Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Ave, Astoria, NY 11102
718.274.4925
N/W Train to Astoria Blvd
Atmosphere:
Being from Slovakia, I love going to the Beer Garden because I'm surrounded by "my people" (but not to worry, the place is also mobbed by hundreds of boisterous Americans). The atmosphere is super fun and extremely social--you'll find large groups singing "Happy Birthday" in unison or several Beirut (aka Beer Pong) tables set up with competitive tournaments.
Food:
Plain and simple--I'm crazy about the food here (click for menu). My favorite is "knedel" - a yummy potato dumpling covered by mushroom, beef or pork sauce. The sweet red cabbage is to die for--it's more like dessert than a side dish. For safe bets such as burgers, fries, grilled chicken and amazingly scrumptious kielbasa, order from the outdoor grill menu.
Service:
The only thing that I simply cannot stand about the Beer Garden is its poor service. You can sit at a table for over an hour and not get approached by a waitress. This actually happened to my parents and me in the summer. It was fine with us, as we were content to play card games the whole time, leaving the place without spending a dime--their loss! I've even tried speaking to the waitstaff in Slovak but surprisingly it doesn't help.
But...all annoyances aside, The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden guarantees a fun and happy evening--or afternoon--with good beer, good food and good friends.
Being a beer lover my only question is, so how is the pivo?
ReplyDeleteThe beer is wonderful and there are so many kinds! Czech, Slovak, German, Dutch, American. You can find it all! Pitchers cost $14 and can quench the thirst of about 3-4 people.
ReplyDeleteYou actually waited at a table for an hour to be served??
ReplyDeleteWe've found the best way to get served is get on line yourself and order what you want. Then again, the best days to go are Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons/evenings.
Fridays and Saturdays the line is too long and moves too slow. Notice how there might be plenty of room inside, but the ogres at the door pace the people going in.
Anyway, it's a great place to visit after eating at Elias Corner.