Did You Know Grand Central Oyster Bar Has A Mon-Weds Happy Hour?

Even though it’s not easy to find a lunch under $10 at Grand Central Oyster Bar, I have to admit it’s one of my favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown. It’s a classic New York City establishment that opened 100 years ago along with Grand Central Terminal, and with the vaulted ceilings, the charm, and the ample and varied seating, (not to mention the delicious if expensive food), it’s one of my favorite places for lunch with coworkers. And this week, I found out that to celebrate 100 years, they’re offering a Happy Oyster Hour!

Here’s the scoop: they’ve got $1.25 oysters, $4 beers, $6 wines, $8 martinis and appetizer specials available Monday through Wednesday 4:30-7:00 pm and Saturday 1:00-5:00 pm in the Saloon & Lounge. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get there this week until Thursday, so I didn’t get to partake in the Happy Hour (although you’ll see me there next week), but I wanted to share this ASAP as I’m not sure how long the happy hour will last. (I’m trying to get the details on these and I will update when I find out.) UPDATE: I found out that this is the Oyster Bar first ever happy hour, and it will last throughout 2013!

A group of us went this week on a Thursday, where we sat in the saloon area (as opposed to the lounge which is the bar you see right when you walk in. The saloon is a huge room in the back, marked brightly with a rainbow-colored sign saying, “SALOON”. That in and of itself is awesome enough to go, in my opinion.

Red-and-white checkered tablecloths are packed into the nautically-themed Moby Dick-esque room. Or you can sit at the bar area, where old bartenders in uniform serve up plenty of different types of beer, wine, and spirits (I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale which ran me $6.50). The bar went from slightly crowded to absolutely packed in about five seconds when we arrived at around 5:15; we were lucky to snag a stool with the commuter crowd overtaking the place.

If you’re looking for food, there are always few menu items you can get for under $10 — even if it’s not part of the ML-covered takeout menu — including Manhattan or New England clam chowder for under $7 (plus lots of crackers), the bouillabaisse sandwich, the tuna sandwich, and the fried fish (all around $9), and, well, a single oyster will run you between $2 and $4 bucks. The clam chowder was one of the best my buddy had when we went to lunch one day.

And even though it’s $12, I can’t resist a pan roast. The oyster pan roast is $12 but worth every penny. The oysters were warm and delicious, and the cream and/or butter they use in this dish is so rich, I left feeling completely full.

So Lunch’ers, if you want to splurge, or even if you don’t… you can enjoy Grand Central Oyster Bar for Happy Hour. Why not wish it a happy birthday by paying a visit?

The + (what someone who likes this place would say)

  • Grand Central Oyster Bar a New York City classic. What’s not to love?
  • The happy hour deals aren’t bad — $4 beers? Hey ho!
  • This is right on my way home!

The – (what someone who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • The food is way out of my price range.
  • The happy hour is only Monday – Wednesday.
  • I can’t stand seafood or fish and almost everything on the menu is from the sea. No likey.
  • With all the people meandering around through Grand Central Terminal, it’s way too annoying to make the trip during rush hour.

Grand Central Oyster Bar, 89 East 42nd Street (in the Concourse), 212-490-6650

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