Elton W.
Yelp
The Full Shilling is one of those NY Irish Pubs, that's been around for a while, that's not hip or expensive or trying to serve fancy cocktails or fancy food. It is what it is - a standard NY Irish pub.
What I mean by that, is that if I think of a true Irish pub, without any NY influence, then I'd say the Dead Rabbit nearby is that place. That being said, it's much more expensive and not as easy to just walk in, grab a pint and sit down for food. Most of the time you need reservations, it's packed, etc. Molly's (on 3rd ave) is another authentic Irish Pub, but it's been fairly NY influenced, in my opinion.
The Full Shilling on the other hand is user friendly. You can almost always get a table or seat at the bar, there's no reservations needed and it's never really packed, so you don't have to wait 10 minutes to get your drink or have your drink made.
Plus, the Interior of the Bar and the back bar was Shipped directly from Belfast, Ireland and is over 100 Years Old. So that's pretty cool.
I've been coming here since 2003 when I worked nearby at Deutsche Bank, and was definitely one of our after-work spots as there was literally NOTHING in the Financial District, other than a few hole-in-the wall bars at that time.
Came here for Lunch on St. Patty's Day 2016. Got a Guinness & a Burger, both were good. The Food overall is pretty good pub food, but nothing spectacular.
I'd put the Full Shilling in the same category as some of the other NY Irish Pubs in the city (below), although these are my favorites, over the Full Shilling to be honest:
Molly's (on 3rd ave)
Paddy Reilly's
Landmark Tavern
Failte
Paddy Maguire's
Puck Fair
Dublin House
Donovan's Pub (queens)
McSorley's
O'Hara's
So if you're in the Financial District and want something more "Irish" then go to Dead Rabbit, and if you want something more "New Yawk" then go to O'Hara's, which was the pub of choice for all the 9/11 Responders (NY cops, firemen, etc.).
But, if you're looking for a good blend, a "NY Irish Pub", which is something down the middle, then the Full Shilling is a great option.