Branded Cattle Saloon

theindecisionpigeon

Looks like that "country-western" bar across from Beast is actually happening!

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/archives/2010/04/branded_cattle.php

Deborah Bicknese first applied for the liquor license for the space across the street from her Prospect Heights tapas bar, Beast, back in 2007. The vision for 603 Vanderbilt Avenue was of a country-and-western bar serving up brown liquors, craft beers, and fried Dixieland treats. A recent walk by the storefront revealed that construction is underway, and according to the State Liquor Authority, a license for the Branded Cattle Saloon was approved last week. Could the honky-tonk flag be flying by the summer?

deedee

Glad to hear this. I walked by yesterday and it looked nice inside

whatchuwant

I was in there last night (friends with one of the owners)- it's really cool, the downstairs is going to be awesome and the bathrooms are amazing!

I've volunteered my services to help them get the place together in the coming weeks. Everyone's very excited!

carnivore

Yay! And Way Station's opening is also imminent.

MORE BARS IN MORE PLACES!

whatchuwant

Oh, yea and the Saloon will have food, too!

I also spoke to the owner of Way Station last night, as well! Yes, the word is "soon."

Please patronize both places (won't be too difficult)- they've all worked SO hard to get these bars up and running during an incredibly difficult financial climate. They deserve to have their businesses succeed.

whatchuwant

Bump.

Opening May 27th.

Place looks great. I took pictures last night that should appear in TONY sometime next week.

jack krohn

Wow, that's great news. Thanks for the update. I will definitely give this place a try.

karl the druid

vanderbilt...

more theme bars in more places

whynot_31

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2010/05/prospect_height_9.php#comments

whatchuwant

Bump. Again.

Opened tonight- bring yo cowboy hat! :thumright:

carnivore

I was kind of underwhelmed food-wise on my first visit. Hopefully it was just opening night missteps. Great space though, and I love the player-piano in the back room. I'll be sure to give them another try soon.

anthonycm

I'm going to try to swing by after work to see what their bourbon selection is. Maybe I'll see one or two of you there.

mundaypaul

Carnivore wrote: I was kind of underwhelmed food-wise on my first visit. Hopefully it was just opening night missteps. Great space though, and I love the player-piano in the back room. I'll be sure to give them another try soon.

Agree. Hopefully they will get the kinks worked out and offer more food selections on the menu? Pretty good draught beer selection though!

brookfetish

anthonycm wrote: I'm going to try to swing by after work to see what their bourbon selection is. Maybe I'll see one or two of you there.

It's weak. Right now, they really only have Hirsch. However, they do have a Hirsch corn whiskey that is very interesting.

xlizellx

mundaypaul wrote: Pretty good draught beer selection though!

what do they have?

jack krohn

My wife and I went tonight. Pretty decent tap selection, much more interesting than that at Woodwork. The food, while nothing amazing, was pretty solid bar food. The space is cool, especially the back and lower level. Also, they have a pool table, which I'm sure will please the gamblers.

One corner to go in order to reach the sublime state of "Four Corners of Bars"!

ltjbukem

well woodwork has no beers on draft, right?

so isn't heineken on tap 'much more interesting' than anything woodwork would have to offer?

architecture biscuit

ltjbukem wrote: well woodwork has no beers on draft, right?

so isn't heineken on tap 'much more interesting' than anything woodwork would have to offer?

Yup.

But I think Woodwork has a nice selection of bottles.
http://www.woodworkbk.com/?page=beer



I'm excited to try out Branded, but I probably won't make it in there till the middle of next week.

carnivore

Woodwork just got their taps today. Magner's, Goose Island IPA, Guinness, Czechvar, Hoegarden and Bud (necessary for their World Cup tie-in).

mundaypaul

what do they have?

Dogfish Head 60 minute peaked my interest, but I recall them having Fire Island, and a few other craft beers... guess I'll have to go back to get the full list!

whatchuwant

mundaypaul wrote: [quote=Carnivore]I was kind of underwhelmed food-wise on my first visit. Hopefully it was just opening night missteps. Great space though, and I love the player-piano in the back room. I'll be sure to give them another try soon.

Agree. Hopefully they will get the kinks worked out and offer more food selections on the menu? Pretty good draught beer selection though!

This isn't going to be a foodie spot, so I think you're expectations are a bit high. Good solid bar food, nothing more, nothing less.

thinkdream

i was there last night. the pool table is great. glad to have a bar in the area with one. i did like the wings, too but at 1am during drinking most anything tastes pretty good- so don't take my word for it. met some interesting folk at the pool table and had an overall good time.

withachaser

wow! the physical space: front, back, and lower level, evidences a huge measure of creativity and craft. and i'm not just saying that 'cause i'm an enthusiastic beast supporter! all that warm wood; couches in the back; pool table downstairs; outdoor area..and the vibe, at least on my two visits, was a true mix of the 'hood. and, everyone all about enjoying the great addition to vanderbilt. the food? i didnt get a chance to try, but it looks like they are aspiring to really good bar eats. as in, this is a bar that serves damn good food, not a restaurant that happens to have a great bar. however, the looks of the fries coming out sunday night made we wish i had gotten them as a salad before heading to beast for dinner;-)

smokin joe

spent the better part of a very pleasant afternoon there yesterday: dogfish ipa on tap, a booth in the front and late afternoon sun shining in. we weren't there to eat but the fries looked good. some of the faux western decor was pretty cheesy -- dumb signs about guns and horses and the bathroom sink in a barrel. pool table is ok but not full-size, which they didn't have room for. jukebox (or ipod?) alternated inexplicably between a good selection of classic country (cash, willie nelson, etc.) and schlock like survivor.

any word on live music? that (and more dogfish) would go a long way to compensating for the lapses in decor.

poppy13

checked out the place on Sunday... they've got some kinks to work out but got to love the Yuengling on draft. Also they freeze the pint glasses. Makes for a great beer on hot days.

whatchuwant

Just curious, Poppy- what were the kinks?

poppy13

Sorry about the dup-post. Told me I couldn't post again, but yet it did anyway.

I ordered the fried green tomatoes, which took a little time and 1 tomato was red (the other green). Don't mean to sound like an old fart, but the music was a bit loud for mid-day ... I like to be able to talk not shout. The DJ was doing a great job mixing it up... hope they have him on all the time. The cheese fries weren't not all cooked and the cheese had gotten cold (all gross chucky, instead of nice melted).

All places start a bit rough around the edges, this place will do well. Looking forward to playing pool there soon.

ltjbukem

i was there on sunday too. and yes, the music is way too loud.

brookfetish

BrookFetish wrote: [quote=anthonycm]I'm going to try to swing by after work to see what their bourbon selection is. Maybe I'll see one or two of you there.

It's weak. Right now, they really only have Hirsch. However, they do have a Hirsch corn whiskey that is very interesting.

Last time I went, they had added more bourbons. A strange selection, but there are more.

carnivore

The owners have definitely been listening to all the feedback, and I see the place continuing to improve with time.

They are now doing 25-cent wings on Tuesday nights, and the wings have gotten better.

Pro tip: order them "extra crispy"

anthonycm

25-cent wings on Tuesdays, and you tell us this on Wednesday??? Damn you, Carnivore! DAMN YOU!!!