Understudy

I went here on a Friday afternoon and was pleased to see they're back in action. My friend and I were impressed with the friendly bartenders/staff including the great recommendation for the drinks we ordered AND their overall attentiveness. The music was great too, not whisper-mode but loud enough for it to be a vibe. The space is huge with cool dimmed lighting which is, again, a vibe. Come here with 1 friend or 20 friends, you will have a great time.

I think I found my new favorite afterwork bar. Located in the DeKalb market, surrounded by various options of good eats, Understudy is definitely a great place for drinks and catching up with friends. I went there on a Friday evening and there was a live DJ playing old school hip-hop and R&B. I asked the bartender for suggestions and he made me a pomegranate martini. It was delicious! They also allowed us to grab food in the food court and bring it in to eat, which was a plus. They have happy hour from 4 to 7 PM.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Amazing Artistic bartender, Abraham! He makes the space a pleasure. Because there is a bar area and an open court for dancing or lounging, think about installing some soundproof curtains. The dance music on Latin nights is sooooo loud that it bleeds into the bar area which already has a playlist. It's just too much, too loud. Also, to the owner, consider lengthen extending your closing time on Thursdays - Saturdays & perhaps some theme nights, (especially for football and boxing), your bar would profit well.

Came here instead of my regular. Hidden gem for sure, come on Wednesdays for Terrence. Objectively good music and drinks at a decent price. Top shelf selection is solid.

We hosted a welcome dinner at the Understudy Bar the night before our son's wedding. We had 110 people at this dinner and everyone complimented us on the choice of venue. The place is amazing, the food delicious, the drinks plentiful. But the real kudos goes to Mina Abdelsayed, who worked with us for months to make the evening a success. He and his employees went over and above to help kick off a great weekend in style. Thank you!!

Had the best time last night! We took shelter into the market to avoid the rain and ended up at the Understudy bar, what a gem! The French bartender took good care of us with delicious cocktails (some of them not even on the menu) and the 2for1 deal on some of them made it all really affordable! Thank you guys! Keep up the good work! Would recommend!!

Service was quite poor. The male French bartender with the bun was rude, inattentive, and had a very poor attitude. The bar wasn’t that crowded and he still managed to ignore several people attempting to purchase drinks. The happy hour deal is good, but I didn’t wind up staying because the bartender was so rude. There are many better places in the area.

Cute decor and space. I went for happy hour on a Friday and they were blasting music way too loud for the space and time of day. Bartender was slow and unfocused; he would take my order, then take someone else's order, then make their drinks, then come back to making mine. Hopefully service will improve with more training.

Good standard drinks. Suspiciously neglectful service. I got the knee knocker and my two friends got the birds of prey and the spiked iced tea (don't recall the name). They were good but it was the service that docked our esperience There was only one bartender and the bar seating mostly occupied -- but otherwise the bar was not busy on a weeknight. By the time 10:15 pm rolled around, I asked for the checks. Twenty minutes passed by, and my friend asked for the checks again. Ten minutes later, the bartender slides a single check with all of our drinks to my second friend. Why the long wait, putting all the drinks onto one tab, and giving the check to the one non-POC person who didn't ask for the checks? Would not go here again due to the lack of service but otherwise it was okay.

After some years, I finally visited this place located in the Dekalb food market. I came during the beginning of happy hour during the weekday. So it wasn't packed. There were booth seats, table seats and stools near the bar. I took the stools since I was riding solo. They asked for my vax card and gave me the menus which were relatively short. At this bar, they didn't have a food/snack menu and it makes sense because right outside are many different food stalls. I don't know if that changes when it is late though. And people were bringing what I assume was food from the hall into the bar. Also, in terms of the menus I received their was an emphasis on cocktails especially on the happy hour menu. This also makes sense since two stalls in the food hall are Brooklyn Wine Cellar and Craft and Carry (beer) so focus on the cocktails. In the happy hour menu, they had two cocktails. There was an autumn/winter sangria and a ginger shandy. I opted for the latter though the bartender let me know that they were freshly making it so it could take a while. He also let me try the sangria so I was certain of my choice. I enjoyed the shandy. The ginger really hit where I needed it to. Vibes were relatively quiet at the time. It seems like regular often come here as there was familiarity between some people and the bartenders. It seemed fun and jovial as the bartenders danced and made jokes. I didn't know they had a bathroom until after I left but I know having one separate from the main food hall is a win. Overall, while this won't be a bar I would make my way to regularly I think this would be an option for someone who wants a custom drink after dealing with late afternoon shopping at Target or Trader Joe's

