Idle Hands Bar

Ugggh it’s dead! Replaced by Mattys which owns the top and basement floor. End of an era.

Idle hands
NY Manhattan East Village
10:30pm Friday 8^th January 2015
Four Stars
This bar had a nice energy with the right amount of people. We were still able to seat and talk at the bar. They had the classics stocked at the bar. It’s like a Jack and Jim feel. My date ask for something sweet and he offered a Seabreeze with Malibu which she thankfully accepted. Overall, a great place to stop in for a pint and a conversation.
Plus there is a Unilocal Checkin deal for a shot

As my first post 400 review… AND as my first review to be written in my late 20s, the subject of this review had to be special; as the start (& end) venue of my b-​day celebrations of 11÷15÷14−11÷16÷15, Idle Hands fits that bill.
The ironic part, despite not remembering more than half (???) of the night, the bits and pieces that remain were so good, warranting the five stars.
It all began around 8:30pm…
Arrived six deep (with more to come) and the joint was bare. «Perfect» I thought, as I had lots of room to post up for the festivities. The bartenders that night were totally awesome, being extremely accommodating and gave great deals out the wazoo from inception to night’s end. First, the Unilocal check-​in shot deals were promptly taken advantage of, then b-​day shot deals happened (yes they gave those to yours truly). I saw nine shots of whiskey being ushered in (thanks big bro), and I’m thinking «damn, I’m lucky to have a big brother who loves me nine shots deep.» Value anywhere else would be, at the very least, $ 60+. Here? $ 25… allegedly.
The deals kept on keeping on and the bartenders kept taking care of me and my guests (20+ from what I’m told…). And everyone fit without us having to be «ass cheek to ass cheek» all night. Basically Idle Hands served as a very cozy, intimate, and non-​pretentious event location. Very reminiscent of some of my favorite beer and whiskey joints in Philadelphia.
To quote fellow Unilocaler Shaiyanne D. (sour patch kid shotss…) «the place is anything but glam» but we both agree that this place is still all kinds of awesome. I mean, if cheap drinks, enthusiastic service, unpretentious vibes, and good people aren’t your thing, then avoid this place… but I’m willing to bet that you like at least one of those things!

first of all, thumbs up to fellow Unilocaler joshua versoza for choosing this place as the starting point for his birthday night. Unilocal tip. check in here and you’ll get a free shot of whiskey! the bartender working the night we went was the sweetest and really took care of josh knowing it was his birthday.
the place itself is great. super divey and anything but glam but then again so is every other non speak easy bar in alphabet city. the place is so spacious and great for group gatherings. the entire back area held our whole party of 20+ people. drink prices are decent as well. i think my gin & tonic ran me 7 $.
overall, a great place to start the night in lower manhattan!

I mean, it’s called idle hands. And we all know what happens to idle hands, so fill them with drinks!
This is a solid bar in the LES. Good beer selection, in expensive, and if it’s nice out there are huge windows that open up and bring in great fresh air. This isn’t fancy though — it’s not a total dive, but it isn’t a fancy craft beer bar either.
Good beer, unpretentious space, and nice people. Great service. Really all you need to know.

I’ve been going here since I first moved to NYC. Most places I frequented back then I would not visit now (what can I say, my tastes and my stamina has changed) but Idle Hands is still a great time. I’m obviously a huge fan of their pumpkin beer fest every fall, but it’s worth a trip any season.

