The Anchored Inn — Restaurant in New York

I’ve been in the neighborhood for 10 years and the vibe of this place is different since pre-covid. I went in yesterday for a drink and dinner, and sat at the corner of the bar where there were two empty seats on either side of me. Made eye contact with both bartenders but they seemed busy, so I waited. I think it’s relevant to mention that one was male and one was female (and I now know that the woman is a manager there), and that both were white and I am black.

I waited about 3-4 minutes and then an older white man walks in, acknowledges my presence and sits down. Within SECONDS, he has a PBR in front of him, before he’s even had time to remove his earbuds. I think to myself “fine, he’s a regular but they’re not too busy to help him.” The male bartender briefly makes eye contact with me AGAIN after putting this guy’s beer down and I start to say something but he walks away, now seemingly “too busy” again.

Another minute goes by and finally the white female bartender/manager gestures for him to come help me, so he comes over and asks what I want. I ask for a PBR and he goes to get it. But I’d had to wait 5 minutes for this beer that the guy next to me got in 5 seconds when I’d gotten there first? I became so angry while waiting for him to come back that I when I saw him returning with the beer, before he opened it, I said “actually, never mind.” Grabbed my stuff and left.

I know that being the only black person in the bar when this happened doesn’t mean it was racism, but it looked like racism. I know that they were busy and the white guy who walked in was a regular or friend of the manager so they hooked him up, but you can’t claim to be “too busy” to help a black customer when you’re not too busy to help your white friend who shows up, and you can’t gaslight me into believing that I didn’t make eye contact with both bartenders TWICE while being ignored.

I came back a few minutes later to explain to them why I’d left — the male bartender made excuses and the white female manager (who was sitting at the bar with the regular when I came in) walked away when she heard me begin to complain (after we made eye contact again).

Racism is alive and well in 2022, no matter how well some people will try to pretend that’s...

I was at an art exhibit nearby and needed food badly. Unfortunately for me, there were only two places still serving food. We ended up at The Anchored Inn because the other spot was charging a $50 cover due to some band.

I have to say, I’ve had some bad experiences before, but this topped the list. We walked in—the doorman was cool—found a couple of stools at the bar, and sat down. Not one of the bartenders acknowledged us. Two of my friends actually left because it was absolutely ridiculous that we were sitting directly in front of the bartenders, who were seemingly ignoring us. Granted, I would’ve left too, but I was STARVING and in desperate need of food.

We asked for menus about 10 minutes in. All in all, it took about 20+ minutes to get menus—MENUS! And that’s being generous. What’s funny is that I watched folks walk in after us and get served. Hell, I even watched the bartenders serve themselves drinks in front of us. The only obvious difference I could detect was that… well, we were the only melanated patrons. I sincerely hope that’s not why we were woefully ignored—maybe it was my hair—but that was just my observation.

About 35 minutes in, we finally got drinks, and they were terrible. The food served as the sustenance I needed, I suppose—at that point, it didn’t need to be enjoyable.

I just want to let the fine folks at The Anchored Inn know: message received loud and clear—"We’re not welcome." And as such, I have no intention of...

The Anchored Inn delivers exactly what you’d hope for from a neighborhood Brooklyn bar: character, comfort, and just enough quirk to make it memorable. From the moment you step inside, the nautical theme sets the tone—walls decked with maritime touches and even a vintage diving suit dangling from the ceiling give the place a funky, slightly offbeat vibe without feeling forced.

The menu is as eclectic as the décor. Sure, you’ll find familiar pub staples like burgers and nachos, but there’s also a welcome twist with Asian-inspired options like a solid Banh Mi. Vegetarians and vegans won’t feel like an afterthought here—the menu offers plenty of plant-based choices, which is refreshing. Prices stay reasonable across the board, making it easy to settle in for more than just one round.

Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. A small outdoor patio offers a casual spot when the weather’s good. Inside, the crowd felt mixed and low-key, giving the space an inclusive, relaxed energy.

All in all, The Anchored Inn feels like a spot that knows exactly what it is—a laid-back, slightly quirky place to grab a drink, enjoy better-than-expected food, and soak up...