Healy's Tavern

[DanL]

well said Soshin, my sentiments exactly.

owners and staff alike welcome you and introduce themselves to all, very cordial and thank you when you leave.  we have stopped in a half dozen times, always a nice respite on weekend evenings.

AND the top half of the menu is pretty good - starting with the steak/cheese steak sandwich.

I walked into Healy's Tavern wanting to hate the place the same way I hate the administration but you know what? I can't.

Healy's Tavern does what it does very well.  It is the downtown version of Astor or Mike's Place.  It's a dive, albeit a recently remodeled dive.  They put in a nice U-shaped bar and a few small flat-screen TV's and a jukebox.  The pool table from Shelia's is gone, and weirdly, the "Vote Healy" sign on the roof that has been up there forever is gone too.

Within one beer of walking in the door Jerry jr introduced himself and is definitely a genial host.  The second beer was on him, and in the classic style of Hudson county politics that could have been construed as a bribe but he didn't know me from Solomon Dwek so it was just excellent bar owner etiquette.   Also the barmaid asked me if I wanted my Guinness in a warm or cold glass and that made me happy, haven't been asked that Stateside in a long time.

The jukebox was a mirror of my favorite jukebox in town - the park tavern - and that was enough to finally make me say I cannot dislike this place no matter who owns it.  Plenty of Johnny Cash, Neil Young, etc etc, pity about the satanic Billy Joel's Greatest Hits but nowhere is perfect.  I had some chicken fingers from their basic as hell burgers/chicken fingers/hot dog menu and they were fine.  Filled the hole in my soul but I won't be dreaming about them.  The malt vinegar was a plus.

.....

[Soshin]

I walked into Healy's Tavern wanting to hate the place the same way I hate the administration but you know what? I can't.

Healy's Tavern does what it does very well.  It is the downtown version of Astor or Mike's Place.  It's a dive, albeit a recently remodeled dive.  They put in a nice U-shaped bar and a few small flat-screen TV's and a jukebox.  The pool table from Shelia's is gone, and weirdly, the "Vote Healy" sign on the roof that has been up there forever is gone too.

Within one beer of walking in the door Jerry jr introduced himself and is definitely a genial host.  The second beer was on him, and in the classic style of Hudson county politics that could have been construed as a bribe but he didn't know me from Solomon Dwek so it was just excellent bar owner etiquette.   Also the barmaid asked me if I wanted my Guinness in a warm or cold glass and that made me happy, haven't been asked that Stateside in a long time.

The jukebox was a mirror of my favorite jukebox in town - the park tavern - and that was enough to finally make me say I cannot dislike this place no matter who owns it.  Plenty of Johnny Cash, Neil Young, etc etc, pity about the satanic Billy Joel's Greatest Hits but nowhere is perfect.  I had some chicken fingers from their basic as hell burgers/chicken fingers/hot dog menu and they were fine.  Filled the hole in my soul but I won't be dreaming about them.  The malt vinegar was a plus.

On a slightly different note, while I was there I saw two JCPO's pop in for a quick drink and then leave.  I dunno if it was their lunch hour but the sight of people drinking IN UNIFORM was pretty depressing.  At least TRY to be discreet for fucks sake and put a bloody t-shirt on.  "Bloody" in the British sense of the word that is, not a t-shirt with the blood of someone who called you to report a robbery on it.

[shahaggy]

Went for Happy Hour yesterday and have to say they did a real nice job with the interior.  They completely gutted the inside and opened it up with a nice the horse shoe shaped bar.  With the big front windows, the place was bright and inviting, the music was good (I had predicted Johnny Cash when I walked in but was blindsided with Willie Nelson) the food looked delish and everyone was friendly.  They still have some kinks to be worked out (waiting for cable to be hooked up) but the beer was cold and the air conditioning was cranking.  Now for the beer selection, on draft, Coors light, Yuengling, Blue Moon and Guinness; in bottles Miller lite, Corona, Heineken, Heineken light and Coors light (I don't remember hearing any PBR mentioned when I asked). 
Now the exterior is still a work in progress and for those that bike, there is not one place on that peninsula to lock your bike up but hopefully that will change.  ( hint, install a bike rack Pat)

[Soshin]

Well, I'm actually glad not every bar is jumping on the craft beer bandwagon because sometimes I don't want to pay $7 for a 13% alcohol gut-churner with a ridiculously kooky name.
I went to this place yesterday and I'm going to spell out it's appeal for you - the Yuengling is $2 a pint before 6pm, I believe $3 thereafter. Spit and sawdust. I had some food too, which I can only fairly describe as fairground quality.
And before the inevitable "sins of the father" posting deluge, if Mayor Healy is as personable as his son then I can see why he wins elections. Handshakes were exchanged, names committed to memory and buy-backs abounded.

So they are going for that downtown niche market known as"Non-ironic dive bar" aka every bar outside of downtown's style.  I wonder if Shealyia's will get hipsterized.

[Hairy Potter]

Well, I'm actually glad not every bar is jumping on the craft beer bandwagon because sometimes I don't want to pay $7 for a 13% alcohol gut-churner with a ridiculously kooky name.
I went to this place yesterday and I'm going to spell out it's appeal for you - the Yuengling is $2 a pint before 6pm, I believe $3 thereafter. Spit and sawdust. I had some food too, which I can only fairly describe as fairground quality.
And before the inevitable "sins of the father" posting deluge, if Mayor Healy is as personable as his son then I can see why he wins elections. Handshakes were exchanged, names committed to memory and buy-backs abounded.

[Rabelais]

Guinness, Yuengling and Blue Moon. It still amazes me that people buy into Blue Moon. Coors has fooled people with this longer than they did with Killian's.

[porkchopsoda]

What, no PBR.  pffft. 

Don't be a hater!!!! With only three taps their beer selection is decent.

Yeah b/c you can't get Yuengling or Blue Moon on tap at every other bar

At least they went with decent beer. I was afraid it would be all Miller Lite on tap.

Healy's Tavern
374 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302

I hear this place finally opened this week. Three beers on tap: Guinness, Yuengling and Blue Moon "for the ladies."

[jehu]

Don't be a hater!!!! With only three taps their beer selection is decent.

Yeah b/c you can't get Yuengling or Blue Moon on tap at every other bar

At least they went with decent beer. I was afraid it would be all Miller Lite on tap.

Healy's Tavern
374 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302

I hear this place finally opened this week. Three beers on tap: Guinness, Yuengling and Blue Moon "for the ladies."

[shahaggy]

Yeah b/c you can't get Yuengling or Blue Moon on tap at every other bar

At least they went with decent beer. I was afraid it would be all Miller Lite on tap.

Healy's Tavern
374 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302

I hear this place finally opened this week. Three beers on tap: Guinness, Yuengling and Blue Moon "for the ladies."

[TheFang]

Nah, they'd have to keep that in cans so that way the mayor would be able to recount how many he had if asked by the police on the witness stand.

"I couldn't been drunk, I only had 18 cans of miller light..."

At least they went with decent beer. I was afraid it would be all Miller Lite on tap.

Healy's Tavern
374 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302

I hear this place finally opened this week. Three beers on tap: Guinness, Yuengling and Blue Moon "for the ladies."

[jehu]

At least they went with decent beer. I was afraid it would be all Miller Lite on tap.

Healy's Tavern
374 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302

I hear this place finally opened this week. Three beers on tap: Guinness, Yuengling and Blue Moon "for the ladies."

[MCA™]

Healy's Tavern
374 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302

I hear this place finally opened this week. Three beers on tap: Guinness, Yuengling and Blue Moon "for the ladies."

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