This bar is so cute. The place is ice cold and it's hot outside, so it's an welcome treat. The staff are so nice, drinks are great, and the food is really tasty. I had a goat cheese sandwich and bourbon chocolate cake-yum! We've brought friends there, so it can hold a group, if need be. They have an outside patio, and plenty of space for standing. Looking forward to going again soon.
Review Source:We came here with a Gilt certificate.
Awesome service, the bartender was super nice and had that magical gift to know just when you were ready for another drink order. We were bummed at first that we couldn't sit outside, but had a great date night at the bar.
Meat/Cheese plates were perfect to snack on with our cocktails.
Love this dark but roomy 'burg bar for its awesomely crafted cocktails -- try the Millionaire, don't be scared by the many spirits, it was exactly as described: deep and not sweet red berries.
Sitting at the bar you will get things done faster, since the tables along the side do not have table service, it's just bar service. Skip the lackluster charcuterie for some of the yummy cheeses. Very friendly bartenders. Just wish they had a waitress or two. But I'll surely be back. Great spot to bookmark and would work for groups, since there's a lot of room.
I love this place! Â I used to live a few blocks away, but moved further up into Greenpoint and then to Astoria. Â I still take the train and 2 buses to get here because it is that good!
They have an old-school speakeasy kind of vibe. Â There is a lot of dark wood, fancy wallpaper and fancy drinks! Â The bartenders even do the whole slicked-back hair, white shirt and vest type thing.
They have a great cocktail menu with a lot of variety (and beer & wine too). Â Cocktails will run you $9-12, but you get the same quality and booze-content as a place like PDT or the Flatiron Lounge for less dough. Â I have never had a bad drink or experience here.
On my most recent visit (3-days ago), I tried some of their meat and cheeses and those were very tasty as well. Â The bartender was fairly new to The Richardson, but he fit right in by A. making expert cocktails B. being friendly and C. being quite handsome *wink wink*.
Had a birthday party here a few years ago and was able to get a section for me and my friends - no muss, no fuss, no minimums. Â It was the least stressful birthday I've ever had! Â Note to self - have next birthday at The Richardson!
Although they'll serve your jack & coke in a highball glass, which is an unforgivable sin, this is still a great place to hang out and my favorite bars in the area. Interesting, appetizer-style bar food but limited meal selection, excellent cocktails, and a classy if limited beer selection makes this a worthy choice.
Their location moderately away the hipster hotspots in Williamsburg and Bushwick mean the vibe is much less crowded. Patio seats are wonderful when it's warm and dry out, and the interior is classy as heck even if the music is too loud. All around an excellent place to start and/or finish your night out.
I never start my nights out at the Richardson, but I always somehow end up here, snuggled up on a dark wood bench, sipping a French 75 or Damson Fizz. It's the perfect end to an evening - relatively quiet, relaxing, with friendly bartenders and beautiful decor.
And if you're hungry, the goat cheese or prosciutto sandwiches are excellent.
Not sure what's the point anymore in yelping something with over 100 reviews. Â But here goes.
Great place. Â Nice bartenders and of course great uniforms! Â Seemed like a hidden gem because it wasn't that busy and its in a kind of hard to reach spot of Williamsburg. Â Check it out, much less busy than the main strip of Bedford and its neighboring streets.
My top pick bar in Brooklyn!
The house barrel whiskey is Kentucky's Buffalo Trace. Order this and enjoy it as you listen to sweet jazz tunes.
Extensive whiskey & scotch menu AND there's food. I haven't tried any yet but would like to give a sandwich there a whirl (particularly the one w hummus & hard-boiled eggs).
Everytime I'm here I feel like I'm transported to another time, and I like being transported (or it could be a result of the whiskey or scotch).
Hardcore date spot and very romantic, so suitors, bring your mate here and have the magic unfold.
I've been here twice now...and still I like this place. It's definitely hipster. The drinks are good. The atmosphere is cool and not overly crowded. It's like you're in a jazz house where people are just chilling in groups and hanging out.
