When it was announced in 2018
that Studio Square, south Astoria’s
answer to the historic
Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden,
would be permanently
shutting its doors, the collective
wails from day drinkers
could be heard from Socrates Sculpture
Park to Steinway Street. For years, the
beautiful beer garden had been a premier
destination for people looking to
enjoy a pitcher on a sunny Saturday or
watch the World Cup on a massive screen
with hundreds of Croatia fans. Needless
to say, the closure came as quite a disappointment.
So, when Pig Beach, already a popular
restaurant and bar in Brooklyn, made it
clear that they planned on stepping in
and resurrecting the space as their second
location, Astoria let out a sigh of relief.
“The preexisting space of Studio Square
is an incredible model of what we do at
Pig Beach Brooklyn but on a larger scale,”
explained Matt Abdoo, the executive chef
and creative force behind Pig Beach. “We
are huge fans of the inside/outside beer
garden style model that can both cater to
30 MAY 2 0 1 9
the smaller parties while at the same time
accommodate large groups.”
Along with his partners Rob Shawger,
Shane McBride, Dennis Lu and Gary
M. Kravetz, Abdoo opened the first
location in 2016 after a successful stint
as a summer pop-up the year prior. Pig
Beach quickly became a big Brooklyn hit,
offering up award-winning barbecue in a
unique outdoor setting.
The concept was simple: “We just
wanted to create an atmosphere that
was warm, inviting and relaxed that also
served incredible barbecue and drinks,”
Abdoo said. And it is this perfectly
executed vision that Abdoo and his team
FOOD + DRINK
Barbecue in a Beer Garden
BY DANIEL GROGAN