I visited for the first time in Feb. at my daughter's recommendation and had a great time! The DJ was jammin' and my food was delicious--jerk wings, fried plantains, and collard greens. The greens were too salty, and I couldn't eat them, but the overall food quality, flavor, and price is on point! Nice staff, too. I will definitely return during my next visit to NYC! read more

I'm very disappointed with this place and sorry to say it because I love food but for the price it was not good quality food and service and also took too long to come . Salmon was burnt potato has no flavor and vegetables was greasy. Sorry but not good first impression from this place read more

I have been going to this place for years. The I need don't value his customers. I had a recent incidents where I was charged two different prices for the same drink. I explained to the bartender I have a receipt that reflects a different amount. She was nasty and very dismissive. I requested to speak to the owner/manager. He stated no one what to cheat you out of a dollar. He said there is a difference in the drink. The manager was just as bad as the worker. Manager should never play on the amount. Even if it's a dollar. It the principal of being charged two different prices when I ordered the same drink. The manager stated to me.... he was not there when I ordered the drinks. Really!!!! You have to be kidding me. He walked away. This is a poor example for manager.. I wish I could give them a (0) zero. Watch the amount you are being charged. read more

Love, Love this place ;). Very fun neighborhood bar. Excellent food and overall cool atmosphere. Sunday and Monday are especially nice. Don't leave without having a "Bull Dog". read more

The service was great and the weekend staff was very attentive. It's in my neighborhood and I'm proud to brag about it. I didn't like the codfish fritters but there's a 1st time for everything. read more

I'm from the south born and raised this is definitely not southern food I can tell you that. Rasta pasta and oxtails is not a southern dinner. Nice try but failed horribly, most of the food isn't real soul food at all if you ever been to the south or have family from there you can tell. Smh. Go to Soulfood kitchen they have real soul food by southern chiefs and it's good. read more

No Stars, if I could give less I could. Walked in at 7:30 ordered Wings by 7:50 no food. By 8:20 no food, 8 40 a nice waitress said the other waitress never put the order in. So the 1st waitress came back said the kitchen never got the order and she would put it through again and the bill would be on her. Ok, 9pm no food, I asked for the manager who said that he would put the order in. 9:30 no food, 2nd waitress comes over at 9:40 no food. If it wasn't for me supporting a friend's comedy show I would of left a longgggg time ago. And to end it I left at 11:30 pm NO Food! Can I say No Stars one more time! read more

This is one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a bar ...ever. My friend and I get there ..at 8:05pm the other night ..there are a lot of people there at the bar watching baseball etc so I get when we aren't acknowledged in the first 5 mins..okay..10minutes..now it's 15 minutes of standing at the bar we are finally acknowledged and our order taken. The order was a simple TO GO order--after 50mins she brings out the order in a plate..apparently forgetting it's a to go order. Okay fine, then forgets that we ordered an appetizer...simple order of mozzarella sticks. That is the very FIRST thing we ordered. Then says she didn't charge us for it BUT charged us for the free sides that come with the meal. The catfish meal says it comes with two sides so on our receipt it says our 1st side with no charge then the 2nd side with $4.00 next to it. We didn't notice at first until we didn't get our mozzarella sticks. Her explanation was "oh I'm sorry I didn't know". We ordered two drinks while we waited and Lashauna (I think that's her name) did not fill the glass up, it was literally half way full. I asked her why my cranberry and vodka is only half way full and she said the cameras watch her pour--so she can't put more cranberry juice in the glass. I get the vodka --I wasn't asking for more but the glass seemed so small to not put more cranberry in. (At least for it to look aesthetically pleasing) The whole experience was very time consuming as well as extremely frustrating. We ended up leaving and getting our money back without bothering with the food because we were so annoyed. read more

I have mixed feelings about Essence. More often than not, the food is BOMB and their happy hour drink specials are amazing (except for the wine - the Yellowtail Riesling makes me gag because...cheap). Their bartenders/servers are really friendly but soooo slow. Depending on the time of day, the kitchen can be slow too - but that damn Rasta pasta, mac n, cheese, collard greens, onion rings, and crab cakes are everything. It feels like the baked wings take 10 years to make, but if you have some time on your hands, get them and drink up. I just need the waitstaff to get some pep in their step. read more

