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.

Cherry Tree bar in Brooklyn has been one of my weekend hangouts for many years now. I’d be there on an early Sunday afternoon playing darts and talking to the bartender when, like clockwork, owner Patrick Donagher would stumble down from his apartment -upstairs of the pub, looking like a handsome hungover train wreck, then order a drink. Sometimes a young lass or three with tousled bed hair would follow him. Times change and he’s branched out and started his second bar Rattle and Hum in midtown. Last I heard he even got hitched! But one thing remains the same, his bars have a love for cask ales, excellent draft beers, and predilection for having young beautiful waifs bartending.

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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. This week Mamacita has the week off, so Blondie handled the drinking duties. (It’s a tough gig, but somebody had to do it!)

You can do many things during the happy hours in Midtown: play Big Buck Safari Hunter, shoot pool, throw darts, hang out with Miss Australia, and now you can also go (expensive) bowling at Bowlmor. Being the bowling-lover yet bowling-challenged person that I am, I’ve wanted to stop by and work on my ball throwing skills for awhile. Plus, we should applaud David Burke’s attempt at moving away from his Hawaiian Tropic Zone days. Then I saw they had happy hour specials from 3pm to 7pm and I knew I had to at least go for $4 beers.

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After mamacita’s out of bounds bender last week at Whiskey Rebel, she’s had a hard time making her way back into midtown proper, so I’m filling in with this week’s happy hour: Koreatown’s Baden Baden.

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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.

Whiskey Rebel is part of a family of bars that includes Snafu and Whiskey Trader. Like its siblings, Rebel offers a comfortable space to grab a drink. If the unlimited popcorn is not enough for you, there are no problems with bringing in some Vindaloo from the Curry Hill area to supplement your night. Alluring bartenders draw you in, but it’s the happy hour specials that keep you warm through the night. This area of town doesn’t get enough attention on the JOB (Just Out of Bounds) drink deals so here is a look inside!

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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.

Mamacita’s Journal: Day 1266

My quest for the ultimate NYC burger and beer special carries on. I had received promising intel regarding Van Diemens on 3rd Ave. (btw. 27+28th). Word on the street was VD gives you two for one on Tuesdays, plus two for one drinks as well. This pleased me, for like a bird, Mamacita cannot fly on one wing alone. I called in some back up and we headed over for an in depth investigation.

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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.

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Tis the season for giving and seeing as someone gave me their cold, there will be no drunkards review this week. However, if any of you should be feeling that holiday spirit (and no I don’t mean that bottle of Jack Daniels) there are many venues where you can donate to those less fortunate. All locations of Qdoba Mexican Grill will be accepting Toy for Tots, but so will some local bars. First on my list is Rudy’s Bar, on 627 9th Ave., whose Santa decorated box shown above will be accepting presents for the month. Also on the Westside, Hibernia, on 401 W 50th St, will be helping underprivileged children by accepting gifts until the 21st of December. B. B. King Blues Club & Lucille’s Grill NYC, 237 West 42nd Street, is accepting contributions for Toys for Tots as well. One of the sweeter charitable deals comes from Galway Hooker on 7 East 36th Street. The pub is working with NY Foundling, Abandon No One to provide gift cards to teens in need. In return for a donation of a $30 gift card, Galway will offer you a two-hour open bar on December 13th, 14th or 15th -anytime from 4 to 7pm, but I suggest you make a reservation.

That hereby finishes my public service and whether or not it was court ordered is none of your business.

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.

Yeah, there you are… sitting in your cubical, waiting for the open bar at the holiday party, wishing the canapés are not Costco brand mini quiches and the weird guy from accounting doesn’t corner you into a conversation about how no one properly fills out their reimbursement forms, leaving you thinking, “Good lord, my life is an episode of The Office.” Luckily for you I’m here to help keep your holidays on ice with these local bars to hold your holiday party at or to unwind after hours with your coworkers.

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I know this isn’t really about lunch- but I noticed an interesting bit of happy hour news in my weekly New York Aston Villa Fan Club newsletter (yes, I support a fairly-obscure-here-but-storied-in-the-UK premier league soccer football team. Please don’t give me shit.) Legends, the bar on 33rd btw. Mad+5th (5+6th) that Mamacita kind of hated when she tried it back in February of last year, is re-branding itself as The Football Factory at Legends. Jack Keane, the bar manager who turned Nevada Smith’s in the EV into the football mecca that it is today before being fired in an underage drinking scandal, is in charge and plans to slowly transform the place over time- replacing the memorabilia with permanent flags for the different football teams whose supporters come to the bar. (Hopefully that will include getting rid of the “faux Renaissance art, candle chandeliers…fake palm trees” and the sushi bar!) There is also word of a “Jack Keane Sandwich” featuring “rashers, sausage, pudding, eggs and cheese.” We can only hope this treat will also be served at lunch! Although from looking at the menu on their website it probably won’t be under $10.  Even so, it sounds like this could end up being a great lunchtime spot for soccer fans to play lunchtime hookey from work and watch weekday games.

The best part is, they’re having a launch party tonight from 6-8pm (possibly 9) with an open bar and free finger foods. Freeloading footie fans… engage.

Related:
Midtown Happy Hour: The Legends Mistake (aka Why Subway Stops Shouldn’t Dictate Your Happy Hour Destination)

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.

I thought for this week’s ML happy hour I’d branch out. My lush-ish tastes do not revolve purely around dive bars and hot Irish bartenders. Sometimes you need to work your thang and I found a fun place to get some sass with your glass.

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