I even like the little corner of the world in which this place resides. The atmosphere and drinks are definitely what makes it fun here. It's totally chill.
Ah yes, classy neighborhood bar in the heart of Williamsburg! I love the bartender's outfit: Suit shirts and ties - so hip!
If you come here, you obviously come for the drinks. Which are exactly what I am looking for! They provide a solid cocktail list, and these cocktails taste great. Just watching the crew mix them is impressive by itself.
Aside from good drinks, the Richardson offers some well-tasting side dishes and sammiches. I liked their baby spinach and fennel salad.
Be aware that this place will be slammed on a weekend night out. I prefer getting here early or going during the week.
This place often gets overlooked. It's located yards away from the noisy BQE, there isn't much on the outside that says how cool it is inside, but once you walk in, you immediately realize it's a diamond in the ruff.
It's got this sort of prohibition era feel to it. Some of the tables are simply wooden barrels with a couple of bar stools around them. There are also wooden tables against the tastefully decorated walls, with classy wallpaper, dim lighting, and shiny, dark wood surfaces.
The cocktails are legendary here. In terms of food, the appetizers and small plates are tasteful and range widely. I would say this is an ideal place to enjoy an aperitif to set the mood for the rest of the night with your date.
Cleanest taps in all the beer drinking land. If you're a beer drinker, apparently this is totally important.
Cocktails pack a punch. My choice bev was the Konik Tonic, I was buzzin off of two. Standard prices @ $10 a pop.
AC inside. But on a hot to humid day, the patio is where it's at. Outdoor burger grillin during the summertime. Didn't get one but they looked tasty. Left wishing I had ordered one.
Was kind of hard to order a drink and pay my tab but whatevs.
Live music on Sundays.
I had a birthday gathering at The Richardson and the whole experience went so smoothly, from the initials e-mails with the manager to the super attentive server the night of. They're an extremely accommodating bunch and will make your night stress-free.
If you're thinking about hosting a party there, I highly recommend contacting them a few weeks in advance. It's a great, classy space on a quiet strip of East Williamsburg. Â The drinks are very, very strong. Not all of them were up my alley, but they offer a huge range so everyone in your group will have something to try. It's a speakeasy without the pretension complete with a chill crowd and friendly bartenders and servers.
Really you should start you night here... but for some odd reason I always find myself ending it here... maybe cause they are so cool about push last call to the last possible moment.
Anyways, if you are looking for a chill spot with some ill drinks, this is it. Great service, super knowledgeable, good drinks.
On the day that we headed to the Richardson, the Twitter exchange between Colin S., The Richardson, and I looked something like this:
Me: Just looked at The Richardson's cocktail menu & I want one of everything.
Colin: We could make that happen!
The Richardson: Good choice! *
Oh boy.
Colin was waiting for me when I got there, drink in hand. Â "You need to catch up!" a friendly bartender joked with me. Â Scanning the interior of the bar (there is also an outdoor seating area, but it was way too hot to think about drinking outside), I noticed beautiful wallpaper, the wooden floor, furniture, and bar area, and the numerous bottles of bitters placed at the bar. Â The bar is spacious and although sophisticated, has a very approachable and welcoming quality to it.
On a scorching hot summer day, there's nothing as refreshing as a gin-based cocktail. Â The Singapore Sling, a cocktail made of gin, lemon juice, Angostura and Regan's Bitters did the trick. Â The orange bitters and lime juice really packed a tangy, citrus flavor. Â This is what I affectionately refer to as a "Patio Pounder" - the type of drink that is so refreshing on a hot summer day with dubious alcohol content (until you stand up and feel that pang of dizziness).
For the second round, I ordered a Jack Rose - the bartender told me it was one of his favorite drinks to make and that I would not feel as though the apple brandy was overpowering on such a hot day. Â The lime juice and grenadine did a great job of making for a refreshing and smooth, yet strong cocktail.
