The Black Hound

I walked past here one night after heading home one evening and, having passed by it 100 times and never going in, decided to finally check it out. It is one of the only options in the BPC area for a nice place to get a drink, and it’s a good one. Although the place is decorated beautifully and feels like any upscale midtown bar would, the crowd and bartender make you feel right at home. I saw delicious drinks being made but I stuck to wine – both the Cabernet and the Riesling were fantastic, and the bartender let me taste each before committing which I always appreciate. I am definitely greatful to have this in the area.

Well, the burger was ok so that’s a good thing. But when you ask for pickles for your burger and the bartender asks if you want a «side» of pickles, then somethings wrong. I asked if I have to pay for the pickles. He said it depends. Again, I said I’d like a few pickle slices to put on my burger. He then left and came back with 3 pickle slices. Uh, thanks. Hope it’s not $ 2 a slice.
While I’m eating, I’m watching him make a drink for a couple sitting at a table. I don’t know what it was but it included vodka. So he shakes and shakes the shot plus whatever else was in there (you know the almost overhead kinda shaking system) and pours it into an ice filled small cocktail glass and oooops, not enough drink for even that small glass so I guess he’s gonna have to get the vodka bottle and pour in a little more … but wait! No! No move at all to the vodka bottle. Lo and behold, it seems that popping a few more ice cubes into the already overladen glass of ice cubes works just as well! Alas, the glass is full.
The good news is no charge for the pickles! The bad? I got charged $ 1 for raw onion. Ummm, I don’t think so. There are enough yummy burger places in Manhattan without being charged $ 1 for raw onion. Please give me a break.
Go to McDonald’s. At least you know what you’re getting there for what price.

Overpriced/​bad attitude. Waiter and waitress bad attitude the whole time. We ordered Jameson on ice and they charge us $ 26, $ 2 for ice by the way. What the f***!!! Garbage… NEVER AGAIN!

You have a thing for Whiskey and you are in Battery Park City, you’ll want to come here.
Small and narrow with a few large armchairs in the hidden lounge in the back. Reminded me of an ol’ fashioned smoking lounge… very Finance, Masters of the Universe theme…
The Mac ‘n Cheese is tasty.
The «Chicharron «is deceiving… not a fan…

A local hang out for battery park residents and after work drinks. Good cocktail menu. Great snacks. They have a nice table by the window that seats two and a lovely area out back that can be hired for functions. Tried the peppers as a bar snack from the new menu recently and they were ok, I prefer the flat breads. Ok ambiance, I feel it is missing some atmosphere.

I’ve never been to this location to sit down for dinner, but I have stopped by for a drink before a holiday party and love the layout and ambiance. Today I tried their Truffle Mac n Cheese while they were exhibiting at the «Dine Around Downtown» event in FiDi and I must say, it really was to die for.
Now looking into having our holiday party at their venue — if the dining/​party experience is anything like their truffle mac and having a drink there, I think I will have please many folk.

I am a battery park local who really used to liked this bar. The last 2 times we’ve gone we’ve been turned away by the bartender because he had already called «last call», even though it was early on a Saturday night and the bar was full. When we asked when the bar closed, the bartender replied, we «judge the flow». Really rude and arrogant. Not going to bother anymore.

It’s all about the ambiance! Don’t get me wrong, the cocktails are wonderful and innovative, the food is simple and delicious, but everything together makes for a minimal chic charming quaint intimate inviting warm welcoming getaway that I highly appreciate!

So, after a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and a visit to the ⁹⁄₁₁ Memorial we stopped for a cocktail. I can appreciate the craft work of the modern cocktail, but the bartender spent way too much time fussing over the whole mixing process. Find some moderation between craftsmanship and service, please.
Nice cold marble bar and fun funky atmosphere, but please quench my thirst!
BTW the ultraviolet Japanese movies being picked up from some illicit satellite provider were not very entertaining

This place was a pleasant surprise! Came here the other Friday night and had such a fun time. The place is small and rarely over crowded (especially after 10pm). If you like intimate, fuss-​free bars, this is a great option.
The drink menu is awesome and the bartenders are even better. It’s definitely a «neighborhood bar» kind of place. The bartenders were experimenting with drinks and the few of us night-​owls that were still there near closing got to try these alcoholic ice pops on the house. So delicious.
If you’re feeling bold, I’d recommend trying one of their absinthe-​based drinks. I loved watching them use the blow torch! Overall, a nice spot if you’re in the area.

