offtheechain

Corned beef, boiled cabbage, German potato salad. Best when drunk.

The first time I came across the name Lefty O’Doul’s was in the liquor aisle of a Middle Eastern “fine food” grocery.

There, during my then-binge of vodka and tomato juice, I picked up a bottle of his bloody mary mix. This stuff is better than most pre-made hangover elixirs. Vodka need apply.

On our way towards a ramen shop near Union Square last night, we passed by Lefty’s. We had to stop. It was fate that brought me here. Ramen noodles could wait another day. I had to go in, and I had to do it now.

The wood floors, wood bar, sports TVs and plaques on the wall tell me this place is easy to get along with, and I like that. To your immediate right as you enter, trays, silverware are there for you to grab and go. Just like lunch at the school cafeteria. Except that instead of a nice cafeteria lady, you have two monotone, overweight dudes in their 50s serving you your food. Hofbrau’s of the 21st century… At one station, roasts of corned beef, turkey and beef brisket lay under heat lamps ready to carve. At the other, you get your stale roll and one choice of a side.

Although my order of corned beef and cabbage wasn’t hot for long (probably because the roasts had been out, and/or the heat lamps weren’t properly working), I appreciate that this place sticks to it’s guns – and isn’t going to change whether my corned beef gets cold or not. My German potato salad was standard, loaded with dill and chopped bacon. That, boiled potatoes, a quarter of boiled cabbage and a stack of corned beef cost me around $13. I can definitely see myself coming back, but only if I’m drunk and don’t want to wait for my meal.

To say the least, this place was decent. But if it was fate that brought me there, I sure hope the future has better things in store.