Branch Ofc.

I’ve finally achieved «local» status at a bar, and it was the moment the guys at Branch knew my drink as soon as I walked in the door. Friendliest staff, cozy atmosphere and great pop ups.

GET BETTER DRAFT BEERS. Puhlease!!! They are so mediocre and so often the same. Either serve cheap beers or good craft beer, not boring craft beer.

It’s your genuine MacLaren’s Pub. True story.

I came here for the first time within the first few weeks they were open because the bar moved in right after my previous main pinball haunt closed down and the pinball map app pointed me here.
I was happy to discover that not only were there pinball games that are *generally* in a good state of repair (when they’re not, it’s not the bar’s fault but the owner of the machines) but also a well-​curated and rotating draft list and really nice house cocktails. I spend most of my time there in front of the pinball games, but lots of folks seem to enjoy the outdoor seating and the nicely atmospheric indoor seating.
The staff is very friendly and attentive and the fact that the same bartenders have been there for the six months or so that they’ve been open suggests that ownership and/​or management treats them well.
As with most of the places I frequent, pinball is the thing that keeps me coming back, but unless you’re looking for a dive with cheap beer, an extensive wine list or a dinner menu (sandwiches only), you’re sure to find something you’ll like here. Drop by and give it a shot, you’ll be glad you did.

Came here for a group outing on a Tuesday night — the patio was practically empty considering was a nice day it was! Each table was a different color, which I thought was decorative. A little muggy, and so the patio was very very buddy. Mosquitos, lightning bugs, and ants all over the place outside. BUT — it is a gorgeous patio. They have slushee drinks (that you can get virgin) that are delicious. Nice spot if you’re looking for a quiet patio!
Inside was dark… not quite sure it’s so dark but it’s too dark for my liking.

It’s an expensive hipster bar but I guess it’s better than nothing. They have an outdoor area which is cool. Come here after yoga some time.

I have been looking for my «home bar» for a while now ever since my post-​work bar in the east village closed. I could have NEVER imagined I would get my new home in my OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I am passionate about this place and am Here almost daily. The beer is always chilled with frosted glasses to BOOT, the sandwiches (especially the number 3) r delicious and the WHOLE STAFF — especially Damian — are welcoming, hilarious, happy to be there with you, and fun! The atmosphere is chic and polished. It’s just… I mean it’s just an A+ bar I don’t know what else to say. Other than the awesome outside patio. Just go, you won’t regret it.

All time favorite bar of all time. I’ve never come into branch ofc and not felt as though it’s the best choice I could’ve made for the night. The food and drinks are creative and delicious and the staff that I’ve interacted with: Courtney, Michael, Eddie, Dre, and especially, Damian are simply fantastic. If you’re searching for a great time, a fun crowd, and wonderful service, along with excellent drink and food choices, in a wonderful area of Brooklyn… this is THE place.

I decided to try this place because it is new to my block. I was scoping it for weeks and finally decided to drop by. Overall the facilities are nice. Brand new and renovated. There are games to play if that is your thing and also the backyard is nice. The prices and drink options are okay nothing ground breaking. They serve chips and I believe sandwiches, so you can grab a small bite while you are there.
As an overall establishment it’s really not that bad, like if Franklin Park had a baby that is Branch Ofc.
_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​
Suggestions:
Lighting, I know bars are supposed to be dark but I don’t know the candles make it feel dark and creepily romantic, it doesn’t feel like a bar
On a personal note, be more mindful of the neighbors, we like to sleep peacefully… it’s a predominantly residential/9−5 business block.

Pretty excited about this place. Great, chill vibe. Friendly bartender (Damien). Good drinks. Happy hour deals. Back patio. Looking forward to having tons of friends here for a party as soon as we can.
Some of the other reviews seem to complain about things that aren’t true about this place. I suspect that as a new bar there were some «growing pains” – rest assured, this place is growing up and has turned into a fantastic young person-​bar.

A good bar is hard to find.
I appreciate the no nonsense aesthetic.
I can get my drink on and my snack on without any muss or fuss. The grilled sandwiches are filling and yummy. A great late night belly buddy. Plus I can drink a couple beers and fill up and get a little whiskey and leave happy.
its a bit pricey but compared to most of Brooklyn these days or Manhattan it seems normal.
Plus they have pinball and a backyard, hello!

You guys — it’s wonderful to have a «local» bar with an outside space. And it’s just chill… order their grilled cheese and get a beer /​cocktail and it’s wonderful. It’s like an extended home space only it’s not your home but it kind of feels like that way. It probably doesn’t deserve all 5 stars up there but I was just there and I had a great time — so yay for all 5 stars. Actually, 5 stars for everyone today! Yay!

I’ve been to Branch Ofc. three times, now, and my friends and I have always had a great time. It’s a very welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Great décor, cool vibe, interesting cocktail list…
They have some really neat pinball machines, as well as a photo booth (OMG! Cue drunken photos…)
I can’t wait for it to get really warm so I can enjoy their HUGE outdoor patio. It looks so nice and comfy out there.
Very friendly service, tasty paninis, outdoor space… I’m really glad to have found this place. I’ll be back!

