Blarney Stone

…SIGH…
I guess it had to happen eventually. This place is gone, like the last memory of a pre-​Giuliani era, when corporations and wealthy non-​residents didn’t own every corner of Manhattan. Done, over, out. No doubt it will become something fabulous and exclusive and upscale and wooooooonderful, safe enough for strollers and children and rich people from around the globe to antiseptically enjoy while smiling and scanning their credit cards and smart phone screens, oblivious to the coming collapse of all mankind!
Just kidding, sorry, went off on a rant there.
Actually, it was just a nice low-​key place with cheap beer and a weird mix of eclectic people, and even good food. I will miss it, like I miss everything else about the city I used to know. Condos, boutique, or Shake Shack: I anxiously await it’s new incarnation. RIP

Its true. Cheap drinks, and the type of patrons that attracts. Interesting mix of music, club, country, metal, 80’s, Irish… so you’re sure to find something you like.
Beer selection and service is typical with a bus stop right across the street.
This is truly a bar and grill. Bar on one side, grill on the other. And with a fairly extensive sandwich and burger menu. Fries are fresh cut and deep fried and simply put it doesn’t get any better than that. Burgers? Flame grilled and I can say the best I’ve had short of a charcoal grill in my back yard.
Yet despite these good points, two negatives ensure I not only wont be back, but will notify the Health Department. I’m talking about the filth. Honest to God, over three visits, the bathrooms reminded me of those in a Mexican border town during a college spring break more years ago than I care to count. Gross. Putrid. You get the idea. Did I mention they serve food too?
Secondly, the rude um, «ladies» behind the bar, especially the heavy set younger chick. Yes you. I buy four drinks, and she lambasts me for requesting a water refill?
The filthy conditions and the rude bar staff are an unforgivable one-​two punch for me simply because they declare «we don’t care» and yet its so easily fixable. When it comes to Irish bars on the east side, there are countless better options. While the burgers are fantastic, come here just for the spectacle.
Update: Not surprisingly, this place has been shuttered.

This place is the best for a few after work pints with friends. Granted, those pints will not be thrown back in luxury with artisan cheese platters and mason jars by your side, but it’s a real, legit old-​man bar in the heart of Midtown so you gotta just go with the flow and enjoy it.
Soak in the atmosphere of the vinyl seats, the gruff service, and the random people inside and enjoy some cold, delicious and cheap brews. They have a great selection of beers on tap, and honestly, the food is pretty good too. There are times when the median age is 57, and also times when the male/​female ratio is 98 to 2, but it’s all part of the Blarney Stone’s charm.

Nasty? Dive bar? Filthy bathrooms? You gotta be kidding. I went to Blarney Stone last evening and found it to be as nice a beer bar as any place I’ve ever been. And I’ve been to a few. Trust me.
Gooskis in Pittsburgh is a dive bar. Root Bar #1 in Asheville is a dive bar. The Blarnry Stone –for beer selection, location and price-​should be listed on the National List of Historic Places!
I didn’t eat there, but several folks around me did and it looked fine.

I was terrified that this place was closed for good: grates out front and doors locked for what’s now been two weeks. I was there the night before (and a lot before that), and it felt like something taken out from under me.
Today, I was told that they’re just renovating. And, with that, a new sense of order came upon myself and the Manhattanite community, even the tourists. Moonchildren and realists alike found themselves anew: all is not lost. All is on vacation, working to be better, as it always has been and will continue to be.
You can take the Blarney away from the Stone, but you will never take the Blarney Stone from 44^th and 3^rd.

I was definitely a little too intoxicated to remember anything about this place. However, the bartender was very friendly even though she admitted to being drunk and then shortly apologized. The signs on the walls seems like they had a lot of drink specials (if I read it correctly), and I’m all about that.
On my next trip here, this review will definitely be updated.

When the heck was I here? Not recently I don’t think, but Unilocal says I was. Anyway, it’s a Blarney Stone. They have beer and men. If your’e real picky about your varieties of beer and men, this isn’t what you’re looking for, but if you just want the standard models, you’re good with this place.

This was the one bar we went to during our visit. It was very close to our hotel so why not? Hmm, service was pretty good. The bartenders were nice. The first night, we got Jameson shots, the bartender gave us 1.5 shots. Being apart of the bar scene in Davis, I know that’s a major hookup. $ 8.5 a shot, pretty normal I guess. Second night, we got more Jameson shots, it was a new bartender and we got regular shots. A lil disappointed but she was very nice. Music is alright, mixture of everything. There’s a game at the bar, chose your numbers and if it pops up, you win? Kinda like a lottery game, it was fun. Definitely a chill bar.

