Amsterdam Bar Crawl
Words and Photos By Clark Adomaitis
The following article was printed in the February 2020 edition of The Campus.
Feeling stressed after a long day of classes in the NAC? Been running around campus from advisor to registrar to department chair to library? You need a break! More importantly, you deserve one. Take a load off, relax, forget the immeasurable and unfixable woes that City College creates, and grab a drink on Amsterdam Avenue, adjacent to our Quad. I tried a beer on tap from bars within three blocks, and this is what I found.
Grill On The Hill $
Sports Bar with pub grub.
1624 Amsterdam Ave
On tap: A wide selection of standard andclassic beers, including Bud Light, Foster’s, Lagunitas, Angry Orchard, andRaging Bitch. Beers on tap are $7.
Food: Plenty of burger options, fries,wings, and appetizers. The fish sandwich ($14.95) came with bonus fish,seasoned fries, and tzatziki sauce.
Atmosphere: Fun gastropub with louder music,lots of lit up signs, darts, and a pool table. CCNY students and localspopulate the space.
Service: Friendly and immediate service froma gentleman named Elton. Conversation flowed easily among patrons as theyreconnected, played darts, and ate burgers and wings.
Specials: Numerous happy hour specials anddiscounts throughout the week on drinks and food. $5 beer during happy hour.
10/10
Clove$
Cozy Indian joint with good prices andfriendly service.
1592 Amsterdam Ave
On tap: Kingfisher Lager (Indian beer) isgentle and golden. It’s not too filling paired with the heavier naan.
Food: The naan comes in many varieties, including garlic, onion,raisin, nuts, and cheese. It’s sweet and soft, and comes served with tamarindsauce, green sauce, and spicy onion topping. Plenty of traditional Indiandishes fill the menu and customer’s tables.
Atmosphere: Indian music and the smell of curryfill the air. The cozy space is brick-lined and lit dimly.
Service: Familial and friendly. The servermakes sure to recommend different options and sauces.
Specials: $4 happy hour on tap beers! Also,their happy hour is everyday from 12pm-7pm. Their lunch buffet is a popularoption from 11am-3pm. The great prices all over the menu make this spot afrequent visit.
9.5/10
Oso $
Mexican Plates and TequilaCocktails.
1618 Amsterdam Ave
On tap: They’ve got Pacifico and NegroModelo ($7). Their narrow tap selection is not a concern, as they specialize intequila drinks. The Negro Modelo is cold, filling, but not immensely heavy likeother dark beers I am familiar with.
Food: The pollo taco ($4.75) is juicy andcovered in a delicious and zesty green sauce. Salads and appetizers also fillthe menu.
Atmosphere: Chill, modern spot with peopledining under low light.
Service: The beer was served to me promptlywith chips, orange sauce, and a glass of water. The water and chips wererefilled quickly, and the pollo taco came out within seven minutes of meordering.
Specials: None visible.
9/10
The Grange $$
Specialty brews on tap,fancy cocktails, and pub dinners.
1635 Amsterdam Ave
On tap: A coupleof different specialty beers that I have never seen. No typical corporateAmerica beers here. TheOmmegang Witte ($8) was light, delicious, and orangey. The Brewdog ($8) wasthicker and tasted of caramel. Their exclusive Hot Buttered Cider ($14)included a choice of bourbon or rum with fresh, hot cider. This delicious drinkexplodes in your mouth with its hot, thick, alcoholic sweetness like no other.
Atmosphere: The inside was rustic and dark. Thevolume of the music and conversation was relaxing.
Service: Friendly bartender who explainedthe different brews and the intricacy of the bar’s cocktail recipes.
Specials: During happy hour we received $2off per beer. Overall, a bit more expensive than other local spots.
8.5/10
