- good neighborhood bar - $8 beers - alright wings - TVs show multiple games (my sunday afternoon showed basketball, golf, two different baseball games) read more

Great local sports bar amongst a few others along Smith Street. We had some mixed drinks for ~$10 each, which was standard. It's your typical bar with lots of futbol decor, but I'd like to come back to try some of their food though. They offer $1 wings on Tuesdays and offer a new Chopped Cheese Sandwich, so I'll be back. read more

Obsessed with the bratwurst (extra sauerkraut), obsessed with the bartenders every night of the week, obsessed with the vibe, whether it's a big sports night or not...in general, just obsessed. read more

Solid bar offering sports tv, great draft options, pickle back shots, and phenomenal Buffalo wings. read more

Union Grounds - Buffalo wings, lemon pepper wings, draft beer - Comfort Food Near Me - New York, New York

This sports bar on Smith St is a welcome change of pace from the fancy meal/drink options that take up most of the neighboring real estate. I popped in to watch some baseball, and had a decent experience. It's definitely a local haunt, there were some obvious regulars there who knew the staff well. There were some good beers on tap, in addition to the usual sports bar staples like bud light. And there is food available, though I didn't try any. The place got pretty crowded because of a Knicks playoff game, but even before it filled up, service was a little...off. They had one bartender and one busser for the entire place. And while it's not a huge bar by any means, it translated into a few longer waits for service. Still a decent sports bar, so long as you don't mind a smaller space and a single bartender trying to keep up with everyone. read more

Great bar! The bartender was awesome and the food was really tasty. I highly recommend the chicken tacos!

Great spot. Cozy, comfortable, with lots of tv's. Excellent service. Our bartender (and server), Bree, is a gem. Good food and drink at good prices. Was looking for a place to watch college football on a Saturday and lucked out with this place. Highly recommend. read more

This is my favorite sports bar in the area. ELEVEN TV cramped into a single room space. Fair prices. Super attentive staff. Great selection of beverages and snacks. Even greater selection of board games along the back wall if sports are just not your jam. Outdoor seating is also available, for which a tv often times gets brought out. You won't find yourself eating healthy here, but who goes to a bar for a salad, amiright? I am actually quite fond of the steak and bell pepper spring rolls, which are huge and satisfying. I actually find myself craving these from time to time, which I can't say about many bar menu items elsewhere. My recent Union Grounds discovery is their Trivia Night on Tuesdays at 8pm. My team is embarrassingly terrible and came in dead last place to no one's surprise, but it was still a fun way to end a Tuesday. Don't snooze on the $10 frozen spicy margs and $3 chicken taco specials. With yet another football season quickly approaching, I am definitely looking forward to hanging out at Union Grounds way too often for way too long. Go Jags! read more

Frozen Lemonade was amazing! Not too sour not too sweet. Service was amazing! We also got some cheesy fries, wings, and buffalo chicken tenders all so yummy got too hungry to take a photo. Also complimentary jell-o shots! read more

Union Grounds - Frozen Pink Lemonade - Comfort Food Near Me - New York, New York

A personal note, but you can skip to the review below if you don't care (which you probably shouldn't): Dear Tyler (owner of Union Grounds), I know you don't think Mets fans can read, let alone read the Times, but don't think we're going to forget this excerpt here: 'Also beware the motivations of Yankees fans in the hospitality business. "I have a vested interest in the bar being full, so I'm rooting for the Mets," said the owner of Union Grounds, Tyler Maganzini, 35. "I want the Mets to go to the World Series. And I prefer that they then lose in seven games."'* Cheers, Met Fans Everywhere __________ This is a sports bar, and one mostly ideal for Football Sundays. If I can be torn away from my glorious couch and the modern marvel that is NFL RedZone, I want to be at a place like Union Grounds. 1. It has solid wings, and all the fried things (chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, and like seven different types of spring rolls) I shouldn't eat, but want to eat on Football Sundays. 2. It has all the games on their own TV, and the sound on for the Jets and the Giants (flipped over to a sweet 90s soundtrack during the commercials, which I appreciate because I love the 90s, and hate commercials). 3. Although the tap selection isn't really much worth mentioning, if I'm going to drink beer for 6-7 hours during the day, I'm going for the $16 pitchers of Bud Light every time, or I'm not going to make it home anyway. 4. And occasionally it has a table open (and a personable, excellent waitress!), which is really pretty key because I am old and don't like to stand. ______________ *http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/22/nyregion/mets-fans-bristle-as-their-pinstriped-cousins-muscle-in-on-their-moment.html read more