First off, let me preface this review by saying two things:(1) I’ve only ever written a Unilocal review once before, and it was for something positive (Bluebird on Flatbush Ave), so I don’t liken myself to one of those awful ‘I-​had-​a-​slightly-​bad-​experience-​and-​now-​I-​have-​to-​go-​and-​YELP-​about-​it’ types of people. (2) I have been to this bar twice, and the first time was positive, and I share that experience towards the end, but it doesn’t make up for the utter disrespect that the bartender showed us the second time I visited.
I came here after work on a Thursday, with a group of 5 friends. We had another 4 friends planning to meet us there in a couple of hours. It was empty, with one girl sat out back in the yard, and one dude sat at the bar. We plunked ourselves and our stuff (we had brought some board games) down in the front corner and went to order drinks. There is no noticeable beer list, so I asked the bartender what he had on tap. He tells me the (limited) selection, I order, and then my friend goes,“I’m sorry – what do you have on tap?” He rolls his eyes, starts re-​listing them, and then stops after naming just two beers and goes, «what are you in the mood for?» but not in a helpful way – in a ‘this is too hard for me to repeat the 6 beers’ type of way. She orders an IPA and we go back to our seat.
Over the next 30 – 45 mins or so, we each drink 2 – 3 beers and are playing a silly word game, that has us occasionally yelling and laughing at each other. At some point another man comes in and sits at the bar. All of a sudden, we hear the bartender lean over the bar and say to our group, «Excuse me: I’m going to have to ask that you all keep it down. That guy just left because you guys are too loud.»
UMmmmmmmm…it is a BAR… it’s not our fault that the place had no discernible music playing and carries sound like crazy. We weren’t being obnoxiously loud. Occasional board-​game shouting and cheering. We decide to take our business elsewhere, so two of us go up to close our tabs. My friend has to tell him her last name (he must have only had 3 cards behind the bar…) and it is a crazy Indian name that is impossible for most people to pronounce, so she tells him her first name and says that her last name ‘starts with a v’. He responds, «I need to know your full last name». WHAT??? So she repeats her first name, and says that her last name starts with a v. He brings her the only other CC that he must have, that does coincidentally have a last name that starts with a v, but the first name is NOTHING like the name she has just been giving him. My friend gets her card and neither of us tip, which is the first time in my life I have ever done that (I was bartender and a waitress for YEARS and would normally never DREAM of not tipping). He then says to our group, «I’d appreciate it if you guys didn’t come back» (ummm…yeah…why the fuck would we??). THEN, he looks at our closed checks and says that he is going to charge us 20% gratuity. Granted, my tab was only $ 10 (I’d had 2 happy hour beers), but my friend’s was a bit more, and that is just straight up illegal. I checked my bank account today, and he didn’t actually run the gratuity.
I will never be back.

one star for cute décor, otherwise, this place is mediocre and mediocre doesn’t cut it unless you’re in the middle of nowhere. draft beer is overpriced and the selection is atrocious. come on, this is brooklyn, you think they could have *one* decent beer. nope! will not be coming back here which is a shame because I live so close.

So this was my first friday night in there… this is offically my watering hole. the spot is perfect… not to out there. but out there enough to catch a eye… this spot is a winner… cant wait for the weather to get right so they can open the patio

I had high hopes for this place, especially since I live around the corner. I liked the relaxed feel, thumbs up for the pinballs machines, music was fine, and staff seemed nice enough.
My biggest takeaway, however, was the feeling that this place just doesn’t know what it wants to be. They only have a few beers on tap, but the beer selection was boring and definitely overpriced. I’ll go to Manhattan if I want a Stella or Shocktop for $ 7, thank you. Also, what’s with the generic «IPA, Stout, etc.» listing instead of telling us what they are on the board or a menu? A lot of people like craft beer. And those people like to know what they’re drinking. Pretty easy fix. The cocktails seemed OK, but the selection was also limited and slightly overpriced for what they were (definitely nothing to write home about).
Basically, the owners need to decide to step up the quality of the drinks if they want the cocktail bar vibe or lower the prices like woah (my preference, I would love a cheap local watering hole). I’ll definitely be making the walk to Franklin Ave until I see one of the two happen (fingers crossed!).

