Earl's Beer and Cheese Reviews

4.3

1,312 of 13,358 Restaurants in New York City


Reviews

dark and quirky

By Ritz1165 |

Have walked by from garage for years. Finally stopped in for lunch at the sidewalk counter. Great kale, radish, cheese and fried egg salad with heaps of pork belly in sesame dressing. Smashed something beer. Back room is dark but in the evening who would care?

Awesome food with great beer

By EnglishmanSA |

Tried the taco and it was great!!! Had a few of the 7% IPA and all was good with the world. A little pricey for the pints, but still a great hidden spot in NY.

Dang that girl can whistle

By St3v133yr3 |

Called in here following good online reviews and it was goooooood! Cuban Reuben and the NYC grilled cheese were something to write about. In a pleasant aside, the girl who served us could whistle like pro and that’s always a skill I appreciate.

One word: BeerCheese.

By Ithakan |

While Earl's was not at all the dive I'd hoped for, it was still totally enjoyable. You order at the counter, and the person who served us was just great. I'm not a beer lover, but he suggested a draft that was delicious--and he didn't hesitate to pour a taste so I could try before deciding. The menu is pretty limited, and for those who don't eat pork, it's even more limited--but there's actually a kale salad on offer that starts out vegetarian and could go vegan in a pinch. But I wasn't here for the health food. The "beer cheese" appetizer is the go-to bar snack, and it's not what I thought it would be. I expected a fondue-like thing, and it's much firmer than that. It's not a dip, it's a spread. And it has a nice kick of raw garlic. Trowel it onto hot thick slabs of grilled bread and wash it down with crisp beer, and you've got yourself a treat. I ordered a "regular beer cheese" as my meal, and made it about half the way through. My partner had the NY grilled cheese, which starts out with sharp NY cheddar and then kicks it up a notch by adding pork belly, kimchee and an egg. Super-crunchy potato chips are a nice, salty accompaniment. But the biggest surprise was their bread. I don't know where they source it, but it's excellent. No need to alert your cardiologist or your nutritionist; just go and enjoy. (One side note: Ladies, if you need the restroom, take a candle or a headlamp. It's dark in there!)

Great Beers and cheese

By jraul |

Excellent beers, cheese, service and environment. Give it a try! We had several beers and cheeses, all delicious.

Completely wonderful in every way

By DRB380 |

We were looking for this place and still walked past it, such is its modest size and appearance. Make no mistake, this place is worth a trip from anywhere in NYC. The place is tiny but we pulled up a stool at the bar and sampled the range of fantastic craft ales. The food is also amazing - the beer cheese on crusty bread is incredible and the general vibe and atmosphere is wonderful. We had 10 nights in NYC and this place was one of the absolute stand out highlights.Well worth every one of the five stars.

Small but good

By Isabel M |

Went here with my sister for a quick meal and it was great. The place is really small, but cozy. The menu, written on the board, is simple and perfect. The orders have to be made at the counter. Great beers and grilled cheese with fig jam.

Hipster dive bar with excellent beer cheese

By Hilary O |

This was my second visit (on holiday from the UK) and it lived up to the memory of last time. Sunday evening, pouring with rain outside and me and my sister sat for hours drinking craft ale and eating the AMAZING spicy beer cheese, while playing board games. The Taco is also fricking delicious. It's a very laid back vibe, and not in any way glamorous but its perfect for a casual lunch or cosy evening.

Special but worth trying

By boss32 |

It's a shame that the room is so poorly lit and that cleanliness is not the priority..... the plastic tablecloth stuck so much that even the cutlery suffered! If you don't take the specialty (cheese to spread on bread), the pasta is better than the "caramelized" chicken. Only the beer is acceptable and of course the price is very low for this city!

Friendly Tavern, Very Good Grilled Cheese

By TheKudzuKid |

This was a great spot for a quick afternoon snack--very satisfying grilled cheese and caramelized onion. Good vibe, friendly service. We hope to go back with bigger appetites!

Food is okay, friendly staff, but slow service

By Let's make Astoria's restaurants better! |

We found this eatery by accident strolling up into Harlem, and as we were hungry thought we would give it a try. Earl’s while very friendly doesn’t quite have its act together completely yet. Service was a bit slow and they not have a delivery service, or a take-out menu. The staff often seem to disappear for relatively long periods of time, so if you want to grab a bite, pay the bill and leave you might have to wait a bit longer than necessary. For starters we took the tomato soup. It was far too spicy. We also ordered the Blue Cheese Grilled Cheese which was okay. All in all I am not sure if I will come back.