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Union Grounds is my favorite sports bar in the area hands down - they have 11 televisions not including whatever is set up outside. So that's great, but it's also just the beginning of why I'm such a fan. The food is outstanding. Philly Cheese Steak rolls are delicious - one order is a great snack for two and is only $8. The bratwurst hot dog is also quite satisfying. The fries are nice and crispy. All these items can then be washed down with any number of their well-priced and ice cold beers. Service is also top-notch and friendly. The gentleman running the show (think he's the owner) is always hustling and goes out of his way to make his customers feel appreciated. Everyone is welcome at Union Grounds and the atmosphere is awesome. Also, they have plenty of fun board and card games to play! So happy this establishment is back open post-COVID and can't wait to watch some football games there this fall. read more

A group of 7 went after a show, and we had a great time. The food was excellent, and the place was accommodating and friendly. It it a sports bar, so it was a bit loud, but we had a great time! read more

Excellent place for games. They used to have all the weekday afternoon European soccer games on. But went by and they don't seem to any more. That's the only disappointment. read more

Been coming here ever since Cody's closed at the end of 2018 and I like it. I remember coming in here once MANY MANY years ago and not liking it so much because the food seemed expensive for what it was. . . had ordered a $16 burger, the meat was overcooked and the bun was mushy (back when the bar was really small and 4/5 of the place was tables, so this must have been...pre-2015. Maybe 2013 or so). It's a lot different now, to be sure. The only thing that I miss, really, is the extensive menu selection that the older iteration had. Don't get me wrong, the food isn't terrible. From time to time, however, I'd like to order an actual entree or, even, a cobb salad or something. You can only eat hot dogs, burgers, and nachos so many times. I remember you guys having bacon-wrapped dates and was stoked about that, because I make them all the time at home. That being said, I do like the chicken caesar salad. Not so much a fan of the sliders, but I understand that they fill a niché, so I have no problem with 'em. If the owners ever read this, please think about extending the menu a little bit. Thanks! read more

This is a great bar if you are in the Brooklyn area. Everything from football to wrestle mania, plus a great staff and food. Vincenzo is terrific and will do anything in his power to ensure you have a great time - don't ask him to take a photo if your group however. Unless you want a photo of him in your camera!! He also has a tendency to cut people out of the photo! Seriously, love this place and the atmosphere. read more

I'm not kidding or exaggerating when I tell you this is the best sports bar in Brooklyn. I've lived in NYC for 9 years and been quite underwhelmed with the options for bars that show sports and their food. This place checks all the boxes. On top of that, the bartender is one of the best in the business. I think his name is Vinnie or Vincenzo. He's always on point and attentive. If I lived closer I'd go here multiple nights a week read more

Cozy sports bar. It's not a huge bar, but they've managed to fit TVs anywhere they could possibly fit, so you can watch any of the nationally televised games from anywhere in the bar. We came on a Saturday to watch some college football. Fortunately, they tuned into the game I was hoping to see. Good selection of drafts at the bar. I think there are about ten craft beers on tap. I remember taps from Harpoon and Greenport; I also remember seeing Lawson's Sip of Sunshine being offered in cans. read more

If you're a bar that's nearly empty in Smith Street on a hoppin' Friday night.... You're obviously doing something wrong. I said as much to my friends, but one of them is a functioning phobic who prefers empty places. *shrug* My first thought was, maybe they're after the wrong demographic for the neighborhood. But there are Bros in Gowanus. They would flock to a sports bar serving quintessential sports bar food and beer. I ordered the Ruben appetizer. From the menu I did not expect it to be a deep fried Ruben Roll. But hell, I love deep fried anything! Wrong. It was cooked in oil at too low a temperature, so what I got was a barely crisp roll sopped in grease. I'm going to have to eat salad for a week to make up for all that grease. It was a bad end to a short night. Next time I'll put up a bigger stink about going into an empty bar. Especially when there's CUBAN food next door. CUBAN for Christ's sake! read more

Great bar, great food, great bartenders. Makes you feel right at home and perfect to watch sports or WWE.

