Profile

A passerby could easily mistake P.D. O’Hurley’s for a dive bar since its previous incarnation, Donohue’s, was just that for many decades. Its new owner, Dublin-born Paul Hurley, changed all that in 1999, when he completely renovated the interior. (He couldn’t touch the dated exterior, since the block is landmarked.) Because of the external/internal divide, entering his sophisticated Irish-American pub feels like a revelation. There’s a long bar punctuated by lamps suggesting flickering gaslights, wood paneling, original terrazzo floors, and small waist-high tables. Upholstered blue fabric banquettes provide seating. Eight TVs play NFL games, Irish soccer, and rugby matches, and the background music tends toward soft rock and R&B. The cozy dining room in the back has booth seating and is illuminated with Tiffany-style hanging lamps. The crowd is unapologetically adult, mostly local regulars, with a smattering of actors, retired cops, firefighters, European tourists and pre- and post-concertgoers from nearby Lincoln Center and the Beacon Theatre. The full bar accommodates their diverse palates, serving everything from Guinness Stout to apple martinis to wine, while an extensive menu offers steaks, burgers, salads and traditional dishes like fish and chips, bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. — Michael Anstendig