Off beaten path place with phenomenal food

By suzi1967 |

my nephew lives near here and talks about Earl's all the time. We visited with him and spent a Saturday afternoon at Earl's. Brunch was great, very small place where people come and stay for hours. They have a ton of games and while we there people stayed for hours. Food was great, lots of craft beers, no table service you though..you order from the bar. I will be going back to try the tacos!!!

Beer...and cheese

By Paul Reviews |

Alright so for a few years I’ve been meaning to come to Earl’s after a few friends recommended it. Today I finally happened to be in the area and stopped in. Maybe I came in with too high of expectations, maybe it was just an off day, but my experience was nothing more than mediocre. The beers on tap were fine, no complaints there, but the food was whatever and kind of meh. Started out with the beer cheese, also had the Reuben. Like I said the food was kind of let down, I left feeling disappointed. Honestly I doubt I’ll be back but hopefully you have a better experience than me.

Absolute Gem

By Mowen09 |

What's not to love? You walk in to an intimate hidden gem in Harlem, funny atmosphere filled with lovers of cheese and beer. You can't go wrong - quick snack after the park or long meal. Both food and beers are not to be missed!

I love this place!

By Nick B |

The food is always terrific. I love the Earl's Taco. It's a scallion pancake wrapped around house made coleslaw and pulled pork. It's got some kick! The beer cheese is awesome and the Mac N Cheese is the best around. All of this, and one of the better rotations of crafty beers. There's more seating now that they opened up the back.

Good beer, great beer cheese, expensive for what I'm accustomed

By wvlivingston |

The atmosphere is very typical neighborhood pub, which is great or not so great, depending on what you're seeking. I liked the feel. The beer was good and with a good variety of offerings. The beer cheese is fantastic. It may have a lot to do with the fact that I'm not accustomed to NYC prices. 2 beers and a small serving of beer cheese, with no wait service except to bring to the table what you've ordered at the bar was $26. In Brevard, NC, I would have gotten equally good atmosphere, friendlier service, better beer and wouldn't have paid more than $13. Again, I'm probably not accustomed to NYC prices.

Best place for sandwich and beer

By Gonzalo A |

Great place, great environment, great cheese, great Cuba Reuben sandwich and great mac and cheese. I've gone twice and I will repeat!

Kalvin, with a "K" is fantastic!!

By crusier2 |

What a great place! The place is small, so when we walked in we didn't think there was any where for us to sit. Kalvin came from behind the bar, introduced himself as he welcomed us, then showed us to a table in the back. He then asked us a few questions about our drink preferences and brought us beers that fit everyone's preferences. I must say Kalvin KNOWS his beers. The food was great, the beer cheese and pickles were to die for! This place is a hidden gem! Kalvin, you made our evening at Earl's perfect!

Cool Upper East Side Tavern

By SarahSchad |

As mentioned previously, you could easily miss Earl's. It's off the tourist trail and tiny. Tiny but amazing! Has Craft beers that change daily so make sure to stop by if Craft beers are your thing! Also a great menu for a snack. There was four of us - two had the Mac 'n' Cheese - made with goats cheese, one had the Beer Cheese - fried bread with a bowl of spreadable beer cheese and I had the blue cheese bun with fig chutney - a bit too sweet for my liking but OK. All in all a great little find on a long day out! Would definitely recommend!

Damn good beer & cheese

By Keiraroo |

the beer selection changes daily. I had a really nice wheat beer and blue cheese sandwich. Really good, not too filling. Perfect lunch after a long walk around the met

Late lunch in a definitely forgettable place !

By John82 |

I want to keep it very simple , the food is greasy and not good . I really do not understand why has such a good score ???? It’s dark, dirty and not cool at all , it’s personal obviously but I really do not see the point or why got such good reviews ........

Beer and cheese - exactly that!

By cwarz |

Gagging for a grilled cheese sandwich on a recent trip to NYC, my friend suggested Earl's, as she'd never been there either. Loved the little place, due to its quirky charm. Wasn't what I was expecting sandwich-wise due to the addition of kimchi and an egg, but great fun all the same. I even had a beer, which I don't usually have - it just seemed the right thing to do. Combine the two somehow and you get beer cheese - rather tasty!

