The Grafton
“So you've got tables of various sizes, TVs aplenty, a pretty normal amount of bar seating and some standing room.”
“This place used to be called Lunasa, so let's do some Lunasa jokes.”
“The owner Gavin is super friendly and welcoming.”
The Grafton
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Great place to catch the game. Pretty clean for a sports bar. Food was ok and drink prices were reasonable
I'll be honest–I like the Grafton. I 4.25 stars like Grafton, maybe even 4.5. But I'm giving it a 5 for one simple reason–well, maybe 6 or 7 reasons–the group of Tottenham Hotspur fans in the back of the bar, comporting themselves with the utmost class and dignity. That's right, unlike its sister bar in Chelsea, Smithfield (a dear, dear bar for futbol fans), Grafton is smaller but attracts a disproportionate number of Spurs fans. Even during games against POOL, mind you, and this at a Liverpool FC BAR!
Apart from that, everything about Grafton recommends itself. A nice balance of regular beers and rotational pours/bottles from the likes of Ommegang and Rogue. Lovely pub fare punctuated at brunch-time by the deliciously decadent breakfast burger (topped with
applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar, and a fried egg over easy on a toasted brioche with fries & trimmings). Friendly bartenders and wait staff who are game and generous even with hard-drinking non-regulars (we got a comp round of the goof stuff).
Use but don't abuse the Grafton folks. It's so accessible right now. Let's patronize but keep it that way.
Cannot speak about this place since it's name change, but when it was Lunasa, it was a great alternative when a Liverpool match was on and I was turned away from 11th St Bar. I've only had their food once and it was good! Nothing to write home about but a great spot and good for catching sports!
The name of this place is just asking for it. But there's literally no subtle way to weave in the word "graft" here (I've spent an embarrassing amount of time thinking about it) so I'm just putting it out there really blatantly. Now that I've gotten that over with…
I had a two-star experience here but it had nothing to do with the Grafton. It had to do with the delusional clientele here rooting for the WRONG TEAM. So despite having my night ruined by fans of this certain team – the team I hate most in all of professional sports – I can recognize that the Grafton is actually an awesome spot to watch a game.
Came here on a Saturday night around 8:30 to get a couple of drinks and watch one of the two Championship Series (I'm trying to keep this as vague as possible – not trying to make enemies on here). The place was pretty packed, but we managed to come right as another party was leaving so we lucked out there.
I'm a big fan of the layout of this place. Its sheer size is reason enough to try it out for a big game. Most of the sports bars I've been to in the city are significantly smaller than the Grafton, which can make for a pretty uncomfortable game-watching experience. If I'm going to a bar specifically to watch a game, seeing the TV is kind of really important. This can actually be a lot to ask for in some spaces. My friend and I were sitting across from each other at a table, and we were both able to watch this particular game on two separate TVs. Easy (as it should be). So you've got tables of various sizes, TVs aplenty, a pretty normal amount of bar seating and some standing room.
No comment on the food here (looked like your usual pub fare to me), but I was pleasantly surprised with the cocktail options here. I never expect much in the cocktail arena (pun semi-intended) when I go to a sports bar, but they offer a number of interesting – dare I say….creative?? – drinks. In actuality they're nothing special, but A++ for effort here. The menu on their website isn't updated for fall, so I can't give you names/specifics, but I'll try my best. My first cocktail featured jalapeno-infused vodka, which was decent and very refreshing. My second was a whiskey/cider ditty, which was also decent. So while cocktails aren't necessarily the draw of this place, they're certainly a lot more interesting than those you'll find (if you find any at all) at other sports bars. Just BTW for all of you pumpkin-loving folks: they DO have a pumpkin-forward cocktail (I believe it's vodka-based) that the party next to us was oohing and aahing over.
Given that there aren't many options as far as sports bars go in the East Village (at least in my experience), I'd say the Grafton is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Stopped into this place while trying to kill some time before catching a show nearby. It's located right on 1st Ave in an area where they have other bars and restaurants.
We sat ourselves on the opposite side of the bar where they have a line of stool style seating. They have tables in the front and back areas for groups and reservations which were all occupied. The cocktail waitress walked past us at least 3 or 4 times without greeting us and offering any type of assistance. I ended up going to the bar on my own and placing an order for drinks and food with the bartender and told him where we would be sitting.
The bartender was super friendly and the drinks we ordered were good. The food came out about 15 minutes later and this is the sad part of my review I'm afraid. My burger which I ordered Medium came back extremely Well-Done. The cheese did not look appetizing and the toppings (onions, lettuce, tomato) were nothing special as add ons. No amount of ketchup or additional sauces could have helped this burger. It tasted like a burnt patty straight off of a grill when you're at a BBQ. The meat they use is from Pat LaFreida so this was disappointing that they 1. overcooked it and 2. added no seasoning whatsoever. The burger came with a side of fries which were pretty good but kind of cold upon arrival.
This is a small pub with a fair share of TVs. I would recommend it if you're looking for a place with one other person to have a beer and watch a game but not for the burgers.
This was a warmly lit, pleasantly friendly wee Irish bar that we stumbled upon.
Stayed a couple of hours, unlikely to ever go back as I live the other side of Manhattan but if your on 1st and thirsty then this is nice wee place.
Heading to an Irish pub on football Sunday is always questionable. Do they have enough TV's? Will they play out of town games? Comfortable seating? Should we drink whisky for breakfast? Luckily, the Grafton turned out to be the perfect spot this past Sunday (to answer those first Q's, yes, yes, yes, and… well, yes). First off, it's a few notches nicer than your average public house. Being that it's new, the place is clean and doesn't smell like years of beer spills and shame. The menu is also perfect for brunch; burgers, eggs, salads, apps. Nothing too crazy, but all done well. My order of BBQ wings (super sweet, in a good way) and the veggie full Irish (two eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, grilled tomato with home fries) were the perfect accompaniment to a well poured Guinness. On football Sunday, select beers, mimosas, bloody's are $5 and you get one free with the order of a burger or eggs. Perfect. Overall, the service and vibe was great (including the manager who put on an out of town game for us) and I wouldn't hesitate to watch some football (american or rest of the world) here in the future.
Bonus: pretty cool patio area out back, though our football addiction kept us inside
Note: For you premier league fans, it's a Liverpool bar
The Grafton just doesn't seem to be trying very hard. With an average food menu, an average beer list, and an average drinks program, there's just nothing to set it apart from the 40 other Irish sports bars in the Village. Was hoping the food would do this but alas the hamburger came out over cooked with a cold to the touch bun and dried out fries. Go elsewhere unless you want a decidedly average experience.