A second Pony Bar planned for Upper East Side

We’ve been big fans of The Pony Bar (637 10th Ave. at 45th St., Hell’s Kitchen) since it opened back in 2009, and from the crowds that it draws on a nightly basis, we know we’re not the only ones. The Pony makes craft beer accessible, introduces good beer to the masses, and has one of a handful of active cask beer programs in the city. Of course, the only thing better than The Pony Bar is having two Pony Bars.

We spotted a liquor license application for the recently-closed Blue Moon Mexican Cafe at 1st Avenue and 75th Street last week. The trade name on the license? The Pony Bar.

Owner Dan McLaughlin confirmed that it’s the real deal: The Pony Bar UES (1444 First Ave. at 75th St., Upper East Side) is in the works, and should be open by late April.

When you’ve got a formula that works, you don’t mess with it. So the second location of The Pony will have all the things you like about the first: 20 beers on tap, two casks, all American craft beer, beers priced at $5 each, a food menu, and a location that’s about five blocks from Fifth Avenue (okay, fine, that you may not like that last one).

And why the Upper East Side? Well, why not? It’s quickly becoming a neighborhood that takes craft beer seriously, with places like City Swiggers (320 E. 86th St., at 2nd Ave., Upper East Side), Cafe D’Alsace (1695 2nd Ave., at 88th St., Upper East Side), and Earl’s Beer and Cheese (1259 Park Ave., at 97th St., Upper East Side) already pumping up great beer. So this is a natural extension of that.

Just a year ago, we considered the Upper East Side a beer wasteland peppered with frat bars and overpriced restaurants. It’s great to see the beer revolution take place in unexpected places.

We’ll keep you updated on the opening date. And upon the opening, don’t celebrate too hard. Remember: sometimes you ride The Pony, and sometimes The Pony rides you.

February 8, 2012

9 notes /