into soft rock/​alternative music, you’ll love the playlist here.
Will be back for a bite!

great burgers and wings… love the simplistic menu. only do a couple things, but do them damn well.
Watch out for the terminus… they’re not playing around… I just call it «the blackout!»

Finally came back here again last night. Great place to meet for drinks and burgers on a weeknight! The Negroni is still fabulous. I also tried a few of my friend’s drinks – all delicious and $ 8 for happy hour – Rum Runner, Pimm’s Cup (the housemade ginger beer is awesome!), even a Mai Tai. Probably the best happy hour in the EV for real cocktails. And the boilermakers (beer + shot pairings) are solid and very reasonably priced.
Also tried the veggie burger, which is a housemade patty with chickpeas, roasted red pepper, and kale. It sounds light and healthy but it’s actually very indulgent tasting and satisfying. Meat eaters liked the regular burgers. Burgers + fries with truffle mayo = *insert fire emoji*

Came here at about 1:00am on a Saturday night while we were waiting in line for another bar. We were starving and luckily, Boilermaker was right across the street!
For a cocktail, I had the Spy vs Spy — vodka with fresh lemon, apricot liqueur, and St. Germain. So refreshing and absolutely delicious.
The burgers are soo good. I was starving, but just ended up getting a single with cheese. Probably could’ve dogged another one or should’ve just ordered a double. What was I thinking. lol
We all shared cheddar biscuits, fries and onion rings. The cheddar biscuits are easily passable. I think an order comes with two, but they are tiny.
Fries are decent, but the real star were the onion rings.
I wish we could’ve ordered wings, but the service was a little slow and it probably would’ve taken forever for us to get them.
Also — get the truffle aioli!

Great prices for beer and food. They also have beer & shot pairings, and I’m usually not one to get wild on a Sunday night, but I HAD to try the «Apple & Vanilla,» which was Downeast Cider and Angostura 1919 Rum. OhmyGod.
A very inviting, relaxed vibe that was meant for great conversation — the music was prominent, but we didn’t have to scream at each other. The staff was really friendly. I wish I could remember the waitress’s name, because she was awesome. She was really great at going-​with-​the-​flow with the conversation that we would initiate.
I ordered the veggie burger with a side of veggie chips. (I promise I’m not a square) The veggie burger fell apart after one bite, but honestly that’s typical. It was a fantastic texture — I don’t remember the exact ingredient list, but it resembled a sweet potato blend. The veggie chips were great & the dipping sauce was even better. My friends were very happy with the wings they had ordered, & we enjoyed the biscuits as well. And — because we weren’t happy and fat enough — we ordered the mini star donuts. We were far from disappointed! Nice & hot as pastries should be, and the worst part about them was deciding which amazing sauce to dip in — the raspberry or the chocolate. To be polite to my friends, I made the painful decision to keep my spoon out of the dipping sauces alone. But I regret not getting them in to-​go containers…
I’m giving this place 4 stars only because the vegetarian options are limited (just a veggie burger). But I will gladly be back regardless! Thanks, Boilermaker!

Place has been on my radar for quite sometime and I’m very pleased with my experience there this past week. Specialty cocktail bar with wide variety of beers on tap and killer burgers!
Drinks: ⁵⁄₅
My go to for years (and benchmark for a cocktail bar) is an Old Fashioned. Their spin on it is using a Rye Whiskey versus a bourbon. One of the better ones I’ve had in a while. My next order was their «Kentucky Buck». The waitress compared it to a dark and stormy — but swap out rum for bourbon and add amazing to that baby. It was refreshing and light for a bourbon-​based cocktail.
Food: ⁵⁄₅
Arguably the best burger I’ve had in NYC, although I will caution I’m not a food connoisseur and don’t hunt down burger joints. The lettuce was light and tomatoes were thinly sliced so it doesn’t over power their fresh beef patty. I threw some cheddar cheese and bacon on top. Mouth-​watering!
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Waitress was nice and accommodating. I set up a small happy hour for a group of 4 and didn’t flinch when I asked her if she can split the bill. No fuss, no muss!
Highest recommendation. 5 stars, BAM! You really can’t go wrong here and I’d gladly come back.

Boilermaker
NY Manhattan East Village
11pm Friday 29^th May 2015
Three Stars
This place was busy but we managed to squeeze in at the bar near the entrance. They had a variety of Cocktails for $ 11. We enjoyed Spy v. Spy, Trailer Park Negroni, and the Five Point Palm Exploring Heart Technique. The barback had a hard time understanding our drinks. (Perhaps he was new, the drink menu was new, or the bar was just loud). The drinks were well made. High Life + Campari was pretty amazing. The Five Point tasted like a mocha old fashion. The BItter Coffee combined well with the Smoky Mezcal and Sweet Vermouth.
I tried to pay for the three drinks with two $ 20 bills but the bartender told me that it was «going to be way more that». Apparently there was some confusion about the drink that the guy next to us ordered. It was easily fixed with some explaining.
The whole experience was just okay.

Well, this bar might just stick around. As far as a bar goes it’s definitely a better iteration than its predecessor, Golden Cadillac. The classic cocktails are made well and I’m definitely glad to have this right by the station as its a great after work drinking spot. One of these days I’ll need to try the food. I’ll update my review then.

Spent a nice low-​key happy hour on St Patrick’s day at The Boilmaker. Cocktails are good with a seasoned mixologist. Drinks are stiff, they way we like them!
BURGER — ORDER IT! One of the most juicy, tender and moist cheeseburger I’ve ever had. Delicious.