My wife born and bred in Brooklyn was a steady presence in this establishment. I had take our and finally visited and enjoyed my experience. Karaoke to max and good food attractive bartenders and dj spinning good music in between. Dive bar feel but essence of elegance! read more

See all

Fun place to drink. I recommend the honey essence wings. They do karaoke nights, comedy nights, etc. read more

See all

Idk what that God forsaken smell is in that place but it's overwhelming. Smells like cigars , mothballs n must all at once . Like it's so strong you have to get drunk to forget it's so bad . Please get more male bartenders or just people that are friendly because the women that worked last night absolutely sucked . There was one with a short cut n a poker face like girl calm Down you chose to work here . Also the guy that comes for karaoke complained we were singing too many songs and we weren't tipping !!! Like bruh you don't ask for a tip & complain about us singing on KARAOKE NIGHT !!!!!!!! read more

Food - 3.5 Service - 4 Ambiance- 3 5 For years I've lived a few blocks away from this place but never contemplated going in. I was judging the book by the cover and it didn't seem to be my vibe. My friend suggested we check it out when we couldn't find another late night spot to go to. Lucky for us it was comedy night and they had at least one really good comedian who had us laughing her entire set. The food was surprisingly decent and I would probably order again. Not a fan of the decor or the everything wood color furniture and walls but outside of that it's an okay spot. I wouldn't rush to go back but I would definitely order the food as take out. We got the collard greens, wings, pasta and fries. read more

See all

They gonna make you a drink from these dirty glasses, and when they asked me if I wanted another drink and I said yes, they poured out like 3oz of beer into the sink. That doesn't even make sense lol. 3 stars bc I want to love this place - the vibes are old school Brooklyn and community focused, but bruh clean ur classes properly and let me finish my drink read more

Essence Bar - I love fingerprints and lipstick on my glass - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

EXPECT TO WAIT! There were 3 women behind the bar we did not get serviced any faster, on this Friday Night around 8pm. Neither did the 2 other tables. Since everyone else was basically sitting at the bar. Turns out, FRIDAY NIGHT IS KARAOKE NIGHT. it was cool. I liked R&B and Hip-Hop Playlist tho. It wasn't ratchet. An' There are multiple TV's , behind the bar, to watch the games. A plus. THE DRINKS ARE STRONG, not watered down. The food was okay. The catfish was clearly frozen and microwaved. We didn't feel like being arguing. Also, the patrons / crowd are much older. If they had better marketing, they can really get the young people in there. read more

Essence Bar - Shrimp tacos . - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Comfortable. Great service. Wonderful karaoke vibes. It has a very interesting layout but I'm here for It. read more

Don't judge a book by its cover! From the outside I thought the place was closed, gate was down, it was around 7pm on the weekend, called to be sure, they were open. Found parking in front, on Atlantic, scoreeee. Server was super personable, loved her personality, so attentive, customer service down to the man checking bags at the door was A1. Food was really good, flavorful, portions weren't too big but just right, left me wanting more lol. Drinks also really good. The vibe of this place was chill. It's a restaurant/bar. Gave girls night vibes. I came here with my mom to break bread for my 35th. Not mad about coming here. Gem is in the back/outdoor area. We checked out the outdoor area after eating to take pics, how cute is this garden gem, loveee. Can see it coming alive like if you threw an event etc. overall great dining experience, will come again. Thank you for your business! read more

Essence Bar - Thanks Ma for the dinner! Thanks cool waitress for taking our pics:) - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

I've been to this bar many times and thought the food was pretty good. I ordered on two consecutive nights and I'm highly disappointed. I ordered oxtails and for $23.00 the portion was tiny and I received a $3.00 credit because of it. The following night I ordered chicken wings that had no flavor and was overcooked. If I had eaten at the restaurant I would've sent both orders back. No more takeout from them again! Alfred S read more

