The Gate is known for it's huge beer selection and prime outdoor patio, is a nice enough bar with good ambiance and decent music. But here's the deal: I am sick and fucking tired of its beer snob bartenders. I will be the first to admit that I'm not well-versed in the art of beer, and I know that some people take it very seriously. But goddamn, if a bar doesn't have Stella or Heineken, I am out of ideas. And I would hope that as a nice bartender, if I ask you for a Stella and you don't have it, you could, I dunno...suggest a comparable one?! I mean, if you LOVE beer so fucking much, don't you think you'd want to introduce a poor, dumb girl (i.e. me, in this scenario) to a more high-brow selection of brew? The conversation could go something like this: Me: Hey, do you have a beer that doesn't sound scary and weird? You: You're a dumbass for trying to come up in here, but how about a Heffewienerschnitzelbrau? It tastes kind of like Stella, except it's infused with the nectar of the Gods and that's why I can be so self-righteous about it. Me: Oh, awesome, let me have that! You: Great, enjoy! Yeah, not so much. The bartender blew me off (even though they weren't that busy), and suggested that I read the chalk board menu. You know...the one written in tiny, tiny letters, partially obscured by their anniversary balloons in dim lighting? Yeah, that one. Fuck this place, honestly. read more

What a fun bar! My boyfriend stumbled in here one night with a friend and enjoyed it, so on Friday while it was a BEAUTIFUL day out we went on in. The patio is HUGE and comfortable, the staff was VERY nice, the selection was great. Their flights were a good deal to try a mess of beers. It was a very good place to just kick back. read more

I don't really understand how they only have a 3.5 star rating. There's no food (except some basics like pickles & beef jerky), but they let you get stuff delivered, or bring in your own food. Beer prices are really reasonable, and happy hour is solid. Bartenders are attentive, friendly, and awesome. Also, DOGS! I don't have one, but I know if I go, they will be everywhere. You might even see some babies. The Gate is awesome. Go to there. read more

You can bring your dog...need I say more? Truthfully, no....but I will....there is a dart cubicle/vestibule!

Whats not to love about The Gate?! (Ok, well if you have an aversion to dogs - don't go! People in the hood love to bring em out on the patio.) Wonderful selection of beer (try the Hefeweizen or Delerium Tremens), beautiful outdoor seating area and a great jukebox (I'm a sucker for a good juke, kids!) You can even bring your own food if you want (as they don't serve any.) Can get crowded on the weekends, but I've never had to stand for long... read more

I didn't have the opportunity to cross the gate. I arrived with my wife and little baby, a couple of friends and their baby. As we were with strollers, the bartender immediately told us to leave the strollers out. It was a terrible experience and I just can guess they are not comfortable with families going there as it's better for them to only receive adults in their restaurant. read more

Hmm. I like the outdoor space and once in awhile it has a unique beer but every time I go here, the bartender is always rude and a mean jerk. One night I even made friendly chat and said "Hey, it's my birthday and I'm trying to pick out a special drink tonight. "He walked away. No Happy Birthday and no drink recommendation?? Jerk. I've given this place too many tries. If you want good beer selection, go to 4th Ave Pub. Better Happy Hour, an outdoor space, and they will say Happy Birthday to you. read more

Cute little spot to meet up with friends or a date for a drink. They have an outdoor section and are dog friendly (inside and outside). Quiet during the week. read more

The Gate is my favorite bar in all of New York City. It has such a casual atmosphere; you can go there without feeling as if you have to put on airs. They have a long list of beers, so anyone with a taste for hops can find something to their liking. They are also a dog-friendly bar, which adds to the laid-back feel; how can anybody be uptight or false with a dog around? Most importantly (from my perspective, anyway,) The Gate has the best jukebox in the whole city. I discovered the music of Terry Callier as a result of hanging out there. Gotta love the place! read more

Awesome place..very friendly staff. Luv fact that u can bring your dog

The best bar in park slope- been going her for over two decades ( i think just don't tel this id checker in the 90s)...this place is a great deal- has darts and outdoor space- good service and drinks too read more

Great beer selection (one of the best in the neighborhood), dog friendly, big porch, good music. Tiny dart cubbyhole if you're so inclined.

