Alewife Taproom

The transformation of Long Island City from underserved 'hood to serious food-and-drink destination has been percolating for years. Alewife, a craft beer bar serving small bites and shareable plates, is a clear representation of LIC’s evolution. The tap list changes frequently, but on a recent visit, you could order pours of beers like Lord Hobo Brewing Co.’s Angelica Pale Wheat Ale, Brewery Ommegang’s Double Barrel Dubbel, Kings County Brewers Collective Morbid Hour Schwarzbier and even some of Alewife’s own suds. Soak up all that booze with bar bites like crispy Brussels sprouts with chili oil, crumbled blue cheese and pickled peppers ($7), buffalo chicken tacos ($5 each), strawberry-chipotle BBQ wings ($12) and a dry-rubbed pork belly banh mi ($15). And if you don’t love beer (blasphemy, we know), Alewife also offers a small selection of wine and cocktails like the Kryptonite with tequila, muddled jalapeno, fresh squeezed lime juice, orange juice and a jalapeno-citrus salted rim.