Not what expected

By hollytrea |

This place was recommended by someone to me. They said they make a killer grilled cheese and a nice beer. It is a charming and quirky place. The woman handling the bar that day was great, as was all the service. They had some great beer choices and I really enjoyed the one I got. We came middle of the day on the weekend so the menu was limited. It wasn't what I expected as I guess I was anticipating more different kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches. Maybe I misunderstood the recommendation. There was one on the menu we got and it was definitely a fancy kind of grilled cheese. It has pork, egg, and some other stuff. Their was cabbage in it, which really took away from the flavor. It was much better once I removed that from my sandwich. The bread was excellent and toasted perfectly. Overall I can see the appeal as its not your grandmother's grilled cheese. However, I was sort of hoping for something a little more simplistic.

Not bad, not classic

By tombillinge |

We came here expecting to eat grilled cheese sandwiches, but actually found that they don't really do that. We had the NY cheddar, the mozzarella and a tomato soup. The best thing was the soup - spicy and creamy - very good. The sandwiches were not that great. The mozzarella had cucumber in it and was OK. The NY Cheddar was mostly pork and kimchi with an afterthought of cheese. The pork was super dry and fatty at the same time. The service was good and the place is really cool, I just wish the food was better.

A great stop if in the area

By MR0213 |

This is my absolute favorite local spot. Who would think some place so tiny could be so good! They have an ever-rotating delicious selection of what's on tap, in addition to the regular cans they have. The beer cheese is completely genius and amazing, their bread pudding is what dreams are made of. Everything I've had has been good. Owners are super chill and constantly checking that everyones happy with the place, and they keep an awesome selection of tunes on in the background. Don't be discouraged if u try to go and it looks packed, if u wait 5 mins a spot usually opens up

Beer and Sports

By JBentraveler |

Wanting to watch the game and grab a beer after the museum, we found Earl's. It is small and narrow, but very friendly. They offered a few craft beers on tap that were very good, The menu is limited to salads, sandwiches, and other snacks. we had the cheese spread special and the mac/cheese. The spread was Vermont cheddar with a little spice. The mac/cheese was better. Only complaint was the location of the TV's and the set up. The tables do not face the tv's.

Fun Local Bar

By Allie Gone Away |

Great little hole in the wall that sticks to its niche, and does it well. Food is meat, bread and cheese heavy (Vegans avert your eyes!), but vegetarians and picky eaters can find a good meal here. Trivia on Tuesday night is the place to be.

Home of the beer cheese (aka best bar food ever)

By Capn_Cor |

I debate giving this place 5 starts because the tiny joint gets crowded enough as it is. But i can not tell a lie, as my go to local beer (its practically across the street from my apartment) it does not get any better than this. Any friends, local or out of town, that I bring here agree. If you like beer, and cheese, and the amazing amalgamation of the two you owe yourself a visit here. Four small kegs on tap, always rotating and always a good selection. On a busy night at least one of the bars will normally change over while you enjoy the aforementioned beer cheese. Do yourself a favor and check this place out (just not too often, please).

Upper East Side Eatery

By ninjadad |

Stopped in here after we went to the Museum of the City of New York. A couple to blocks from Mt Sinai, this little place has a limited menu but the food was tasty and beer a variety. We had the tacos and cheese spread. Excellent. If I was in the neighborhood, I would be back.

Great place!!

By Tlmo84 |

We went to the metropolitan in the morning and after few hours there Lonely Planet helped us to decide where to eat. We were not the only ones there so I think is been a good choice by the writers. We were really happy with the food and service. Good place to relax after a long morning in the museum. The food was nice! Beer and cheese to share and mains for two. Tasty food. Thanks

Delicious mac and cheese

By Silvia M |

I was in the search of macaroni with cheese in the city since it is the first time that I visit the US. My friends tasted this delicious dish along with spicy tomato soup and some beer cheese with croutons. The facilities were esthetically really original with a gothic restroom.

