Monday
04Feb

Introducing Shoolbred's

We'd like to extend a hearty welcome to Shoolbred's, the new restaurant and lounge in the former Jade Mountain Chow Mein space, at 197 Second Avenue in the Upper East Village. Well, it's just a lounge for now, as the kitchen is not quite ready to go yet. After being jammed on Friday night, DBTH returned on Saturday to enjoy a drink and survey the scene. The bar, backed by colorful stained glass, is tastefully decorated, with a working gas fireplace in the back and a few booths and leather chairs. Space is otherwise tight. There are several choice beers on tap, but we weren't made aware of any specialty cocktail list. Maybe that's coming though. Go in and say hello, then let us know what you think.


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Reader Comments (7)

Bad lighting, completely uninspired beer list, and standard, "Murray-Hill" bar food fare (chicken wings, burgers, etc.) Where's the scottish influence? They only have Macallan 12 for crying out loud - no 18 or 21? Bah!

February 7, 2008 at 12:40AM | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Hey Anonymous...There is no food yet so how could there be "Murray Hill" bar food. Hmmm...you really must be bored. Besides Macallan is for people who think they know scotch try Lagavulin.

February 9, 2008 at 09:32AM | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

I was there this past weekend for a friend's birthday and we had a great time. Shoolbreds has everything from comfortable leather chairs around a fire place (it's like drinking in your living room but you don't have to clean up the mess...and there's a fireplace!) to a hidden hangout nook in the back. It has an heir of sophistication but can also be a place you go to to do Jager shots with your friends without being surrounded by college kids (although, what are you doing Jager shots for if you're out of college?!) Crowd was mostly in their 20's & 30's and the bartenders treated us great. I would say it's pretty much the full package. I'll go back.

February 11, 2008 at 03:17PM | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

This place has a great atmosphere - love the leather chairs by the fireplace and the stained glass. It's definitely the kind of place you want to go to if you want to chill, throw back a few drinks, and hang out with your friends. My favorite parts: you don't have to stand there for 20 minutes waiting for a drink because there is ample staff and they're very good about taking care of you, and the music is not so obnoxiously loud that you are hoarse for 3 days after going out and screaming all night to someone who is standing right next to you. You can't beat that.

February 11, 2008 at 05:25PM | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

re: 2/9 9:32p

When I went, there was no bar food yet. So I asked the bartender what kind of food there would be...answer was chicken wings, burgers, etc.

Yum! If only there were a bunch of flatscreens so I could watch the Red Sox play!

Looks like the East Village just got a little smaller...

February 13, 2008 at 11:38AM | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Nice bar. Lots of single malt scotches. Bartenders in short kilts. My girlfriend likes that they fresh squeeze their grapefruit juice.

Poster number 1 you are an idiot. Judging things before they exist is generally not a good policy. The Scottish influence can be seen in the wide variety of single-malt scotches, and bartenders in kilts. They don't have every vintage of your favorite scotch? They've been open for a few weeks and maybe they didn't think they would be getting too many people ordering $30-50 glasses of scotch. I don't know what distinguishes Murray Hill bar food from East Village bar food. Bar food is bar food. It seems like you're being really negative on the bar for being too corporate or something, while simultaneously complaining that they don't have some expensive scotch that you like. I don't know what you expect the East Village to be, but considering these guys turned an empty storefront into a nice bar, I think they are a welcome addition. Get over yourself.

March 3, 2008 at 09:41PM | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

bartender laughed at me when i ordered a heineken light. therefore this place knows their stuff.

the thing is they shouldnt even sell that piss.

if i were william ivey long i'd find out from "hallo berlin" who their distributor is and get some really special german beers....

the cheese fries were great.

i hope it doesnt turn into a paris hilton gross place like "the box." it feels a bit rich and privileged like that place "the hudson hotel"

this bar would do very well with a gay night.
thursday nights i'd say.

March 10, 2008 at 06:01PM | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

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