Amazing selection of beer. I could sit here and drink the beer all night long and chat with the bartender. Unfortunately, there are big dogs to pet and obnoxious boys to avoid. So I have to be going. So sad, I do love your beer. I really, really do. But like I said. Sometimes a girl's just got to go pet a dog. That's what you get for letting them in. read more

the gate is the exact midpoint between my friend's and my apartments. it also happens to be across the street from our other friend. how did we get so lucky!? i'm gonna chock it up to good karma. this place rocks. plenty of delicious beers. wonderful bar tenders. a lovely patio that is both baby and dog friendly. you can bring in whatever food you friggin' feel like. and they're frequently having events like presidential debate or breaking bad viewing parties. hell yes. read more

Quiet most times during the week, regulars-type place with a penchant for beer and a classic place for 40ish guys with long gray hair from years of living to stop by. Or slopers. I went here with a couple friends to chat up a storm over a couple of quick pints and it was condusive to that. In general, I feel like not just the Gate, but the strip of bars along this part of 5th some nights are bustling, and other nights are really, really ghostly dead. read more

Very laid back neighborhood bar. Great outdoor patio in back when the weather is warm. I like the beautiful sectioned wood benches in the bar: a plaque reads that they were built by a local 9/11 victim. My friend was excited for the cask ale available at their special Wed night beer event. read more

i don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but i'm discovering a pattern with my newly married female friends -- some months after tying the proverbial knot, they feel a need to relive indiscretions of their past life -- both good and bad -- usually in uncomfortable detail, and with witnesses (more often than not, yours truly). so when my newly married friend who now lives in some upstate-ish suburb (upstate encompassing the entirety of the state anywhere north of 181st street) told me she would "be in brooklyn" late on sunday and we should therefore "get a beer and catch up"i had a good idea what was up. i suggested the gate because i've never been and i thought the beer garden might be a perfect place for a conversation sure to involve laughter and tears. we started off with a beer for me and cider for her. halfway through our first cup, we were reminiscing about college, staying out all night. by the end of that first cup, we had moved on to stories of morning after (is it really after if you haven't been to bed?) and reliving our mutual love of the rooty tooty fresh and fruity at the campus ihop. by the end of the second beer, we were laughing (awkwardly, and forced), until one of us (i will not reveal which) couldn't remember the name of one or more gentleman who had failed (or succeeded?) in making an impression during one of those nights. and that's when we decided we needed something stronger. a lot stronger. luckily, the gate has ample options to sate an individual who may find herself in a similar position. and for us, it was a rather large Makers Mark neat and a rather large Bombay on the rocks. thank you also, for not kicking us out when, several hours and several gin/whiskeys later, we both screamed out at the same moment: "SETH!" read more

Pat is only here Saturdays now. The remaining bartenders are largely boring and occasionally standoffish; their beer and baseball IQ leave something to be desired. read more

At the risk of being a contrarian, I have to say that this place might be great on the week days, but try on a Friday or Saturday night and it is way too crowded. On the plus side they have a menu book with hundreds of local restaurants in it that are willing to deliver to you, so you have unlimited food options. read more

i love The Gate even took my giant dog there once - he liked it too chill nice bartenders - great beer selection yep what those other people said. RE the smoking patio and people whining about smokers smoking too much out there on the - uh - patio - outside - where people smoke and stuff - uh.... read more

Drinking beers on their outdoor patio in the warmer months is awesome. It is a complete dive bar but they have great beer options and a nice open space. They are also dog friendly which is a plus! read more

Bizarrely rude bartender. I come in and sit down, wait for 5+ minutes as the bartender plays with her phone, looks at the tv etc. I thought it was odd, but was in no rush, so I waited and waited. Then a guy came in and sat next to me. He was seated for less than 10 seconds before she came over and asked what he wanted right in front of me. Obviously, I immediately walked out. Kind of baffled by it, to be honest. The place was empty, she obviously saw me. Ironic to experience so much attitude at a place that smells like piss. But no worries, a dozen other bars within a 2 minute walk. The folks at High Dive were happy to get my business. Dear bartender, sorry you chose a job you hate. Loser. read more

I have close friends who love the Gate. And why not really? It is what is. A beer lovers bar with a huge area to smoke and hang out on during a great summer day. Just get there early. Cause everyone else has the same idea. read more

This is the place my roomies and I go when we want to have a couple of beers in our own neighborhood. They have a good beer selection, a pleasant, old-fashioned atmosphere, friendly clientele, and a general laid-back atmosphere. I love their outdoor patio when it's warm out. I would say though small, it's the closest you will ever get to a beergarden feeling in New York City, without feeling overwhelmed and crowded. This place just always feels like home. read more

outdoor seating is nice, but all the smokers hangout there, so it becomes unpleasant quickly for us clean lung people (i know... a non-smoker in nyc is weird and the minority...) the dart board is a piece of crap and the room gets hot as all hell, so be warned overall though, nice chill place to hangout, good for groups if you can steak out a spot early enough, and they had some vicotry brews on tap which is good, could use better selection for cider though... read more

Gate is great for sitting outside and drinking some beers on a nice night. Good beer selection. Bring your dog!

a bunch of different beers at this place. Dog friendly, pretty chill place to grab some drinks. Outdoor patio too, can't beat that!

