New York City: Irish American (August 2017)

Irish American Pub - Large Basement Bar and Restaurant
My spouse and I visited the Irish American Pub for drinks on a Saturday afternoon in mid-August 2017. We were staying nearby at the Millennium Hilton (see our separate review), and we stopped on our way from seeing the Wall Street Bull back to the hotel. We were heading to its neighbor Les Halles, which we had not realized had recently permanently closed. The Irish American Pub is open daily from 10:00 am until 2:00 am (with extended hours until 4:00 am on Wednesdays through Saturdays). Although it is probably not necessary, you can book a table using the online Open Table reservation system; however, walk-in guests seem equally welcome.
This bar is located on the basement level of row of buildings in the Financial District, but it features a doorway and a marquee at street-level on John Street (just follow the flags hanging in the stairwell). On the afternoon that we visited, a staff member stood on John Street to greet patrons and encourage them to enter. Downstairs, the large room offers seating at the long wood bar, at high-top tables, or at regular-height tables. Several TVs positioned around the space allow you to watch your favorite sporting event (particularly British “football”). A private event/game room offers a billiards, foosball, air hockey, table tennis, and darts.
The Irish American serves upscale tavern food, including starters (like wings, quesadillas, nachos, mozzarella sticks), salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and entrees (including some Irish-themed dishes like fish and chips, bangers and mash, sausages, and shepherd’s pie). It offers a full liquor license including wine, cocktails, and beer (both craft and traditional by draft and by bottle). We stayed for almost two hours, and when we ordered our fourth round, the sociable bartender told us it was complimentary, according to the Irish “buy-back” custom. (However, in reviewing our bill afterwards, we probably paid more for the first three rounds in order to compensate for the free one.)
The Irish American Pub fit our needs, and the hospitality of the staff will make us return next time we are in the area.

 


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