George Keeley

Food was decent. Atmosphere was questionable. The playlist was not matching with the sports vibe. The waiter never gave us our samples of the rose drink they had so we could order actual drinks. Would we go back probably not

Keeley's has been around forever. I remember when there were dollar bills all up and down the walls. This version does look really great tho. Modern and clean, the staff is truly amazing. The food is incredible - delicious and plentiful. Went to watch a Knicks playoff game and place was perfect atmosphere and everything. Enjoy

Amazing Burgers and awesome sides. Everything was on point. They even had german beer which I really enjoyed. Their hospitality was above and beyond. I will be back for sure on my next trip to Manhattan.

A very nice bar with a variety of beers that you will find interesting. The ambience and the decorations are something you want from a Manhattan sports bar. The bar tenders and waiters were super cool and polite. I had a great time there on my last night in NY.

Good bar, it's all about the vibe. And it's not what can be faked with loud music or pretentious bartender. When it's the right one, you just can tell instinctively. The staffs here are cheerful and polite. Things taste great. People seem to be happy whatever they've been up to--from watching their weekend match to enjoying one's solo dining. It's all thanks to the place that's got the right vibe.

My favorite bar on the UWS. Great beer, great food, and free popcorn. The servers are awesome, too. What more could you ask for?

They have really good bar food here, super crispy onion rings and tater tots, and the boneless wings were good as well. The staff was really nice and helped us clean a table to sit at outdoors after it had rained.

Has a good selection of beer and bar snacks (fries, jalapeño poppers, chicken tenders, etc.) The sweet potato tots are amazing. The burgers gk standard burger is average. A little too dry and nothing special. Service is friendly but not fast when it starts to get crowded.

I am aware this is bar food but I was excited to try the fish and chips and the cauliflower bites I had read in other reviews were good. My friend and I needed to kill time while waiting for her son to finish an after school activity. She drank while I ate. I thought the food was ok and I certainly wouldn't rave about it. My friend had a better experience as she enjoyed and highly recommends the margarita.

Cool bar, good food. A lot of beer choices. Staff was real nice. They great you with really good popcorn!

Nice neighborhood place, great selection of beers, ales, and one or two tasty ciders. We just walked in and found very friendly people at the bar, service was friendly and fast. All the food looked good. We can recommend the chicken caesar wrap and the BLT, great flavor and great sides as well.

I really enjoy this local bar. I've been here twice and I have not been disappointed by the drink selection or the food. They have a variety of beers and ciders. They even had hard kombucha once which I was very excited about. And they have several solid vegetarian options. I have had the beyond meat burger as well as the Buffalo cauliflower and I enjoyed them both! Though this is claims to be a simple bar, and it aesthetically, I think that offer good food that will satisfy lots of clientele. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood and don't feel like dealing with the wait and tiki chick or Jacobs pickles; Or if you want good beer and a good bite

My favorite beer bar in the UWS. For one, it's got a legit craft beer selection. Rotating taps (and the better IPA will run out in a day or so) and lots of cans to choose from, with a nice mix of local and regional beers. A few west coast brews but these usually take only 1-2 taps. A couple other beer bars on Amsterdam ave have a more diverse selection but not necessarily better quality. Secondly, plenty of small tables and Seating at the bar, however there is a lack of bigger tables for parties larger than 4. Still, the atmosphere is laid back without being divey. And there are several TV for you to watch sports. Third, the prices are fair and the size of the pours are 10-16 oz. A lot of NYC craft beer spots offer small pours but big prices. The food is reasonable and very decent for bar food. Try any of the burgers! My only deduction would be service. Although they are often busy, it can be hard to get your waitress attention and we often have to wait 10 minutes for them to come around. Overall: Beer: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Prices: 4/5 Service: 3/5

This spot has a great beer selection and surprisingly good food. They have monitors set up across the bar showing what is on tap and how much beer is left in each keg. As a beer nerd, I find this pretty useful as I'll know which beer to grab before the keg kicks. I would come here all the time when I lived on 84th street over a year ago. I don't live in the neighborhood anymore but my girlfriend and I find ourselves making the trip downtown to visit, not for the food / drinks, but because of the service we receive from Zach and Leonard. No matter how long its been since our last visit, these two always greet us with a big smile as soon as we walk in. Zach is always professional and engaging, making us feel right at home. My girlfriend loves their popcorn machine and by the time we sit down Leonard already has a basket coming our way. They are both outgoing and very attentive, ensuring we never find ourselves with an empty glass. Bottom line - these two are absolute legends. If you're looking for a fun low-key night, I can't recommend George Keeley's enough. In addition to the great service and food (they do a burger of the week), they also have a couple arcade games and a dartboard. Hot tip - if you're eating make sure to get a side of the beer cheese.

