Professor Thom's
219 Second Ave
New York, NY 10003 (212) 260-9480
- Nearest Transit:
3rd Ave-14th St (L)
Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: DJ
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
36 Reviews for Professor Thom's
I will never go to this place again, only because of the jerk manager/bartender who is older with grey-ish hair. This guy shouldn't be working a job that requires communication with customers in any way. He was defensive, ignorant and plain rude to me and the patrons around him. Sure, we all have bad days, but this was inexcuseable. He did a great job of convincing me not to spend another dollar at Professor Thom's and to spread the word about what an uncomfortable experience one can have if they dare to step foot in there. The bar itself looked like a cool place with friendly people, minus this specific manager who I hope I never encounter again.
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You want to come here? GET LOST. No, really. Wander upstairs to the speakeasy-esque second floor and watch the latest LOST episode live with dozens of its most rabid fans. The bartenders get into it, and make up rules for when the house gets free shots of jungle juice (clever).
So why not five-stars for this genorosity? On Saturdays, it becomes a Michigan bar. Hey, nobody's perfect (GO IRISH).
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I like Professor Thom's. really great beer selection. Spacious bar so it's great for groups.
And you can watch 24 there. (I hear everyone does a shot every time Jack Bauer shoots someone.)
I've always had a good time whenever I've gone there.
If you are a Bostonian or a lover of Boston sports and ever find yourself in NYC during a night when there is an important game being played (then again they are all important to us), this is where you need to be.
As soon as you walk in, you feel like your home. From the people checking IDs to the waitstaff and the lovely bartenders (not talking about your Chris) - this place is welcoming. It is full of flat screen TVs 99% of which are tuned to the Red Sox/ Celtics/ Patriots and the vibe is classic Boston blue colar. Lots of college kids, executives, and other assorted neighborhood characters (what up Dorian and Rodney), cheering, screaming and living and dying with every pitch / basket or play.
They have a good selection of Boston beers - as well as good stuff from elsewhere and very solid apps and burgers. The prices are low and the service is friendly and fun.
A true bastion of goodness in the heart of the evil empire, Professor Thom's is one in a million - and truly the best Boston bar in NYC.
I will be back soon and often....loved every minute of it.
really big, seems like good beer selection, cool sitting area and deck upstairs. but too many boston people. granted i went there during a redsox game. ugh. but i'd go back, just when i knew boston teams weren't playing.
nice place though
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So i have a friend that asks me to meet at a bar close to 2nd. So I take a cab down to meet him at this "Awesome" bar when I get there I see a bunch of short girls wearing hats and a bunch of loud and obnoxious dudes. Guess where I am? A fuckin' Red Sox bar. My dickhead friend brought me to the place where he can openly discuss his Mancrush on Tom Brady and how he would totally do him if he met him. Mind you he is not gay, but he turns so gay for Brady when he gets here. I get enough of his persistent txt messages about the Red Sox and what Tom Brady is wearing on Monday afternoons from him, but to trick me into coming to his Tom Brady mancrush sanctuary is going too far.
Other thatn the smokin hot blond bartender this place has nothing to offer other than loud dudes from Boston and short chicks wearing hats. (Why do so many girls from Boston wear hats?)
Unless you are Gay for Tom Brady you don't need to be here.
I was here for a friends b-day party in the loft area. There were a few other parties going on so there we constant breaks w/in our social circle.. which is fine but when it's 5 girls carrying one back and forth to the bathroom, come on... just annoying!
We lost half of the group, come to find they headed downstairs where most of the bar cleared out by then..
Downstairs is ten times chiller, find a seat at the bar and relax - I was happy we finally did!
Service is good. I know friends visit here on Thursdays for "Lost" night.
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Lost Thursdays! Free shots if Ben gets punched! This is my new favorite place. ooohh and on sundays they have a long ass happy hour 10-4am
this is the best place for the lush who wants to be entertained! They only lose one star for the lonnnnggg wait for food, and the bathroom ick!
I will be back tho !
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The good: It's a Red Sox bar in NYC -- I went for a playoff game and had a great time. Everyone there loved the Sox, and people were super friendly. The food was good, they make a good burger and I liked their potato chips a lot, they taste like they made them themselves. Chicken wings were good, but not mind blowing. Their nachos looked pretty good, but apparently the salsa was a bit lame. Overall, a superfun place to go and watch the Red Sox in NYC. It's hard to tell if it is like this for all games, but if you want to sit, make sure you get there early for playoff and world series games.