All these 5 star reviews, really? I had plans to watch the Subway series Yankees-Mets game with my buds. Sure there are 11 TVs. This place was packed like sardines! No available tables, no sound and no room! This place is classified as a sports bar. Nah, Its a bar with a bunch of TVs and a few tables packed into a small space. Pass! read more

Ok truly my new favorite sports bar in Brooklyn. I was hunting for a place to watch the Olympics when I saw this spot on Smith St. A chalkboard outside proudly announced, "Soccer! Olympics!! FUN!!!" And fun it was. Beers are priced around $6 and if you get here early enough there are plenty of places to sit. How they serve food is beyond me -- the kitchen was nowhere to be seen. But the suds options are good and great. read more

It's no secret that Brooklyn, especially this area of Brooklyn is lacking in sports bars. Luckily my brother and I found this unassuming gem. Great staff that makes you feel welcome. Reasonable drinks and underrated food. Solid spot to watch a few games. read more

Fine, as long as you're here to watch sports. If not, you've walked into the wrong place! A whole bunch of us got food and the only thumbs up any of it got was the hotdogs, so don't go in expecting anything great there and you'll be okay. Otherwise beer is decently priced and if you can grab a table sit down and enjoy the game. read more

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I'm so glad this place exists. The food is indulgent and inspired ("Tot-chos"? Nachos, but made with tater tots!). I typically come here for soccer (or "football" as we say) but they also play NFL, MLB, NBA, college hoops, etc. The owners are nice folks. Byeeeeeee! read more

Philly Roll. Great. Like an egg roll filled with hot beef and melty cheese. Amazing. Two small complaints. 1. My beer was served in a glass with what appeared to be lipstick smeared on the edge. 2. The napkins are the cheaper "Party World" style napkins and aren't very absorbent. If you need to wipe your forehead or anything like that just ask the bartender for a paper towel or something instead. Other than that, a perfect place to sip a brew and watch the game. Go Nets! read more

We went there on a Sunday to watch football. We ordered and ate lunch and appetizers and one of us had a beer. Apparently, we hadn't ordered enough stuff for the owner's taste because he stopped by the table to snap "hey, why don't you help out a small business here" to my 93 year-old war hero grandfather. Then he ran immediately ran away. I have been at a restaurant before where an employee, let alone an owner behaved in such passive-aggressive, cowardly and shameful way. Our waitress was also very hostile to us, dropping my plate of salad on the table and walking away and walking away without saying anything and without silverware. I had to wait 10 minutes for a fork. They made all of us very uncomfortable and ruined our evening. In total, we spent roughly $150, but because only one of us was drinking, this was not enough for this greedy "small business owner." On top of that, their tap water tastes terrible and they do not have water, tea, or coffee. The food was also very sub-par and the menu is quite barren. Some advise, why don't you work on improving your bar rather than snapping at customers? read more

Union Grounds - Limited drink menu. Disgusting wine. - Comfort Food Near Me - New York, New York

Loud and crowded. I wish the portions of food were larger (providing more comfort) for when I have to endure sports with neighborhood friends and my significant other. I don't recommend coming here outside of watching a game. The food is not good enough to stand alone. read more

Sports bar...here you are!..and I am SO happy. 11 TVs with all types of sports to choose from on the big screen - no other place in CG is really like this. In any case, they opened about a week ago and I'm sure are still working on improvements. It's definitely a big welcome place in the neighborhood and will probably become a regular place for me and my friends. I think they for sure need to introduce pitchers on the menu and add more to their cocktail menu...even offer cozies or something - get a little more of a sporty feel. Also, please allow credit cards! In any case, welcome to the neighbs' and see you soon! read more

Union Grounds - Comfort Food Near Me - New York, New York

Bar is fine. Beers + sports all good. Bartender tonight was a jerk (dude with grey stubble and a forearm snake tat) - very rude.

