Shoolbred's

10/24/08

A cool Scottish pub

by wavecat at Citysearch

The best thing about this place is the atmosphere - dim lighting, comfortable seating, a gas fireplace, and faux old master paintings on the walls. This helps create a friendly, but not frantic vibe. There is a a so-so selection of tap beers and several Scottish whiskeys as well. The french fries, at $5.50 for a small plate, better be good - and they are, among the best I've ever had!

10/01/08

whiskey in the jar

by huqleberryDOTcom at Citysearch

The first time I strolled into this place with a friend of mine we both got the distinct impression it was a gay bar, which would have been fine...I guess. I thought they may have filled the void left by D**k's, the rather unsavory looking place cat-a-corner that is now closed. The L.A. barman, who has been sober 3 years, was wearing a kelt with no undershirt and some other tell tale signs that fit the s**t. After a conversation with our friend behind the bar he told us he chooses to wear the get-up as opposed to the boring dress code, which is also fine. Furthermore, we found the owner wins the Tony every year for costume design on Broadway and offered to make it for him free of charge. The original sentiment was put to rest.

This time around was my second time there and I was somewhat excited to perhaps greenlight it as an offical stomping grounds after a second rigorous (getting drunk) litmus test the place would have to endure. The story behind the bar was mildly entertaining, I was surprised to find. Involving Andrew Carnegie, wildcatting and the west. It has been challenge to find a foil to the usual drab/hokey nature of those things. After sometime our party ballooned to 10+ and I slunk out with a more intimate group of friends, but, the bill here was one of the great treats of the night. 3 mixed drinks, 3 beers, 1 glass of wine and 4 shots of Vodka came to $65 total. Averaging at about 6 bucks a drink. The decor has jumped on the whole Bourgeious Pig, Clover Club type atmosphere, but with the story to back it I enjoyed the setting as much as the price. In addition to a somewhat rave review the food looked pretty damn tasty and one of the few things I would recommend without actually trying.Good for mid-day beer or late night drinks. I can see myself coming here many more times.

Crowd: Typical. Not too scene-e.

Drinks: Extensive whiskey selection, priced moderately, more than 2 beers/wines gets you a gold coin good for one of either.

A bit of old-world charm, smack in the middle of the East Village.

by Justine Goodman at Citysearch

With its enormous glowing red "Shoolbred's" sign, this cozy East Village bar doesn't subscribe to the speakeasy trend, but it's still a hidden gem. A fireplace, cozy leather armchairs, lantern lighting, old-timey framed artwork and stained glass panels behind the bar whisk patrons to another time and place--think late 19th-century Scotland. An extensive selection of single malt Scotch is available (from Auchentoshan to Macallan 18), as is an impressive list of bourbons ranging from $8 to $12. For hungry imbibers, the comfort food can't be beat: tomato soup and pepper jack mac and cheese hits the spot every time.

Hits: There's something truly unusual about Shoolbred's, in the best possible sense: It's refined but warm, it oozes class with zero pretension, and best of all, it's affordable.

Misses: It may get crowded during primetime weekend hours and the space is rather small and narrow, which can create a bit of a sardine effect.

07/04/08

Looks great, outdoor seating, limited menu

by drink_club1 at Citysearch

It's hard to figure if non-tourist bars will be full on July 3rd (no work the next day), or empty (New Yorkers leave town for the weekend.). As it turns out, at least here, neither. The small outdoor space in front was nearly full. The bar was crowded, but not packed. We took the large round table that lay half in, half out of the bar. It was empty.

The bartendress, was also the waitress, and seemed a bit frazzled. Most of the order-taking job was put on the busboy, who was friendly enough to teach us some Tibetan. That's where he's fromt, he said.

The food menu was extremely limited: fries, one salad, "lamb sliders" (Whitecastle size lamberger... tiny things, 2 for $9), pigs in a blanket (microwaved to perfection). That's it. The beer selection was slightly better... and Schoolbred's own lager wasn't bad at all. Visually, the bar was nice: lots of wood, slightly Gothic feel. Otherwise, it wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't extraordinary. --Drink Club NYC is a roving group of NYC drinkers

• Pros: nice decor, outdoor space, friendly crowd
• Cons: limited (and somewhat pricey) menu, harried staff