Best food I've ever eaten

By Joe C |

This place is amazing - go! It's a small place with a nice atmosphere - really nice place with friendly staff and quick service. . Everything on the menu sounded good - I ordered the Cuban Reuben sandwich and it was the BEST thing I've eaten anywhere. I mean that. Apparently the beer selection changes really frequently so there's probably not much point recommending what I had, but I will say it was a really good one and I would have stayed to drink more if I didn't have things to do! Next time I go to New York this will be the first place I go.

Food delicious, service average

By LHS1986 |

I purposefully came to check out this place after a recommendation. The food was delicious, music was great, the decor was quirky and cool. The service however had a lot to be desired. The bar girl was rude, sullen and due her to unpleasantness towards me (muttering to her friend 'oh she's British' in a distasteful tone) I left earlier than I had wanted to.

The New New York

By travelingmannyc |

The bomb. Best beer curation around and the house salad is sublime. Kale + carrot ginger dressing. Yes !

Cheers sequel

By Ginger |

Earl's is the Cheers of New York City. Great music, great beer, Trivia Night is awsome, and the cheese bread is to die for. We walked in there not knowing a soul and walked out planning our next visit back. The place is small and quaint and should not be missed.

Nice little place

By PA-papermaker |

OK - little is a bit of an understatement - hole in the wall might be more appropriate but...My wife and I visited NYC last weekend. Went for a long walk to the top of central park and when coming back we came upon Earl's. After a quick look at reviews, we decided to give it a try. They had 4 different craft brews on tap. Not a lot compared to many bars in the city but they had a couple of good choices. My wife ordered the beer cheese and I had the taco. Beer cheese came with ample grilled bread, very tasty. The taco was huge and quite good as well. I would go back there again, and in a city with as many bars and restaurants, I guess that is saying something! Now if you are going expecting linen table cloths and private booths or tables, you are going to be disappointed. Think one long communal table and such. Place is friendly and clean.

Cheap and cheerful

By SJWoodrow |

Great selection of beers, cheap drinks ($7 glass of wine) and the food hits the spot. Had the goat's cheese and rosemary Mac and Cheese which was really filling comfort food. Fast service, helpful staff, comfortable atmosphere. A great visit!

Awesome Food

By Trotpeg |

Earl's has a very small menu and beer selection, but everything we tried was really good. NY State cheddar sandwich with pork belly and kimchi on grilled sourdough was greasy, in a good way, and absolutely delicious. The mac and cheese with fresh rosemary is to die for. It is very small and very noisy when crowded, not a good place for conversation.

Hipster dive is whatever you make of it

By BizzieBee83 |

My husband and I randomly stumbled upon Earl's after a long doctor's appointment at Mount Sinai. We wanted just a snack and a beer before heading back to NJ for a later dinner and this place was oddly perfect for that. Small, unfinished, random, eclectic. The beer selection was small but we both enjoyed our picks. We got the beer cheese with bread to tide us over and it was decent. Crispy bread with fresh garlic cloves to rub and the cheese spread was good but not spectacular. Very quirky place glad we found it.

Amazing deliciousness and great service, too!

By RAP1999 |

We had a tough time finding Earl's because it's tiny and there was no sign outside, but once we did, we were very, very happy. We sat at the tiny bar and had the spicy tomato soup and split the NY Cheddar grilled cheese and Earl's taco. The soup was hot and delicious served with crusty bread and the grilled cheese with pork belly, fantastic kimchi, and a perfectly fried egg was a weird, but wonderfully tasty combo. The taco was my favorite, though, as I am a sucker for scallion pancakes and Korean flavors. In addition to the food, the bartender, Ryan, was so friendly and helpful. He just added to our experience! One thing to note, though, is that they only offer beer, wine, and NYC tap water for beverages. Luckily, we like beer!

Beer. Cheese. Delicious.

By justinmiller186 |

I went with a couple of friends to this place the other night and it was a great experience. It's got a very divey, but warm vibe to it, with a great rotating selection of beers. Each of us got something different to eat and it was all very good. I got the N.Y. State Cheddar sandwich, and it was incredible. Also a really good deal for $8. The mac and cheese may have been my least favorite, but I think that's the result of years of Kraft and Velveeta ruining my idea of what mac and cheese should taste like. I will definitely be visiting this place again my next time in NYC.

