11 Trinity PL
Guinness Tag: $9.00 | Overall Rating: 8.00
There's "old-school" and then there's "The Blarney Stone 2 blocks away from Wall Street Old-School". It's a half a block away from the famous "Charging Bull" where tourists take pictures with their heads up its ass, and a 9-Iron pitch away from the 9/11 Memorial. From the outdated (yet, still superb) floors to the ceiling beams, everything in here has a story. The gentleman behind the bar is engaging and certainly knows how to pour a Guinness. The only disappointment with the Guinness is that it comes served in a 16oz gimmicky pint glass as opposed to the traditional pint from across the pond and it'll set you back $9.
This is the perfect mid-day hideout for those looking to sneak out of the office for a quick pick-me-up. You'll find brogues from both staff and regulars, you'll find a hot lunch that's catered out of a steam-well in the backroom, and a toiletry that is surprisingly very clean. People rave about the Corned-Beef, and it appears that the quick grab'n'go lunch is what keeps many locals coming back. As soon as you enter the door you are welcomed in by a cozy foyer. Walk through that door and you'll notice an old music stage to your left, high-top tables, booth-style seating, and of course; the bar itself. You'll also find a pool table in the backroom where lunch is served that offers players a unique mural of the Twin Towers on the wall as well. The Blarney Stone is constantly reminding everyone to honor and remember the firefighters who gave their lives in 9/11 (hopefully that'll continue to be the case for as long as all of us live).
When you sit at the bar, you'll notice many things. The counter and furniture as a whole are perfectly worn in. Behind the liquor bottles and TVs, you'll notice a beautifully crafted stonewall that certainly gives the place a much more unique atmosphere as compared to most Pubs that just have painted drywall. Both the beer and whiskey choices are average at best. Nothing will scream out at you; however, they provide all the basics so if you complain then you're just an ass. The tap lines and bar caddies look like they've been trooping since the 80's and it's awesome.
Speaking of the 80's, they used to have their own dart team. You'll even see their old Steel-Tip dart board that still rests on the wall today. I asked, "when was the last time anyone here has thrown a dart on that thing"? He replied, "oh God, a decade"? I should have taken out my darts and thrown one, but we figured "let's not be the ones who break the decade long streak".
Throughout the entire place you'll find NY Rangers memorabilia plastered on the walls. Rightfully so, they love the Rangers and apparently the watch parties are fantastic. They recently opened their doors on Sunday afternoons to spectate the pigskin, even though the J-E-T-S JETS-JETS-JETS are utter garbage as of late!
Are there better Irish Pubs out there? Of course. Are there much, much worse ones out there as well? 100% yes. The Blarney Stone provides everything you crave out of a Pub and a pinch more. It's not for those who seek the fine and proper atmosphere and it's surely not for those who are seeking a marvelous, hand-crafted cocktail. If you're not a snob and you are in need of a fulfillment on the Craic, then I advise you to stumble into The Blarney Stone for a mid-day break.
Slainte!
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