The Starting Gate

The Starting Gate is one of about 7 or 8 bars within a block or two of the 61 St Woodside subway stop. At one time, 30 or 40 years ago, this area had 20 plus bars that catered not only to the neighborhood, but the commuters that took the LIRR at the Woodside stop. Now, with the ever changing landscape of the changing Queens, only a few of the «neighborhood bars» remain.
I found The Staring Gate to be very average. It is a long bar with plenty of seating with additional seating along the wall. There are tables in the back, where the bathrooms are located. About 8 or so TVs through out the space.
Beer selection seems to have many of the favorites in both bottle and drafts. Same deal for the various brands of liquor. Overall, you won’t go thirsty here.
At 9 PM on a Friday night, the crowd was well no crowd. Me, the bartender, 3 local friends at the corner and a group of 8 drunk Irish guys. Not exactly a eclectic crowd. Maybe I was early or everyone stepped out for a smoke, but I was very surprised with how many people on a Friday night. The demographics of this part of Queens has certainly changed.
Overall, if your looking for an out of the way bar or a space to chill with a group of friends The Starting Gate is a decent place for adult beverages. I heard this bar is open late till 4 AM every day, seven days a week. Nice to know when thirsty late at night. It seems to cater to a very local crowd.

This place smells like feet. I mean you can’t imagine how pungent the foot smell is. It smells so bad and yet there’s no mistaking it for any other bad smell not garlic not ass just straight up feet.
The beer menu was below average. The TV had the Ranger game after we asked for it and despite it being a flat screen it looked like I was watching a box TV in the nineties at best. I don’t know how that’s even possible.
Seriously, there are so many bars in this neighborhood. Why waste your time here?

The bar has a fun vibe… open to anybody and everybody. Friendly Irish crowd. Good music, a good volume — just loud enough to bust a move and reasonable enough to jam in your seat and still carry a conversation with your drinking buddy. Good whiskey selection –for the scotch and Irish whiskey fans. Not so decent beer selection – mostly macros: budweiser, miller lite, shock top, sam adams, stella, Guinness. They do however have Brooklyn lager and sam summer.
No food.
An extra star because there is an awesome outdoor space with a BBQ grill, tiki lights and picnic tables!

It’s a quiet little place by comparison of other bad in the area. They had a nice selection of beers and a juke box. Prices are fair and the crowd is mostly older people.
They have soccer on most times and regular TV shows on the other.

Great bar and one of the best pints of Guinness around

This is not a tricky question, but what do you do after a long day at work, then taking the 6 train, transfer to the N and then get on the #7 to go home ?
Well, I don’t know about you, but I stop at my favorite bar in Woodside, AKA («La Capilla» /​The Chapel) for a nice cold and refreshing GUINESS. Whether my buddy Terry or the gorgeous July are bartending, it is always a great experience. Most times I simply open my iPad and continue my train reading. This place also has WiFi so my phone and iPad automatically switch and I can check emails and catchup with news or Facebook non-​sense … Yeah, I go there to relax, have a good time or simply listen to music. I’m not into sports, but they do have some good soccer matches and, of course, Rugby.
There are at least 8 other bars within walking distance, but I only recommend this one. I’ve been to the others, but they are not the same … and none have WiFi.

if you aren’t hungry, but just want a beer or 4, terry’s your man. a very friendly publican. he can cut off a drunk like nobody’s business, and then turn around and give a friendly grin to the rest of the bar. he’ll remember your name, and what you fancy. just what you want in a bartender.
and the other reviewers are right: you aren’t likely to meet the love of your life here, unless you’re looking for a 50 year old irishman. but if that’s what you’re looking for, and who you’re avoiding, you might do better to steer clear of woodside watering holes in general. it’s that kind of neighborhood.
beers are cheaper here. you get a friendly freebie every now and again. if you don’t like the music on the juke (and i often don’t), you can always pay a buck to make it play what you want to hear: that’s what it’s there for.

I didn’t stay long.
Had two beers and they had heini lights, sucks that it only takes cash but the bartender let me run across the street w/​out even thinking for a minute I would run out on the check. He said I looked like «one of the good one’s» What the F*ck was that supposed to mean?! Something against Italians?! Do I look like a fist pumping Guido that skips out on checks and has Roid rages when someone changes his Jonny O on the juke box?!
I’m obviously joking, I’m glad he didn’t think I was a D.B. and for that I’ll go back.

So I showed up tonight and the place was fairly quiet, the bar stools were all occupied by men in-​between their 30’s-50’s, but the music piping through the speakers was whiny pop. Then when I went to the bathroom I saw a flier: a father daughter country duo from Texas was playing later. I didn’t stick around, its not my thing. I’m just glad I missed country western night tomorrow: cowboy boots and denim overalls are encouraged.
The drinks are cheap and generous.
I think what makes this place so hit or miss is that the crowd and the vibe are determined by whose playing that night, and they seem to have a *very* wide range of bands. Their website doesn’t seem to list whose playing when, so maybe a quick call to the place would be a good idea before you make it your destination.

Once I went back and there were all 40 year old men — Understandable. It was 7pm.
Last night I went and they were playing justin timberlake on the juke and the people were young but awful. I don’t know what to say. What happened?