At first glance, you might think Gramercy Park’s Shades of Green is an unpretentious, laid back kind of place to hang up your hat and unwind at the end of the day or start off a night of pub-crawling – just don’t be surprised if you find yourself closing the joint with your mixed crowd of new friends. Ever since Galway native Pat Cormican opened Shades of Green in 1990 by (who by the way still tends bar from time to time), it’s been a comfortable and cozy oasis that adheres to the legendary Irish standards of hospitality. The result is friendly, efficient staff serving up solid pub fare such as crisp and piping hot fish and chips, delectable French Onion soup, and a rather exceptional Chicken Pot Pie. The bartender is friendly and knowledgeable (and probably from Ireland!) while the servers are charming and attentive. No live music but the jukebox has a great selection of excellent tunes so nobody will blame you if you just have to get up and get your groove on (don’t be surprised if you’re joined by one or more staff members!). The televisions are tuned to sports but the bartender is amenable to requests if it will not inconvenience others.