- 8pm late happy hour is clutch - very friendly bartenders - drinks are mixed well - $13-15 drinks - they change H/H menu monthly - good sound system - the music they play is kind of all over the place as far as vibe (they might play Jay Z rap and then some slow RnB) Idk the mood they're trying to create - the staff works well with you, if you are planning a party

Do you want to wait forever for service even though there are like 4 people behind the bar? Then oh boy, you'll love Understudy. How about bartenders who aren't certain what the happy hour specials are? Well, then you're in luck! For the record, HH is two-for-one well and drafts. The space is fine, there's a giant dance floor/event space next door. And there's a DJ playing music at the bar even when it's 1/8 full. Go here before Alamo if you don't want to spend House of Wax prices, but otherwise, not worth going to.

Delicious cocktails, fun bartender, and good vibes all around. Love that they have themed nights.

Amazingly cozy overall great spot, the drinks were amazing and the bartender is incredible.

Great happy hour deal daily. Two for one all of drafts, wines and select cocktails. Also Bachata on Thursday and DJ every Friday! This is the SPOT in Downtown Brooklyn!

Understudy is a good addition to the other vendors inside Dekalb market. It's a great place to grab a drink before/after you eat. It's a fairly large space and can probably accommodate a big crowd of people. Some people seem to be surprised my the price of drinks. There are mostly $14 options, with a couple cocktails reaching $20. That seems a little too expensive for the ambiance, as do most things in Dekalb Market. I enjoyed my drink and experience, and I'll definitely be back for the convenience factor alone. It's a great addition for a fun night dipping around vendors. I wonder if you can get cocktails to go, as similar to the wine and beer vendors in Dekalb Market?

Listen. I love a good bar, especially a cocktail bar. The bar manager Alex is amazing. That being said, I got charged $18 for a Ron Zacapa Solera 23 here. That's wayyyyyyy more than I've ever been charged in Manhattan. That bottle is 45-53 bucks a 750ml. There's no way freaking possible it should be priced this way. Honestly, I'm never coming back here and I live a block away in a high rise. It's priced even out of our budgets. I feel sad. So much potential. Yet, insane pricing. Go to House of Wax upstairs where the Ron Zacapa is $11.

The bartender took a while to get our drinks right and can't seem to remember more than one drink at a time. My friend had to go back and have his drink replaced because there were lipstick stains on his glass. I asked for tequila and Sprite but I was given a full glass of tequila. Most people won't complain about that but I want what I asked for. My friend ended up having to mix my drink for me so it's tolerable. The tables were dirty and we had to clean them up ourselves. Not a great experience but there's salsa next door every Friday. That saved the night.

I came here to celebrate my friend's birthday as she recently attended an event in the area. The bartenders weren't too attentive and service was okay. I would say that the drinks are made strong. My only complaint is that the amount I tipped on my card was changed. The bartender entered a higher amount than what I tipped. I got an email from square regarding the amount I paid including tip, and I remember tipping the bartender 18% but my tip was changed to reflect a 27% tip. I just think that's shady af, and they might have thought I don't remember but I do. I think this is incredibly dishonest, and they might have gotten away with it with other people so they probably thought they could do it again. I would advise going to a different bar

Came here for happy hour with a friend before seeing a movie. The happy hour is from 3-7 and is 2:1 drinks on drafts, wines, and mixed drinks. A very chill environment and very pretty decor/lighting.

Walked in here for a drink during happy hour. It was decently busy for the size of the place. I grabbed a seat at the bar. While waiting for the bartender to come over I noticed four fruit flies chilling on top of a light fixture at the bar. That was note for me to leave. It's disappointing because it had a cool vibe.

