Doc Watsons | Restaurant & Pub |

Doc Watson's Review

What Resident Wrote about us
Doc Watson's
1490 Second Ave. at 77th St. 988-5300
Pub-like Displays

Doc Watson’s Drinks Like a Pub, Eats Like a Restaurant
by Brian H. Tress

People usually go to the doctor when they’re sick. They show up hoping to be cured from what ails them and hope that — just this once —they won’t have to sit in a waiting room for half an hour. There are many similarities between dining out and going to the doctor. In a sense, we eat out to be cured — weary from our daily routines and ready to sit back and be served. And how often do we find ourselves waiting for a table on a Saturday night, despite the reservation we made days in advance?

Well, believe it or not, there is a doctor on the Upper East Side who’ll give you exactly the medicine you need — relaxation, hospitality and a sense of all around well-being. At Doc Watson’s, the only kind of shot you’ll get is a shot of Tequila, or some equally potent elixir. This bustling restaurant and pub is the embodiment of a good time. As soon as my companion and I walked through the door we knew that at least we’d get a good pint of Guinness and enjoy the gift of the gab for a bit. We got a lot more than that.

People go to pubs mainly to drink and carouse. Food is an afterthought. That is why Doc Watson’s was such a surprising treat for us. The food rose far above typical pub quality — served in shockingly large portions at very reasonable prices. But first the beer. The true test of a genuine pub is the pour of the Guinness. The barkeep must pour it in three well-timed intervals, so that flavor and consistency is equally distributed, and the head is as creamy and thick as a milk shake. In this case the owner (and bartender), John Hayes, a jovial man with a contagious smile, poured us a pint himself. It was one of the best pints I’ve ever had (which is a real compliment, as I lived in Ireland for an extended period of time). My companion and I sat in the back of the room by windows overlooking an outdoor patio open during the warmer months. The interior of the restaurant is typical pub motif, dominated by mirrors, watercolor paintings, brick-faced walls and hanging stained lamps. There are about 15 tables in the place, which gives it an intimate, cozy feeling. Our attentive waitress, Laurie, also contributed to the restaurant’s overall homey feel.

To begin, we tried a goat cheese salad, made with fresh spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. It was excellent, especially lightly doused with the house vinaigrette. The sun-dried tomatoes were uniquely marinated, making them juicy and sweet. This was a perfect compliment to the goat cheese, which had just the right texture and sharpness. For entrees we tried an Irish classic and one of the evening’s specials — the homemade shepherd’s pie and the baked chicken and pineapple. The shepherd’s pie — traditionally a layer of spiced ground beef covered with mashed potatoes — was very good, although a bit heavy due to the addition of a layer of melted cheddar cheese on top. (To be fair, perhaps I was cheesed out by then.) The chicken and pineapple was excellent — subtly spiced with garlic and paprika, juicy and tender, and served with delicious homemade mashed potatoes. Both dishes came with steamed mixed-vegetables, which had the slightest hint of spicing and retained their natural flavor and firmness.

For dessert we tried the chocolate mud pie served on a bed of homemade whipped cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar. This was as delicious as it was well-presented.

If you want to be cured with a healthy dose of fun — friendly service, hearty portions of good food and a comfortable atmosphere — go to Doc Watson’s for a check-up.

Style: Irish Pub
Dress: Casual
Prices: Appetizers, $3.95-$12.95, Entrees, $4.50-$16.95
Prix fixe lunch (M-F), $8.95; Weekend Brunch, $9.95
Smoking: In bar area
Credit Cards: All major
Reservations: Only on Weekends