Studio Square new Beer Garden

[jillian]

are there any tv's outside at the new beer garden? are there a good amount inside? i wanted to check this place out tomorrow, but i'll be with some mets fans who want to be able to watch some of the game. i know the other one doesn't have any.

[daisy]

I have a new favorite spot in Astoria!!!!  Goodbye Beer Garden, hello Studio Square!!!  Of course, I'm sure this place will be overrun in a few weeks, but at least there are more choices in Astoria for good old outdoor fun.  This place is huge.  I love it, from the decor to the service, top notch.   Yeah, it's a little pricier, but honestly, when you compare it to what you get at the other beer garden, this place is worth it.  I don't drink beer but they do make Sangria, so we got two pitchers and I'm very tipsy as I write this..... Woohoo!!! hahahha Sangria's 25 dollars a pitcher, very strong and lots of fruit, and beer pitchers are 18.  All the food is 8 dollars I think.  No table service but lines weren't long and they have plenty of friendly staff on hand.  There's a big fire pit which is really cool but all these young lovers were getting all romantic over there.  The indoors is nice too, but everyone was outside, it was crowded but there were still seats available and not nearly as crowded as the other beer garden.  I'm a big fan of Cavo and these guys definitely know how to run a successful business.  There was a lot of thought that went into this space and it's just beautiful. 

[bengalsnyc]

are there any tv's outside at the new beer garden? are there a good amount inside? i wanted to check this place out tomorrow, but i'll be with some mets fans who want to be able to watch some of the game. i know the other one doesn't have any.

Yes, a few TVs inside at the bar and another TV at the outside bar.  No TVs out in the beer garden area outside though.  Would be an interesting idea. 

Went last night right after work, the place is HUGE.  Very spacious inside and out.  Great beer and food (bratwurst, angus burger) were really good.  Another big difference b/w the two gardens is this new one has 16 individual bathrooms (8 men, 8 women).  Might seem like a small detail but making them individual makes things a bit more sanitary and easier to clean.  Things got pretty dicey at the old beer garden in this respect.

Competition is good and I think Studio Square has definitely raised the bar in terms of an outdoor drinking space.

[megc]

I was there the other night and thought it was fabulous.  They have done a really good job with the space, both inside and out.  Love all the wood (they built those picnic tables up on the 5th floor of the building), the fire pit, all the indoor and courtyard space, the beer selection, the option of sangria.  The number of tap areas is a plus, too.

I love their french fries!  And the sausages.  I expect this will give the Bohemian beer garden some competition, which can only be a good thing; this place is closer to the city and Brooklyn on the N, which I am sure would be appealing to those coming into town (and those of us coming home from work in the city).  I hope that Studio Square's success is enough to wake up the management at Bohemian so they understand that they are no longer the only game in town, and that is will encourage them to improve some the things that they do not do very well (like table service and how they get the food/drink to patrons).

I am looking forward to spending some time there with my fellow Astorians this summer!

[Mer]

So, my guy and I checked this place out on Saturday night. Actually, enigmacat and I tried to check it out on Friday night while we were out on a walk, but I didn't have my ID on me so they wouldn't let me in.   

Anyway, we were only there for 45 minutes or so, as we came just to get a beer each and dinner, but it was quite a pleasant experience.  As others have said, it's a very nice place.  I love the layout, the decor, ambiance, etc. were all exactly what I hope for.  We both got hamburgers and fries ($10 each) and damn, those are some tasty hamburgers.  Also, they have two kinds of mustard.  I'm not usually a mustard fan, but they had a spicy sweet brown mustard that I tried and it's AWESOME.  Seriously, this stuff would go so well with those $3 pretzels.

So, we didn't stick around long since we only decided to have a beer each, but we comment that we look forward to bringing our friends here as it's a natural environment for group outings. 

Lastly, as we walked out I decided to locate a manager and ask if we could have a look at their event space.  I'm still at a loss of what to do for my wedding and it'd be nice to keep it in Astoria if it were at all affordable.  The space upstairs is HUGE and could easily accommodate a party of a few hundred.  My party will hopefully be under 100, but they said could rearrange the space with partitions to break it up.  The space has its own bar, a coat room, a bridal room, and it opens door open up to it's own private wrap-around deck that overlooks the garden.  They're still working on the space, but it looks promising.  The only downside for me is that they don't have their own built-in stereo system, so you're forced to bring in your own DJ or band.  Oh, and one more thing, the space is very much sound proof.  I could hardly hear the music and chattering from below.

[RayG]

Well, if it gets all those good reviews, and more people mention how it isn't "too crowded"... there's a kiss of death and it will be a wall-to-wall sweatfest on a hot July night... So maybe then the BH can go back to a locals traditional Biergarten...

[tazmccar]

I was there last night and loved everything about the place except for one major thing. The music. It was awful. Annoying, soulless, lounge-y junk. I hope they wise up on that front soon.

[eblack]

Well, if it gets all those good reviews, and more people mention how it isn't "too crowded"... there's a kiss of death and it will be a wall-to-wall sweatfest on a hot July night... So maybe then the BH can go back to a locals traditional Biergarten...

So, should people keep talking it up or should people try to keep it safe for locals and say it's awful.   

[Oodus]

I was there Saturday afternoon and a bit later that night.  Very nice place, really fun.  I believe the outdoor part (with benches) is a tad smaller than the "old" Beer Garden, but the inside part is massive.  They also have a huge deck outside which got packed when the benches were full.  There was more than enough space.

I think the price are a bit higher ($18 pitcher of Spaten apart from B.G.'s $15) but it was such a fun time, I didn't care.  Food looked great, too (I didn't have any since I had lunch beforehand).  The bathrooms are a trip.  Eight bathrooms for men and eight for women, but no stalls - each is their own room.  Although I never endorse it, one could take a #2 if they had an emergency.  Very private.  Choosing the bathroom is like a game, checking to see which door is locked before you find an open one.  My record is one locked before I found an open one, my worst is four.

[maura]

I was there last night and loved everything about the place except for one major thing. The music. It was awful. Annoying, soulless, lounge-y junk. I hope they wise up on that front soon.

yeah, i was there friday and saturday and loved almost everything, but the music was pretty abysmal. meat loaf, 'aquarius' from hair, 'we are the champions' and 'we will rock you' played in reverse order ... yipes!

[edava]

So, should people keep talking it up or should people try to keep it safe for locals and say it's awful.   

Actually, it SUCKS! The food sucks, the music sucks, there's definitely not enough space. IT ALL SUCKS@! Don't go there.

[sorabji]

I approached S² on Sunday about 7pm when a guy stumbled out of the place and vomited onto the street. It looked too much like the Bohemian Beer Garden for me so I took a pass, but everyone I know who has been in there says it's glorious. Overpriced but glorious. I'll try it on a weekday afternoon when the amateurs are still in their offices.

[edhopper]

Actually, it SUCKS! The food sucks, the music sucks, there's definitely not enough space. IT ALL SUCKS@! Don't go there.

You are talking to outsiders, not us local, right?

[Pulled pork]

Love the new beer garden.  Great space.  Thought the burger was dense and not too tasty.  Bun was dense and sweet.  The fries though were pretty darn good.  Same for the horseradish mustard.  Beer was beer and ok.  Will definitely go back to hang out.

[liman73]

Can't wait to check it out!