«He is the cheese to my macaroni.» — Juno (2007)
I’m a sucker for a great bar — add in gourmet killer bites and I am sold. My biggest complaint about this place? I don’t LIVE in New York to frequent this joint weekly. Dammit, Janet!
We happened to attend on a Saturday during their Bourbon. Beer. Brunch. Oh Darn. You mean I can eat (pick an entrée) and drink (brunch cocktails) for 2 hours for $ 25? I should be here every single Saturday… for eternity!
We (me and 4 friends) had already been drinking and had brunch — a pretty crappy brunch — and came here for after brunch afternoon drinking. So instead, we ate more. After looking over the menu I was salivating.
We grabbed a table in the back and ordered cocktails from our server (I think his name was Jeff?) while we made food decisions. I went for the Whiskey and OJ — a new one for me but I love my whiskey and I am a fan of mimosas (except for the Champagne). This was a way to continue brunch and still get my whiskey on! It was fabulous! I lost count of how many I had, but it was 4 or 5… plus a couple of rounds of shots. These folks know their drinks and without the frou-​frou crap.
Now let’s talk food. We went for the redneck taco — a thick, creamy texture but crispy on the outside corn cake topped with succulent pulled pork, coleslaw and a chipotle sauce and a little cilantro. I challenge anyone to actually eat this like a taco — we attacked it with knives and forks — but savored every single mouthful. I’d have eaten two if given the chance (and not had the crappy breakfast earlier).
We also ordered the Bacon mac-​n-​cheese. Holy-​porky-​where-​have-​you-​been-​all-​my-​life-​macaroni-​and-​cheesy-​goodness. I cannot possibly do this dish justice. Four cheeses, long strips of crispy bacon and then chunks of belly on the inside running all through it. You cannot possible out do this mac-​n-​cheese anywhere. Don’t try it — it is impossible. I’d marry it if it were human. The chef needs to move into my house and make it for me whenever I crave it — period. More. This is not the Whiskey OJ’s talking — I swear.
As we left, they were just opening the downstairs area of the bar. We got the chance to check it out and it has an entire other vibe. I cannot wait to head back to NYC and hang out and drink myself silly in Bourbon (and eat more, obviously). Death by bourbon is okay by me.

Dear jesus I wish I lived anywhere near Idle Hands. I don’t, so here’s a well-​deserved 5 stars — please go and be better patrons than I.
Here’s the easy stuff: It’s a bourbon and beer bar. It’s underground. It has a surprisingly clean grungy-​dive ambiance. It’s good for large groups, catch-​up dates with friends, or even daydrinking on your own — but it’s too far from a subway to ever get too crowded or oppressively loud. I’ve seen it both empty and bustling (but not in a douchey way) on a Friday at 9pm.
Happy hour gives you craft beers for $ 5. Beyond that, they have specials that don’t suck ALL THE DAMN TIME. I first came to Idle Hands last fall because they were hosting a monthlong pumpkin beer event, which gathered more craft pumpkin beers on tap than I’ve ever seen under one roof and was amazing. Get on their mailing list (I know, so 1998) and you’ll receive a tolerable stream of emails (once per month?) about whiskey tastings, craft beer events, etc., all of which are very wallet-​friendly. $ 10 for 2 beers + 1 shot of whiskey + 1 order of tater tots? Unheard of.
They used to not have a kitchen, but you could order snacks «from upstairs» and have it brought to you. Now they’ve taken over the restaurant space upstairs and are dishing it out on two levels. Every bartender has always been extremely down-​to-​earth and knowledgeable. Once I saw them refuse to serve a girl whose friend was already there with a drink because the girl couldn’t produce ID. It’s easy to «come on, bro» to that, but I can respect it — dudes have integrity (and also don’t want to be fined).

Came here as a Unilocal special drinking thing, mentioned it at the bar and the bartender told us the specials included with it for only $ 5.
Problem: me and my lady friend never had bourbon/​whiskey before.
Solution: Bartender broke it down to us regarding if we were into sweets or more sour tastes like it was ABCs.
We ended up with some bourbon – unknown type – with ginger ale. Drank half of it and both admitted we weren’t fans and left.
Reason for the 4 stars?
–The bartender was vey knowledgeable, patient, and made a great impression on us. really sold us on the bourbon dream.
–The atmosphere seemed so chill, loud, and fun. More of a college, hipster crowd who enjoys some rock n roll – a song came on and EVERYONE broke out into a loud singing chorus.
–Even though we did not «fit in», we still felt welcomed, and regardless of our personal drink preferences that experience stuck with us.
I would recommend for all bourbon drinkers and non-​bourbs alike just to try,

Idle Hands likes puppies (they hosted an event dedicated to Puppy Bowl X). That alone is enough for me to come back. But the fact that they have a Shiner seasonal beer on tap (and only 4 draft handles), requires an even bigger high-​five. Free whiskey shots for checking in? Yes, please… and make that a pickle back! Friendly staff? You betcha. There’s a reason this was a stop on the Unilocal bar crawl through East Village last year. It’s pretty damn great.

