Essence Bar

This review is based on a delivery order. I cannot comment on the bar because I have not visited the bar. 1^st– oxtail dinner… I should have known better. I cook, therefore, I was not impressed AT ALL. They over cook the cabbage making it mushy and inedible to me. Nevermind the fact that they gave me 3 small A$$ pieces of meat. Oxtails were edible but I just wasn’t impressed.
2^nd — Mac n cheese was edible but had the taste of Kraft boxed mac n cheese.
3^rd — fried wings n waffles were ok. But the syrup they sent was so OLD it was like jelly and wouldn’t come out the little package. .
4^th– seafood combo left Much to be desired. Fried shrimp was too hard. Whiting had no flavor. Calamari was downright despicable. …
I wasted $ 70. I gave them the 1 star because they had good tartar sauce.. NEVER AGAIN.

Good time, nice people. The drinks were amazzzing and I easily spent way too much money. All in all this is a nice place and a great mixed crowd, all ages. Thumbs up for you Essence.

Celebrating Debbie Wright promotion…
Had fried shrimp and French fries which was tasty, along with Pina Colada…
Excellent atmosphere to unwind from a long week…

It’s like a family cookout between the staff and patrons:
You’ve got your nice aunties dancing and singing that karaōke.
Somebody grandma making some good fried chicken
Your older cousins that you looked up to while growing up making really good drinks and being cute. Lol
Then there’s Uncle Charles, that 40 – 50 something y. o man that’s always looking at your friends asking if they’re 18 yet. Who likes to look at your friends cuz they’re young and hot but is harmless.
Music that’s for everyone! From old school to the newest music.
Honestly it’s not something you get dressed up and beautified for. Somewhere I can just stop by on the way home and have a few drinks pay my amazingly low tab and leave happily without drama and all that other bs.

This is one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had at a bar… ever. My friend and I get there .at 8:05pm the other night. there are a lot of people there at the bar watching baseball etc so I get when we aren’t acknowledged in the first 5 mins.okay.10minutes.now it’s 15 minutes of standing at the bar we are finally acknowledged and our order taken.
The order was a simple TO GO order – after 50mins she brings out the order in a plate. apparently forgetting it’s a to go order. Okay fine, then forgets that we ordered an appetizer… simple order of mozzarella sticks. That is the very FIRST thing we ordered. Then says she didn’t charge us for it BUT charged us for the free sides that come with the meal. The catfish meal says it comes with two sides so on our receipt it says our 1^st side with no charge then the 2^nd side with $ 4.00 next to it. We didn’t notice at first until we didn’t get our mozzarella sticks. Her explanation was «oh I’m sorry I didn’t know».
We ordered two drinks while we waited and Lashauna (I think that’s her name) did not fill the glass up, it was literally half way full. I asked her why my cranberry and vodka is only half way full and she said the cameras watch her pour – so she can’t put more cranberry juice in the glass. I get the vodka –I wasn’t asking for more but the glass seemed so small to not put more cranberry in. (At least for it to look aesthetically pleasing) The whole experience was very time consuming as well as extremely frustrating. We ended up leaving and getting our money back without bothering with the food because we were so annoyed.

I’ve been to this bar several times and I have usually always had a great time. I can see that the owner or manager is really trying to appeal to the customer as the place always seems to be having a promotion or event going on. The menu is extensive and has a lot of great choices, even seafood and the food isn’t bad. I liked my happy hour bartender, (I think her name was Candice) she had a great personality and poured our drinks like a real pro. My friend and I came for Happy Hour (3−8pm) and she didn’t cheat us our of liquor so that plus her personality earned her a good tip. I would say the crowd seems to be consistently older which doesn’t bother me. I also appreciated the stocky and alert bouncer at the door. I was just here on Comedy Night (Wed) and the comedians were actually very funny and the whole bar was enjoying themselves. I had to take a star off because the bartenders that came after the Happy Hour gave me more ice than drink and seemed overwhelmed by the amount of patrons.

No Stars, if I could give less I could. Walked in at 7:30 ordered Wings by 7:50 no food. By 8:20 no food, 8 40 a nice waitress said the other waitress never put the order in. So the 1^st waitress came back said the kitchen never got the order and she would put it through again and the bill would be on her. Ok, 9pm no food, I asked for the manager who said that he would put the order in. 9:30 no food, 2^nd waitress comes over at 9:40 no food. If it wasn’t for me supporting a friend’s comedy show I would of left a longgggg time ago. And to end it I left at 11:30 pm NO Food! Can I say No Stars one more time!

Local Gin Mill type neighborhood bar, 90%+ locals, Super friendly, big bar, tasty, TASTY food.

