09/11/09

A Sports Bar friendlier than most

by drink_club1

It's a sports bar. Lots of TVs and cheering fans. The customers are friendlier to the non-sports types (like us), than at most such places. The small downstairs space lends itself to inter-table conversation. It seems to clear out around 9:30 and then get a second wind around 11:30. The HOT chicken wings were good and the quesadilla wasn't bad. Not really special, but not bad. The waitress seemed a bit harried, as she was only one. In fact, she started the evening with the ultimate insult, returning our business card explaining who we were and why we were in her bar. "You keep this," she said, barely looking at it. Ouch! Not a nice way to start the night. Otherwise the downstairs feeling is cozy and conducive to conversation, although the music is somewhat loud. All-in-all, not bad, but nothing special. --Drink Club NYC is a roving group of NYC Drinkers

• Pros: Good wings, decent clientelle
• Cons: Harried waitress

03/05/08

Neighborhood Bar with Charm

by miskafied

I'm part of a weekly Wednesday drinking group of 30 or so regulars who love to drink, geek out, talk and eat after work. We check out a different bar each week. We've been kicking around the city for 12 years. In that time we've visited several hundred bars (with repeats of faves). We've returned to Woody McHale's thrice in the past couple years. The beer is standard, the food is pub grub, but the charm of the log cabin feeling, the controlled hubbub of regulars disagreeing with each other over beer and the excellent wait service and hospitality rendered by the owner have drawn us back to McHales for a three-peat. I can see if you live in the neighborhood how this place can easily become a home away from home.

• Pros: Atmosphere, Service, Decent Beer & Food
• Cons: Can get crowded

01/10/07

Ok

by eurora

Meet a girlfriend at Woody's. I am not a fun of bugers but I got to it one. I wouldn't go again but not because of the food; I just don't enjoy this type of food. I would recommend it to a burger lover.

• Pros: tasty burgers
• Cons: too greasy

11/27/06

So much more than we expected

by rcgoodhue

For the Notre Dame v USC game last Saturday, we wanted to try out a new sports bar. I searched through some places on Citysearch and came across this place. We thought we'd give it a try and it turned out to be even better than expected.

The waitress was incredibly sweet and attentive. Before any of our beer bottles were empty she was there asking if we needed another.

The place was pretty quiet while we had dinner but really picked up around 10:30pm. The food was great (wings and mac n cheese).

This will definitely be a regular bar in our rotation.

• Pros: Food, staff, location to subway
• Cons: Really can't think of anything...

09/12/06

Great food, great service

by sminerva21

I had made a reservation for Woody McHale's for a group dinner based on CitySearch reviews, as I don't live in NYC. I was so happy with the service, the food and the atmosphere. When we sat down at the table, the owner came by to shake my hand and to make sure I was aware of the gratuity charge for a group over 8 people, which I really appreciated having up front rather than later. The resaturant was smaller than expected, but very warm and inviting - a very cute Irish Pub at its best. The food was great comfort food at an even better price. I had the veggie burger and LOVED it. The Chili was also amazing. And our service was prompt and friendly considering our large group size. Happy hour drink specials were also great for our budget!

• Pros: Food, price, atmosphere
• Cons: Nothing

03/10/06

Old-fashioned pub with more Meatpacking cred than many of its frou-frou neighbors.

by Erin Behan

The Scene
Appropriately, wood factors heavily into the motif at Woody McHale's. Descending the stairs from 14th Street feels like entering an old rickety ship's hull: Amber-colored wood covers the walls, beams cross the ceiling, and meat-lovers hunker down at dark wooden tables. Three TVs--two behind the bar and one in the dining alcove--match nicely with the pub grub.

The Food
The prevalence of beef on the menu is no surprise--the owners are also partners in nearby Meatpacking mainstay Frank's, which has an on-site butcher shop. The menu's anchor, the salad plate-sized burger, arrives with chip-like waffle fries. It's not the juiciest burger around, but it wins over the bowl of chili with lots of pulled beef, but too little flavor. Late-night snackers happily make a meal of the meaty sauce-covered hot wings and the overflowing basket of gigantic, homemade onion rings. The final artery-clogging moment? Two deep-fried Twinkies with chocolate dipping sauce.

02/22/06

Become a part of the Woody's family!

by shortyroc

When you walk through the door, you will find yourself standing below deck in a ships cabin. The ambiance is very warm and inviting, as are the owners and staff. Go a few times and youll feel like Norm at Cheers. Probably the best jukebox in Manhattan, with some of the owners own compilation cds thrown in. In true NYC form, Woodys is a mini melting pot. People from all walks of life frequent the place, from fashionista and finance to fireman and biker. Guys, the walls are covered with flat screens so you wont miss a second of the game. Ladies, some of the tastiest drinks in the city, (cute/clean bathroom too always important!). Amazing food, great people, good times!

• Pros: service, staff/customers rock, food
• Cons: bad parking

02/09/06

Great staff and even better food

by unionking

I went here with my girlfriend and a couple of friends just to grab a quick beer and we wound up staying the whole night. The staff made us feel right at home and the food was fantastic. the bartenders and waitresses all have a great sense of humor, which was why we decided to stay there the whole night. I had the Philly cheese steak and it was probably one of the best I have ever had. Highly recomended.

• Pros: Great staff, Good Food, Not Overly Crowded
• Cons: Low Lighting

02/07/06

Best bar food in NYC

by sgiman

I work nearby on 16th and 9th, and in four years I have not encountered "bar food" like this. These folks have possibly the best chicken wings I have ever eaten. I go in for lunch whenever I can and have the thinnest sliced pastrami, along with fresh cut home-made potato chips. My fav dish is the stuffed skirt steak, which you can choose 3 of any stuffings. The cut is top notch.

It's an inviting bar. Cozy, sort of like a ski lodge. The people vary from law students, to doctors to bikers and internet folk, I've always had a great time there.

• Pros: Food, Specials, Music
• Cons: Can get crowded

02/05/06

Had a great time

by tara9999

A few of my friends and I were in Lower Manhattan hanging out and we happened upon this place. At first we were just going to grab a fast bite to eat then leave for other destinations. The food was great. An hour stop turned into a full nights hang. We met the owner doug, he made us feel right at home. The bar is cool with an old tavern feel. The crowd was friendly, we had great conversations and drinks were reasonable. So I wanted to give a shout out to the people at Woody's and say Ill be back soon.

• Pros: food