Spirited

This place has so much potential. It could really be amazing. But they lack the final push in making their place stand out in the cut throat restaurant world of NYC.
1. Blondie Brownie Sundae: It looked pretty BUT… they didn’t even heat up the brownie!!! Even TGIFriday’s heats up the damn brownie. This felt unacceptable to me. The dessert was also really sweet and I didn’t get any hint of liquor. It’s supposed to be a boozy dessert.
2. The Hot Toddy that was a suggested pairing for the Blondie: BLEHHH. We legit watched the bartender pour some syrup in a glass and then pour some hot water in it and then throw in a lemon slice… $ 12. WAYY overpriced for that lack of effort. Not even a cinnamon stick. It was also extremely watery.
3. We were served and attended to on the bartender’s time and this place was not slammed. There was a lot of waving and stare downs to get his attention.
Again…Meh…I can find a better place for a $ 12 drink on Vanderbuilt

Want a damn good drink? What a freaking amazing dessert? How about BOTH?!
This is one of my all-​time favorite places in all of the NYC area. The staff is incredibly friendly and professional at the same time, the service is awesome, the uniqueness of the cocktails is beyond compare, and last but never ever least, the desserts are the definition of joy on a plate!
Also worth mentioning is their super-​nifty period décor. You’ve got to see it to believe it. Check out their back room for supreme cuddle spots, but every seat in here is perfect for a great intimate date.

We wanted to like this place, I mean, it is a speakeasy with a bakery! How often do you find that? We were excited to try the desserts after our waitress told us that pretty much everything is booze-​infused. The only thing we liked were the freshly made churros. We had a few slices of different cakes which I can’t remember the names anymore… one of them was a Mardi Gras inspired cake though. The cakes tasted dry much to our disappointment. The service was great, but it wasn’t packed when we arrived so I’m not sure how it fares once more people come in. I’d come back to order the cocktails, but definitely not the desserts.

Yes, it’s absurdly expensive and the desserts don’t really taste like alcohol. But you aren’t really paying for the food here so much as for the curated experience that Spirited provides.
When we arrived at 9:30 on Saturday night, it was packed, but a table opened up quickly enough. The server was super nice and knowledgeable and never pressured us to leave when we didn’t order a second round. And of course, the drinks and desserts are exquisite. Just look at that.

I love the idea of this place. Cocktails? Boozy desserts? Yes! A thousand times yes! I’m quite fond of making boozy desserts myself. After speaking to a few friends who’ve been my boyfriend and I decided we’d give it a try.
The façade of the building is quite cute, I’m partial to the copper mosaic awning that tops the entrance. The style is well put together inside and the atmosphere reminds me of the a 20’s parlor. I think it’s easy to call anything with booze and a throwback feel a speak but this, in my opinion, is not. The outside is unassuming enough but with a chalkboard outside advertising the drinks that you can eat, kind of defeats the purpose as does the bar that’s visible from outside when people are coming and going. Small things, doesn’t really matter, it’s a cool idea! Sweets and cocktails is always welcomed in my book.
The downside comes with the service. The service was impeccably slow and impersonal. For, like, no reason. On a Wednesday evening, it wasn’t exactly banging. There was two tables with two and three people seated at them. I’m not sure the degree of the people at the back but it wasn’t loud, and for the level of slowness I would expect there to be a huge party in the back. We came in and sat at the bar, the bartender took a bit to give us menus to the point where I was looking over to the dessert counter wondering if I had to order there separately. He eventually came over cleared the counter where we sat gave us menus and did not come back for 20 minutes, when he graced us with his presence to take our orders it took another 10 minutes to deliver — again it’s not busy at all.
During our time here, we were the only people at the for a time (two other people also sat at the bar) he didn’t make any attempt to start a conversation or be very personable at all nor tell us that he would be right with us or anything. I am by no means a chatty person, but I do like when a person is warm and welcoming. It cheers my spirits and makes me generous in return. When we finally received our drinks and cake they were good, nothing spectacular, but good. I’m not in a rush to go back, it is pretty pricey ($ 12 for a piece of chocolate cake) but I may meander back to give this place a second chance. Until then, there are other places where I can get my sweet and elixir fix, albeit not together, at least not yet.

