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Thunder's 40-ounce-in-a-brown-bag gimmick sparked some online chatter when it was first introduced, but novelty is more or less an afterthought at this solid if undistinguished sports bar. The tame bare-brick-and-deep-red-wall interior gets a boost from a windowed façade letting in a stream of sunlight and passing conversation from the West Village street. The flat-screen TVs are tactically placed for easy viewing, bypassing the dizzy confusion inspired by so many 50-channel sports bars (it’s great for the less hard-core fans with no desire to watch four simultaneous bowl games in real time). The classic bar food distinguishes itself with clean presentation—hand-cut fries with organic house ketchup, salads colored by shoots and leaves rather than flavorless icebergs. Its name may be imposing, but Thunder Jackson's is actually just a normal a mash-up of sports bar and upscale snack spot. — Patrick Coffee

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