If I wouldn't have gone for myself, I would have never believed it.
It was only a week ago... and there I was. Sitting under the trees on park benches, drinking cold Czech beer and eating pierogies... with about 500 people.
The place is the famous Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria, Queens, and if you haven't been... well, you haven't experienced one of the most authentic destinations in NYC.
Why is the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden magic?
Well...
1. They have just about every beer brewed in Eastern Europe, and most of them on tap. They come in great mugs that refill from your enormous pitcher. This they bring you while you sit under a tree outside in their Beer Garden, under an umbrella or shady tree. Got your attention?!2. They have an outdoor grill that grills homemade Klobasa sausages, and serves them with rye bread, fries, sauerkraut, dumplings and cucumber salad. Here we go.
3. They have a real menu of... ready?.... Chicken Paprikash, Chicken Schnitzel, Chicken Bohemka, Beef Goulash & Dumplings, Potato Pancakes, tender Mushroom Pirogi and Smažený vepřový řízek & příloha (thats Breaded and fried pork cutlet served with Czech potato salad... oh my god). All of it is fantastic, and the real deal. Insane.
4. Almost nobody speaks decent english, and they don't care. You gotta love it.
5. It's affordable, and can be reached by by subway.
Take my word for it, this is simply a terrific place to bring a group, or even a buddy. It's screaming with history (the Beer Garden opened in 1919) and is infectious in spirit. WHere did these places vanish to?
Not to mention the size. I'm fairly sure this much property in Manhattan would run ya about $20 mil.
All of the info you need is in this link, so check it out and get the info you need to make the trip over. The hours can be a little funny, so make sure you don't arrive too early, or you'll be walking around the neighborhood for a while.
Have fun, and eat a plate of Goulash for me!