I went here to watch the Superbowl… the awfully boring Superbowl… BUT the bar wasn’t that bad.
I came here with some people from Unilocal to have a few drinks and watch the big game. I’ve been waiting to watch a GREAT game for almost 2 weeks and it was just a sad sad let down. But enough about the game let’s talk about the bar.
Idle Hands Bar is way on the east side around Ave B. It’s a small divey sports bar that is dark on the inside. Not exactly a dive bar, but not a high class place. Mismatched stools, with a dark dark back area for viewing the games and some sturdy heavy tables to watch it from. With a few booths on the side, the dive/​sports bar atmosphere is completed with several large TVs and one large projection screen.
The beers seem to be all craft beers that are all very flavorful and for the super bowl i think they were like $ 5. Shots were a little more and while watching that game we needed a few shots — so we had a handful of those and then more beer and food.
The food wasn’t bad — the food was cooked in a side cooking area that cooked food fairly quickly considering how many people were ordering food during the game. One note — the Sirarcha Hot wings is not Sirarcha… or if it is… it has other heat elements added so you don’t taste that flavor… instead all you taste is fire from hell… in your mouth… not one person finished more than 1 and a few didn’t even finish that one.
On the other hand the Tater Tots and the mac and cheese bites were awesome!

The deets
— 2 floors each with their own exit /​entrance
— there’s no list of their bourbon /​whiskey
— anything with jack is 9 bucks and up /​maker’s mark is more expensive
— bartenders are friendly & cool
— fried mac n cheese + fried pickles are freaking great drunk food
— srircha chicken wings isnt just sirircha. possible has habanero (fiyahh)
dope spot

After sobering up from the Super Bowl for which I attended this venue I have many things to say about this place and not all of which are good…
But always the good first though right?
THE GOOD —
1) The food was delish from what I tried from my Unilocal friend’s stash.
I didn’t tried the burger but 2 thumbs up were given when I asked homie slice how her burgers were.
The tatter tots that I did try were good. Not too oily and pretty much made well.
The BBQ wings and the spicy versions were both moist and delish. Some of us couldn’t handle the heat…*cough*…LOL Contrary to what a lot of Unilocalers report they were NOT dry tonight.
2) The bathrooms for the most part is what you expect at a diver bar except they were cleaner which is always good.
2 bathrooms downstairs in the basement by the 2^nd bar and 3 upstairs on the first floor all the way in the back of the venue.
IF YOU USE THE BASEMENT BATHROOM AVOID THE FIRST BATHROOM DOOR. THE LOCK IS NOT SECURE AND A STRONG TUG WILL DISLATCH.
For guys this doesn’t really matter as we pee standing up and nothing really flashes if you open the door. For ladies however this will be a much different story.
3) The bartender or at least one of the bartender. The male bartender with the beanie was doing his thing and he obviously knew his beers that he had there because even after he informed me that the Blueberry Blonde Ale was out, he was patient enough to sort through my question about the hoppiness of the other beers he had.
And of course like the good salesmen that bartenders should be I had a sip of whatever it was that I was thinking about ordering to make a better informed decision.
I stuck with the amber ale for the majority of the night as it was the closest to what I would have liked to drink which is medium bodied.
$ 5 a pop is also a winner.
THE BAD —
1) The big screen TV which was playing the Super Bowl had large speckles of what I would assume is what happens when TV screens gets worn out. It was on the upper center of the screen and as such it didn’t obstruct too much but for a big game with many patrons, that is something that you should really get fixed.
2) The audio of the TV was way too loud EVEN after adjustment. For our table which was inches from the screen I mean I might as well have been watching this shyt in IMAX… great as an idea, terrible when actually implemented. The stereo or surround sound that they were going for was also shoddy which didn’t help the issue.
3) NOT ENOUGH SEATS. The chairs and bar stools were both used and even that wasn’t enough to get people seated. Not really a big deal but if I make a return visit it would make me leave within the first 15 minutes on a regular night.
THE RESOLVED —
1) I wrote previously about a billing issue with the receipt not matching the amount shown on my card statement.
The issue has been now rectified as the bank showing the correct amount billed.
The owner Rob personally reach out to me via Unilocal message to address my concern informing me that sometimes banks hold an extra 20% on top of the charge for God knows what.
He was right and all is good now.

Stopped in here after being across the street at Croxleys. It wasnt crowded when I got there and I got a table and the bartender changed the tv to my game. Very accommodating.
Julie (she bought me a shot at the end-​probably knew I was Unilocal elite LOL) took care of me, i had a few beers, a burger and a few other drinks. It got more crowded and the crowd was cool.
I will be back in here when I am back in town. Decent prices, good service and cool place.