If I was a man in my 50’s all the way up to my 70’s, I’d be a regular here cuz there’s some hot ladies of the same age group.
My two friends took me here, because, well, there’s not many other options within a few blocks of their apartment and we were lazy last night. The place reminds me of what a sports bar might have looked in the 80’s…or even the 70’s. The bar itself is shaped like an «L» and is huge (can easily seat 20+). This place is mos def stuck in that time period. We were hungry, thirsty and wanting old school soul food, not some reinvention of fried chicken for the modern diner. We found our spot.
The food:
I was excited to order the oxtail stew with cabbage, rice and peas and fried plantains. Although the oxtail pieces were the smaller ones, the flavor (Caribbean) was very good and the meat was tender. The cabbage was tender as well and well seasoned. I could have had just that with the rice and peas (also delicious) as a meal on its own. The fried plantains were sweet and tasty. The calamari, although seasoned nicely, was very greasy for my taste. The crab cakes were two good sizes and flavorfulI but not memorable. I had a side of collards and they were average. I like mine cooked with smoked ham hocks and these lacked that… Overall, it was all good, but not great. The price is a few shekels more then what it’s worth (aka, i’ve had better at take out soul food joints)
The drinks:
The kid who was here before the lady bartenders arrived made a mean vodka gimlet. After the second, I was nice. The third got me crooked. He was cool and efficient. Initially, he was both waiter and bartender. An hour in, there was a shift change and that’s when things went down hill. The new ladies who took over seemed strictly for show and the next few orders were subpar at best. We left soon after.
The lowdown:
Now, if you are ever in this side of town you know the deal. This is a neighborhood joint with neighborhood regulars. They are all friendly enough, but lets just say some aren’t too happy about non-​neighborhood people being in their «spot». It’s going to be hard to fit in unless you are at least in your late 40’s. It’s very much an older crowd. I saw a few men in their late 60’s in here. 50’s is about the average age. Still, there’s something to be said about being the youngest people at the bar. It’s kinda cool in an odd way.
There’s karaōke on friday nights and I generally had fun with my girls that night. If you are in the area and not wanting to go far, this is a great spot to chill. Good enough soul food, really good music and good drinks (as long as it’s the kid with the glasses). But, by no means am I getting in a cab from the city or any other parts of BK to come here.

Essence Bar and grill is that type of underground place you go to — to just simply relax — drink, and chill with out bumping into any familiar faces…
I ordered the bake chicken with Collards and cabbage — it was not all that!
My god daughter ordered wings — and it was meh!
I honestly think that we ordered the wrong things — because the regulars ordered catfish and that looked and smelled good. I did not order any drinks — but I loved the old school feel of the bar with a HUGE BAR that can sit probably 25 — 30 people.
The music was good as well. Nice spot for drink — get to know some one and chill.

ABSOLUTELY the best and last old school bar/​restaurant left in old Brooklyn. Let’s keep Essence alive!
I worked here for a few days and it was the best experience I’ve ever had at a Brooklyn Bar.

I went here as a comedian to perform on a comedy nite. It was the 8 yes anniversary or something like that. It was a great atmosphere and the drinks were good. Bartenders are all very attractive women, don’t go there with your date and sit at the bar. It will probably be your last date. If you go alone, then sit at the bar, say what’s up to Veen. She’s cool, told me her name was Veen… with a V… like vagina. True story.
The drinks are very fairly priced, and they also have a drink menu if you don’t know what you want. The food reminded me of some old school Southern Cooking. Wow. I mean I was licking the table after I was done eating. Where I’m from, that’s a compliment.
I’ll be back here to perform again, and back to drink and eat. You won’t be disappointed if you go here for a date, or just to chill.

In BK there’s a place that caters to hipsters, gentrified newbies but where to do all the regular folks go? The answer is Essence Bar & Grill. The place is situated on a corner and looks like a throw back to your mom and pop’s corner bar. The inside doesn’t have a wow factor-​long bar, «VIP» section and small stage. What it does have is a mature crowd, great priced drinks, bartenders who know how to make a great drink (you will taste the alcohol), great food at a reasonable priced. I was there for karaōke on Good Friday, and the place was packed. Good crowd, so-​so karaōke performances I’ll be back at Essence since I learned that nights for live bands and comedy. Essence is similar to some parts of Brooklyn-​a diamond in the rough!