Really not excited about this place. Went in last night (granted, a Tuesday) for a drink and dessert. The «Kitchen» was closed– and the bartender said he couldn’t serve us a slice of cake. He offered a cookie, which we declined. It seems to me that a dessert bar should, well, serve dessert.
The cocktail menu is overly complicated and of course, full of sweet things. What ever happened to a glass of port and some cheese for dessert? We tried to order a cognac, since we had just had dinner elsewhere, but the bar was out of cognac (how is that possible in a dessert bar?). The menu doesn’t list any of their regular spirits (I.e scotch, cognacs, etc) which, for any cocktail bar, would be great to have, especially for the after dinner crowd. And the menu had sticky labels with updates for some drinks — printing a new one can’t be too much work?
The ambience isn’t bad, they did some light renovations. However it feels a little «big box» for brooklyn, could be cozier.
Hope they make some improvements or they’re not going to be around for long.

This quant spot sets the perfect mood for intaking booze infused desserts. Don’t be discouraged by the size upon first walking in, as there is a back section behind the dessert display area.
Came here on a Friday night and it wasn’t too busy which is not a big deal to me as I do not determine how good a place is by how many people are in there at a certain day/​time, as other people might have previously mentioned.
I ordered the Big Bad Brooklyn Blackout cake and paired it with the Breuklyn Drink and it was love at first bite/​sip. I think if I didn’t have control over myself my body would have drifted into another universe where only this place exists, but I digress.
My friend was very also happy with her blondie/​brownie dessert paired with the Tilden Toddy drink.
We will definitely be back, and soon, as I predict that this place is going to be all the buzz by the time Spring hits, especially if they have outdoor seating (hint hint).

We dined here last night after a Nets game. There was one other couple there, very quiet. But we received good service and the food and drinks were quite good.
We had Churros and two cocktails, which were really nice with lots of booze (woo). The ambiance was nice to talk to one another but might have been because it was otherwise empty on a Tuesday night.

Love the idea
But there’s a lot happening*
Expect a weird buzz
*you will intake at least 8 different kinds of booze

This place is a MUST for travelers and locals alike! Great ambience, open late, wonderful service. The desserts are to die for! We made two trips out to Brooklyn just for Spirited even though we were staying down in the financial district.
Perfect date spot, but also great for groups and friends after dinner. You HAVE to get the craft-​brewed churros! So fresh and delicious. Also, my friends died for coffee with a scoop of either vanilla, chocolate, or pistachio ice cream.

Cool idea and lovely ambience. We had seen the super-​cute video on their website and were excited to try this place. It was Saturday night, but luckily we got in and got a table for 6 right away.
The building and décor are inviting, and it’s fun to see a pastry counter inside a bar. We ordered the blackout cake, brûlée, and churros, along with two cocktails.
Everything tasted amazing, although personally I agree with other reviewers that the chocolate cake was too boozy, but perhaps other folks would enjoy that.
The only disappointing part was the service, as others here have noted.
It took a half hour between when we sat down and when our order finally arrived. One of the desserts we ordered initially had been 86-​ed, so our waitress came back to ask us for a new order, and she also apologized when delivering our order that the bartender had her searching for a certain tequila for a while for one of our drinks. It was slightly annoying but we were sympathetic.
The biggest surprise was the size of the cocktail that she delivered — in a cruel twist on the optimism debate, the glass was only half full. Our other cocktail was a normal size, so my mom took the runt to the bartender. He was a little brusque and defensive, and declined to fix it. We mentioned it to our waitress, and after a lot of hemming and hawing she sent the manager over. Everyone involved said there was nothing they could do. (Really?) Finally the manager came back over and offered us a free dessert.
Four conversations to resolve something so minor is just kind of annoying. It just made it seem like they lacked the kind of great service you see elsewhere at bars and restaurants that look like this. They’re new, so I’m sure they’re working out these kinks — I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one. And honestly, if they just used a smaller glass, this illusion would probably be fixed. But if you’re going to use this size glass, it is really disappointing to wait so long and then feel shafted when a wimpy pour finally arrives, even if it tastes really good!