In BK there's a place that caters to hipsters, gentrified newbies but where to do all the regular folks go? The answer is Essence Bar & Grill. The place is situated on a corner and looks like a throw back to your mom and pop's corner bar. The inside doesn't have a wow factor-long bar, "VIP" section and small stage. What it does have is a mature crowd, great priced drinks, bartenders who know how to make a great drink (you will taste the alcohol), great food at a reasonable priced. I was there for karaoke on Good Friday, and the place was packed. Good crowd, so-so karaoke performances I'll be back at Essence since I learned that nights for live bands and comedy. Essence is similar to some parts of Brooklyn-a diamond in the rough! read more

Barmaids sucks . Service is worst. Food is good. Drinks are watered down.

Good time, nice people. The drinks were amazzzing and I easily spent way too much money. All in all this is a nice place and a great mixed crowd, all ages. Thumbs up for you Essence. read more

At first I was going to agree with the comments regarding the waitresses I guess they need more people:) I did have to wait and I did have to go to the bar more than once regarding my order and I didnt get what I wanted or what my groupon stated but Im giving it a 4 star because Im a very understanding and appreciative person..The cook wanted to go home(it was thanksgiving eve) so she was not about to make all that food but I must say that what she did make WAS YUMMY!!!! and I was very thankful that V the bartender basically begged her to make the dish I went on comedy nite and I had a very nice time laughing my butt off.. I will be returning next wednesday with no groupon.. read more

1. the food is great!! 2. karaoke on tuesday is great!! 3. the service sucks!!! 4. the owner is too cheap to do buy backs (buy 3 rounds and get 1 free). read more

Stop by last night for just some R and R and I was amaze the atmosphere was great with a mature but lively food and drinks great I'm sure going back read more

Hot bartenders and good music and prices. clientel is sorda boring. great bartenders though.

Local Gin Mill type neighborhood bar, 90%+ locals, Super friendly, big bar, tasty, TASTY food.

I like this place it will be my new spot to have a drink and some food the service was great and you can come and relax .

Love love love love the karaoke showdowns! The drinks are a bit pricey for the hole in the wall set up but the vibe, crowd, and entertainment is near professional. LOVE THIS PLACE! read more

Good food and goood service from the bartenders and their wings are on point! $3 for beers excellent happy hour prices and their quesadillas on good too read more

First time going nhere last Friday night and had a good time. The music was good, karaoke was great, drinks well priced.

My friend Hosts a Comedy show here every Wednesday. Always have a great time. Free every Wednesday. Drink are good, prices decent. Never been here on another night but crowd seems older. Besides that great spot. read more

Nice local sports bar, lots and lots of TVs and I bet it really gets kicking when there's a band on stage. The bartender was really friendly and looks like Rihanna in the way that a middle-aged white lady would say a young girl looks like Rihanna -- so just sorta. The nachos are made with fake cheese and are very average, my buffalo wings were nice and crispy and my friend's Smothered Chicken was tasty but the timing of our dishes was atrocious -- my wings came out way before my friend's entree and I was completely done eating before her food arrived. . read more

I have ordered from this place more times than I can count. The bartenders are always smiling, nice and attentive. The food is normally good but not consistent. If you're hungry and looking forward to a satisfying amount of Oxtails pick something else, you'll be disappointed. They never give you more than four and they barely have meat on them. I've ordered Salmon which was given to me rare like a red bloody steak. I must say the Rasta Pasta Broccoli, Honey and Jerk Wings are always a great choice. My recent order has turned me away from this place. The owner or owner's wife was very, very nasty, and she has no clear knowledge of Grub Hub and Uber Eats. I placed my order through Grub Hub and waited 45mins before my husband and I went to pick it up. When we got there the lady brings out my food and snatches back. She stated she needed to see a screenshot on my husband's phone to release the order. We were in complete shock and embarrassed at how rude she was. After showing her the screen shot of the order being placed through Grub Hub the lady still denies us of our food and walks away from the counter and takes the food in the back room. I would say 4mins later she comes back but at this point I'm pissed. The music is loud we're surrounded by patrons at the bar and this lady is arguing with me over food I already paid for. Again, I showed her my completed order online on my phone and she's still insisting she cannot get paid if it's not right. I explained I placed my order through Grub Hub not Uber eats! At this point I want my money back. She finally decides to give me my order after talking to someone else in the back, but she says to me "why wouldn't you call us direct instead of ordering through Grub Hub?" I said because I use Grub Hub all the time and I have never had an issue and I have no fear of my Credit Card information being misused. Her "well you pay more using that app!" and she hands me my food. Why should someone have to go through this? Whoever this lady is she doesn't need to deal with people! read more