They are not only unhygienic but their staff who's says she's the supervisor is extremely unprofessional, rude and ghetto. I ordered fried shrimp with French fries which apparently came with a side of hair. It doesn't matter how small, hair on food is a BIG NO! UBER EATS SUCKS and refused to help me! Then... I called to tell them about it and the supervisor told me that no one there has any hair. It could be public hair, and eyelash, hair from someone's arm who knows. And I'm pretty damn sure all the staff is not completely bald. As if to say I'm lying or making it up she then says I'm not disputing you, you're the customer. She placed me on hold then came back having a full conversation with someone else. I asked for the manager and of course she claims they weren't there. I will continue to call and post my review until they correct this. P.S. Doesn't this establishment screen their employees? I can get over how ghetto she was and how unprofessional she was/spoke. She needs som phone etiquette... Yikes! read more

Essence Bar - 6 Fried Shrimp and Fries with a side of hair - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

I ordered through uber eats. I love the food from essence bar. I ordered oxtail rice and peas..the only disappointment was the portion size versus the cost. It was a medium serving which also included cabbage. The stir fried cabbage was divine..it was so savory and well seasoned. I have came in ordered takeout. I got a fresh order of salmon rasta pasta. I can't wait until the Corona goes away and bars open back up. I would love to go come here with friends for drinks and food read more

- I write this simply because the wings have great re-heat value - I was eating them four days later and they still tasted as good as the first day - service is friendly and accommodating read more

Man the best chicken wings in the world. I just came here for the honey wings. Wings were well seasoned and made to perfection. Sad happy hr ends early now , happy hr is now from 12pm-6pm. I enjoy the mixture of music played , essence caters to a more mature audience. I suggest coming early so you can grab a seat by the bar. Essence is not an upscale restaurant, but don't judge a book by its cover. Essence is the only establishment that wasn't impacted by gentrification: feels like I'm sitting in a time capsule. read more

Essence Bar - 8 Honey Essence Wings - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Essence bar is a great local spot if your looking for a fun vibe without crowds of people. The owner is usually posted up making sure things run smoothly. They have a live band most Sundays and a DJ on Fridays. We went on a Friday and the DJ was playing 80s and 90s R&B with a little pop mixed in. It was such a fun time. We chatted with the bartenders and danced the night away. There's a large drink and cocktail menu or you can ask the bartender to make you something. The bathrooms are small but clean. You must show your ID and vaccine card at the door but the bar is really open with plenty of seating for larger groups. If you're in the crown heights area I recommend making Essence a stop on your bar hop night. read more

ESSENCE OUR FAVORITE DATE SPOT EVER! I fucken love this spot. The food is amazing there's hookah the vibes are good. I wish they had a loyalty card. read more

Food is excellent!!! Bartenders are very friendly. And comedy on Wednesday nights karaoke on Fridays live band on Sundays

really good but oxtail rasta pasta only had 3 tiny pieces. i guess the chef got hungry. in all seriousness though for almost 30 ($27) you guys can put more than $5 worth of oxtail on the plate read more

Essence Bar - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Will never order from here again. Went in to order a passion fruit margarita to go. The bartender insisted she knew how to make one but said we have to order food. Fine no problem. Ordered some wings. First of the margarita tasted like frozen juice. No liquor in this margarita what so ever. How does a bartender working in a bar not know how to make a margarita. Second of all they dont even give you a full cup. They are lucky i paid before i received the order and i was not in the mood to make a issue. read more

Essence Bar - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Love the ambiance. Friendly atmosphere. Love the music when they play. They need stable WiFi so I'm giving it 4 stars but everything else is good. Food is awesome read more

Nope, that's all i'll say. so I placed an order on ubereats & yes it was late but that's not really an excuse. I got the rasta pasta with grilled chicken. first issue was the pasta was dry you can see it through the container. next issue was there was no rasta in the pasta meaning no seasoning. I'm big on pasta so that bothered me but they actually have good prices. I'll give them another try just different meal. read more