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
MAN OH MAN, a speakeasy bakery? Who thought of that? Give them a trophy because that has «impressive date night» written all over it. Walk in here and you’ll immediately be struck by the sheer class — romantic lighting, fun music, and décor to die for all contribute to an atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.
First thing’s first, we were SUCH needy diners. Drinks and snacks and relocating to the back room and MORE drinks and snacks, but our waitress put up with us with limitless, infectious energy. Seriously — she set an example for wait staff everywhere, and did it all in the cutest hat!
Speaking of the back room, don’t miss it! Seating is limited, but very cozy. Not only is the wall art fascinating, but it’s for sale!
Anyway, food and drink! I had a lot, because I’m a monster, and my girlfriend was there to help me out. I started with an AMAZING seasonal sweet potato pie, topped with roasted marshmallows and drizzled with some kind of lemon-​honey-​liqueur ensemble. $ 12.00 for a slice of pie sounds insane, but if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll find yourself happy to pay it — or $ 45 for a whole pie. I was seriously tempted by that, until I remembered that my housemates would probably eat it on me.
Moving on, we also had the cherry blondie brownie, old fashioned chocolate chip cookie, and the dark and stormy ginger cookie. Now blondies aren’t really my thing, but I took a bite of my girlfriend’s. I was impressed! Well-​balanced, subtle flavors and quality ingredients really showed through in this crumbly, tasty confection. However, where the cherry blondie was all about subtlety, the dark and stormy ginger cookie was all about whacking you with a ginger-​flavored mallet — and I mean that in a great way! It was like a dark and stormy in chewy cookie form, with real ginger (you can always taste the difference!) and boy was it ever addictive. The real start of my dessert show, the one that haunted me ever since I had it at the Elite Event so long ago, was the old fashioned chocolate chip cookie. Bold chocolate chip cookie flavor? Check. Nuanced touches of citrus that evoke the «old fashioned» namesake? Check. One of the finest chocolate chip cookies in Brooklyn? BIG CHECK.
And that’s just the bakery side! Let’s talk speakeasy. I started with the Tilden Toddy, a hot drink that beautifully complimented both the awful weather and the delightful sweet potato pie. Not to mention, it was a straight-​up beautiful-​looking drink. You will definitely taste the clove though, so don’t get it hoping to overlook that part! My girlfriend had a Breuklyn Zoo (the spelling of which I’m sure I’ve butchered). She didn’t go into much detail, other than to say it was «very, very good.» I also had the Callahan’s Comeback, because I’m a whiskey man at heart, and I was not at all disappointed. Smooth with just a touch of burn, the hint of cherry really and truly sets this one apart. (My girlfriend also had the «Welcome Back, Kimberly», which she merely described as «very good» — one fewer «very» than the previous drink, but that was apparently a high bar to reach.)
In conclusion: This spot is a new favorite, and we’re going back next week. Happy end of Prohibition!

«spir·it·ed — full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination»
— thanks, internet
«Have your drink, and eat it too™»
— from SpiritedBrooklyn website
Some things worth repeating — those quotes, for one; and returning to Spirited for few more rounds of drinks and desserts in weeks following event we had there.
The energy of the team who works here surely translated into what they do — be it carefully crafted cocktails (try County of Kings!) or beautiful and delicious desserts infused with — you guessed it — booze. I was smitten by Whiskey-​infused Brenne Brulée. ~daydreams~
The first time I walked into the doors, I loved the charm of the old building — from entrance doors with elegant woodwork, wrought iron details and arched tiled ceiling, to the long bar, and to the backroom with all posh velvet curtains and old memorabilia of the times long gone. It just all came together as it meant to be.
Seating on long red leather couch next to the colorful lights and old film projector, enjoying my drink and beautiful conversation on a chilly fall Brooklyn night — I cannot thinks of the better way to end workday.
Cheers, to Spirited!

We live around the corner from here and wanted it to be a spot we could visit regularly in the neighborhood. We came in for our second visit in the past few months, seeking late night dessert and drinks with my parents. Our waitress was absolutely lovely and the desserts were pleasing… BUT…
they have no alcohol menu beyond a few specialty cocktails (most of which are very sweet, and not really our thing), so my husband went to the bar to find a tequila for my mom, who prefers that. We were offered two possible options and she chose one. When the bill came we were shocked to see it was $ 45 for a tiny serving. Obviously liquor can be expensive, but for somewhere without a liquor menu, with $ 15 cocktails, and no warning from the bartender it was a shock. When we complained the owner came over and basically insulted my mother and told her if she found this to be expensive not to order other liquors that they have, which are pricier, and then asked us what we wanted her to do… We can certainly afford drinks at that price, but for just wanting a casual sip of something before we turned in for the night that was not our expectation at all. We appreciate that the drink was taken off our bill, but we left feeling bad about the whole experience.
We won’t be returning, and given that it was half empty on a Saturday evening, and the nasty attitude of the management, we don’t expect for them to be open for long.

