LocalBozo.com correspondent Link Cromwell vowed to have a drink at every bar in Hoboken before running the 2011 New York City Marathon. With every bar visit in the “Sixth Borough” now completed along with a successful race now finished, it’s time to reel our reporting back toward the City. And as such, every single Friday we’ll be taking over where Link left off, showing you distinctive bars in each borough perhaps for the very first time, perhaps to refresh your memory of a fun place you’ve ducked into, or perhaps to suggest a new spot for you to check out. You can follow our travels as we approach each weekend on Friday mornings with LocalBozo.com’s “Drink Here Now.”

Cock & Bull
23 West 45th Street, Near 6th Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan
212-819-1900
Getting There: F,M,B,D to 47th-50th Street Rockefeller Plaza
http://www.cockandbullnyc.com/

If you have ever worked or even hung out in midtown Manhattan then you are aware it isn’t known as the mecca for NYC excitement. But one bar, smack in the middle of West 45th Street is looking to change that one pint at a time. It’s, “Cock & Bull” a spot on recreation of a gastropub one would find in a bustling section of the United Kingdom, but located right here in good old NYC. And even though many of these bars are substantially more popular during the work week for Happy Hours, we decided to venture inside the warm British walls of this newfangled pub on a Saturday afternoon.

Many of you will realize, or maybe need to be told from the bartender like we were that the pub used to be a, “Goodburger” a citywide chain. Right after their closure the owners of, “Bull” came in and did a complete facelift. The gastropub has completely erased the burger joint from before, and replaced it with a space that feels like it has been here for decades serving droves of thirsty football ( soccer) fans. As you enter the huge space you may be at a lose as to where to sit. If you are here mainly for food, there is two sections of tables on either of the, “Cock & Bull’s” two floors. But more on the food, which is great later.

If you’re hitting this establishment for the first time we definitely recommend you sit at the bar for it’s style alone. There you will see a towering bar, both in length and width. We grabbed a stool (which is covered with a funky fabric) and were quickly greeted by the friendly bartender. The first beer ordered was a proper pint of Stella Artois which was served in it’s traditional chalice style glass. Even though this brew is common throughout the city, it’s taste can change determining who is pouring. The, “Bull” pour yielded the crisp slightly bitter flavor one loves about at Stella. It was then time to dive deeper and try what seasonal-specialty draughts they had on deck. The bar man pointed me in the direction of the cask pump, which is served at room temperature. The beer was the extremely limited, “Red October” from “Wander Star Brewing Company” of Massachusetts. This dark Oktoberfest style beer was unlike anything I have tried in quite sometime. By it not being iced cold I was able to really focus on flavor, which was bold and creamy.

If eating is your favorite thing to do when drink, then hold on to your freaking hat! The, “Cock & Bull’s” fare runs the gambit from light eats like salads, to deep fried delicious decadence. Meet the, “Fat Bastard Platter” ($74.95) a mammoth appetizer party platter recommended to feed between 4 to 6 people quite well. The comfort food fiesta includes: cod fish sliders, stout marinated chicken wings, sausage rolls, hand cut chips, scotch eggs, and chicken live pate with toast. Each and everyone one of these delightful fried morsels pairs perfectly with any number of beers. And even though we were quite hungry the day we ponied up to the bar, we opted for only the ” Ale Battered Cod Sliders” ($10.95). Each handheld sandwich was extremely juicy, bursting with rich tartar sauce and savory fried fish. It didnt hurt that it came along side some perfectly cooked chips (fries) as well! Since our weekend visit was extremely fruitful, you can bet we will be hitting, “Cock &Bull” for a weekday Happy Hour. But, believe you me, we will get there early.  

Bar Type – Authentic British style pub from the large array of U.K. beers to the impressive food menu.

When to Visit – Cock & Bull has a reputation for packing in the after work Happy Hour crowds making for a fun yet busy scene. If you like it on the mellower side hit up this midtown joint on a Saturday in the afternoon.

Value – If you don’t have a few hundred bucks to fly to London, then your value is felt with each visit. The bartenders, beer, food, music, and even the stools are directly lifted from England and dropped right in midtown Manhattan.

The Lowdown – Midtown usually isn’t my first choice when it comes to going out drinking. I usually picture a ton of tourists spending money in a joint with zero character. When you walk inside, “Cock & Bull” you will immediately see the difference. It is an extremely laid back establishment for those who appreciate tasty ales, savory food and of course, football (soccer).

- Alex Corrine