Midtown Lunch

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so every Friday afternoon we 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.

With all the expensive Irish pubs in Midtown, sometimes you have to travel one avenue over to get a decent happy hour. And it’s the five hour happy hour that brought me to Whiskey River (on 2nd btw 31+32nd) this week. Happy hour there goes from 3pm to 8pm, a little longer than most and early enough that area workers can stop by for a late afternoon beer (at least one did while I was there.) But is this happy hour worth trek to Kips Bay?

First off, it’s easy to get drunk on the cheap here. During happy hour, well drinks and drafts are under the $5 mark, plus they always have a beer of the month for $4. For October, it’s Brooklyn Oktoberfest. Not everyone’s choice favorite, but good enough for me. I like to keep it classy. They had the regular run-down plus a few craft extras on tap. Also, $10 beer buckets of six cans.

Don’t be disheartened when you first walk in. You might feel like you’re walking into someone’s basement à la 1980, complete with hunting/outdoors motif. Just be sure to check out the canoe scene ON THE CEILING! I need to get me one of these.

They also have a beer pong table with monthly tournament nights. Apparently a recent team won over $100. Those of you with the beer pong skills might want to get on that.

They also have a little Florida room patio and an outdoor space in the back, which seems like it would be delightful in the winter. As for the crowd, I was there on a weeknight and a few young suits can in, but it was nothing outrageous or irritating. If I worked in the area, or wanted to catch a movie across the street, I would definitely find the time to stop by for a round or two.

The + (What somebody who likes this would say)

• It has $4 beers until 8 and it’s only 5.
• Let me impress you with my beer pong skillz.
• I like having a drink outside without the usual douchey scene.

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

• This is like a five minute walk from the heart of Murray Hill, only former frat boys hang out here.
• It’s too far east! I might as well go to Brooklyn.
• Beer pong? Really? We’re not in college anymore.

Whiskey River, 575 2nd Avenue, (212) 679-6799