AND ... almost everyone there knew who to call when your windshield's busted.
Things they need to fix: The chalkboards listing the beers are not at all up to date and have apparently been wrong for a long time. Aren't chalkboards easy to update? You know, with chalk?
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Went here for a Michigan game once, and really enjoyed it. Love that it's also a Sox bar. Good beer selection, we ended up somehow getting seats despite being late, and the fans were really fun and laid back. Good times.
We found this place by accident after tracking through the freezing winds on NYC at 10:30pm. I had no idea it was Red Sox bar till I ordered a beer and noticed the Professor Thom's shirts with Red Sox print. We showed up at the tail end of the North Carolina and Duke game. After the game the fans disturbed by the loss left and we snatched up 3 booths next to each other. Each booth had it's own TV and ample seating. Above our booth on the wall was a framed T shirt that said Jesus Hates the Yankees. Oh Halleluihia! I was traveling with about 20 people from Boston and NH so we were quite happy. My brother who has great taste in music played DJ all night on the Juke Box. I was on cloud nine, and then realized that beer was under 5 bucks! Thom's turned into heaven after that. I had been bummed all weekend at how expensive it was to have fun in NY and finally I could get a beer and leave a tip for 5 bucks. Oh I did not go upstairs this wonderful review is only based on floor 1. If you are from Boston and in the city GO!
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Professor Thom's is on its way to becoming one of our regular spots. The selection of beer is solid and the food is decent. If you are a Sox and/or Pats fan, like good beer and live in the area...you probably already go here.
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If you are a Boston fan this bar is a must. Minus the Boston niche benefit its an ok bar with good service (I'd rate 3 stars but I gave 4 because its a niche bar and I appreciate those). Beer is a reasonable price but I would prefer if they served beer in pitchers (they seemingly don't). Haven't tried the food but when I go there I always seem to have a good time. To people that Photo Hunt this place has it.
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After a great night of dancing at Beauty Bar my friends and I headed over to Professor Thom's. This place reminded of a bar I went to in Austin, Texas which was called the Library(I think). Just like the bar in Austin I enjoyed this spot very much. It was packed with a bunch of BoSox fans and what appeared to be alot of college undergrads. WIth two floors there is more than enough space to find somewhere to sit down and find adrink. I took a walk up to the second level and it was just as happening upstaris as down. Great place to go with a group to sit around , drink and take in the game. It will only be a matter of time before I find myself back here.
The vibe downstairs is really casual and very different from the vibe upstairs. Way too packed on a Saturday night and the DJ was pretty inconsistent. Drinks were surprisingly pricey for the size and the crowd was medium. Wouldn't say it was amazing but it wasn't horrible either. but packed!
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I amend my former comment that The Riviera was THE place for Red Sox fans. It's actually here. Definitely better than the Riv in food selection, service and general fun-ness. That's right. Fun-ness. With a huge bar, a back table area and booths with their own TV's this is a great place to catch the game!
I went on Tuesday and since Extra Innings was broadcasting from Cleveland they had karaoke announcing! Each inning you could take a swing at being Don & Jerry. There were some contenders and some not so much, and it was a little on the loud side, but overall it was amusing.
They don't have cider, so that sucks. But they have many more vegetarian options than the Riv and the food is a lot better. I also hear tell there are Lost & 24 Happy Hours and that's simply awesome.
One warning, Sat. afternoon Fox has the rights to broadcast and if they aren't showing the Red Sox, extra innings is even blacked out. Booo. But when this happened to my friend and I we still got a great burger!
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Attention all LOST lovers!
Professor Thom's Loft, the second floor, throws a LOST party every Wednesday. I went here last week with a few friends and it was by far the most fun I've ever had watching the show.
Every time someone on the show said "the others" everybody in the bar gets a free shot of jungle juice! That night I had a delicious burger, waffle fries, a beer, and FOUR free shots. Although i think the best part is that whenever the commercial break ends everybody shushes, and whenever someone hears "the others" the entire bar erupts in "WHOOO!!!"
I never thought I'd be that happy when they said that annoying phrase. The only frustrating thing was that the downstairs bar was apparently having Bingo Night, and all through the episode there was this booming voice that announced B-14.... I-24... etc. Next time i'm sitting further away from the stairs.
So I'll see all you LOST loving Yelpers there next time, right? I'll be the one who got there an hour earlier to reserve the most comfy couch.
