Midtown Lunch

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so every week our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post 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.

The Irish Rogue has been around for a good 7 years now on W 44th Street (btw. 8/9th ave) tucked away on the small unassuming block where Dykes Lumber resides and right next to old Bull Moose. Yet, it wasn’t until both pubs renovated their façade did I really notice the Rogue. The bright blue neon sign caught my eye, and when I saw their happy hour that runs from 11am to 12am I was drawn in like a moth to the flame. It was time for Mamacita to go rogue!!

Irish Rogue is all about their football from pro to college, showing all games with wall-to-wall big screens.

The bar might as well be brought to you by Coors Brewery because every which way you look Coors brand merchandising is proudly displayed and those Rocky Mountain spring specials abound.

Helpless in the face of their massive marketing blitz I caved in and started with a $3 Coors, but the wiser choice is Irish Rogue Amber Ale on tap for the same amount.

Rogue, like many other bars, don’t brew their own beer. When you come upon namesake ales at these bars they are probably just distributed by a local brewery. In my book that’s good: reliable local beer at a discount price. If beer is not your preferred beverage, cosmos and margaritas are also at a reasonable price of $4.50-$5.

On the food angle they dish up the usual bar basics like chicken fingers and sandwiches but only the $7 lunch combos seemed to be a great deal and I’ll be back with a group to check them out. Upstairs is a lounge with pool table for a quiet sip or for private party rentals. Both levels satisfy if you are a local, the big draw is the 11AM to 12AM specials. Irish Rogue however fails to create any interesting setting to make you go out of your way to visit. The bar has no distinctive Irish feel, nor is it roguish in any form. It’s just a regular pub, so grab some sports fans, amber ales and enjoy the game.

The Plus + (What someone who likes this place would say)

• AM to AM happy hour, $3 beers, kitchen open till 2AM
• Football fan? This bar has you covered
• Pool table on the second floor
• Ample space for large groups

The Minus – (What someone who dislikes this place would say)

• False advertising! Where is the roguishness?
• Better options in the area
• Rather nondescript
• I avoid sports bars

The Irish Rogue, 356 W 44th St (btw. 8/9th ave), (212) 445-0131