ML Happy Hour: The Ginger Man

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 she handed over the reigns to Blondie, who hit up The Ginger Man with a bunch of ML regulars.

The Ginger Man

The Ginger Man (36th btw 5th+Park) became a Midtown landmark quite soon after its opening, as any place with 70 taps in the heart of New York would. Even though I’ve passed the age where I stop drinking swill and started drinking good beer, I’m still a bit intimidated by the beer bars. Then it was announced that the April Midtown Lunch Happy Hour was going to meet up there. Here was the chance to conquer my fear of a 70 tap/160 draft menu in the company of a few people who really know beer.

The Ginger Man

The Ginger Man had no real Happy Hour deal when we were there, I think the day’s special was $12 for half a dozen oysters. That’s what happens when there’s no Bud or Coors Light. They do make up for the lack of a happy hour with lower (than average for that area) prices on bar food, and some pretty comfortable couches in the sort of hidden back room.

The Ginger Man

Most of the beers on tap run about $6-$8, with the more exotic ones costing more. If you get there before 6pm and it isn’t too busy, you can get a flight of four beers (4 1/2 oz each) for $11, good for the commitment-phobes. If you’re overwhelmed, feel free to ask for help-I did.

Pretzel

Foodwise, there’s some good bar food including a delicious beef hot dog topped with bacon and smothered in cheddar cheese for $5.50. On the more traditional side, you can get a soft pretzel for $2.50. There is more substantial food like sandwiches and sliders available.

The Ginger Man

On the right night, The Ginger Man can provide a nice, chill place to sit and relax with friends while expanding your good beer horizons, so long as you don’t go expecting $4 Corona Lights. I hear that it can be a sausage fest on the weekends, so it might be better to head there during the week. The May Happy Hour hasn’t been announced yet in the forums, but as always, anyone is free to show up and hang out for a little while.

The + (What someone who likes this bar would say)

  • 70 taps, a beer for whatever mood you’re in.
  • There’s only one TV so you can actually have a conversation with people.
  • A hot dog with bacon and cheese can make any bad day better.

The – (What someone who dislikes this bar would say)

  • Where’s the Corona? Shouldn’t a bar have Corona?
  • There’s no real happy hours deals.
  • What’s with all the fancy pants beer? PBR, FTW.

The Ginger Man, 11 East 36th St, (212) 532-3740

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