So it’s 10:30 in the morning, I’m in midtown and waiting for a store down the street to open at 11am. I think, hmmmm I could use a drink (don’t judge, I work midnights). Since it’s early pretty much every place is closed, except this one.
It’s a real dive bar in midtown! I kinda love that. The beers and ciders were reasonable. That is just awesome. The place also makes all kinds of food, just to the right as you walk in. I was so tempted, but had just eaten a couple of hours before. Maybe next time.
Be warned, it is a dive bar, the place isn’t immaculate looking, the stools and bar are old. If you are looking for a nice shiny place, this isn’t it. If you are looking for good drinks for a reasonable price just outside of Grand Central, I’ll see you at the bar.

There are two major things wrong with the Blarney Stone: its manager, and its filth.
I popped in for a pint on the off chance the manager was about, so I could have a quick chat with him about a charity football (soccer) league I run, specifically for NYC restaurants and bars. The barmaid politely tells me I need to speak to the «gentleman in the green shirt over there.»
I approach. He stops chatting with two fellows who appear to work there and says: «Do I know you?»
«Umm… no,» I reply.
«Not interested,» he barks at me and walks off, leaving me there with hand outstretched in front of half a dozen others, looking like a turd.
The manager’s behavior leads me to believe that there may just be a causal correlation between filthy attitudes and dirty bars. The Blarney Stone ranks amongst the rankest I’ve ever seen.
That they make food in an establishment which is that dirty boggles the mind. Who would eat there if not barking drunk?
I certainly won’t be telling my 4,000+ football players in NYC to go there for a pint or any footy match.
Dozens of Irish places can be found within walking distance of the Blarney Stone. I’ve been to them all. And every single one is far cleaner and much more comfortable. And they’re all run by professional and welcoming folk.
There’s really only one reason I can see merit in going to the Blarney Stone: if you’re a masochist, after abuse of manner and by meal.

The sign in front says, «Best Burgers in Midtown.» Having not eaten every burger in midtown Manhattan, I’m not going to make that claim. However, the Blarney Stone comes pretty darn close.
The burgers, prepared your way, are gigantic and tasty, unless you are going for the sliders, which are small and tasty. :-)
The fries are your basic pub-​style steak-​fries – big, greasy, and oh-​so-​delicious.
It was the burgers that brought me in, but there other foods are pretty good. The jerk chicken is wonderful, as is their steak. Their fried fish is nice. The sandwiches are great and overstuffed. Of course, with a name like «The Blarney Stone,» the corned beef and cabbage is phenomenal, and goes great with a Guiness and shot of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey (which I’ve had on a few St. Patrick’s Days).
Being a bar, they have a great selection of beers.
The food prices are pretty decent.
The atmosphere is very blue-​collar, but you will see plenty of people in suits here as well. They are usually blasting a classic rock station, which is quite fine by me.

Down to the pub for a two shilling ale
The bread on the counter is going stale
If I don’t get some fresh bread soon
Gonna punch you in your face and bark at the moon
Aye Aye Aye — sharpen your boot, and bludgeon your eye
Aye Aye Aye — the Blarney Stone brings a tear to me eye

Whenever I was craving a meal to put me into a food coma this was my favorite place to eat lunch in Midtown hands down. They have a huge grill and awesome selection of sides. Great tasting burgers, chicken, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, etc. Whatever combo you wanted they will make it. I’m not saying go here if you want healthy but this will certainly conquer your hunger.
Best Sloppy Joe in NYC. They don’t always make it so call ahead. My entire office used to order it when they had it in.
While it’s the opposite of a place you bring a client you’re trying to impress, go here to sneak away during the NCAA tourney or an afternoon baseball game. Cheapest beer in Midtown. Crowd is blue collar union guys and is always busy.

I have tried jerk chicken at several places, and I have to say that the jerk chicken here is the best I have had in NYC, and in the USA. It’s got some great spiciness but not too much that it is uncomfortable.
It’s only $ 6 and it comes with any two sides. I like to stay healthy and get carrots and cabbage, but there is rice and a lot of other options.