Absolutely MEH in every way possible. No Craft Beer, or even decent beer for the $ 7 cost. Not for beer lovers. Or cocktail lovers. Overpriced. Nothing special about this place at all.
I REALLY wanted to like this place, as there are few options in this area of Crown Heights south of Atlantic, but I was deeply disappointed.
First of all, as previously noted, their beer list isn’t printed. Which leads to the awkward interaction of having to ask a bartender to ask what’s on draft. Why not just have a list instead of telling us you have «IPA, STOUT, etc?» In fact, I wasn’t even sure if they had anything on tap, because their taps are hidden behind the bar (which adds to the confusion of their vague beer descriptions).
Draft beers are $ 7, but their beer list reads like a more Buffalo Wild Wings or mid-​grade hotel than a Brooklyn bar in 2015. Tonight they had Smuttynose Brown, Goose Island IPA (Anheuser-​Busch.), Shock top Hefeweizen (Anheuser-​Busch), and Stella (Anheuser-​Busch). WTF? Does this place have a contract with Anheuser-​Busch??? This is supposed to be a bar, not a stadium.
I couldn’t believe that they’re wasting new draft lines on Stella and SHOCK TOP for christsake. Most bars worth their salt have REAL craft beers for $ 6, and this place wants to charge $ 7 for Stella? Bars in expensive-​ass Williamsburg charge $ 6 for craft beer, why is Branch Ofc trying to gauge us and serve crap beer in this sleepy part of Crown Heights?
I also had one of their three «cocktails» for $ 11, which was more like a quickly mixed drink. Do yourself a favor and go to Erv’s (great!) in PLG, or walk up Franklin Avenue to the numerous fantastic bars if you want a real cocktail or beer. I feel insulted after paying $ 11 for some mix.
In terms of ambiance, I didn’t feel like this place had any. Dark with a couple of random pinball machines. And a random TV behind the bar. It wasn’t turned on, thank goodness. Very generic. This bar could literally be anywhere.
Do yourself a favor and go somewhere that gives a shit about being a good bar, or servicing the neighborhood and won’t charge you $ 7 for an Anheuser-​Busch product.

Here are some strange things about this place:
1. There isn’t a printed beer list. Instead, you’ll find a sign on the wall listing varieties of beer they serve: IPA, Stout, etc. When you ask for a beer list, they just point to the sign. When you inquire what beer it ACTUALLY is, they seem annoyed by the question and then rattle off what’s on draft. Pro tip: there’s a reason why bars either print out a sheet of paper with this information on it, or put a sign up. Is the IPA always going to be the same? Is it a session IPA, or an Imperial? Somewhere in the middle? Also, $ 7/​12oz pour at a brand new bar, for fairly pedestrian beers, isn’t the way to get customers.
2. There is a cell phone charging station for $ 1.99. Weird on a number of levels. Could you just let me use an outlet like every other bar, ever?
3. Sandwich prices seem high for what. you’re getting. $ 10 across the board, meat/​no meat.
I will say that a top shelf shot was pretty cheap — $ 4, but YMMV.

I was so excited about the aesthetic of this bar from the preview pics I had seen online. Went in person and yes, it does look very cool. But the music… all rap, all night. Why? I personally hate rap, and my husband wanted to leave immediately when he walked in because of it (I begged him to stay).
To be more objective, I am sure some people like rap, however, it simply does not suit the setting. Why not commit? There are a lot of new bars coming to Crown Heights, and this one looks great, but go all the way. Hugely successful bars like Rocka Rolla and Skinny Dennis play music to match their interiors and it’s bizarre but, «If you build it, [they] will come.» Not only are those bars popular with folks living nearby but they are destinations for people across the city into their particular genres. The specificity of them doesn’t seem to detract for those who just want a local drink, and it seems to add value for people looking for unique destinations that suit their tastes.
If not committing to something that suits the atmosphere (I would say anything from Rockabilly, Motown, garage, 60s rock ‘n’ roll, jump blues, etc) at least play a wide variety of music? The Crown Inn always has great stuff playing, even though it varies with the bartender. (My personal favorite bartender with an amazing iPod works on Sunday night.) Tooker Alley also has awesome music playing at all times, music that suits their interior and combines with the setting to make it a memorable and special experience.
We left Branch Ofc. and went to Friends and Lovers which was completely packed to the rafters for an all-​45s soul night. That vibe would be perfect for your place. Maybe get someone to play records on the end of the bar (I have names, ask me!)… something… I WANT to love you!
Better yet: get an older-​model jukebox (which would look amazing in there) and let the customer choose. Your space is crying out for one. Great jukeboxes also make a bar a destination. I’ve seen it locally in Brooklyn: Sharlene’s is a dive with a great jukebox, nothing special to look at but many people come for the music. The Tip Top on Franklin has one of the best in the city. Or REALLY make yourself stand out and be one of only two bars in NYC with a jukebox that plays 45s. They’re pretty inexpensive on eBay. The Great Jones Café has a similar vibe to yours and their jukebox is treasured by many. You could combine all kinds of fifties and sixties 45s with those of modern, local bands.
Anyway, multiple bars are opening in the next few weeks and from what I’ve seen yours is very cool looking. To remain competitive, please fix the music to play well to your strengths! I’ll be returning to check on your progress :)
—–
Edit: Went back on a Sunday afternoon. Rap, again. Rap? On a Sunday afternoon?
The other reviews are correct: limited beer selection, and $ 7 is far too expensive. Ditto for the cocktails at $ 11. This is unfortunate. I want this bar to be great. There are so few within walking distance of my home.