Awesome place to hang out with friends !!! The cauliflower bites ... best in town !! Their fish and chips with cauliflower bites best combo evvver !!! And they have Guinness on tap

Best bar in the area Terrific beer selection. Friendly staff. Delicious food. Recommend: chopped cheese,any burger, wings, loaded tots. Menu is consistent if it's on there it is good.

I Hate to leave this review because I honestly love the place, been there to see many games w friends and good beers selection on tap, friendly staff. I got food poisoned two weeks ago from their fish tacos. Stuck In bed for 4 days straight and could not move or work. Recovering now after 2 weeks. Nobody should go through this ever that's why I'm posting this.

This place has a very unique vibe. I don't know if I like it or not. I will say this very much a bar more than a restaurant. The have a great beer selection but the food was only OK. I ordered the Bacon Cheddar Burger cooked medium. It came back very medium-well. Presentation was nice but taste was bland. The fries were good though! To me, the staff seemed kind of vacant. Like there, but it didn't feel liked they cared, especially the person who greeted me at the door. Back to the vibe. I don't know what it was but I didn't feel cozy here like I do at other pubs. Maybe it's just not my crowd. PS: If you're like me and use Brave browser, their online menu does not work on mobile Brave--it kept glitching while trying to scroll. It worked fine on Chrome/Safari though!

I've been here before, it's a pretty big craft bar. With tons of options for food here .my friend John and I got the Carolina wings here (6 pieces) w/ blue cheese,Ranch and celery and carrots. The sauce was good not spicy at all . I ordered there House lager on draft . It's was pretty good I say! Our bartender (Beatrice) was perfect , and it is a long bar w/ plenty of space for groups her too! Definitely if your in the hood stop by !

Pop corn were so good! Also truffle French fries were amazing. I recommend this place

Love this place for a burger, beer or both. They have rotating taps so I love being able to try different beers. They also let you sample before you buy which is great. They have great burgers. Very juicy! And get the sweet potato fries. Perfect with the sweet dipping sauce given with them.

My all time favorite bar! GK is the true hidden gem of the UWS. The quality of the food is top notch! Obviously you're not getting salmon tartare here, but the menu isn't just fried, fried, and fried. THE FOOD! In addition to the free popcorn, YES FREE popcorn.... My personal favorites are: cheddar bacon burger, curly fries, and the grilled cheese. My bf's favorites: Diablo burger, nachos, and... THE SPECIALS! Omg the specials at GK are true masterpieces. I had the special shrimp tostado... normally I would NEVER trust a bar to make solid shrimp, but the tequila lime marinated shrimp at GK. *chef kiss* THE STAFF! Hilarious and welcoming... I do not drink beer and I'm 99.9% sure GK is a beer bar. The slogan is beer is good... so I felt so obnoxious asking for a glass of wine. absolutely no judgment and the wine is actually decent too. Highly recommend coming by GK! Give it at least two tries before knocking it. It's not super posh but you'll find your spot on the bar and meet some of the coolest people living in NYC.

Love this place. Great burgers, wings, free popcorn and Guinness on tap! Gets a bit packed but awesome place to catch a game.

Great Neighborhood Bar I randomly stopped here because I had a bit of time to wait for the M7 bus - the bar is right in front of the bus stop. The clientele of the bar was very inviting (I randomly chatted with someone for about 45 minutes) and Mike, the bartender, was absolutely great. The bar has a pretty NYC Irish feel to with plenty of sports memorabilia scattered throughout the bar. Although I did not stay very long, I did appreciate the fact that George Keeley had a wide variety of beers on tap. Although I did not have too much to say about George Keeley, I think that I will visit again . . . especially if I have a long wait for the M7 bus.