Great Food!!!! I like the way my Fish was prepared and the seasoning was just right. Shockingly tasty potato salad. I always opt for take out but I will have to dine in soon. read more

Idk about the other food but the "Rasta pasta" is HORRIBLE. Literally was given 3 small pieces of chicken, sauce was bland to say the least, "garlic bread" was non toasted wonder bread with some oil on top will never ever buy again in my life rather starve or eat craft mac n cheese. Delivery was timely. read more

The food took more than 2 hours to be delivered . It's better to just order in person if you intend to eat food from here. However the food was hot and delicious when it arrived. read more

I ordered from here using Ubereats and it was the most horrible experience ever. I ordered the chicken and waffle combo, mac n cheese, and backed chicken with mash potatoes, and plantains. I bit into the waffle and felt that I was chewing on a weird texture. When I took it out my mouth it was a piece of plastic from a plastic bag. After, I ripped into a different side just to double check and there was another piece of plastic made in with the waffle. This was extremely alarming. In addition, the baked chicken had to be put back in the oven when it arrived. I'm usually an "easy to please person, but this want absolutely horrible. It is extremely important I share this experience. I definitely would not recommend this restaurant. If you want to avoid food poisoning, avoid this place.First and last time! read more

Essence Bar & Restaurant is a great place to have fun, relax, and meet some very influential people...One person being the restaurant's owner -Arthur Baize... During the week at Essence, it's a very colorful scene where you dinner experience can be anywhere from Karaoke and dance music on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights-Comedy on Wednesday nights, to Live Bands on Thursday and Sunday nights...This place allows "You To Be You"...People that go there say it has a very nice grown and sexy atmosphere on any night you're there... Essence Bar & Restaurant-a great place to laugh, unwind, or just have a good time. read more

If your looking for a nice Karaoke/Dance spot, where the drinks are cold and the bartenders are Hot stop by and sing a song or two with your girl Sexy SHOWBIZLIZ and a legion of Today's Freshest Video KJ/Dj's in NYC. Ciao. My Wings & Drinks are here! read more

this place is great it has great food and live music and karaoke.....u can also meet fun people give it a try

I came here Friday night for drinks and had a wonderful time, dispite the fact that there was a unhappy customer upset that her underage children were not allowed into the establishment. Thanks to the wonderful management and security team the situation was defused quickly and professionally​. The night was not affected. Great food great music reasonable drinks. More than you can ask for on a rainy night in Brooklyn read more

This place rocks! Just what the neighborhood needs. The food is great and actually prepared on the premises. You can even meet the chef and ask him to prepare to your taste as I did. The music takes you back and brings you forward a t the same time. Going back soon for some mac and cheese. read more

Latonya is such a dope bartender on point with making drinks, you never have to wait long to get your drink,she's always courteous and professional and she just a beautiful person all around and this is the kind of service you will always get when she's work at Moes or Essences or any spot she is at. read more

I've been to this bar several times and I have usually always had a great time. I can see that the owner or manager is really trying to appeal to the customer as the place always seems to be having a promotion or event going on. The menu is extensive and has a lot of great choices, even seafood and the food isn't bad. I liked my happy hour bartender, (I think her name was Candice) she had a great personality and poured our drinks like a real pro. My friend and I came for Happy Hour (3-8pm) and she didn't cheat us our of liquor so that plus her personality earned her a good tip. I would say the crowd seems to be consistently older which doesn't bother me. I also appreciated the stocky and alert bouncer at the door. I was just here on Comedy Night (Wed) and the comedians were actually very funny and the whole bar was enjoying themselves. I had to take a star off because the bartenders that came after the Happy Hour gave me more ice than drink and seemed overwhelmed by the amount of patrons. read more

I bought groupon for this restaurant. They haven't answer the phone for a week. Is this a rip off???

The music is very good the service is slow.The proprietor lacks Grace n finesse and be tacky