Old Town Bar and Restaurant

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The Old Town Bar and Restaurant is a noted bar and restaurant located between Park and Broadway on 18th Street in Manhattan's Flatiron district in New York City. In continuous operation since 1892, it is one of the oldest bars in the New York City area. The Old Town is two blocks north of Union Square, close to the subway stop at 14th St.-Union Sq.

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[edit] Atmosphere and Menu

The Old Town is a conversation bar and grill, where people come to talk over beer and hamburgers and as a result, it draws a wide variety of patrons, from Wall Street traders to college students and a few Irish-American regulars. New Yorkers or tourists seeking a trendy bar, party space or gourmet experience should look elsewhere.

Most of the furnishings and decor are original, including New York's oldest dumbwaiter that ferries food orders from the upstairs kitchen down to the bar. Another notable feature is the row of old-style full-length urinals in the Men's room, located in the back right corner of the first floor. A creaky wooden staircase (also original) leads to the upstairs dining room. Although this originality provides an antique feel for the customer, the lighting and climate control are not ideal. Tables and chairs show signs of wear, and the kitchen space is decidedly not state-of-the-art. Despite this, seats or stools are often hard to find at the Old Town because it has generated a small following among people who work in the Flatiron District.

Local beers, including those from Brooklyn Brewery, are featured on the drinks list to the exclusion of most mixed drinks. Cheeseburgers are the most popular food item, followed by chicken wings and other standard bar fare.

[edit] References in film and television

Several artists and Hollywood directors have used the Old Town as a backdrop for their productions and movie scenes, including rap group House of Pain in their 1992 "Jump Around" music video and director Whit Stillman for his The Last Days of Disco (1998). Other films partially shot at the Old Town include The Devil's Own (1997), State of Grace (1990), Q & A (1990), and Bullets Over Broadway (1994). The bar also appeared in the opening montage of Late Night with David Letterman when the show was on NBC (1982-1993).[citation needed]

[edit] Other Facts

The bar itself, dating from 1892, is 55 feet long and made of marble and mahogany. The ceiling, made of tin tiles, is 16 feet high. Jimmy Fallon and Julia Roberts are among the famous personalities who have been sighted at the Old Town in recent years.[citation needed]

[edit] External links

  • Official Website
  • Ed Levine, "The Best Bites in Burgertown", New York Times, January 15, 2003. [1]
  • New York Magazine Bar and Restaurant Guide [2]