Found this local bar exploring the UWS with my wife and this place was just what we were looking for! The Diablo burger is killer and the wings are very good as well. We went back for a night cap the other day but the kitchen was closed so I decided to order the Diablo burger today. And to my surprise, the burger was excellent even delivered! Packed very neatly, still warm and the buns weren't all that soggy like most deliveries. Glad to find a new spot we can go to chill, drink, get good bar food and delivery.

Weekends are not my demographic. At. All. Mainly because after I turned 30, I became too old to be constantly jostled in unbearably loud, over-crowded bars. But my first time here was during the week, early evening and then it was just my speed. They have a lengthy selection of beers and a neat technologically proficient way of displaying them. But I don't drink beer so that's all I've got on that. Otherwise, it's a full service bar with nice appointments. I found the raised seating in the back perfect for reading, interspersed with blatant people watching. And it's right next to the free popcorn machine. But I have a sneaking suspicion that they keep the basement hatch open to deter only the most brave of moochers. If the crowd was like the mid-week crowd all the time, I'd become a regular. I was over the frat-bro thing back in the late 90s, but don't let that stop you.

Allegedly this bar is the home of the Norwich Supporters Club in NYC. Strange then that they show the football (soccer) only infrequently and that the last time I was there without the audio for the Champions League!!! Nice bar staff said that they had to play (dreadful) music and weren't allowed to put the correct audio on! Even though most folks in there at 3.00pm on a weekday were there for the footie! Could be a great venue for those on the upper west side not wanting to travel to midtown or the village now the Parlour is closed but they haven't woken up to the opportunity yet.

This is a nice spot on the UES. I only came in for a beer before seeing a movie, so I have not tried their menu. They have a great selection of beer and I would certainly like to come back. The bartender was very friendly and seemed to know a lot of the people in the bar, but I was not made to feel any less welcome simply because I was not a regular. If you are lucky enough to live near this place, I envy you.

Was enjoying myself with a friend. Met the bartender and some staff. Went to the bathroom and when i came back the bartender closed me out. No reason, just, you re done. Oddly, the bar was near empty. Spent 90.00 dollars on drinks just to get kicked out and no explanation. Will NOT return. Glad it's closed indefinitely. If they do open, I hope they get new staff. Thanks.

Five stars for the heavy handed bartender, three stars for the food so I'll compromise and give them four stars. Great selections of craft beers and bourbons. I ordered the patty melt burger - under seasoned but cooked medium rare as requested. Good fries. The kitchen was slow and it took way to long for my food to arrive. Service was average.

A great, fun bar in the Upper West Side that really specialises in draught beer. They have a huge selection, and cleverly have several TV screens detailing each keg, when it was tapped and how much is left in the keg, as well as descriptions of the beer's taste and style. I've always had a warm, friendly welcome from the staff every time I come, and find the atmosphere inside to be laid back and inviting. It's a great bar to hang out in and try many beers.

GK has a special place in my cold, dark NYC heart - it's the first bar I ever went to after moving into the city in 2013. Even though I don't live as close to it as I did back then, I'll still come here every few weeks when I want a good beer in a low key environment. GK always has a quality selection of 20 or so beers on tap, with a variety that includes something for everyone. They also have wine and spirits, but I'd call them a beer bar above all else. Service is solid at the bar, usually very quick and friendly. It can be a little slower for table service, but still not too bad. Food is good as far as bars go, it'll do the trick if you're looking for something straightforward to eat. And there's free popcorn in the corner (self-serve) to hold you over while waiting for entrees, or just to munch on while you drink. TVs throughout the space, it's a good place to watch sports. Come here for a few beers with friends, or for a cold solo brew while watching the game.

