Sunday, March 7th, 2010—Bar 56
Day 56—Saturday, March 6th
Reservoir Bar & Grill
Okay, as you saw from yesterday, my folks are in town and tonight we’re going to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday. A couple of my nieces are coming in and we’re going to have a little party in my apartment and then go to dinner. And you’re all invited! In between shopping and cleaning my place I have to do my 365 duty, so I thought I’d go to a little bar called Resevoir Bar & Grill that’s in my neighborhood. I’ve walked past this place many times, but never gone in. So let’s go there and then you can all take a nap and then it’s birthday party time. You say it’s your birthday?
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...The Reservoir Bar and Grill. Let's get inside, it's too fucking bright out here!
Aaahhh, shelter from the sun!
And the friendly bartender Liz serves up an ice-cold Rolling Rock.
Cheers!
The bar is highly polished wood and it's long so it can seat a lot of revelers.
And in the back there's a pool table and table and chairs for dining and drinking. Oh look, they match, how cute!
Here's William and Justine who were chilling at the bar with drinks.
Now this is a movement I can get behind!
Megan, Jack and Eugene were enjoying the game and some daytime drinks.
A stuffed boar's head hangs over the bar surronded by baseball caps and other assorted kitsch.
Stephanie, Denise, Ramon and Doug were getting ready to enjoy a game of pool. Till I came along with my camera and halted the action. Okay, thanks for the photo guys, as you were!
Here's the aquarium behind the bar. I didn't see any fish though. Maybe they only come out at night, I don't blame them!
Will and Leslee were holding up the end of the bar, and no that's not a typo on Leslee's name. She said to blame her parents for the spelling.
Review
The Reservoir is an aptly named dive bar. No frills, no gimmicks, just a place to come and get shitfaced with the locals from the neighborhood. The wood paneling makes you feel as if you’re in someone’s rec room and there’s a nice sized wooden bar in front and tables in the back where you can swill your suds and eat your wings. Beer ads from days gone by, vintage photos and a mounted boar’s head above the bar decorate the low-lit tavern. Threre’s a jukebox with artist’s ranging from Joan Jett, Etta James, The Isley Brothers and Warren Zevon.
There’s a full bar including 20 bottled beers and 16 draft beer selections. Some of the bottled beer selections include Rolling Rock, Sierra Nevada and Magner Irish Cider. The drafts include Budweiser, Bass Ale, Stella Artois and their own Reservoir Ale. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 featuring four buck well drinks and daily pint specials. On Tuesday all drafts are $3.50.
Standard pub grub at Resevoir includes wings, potato skins, waffle fries, burgers and sandwiches. Nothing is over 10 bucks on the menu, so you’re not going to break the bank by eating here. Be sure to check out the house salad dressing, the recipe comes from the owners mom and it’s the house specialty. I’d say, “dive into the Reservoir” but about 2,700 other reviewers beat me to that one, so stop on by and have a beer and some wings and enjoy a local neighborhood joint.
Reservoir Bar & Grill
70 University Place (between 10th & 11th St.)
212-683-3333
Bonus Post!
After my review, I cleaned up my apartment a little and we had a nice celebration and dinner for my mom.
I put up a banner over the fireplace, that way I didn't have to clean under there.
And here's the crowd stuffed into my little pad, from left: My mom, the birthday girl, my niece Caylin, my dad, my niece Cara and her boyfriend John. Their sister Casie had to work, but hopefully she'll make the next celebration. I'm behind the camera contemplating opening another beer.
After a couple drinks and opening of some presents (Godiva chocolate from my nieces and John and a canned ham—this year I'm trying to prove that canned hams are more than a Sunday dinner, they're a delectable birthday gift—and a heart from the Heart Art Store on 18th St. Check out the store here: Heart Art Website) we walked a block down to Steak Frites for dinner. Faithful followers of the 365 Bar Crawl will remember Steak Frites from this post: Steak Frites Post.
Hostess Carla met us with a smile and took us to our table in the back.
Doreen the super-cute and friendly manager helped us set up the dinner. Here she is posing with the birthday girl!
The lovely Kate was our waitress and happily answered our menu questions and provided great service. Hey, where's bartender Allen?
The dinner was great and at the end we surprised my mom with a huge chocolate birthday cake! Hooray and happy birthday! Special thanks again to Doreen who set up the evening! Goodnight everybody!
For my review and posting of Steak Frites click here: Steak Frites Post.
6 References
Reader Comments (14)
Happy Birthday Mrs. Wombacher!
The Reservoir looks like a nice dark bar to hide from the sunshine! And happy birthday to Marty's mom, thanks for giving birth to this wildman!
Oh! I can read "Anne" on the birthday cake! your mom has a french name :D
Happy birthday from France Anne !!
And funny because yesterday it was the birthday of my dad too !!!! ;)
Happy Birthday Anne , this site would not exist with out You !!!
Cheers to the Wombachers !!!
Happy birthday Mrs. Wombacher! You raised a great son!
I'd happily shoot a game of pool at the Reservoir. It looks like a great place! I'd also happily eat a piece of that chocolate cake! YUM-O!!!
Happy birthday Mrs Wombacher!!!!! Your son has kept me smiling and laughing for the last 35 years.
Thank You
Happy Berfday to the hottest Wombacher out there! 80 years young and looking good as ever:)
ps I love Kate.
p.p.s. and Justine.
Happy Birthday Marty's Mom!
Thanks for tidying up and sharing that with us. I feel so honored.
AWWWW!!! OMG! Happy 80th birthday to your mom!! Thats terrific!
Glad to see coasters in use in your pad! Very responsible.
As an Australian beer lover I admire your great work. I will delay my next trip to the US and the Big Apple until your project nears completion when I definitely will become a critique of your work. Happy birthday to who ever's big day it was. Keep up the good work.
Trevor from Sydney, Australia.
Thanks Trevor! When you come to NYC let me know and I'll buy you a beer on the bar crawl.
Cheers to all of you in Sydney!
Marty
Just came across your endeavors via a newspaper article. I think I speak for every red blooded Australian male in saying "Cheers!. Wish I had thought of that." Go man go.
Thanks Dave, great to hear from Australians! Cheers to you alll!