Pine Box Rock Shop
12 Grattan Street (off Morgan Avenue)
Bushwick
718-366-6311
What it is: A bar and music venue located steps from the Morgan L stop in an old casket factory.
Why we love it: Owners/oft-bartenders Jeff and Heather are awesome people, encouraging a laid back, dog-friendly vibe where a good conversation isn’t hard to find. It’s also the best place in the area to catch some football while tipping back a local microbrew like Alphabet City Dizzy Brewnette or the latest Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Reserve. You can look over the old show stubs that are scattered as part of the bar top and wonder how many thousands of dollars of concert money are represented beneath your beverage. Live music in a sectioned-off venue, karaoke, Walking Dead watching parties…what’s not to love? Bring good talkers, rockers, groups, zombie-enthusiasts, dog-lovers, and that vegan friend of yours
What to order: Along with a completely domestic, badass beer list with ABV range of 3.8 to a walloping 10.0%, you can try one of their seasonal cocktails like the Dig For Fire (Espolon muddled with jalapenos and simple syrup) or the Phyllis Diller (Jim Beam, apple juice and fresh lemon, served on the rocks with a crisp apple slice).
Regular tip: Pine Box’s beer and cocktails are 100% vegan. If you didn’t know it, everything from bone meal to beetle extract can be found in many adult beverages. Pine Box gets around using certain bar staples like Baileys by making their own vegan cream, using Kahlua and vanilla soy milk. People rave about their vegan empanadas and sometimes vegan food trucks park out front.