This place has severely fallen from grace. I used to come here twice a week every week. However the owners made changes that's doing more harm then good. There is a plethora of new bartenders and waitresses who SUCK! They are rude, incompetent, sneaky and untalented. I could name a dozen other adjectives but I'll digress. Once the familiar faces disappeared into the abyss. I stopped coming. After a month hiatus, I decided to stop in on a Thursday for the late night happy hour. I ordered 4 apple martinis which are $6 each. I also ordered the $5 special chicken wings and a side of plantains. A. Every drink I received filled the glass at a different point. B. I waited 30 minutes with an empty glass before I was checked on or asked would I like another drink. While sitting at the bar. C. I was charged $10 each for these cheap ass house vodka drinks. The receipt had the nerve to say Smirnoff on them when that wasn't what was used. D. I received no utensils with my meal. I guess I'm barbarían. Also the chicken wings tasted off. Having had them more times than I can count. I was severely disappointed. What pissed me off the most is the bartender overcharging me for these drinks. Then when I brought it to her attention she's like "oh you wanted the special". Like Are you dumb? She has to get the manger to adjust the price. He says happy hour is over. I NEVER HEARD OF HAPPY HOUR BEING OVER ON THURSDAY NIGHT HERE. Not for the year that I have been coming. Either way 3/4 drinks were ordered before midnight and thus still supposed to be happy hour. I won't be coming back. Way to much competition to deal with nonsense. I always support black owned business. However I refuse to deal with bullshit. Another one bites the dust. read more

In the uncertain days of COVID-19, I really appreciated the cleanliness of this place. Utensils were spotless, surfaces where clear and clean. We came here because it was black owned and they have outback outdoor seating (instead of being on the street). Even when it drizzled, the umbrellas were big enough to cover us from the rain. Music was 95-2005 RnB & Soul (Ashanti, No Limit, Beyonce etc..) I especially loved seeing people come in and recognize other people in the community. This spot is golden. Oxtail pasta was superb! Food and drinks came quick but it was down time at 4:30-5pm. Longisland icetea was better the second time around. I will be returning and highly recommend this place if you are finally trying to take a break from the world and need to be surrounded by love, good people, & great food. read more

I love this spot; the food is nice, and it has an old school feel. The spot need a little upgrading but it has a family vibe and it's black-owned. Vey low key vibe and it feels great! read more

Essence Bar - Essence - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Pre corona we have been here 2 other times and always love to support Black Owned Businesses. Will definitely be back. Enjoyed the outdoor dining experience. The shrimp and fries has a tasty sauce on the then, next time I will request extra sauce . Love all the options of Cocktails as well. Quick question how does the points program mentioned on the receipt work? read more

Essence Bar - Spicy & Sweet Shrimp and French fries - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I ended up ordering from this place after searching in UberEats for something to eat for lunch. I kept it simple & ordered fried shrimp with fries. It was pretty good & the shrimp was nice & crispy & well seasoned. Well why 3 stars? well check out my picture of what was delivered to me. read more

Essence Bar - Fried shrimp & Fries. Where's the rest of my fries???? Smh - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Service vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Sloooooowwwwwwwwwwwww Food nooooooo taste I swear More servers modeling behind the bar than serving Manager doesn't give a F about our comments Which explains why this place is almost empty most of the time read more

I've came this place many years ago! I just started coming back and it's great! The food is awesome! The owner Arthur is a approachable man! The food is great! I had one issue with a burger but no biggie! The crowd is what I prefer older and laid back ppl! And patrons that patronize this location are friendly. The music is great on the ears! So if you need a place that feels comfortable this is the place! read more

2 stars for the food, zero for the service. When I initially sat at the bar it took at least 10 minutes to be acknowledged, and not an exaggerated because the customer is frustrated 10 minutes, actually 10 minutes. I ordered a makers and ginger, the bartender seemed as if she'd never heard of makers. I had to ask for a food menu. The bar back cleared the menu when I sat it down but no one ever came back to take my order. I finished my first drink and had to call the bartender back to order a second drink and to ask if I could order food. I ordered a makers on the rocks this time and the steamed snapper, I was asked to repeat my food order three times and the bartender asked me to show it to her on the menu. I was highly annoyed at this point and asked for the food to go. Of course my makers wasn't on the rocks and came with ginger unlike I ordered this time. The food took at least 30 minutes and I have to say it was really good. Not ever interested in returning unfortunately. I'm so disappointed because it's a neighborhood spot that I would love to support but nothing can make up for slow service and an oblivious team. Hopefully someone is able to better train the staff on attentiveness, menu & product knowledge, effective communication and all of the other soft skills necessary to be a great hospitality professional. read more