Nice hidden trendy spot in Dekelb market. The bartender made me the The leading Lady. I love the guava flavor but dont get me wrong I dont love overly sweet drinks but this Leading Lady needs a touch of sugar. Cristal and the other asian bartender were both very friendly not douchey and good music. This is a pretty good hang out spot for big groups. I will be back to try another round!

This place is super hip. The DJ is just back to back excellent records and the drinks are A1. If you're around you must stop by! Thanks Abraham for the amazing drinks and your courtesy!!! Your energy and passion for making drinks show!!!

Pretty chill bar to visit on a Sunday evening. It wasn't busy and I could actually have a decent conversation without yelling. The bartender was attentive and made decent margaritas, mojitos, and Mexican mules which we ordered.

Best spot ever! Eclectic and inventive cocktails, some key local beers on tap, dope staff

Understudy is for sure a cool spot. It's well decorated, funky fixtures and has a good amount of seating for this newer addition to the DeKalb market food hall. I decided to venture in with a friend for their 2 for 1 happy hour deal and despite the bar not being very full, it did take a while to get drinks. For the many bar backs there were only 2 bar tenders behind the spacious bar with very slow service. However, the drinks were good! We ordered two Tom Collins (which is one of the cocktails included in the 2 for 1 happy hour deal) and continued to order gin and tonics during our stay. Despite the slow service, we did enjoy the ambiance and our drinks. Next time I come for the happy hour deal however, I may try another day of the week to see if the service behind the bar is any better (it was a Friday after all).

This place is great. It just opened but Alex and Mario both took care of us. The vibe is almost a speakeasy feel. Drinks are on point! Def coming here more often.

We came to the understudy bar and had a great time. Bald bartender Avelon (sorry cant remember exactly) was extremely welcoming and knew fun details about the different types of spirits. Definitely a great date spot or place for the girls to go for "girls night". Cheers to the understudy staff for bringing another great bar to BK. Btw chips and blue cheese dip is a must on the tapas menu.

Not sure what a person has to do to get service here. We came in on Wednesday night and the lighter skinned bartender spent hIs time talking to a group of women at one end of the bar. The other bartender on duty acknowledged us once we gave up and decided to leave. He was very apologetic but we had already made up our minds to spend our money elsewhere. This bar is a block away from our house. I would love to come here often but you all need to learn the basics of service and not only cater to the women at one end of the bar. Pick up women on your own time.

Never again just because someone needed to use the restroom they got kick out by manager. Not everyone goes out with the mentality of getting drunk some ppl go out to enjoy a drink. There's better places where they treat you better for your money

Love this bar it's located in the back of a food court downtown Brooklyn. the bartenders are very nice. The drinks are good and they have great 2 for 1 happy hour specials . This bar doesn't have food but you can buy food from any vendor right in the food court and eat in there. Certain nights they have a Dj. There's always an event going on at the dekalb stage right next door. The manager Chris is rude and doesn't know how to speak to people . But the other two managers Anwon and Wayde are wonderful. They're respectful involved with all the events.

The newer baristas they've hired..ehhhhhhh. The Asian man with the piercing on his left ear was extremely, rude . He kept slamming the liquor bottles on the counter , even his coworker asked him if he was good. I honestly wanted to know what the reason was for it . I knew he was new because I even had to clarify which particular drink I wanted as he assumed I wanted a certain other kind. And what bar runs out of alcohol to make one certain drink. Has really gone down since it's opened tbh . sticking to the on tap shop located 50ft from this place

Not a bar I would go to to watch NBA, NFL, or any other sports event. Had to fight tooth & nail with bartender about putting game on, while episode of Star Trek featuring Whoopi Goldberg played on both TV's. Didn't they see the movie Eddie? Whoopi's would of slapped them for not playing the game. Maybe I should of taken this to Applebees.

This place is absolutely amazing! The whole atmosphere is just amazing! Love the music, atmosphere and the amazing drinks that Brian makes! I am visiting from Florida and I wish that we had something like this back home. I will make sure that i return here every visit. DO NOT MISS YOUR CHANCE TO VISIT HERE! You will regret it! Do yourself a favor and get here!