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Two-level bar with high ceilings, wooden paneling, an extensive beer selection, and a cozy, convivial atmosphere.
Like many, I'm a sucker for the 24 power hour every Monday night, where Jack Bauer-incited destruction leads to free sake bombs, lemon drops, and various other assorted fruity shots on the house. One of those places I kind of want to keep to myself, because there are already enough people vying for the comfiest couches upstairs.
Grabbed a quick dinner before last week's show; very edible turkey burger and crispy waffle fries were accompanied by very prompt delivery of a ketchup bottle upon request (critical in my book).
Bathrooms are clean and remind me of my mom's house.
Upstairs bar gets particularly busy from about 8:50 through 10 during the Monday event. I forgot to close my tab this Monday, so swung by the next night to pick it up -- fairly busy for a weeknight, and the bartenders very pleasant. Solid, low-key hangout.
edit: I'm obsessed with the deep fried mac and cheese. holy crap.
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It's less divey than the other sports bars in the village. I actually sat through 2 basketball games, a lacrosse, a boxing and a soccer match sitting at the bar (No, I wasn't there for 10 hours -- there're 6-8 flat screen TVs). PT is the haven for and is run by Red Sox fans, but that doesn't deter Mets fans like my college buddy (see Brian D.'s review) from loving it. Beer is cheeeeeeeap. I thought I misheard the bartender when she said $12 for 3 drinks.
Check out the lounge upstairs - it looks like a completely different bar.
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Go for a Red Sox game! Great Sox bar w/ Harpoon on tap, and Harpoon specials during the Sox games. The food is solid but nothing special, but tons of TV's tuned into NESN makes it all good.
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When you're in The Professor's Loft, you really feel like you're hanging out in a friend's nice apartment that just happens to have a bar. To find the place, you actually go into Professor's Thom's on the ground floor, then go up a flight of stairs off to the right near the entrance. Then you're in the Loft. High ceilings, lots of couches and candles. It's a cozy place and great for parties. I would definitely consider throwing a party of my own here. It really doesn't feel like a bar, it feels like home.
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Currently one of favorite bars in the city. Very nice draught beer selection (harpoon/brooklyn/magic hat, stone/radeberger/delirium) including a tap from Bell's which is very difficult to find in New York, drinks are fairly inexpensive, bartenders have always been incredibly nice. Above average jukebox, plenty of televisions always tuned to sports (and the bartender will gladly put on your game if you ask)
Trivia night was a blast. Have yet to check out mondays for the JBPH (the jack bauer power hour).
Upstairs is like a different world and has a great atmosphere.
edit: a little over a year after my initial review i must say that i'm saddened how this bar has been overrun on fridays and saturdays by the types of people that at first i was so happy to avoid at this joint. oh well, the word got out. still a fun place to throw back a few but it gets very crowded most nights.
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This place is a really happening joint, especially on the weekends. Happy hours here are decent, with reasonably priced drinks, a diverse crowd, and good music. However, once the weekend comes, the crowds come a rolling, the ventilation starts failing (it gets hot fast), and the service starts sucking. Badly.
I came here on a weekend to celebrate the birthday of one my female friends. We had arrived in a group of 20+ around midnight or so, with no where to seat in sight. It was too difficult to find a place to sit and when we did it was still too crowded to be deemed as enjoyable. The cocktail waitress seemed to be all over the place and for a Saturday night I was surprised there wasn't more help on the staff end. It was a frat boy / sorority girl central and the music was barely audible and the sports highlights on the projected screens were barely viewable as folks were constantly in the way.
The posh, upstairs area seems to be the better spot as different music is played there and its made for private parties. The vibe is totally different than the rowdy first floor but it virtually makes no difference when its body-to-body traffic. And as hot as that sounds, its not fun when its literally (humid) hot.
I hear Mondays are 24 nights where all the TVs are tuned to the yummy Jack Bauer and then there's free shots whenever he kills a guy... sweet.
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You feel like people "got your back" here amongst the city of Yankees fans- need I say more?
P.S. They have my home brew Harpoon on tap, yessssssss
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This place is the jump off! Ok, not really.. I said that to my friend because she didn't believe me that the place existed. So we went and I showed her. The upstairs, upper balcony area is good times, it's chill.... not too remarkable, though (akin to anna nicole's anus).
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Its too bad Professor Thom's isnt actually in my neighborhood - because if it was it would be my favorite neighborhood bar. Luckily, one of my best friends DOES live in the neighborhood so I have a good excuse to be there for trivia on Mondays and bingo on Wednesdays. Strong drinks, great atmosphere and awesome bar food.
