Midtown Happy Hour: Who Needs a Firefighter Calendar When You’ve Got Bravest on 38th

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” posts about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

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You know, all my single friends are always complaining that there isn’t a good place to meet men. They keep hitting these clubs, and fancy bars, when all along burly men were right under their noses at Bravest on 38th. It’s testosterone heavy and the bar maids are sharp tongued and quick to put you in your place, even if that place is a seat at the bar where you get treated like family. Open since 1978 in various incarnations, Bravest has been owned and patronized by New York’s local firemen. From their website:

Its early start was as Suspenders, owned by New York Firefighter Larry Fitzpatrick who died while on duty. It then became the internationally popular Full Moon Saloon whose owner honored and preserved his memory and it still remains a favorite gathering place for New York’s bravest. Today’s Bravest on 38th continues in that same spirit, and is owned by a retired FDNY Fire Marshall.

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On every section of the wood paneled walls is a badge, photo or tribute to the NYFD’s and a section devoted to September 11th. The best seat is at the bar but they also have table seating with waitress service.

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There’s an amazing deal on $2 well drinks and Budweiser drafts, and the food is just as affordable. They have a full pub menu but the main attraction is their $3.50 nachos and hard-shell tacos, plus a saucy basket of their Wicked Wings for only $4.

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It doesn’t take long to realize this is safe haven for many workers, firemen and neighbors. In fact, when our bartender’s shift ended one of the firemen got behind the bar and helped her bus the glasses and close out her tabs.

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During Sunday or Monday night games they offer two hot dogs with chips for $5.25. When a game is not on the TV they broadcast Quick Draw and even the suits are there placing their bets. Between the loud juke box and all the guys rejoicing at the bar it can get pretty festive. Taking a look around I have to wonder why there are not more women in here!  Come on ladies, who doesn’t want to meet hunky firemen!

THE +

  • For the ladies: Toned and muscled firemen
  • For the men: some of the cheapest drinks I’ve seen in midtown
  • Tasty and cheap wings and other bar food
  • There’s gambling to pass the time

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • I don’t want a testosterone bath after work
  • Who the hell plays Quick Draw?
  • Maybe half these men are married —eh, you can’t win them all
  • I’m more of a NYPD kinda gal

Bravest on 38th, 700 Second Ave. (on 38th St.), 212-683-3766

Photos and post by Mamacita

9 Comments

  • out of bounds

  • Out of bounnds or not, it sounds cheap, and cheap means good!

  • got a thing for firefighters?, Goats

  • If they are female, perhaps…

  • Nice! Bravest is great. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s even cheaper than you mention. i think wings are 10 for $3 and their house brew ‘bravest’ is $2 a pint during happy hour.

    it’s worth going out of bounds for such a deal. i was there last night actually.

  • Females are firefighters in New Yawk City? REALLY?

    The ONLY fire I want to see a female fight is the fire she starts on the range in my kitchen because she doesn’t know how to read the settings on the heat-control knobs.

  • Seriously, DocChuck??

    I’ve always heard about this place as a fellow firefighter, but never gone in. Thanks, M-Cita!

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    Great. Not just another sausage fest, but a fest where there are sausages who carry their hoses over their shoulder. A meta-, uber-, sausage party.

    We get it:
    Zach asian food, and
    Mamacita bars full of cheap booze and dudes

    How about a review of someplace like El Rio Grande, where the office ladies come from blocks around to put themselves under the sway of the super strong margarita-crack they serve there? Come on mamacita, us midtown lunch fat bastards need all the help we can get! Find us the bars packed full of hammered ladies with low self esteem and even lower standards! And cheap booze.

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    That was supposed to read:
    Zach (heart) asian food, and
    Mamacita (heart) bars full of cheap booze and dudes

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