The good, the bad the hungry… lol just kidding. However today was the last day that I could use my groupon so I didn’t want to miss out on some Soul food. I was nervous because of the reviews regarding the service (the bad) I decided to try take out which ended up being like I dined in because I was there almost an hour. I called ahead because I knew it was going to take me 20 or so minutes to get there and I knew it was comedy night. I love to laugh (the good) but just wanted to go home. I did enjoy the comedy for the most part. The place was not overcrowded. The people seemed friendly and like they all knew each other. Lucky for me I’m not shy and I just jumped right in.
The wait was horrrrrrrrribbbbbbbbblllllle.(the bad) I thought they killed, plucked and fried the chicken while I was there while running down to a stream to catch the Salmon. The guy next to me ordered after me and got his food before me and finished his food before mine came out. After waiting 25 mins the waitress/​bartender told me they didnt have white meat. uggh, so I agreed to dark a few moments later she came back and said they had a breast.Overjoyed. I got there around 9:20 and didn’t leave until 10:45. my groupon came with 1 app, 2 ent and either beer or wine. I ordered smothered chicken with broccoli and yams. YUMMMM, damn tasty. Lemon buttered salmon with mac & cheese and collards. The fish tasted fresh but not like lemon butter… at all. The mac was okay. They both needed some more seasoning. I got calamari for the appetizer and it was the frozen kind you fry. Won’t get that again. It was tough and the breading was heavy. The waitress/​bartender was nice however she didn’t apologize for the wait which would of made me feel like a valued customer.

Nice local sports bar, lots and lots of TVs and I bet it really gets kicking when there’s a band on stage. The bartender was really friendly and looks like Rihanna in the way that a middle-​aged white lady would say a young girl looks like Rihanna — so just sorta. The nachos are made with fake cheese and are very average, my buffalo wings were nice and crispy and my friend’s Smothered Chicken was tasty but the timing of our dishes was atrocious — my wings came out way before my friend’s entrée and I was completely done eating before her food arrived..

At first I was going to agree with the comments regarding the waitresses I guess they need more people:) I did have to wait and I did have to go to the bar more than once regarding my order and I didnt get what I wanted or what my groupon stated but Im giving it a 4 star because Im a very understanding and appreciative person. The cook wanted to go home (it was thanksgiving eve) so she was not about to make all that food but I must say that what she did make WAS YUMMY!!! and I was very thankful that V the bartender basically begged her to make the dish I went on comedy nite and I had a very nice time laughing my butt off. I will be returning next wednesday with no groupon.

Love, Love this place ;).
Very fun neighborhood bar. Excellent food and overall cool atmosphere. Sunday and Monday are especially nice. Don’t leave without having a «Bull Dog».

MOJITO WITHOUT MINT LEAVES! REALLY?
Had a groupon for this place, ugh the memories… The drinks were water down, my mojito did not have mint leaves or mint flavor at all… it tasted like sugar water, not even sure if it had alcohol. The chicken tender appetizer wasn’t too bad, but the rest of the food wasn’t good. corn bread that comes with the food smelled spoilled… The only bartender in the place was very rude. One of the reviews mentions hot bartenders… maybe I went there on the wrong day!

DO NOT COME HERE HUNGRY!
I bought a groupon for this place. Yesterday, I decided to use it and made the trek here. The food, although somewhat tasty, will take a very long time to arrive. The waitress seemed to be in her own world and was unable to do simple things like remember/​write down our order. We had to accompany her to the computer so that she could put it in. Keep in mind, it was only two of us. We had one appetizer, a simple entrée, and one entrée that came with two sides. Neither of us asked for strange substitutions or changes. We then decided to order some beer. The bartender suggested we try the house lager. When asked if we could sample it, we were met with a rather rude, ‘You’re getting it or you’re not.’. We asked for a different draft beer, which was out and settled on a less preferred option.
Our appetizer (cocktail shrimp) took over 20 mins to arrive, even though we were the only diners in the restaurant. The other patrons were at the bar for drinks. During our dinner, there was a DJ blasting some very loud music. It was a bit difficult to speak with the person in front of me. Our entrees, were good, but again, took a long time to arrive. The waitress explained that the cooks were new. Which would have been understandable had there been other diners there.
Apparently the bar has some good evening activities, like a comedy event on Wednesdays, however, I came to eat, not for a show…
If you live in the area, this might be an okay place to just grab a drink, however, if you’re hungry, this isn’t the place for you.

Sing with me…“where everybody knows your naaaaame, and they’re always glad ya cammmmmme”
You can walk in here for the first and feel like a regular.
The people are very friendly and the music is always pumpin’!
They have live bands perform, karaōke, Dj’s, you name it you can find it there.
You can celebrate your birthday here, drop on by to watch a game or just to relax and unwind for some well prepared and well priced drinks!
They also have some really great bar food from wings to clams to nachos. everything is always tasty.
Give them a try you will not regret it!