P.J. Clarke's Lincoln Center: From about six o'clock on, this UWS version of the “older than water” Midtown original is crammed with a mix of the Lincoln Center curtain rush crowd and well-heeled Upper West Siders who don't want to veer too far from basket of fries and a brew. Theater nerds nibble on mounds of iceberg soaked in bleu cheese dressing while suits knock back Buds and martinis. As the upstairs bar handles traffic comparable to the ticket window at Penn Station, downstairs offers a far more subdued and candlelit scenario. Oddly, few boozers make the effort to explore the unknown territory below. Sure, the place relies heavily on formula, but let's face it, in America, brewskis and pub fare are the only thing everyone can agree on. |