I found this in the ""Best Bars of New York"" book, but .. and it's a big BUT! \r
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The place is Irish-looking with the bartender, staff, and half the customers brogueing it up the wazoo! Lots of wood, and nostalgia on the wall. Great-looking from the outside.So I walk in and explain to the waitress that I'm here early to hold a table because I don't know how big the group will be. \r
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""You can't just drink at a table. Tables are for eating. Besides, we don't hold tables. When everybody is here, I'll seat you.""\r
""I don't know how many people are coming. There are some empty tables. Couldn't I sit at one?""\r
She walks away. \r
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Ok, it may be reasonable not to want to give away a table for one person, but the waitress could have used some I'm sorry, I'm afraid, or even Give it ten minutes, we'll see who shows up and I'll be glad to seat you then. \r
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After I discovered 3 of us waiting at the bar we got a booth, grudgingly. Another waitress comes for the drink orders. She's as friendly as the first. \r
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""You ready? "" I order the shepherds pie.\r
One of us is a vegetarian and wants her salad without the cheese listed on the menu? ""Can you make a small change to the salad?"" \r
"" We only got what's on the menu!"" And the lovely waitress taps her foot until we finish ordering. There's more, but it hurts in the telling. PLUS the food was pretty bad. The pie was meat, LOTS of salt, potatoes. That's it. \r
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I then resolved to make this the only 1-star review from the bars in the best bar book... but... and it's a big BUT. \r
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While the others are out for a smoke, I get up to have the bartender sign the Best Bars book. He's great! Chatty, friendly, joking around as if I were a real person. The other folks at the bar were as nice. An older regular with the required accent talks to me about the book. Two girls dressed for a good time, just start chatting out of nowhere. Wow! This place isn't as bad as I thought it was. My advice? Stick to the bar. You'll have a good time. Retreat to a table at your own risk. --Drink Club is a roving group of NYC drinkers
Pros: great bartender, friendly bar patrons
Cons: THE WAITRESSES!
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