Aside from the homeless looking customer that smelled like garbage/​vomit/​urine that kept walking by the bar and BRUSHED AGAINST MY BACK (EWWWWWW), I’d say I had a good experience here. It is a great dive bar with a huge selection of beers with prices that cannot be beaten. It gets very packed and noisy at least on a Friday night. I hear they have awesome sliders. Will have to try one next time.

Some of my fondest memories of my dad was him taking me to Rangers games as a kid. He would always start the night pregaming at Blarney Stone on 8^th avenue. At the time some 20 years ago Blarney Stone served really fantastic corned beef and pastrami on really high quality rye. It was grungy and blue collar just like my Bay Ridge/​Sunset park roots. The entire scene was Saturday Night Fever.
At some point the whole Blarney Stone chain of Irish Pubs devolved. The same blue collar types hang out here mixed with white collar folks who I presume like me weren’t always white collar. But true to our hearts are still B&T in one way or another and don’t mind haunts like the Blarney Stone.
The steam table has somewhat devolved for better and for worse. The high quality corn beef on rye and other Irish pub fare is long gone. Half the time they only serve turkey sandwiches and roast beef the kind that you can buy at Costco or BJ’s. And the steam table is filled with items that the cooks know how to execute because they have probably had some serious time manning Manhattan delicatessen steam tables and Korean deli buffets for some time.
With this said A TON of the steam table is executed well and value priced. The rotisserie chicken for example could probably hold a candle next to Sophie’s. That said I will always have a spot in my heart for the Blarney Stone. Think of it as college cafeteria food at its finest. The beers on tap are also cheap as hell and they will have soccer games on whenever an event is happening.

Went for lunch, it was packed. Safe to say, it wasn’t the cleanest place. But, the food was cheap, $ 6 for «Argentinian chicken» and 2 sides. Could care less for sides, but the chicken was jammed with flavor. Chicken was tender, well spiced.
Will go back, and try pastrami sandwich (it was huge) and other roast chicken
If you are ok with the low quality of place, you will not be disappointed with food. Of course, they also have the $ 3 cheap beer.

Blarney Stone is an absolute Dive. I mean that with the sincerest form of affection I can give to a place frequented by displaced patrons of the OTB.
There is always a group of a dozen or so guys that sit at your typical Blarney Stone. They are there every day and look about the same. They look like they haven’t shaved in at least a week and have nothing much to look forward to than their next drink. If you happen to be an attractive woman, they will most likely gawk at you since you are indeed the highlight of the day.
The Blarney stone also serves food in the front. Not kidding, food in the front, liquor in the back. The food consists of a buffet line with various chicken dishes, although there’s usually a steak dish and sausage and peppers, breaded chicken etc.
I tend to skip these things and go for the sliders. The sliders here are $ 6 for 3 with fries and they’re very good. They cook them right over the grill and you get that greasy, smoked flavor thats so hard to find from a burger joint. Seriously, give ti a try. You got $ 6 to lose and I guarentee you won’t be disappointed.
— Don’t eat the hot bar unless you’re really, REALLY adventurous. I’ve never gotten sick here, but you’ll see what I mean if you came here yourself.
— Don’t come here after dark, dont’ come alone. This applys double if you’re a woman. Seriously, I wouldn’t come here after dark and neither should you.
— Food is cheap and good though, especially the burgers/​sliders.

Went here for the chicken blue sandwich. A good portion for $ 6.50.
Definitely a sausage fest here (guys I mean). Was full up at lunch. Mostly blue collars, a couple suits. Nice place. Set up done in a kind of open space way that’s informal & pleasing.

The pints are a steal in this place… and the food is greasy kitchen perfected. Two hot dogs topped with mustard and kraut, and a 5 buck pint of Blue Point were perfect for lunch.
The jukebox was in full swing on a Saturday, and some of the patrons had their arms around each other belting out a tune. Good atmosphere, good food, great value.
It’s nice to know there is a «shitty bar» in the middle of Manhattan. I’ll certainly be back.

I went in for happy hour the day after St. Pattys day 2011. Our plans were to go next door to beirhaus.
Cheap beer is all its good for.
Didn’t eat there. I would not recommend anyone to.

I don’t care that I’m 30 years old… I still like this place just as much as I did a few too many years back as a recent college grad.
Beer is surprisingly cheap, lighting is awful, weird little old men try to sell you belts, Yankee hats, or Viagra… it’s extremely entertaining and all around awesome.
I don’t need good food or spotless bathrooms… Just pass me a $ 3 beer.