Thursday, October 28th, 2010—Bar 291

Day 291—Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
Jack Demsey's
Okay, tonight I’m turning to my co-pilot on this bar crawl, Al Rizo from Miami Beach. Tonight was crazy at work and I was thinking it was going to be rough to look for a bar to go to. I quickly checked my email and like an answer to a prayer was an email from Al and he found a bar that’s only a few blocks from where I work, which is great because I’m beat. The name of the bar is Jack Demsey’s and no, that’s not a typo, there’s no “P” in the name. It looks like a good, no frills midtown Irish bar to have a few beers and forget your troubles, which is just what I need to do tonight, so it’s off we go.

It's just three blocks from where I work and baboom, here's 33rd street.

And quicker than you can shake off bellybutton lint, here we are.

Enter, stage right. Boo!

Nice, dark and wooden, looks like Al found another winner!

And it's friendly in here as well. Here's Bobby the bartender and Justin the lovely waitress who joined forces to serve up an ice-cold Corona.

A shot of the long well-stocked bar.

A shot from my point of view at the bar.

There's wooden banquettes opposite the bar.

And that's where I found Maxwell, Ashley and Jason chilling out and enjoying some beers.

And here I am joining the party.

Sports pictures and memorabilia hang on the walls.

Here's the world champion belt from boxer Jack Dempsey.

There's a dining room in the back with more tables and banquettes.

Wooden shelves line the walls back here and they filled with knick-knacks and bric-a-brac.

Here's a boxing glove signed by Floyd Patterson.

Upstairs is the Patrick G. Sweeney Lounge, named after a regular who has since passed away.

There's a dining area up here and on weekends they host all the soccer games.

Here's the downstairs bar which is available for private parties.

It's a nice space for a party.

And there's a pool table, hey Bobby, get back upstairs, people are thirsty!

Back upstairs I met Greg, Richard and Denise who were in town from England. They work for Virgin airlines and said they'd see about getting me a ticket over there to see a pub or two.

I didn't get a parting shot, so I leave you with the immortal words of Ernie Anastos, "Keep fucking that chicken!" Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Jack Demsey’s has been on the block for close to a decade, but to walk in to the dark bar, you’d think it’s a neighborhood fixture from the old days. A super long mahogany wooden bar sits up front with wooden banquettes opposite for dining and drinking. There’s a dining room in the back and the upstairs bar opens when it gets crowded and for weekend soccer matches. The bar is the home base for the University of Kentucky alumni and there’s a basement bar room with a pool table available for private parties.

The bar has a generous selection of draft and bottled beers. There’s also single malt scotches, small batch bourbon and a sizable wine list. Happy hour is from 4pm to 7pm with daily drink specials.

There’s an extensive food menu available with all the usual suspects such as, wings, potato skins, pasta and a half a dozen varieties of burgers. Of course there’s traditional Irish fare to be had here as well, including: Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Style Chicken, Bangers and Mash and Cider Marinated Pork Chops. Irish Breakfast is served every day of the week and brunch can be had Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.

Jack Demsey's
36 W. 33rd St. (Near Broadway)
212-629-9899

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Another great suggestion, Al! (Al Rizo Illustration by "Boris.")

Jaws sent in this illustration as a response to the "keep fucking that chicken" video. Nice work, Jaws!