Because it was in our best interest to eat something after drinking 100 proof apple brandy, the two of us shared the Beer Drinker's Platter. Â Fortunately, this platter was also the perfect accompaniment for non-beer drinkers. Â Colin ate most of the pickles, but I was in heaven picking at the Cabot Clothbound Cheddar cheese. Â This was one of those hard, extra-sharp, stinky (read: amazing) cheeses. Â There were also crunchy pretzels served with a zesty mustard that also helped mitigate the effects of any drinking.
In summary, I was a bit ambitious to think I could take on the drink menu in a single visit, but I'll be back to eventually accomplish this noble feat.
* Yes, the bar definitely intervened on Twitter.
We went to the Richardson specifically for outdoor seating, under the mistaken impression they had a backyard/ courtyard set up. We arrived and saw some tables on the sidewalk, no one at them, and reconsidered. We walked inside and only two people were there, and I thought, OK, holiday weekend, this place is dead, let's go.
I'm so glad we stayed.
The bartenders were so friendly and knowledgeable. I don't even know what I drank. I just described what I was in the mood for and something delicious arrived.
The food was delicious. For $10, you get a sandwich, a good-sized salad and two deviled eggs. I egged out with sliced eggs, hummus and harissa, and John got what he said might've been the best ham and cheese of his life on raisin bread.
The decor is beautiful and the other patrons (who began to filter in as we ate) were a friendly, fun crew. I was wearing my most comfy T-shirt, from New Orleans, which led to a long conversation with some regulars who love NOLA, then trading emails ...
I think we have a new favorite in Williamsburg.
I wanted to be obsessed with this place. I wanted it to be a space I could go gaga over.
I visited the Richardson on a Saturday night (maybe my first mistake?) and was pretty underwhelmed. It's a big beautiful space and the amount of room is pretty awesome. The decor is fine and the bartenders are funny and easy on the eyes... and yet, the drinks underwhelmed me (I didn't even finish mine and took sips of my friends' choices and was still pretty "meh,") the ambience wasn't incredible, and it was pretty noisy.
Perhaps I'm an old lady in a 20-something's body but give me a tiny bar with a great drink where I can hear the person I'm sitting next to any day.
This place is the cat's meow. Why the throwback compliment, you ponder? It's high praise for this throwback of a place. The whole vibe is from another era ... or eras really, dishing out Old-Fashioned's, vintage interiors, anachronistic-yet-still-hipsterish bartender.
It's a mix of old-timey things, and it all seems to work, though I am basing this assessment after having more than a couple of their perfect cocktails.
It was midday on a Saturday when we popped in, and the whole bar had patrons sitting it at. The bartender was super smiley and friendly and handled the complex drinks and slightly-demanding crowd with aplomb. He was loving his job, which is always nice to see.
This place is not without its lil' challenges. The cocktail menu is so elaborate that it can't help but take the one bartender time to whip them up (so prepare to wait if your goal is only to get your drink on), and the lighting appears to be near-non-existent in any area other than the bar (again, this was midday, the sun was out, but it only lit up so much, the table we sat at was in darkness).
But, again, minor issues. This place is a near-gem. Drink.
I've been wanting to check out the Richardson for some time now. Unfortunately I'm hardly ever in that part of Williamsburg. A friend and I decided to take a trip for a post dinner drink. It was around 9ish on a Saturday night and the place was particularly busy.
The decor is cute. Reminiscent of the now typical 20's "speakeasy-ish "look. But for me it was a bit lacking. Felt they could have done more with the space, but I guess they wanted to keep the space a bit open for crowds. I started the night with a Manhattan, and it was surprisingly stronger than I'm sued to. Same with the Sazerac I ordered afterwards. Normally I wouldn't mind potent drinks, but when i go to a cocktail bar I go for the taste of the drink rather than the strength. Two classic cocktails sub-par. Granted the prices aren't so bad, but there are plenty of places that can give me a well done cocktail for the same price in the neighborhood.