Great spot in Prospect Heights to come after dinner to have dessert and a fancy cocktail. Ordered the blondie sunday which tasted so fresh and delicious. My cocktail was the Breukelen Zoo, one of the fall specialty cocktails– with vodka, lavender, anise. something i would never be able to concoct myself. my partner in crime ordered the Cornelius, the Great and Powerful, which regretfully i forgot to try.
not sure if they are trying to get rid of cases of wine, that possibly Beast the former restaurant left behind. But they had a wine list labeled «liquid“ation. Glasses of wine were 3 – 4 $ and no joke, bottles of wine ranging from 12 – 25 $. thats cheaper than the bullet proof incased wine shop across the street and reason enough to go back really soon.

I really liked this place. You can get an amazingly hand crafted specialty fancy drink without the pretentious attitude one would typically find with such a drink. This speakeasy is adorable and a perfect after dinner dessert place for a date one is trying to impress. The atmosphere is very mellow and relaxing, while the staff was very friendly and welcoming. The bartender truly takes his time to carefully create your drink.
The Brenne Brulee was yummy and the Floating Blondie was amazing! Their blondie is a must for anyone who loves chocolate and hazelnut. Even though I came for the brulee, I fell in love with the blondie.
This is a great place to come with someone you’d like to have a conversation with, not a place to come, drink and get trashed with your friends. When we were there on a Saturday night, there were some people there that were obviously clueless about the overall atmosphere of the place. They were clearly drunk and being loud and obnoxious while the rest of the patrons in the restaurant spoke amongst their own parties.

Please, people of New York, get your butts over to Spirited! I’ve been 3 times now during peak weekend hours and it’s never been full. Let’s do our part to better society and keep this place open.
Fancy drinks, desserts, and coffee?! And oh, coffee COCKTAILS, you say?
Everyone who works here seems genuinely happy to work here. Proof: A friend asked the bartender to surprise him. He didn’t care for the drink that resulted and the bartender was more than happy to make something else, free of charge.
Jazz plays at a low enough volume for you to hear your friends, and the coffee table books make for great conversation.

Popped in after some drinks at Weather Up (just a block away) and was pleasantly surprised that this place served alcoholic desserts with cocktail pairings. It had a speakeasy feel, but the atmosphere was really relaxed and unfussy. I did feel pressured by our waitress to order both a dessert and a drink but ended up just sharing a blondie brownie with ice cream with my boyfriend.
They’re new so they probably need to work through some kinks. Some of their desserts were underwhelming — my friend’s chocolate cake was pretty dry. Overall I had a good time though, and I’d come back for a «ladies night» sort of outing.

Are you kidding me? My friends and I went here on a Wednesday night to check things out. First let me say the space is beautiful. I was perfectly fine sitting at the bar admiring the beautiful walls, ceiling, and light fixtures. Then … an hour later I went to the bathroom and realized there’s an entire lounge.
Other than the atmosphere (and cute bartenders). We each had a dessert paired with a different cocktail. I had the churros and they blew my mind. Possibly the best I have ever had. My friend got the new take on crème brûlée and it was equally incredible. We also got the vanilla ice cream and brownie which was delicious but nothing special. It’s hard to put a new spin on an old favorite.
The drinks were also beautiful and tasty. Talk about craftsmen! I watched the bartender make my cocktail in awe.
Great place. Cool vibe. Wonderful menu. Try it ASAP!

What a disappointment!
Stopped by on a Saturday night with a few friends. The atrocious service started at the entrance when a server acknowledged we were waiting at the door but then proceeded to go about her business for another 5 minutes, even though the place was practically empty. We finally approached her again, at which point she told us we can seat ourselves. The whole interaction was very awkward and unpleasant.
Once seated, we waited for another 10 minutes (the place was still practically empty) and finally ordered a blackout cake and a brownie sundae. Things just went downhill from there. We waited for another 15 – 20 min before our order arrived. We did not get water until we asked for it for a second time.
The portions were very inconsistent. The blackout cake came in a huge slice while the brownie came in a miniature serving that barely provided 4 bites. The Blackout Cake was dry, and the term «spirited» would be an understatement describing the alcoholic aftertaste. Eating it felt like standing at a gas station. The brownie was actually the better of the the two, and the ice cream went nicely with the cake. But with only 3 – 4 bites worth and a price exceeding $ 10 I would describe it as ridiculously overpriced and undersized.
We were really looking forward for spirited to open ever since it was announced. however, after this poor experience I don’t think we’ll be coming back. So sad.