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The former Pioneer Bar-B-Q, Brooklyn Ice House is like a daily block party, as laid-back Red Hook locals, often with their toddlers in tow, come back often for drafts and conversation. Red leather banquettes and wood paneling keep the former saloonlike atmosphere intact, while the tiny, one-person kitchen keeps the old aroma of barbecue alive with well-priced pulled pork sandwiches and smoked-brisket sliders. The new owner, Trevor Budd, knows his beers, and proves it in the almost 60-strong beer list (plus plenty of bourbon to go along with them.) A bathroom chalkboard wall, plus containers of chalk at the ready, provide space if the creative spark strikes. — Abbe Benson