Will definitely be returning to George Keeley next time I'm in need of a French fry fix & on the Upper West Side. Cool small bar, got here on a Mon night and ordered fries to go. The bar wasn't packed but every bar seat was taken and 2 tables were occupied as well. There was 1 waiter and 1 bartender that I saw. No one greeted me right away, but as soon as Bridgette the bartender saw me she acknowledged me. $8 for Garlic Fries well worth it. Apparently the fries are hand cut! So that's a major plus. Tasty and filling the garlic topping is garlic butter, parsley & Parmesan cheese. Fries not your typical crunchy, more on the soft flimsy side but packed with flavor. Very good. I ordered curry sauce on the side not necessary but a good compliment. They have other French fry options Truffle fries Curly Fries Everything Bagel -- A must try Garlic Fries Curry Fries

George Keeley is the OG beer bar on the UWS. I've heard about it for years, but hadn't tried it despite living up here for ~2 years. Finally got the occasion recently when meeting a friend for a movie. It looks like your typical Irish bar. The only differentiator was the tap display on the big screen that showed how much of each beer was left. In summary, lots of IPAs. Nothing truly special on tap, just a who's who of beer bar staples: think Troegs, Brooklyn, Smutty Nose, plus the obligatory Other Half. This may have flew for a beer bar 10 years ago, but with heavy hitters like Bondurants popping up and old standbys like Rattle & Hum stepping it up, this ain't cutting it anymore. Would come by again to give this another shot as it was totally fine, but I'm not rushing back as it wasn't anything special either. Maybe the food is good too? Service was decent but no different than your typical bar on the UWS. Kind of confused considering the raves as this place certainly has its fanbase. I say meh.

A fun, hip bar located on Amsterdam Ave in the UWS. This place is great if you're looking for some good beer. My wife and I stopped in one evening for a pint, and were very surprised to see they carry some absolutely delicious German beer -- Franziskaner. The staff was pleasant and took our order a few minutes after sitting down and choosing. Their beer menu is displayed on multiple TVs, or via a QR code you scan with your phone's camera (I love that they do that these days). This is a fun spot if you're looking for a good time so be sure to check them out!

A little bird told me about this place. That bird was a canary because the day I was there it was packed with fans of the Canaries* (that's the football team for Norwich City for you philistines, or I should say "we" philistines, because I don't know much about soccer). If you hadn't heard that news, I'm suprised, because, to paraphrase Peter Griffin, "the bird is the word"**. Irrelevant intro over, on Sunday, after a nice stroll through Central Park, I Yelped "beer" and my phone had this place at the top of the search results. If you're American like me, when you hear "footy", you think of your favorite pajamas as a kid (or as a creepy adult). This place takes its football seriously, but if you understand the pecking order- watching the match first, serving drinks and food second, then you'll feel right at home. The charming bartenders serve some excellent beer. I had a Franziskaner and then a Victory Hop Devil (or maybe two). Feeling hungry, I ordered the Buffalo Chicken sliders and my buddy had the Southwest sliders. (see my pics) They were good but the sides we got were awesome; me- garlic fries; him- onion rings. The onion rings were great and those garlic fries are the real deal, so don't plan on kissing anyone for a few days after eating them (not a problem for someone lamentably single such as myself). Overall, this is a very comfortable place where they will try to make sure the game you want to see is on one of the TVs. The crowd is laid back and friendly. It's a nice spot on the west side. ____________________________ *Final score between Norwich City and Wigan Athletic that day was 1-1 ** http://youtu.be/2WNrx2jq184

Take or leave it, they specialize craft beer most of which are pretty horrid but maybe that's just my take. The food is better than average for bar food, the service is inattentive, sometimes rude and it's way overpriced for what it is.

Love this place. 5 stars for the service & staff... and chicken wings are a must!! Keep in mind this is a classic Sports Bar. No frills, great vibes! We planned a party for a group of 15-20 people and the team at George Keeley were so accommodating. They gave us this great little space (called the stage) so it's slightly elevated from the bar. It was perfect for our group to park and keep their stuff, and gave us a designated space to hang. I was able to arrive early and decorate the area. As soon as I arrived the whole staff introduced themselves, meanwhile the bar was pretty busy... brownie points! Especially in NYC it's difficult to find such a friendly and cool team like they have here- specifically Sergio who helped me plan the evening, and Beatrice ("B") and Zach were amazing!! It was also very helpful that they allowed the whole group to open separate tabs, which makes things MUCH easier when dealing with such a big group. The platters they offer are really reasonably priced, I was shocked! And it is an outrageous amount of food (in the best way possible)... We ordered the chicken wings and the sliders (mixed with cheeseburgers and pulled pork)- all so good!! They all took such good care of us and made everyone feel right at home. The experience, staff, and food made the night unforgettable- we will be making this place a regular spot! Thank you again Sergio, Beatrice & Zach for making this night so great! Can't wait to be back again soon :)

Just a fantastic neighborhood joint. Insane beer selection and great pub food. The chopped cheese special is the bees knees. The service is always prompt and friendly and I love the outdoor seating.