Definitely check it out. I'll probably be there. Up at the bar chatting with Jim, who will make you feel so at home, you'll think you walked into Cheers.
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Professor Thom's has been my usual neighborhood haunt since it opened. It was after just one visit, in fact. For one thing, it's a great bar to watch a ballgame - they have six plasma screens and a large projection screen. The beer selection is nice and varied - Rogue, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Bell's, plus the usual suspects and a few surprises. The food isn't half-bad, although it is a little expensive.
BUT what puts this bar over the top is its clientele: Boston Red Sox fans. Among its founders are those helped convince the tired West Village haunt Riviera to become the official Red Sox bar of New York (it's been featured in the New England media often ignoring other New York/Red Sox hot spots). NESN is always on, and the bar is full of passionate Red Sox fans, alongside sympathetic Mets fans.
And to top it all off, it's a block from my apartment. So when the Sox lose to the Spankees, I have a very short walk of shame.
this is a bosox bar. i am a foreign-born, NY-bred chick with a penchant for spoiled rotten shortstops, expensive teams, and NY Post tabloid fodder.
i had a great time here till i realized where i was... the polar opposite from the pinstripe pub!!
a wave of nausea and panic hit me. would they know i was a yanks lover?? i dropped my half-full vodka, yelled "OH LORD, i am in a boston redsox bar" and bolted out the door.
[on the useful side, there is a an upstairs and downstairs and the crowd is fun and friendly. the drinks are strong (ketel seltzer)]
risk: getting my yanks-lovin a$$ kicked here
reward: new yawker.. you can trash talk all you want, if you can run fast
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Watched the Lost season finale at the Loft. Totally overcrowded, got there at 8:30 and ended up sitting on the floor after waiting outside for 15 minutes due to power issues in the place.
Finally got in and got some beers and settled in for the 2 hour finale. They advertised drink specials like free shots everytime someone died and free Jungle Juice everytime someone referred to The Others. Total false advertising, a bunch of people died the Others were mentioned, we ended up fighting our way up to the bar to get ONE shot each, and getting a dirty look by the snotty bartender before she poured the shots. Shouldn't have bothered, they tasted like rubbing alcohol anyway.
Had to run downstairs to get food, got told by the bartender that it would be ready in five minutes, came back in ten, was told to wait another three minutes, and after about 20 minutes of getting a workout running up and down the stairs, got a gross veggie burger that fell apart the minute I tried to eat it.
Great Lost finale, should have just watched it at home.
It can be a good time.... Upstairs is where it happens though (if "IT" happens at all) If you crave a Beam and diet and wanna watch Joey drool over the bartender, this is it. Sorry, just not a major fan of the generic-ness nor the location. I think Second Nature used to put together a better excuse for the cab ride.
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24 power hour on mondays! free shots if:
(1) jack bauer kills someone.
(2) jack bauer defies orders.
the place has comfortable couches & a laid-back atmosphere. the food is not bad either. had a really big veggie burger on a nice soft potato bun and a pile of waffle fries. i really enjoyed the fries.
happy hour before 8 means $3 amstel lights. i'll be back next monday!
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I've been to Prof Thom's twice now, with my friend Cassie and a number of her friends. I'm not much of a sports watcher, though I don't mind relaxing to a football game, or keeping up with the DETROIT TIGERS, but this bar has plenty of TV monitors, including a giant screen at one end of the space, all of which have had baseball games on when I got there. They have Guinness on tap, which is just about all that matters to me if I am drinking, but for everyone else, there are plenty of choices, including mixed drinks and specialty shots. There is also plenty of space to sit - at the bar, in the booths, on the couches, or at the tables - and a fairly stocked menu will help soak up whatever you can throw back. The jukebox has a handful of decent songs to play too. It may be too early to tell, but this could be my lucky bar.
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this sports bar / tv bar is a lot of fun for a weekday! they usually have some kind of TV promotion going on with 24 parties on mondays and Lost parties on Wednesdays. free shots when stuff happens. plus, the food isn't half bad. the waffle fries are great, though extremely oily. drinks are pretty strong.
on a weekend though, it's not really happening.
going for a night of drinks, go here. had some drinks, ate some wings, watched a baseball game. upstairs has a nice lounge area. you'll find alot of sports fans downstairs.
i was here once...and it was filled with overgrown frat boys. kinda lame.
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