I've read good things about the food so I want to give them another chance. Hopefully my drinks will taste better next time.
Was in the area yesterday and it was a beautiful day, so I pulled out my handy iPhone, did a quick Yelp search, and .2 miles later, found myself at the doors of the Richardson. Â
Job well done, Yelp.
I couldn't have stumbled upon a better spot for some daytime drinking. I'm a bourbon drinker, but seeing as it was before 5, I tried the seelbach, which is a bourbon cocktail that involved sparkling wine. I'm not normally one for cocktails involving bubbles, but the bartender deeeefinitely steered me right on this one. Second drink was a bourbon neat, can't remember the name of it, but it was something I'd never had before, and was really well balanced, not too sweet. (at this point it was after 5, so I was in the clear) The outdoor area is a great place to relax with a drink. Â I'd also be fine drinking inside, as it's definitely got a nice decor, but yesterday was way too nice to stay in. Another thing I really like is that the location is not in the heart of hipster land, so it doesn't feel like you're drowning in the brooklyn scene.
I'll definitely return for more spirit-ed goodness, and next time I'll try some food of their menu.
Nice ambiance. The gin-cured gravlax platter was pretty good for $12, and you could really taste the gin.
The Jack Rose cocktail I ordered was terrible, it was so viscous with grenadine that you couldn't taste the applejack or the lime juice. When I gently asked to send it back and the waitress said, "Didn't you know it was a sweet drink?" I explained that I expected it to be sweet, but not like this. She took it back.
I would give this place 3.5. cocktails are definitely quality however for a tiny girl like me. it's a little bit stronger side. I guess I wouldn't complain when you pay what's worth.
It's a good place for group dinner/drinks. they have few intimate tables for date as well.
If i am around the area, i would check it out !
I love the Richardson.
I had my birthday here last weekend, and even though I didn't reserve the back room for the occasion, the waitress and bartender both insisted I take it, and on helping me get it set up for my guests. I don't ever expect overwhelmingly friendly and helpful service around here (Williamsburg), but when I get it it's always welcome and appreciated, especially when coming from an extremely sexy bar staff. It made my birthday that much more special. So, thanks for that, Richardson.
Of course it goes without saying the cocktails are spectacular, and I always like to fill up on one of their appetizer plates with a friend - we always do the 5 for $25 and a selection of four delicious gourmet cheeses and their delicious olive salad. And the bread they serve it with is phenomenal; always toasted to perfection and refilled for free if you need it (just ask). A little brie on their cinnamon raisin is pretty tight.
One of my favorite speakeasies in the city. Have you ever had a French 75? If not, go get yours there. NOW.
Holy, OH. I love this bar.
The ambiance is extremely cozy, and the bartenders are ridiculously hot.
Don't worry, Juan, the dishwasher, you make the cut too. You're hot in a chipotle counter boy kind of way.
They have a nice patio out back, which would probably be best suited not in the middle of November.
The reason why I love this place so much is that, their old fashioned is the most amazing old fashioned I've ever tasted. And it is STIFF.
I remember telling my buddies that I felt sober still.. And then I got up.
And then I started talking to some homeless man on the subway.
And then I started screaming, at random people saying "HEY, isn't this the longest walk you've ever had EVER in your entire life?!".
Nothing but good nights here, nothing. I can't wait to come back in the summer.
Most of my dates end successfully. I don't say this to brag. It's the truth. An excruciatingly stylish, painfully handsome, impossibly classy gent like me has a hard time failing in seduction. It's my art. It's my burden, too, I know. We all have one to bear. Yours is probably something else.
One key tactic - aside from nice teeth and well-groomed sideburns - to unlocking an incessantly-winning track record like mine is selecting the right joint to work the craft on a date. I frequently tell my disciples to pick a relaxed atmosphere, an upscale experience, something not flashy. Divulge your refined sense of taste but don't flaunt it, I say.