Without a doubt this is my go-to bar on the UWS. Amazing selection of beer and great service. Gets very crowded on the weekends and during sports events, which they always have up on multiple big screens. Get there early for a good seat.

Place sucks. People assholes. Bouncers criminals. Drinks are small, chincey, and overpriced. Food is no good and tastes frozen.

Walking into this bar it already has a very casual and neighborhood feel to it. Each time I've come here I've always been able to easily find a table or a seat at the bar. They have a pretty sizable tap selection, and the food menu as your usual options of what you'd find at a pub. The bartenders are efficient and the staff attentive. I have to say, I haven't eaten a lot of their food, but after having a couple snacks; e.g. fries, wings, I was impressed. George Keeley's can really whip up some great pub food. I still need to make it in here for a dinner at the bar some point. I love coming to this bar in the warmer months as they leave their doors/windows open so it feels like you're outside but not really. The only downside is that the place can get very very loud sometimes to where you feel like you're screaming across the table, but other than that George Keeley's is a solid choice for pub food/casual drinks.

While apartment hunting on the UWS, I needed to find a place with food and NFL games. This place pretty much sums this up. They have about 10 HDTV's showcasing each game which is great for someone like me who likes to watch others outside the local teams. They have a giant TV behind the bar which displays which beers are on tap, and how much the keg has left. The beer list was pretty good with a lot of different styles for all to enjoy. We ordered the mixed basket, which is half orders of wings, jalapeño poppers, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, onion rings and curly fries. I would say this could feeds 2-3 people depending on your hunger. It's a nice healthy mix of your favorite bar good snacks. We also ordered the Belly Bangers which essentially 3 mini cheeseburger sliders. I thought these were pretty good too. GK's is definitely a place you want to be at during NFL Sunday. Good food, good beer, and plenty of games to watch.

UPDATE: Rectified! This is the George Keeley I know and love. The two stars isn't because I don't love this place. I'm here often. But the service we've gotten tonight has just been so ridiculous. Last time I had a food order mixup, I was immediately offered a free drink. This time, we waited on mussels - their special event for the night - for 53 minutes. Mussels. The things you steam for 3 minutes and serve. It was already slow, but when our order was brought to the table, the server mistakenly took it away and sent it to another table. When she realized the mistake, she never told us or apologized. I had to walk over to her - two feet away from our table and doing nothing at the server station - to ask what was up. And then she tried to blame it on the fact that we moved tables, when we had originally been standing BY someone else's table because we didn't have one, and she'd already come taken another order from us at our current table. She offered a sarcastic apology and no other compensation. She'd told us the mussels came with their truffle fries - which I've had every time - and the fries were not truffled at all. I had to ask the man who brought our food to fix it, bless him. Our server is still nowhere in sight. I think she literally didn't realize fries =/= truffle fries. The only thing that kept me from a one star review is because Melissa's behind the bar today, and I love Melissa. Shout out to Melissa. The real MVP.

Basically, my favorite sports bar in NYC...hands down! An Upper Westside gem! George Keeley's variety of pub food will make any foodies stomach grumble with excitement. My personal favorite are the curry fries. It has now become a tradition for me to order them whenever I visit. The variety of fries with different sauces and seasonings is another thing that I love about their menu. The staff is always so nice and is on their game. The scene is slightly divey, but definitely charming. Their twist on pub food and the fact that they have an impossible burger on their menu wins me over. I absolutely adore catching a game and a beer George Keeley's, end of story.

Stopped in for the 1st time on 6/24 to watch some World Cup action. 22 beers on tap, many more in bottles, free popcorn, great service, and clean restrooms - not much more you can ask for in a neighborhood bar. If I lived on the UWS, I would frequent this place often...