A++

By Darcy Vindevoghel |

While touring around New York we stumbling upon Earl's Beer and Cheese. I will admit I was a little hesitant based on judging a book by the cover. I asked a patron coming out if their meal was good and she absolutely raved about it! The menu is small but the food was absolutely fantastic! You must try to the Beer and Cheese spread, it is to die for! It turned out that our server had an extra beer and cheese spread that he offered us at no charge! One taste and we ordered another because it is that good! Would highly recommend and will definitely be a repeat customer!

Upper East Side Gem

By Kripa K |

Probably the best Tomato Soup I have ever had. This place is so cute and very "hold-in-the-wall". You can't go with more than a party of 2-3 but it’s worth it. The menu is limited but very unique and delicious!

Absolutely delightful!

By cpw1952 |

When there's such a paucity of places to find a good choice of craft beers uptown, Earl's was a small, warm and wonderfully welcoming oasis on the Upper West side of Manhattan. Beers were pleasantly inexpensive and, with all the available choices, the host was friendly and very easygoing about providing any number of sips to ease the difficult choice. But the sandwich I had really stole the show - a generous grilled cheese made with NY state cheddar, house made kimchi, pork belly and a fried egg accompanied by a generous side plate of potato chips. And (wonder of wonders!) the egg was only fried over easy. (I let the dripping yolk fall onto the potato chips for an extra special treat!). You'd be very hard pressed to find a better place to sit down, relax and unwind over a cold beer and a light meal after a brisk walk in Central Park.

OMG GO HERE AND EAT ALL THE THINGS

By F13JOY |

We were recommended this place on a random blog, and gave it a go based on the menu full of cheese - it was so good, we went back for more! It's a little way out from the usual tourist traps, but trust me, it's worth the trip. We went fairly early and there was no line to get in (unheard of in queue york...). It's less formal than most places, you seat yourself and order at the bar. There's a decent drinks selection, and a small but solid food menu consisting mainly of cheese based foods. I ordered the English muffin that had mozzarella and pickles in, and my husband got one with pork belly and cheese - both of us agreed it was the best food we had in New York. It was also the cheapest! The server recommended we tried the beer cheese, too - I don't regret that one bit. it's amazing. Basically - if you're in New York, go here and thank me later.

Fun little joint with really great food!

By ExcursionsByKate |

I live in the neighborhood and frequented this place about 6 times, and Im never disappointed. Very cozy place and frequently change beers on the tap which is nice! My favorite is the pork pulled cheese scallion pancake taco and the mac and cheese. Definitely off the beaten path and a lot of fun. Worth the trek up town and great place to go after visiting museum mile!

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

By Simone B |

You could easily miss Earl's. It's off the tourist trail and tiny. Make sure you make the effort if craft beer is your thing. A constantly changing offer on tap and in cans plus the incomparable beer cheese. Am still having dreams about it!

Affordable place, great craft beers and inventive menu items

By JO_D1377 |

We stopped by this place after visiting the Guggenheim. It is a cozy hole in the wall type of place, and cash only joint, that has about four different craft beers on tap. Beers range from $7-$10. My husband and I loved the grilled cheese with pork belly, kimchi, and fennel. If you love gastropub fare and craft beers at affordable-for-New York prices, you should really check this place out.

Amazing beer cheese!

By JMS |

We stumbled upon this place after a freezing walk around Central Park on New Year's Day 2014. It was such an amazing find on that day, amazing beer selection alongside great comforting food. The beer cheese and tomato soup really warmed us up. We went back on our honeymoon in June and again the beer cheese didn't disappoint again...although we over did it with the jumbo portion!!

Exceptional food and beer

By Mavirek |

Exceptional food and beer for a hole in a wall. Having only visited during lunch when the bar is closed, I can only speak for the communal bench area. I'm going to try the bar tonight. I had a scallion taco that was huge, filling and delicious. The selection of beer was also very good. I had a piney IPA from Firestone. Tonight I'll fill in the blanks regarding the bar that I haven't seen. You would understand what I mean if you were there. It's apparently two places side by side.

randomly great

By rocky b |

what a cool place, food and drink were great, only problem being how narrow the place is, other than that, it is amazing

Great pairing of original beers and tasty food

By Hannah W |

A cool little bar pairing two of my most favourite things. The food was original and tasty with a good selection of craft beers to choose from. Worth checking it out

Tasty and filling

By go_places_12 |

This place has a cosy hunting lodge decor with multiple deer heads on the walls and cool background music. Dark but not smoky. The salad with pork belly was fresh tasty and filing. The toasted cheddar sandwich w pork belly was really filling especially as the bread is pan fried. Good ales to accompany the food. We went for a late lunch and it was so hearty and filling that we ended up skipping dinner. Great little neighborhood type place and off the beaten track If you want a change from museum mile.

