Tuesday, November 16, 2010—Bar 310
Day 310—Monday, November 15th, 2010
Fanelli's Cafe
Okay, after a couple of week’s with mucho guest stars, I’m back to solo bar-crawling. At last night’s dinner, Fanelli’s Cafe was mentioned by Jon and Karen and I told them I’ve been meaning to go there ever since the start of the bar crawl. It can get crazy crowded in there, but since it’s Monday, I think it’ll be manageable. There’s only one way to find out...
And that's to go there and here we are, let's go check it out.
I love the massive old wooden doors.
Wow, it's crowded for a Monday night, but I spy one empty seat at the bar, let's go grab it.
Steve's a veteran bartender here who's been at Fanneli's for over 15 years.
As I took a sip of beer I looked up and sure enough, there it is, the sign of a great bar, a tin ceiling!
A shot of the back of the bar from my vantage point.
Kristy was the waitress on duty. She was busy, but kindly agreed to pose for a photo inbetween waiting on tables.
Antique light fixtures hang over and illuminate the bar.
Rows of chairs and tables with red-checkered table-cloths line the wall opposite the bar.
Historical photos from days gone by cover the walls.
Here's a vintage boxing poster.
And more boxing photos are hung below it.
Let's go see who this group of people are at the end of the bar.
It turns out they're visiting from London and this is their third night in New York City. From left: James, Will, Eleanor and Alessandro. Will had been to Fanelli's before and brought the group here. Well done, Will!
A long shot of the bar.
A glance of the bar from the opposite end.
Kris was seated next to me waiting for friends to show up. They showed up and took a picture of the two of us. Kris used to live in New York, but now lives in L.A. and is with United Future, check them out here: United Future.
As the night wears on I spy an unusual sight at Fanelli's, empty stools at the front of the bar.
It's been a while since I've done an obligatory bathroom mirror shot, so here we go. Goodnight, everybody!
Review
Fanelli’s is one of the oldest taverns in New York City. It was opened by Michael Fanelli in 1922 and even though the Fanelli family sold the business in 1982, the current owner’s have wisely left the iconic name unchanged. Also unchanged is the bar itself, a great old-school wooden behemoth of a bar. Wobbly ancient wooden tables and chairs line the wall opposite the bar and there’s a framed collage of vintage black and white photos featuring looks at a New York from days gone by and old boxing photos. There’s also a dining area in the back room, which most nights is spilling over with people drinking beer and eating burgers.
Fanilli’s offers a full bar with a good draft and bottled beer selection including: Red Stripe, Duvel, Samuel Adams and Heineken. They have a large menu with all the usual suspects such as chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, soups, salads and sandwiches. Some of the stand out items on the menu include: Meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes; Shepherds Pie; Maryland Crab Cake and Pumpkin Ravioli in alfredo sauce. Since they open at 10am breakfast is also served here, so you can have an egg sandwich with an early morning beer, truly the breakfast of champions!
Fanelli's Cafe
594 Prince St. (@Mercer St.)
212-226-9412
2 References
Reader Comments (24)
One look at those tables in Fanelli's and I flashed on 'The Godfather'..."Try the veal, it's the best in the city..."
@Jaws: You're right, I wonder if they filmed that in there?
Now THAT'S a New York bar! Nice stop!
@Barfly: you are so correct,,,a real New York bar. @365: Does Fanelli's remind you a little of Old Town Bar?
Looks like an old tile mosaic floor to go with the tin ceiling.
@Al: You're right, it could be Old Town's twin bar!
@groobyrick: I keep forgetting to have a pretty girl wave to you! I'll try to make that happen this week.
That's a bar what are a bar! You've got some good karma (bar-ma?) to get a seat right away. Lucky man.
i agree with al, it does look like the old town bar. looks like a popular place!
I don´t recall to see bartenders so sad (angry?) in this bar crawl...
@Pops: He wasn't sad or angry, just a bad picture, it happens. Plus it was a Monday night!
I see I'm not the only one who was immediately reminded of Old Town! I dig all those old boxing photos and I'm a sucker for red and white-checkered tablecloths. They make me think that I'm in a re-make of Lady and the Tramp. I mean, if I were a lady and..well, the tramp part's probably pretty accurate. In any event, even though I'd probably prefer a Bloody Mary (extra spicy, please!) with my egg sandwich, I'm definitely penciling in Fanelli Cafe for breakfast sometime soon. They won't mind if I stay all day, right?
i love plastic squeezy condiment bottles!
@Biff: All day and all of the night to quote the Kinks!
@kat: Who doesn't?
Hey I was in their last night when you were! I wondered what you were doing and later got your website from somebody up at the bar from your card. I love what you're doing here, a wonderful guide to NYC bars. Very nice, love the photos. Very fun!
I know this will shock you, but man I love those doors! Its like your first impression to a place, and its a good one! The wooden built-ins behind the bar, the ceiling, I would like that to be my house. Maybe without all the people. And I'm not sure you're supposed to rub stuff on the bathroom mirror.
/
@kari: I thought the doors were impressive too and thought you'd like them.
@JHwang: ?
@365: Made it home safe!! Thanks all for the well wishes on our trip.
Could be back in June!! Lets hope.
I'd probably get to the Bar in Fanelis and order some kinda top shelf Scotch...it just has that kind of vibe...
What a nice warm, relaxing place to booze up...quite unlike the Blarney stone...or the Jack Russell!
We got stuck in LAX at a bar for 6 hrs and I got to see the Eagles THRASH the Redskins...
so to make a long story short, we drank a lot and ate shitty airport bar pizza.
@Ned Sparks: Great getting to meet you and Karen on Sunday. Good times! I'll be looking forward to he next link for Grad A Fancy!
@Tim Clack: Glad you got home safely, mate! Nice to meet you and Shannon, friends for life!
@Tim Clack, likewise. A pleasure meeting you and Shannon. Enjoy your summer down under, and don't take any wooden dingoes!
Oh yay. Thank you for the obligatory bathroom photo! HA! Um...why does Kristy look so mad? Maybe she's hungry, the girl looks like she could use a sandwich!
tim glad to hear you got home safely
here is what one said about fanelli staff "the blasé wait staff would sooner spit in your drink than smile. But it's this dose of reality that gives the joint its charm. "...KOC
rr
@Meleah: Glad you liked the obligatory shot! Krsity was very friendly, sometimes the pictures don't tell the whole story.
@raginrr: That quote says it all, lots of charm in the joint.