The beer selection is always great...but even when it's not busy, you will rarely get the server to come back to you. Place an order for food and expect a good hour to go by before you see anything. We live right up the road but have stopped going due to we know we won't ever get served. Last two times I ordered a sandwich and both times I got the wrong one. Didn't bother correcting it cause it already had taken so long to even come out.

4.5 stars. Simply put, this is a craft beer haven disguised as a sports bar. Don't get me wrong - it's my favorite place to watch big games on the UWS. But that's largely because of what's on tap on any given day. Whoever you are, Mr. Keeley, you done good. Space first. This place isn't particularly big, so it gets crowded FAST. I don't even bother trying to come here on Sundays during football season. There's nothing particularly remarkable about the layout/decor here - that said, I might be completely unaware of my surroundings due to excessive excitement about the draft list. Beer. Brews. Brewskis. Suds (that last one I just looked up, felt like I needed a fourth). Like Pony Bar, George Keeley's displays its draft list electronically, its heavenly glow lighting up the dimly-lit establishment. When I came here last night, there were 23 beers on tap. 23! They've got a good mix of international and domestic beers, though I'd say the menu typically favors the latter. Props for supporting the local breweries! Last night, they were doing some sort of pumpkin event, so they had upwards of five different pumpkin beers on tap. Not only that, they were serving these beers...IN PUMPKINS. Sadly they ran out by the time we got there, but watching people imbibe via pumpkin was a ridiculous and awesome experience. Of the beers I've tried here, my favorite was the "Of Love & Regret" by Stillwater Artisanal. Rich, complex, notes of lavender and chamomile (apparently), absolutely glorious. Shout out to the bartender last night for the recommendation. Like all good craft beer bars, they'll give you a taste of whatever you'd like here - so don't be shy in asking! One more note about the beer that deserves its own paragraph. What differentiates George Keeley from Pony Bar (I find the two very similar) is the simple yet brilliant feature of displaying how much is left of each beer on tap. I'm not sure how much this actually influences a patron's decision, but I happen to think its a great idea. Some of my favorite craft beer spots will disappoint me at times with the unfortunate news that they've run out of the beer I just ordered. At Keeley's you won't run into the conundrum. While the food here is not nearly as impressive as the beer selection, it's still quite good. If your company doesn't care about bad breath, give the Everything Bagel fries a try. Everything bagel seasoning is delicious. Fries are delicious. Why not? Other things I've tried (pictured): the Fish Tacos (grilled haddock and jalepeno slaw w/ chipotle mayo) and the Nachos (all your typical fixings - we swapped the chili out for chicken, but in retrospect I think I would've been very happy sticking with chili). Both decent. If I had to choose one over the other, I'd probably opt for the nachos. Beer: A+. Food: B+. Service: B- (This past visit, our waitress gave us some serious attitude initially but she lightened up as the night went on - or maybe we just could tolerate her more after a few beers - one or the other. Jokes aside, I do think it was the former). No question, this is one of the best bars on the Upper West Side.

We ate here for dinner after long day of sight seeing. Cute quaint pub but very small and only high tables, with two regular tables. We ordered the chicken wings with honey garlic flavor. My oldest son and husband thought while it was good, it could be better. Onwards to our main entrees; oldest son ordered chicken tacos, I ordered chorizo tacos and husband had fish tacos. First two tacos were decent, but unfortunately for my husband's tacos wasn't great. He took one bite of his fish tacos and it wasn't fresh at all. Left unfinished. The drinks were spot on though as hubby had several beers, and I had their GK mule. We had to bus our table though by returning our dirty empty plates back to the bar, which I thought wasn't really on.

Wooden bar top with large wooden rail matching the bar color with a brass foot rest and 15-30 wooden bar stools with backs. classic, beautiful back bar that includes large wooden arches, mirrors, and bottle shelves, decent number of tvs including the ones that display their two pages of craft beers from all over the country. bar on south side, opposite the bar are various high top tables, nice detailed ceiling and wooden floors. The front opens up to let in the sun and city sounds in. exposed brick on north wall, Jameson bottles and tap handles decorate the inside. great bartenders and solid bar food.