Amazing beer cheese

By matthewtcohen |

The food here is incredible. Very simple, small menu, but everything I had was outstanding. Probably the best beer cheese I've eaten, delicious grilled cheese, fantastic (and huge) taco, and insanely amazing bread pudding.

Good bar and food

By Patricia G |

This is a bar with a limited menu. Congenial atmosphere with several card playing tables. Back to back chicken sandwich with chips was enough for two. Beer cheese was ok, but I’m from the land of Kentucky beer cheese and it didn’t compare. Nice selection of draft beer.

Wonderful selection of beer

By robcurtross |

It was fun stopping by on my walk yesterday for a quick glass of beer on a very hot day, and marvel at the incredible selection of beers on offer. Food was beautifully prepared and very, very good.

Neighborhood spot

By Helen H |

Easy and small pub-like near Mount Sinai. Welcoming waitress...great tomato soup and cheddar cheese spread. Nice selection of beers. One had the Cuban sandwich. Modest menu if you are really hungry. Neighborhood spot.

Great Selection of Craft Beers

By JohnSherman1 |

We visited this place after spending some time in the park, it was a bit out of the way from where we stayed but I'm glad we made the decision to visit. If you like your beer this is the place for you. The bartender was very knowledgeable about the different options and was able to recommend beers to my taste well. We went on a very hot day so the cool, well air-conditioned interior of the bar was very welcome. We ordered food here and unfortunately I have to say the macaroni cheese was very disappointing. There was not nearly enough cheese and far too much rosemary. In my opinion this herb should stay with red meat, not spoil a mac'n'cheese. We did get the beer cheese as well though and happy to say this was much better! We just went for a regular portion and it was more than enough for us to share, it's basically a cheese spread but comes with a delicious basket of warm bread and will go with your beer perfectly.

Worth going off the beaten track!

By Muirfield5 |

We nearly walked past it. So glad we didn't, this was our favourite lunch of our stay in NYC and the service was so friendly. I've never had such a good taco-superb!!

Yum

By yankeefan911 |

Great beer, great cheese (w/ bread, grilled cheese sammi). Small place, wouldn't recommend to a bigger group unless you're there at an off hour

Good

By CoyC |

Was in the neighborhood and saw the TA reviews. Very small place with a limited selection of beers and food. Seating is limited to probably around 15-20. I had the beer cheese and a Dale's Pale Ale. Both were good. In fact the beer cheese was very good. Would rec if you are in the area, but I wouldn't make a pilgrimage to get there.

Sleepey Surprise on the Upper East Side

By Cinandran |

Great food, atmosphere and service at Earl's. With a limited food and beer menu, everything needs to be perfect and it was! The sandwich we had, with in-house made pickles, a spicy mayo and chips, was a a delightful breakfast sandwich. Want to go back and try the mac and cheese.

Not bad...

By Gianluigi S |

A small, warm and welcoming place, packed of young people and spreading country music. The menu is short, but on the other hand this makes easier to choose. The "beer&cheese jumbo" was not that great deal, since it was just a tray full of buttered sourdough bread slices, plus a cup of a kind of cheddar cheese treated with some beer... it was not excellent as well. Instead the "Mac&cheese" were good: nicely served in a cup, flavoured with some rosemary and enriched with some goat cheese and shredded chicken on top. We only tried the house lager, and it wasn't bad, but I wouldn't order that again. The place is really peculiar, so I'm sorry I've not been able to fully enjoy it. The sensation I would change something in the menu remains though.

Unique and Delish!

By juk10487 |

Small menu packs a big punch when it comes to flavor! Earl's taco was delicious! Earl's has, hands down, the best bread pudding I have ever had. I don't even like bread pudding that much, but I wanted to take enough home to have it every day for the next year! Like many good eateries in the city, its a small space and seating is limited, so don't come with a large group unless you're getting food to go. I will definitely be back for more!

Yummy!!!!

By Lori D |

Be sure to order the cheese spread as it's out of this world. Great place to hang out and catch-up with friends.