Before I begin, let me preface by saying there will ALWAYS be those who have a bad experience at a given establishment. There will also be those, on the flip side, who have an amazing time. My review is a personal opinion, yes, but I strongly urge you to read! Like all reviews, it is a strictly a matter of opinion. However, I only comment on places that I can write FACTS about. Union Grounds was one of the best (if not THE best) bars I've been to in Brooklyn or Manhattan. To preface, I did come by myself. I'm a die hard Yankee fan so I couldn't subject myself to watching the playoff game alone, at home, on a Thursday night. As a person who visits the Gowanus area frequently, it was very exciting to see a sports bar in the neighborhood. Before you think "Oh my Gosh, not a SPORTS bar.....", let me say that Union Grounds isn't your stereotypical sports bar. I happen to come here on a night when a spots event was taking place. Are there amazing TVs? Yes! Are there plenty of viewing seats? Yes! But DO NOT categorize this place as your typical hole-in-the-wall sports bar. It's not a smelly, crammed place where roudy fans come together to drunkly cheer on a team. Union grounds, in my opinions, is a completely laid back, no judgement, relaxed style bar that makes it easy for ALL gender types to come by and have a good time. When I walked in, ALONE, I was a bit nervous to do so. After meeting the bartender and the staff (as well as other customers), I felt completely relaxed and "at home"! No frills, no judgement, this is a place where you can come alone or with a huge group of friends and still have an amazing time. HIGHLY, HIGHLY Recommend. I will be back again for more great experiences! read more

This is my new place for watching football. Small but open space with a ton of TVs. The waitress/bartender was attentive and friendly, and one of the owner's, Tyler seemed like a laid-back, friendly guy passionate about his business. My one issue with this place is their dismal beer selection. There is just too damn much good beer in this city and particularly this borough to have such a boring/meager tap selection. Double or even triple the tap selection, get some stouts, some seasonals etc and this place is an easy 5 star sports bar. read more

More like 3.5 small space but good for sports. Multiple TV's visible from any table or bar seat. Bartender amendable to changing to game of your choice. Food is meh ... and a true Chicago dog it is not ( see pic ). Only one bathroom for the whole place so beware how many beverages you drink. Not my favorite. read more

Union Grounds - ?? Chicago dog ... no poppyseed/cucumber/ sport peppers/celery seed here. - Comfort Food Near Me - New York, New York

Great Sports Bar! All the U.S. Open games, baseball, great assortment - 11 TVs! Love the ballpark menu, even had veggie dogs! Interesting dipping sauces. Loved our waitress, warm welcoming smile and great beer suggestions. Good music selection, a bit loud, but hey it's a Sports Bar. Play ball! read more

Union Grounds - a pint of beer and a glass of water - Comfort Food Near Me - New York, New York

We really want to like this place, but it seems to be at the cusp of going downhill. First the positives: The bartenders and staff are genuine and nice. That's a huge plus. The beer is reasonably priced, and if you're a sports fan, the array of TVs are great. The food however, has taken a dive, and it seems to have coincided with an across the board price hike - which is as ironic as it is frustrating. The burger was overcooked and had an odd and unwelcome spice mixture. The spicy chicken sandwich was rubbery (not in an overcooked way, more in a microwaved kind of way) and the chicken part was so damn thin and small that it was dwarfed by the bread. I'm not expecting gourmet from this place, just don't make me regret eating here. Given the markup on the food, they can afford to do better. Sadly the waffle chips that came with the meal were the highlight. read more

Didn't make it in the door... literally. Went there on Saturday December 15th to watch soccer. On both the website, and the answering machine they advertise that they're open at 10 am which is apparently not the case. We had some friends come in from Manhattan specifically to meet us at Union Grounds to watch soccer, drink, and eat. When we arrived at 5 after, the bread delivery was still hanging on the locked door, and the lights were off. We called and got the answering machine. We waited outside for about 15 minutes seeing no signs of life before heading to a local cafe. We had a great time watching EPL on an extremely small television while running up a somewhat exorbitant bar tab for a Saturday morning. . They too advertise that they open at 10am... Looks like we'll be heading back to Central Bar on East 9th in Manhattan every weekend and watch soccer. BAD first impression. read more

