Wanted - good bar/pub with upmarket food...

[Scotty100]

Have informal business meeting coming up- need a decent bar with better than average food...price/location no preference. Already done spotted pig/resto (if that's a bar) etc. looking for other alternatives. Thanks...S.

[bob gaj]

disclaimer: haven't been, but have heard good things.

43 east 7th, jimmy's
http://www.jimmysno43.com/

[roze]

Jimmy's is one of my favorite chill bars of all time but it doesn't open until 3:00 so it would have to be a late lunch

[ChefBoyAreMe]

How about:

The Red Cat: http://www.theredcat.com/redcat.html (10th Ave & 23rd
)
It's a restaurant, but good dining at the bar...they even highlight it at the site, under the "Experience" tab. Food is excellent.

[Scotty100]

In the end, the lure of good belgian beer won through so Markt it was. Reasonable choice but probably wouldn't be in a rush to go back. Last time I ate at Markt was in their old venue in the meatpacking district. This new joint seems smaller but the bar area was better I think. As for the food I had the burger which was decent but not amazing. Fries so-so. Service was a bit spotty. Menu in general "ok" but not that innovative. Resto much better all round belgian alternative.

The biggest let down was the beer actually!! Obviously good belgian selection but my colleagues and I decided to stick with Stella Artois...which is widely available all over the city. Ordered a couple of drafts and the stella was served in what resembled a glass thimble!! My friend actually thought it was a small taster glass to help decide if stella was what we were after!! When he finished it in 2 gulps he jokingly told the barman "yes, that's fine, I'll have a pint of it"...to which the obviously riled-up bartend replied..."that's the size of the glasses they drink stella in belgium, that's all we have"...hilarious...really was a tiny glass and they charge 5 bucks a pop...the worst beer deal in manhattan...and stella ain't that special anyway!! It's all over the place served in proper pints for average 6 dollars...on that basis alone I am not rushing back to this place!!

[roze]

Wow! So sorry you had a bad time on my suggestion. To be honest I have never ordered a Stella there, for the obvious reason you mentioned- Stella is all over the city. I always order a Leffe Brun or Corsendonk and both are served in the appropriate glass with the appropriate amount.

I wa actually thinking of going there tonight for some oysters at the bar. If I do I will be sure to check out the size of the Stella glasses. Thats just ridiculous!

Hmmm...how about this- next time I suggest Lorely. You can't go wrong with their brats and a Liter of German beer :)

[fein]

lorely's is a great place. my group at work like's to go to the beer/food tasting events. it's a fun time for a group. i haven't been but i hear the garden is great when the weather is warm.

[cimui]

I love that place -- esp. with a round football game on in the a.m., and the more hardcore amongst us having beer with their breakfast wurst. But it does get awfully loud.

[egit]

Yes! I love the beer there and the food's edible. But if you sit in the back adn it's crowded, seriously... be prepared to shout at each other. They really need to put some sort of acoustically absorptive materials around there. It's all hard surfaces and your ears will be ringing by the time you leave. It can be *painfully* loud.

[Scotty100]

I have heard of lorelei but never been - I have always deferred to zum schneider for my fix of sausage and beer...love that place. Especially, like you say cimui, when the real football is on...:)

Roze - no worries on the markt rec. It was a perfectly reasonable choice and the meeting went well. Of course I exaggerate on the "thimble" comment but the glasses for the stella are way smaller than normal...like a 1/4 pint glass or something. Bit of a rip-off...stick with the leffe...!!

[egit]

FWIW, I think Loreley are Zum are owned by the same people. Or they were at one point. Loreley is bigger and slightly less crowded. I feel like ZS gets really "fratty" where Loreley doesn't. The food is comparable between them.

[chundi]

molly's

[egit]

I love Molly's. But it's really small and cramped. I go there often, but I may not want to have a biz meeting there, no matter how informal.

[ginsbera]

The Smith in the E.Village is a good idea, good food, relaxed, good drinks.
Lela Bar in the W.Village has a great wine list and small food menu
Bocca di Bacco is a great place for wine and small italian plates
Bar Stuzzichini offers a long bar, great small plates and diverse drink menu
Kingswood is supposed to have some of the best pure bar food in the city

I think The Smith is your best bet, better food than Puck Fair by far, but without losing the bar/pub atmosphere.

[Wilfrid]

The Smith has some nice food, but if a business discussion is planned, be aware that it's incredibly noisy in the evening.

[ginsbera]

agreed, it is a little loud. best to avoid a table in the middle of the restaurant

[JungMann]

Cimui has some great recommendations. To that I can only add Park Blue.

[egit]

The only mediumbrau addition I'd make to cimui's list is maybe Half King. The dining room is separate from the pub room, so conversation would be easier and it's definitely pub food.

[a_and_w]

Agree with the Half King and would add Druids.

[cimui]

I think Roze's suggestion of Puck Fair is a great idea.

Other possibilities:

** Highbrow
Grayz
Front room at Five Points
Stanton Social
Pegu (only small plates.. and perhaps not quiet enough to talk)
Employee's Only
Bar Boulud
London Bar

** Mediumbrau
Mr. Dennehy's
Sakagura
PJ Clarke's
Whitehorse Tavern
Corner Bistro

** Downright Divey
Decibel
Waterfront Ale House

[roze]

What about the bar at Markt? Great food, nice long wooden bar- great beers.

[Scotty100]

Markt is an option but perhaps not looking to do a belgian option this particular time round.

Leah - wouldn't you say Barfry is more a restuarant than pub?

[roze]

What about MetroCafe and Wine Bar, Tavern on Jane for very informal or maybe the Tavern room of gramercy Tavern?

[roze]

Sorry forgot you wnated more of a pub...I would say Tavern on Jane or maybe Puck fair.

[LeahBaila]

Bar Fry

www.thelunchbelle.com