Arguably the best beer on Long Island
Written: Sep 15 '03
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Pros: Beer, food, and atmosphere. What else counts?
Cons: It's not cheap.
The Bottom Line: It's one of the best bars in the area, and their beer is fantastic.
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| dandino's Full Review: John Harvard's Brew House |
Once a week I make out an email to a few people for our weekly trip to John Harvard’s. Not being one for dive bars or clubs, John Harvard’s is my favorite place to grab a drink. It is located on Rt. 347, 1 mile east of Nichols Road. It is easy to spot and has ample parking.
ATMOSPHERE
The building is split in half. One half of the building is the restaurant half, with the other being the bar half. The restaurant half also has viewing of the brew process itself. The containers where the beer is brewed is on display in a glass room. On days when different parts of the brewing process takes place, there will be an interesting aroma to the brewery.
Everything is wood with a very New Englandy feel to it. There are some interesting stained glass windows, one of them being Gerry Garcia.
The bar half of John Harvard’s also has table seating available that is first come first serve. There are also several televisions that typically show sports. One of the screens is a big screen TV. They have a satellite connection, so you can request your favorite team to be on one of the sets.
My fellow patrons are very friendly, I often find myself in conversations with the people around me. The bar is just so comfortable, it’s so easy to spark something with the person next to you at the bar.
FOOD
For the most part, the food here is good. When getting a full meal, I generally enjoy their Ranch Steak with yellow rice. I am always pleased with this. Some other notable choices on their menu is their spinach ravioli and chicken pot pie. I would not, however, get their Filet Minon, as it is generally not the best cut of meat compared to a steak house’s filet minon. Their appetizer selection has choices that can be meals themselves, which is what I often do during happy hour. They have a full selection of burgers, salads, fish, pasta and specials. Typical entrees will run you from 12-20 dollars. There are also several deserts that come in very generous portions, share these with a friend or you will be feeling guilty for you gluttony. The food at John Harvard’s is enough to stand on even without the beer. For the quality of the food compared to the price paid, JH is right on track.
LIQOUR/WINE
I do not go to JH for a Jack and Coke, but many others do. It is one of the few nice bars in the area, so many of the patrons do not care that all the beer is brewed on site and order wine. They have a full selection of top shelf liquors and wines, however they are slightly high on the price side. I bought my fiancée a Captain and Coke, since she does not like any beers, and was shocked at the price tag of 6.50. I expect prices like that at a more upscale place and in Manhattan bars, but not on Long Island sandwiched between a supermarket and Toys R Us.
SERVICE
Most of the staff at JH is very pleasant and are very good at their various positions. However, there is a high turnaround in the staff lately. Some of my favorite servers are no longer there. The new faces aren’t always up to par as they are on the learning curve. But most of the staff is very personable, with a few you need to throw your fork at to get their attention.
BEER
Last but not least, the suds. They have, at any given time, 8-10 beers on tap, all made on the premises. They have some seasonals that come out once a year, like their watermelon or pumpkin beers that will come out around the fall. They also have several beers that are made 2-3 times a year, like their award winning Double Trouble Boch, my favorite. They also have a few staple beers that are always on tap, like their Long Island Light. There is also a cask-conditioned beer that is aged in a wood barrel. Not being a brewer, I don’t understand exactly what this process is about, but it definitely adds a bonus flavor to the beer. The beers there will satisfy anyone’s palette. Light beers, fruity beers, dark beers, lagers, stouts, and nitrogen beer. You will never find a better beer in a bottle. If you are the type of person that enjoys a good beer with a meal, these are exactly the beers you want to be drinking with that meal.
Overall
John Harvard’s is one of my favorite places, there is just nothing like micro brews fresh out of the tank. I recommend stopping in for a pint or two. If you like it, buy a pewter mug. They’ll engrave it for you and you’ll get discounts on beer and food.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Like a spicy steak? Go for the Ranch Steak, my favorite menu item. Going simplier? Try the Buffolo chicken sandwhich.
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
dandino
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Location: Long Island, NY
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
I like tools and electronic gizmos.
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