My wife and I go to the Black Hound every Sunday and often through the week. It’s a beautiful space with elegant glassware, a marble bar, fun movies on display and knowledgeable staff.
We come here for two reasons mainly though, Michael and Leonardo. Two of the finest bartenders in New York City.
The Black Hound is very small and in an out of the way location. They’re only busy in the afternoons it seems (a time we tend to avoid). In some ways their talents are wasted here, they should be at places like the Smith, or Dead Rabbit, the Dutch. All places we like very much, but the Hound has a special place in our hearts. It’s much more intimate here and for its size the drinks are astounding. My wife is particularly fond of their 100 day old Negroni. She thinks it is the best in the city.
Leonardo is a knowledge bank of liquors and spirits. He is an astute student of the craft. He uses what seems to be all the gadgets of the trade and is always introducing us to new spirits.
Michael is a veteran bartender. He takes his craft seriously and never fails to impress. We like to challenge him with mixology and he always comes up with something to fit our mood. Like the spicy chocolate martini made with Guiness.
We pass by the bar often and peer in to see who is working. If Leonardo or Michael are behind the bar, we’ll usually stop in. They’re a real treat, always jovial and friendly. And if you are lucky, Michael might give you a cookie.
If you want to see real bartenders who enjoy their craft. Go to the Black Hound and either order off the menu or challenge them to make you something special. You will not be disappointed.
(so… on a side note:) We obviously love this place, but there are some detractions. No happy hour, movies all the time, never a game, the air conditioning is hit or miss, no patio, hard to tell if the place is open sometimes.

I’ve been to numerous speakeasy style establishments and the true value of such a place comes down to the other patrons, the cocktails themselves and the bar staff. I’ve always enjoyed the other patrons and most of the bar staff, including the staff at neighboring Southwest NY. However, both times I’ve been when Michael was the bartender serving he has been extremely rude and, frankly, singularly unprofessional.
The first time I encountered Michael, I tried to strike up a conversation with him, but it was towards the end of his shift and he was clearly in a bad mood. I felt we got off on the wrong foot, so I gave a 40% tip which I NEVER do, even at places where I’m a respected and enjoyed regular who is friends with the staff outside of the establishment, such as Angel’s Share. On that night, however, Michael was dismissive, clearly not interested in engaging in conversation and, despite having poured me a cocktail not 5 minutes before, very disrespectfully said «Okay, look, we’re trying to go home here, alright?» I replied «Okay… I’m leaving. But if I keep coming here, I think you’ll learn to love me.» and smiled (just trying to be friendly). Michael shot back «If you keep coming here, I might end up hating you.» I just shook my head and left. Easily one of the rudest, most unprofessional bar staff I have ever encountered. This memory was burned into my mind to a degree that I didn’t want to patronize the bar again.
So, after a a long time of not going back because of such a rude encounter, I finally gave it another shot last night. Michael was working, so I wanted to clear the air with him since I enjoy the cocktails and the other patrons there, so when I was about to pay my check and leave I said «Hey Michael, so, the last time I was here you said if I kept coming back, you might end up hating me…» (the rest of that line was going to be «but I hope we can be better moving forward». However, he cut me off and said «No, I never said that. I definitely did not say that. You were drunk and accusing me of hating you.» (I have a vivid memory of this and was incredibly offended that he was accusing me of lying right now about what happened). I calmly replied «No… I said as I was leaving ‘If I keep coming here, I think you’ll learn to love me.’ You replied ‘If you keep coming here for a couple months, I might end up hating you’.» At this point Michael, who apparently has no capacity for self-​reflection or admitting he didn’t behave professionally the first night, cuts me off and says «I’m not having this conversation with you.» and walks off. Even if he didn’t fully own up to it, the correct response would have been something like «Ah, maybe I did. Either way, you’re welcome here now.» But no, he couldn’t manage that basic level of customer service.
So, in short, the first time I was there I left a 40% tip and tried to strike up a conversation with Michael, only to be rudely dismissed and then told he would probably end up hating me as a patron when I said I think he would end up really liking me as a patron after a few months of going there. The second time I tried to clear the air with Michael, only to be told I imagined the previous encounter, that he can do no wrong and that he wasn’t even going to discuss what happened. And so Michael got a 0% tip last night and I literally never don’t tip staff. But Michael went out of his way to earn it.
To the Management — until Michael has an attitude adjustment and reins in his outsized ego, I simply will not go there the nights he works there. The rest of your staff is polite and friendly and will continue to receive generous tips.

