My spouse and I stopped at Mickey Spillane’s on a Sunday
afternoon in late May 2016. It was extremely hot outside, and this was the
first establishment that we encountered as we walked in the Hell’s
Kitchen/Midtown West neighborhood on West 49th Street from the Hudson River. We
were so quick to enter the establishment that we did not notice the rainbow border
edging the entire awning that covered the corner of the restaurant. As we
sipped our cold drinks at the marble-topped bar, we glanced around and noticed
that we were the only heterosexual couple there! But it did not matter – the
bartenders, staff, and patrons were friendly and welcoming. Mickey Spillane’s
is open daily for lunch, dinner, and drinks. No reservations are necessary. You
can sit outdoors and enjoy the view of the crossroad of West 49th
Street and 9th Avenue, or indoors at the bar, at one of two high-top
bar tables, a long communal high-top table, or at individual round tables, most
of which share booth/banquette-type seating on a long black leather bench. The
restaurant space features a huge mirror that covers one wall and light gray
walls in contrast with the dark wood floors.
Michael J. Spillane,
better known as Mickey Spillane,
was an Irish-American mobster the from Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York.
Spillane, who was called the "last of the gentleman gangsters," provided
a vivid contrast to the violent Westies mob members who succeeded him in Hell's
Kitchen. Mickey Spillane’s family owns the
bar/restaurant that we visited.
We cannot comment on the food, because we ordered a few
rounds of drinks only, but the bartender provided them promptly and correctly. (We
did see other patrons eating, however, and the food looked good.) In addition,
on an incredibly hot day in the city, the air-conditioning in the restaurant
worked tremendously well. It was a convenient spot to enjoy some cold
beverages!