Was visiting Brooklyn for a week and was looking for a bar that met two requirements; having people in it and a TV to watch the NBA playoffs...walked around the area for close to an hour before stumbling upon this spot...had a nice environment, small inside but busy, 12 TVs with host of different games and sports on (including one with Pro Wrestling), outdoor space, 8 beers on tap and other options in cans as well as a full bar...had the burger and tater tots (who doesn't love tots?) and both were very good...Vincenzo was the bartender and was both friendly and made great drinks...would definitely recommend to anyone in this area of Brooklyn that likes sports and good bar food/drinks read more

*I've only come here Sundays during football season, so that's all I can write about. Definitely a fun sports bar to watch NFL games because they've got at least one TV on each game (great for fantasy football). It's kind of set up like a wide hallway with TVs on both sides, as opposed to other places which have tons of TVs crammed in around the bar. Word to the wise - get here early if you want to watch a particular game because if you miss out on a spot in front of that specific TV, there's not much standing room without obscuring other people's view. read more

Found this spot across the street from Zombie bar. This is not a big place, be careful when you walk through the door as there might be people throwing darts. There are enough tables and TVs for everyone to see what they want to see. There are wall to wall TVs, more TVs than walls! Good beer, not too pricey, especially for this area. We ordered wings and a spicy chicken sandwich. The wings were big and juicy. They even let us split the wings into two sauces, hot and sweet/sour. The chicken sandwich was thin, however. The slice of chicken barely fit 2/3 of the bread and was paper thin. Too bad there wasn't more chicken in the sandwich to go along with the sauce and bread, both of which went together perfectly. Maybe next time, they'll be more food in there, if we came earlier than 10pm. read more

I'm writing this review for Union Grounds as a sports bar rather than a restaurant. The bartenders are great, service is awesome on nights that I can get in. I have had to pass this place by a few times because it was so crowded but that is to be expected as this is the only real sports bar on Smith. I realize there are others with TVs but this is the only legitimate one. I love their cocktails. Its nice to go to a sports bar that has a solid beer selection and a fantastic drink menu. I've only had the hot dogs and fries to eat and they have been good both times, good ingredients, dressed nicely and fresh and quite reasonably priced. Would I come here just for dinner? No. But I wouldn't be compelled to either. This place is good to catch a game on a weekend night without having to deal with the usual bro types that stink up typical sports bars. Its exactly the kind of bar that Smith Street was missing. read more

I'd really like to see this place prosper. I went in today to watch the inaugural game for the NYCFC soccer team. Their set up is great. When you walk in, there's a small table and two connected wooden bleachers, high up, but with a board to rest your feet on. On the right, three of those and a myriad of other tables towards the back. The main bar is compact with two televisions floating behind it in the far left-hand corner. No less than 11 TVs in the whole place, spanning the upper part of all walls. Their largest is in the right-hand corner with an appropriately patriotic USA soccer scarf. I think their decorations are spot on. A good mix of mostly soccer memorabilia and various sports news clippings. Their restroom is clean, large, and spacious with shorter articles, yellowed in age and sealed onto the middle band of tiles, an old time poster of Brooklyn transportation routes resting above it. You can tell that they're trying to get bodies in there. The staff are incredibly nice and I might have even served by the owners today. If not, they acted like they truly cared about what people thought. I ordered some simple chili cheese fries, nothing to write home about, but their two bean chili was solid bar food. The price of course is about right for that corner of Carroll Gardens. That is to say, maybe not the best rate ever, but I think atmosphere and service cover a lot of ground. Blasting alt rock, the bartenders came out to also waiter the tables and offered free shots to those there supporting the newborn soccer club of New York. Not far at all from the Bergen F/G stop! As you walk back north towards the train, you can stare at the downtown Brooklyn skyline pondering that day's win, loss, or tie (in today's case, a tie to Orlando). I think it's a great stop for sports fans. I'm really excited to go back again and bring some friends. read more