I don't do reviews often, but I had such a great time last night that I wanted to leave one. After stopping by Dekalb Market for some Bunsmith, I stopped in Understudy for a cocktail and had a blast. Ambiance is great with even better service. Had two cocktails (which were both amazing). Ask for Avelin!

I went to Understudy with out many expectations. My sister was staying at a hotel nearby and we wanted to grab a quiet drink together. Turned out it wasn't really the spot for a quiet drink, but we stayed and had fun anyway. The bartenders were really nice and gave generous pours of wine. The vibe in the bar was really great. People were dancing and singing and having fun. We really enjoyed being able to catch up and watch other people in the bar let loose after a long week of work. Towards the end of the night three guys started to harass my sister and I. The audacity and persistence of these men was astounding. The harassment escalated to them trying to "pat us down" while we were in mid conversation with the manager. The manager very professionally tried to diffuse the situation. When my sister and I got up to leave he walked out with us to make sure that those guys did not follow us out. I really appreciate that the manager takes the safety of women seriously. The manager also did a great job of creating a fun atmosphere for both this staff and patrons.

A concoction of coconut, lime juice and dark rum dubbed the "Showtime Martini" went down so smooth. The atmosphere, comfy conforming bar seats, cool neon signs and lighting bring an interesting but cool space to hangout in. My only concern is the pricing, which for some might touch a little closer to home but is worth it in my honest opinion. Thanks for being a cool introduction to a changing Brooklyn Understudy!

New favorite bar. Cute Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The bartender Brian is so wonderful- great conversation and he makes even better cocktails! Come for the vibe, stay cuz of Brian!

I would leave a negative star if possible. Went here because they were hosting a dubstep event. After purchasing a Jack and Coke, I walked out of the bar area for 2 seconds then walked back in thru the same door. I didn't notice I had walked by "the manager" Wade or Wayne not too sure what his name was and asked him where the restroom was. This dude assured me I didn't buy the canned soda his bartender gave me (because the bartender with a mustache was supposed to give me the soda in a cup not a can) and didn't want to tell me where the restroom inside the bar was. I showed him the receipt and he still tells me I didn't buy it there. The manager assuring me I didn't buy my drink there irritated me so much that we exchanged some words. He then had security kick me out and his assistant manager or who ever she was starts yelling like a crazy person trying to have me react so she can have their security throw me out. I didn't react and told her how ridiculous she looked. People get a small amount of power and walk around like they are someone important. I would not recommend this place at all. This all started over asking where the restroom was. Please go to another BAR. This place needs new staff. Im not sure how those managers are managers.

Never been anywhere that has so many people behind the bar that never serve you. They appear then disappear. Except for one guy who seems to be employed to distract and tell jokes to the bartenders. Great drinks tho - when they arrive

This bar has an incredible happy hour deal, good drinks but somehow doesn't allow food inside despite being in a food hall. Otherwise it'd be 5 stars.

Slow services everytime! Amazing place but u guys need to be on top of your shit special on weakened.

Wide variety of excellently executed classic cocktails and great variety of signatures. Friendly staff that will work w/ any flavor profile or preferred spirit. Remi, Joey and Abe are great at making you feel welcome. Best happy hour deal in the area, and gets busy. Love it after 8, when bartenders can be mixologists and create exactly what you want. Best high end tequila menu in neighborhood.

This place is horrible. The manager came to me around 8pm on Saturday, September 28. I was looking for a place to try to bring a group of my friends to. I was waiting on the line for the restroom and the manager called male security on me to escort me out because I proceeded to ask why I couldn't use the restroom meanwhile, my card was on the tab and my belongings were on the table. One of the male security touched me and I politely asked him not to touch me because i had not been drinking much. He then called four other male security guards to escort me out. Will never recommend this place to anyone to go for fun or business. There are other better places to grab drinks within dekalb market like the wine cellar or carry out with a variety of drinks to order from but most importantly, they treat you with respect and are not condescending. The manager was rude, condescending and disrespectful.