The Half Pint / Ernie's Bar — Restaurant in New York

I went to Half Pint during happy hour, every week or two, for almost a year (2024-2025). It appears that ownership has changed sometime around April 2025 so reviews from before then are probably not accurate anymore.

The crowd around 4-6 pm is mostly groups of students coming in for the happy hour cocktails (espresso martinis or Aperol spritzes). It used to fit into the “slightly upscale university bar” vibe a little more prior to the change (ie. a place student go for drink specials but also professors for a cocktail). Now it seems to be rebranding as a sports bar with team flags hanging outside and games on the televisions/speakers. But it’s not entirely a sports bar with the expected drinks/bar food to match. The menu and drink changes don’t make sense. The new servers are inexperienced and awkward (some experienced ones are still there).

The mixed drinks are inconsistent (sometimes undrinkable) and the beer list on the website didn’t match what they actually serve (as of late May 2025). The landing page has a quote saying “serious beer bar” but they might have 2-3 beers that are outside the normal NY beers you get everywhere (Goose Island, Brooklyn, etc.) The server had to keep checking if certain beers were in stock.

The food options are not great and don’t fit the new (or old) vibe. Cashew Brussel sprouts, barbacoa tacos, and Bavarian pretzel bites ($14 for a couple pretzel bites and a small dipping sauce)??? What is the theme here? One dish from each country a student might come from? At the outside seating, the silverware kept falling through the slatted table, likely because the plates were tiny and the silverware was handle-heavy.

Unless you’re coming specifically for the two happy hour cocktails they serve, there are other places in the area that excel at having a vibe/menu/drinks that will fit together into a more...

My boyfriend and I are regulars here at half pint, we quite literally spent the whole summer ordering pizza and drinks from this bar. Even left a few 50-100 dollar tips. However last night was one of the worst experiences I’ve had at a bar yet. We arrived to be rudely greeted by a bartender we hadn’t yet seen before. Which we could understand why, my boyfriend brought an open beer container completely on accident not even realizing it. So when he was confronted my boyfriend apologized up and down, surrendered the can immediately. He felt sorry for it. Even wanted to make it up on the tip. We ordered just two glasses of wine and talked to another regular at the bar. Had a great, peaceful and quiet conversation. The bar was closing and we were finishing our conversation with a regular when the security guard came up to us and asked my boyfriend leave immediately along with myself. He said the bartender pointed him out specifically. It was so embarrassing. We didn’t understand why we were made out to be a problem. My boyfriend is a very respectful and peaceful guy. We arrived to the bar at 11:00 Saturday December 4th. Posting this because If this happened to one of my good customers I would want to know. We had never been asked to leave...

Half Pint is hands down our go-to spot for a laid-back dinner and drinks. This place is buzzing with energy, and the food never disappoints. With plenty of TVs for sports enthusiasts and its proximity to NYU, you can expect a vibrant college crowd. Now, let's talk about the steak salad, which is an absolute standout and our absolute favorite on the menu. We simply can't resist ordering it every time we visit.

One of the reasons we keep coming back to Half Pint is their fantastic rotating draught beer selection. They always have something new and exciting on tap, which keeps us intrigued. During our last visit, we savored a chilled glass of chardonnay and indulged in the delightful Sloop Jaegermeister beer. I tell you, that Sloop beer is a gem that I'll definitely be revisiting before it disappears from the rotating taps.

If you happen to find yourself in the Soho/Village/Washington Park area of NYC, we highly recommend giving Half Pint...