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.

On a recent post–work trip to the Biryani Cart I noticed O’Brien’s Irish Pub just down the block. How did this bar escape my attention? Oh yeah, probably because I was too busy shoving a kati roll with a double dose of spicy green habanero-mint sauce in my face! Well, this night was different.  The weather was finger numbing and ducking into a cozy bar to warm up was essential. O’Brien’s was decked out in holiday decorations and the soft glow of Christmas lights strung up all around the walls created a candle lit aura. A drink was ordered, but little did I know that I’d also get some eye candy with that.

OK, I’ve been called out for always noting the cute Irish bartenders in my bar reviews, but until commenter “Wayne” mans up to covering some happy hours for you boys, I will continue my wanton ways. My bartender was charming and sweet. I asked to take his picture in order to entice my girlfriends to come join me, he agreed but humbly noted that it probably would not work. Not true!

Even without a cutie at the helm the happy hour is worth the visit. Five dollar Imperial pints (20oz) of their house ale and Bud, plus bottles of Kopparberg cider and (sadly) Smirnoff Ice. Beer specials change daily.

Sister bars include the Pig and Whistle and Langan’s: both of whom offered free buffets during happy hour, but I didn’t see any on my trip to O’Brien’s. They do offer a late night bar menu that is in the $10 mark and they have a second floor with a “smoking balcony” perfect to stare longingly at the divine glow of the Biryani cart just steps away. Which would be, by the way, the perfect end to a night of ciders and ales.

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

• Imperial pints and cider at happy hour prices
• Great service and cozy atmosphere
• Nice place to hold a Holiday happy hour

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

• Happy hour does not include well drinks
• Bud and Smirnoff Ice? Really?
• O’God not another Irish bar

O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 134 W. 46th St, 212-391-1516