Another Saturday in Brooklyn, another excuse to drink cider before noon. One of my buddies hit me up to go to Cider Fest (by the same guys who run Brisket King and Rib King). I said yes without thinking — I mean, it’s cider, it’s food, and it’s at Industry City. How bad could that be?
Industry City’s basically my backyard. It’s one of those places where you can kill hours without realizing it, Japan Village, Wormwood, and a dozen little food stalls calling your name. So, as usual, I showed up early… because even when I’m hungover, I’m punctual.
Killing Time at Sahadi’s
My buddy texted me at noon saying he just woke up. Classic. Meanwhile, I’m already at Sahadi’s, sipping on draft rosé like a suburban mom waiting for her kids at soccer practice. Ten bucks a glass, outdoor seating, chill vibes, honestly, not a bad way to waste time.
If you’ve never been, Sahadi’s is a Middle Eastern and Lebanese market inside Industry City. Excellent snacks, good wine, and a space that makes waiting for your perpetually late friends borderline enjoyable.
The Main Event: Cider Fest
By the time my friend showed up (1 p.m.), I was three glasses deep and feeling festive. The event itself sat between Buildings 1 and 2 — maybe 30 to 40 cider vendors, plenty of tasting tables, and enough sugar to knock out a dentist.
A few standouts:
- Donut Cider — light, sweet, and dangerously easy to drink.
- 1911 Rosé Cider — crisp and floral, though I still can’t figure out if they were nodding to the Colt 1911 or just the year.
- Cherry Cider — basically Dr. Brown’s Cherry Soda with 7% alcohol. Enough said.
After making our way through most of the stalls (and saying hi to half the crowd, my buddy somehow knew), we realized we needed food. And cider, while tasty, doesn’t fill you up.
Refueling at The Carreau Club
We wandered over to Carreau Club, an indoor bocce spot with a solid food program. I’ve been meaning to go for a while, but it’s always slammed. This time, we got lucky.
I ordered the roast beef on focaccia, a solid choice. My friend went with the turkey pesto sandwich, which hit the same lane: nothing crazy, but precisely what we needed. For $20 a plate, post-drinks, it was perfect.
It’s not trying to be fancy. It’s just the kind of place where everything is good enough to make you stay longer than you planned. Between the food, the drinks, and the vibe, The Car Club nails the formula: decent food, good drinks, and zero stress.
The Shameful Moment
Okay, confession time. After a few martinis and one last stop at Wormwood (they had a private event, but they still served me because, well, I’m me), the fat guy from Brooklyn in me came out swinging.
I walked, yes, walked from Industry City to the Taco Bell in Sunset Park. I don’t know how it’s still open in the middle of all those amazing Spanish spots, but at 10 p.m. and three sheets to the wind, those questionable tacos hit like Michelin stars.
Look, it’s not proud eating — it’s nostalgic eating. In the same way, you’ll still grab White Castle knowing you’ll regret it. Sometimes, your inner garbage panda needs to come out.
The Banana Juice Theory
Classically, the banana juice moment of the night wasn’t the Taco Bell shame. It was the food situation at Cider Fest.
Two food vendors. Two. That’s it. You’ve got 40 cider stands pouring 7% sugar bombs, and the only food options were kielbasa samples. Bro, that’s not balance, that’s a setup.
It’s the classic Banana Juice Theory at play: every perfect day has one off-note that keeps it honest. Without that tiny bit of chaos — the missing fries, the wrong turn, the limited menu — it wouldn’t feel like Brooklyn.
The Verdict
Cider Fest at Industry City is a guaranteed good time. Great drinks, fun crowd, and just enough madness to keep it interesting. The Car Club was the perfect pit stop, and yeah, Taco Bell was the shameful encore.
Would I go again? Absolutely. Probably even for my birthday three years running now, it’s become tradition to post up at Industry City by the fireplace, grab a $30 bottle of wine, and see who shows up.
Because sometimes, the best days aren’t planned. They… ferment.
Look, I’m just a Fat Guy from Brooklyn giving you my two cents. If you want more Top 10s—steakhouses, burgers, restaurants, you name it—click the words and keep going.