New Bar The Deep End Makes a Splash off of Ridgewood’s Halsey L Stop

Jacque Medina

Writer
@LivinMedinaLoca

Sara Edwards 

Photographer
@saraxo

The Deep End, a hidden oasis nestled in a fortress-esque event and gallery space at 1080 Wyckoff Ave., is new-ish to Ridgewood’s bar scene, but should be anything but overlooked. 

Jon Gneezy and Jorge Mdahuar, 10-year Brooklyn residents and veterans of the neighborhood, started out as food truck owners in Williamsburg, and opened up The Deep End in January. 

“The name ‘The Deep End’ kind of came organically. We were like 3 months deep in our lease negotiation and one of our investors disappeared on us, and I looked at Jorge and was like ‘What are we gonna do? We gotta sign this lease and jump off the deep end.’ And there was this moment that we looked at each other and were like ‘there we go. That’s it,'” said Gneezy.

The space, though nondescript save a chalkboard marquee outside on Wyckoff, is a treasure trove of unique art and decor (such as a giant play-dough can and a mannequin with a fish head). “We decorated with stuff we had in our apartment,” said Mdahuar. “We almost had to open a bar because we had too much stuff in our living room!” 

As for the food and drink, you’d think two dudes who once owned a food truck called The Munchie-Mobile would know a thing or two about bar bites, and in this case you’d be very correct. With menu items like carne asada tacos, a Rodeo Drive salad (smothered in avocado), Hoisin BBQ chicken wings, and Vanderpump Rules-inspired goat cheese balls, it’s safe to say the kitchen at The Deep End is always lit and ready for late night eats —and they’re hiring local line cooks!

The drink menu is politically-charged, with tongue-in-cheek cocktails like “The Bad Hombre,” and a boozy white Russian milkshake called “Putin’s Revenge.” All of The Deep End’s beers come from local breweries (think Bridge and Tunnel, Braven, and Brooklyn Brewery). 

As if The Deep End’s menu and drinks weren’t enough to entice you to make the trek to the Halsey L stop, the bar also hosts weekly Karaoke on Wednesdays, $5 margarita nights on Tuesdays, and a smattering of LGBTQ events like a new Sunday series called The Otter Box.  

We honestly love The Deep End, and not just for the food and amazing karaoke stage. The friendly ownership, rebellious cocktails, and locally-sourced attitude is what will keep us coming back for sure. 

We just can’t wait to try out their brunch menu, which is slated to debut later this summer.