Tried this little gem for the first time since moving to the UWS! The fish and chip as well as the diablo burger were great! We ordered take out so some things get a little steamed up from sitting. These dishes were still fire! I cannot wait to taste them in person so we will defs visit in person soon for sure! A great little pub!

I ordered a merlot and it was disgusting. I paid the 10 dollars because I didnt want to make a big fuss about it. Had one sip of this horrible wine. Definitely not returning to this place.

I love this bar- one of my favorites on the upper west side. I met my husband here 8 years ago- because those were the days when you could go to a bar like this and talk to the people there! Good drinks, love the popcorn, and the bar staff and crowd. Any bar where you can go, have good drinks, and meet the man you end up marrying gets 5 stars in my book!

I went to George Keeley on a Thursday evening with two friends for dinner and drinks. We sat down at a table and our server came over pretty quickly. She was super friendly! The three of us ordered beers, and my friends split an order of wings while I got the grilled cheese with truffle fries. I didn't try the wings because I'm not really a wing person, but my friends were happily munching away so I assume they were good. Unfortunately, the grilled cheese I got was so disappointing. I was expecting it to be this greasy, calorie-filled delight, but it was the exact opposite. The Texas toast was so thick that it drowned out the cheese completely, and made it hard to eat (but I have a small mouth so that's not George Keeley's fault). There was also barely any butter on the toast, so it basically just tasted like two enormous slices of bread with a tiny bit a cheese stuck in the middle. I was also disappointed by the truffle fries. Now, I would consider myself a bit of an expert on truffle fries; my blood is probably 50% truffle oil at this point. These were not flavorful at all. I did really like the thickness and amount of friedness of the fries, but the truffle flavor was so faint. It probably could have been improved if they had sprinkled more parmesan on them, but they were so bland that I ended up eating the fries with ketchup, completely negating the truffle experience. All in all, this is a good place to get drinks! There are a lot of beers, and the people working there seem really great. I would not come here for food, however!

Pretty low-key neighborhood bar. Good, solid middle ground - not a fancy place but not a dive watering hole either. It's clean, spacious, with long bar area and several tables - but be warned, it fills up rather quickly, and get loud and crowded. Still, if you manage to snatch a comfy bar stool, it is a good place to simply get drinks, chow a sandwich and tater tots, and enjoy time with friends. The jukebox is pretty awesome. Almost all songs are 2 credits, which is $1. Sweeeeeet! Way to get lost in your favorite tunes! Bartender was nicest ever, helpful with choices and quick.

Of all of the bars on the Upper West Side, George Keeley's remains my favorite. A very cool bar recently redone, but with the focus still on good beer. Their ever-rotating taps showcase a vast variety from all over the country and world, from New York to Alaska, from Germany to Japan. The staff are always nice and helpful and I have yet to have a bartender that is not knowledgeable in the beer department. As for the food, there are some items that are amazing and others that can be skipped. The cheese dip? Skip it. However, the burgers are really great and flavorful. I have a habit of drowning burgers in ketchup, but these are so good and simple that I don't even need a drop. The garlic fries are another favorite and I recommend having a side of honey mustard to dip them in. Oh and the wagon wheel mac and cheese hits the spot. Overall a great low-key hangout, great beer some good food and always a fun time.

George Keeley is everything I normally don't look for in a bar. I'm not a beer drinker, and I don't go to sports bars (Hence why I have limited interest in returning to the place of my birth, Pittsburgh, PA, unless the city keeps building the food and nightlife scene). However, the bartenders at George Keeley were really nice, and I could actually see myself coming back. I ordered the Original Sin Hard Cider (16 oz for $7), and I was so excited to have a local cider on tap! There actually were some German beers that I enjoy too, but I just love myself some dry cider! The prices were right, plus there was free popcorn. It's incredibly salty, but it will give you something to munch on. At midnight on a Friday night, there wasn't much sportsball happening, but it was nice to go to a bar where I could actually have a conversation with my friend. All in all, this isn't a neighborhood in New York that I pass through terribly often, especially not at midnight, but I would come back thanks to the nice bartenders and options.