Delivery came fast. Then I got a catfish sandwich on two slices of grocery store bread. Fries were ok? Not sure why I paid $9.00 before tax for a piece of fried fish on cheap bread. Never ordering from here again, and won't walk back there either. EDIT: After looking at pics of what they offer, it appears I was given the whiting from "whiting and fries" except they called it the "catfish sandwich" and put it in between two sorry pieces of bread. Going to complain to postmates to see if I can get my money back. read more

Essence Bar - Welcome to $9.00. No sides included. - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

-Service not too good only two servers was in the spot for a whole hour or two waiting for 10 wings and ain't even get 10 wings but the drink was ok read more

Okay so I went here for my in laws bday , the place is pretty small so get there early. They have all night karaoke which I actually enjoyed. I of course didn't sing. You have to get the attention of the bartender because there is no wait staff , so when your lucky to get one , be prepared to wait. The drinks are not watered down but they should extend Happy hour for a little bit. Everyone seemed to have a good time, security was present , they also have a backyard for my smokers, however" no weed" ....duh. We knew that lol. read more

This is a place that my father used to frequent during his patrol days as an NYPD officer and this time he decided to bring me along, retired in all his glory lol. I was thrilled because I love supporting black owned businesses. We started off with the catfish strips which were amazing! I couldn't decide what to order but the Rasta Pasta looked good. He said he had it before and loved it so I decided to try it myself. I can definitely say I don't regret my choice one bit. It was sooooo good. The flavors were amazing, the salmon and noodles were cooked perfectly, it was just a perfect dish. My dad and I also shared some plain fried wings which were also great. They were the perfect crisp and crunch for a fried wing and not overly breaded. I would definitely recommend Essence Lounge and I'll definitely be making a trip here in the near future! read more

See all

This review is based on a delivery order. I cannot comment on the bar because I have not visited the bar. 1st- 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. 2nd - Mac n cheese was edible but had the taste of Kraft boxed mac n cheese. 3rd - 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. .. 4th- 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. read more

See all

Baby listen....see that Oxtail Rasta Pasta!?... flavors OFF THE METER!! It is so good. Im eating and writing this review! I never use UBER eats and I'm glad tonight i did. I've never heard of this place and I'm glad I found it. I was worried that my food wouldn't be hot being that my poor driver was on a bike in 30 degree weather. I had turned the oven on just knowing I would have to read warm it. My food was SMOKING!! It was just the way I like it. And bring that in from Louisiana I sometimes have to add seasoning. Not this time! I think I'll visit and try the fried fish next! read more

Essence Bar - Oxtail Rasta Pasta - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

It's like a family cookout between the staff and patrons: You've got your nice aunties dancing and singing that karaoke. 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. read more

Essence Bar - Boneless chicken, very tasty! - Soul Food Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

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. read more

Stepped in for a quick drink. $12 for a HALF. Full drink, that was mostly mixer and little to no alcohol. Also tried to order a non alcoholic drink. $12 as well. How? Nice people and atmosphere but these prices think they are midtown. Also on menu **prices subject to change without notice. ** read more

So, the fish sandwich was not fresh. For example, the wheat bread was stale and the batter on the fish lifted leaving more on the plate then my mouth. The only saving grace was the old timers band. In fact, the live entertainment from neighborhood cronies created a down home vibe for soul stirred like myself. The business needs a hell of a makeover if they want to attract folks. read more

This is my hidden spot off Atlantic. Bartenders are cool, owner is dope (what up Arthur!) and the Karaokee and live music here is fun. They also stay open pretty late so it's hard to miss it. read more

The Rasta pasta is great! Only one thing I have to say though! WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR MUSIC AND WHY IS THE PLACE SO DULL. I always order there Rasta pasta. My tongue melts around the slight spice and creamy texture. Only thing is when I came in person it was disgusting. To be fair I came on a Sunday afternoon, but it really gave me old Aunty vibes! Very older crowd very empty inside. No music playing so everyone could hear each other. No tables that connect and nobody came to check my order. We ended up leaving disappointed and without food. Great place to order from though. Thanks. I'll have to come back and check it out on a Saturday. Hopefully it is more active! read more