Ridiculously good.

By LondonTraveler008 |

Short menu and a short high quality beer list. The food is ridiculous. We had a pork belly, NY Cheddar and kimchi sandwich which had great quality slow cooked pork, good amount of spice from the kimchi and had a great texture. Then moved onto the foie gras, chip (yes, as in fries, weird but good!) and cheese tortilla wrap; the foie gras was freshly seared which is how I like it; not just pate. Was very succulent and extremely indulgent. Amazing. Now the beer cheese...this comes as a plate of toasted (read fried) sourdough, fresh garlic and some cheese spread; it's made from cheese made with beer (don't know how but it is...), some chilli and probably a bit of mayonnaise or something...if you're from Newcastle in the UK you'll know it as cheese savoury but on a totally different level! You rub the garlic on the bread then spread on some cheese...even though we were full we just couldn't stop eating it. Finished with a bread pudding which came in a sizzling metal pot with cream on it; was a rich and tasty finish. DON'T come here if you're on a diet. They do salads, but the likely outcome is at you'll break your diet. Make this your food blowout, you won't regret it.

Brilliant!

By alexandra577 |

I found Earl's on TripAdvisor when looking for bars locals would go to in NYC. It is a little grungey looking from the outside but do not let that keep you from going in! The staff and the beers were both delightful. My partner and I went on a Wednesday afternoon and it was busy enough but it really started to kick off after 5 when the after work crowd came in. It seemed to be a popular place for locals to be which was exactly what we were looking for. We did not try any of the food on our visit but the menu was extremely tempting! My partner and I each had a few pints and we were very happy with the recommendations the bartender offered (specifically the Watermelon Session Ale by Montauk Brewing Company!) I would definitely come back to Earl's again and told all my friends who live in NYC to visit.

A tasty neighborhood joint

By Barbara B |

We've been here several times and everything is delicious, affordable and just yummy. It's not a fancy place but the menu is quite upscale and everything I've ever ordered has been great.

Wisconsin or Upstate?

By Jane L |

Beer and cheese. Spicy beer cheese and toasted sourdough (?) bread. Taxidermy on the walls and faded wallpaper over wainscot. Feels like a hunting lodge or pub in Wisconsin or the UP Michigan. Menu is simple but flavorful. Bartender is from New Jersey but looks like he's from Portland, Ore. Go figure. As for the menu, go for the organic kale salad with an over easy fried egg and croutons w/ vinaigrette. Three types of decent wine are avail. for $10-$12. Not bad. Chill vibe, casual. The bartender will turn the volume on the TV up for ya. Easy place to talk for hours. Or watch TV. Looooong heavy wood table and equally looooong benches accommodates a larger group. No mixed drinks @ The Earl. But the place next door, Guthrie Inn, has a full bar but no food. Guess you have to choose one.

Great beer off the tourist trail

By kentishdorit |

OK we were tourists on a trail and we followed recommendations to find this place but were not disappointed. It's a tiny place. obviously well used by regulars. We were made to feel very welcome. The beer was good and all the bar snacks perfectly designed to soak up the third glass. Top tip. If you're there in the day time then go next door for a donut. Delicious!

Very good food!

By broomhilda04 |

We were looking for someplace to eat while out exploring Central Park and happened across Earls. It's a very tiny narrow place with a bar that holds maybe 3-4 people. You order at this little bar when you walk in and are given a table number. The bartender/waitress does not bring you refills, you have to get up and go up to the bar. A person from the kitchen will bring your food up from the downstairs. There were only maybe 3 tables and 4-5 booths. Now for the food....very good! Between 3 of us we ordered the beer cheese spread and bread ($7 for reg order and $12 for large), two torpedo tacos $11 each) and a bowl of mac n cheese (?). The tacos were very good as was the beer cheese spread. I did not try the mac n cheese, but was told by my niece that it was ok. I guess she didn't find it to be special. We did have a couple of apple cider beers which were good as well. Overall we were very pleased with our unexpected find.

Excelent option

By Raul F |

I went there on my holidays and it was one of the best places i had been to during my stay. The food is simple but good, having a combo with beer. Price ok. I would recomend it.

Beer and cheese at its best

By Karri P |

Wonderful little find. Good beer. Good food and good staff. Nearly walked past, need a bigger sign! Worth looking.