Nightlife at Althouse 1848 in East Rockaway

Aside from Reel and a few smaller taverns, native nightlife options are limited in East Rockaway – a hamlet featuring only a handful of bars – but anyone keeping count can chalk up a fresh opportunity in Althouse 1848.

For the most part, Reel (1 Main St., 516-341-7222; the former site of The Fishery) is the busiest late-night stop in East Rock. A waterside restaurant and public house, it offers a heavy calendar of live music and has long been a popular local evening-out draw along Mill River – however, with the arrival of Althouse 1848 (the grand opening was Aug. 1), the area can boast dual attractions only a block apart.

Although nestled into the tip of the nearby neighborhood a few hundred feet south of Main Street, it’s not all that hard to spot – as Althouse is a tall, two-story venue with food served upstairs and a cozy pub on the main floor. Located across the road from the river, the restaurant features water views that are clear from both the dining area and an elevated ground-level patio (the entire first floor and outdoor enclosure are raised, so entry requires a short climb up a few stairs). The open-air deck holds tables that sit under umbrellas, and from this vantage guests can socialize with musical support from the Althouse house system (or eavesdrop on bands playing at the aforementioned Reel, as sound tends to carry clearly down adjacent Dock Street, AKA “Skippy’s Way”).

Once inside, the Althouse saloon area is quaint; sparsely decorated with a few placards for brands of suds and spirits, it features a three-sided bar and a large TV hoisted above the liquor racks. The scene is very relaxed, as a mature late-night crowd (in the 30-55 range) dressed in casual clothes can be found chatting while taking on various wines and beers, the latter both on tap (such as Brooklyn Pennant, Magic Hat #9 and Angry Orchard, among other brands) and by bottle (like Budweiser, Stella Artois, Red Stripe and more). A short list of signature cocktails is also available, including the “Margherita” (with cucumber and pineapple ingredients plus watermelon-infused tequila), the “Creamsicle” (with both clementine and whipped cream-flavored vodkas) and “Dark and Stormy” (spiced rum, ginger beer, triple sec). As of this writing, there isn't much of an entertainment schedule, but a quick web search reveals musician Terrence Riecker will be in-house to perform acoustically at 7 p.m. on Aug. 29, a Friday. As for other events, the only concrete weekly is the “Ladies Night” on Thursdays, offering half-price drinks at the bar for women from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information, visit Althouse 1848 online at facebook.com/Althouse1848.

Althouse 1848: 101 Althouse Ave., East Rockaway, 516-341-0020