Daveland...
I proposed Heartland because of the homemade brews plus the decent menu plus it has a few central locations (one aroudn Times Square, one at Empire State Building I think.) I've gone there with Flyertalkers and had no problems.
Plus MA wanted beer with a side of munchies and I don't really do the bar scene in NYC so sorry I struck out this time with finding the purrfect bar.
Heartland's selling point is the in house made beers. Some of the funky flavors I pass on but they do a pretty good Octobrefest beer.
Maybe one day we should meet for a Heartland brew in NYC. I like to meet Flyertalkers old and new and relatively new.
With so many members there will be so many people with so many suggestions on the best restaurant and the best bar (but there is no such thing as the BEST of anything.)
My favorite S&W brand restaurant is Cite with:
*One of the best bangs for the buck in the country: the wine tasting menu with very very generous pourings.
*Very good entrees and very nice steaks in particular.
*Attentive and friendly service.
*It's Flyertalk tested and given PAWS UP (and famous in Flyertalk history too.)
I"m coming from a cat sitting at Battery Park so I might be a little late for 5:30pm but I'll get there. After all the cats have to come first.
MA: You may want to double check your guest list... I think Daveland said he can't get in before 9pm and some are maybes.
OMNI: Dorrian's (OK, I forgot it's Two R's and SOmeone e-mailed me to tell me so) does exist at Newport, Jersey CIty. It's hard to miss. It takes up like a quarter of a block and I've taken a few Flyertalkers there who've enjoyed the food and the hospitality. Here's their website:
http://www.dorrians.com/jc/index.html