Ben "there done that" W.'s Profile

I would never have normally gone to this place on my own accord, by my improv school classrooms (Upright Citizen's Brigade) iare directly across the street. It's a pretty convenient place for drinks after class. The interior is done in tasteful yuppie undertones, with accents of businessman/woman, and as a young hipster, I stuck out like a sore, under-dressed, thumb.

The beers are standard Manhattan price and the food is slightly too expensive, but in keeping with the proximity to MSG. I would not recommend the crab cakes as they were mostly filler, and way too spicy to taste the crab.

All in all, I would never go back under my own power, but as I study near by, I fear I will have to revisit this location from time to time.

Oddity: There is a glass both at the end of the bar for private dinners which is really odd. It's not particularly private and folks eating in it look like they're on display. Maybe this is a usual detail in upscale dinning establishments, but it seems weird to eat your dinner in a shark cage.

Love this bar and there seemingly endless choices of beer. Came here for a friend's birthday, and had one hell of a cheese plate. The cheeses were some of the most glorious and stinky fromages I have ever sampled. The backyard is a wonderful place to hang out on a hot evening, although there always seems to be a shortage of seating and roving groups of people will ask if they can take an empty seat.

They also have a lot of different beers, although the night I went I was a little experimental and had a chocolate stout which when paired with my cheeses made me reconsider my life on the planet. I have since never ordered a chocolate stout in any combination of food.

Tip: If you are still hungry I would suggest a quick walk to the Alligator Lounge for more pedestrian beer and pizza (http://www.yelp.c...) it's also nearer the trains.