I visited Idle Hands bar for a beer and burger pairing on the most American of holidays, National Cheese Burger Day. Hosted by on of the owners, Rev, I was able to enjoy a baseball game in a dungeon-​y basement while receiving an education on various beers and whiskeys.
It’s nice to be educated on libations without being shamed and Rev (and distributors) definitely did that.
I’ve only been to Idle Hands the one time, but from what I can see they have promotions across the board (FourSquare, Unilocal,Groupon) and a great vibe.
I’ll be sure to check out the place again.

Where else other than NYC can you come to an underground craft beer bar on a Wednesday for a blind beer tasting?
It was a great deal where for $ 10, you get to try six different beers blind. The six options are briefly explained by a brewery rep. Then you have to match the six beers you’re served with a list of the six beers. It’s a really fun way to gain some beer knowledge, test your palate, and in the end, drink beer with friends!
You also get a full serving of your favorite beer of the bunch, and they freaking served taters tots with the event.
I also highly recommend their $ 10 burger. Great brioche bun, good amount of cheese, and you can order tater tots instead of fries. And tots? One of the best foods ever.

Came here with a friend for the LivingSocial deal of $ 17 for 5 Craft Beers and an Appetizer. SO WORTH IT. They have INCREDIBLE beers on tap. I’m not a huge beer drinker, but the 5 in one sitting was do-​able because the beer was DELICIOUS.
The décor was phenomenal — even the bathroom was interesting. Is very cool and chic and dimly lit. They sometimes have DJs and occasionally live bands later on at night.
We got here when it wasn’t super hopping, so it was really nice. The bartender was more than accommodating with regards to beer recommendations. Upstairs in Station B (run by the same guy) has food and they bring it down to you. (I thought this was really weird, since upstairs also has a bar as well…)
Will I come back again? Yes. I only wish this place was easier to get to in terms of transportation :(That’s the biggest downer. And that it opens at 5PM.

I like bars that are not pretentious. I like bars that don’t serve Bud Light, Corona, etc. I like bars that are dimly-​lit. I like bars that have bathrooms covered wall to wall in stickers. I like bars that serve craft beer.
Idle Hands is all of the above. I recently came here for a Wednesday night tasting event (only $ 10!). This particular tasting was for Flying Dog Brewery and a taste of one of the MANY bourbons that they sell. It was a lot of fun, as well as very informative. The owner was there and he is very nice and genuine. The bar is not large but it is also not small. It’s very pretty since it’s lit mostly by candlelight. They have some TVs showing the games. The bartenders are also very nice people. All-​around, this is a great bar. Do not come here if 1) you like to chug cans of Natty Ice and 2) if you’re expecting a martini made to taste like pure sugar and fruit. This place will put hair on your chest, and that’s a good thing.

If you fancy yourself a barley mash enthusiast or your name is Truman Capote, chances are, you’ll be like a kid with a fake ID in a boozy candy shop here at Idle Hands. With more bourbon and whiskeys dotting their shelves than Jim Beam’s liquor cabinet, you’re sure to run across a hard-​to-​find bottle of moonshine that you’d be hard pressed to stumble upon anywhere else in Manhattan.
Speaking of Manhattan, with said copious amounts of the brown stuff at their disposal, the official drink of the borough is one of the better I’ve ever sipped on in my 30 years on planet earth. Made exactly as you want with any varietal available… you’re almost guaranteed to strut away happy.
Always a great crowd, and being a bit off the beaten path, you don’t have to worry about the typical East Village Weekend Warriors ruining an otherwise great night out in Lower Manhattan. Bring a friend, bring a date… but just don’t bring the winter cold in with you. Shut the door on the way in, son!

Personally I am not a very big fan dive bars which are located in the basement. But this bar was an exception and lived up to it’s name. I got to check out this place with fellow Unilocalers. For a basement establishment there was a reasonable amount of seating available. We came here on a rainy Wednesday evening, the place wasn’t super crowded.
This is a place if one is a fan of bourbon and beer tastings. They have a number of post concert parties for tastings. Unilocal Check In got me a free shot with my drink. I was able to strike a conversation with the owner of the place, he was nice enough to get all of us sampling of Narragansett beer. The staff behind the counter was quick and attentive.
Overall it is a nice, cozy dive bar and it is a place to be for bourbon and beer lovers.