Time and time again, I lure a dame to the Richardson, a relaxed, upscale, but not flashy bar with good house drinks and a small but well-developed menu. Because it's the only game I have, I ask, "have you ever heard about Yelp"? And they say "Yeah." And I say "I occasionally write reviews on Yelp."
"Are you a writer?" she typically asks. "Like a Chaucer of chow, Balzac of bites, the Rabelais of regional restaurant reviews," I respond, regardless of what she actually asked. Chicks dig guys who can read books or reference lyrics from the Broadway hit The Music Man, which I just did.
Doe-eyed and already breathless from impending mental exhaustion, the date inevitably asks for recommendations. "One word for you, sister," I say. "Gravlax Platter."
Soon we're ordering deviled eggs and pickles. I try to eat only 3 of the 4 eggs on the plate. We alternate turns stabbing briny cucumbers with our toothpicks. Things really heat up and it's on to cheeses. Maybe cured meats too, if she's not said something about not eating animals because of "ethical principles", a common Williamsburg type. Who has time for principles? Neither one of us has breath to be shared in polite company after these small plates. All standards are out the door. Game on.
I think I'm pacing myself over a few Big Red One cocktails but really, you can't. They're too potent. I'm using the smoothest conversational skills. I escalate, going for the kill.
"I have a bicycle," I say. Â
"Oh," she says. "That's... nice."
"I work in the arts industry and often with non-profits, trying to do good for the disadvantaged rather than profit purely by gaming the financial system." Â
She checks her phone to look for that bail-out call or text from her friends.
I continue on, ask about her family, where she's from, what her most traumatic childhood memory is, what she would do if the zombie apocalypse happened tomorrow, and how many times she's seen Scarface.
Having completely worn her down, I make my move. She rejects it. I accept the new challenge.
"Can I call you?"
"No," she says.
"What if I email you?"
"No, not that either."
"How about Facebook? Can I..."
"No."
"Right. You find me," I say, "Let me give you my name." And I spell out my 11 character, unfortunately too-Polish last name. She's stopped paying attention at the "szew" part. I don't know why it's not a considered a sexy ethnic group to the average American, like the Bulgarians are, in spite of radiant counterexamples such as myself. Â
In the case that she's not sneaked out the bathroom window or alternate exit by now, she gets up at this point. Holding back tears as she reflects on that childhood memory I dredged up before, as she walks for the door and leaves me to pay the check, violently, aimlessly, swatting at the air in a way I read as an aroused goodbye wave, I think about how I'm going to cyberstalk her tomorrow.
Broseph, let me tell you, I am so good at this.
Most Saturday nights, all I want to do is curl up on my couch with a white wine spritzer, watch Nights in Rodanthe and have a good cry.
But if that's not happening, The Richardson is a close second. The bar is beautiful, the staff is friendly and the entire place is much, much classier than the clientele (me) and the prices ($9 cocktails and $5 pints) would have you believe.
I have a crush on The Richardson.
It must be said that for certain bar components - Â say, green damask wallpaper, dark wood paneling and a Scotch-forward cocktail menu - I absolutely swoon. The same aesthetic that keeps me going to pricey pubs like Raines Law Room is applied more modestly here, and the ripple effect of a little bit of temperance - say, $9 cocktails and no doortitude - is endearing as hell.
More than just a pretty face, Rich is no slouch behind the bar. The bartenders (I'm not sure, but I think they might take offense at the term 'mixologist'), in rolled-up-sleeves and sleeve tattoos, deliver hard-hitting, second-to-none, single-malt-based mixtures that make me - I've no apter words - very, very happy.
This is one classy joint.