Came here Easter Sunday and had a great time hanging out at the bar. Michael was the bartender. He took great care of us and we were able to paint Easter eggs at the bar. It brought me back to my childhood. Totally recommend this place for a low key neighborhood night out.

This review goes out to Mr. Handsome Bartender Michael!
The burgers were too big for my mouth! I realize this could be a benefit or a hindrance depending on several factors. Regardless of your burger size preferences, the fries were crispy, light, and delicious!
The atmosphere had the class of an upscale old-​timey bar with the comfort and intimacy of a nostalgic winter afternoon in a cozy reading room.
The best part of my experience was Michael the Handsome Bartender™. He didn’t skip a beat and made a point to greet us with an upbeat demeanor and friendly jokes.
PS: The bottled lion stout is yumtastic!

The black hound opened while I lived in Battery Park City, and quickly became a date night staple for happy hour or late drinks. They have some wonderful concoctions, and I’ve never had a drink that I didn’t enjoy. They do, however, tend to use a tremendous amount of ice, making my sipping time short-​lived.
I love the ambience here. There’s a decent sized bar and a few hightop tables in the front room. The back room is much cozier and definitely my go-​to, with sofa-​style seating and tables surrounded by cushioned chairs to chose from. The food menu is somewhat limited to mostly appetizers and small plates, but truthfully their main focus is the mixology. I think it would be excellent for them to incorporate a dessert menu for sharing!
I look forward to visiting the black hound when I’m back in town to see what new drinks they’re offering on the menu!

This is my favorite bar. It’s close to home so it has an advantage but the vibe there is great and the people there are very friendly. Easy to meet people there. Great bartenders too.

I have been here before, but we came here again on Halloween night since we wanted to go to a place where we could get good craft cocktails without having to worry about waiting in a line. Not to mentioned its walking distance from my apartment. From the outside, it looks like a quite unassuming bar but I would recommend trying out this place if you find yourself in the Battery Park area.
It has an intimate ambiance, I prefer sitting in the back whether they have comfortable lounge chairs. The drinks menu is eclectic and has a variety of different craft cocktails. Also, they are more than happy to make you something if you have something particular in mind. The menu on their website is not updated — they keep updating their drinks from time to time. I got a cachaca based drink with cherry purée and agave — it was delicious, sweet and just slightly strong — just how I like my drinks. My boyfriend ordered a bourbon based drink with came with a glow stick lit straw. We have also tried their food in the past and the food is pretty good too!
Since it was my birthday weekend, my friends decided to order shots and we asked the bartender to make whatever he wanted. And he came out with this amazing smoky looking concoction. It turned out to be like a lemon drop — but we all «oo-​ed» «aah-​ed» given the ingenuity of how the bartender brought out the shots.

Pretty cool bar with the cheapest cocktails I’ve seen in this area of Manhattan (~$ 13 instead of $ 15+). The vibe is kinda swank but then they’ll do something awesome like play Pulp Fiction at the bar. The Fields cocktail was delicious with all the crushed ice and their version of an Old Fashioned won’t disappoint. The food item seemed to have a good amount of veggie items and was good for snacking.

Get to the Chase:
Pros:
1) Had an amazing watermlon beer! YES watermelon based beer! It was amazing!
2) Décor is swanky and in the back are nice lounge chairs
3) Diverse crowd
Cons:
1) Pricey
2) Small/​cramped
3) Waiters don’t come by the lounge area, so make sure you’re ready to leave a comrade behind to hold the chairs while you get drinks

I wanted so much for this to be a good, reliable place. It could, it should but it didn’t get there. I liked the cocktail menu and ordered a drink that the bartender considered her favorite. She had to consult another to remember the ingredients.
I must have liked the music or perhaps I didn’t notice it because on the television, they were showing Ultimate Fighting Championships — yes UFC.