The intense cigarette smoke in the otherwise nice outdoor area might cut short your time enjoying an excellent beer. Notwithstanding the sooty aspect of the place, the selection of beers is more than impressive, and the bar is roomy and spacious. Perfect for a relaxed summer night. read more

Solid beer selection. Great bartenders. Well lit. Chill crowd. The only issue is the Monday night trivia guy - one too many sexist jokes and too much banter between trivia. Oh and he called the whole bar "idiots." There is no food served but you can bring food from outside or get it delivered. read more

This place is great in terms of what it has to offer, but a little too mobbed and overcrowded by the stroller and dog set. Walking a few more blocks could change your life. read more

WARNING: Horrible service!! Come to the gate if you want to be met with rude unknowledgeable staff. A decent beer list will get you nowhere if your customers walk out the door and never return! Plenty of other places with good beer and bartenders that don't hate their jobs! read more

Racist Bartender. How do I begin.... I came in one night and ordered a beer... being a white male, i was not carded. My late 20's female hispanic friends joined after a few minutes, and they were hassled for simply ordering WATER (after showing valid IDs). Somehow, incomprehensibly, the bartender refused to serve them. We defended ourselves, to no avail. Let's avoid this bar and support our neighborhood mainstays that don't practice racism, ok? read more

Great selection of beers. Friendly service. They used to allow dogs, but some uptight jerk called the DOH. No more dogs

Had a swell time here last night, but it helps that it was pretty nice out and I was with a bunch of friends. The outdoor area is definitely the attraction here, but they closed it down around 2, which was kind of annoying. Good drinks, relatively inexpensive, but not something I would go out to Park Slope specially for. In short, a good local pub, as long as you're local. read more

The bartender was rude from the start....I was having my 25th birthday party on the outside "deck" in the middle of the day saturday....at one point my friends decided to sing happy birthday to me.... other random people on the deck also joined in....the bartender came out and very rudely yelled at us and then went in muttering about college kids (we are all out of college...). We left shortly after....clearing out half the bar... read more

It's just a bar. Nothing particularly special about it. Thank goodness i wasn't here on one of the nights that other people are reviewing. Dogs? Children? At a gotdamn bar? What is this? Oh yeah, Park Slope. Anywho, I had a good enough time; the bathrooms were pretty disgusting though. read more

Would be a great place if i ever-- just once!-- got there in time to grab a table outside. Alas i've only ever sat inside where it's just ok. read more

Beer. Good. Thud. Quit complaining, pet a stranger's dog, sample from the decent selection of beers at a reasonable price, drink it outside if it's nice out, pay attention to your favorite sporting event inside if that's your thing... We land there at least once a week, service seems fine, chill, casual. A second visit one week was on account of a Founders Brewery event -- everyone who showed up (in force, perhaps, given the rarity of the beer in question) managed to kick the '10 Canadian Breakfast Stout in 19 minutes! But yeah, case in point, good beer = yum, service = efficient, efficient good beer = belly-scratching happy. Other stuff that's far less important to them, but still okay: No food on site, but you can bring or get delivered whatever you want (pile/binder of takeout menus available upon request). Darts - might need a new set of those. Jukebox tunes - not horrible, sometimes intriguing (inspired a game of "which season of The Wire is this from?") Track with twitter, other sources not-so-thoroughly updated. Cheers, barbarian-based pun goes here. read more

This place is very chill and relaxed. It has a jukebox, a nice alcove with darts and cushioned seats, an impressive beer selection (if only I drank beer) and lots of space--both indoor and outdoor. Did I mention that it's also pet friendly and you can also order food in? Maybe I'm partial to this place because it has raspberry lambic, but this is a nice hangout spot. We came here around 8 pm on a Friday and it was pleasantly full. Great service too! read more

I was a little taken a back when I saw multiple dogs just chilling when I walked in but I had no complaints , dogs should be able to take part in the fun! Vast beer selection and really cool old school desks that are used as tables. I especially liked reading all the writings carved into the wood. Especialyl loved the prices, I was really lucky to stumble upon this place! read more