With $9 cocktails that could knock out a hippopotamus, helpful tattooed bartenders in vests and shirtsleeves, beautiful vintage wallpaper, moody lighting, thoughtfully designed and sparkling clean bathrooms, and a cool, slightly older crowd, I'm going to go ahead and say that The Richardson is my favorite bar in Brooklyn. The prices scare my somewhat-employed-former-art-student-self, but you get serious bang for your buck, and anyway...every time I've come here I've been taken care of. I think the warm, late-1950s interior has something to do with this rash of generosity, as our bartender also brought over two free drinks for the big spenders in our group. If you go (and you must), get your inner Don Draper or Joan Holloway on. Wear something snappy, order a glass of aged Whiskey or an Old-Fashioned, and it'll be a night to remember.
I had heard tons of great things about this bar and had been avoiding a visit in fear that I'd be sorely disappointed. Finally, the chance arose to start a drunken pilgrimage to Graham and Richardson from Pete's Candy Store. We stumbled over with a wonderful crew, and it was history.
As Mo has said, these drinks are STRONG. You are definitely getting your $9.00 worth at this joint. The $9.00 also pays for the ambiance. It's a classy, beautiful bar and the staff follow that route as well. They are dressed in white shirts and black vests, sleeves rolled up to show off their very Williamsburg tattoos.
When I went I tried the Brooklyn and the Old Fashioned, of which I preferred the Old Fashioned. I think it was the Dry Vermouth in the Brooklyn that kind of turned me off. These drinks were made with such care. I hadn't seen such devoted bartenders in a long while. The man and I scored a free shot of some very fine whiskey as he knew one of the bartenders. It was after that shot, which came after the Brooklyn, where things get fuzzy.
You know you had a good time when your boyfriend tells you that you were requesting that people touch your bum, and that you were discovered passed out half on the bed. I remember having a great time, but it's what I don't remember that seals the deal. Thanks you, Richardson!
Not to steal Ethan C's review, but this place did kind of make me want to rock a fedora, smoke a Lucky Strike, and degrade women. I have a fedora... now I just need to take up smoking and learn to dis' the lassies.
The Richardson does have a great interior--- it falls somewhere in the middle of classy midtown bar and a speakeasy. Love the wallpaper (I hear it's making a comeback)!
Sipped an Old Fashioned and it was stuhhh-rong. The type of drink you nurse while immersed in good conversation... and don't expect to be interrupted... this was not a rub-elbows-with-your-neighbors bar, so bring your own date, your own conversation, and your own fedora.
The Richardson is the bar that every neighborhood needs. Â
Imagine a bar in the spirit (ugh, pun not intended) of the recent prohibition-era speakeasy explosion, but without all the fuss. Â The Richardson is not a speakeasy--it has a sign on the door, and big windows you can see through from the street. Â To get in, you're not required to make a reservation using an unlisted number, pass through a phone booth, or troll a subterranean alleyway. Â You just go! Â How novel!
And once you're there, you're in for a truly lovely evening. Â While not as plush and detailed as its local competitor Hotel Delmano, the Richardson is well-appointed with Damask-patterned wallpaper, dark mahogany paneling and frosty vintage-style (though I think not actual vintage) light fixtures. Â Our server was super friendly and nice (a sad rarity in high-end cocktail bars), and very helpful in recommending drinks from the balanced cocktail list.
And the drinks!! Â Really excellent, easily rivaling their fancier contemporaries, even without hand-chiseled ice. Â I loved my Scottish Dew, a refreshing cucumber-y Scotch-based cocktail, as well as the signature drink, the Richardson Aperitif, made with Campari and grapefruit juice. Â Now, ladies and gentlemen, here's the kicker--all of these expertly-made and delicious-tasting drinks will run you just NINE DOLLARS. Â You heard me. Â No, you did not just step back in time to 1998--one Alexander Hamilton (with change!) is all it takes. Â
I feel like somebody finally got it right, here. Â Quality drinks, nice people and a pleasant environment, without forcing you to eat ramen for the rest of the month. Â I'm super jealous of Kaelea A and her proximity to the Richardson--if I lived around the corner, I'd be here four nights a week, minimum.
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