We were visiting New York the week after the Super...

We were visiting New York the week after the Superbowl with our six month old son and were wandering around lower Manhattan with some friends when I saw O'Hara's and thought, "that looks like a great little Irish pub, but it's probably just a tourist trap." I guess it just looked to "clean" on the outside compared to most of the places in the area, so we passed it by. A few days later, we were back in the area to visit the 9/11 Memorial and needed a place to get some food and take a break after pushing the child around in the stroller all day. I wasn't sure whether children were welcome (they are not in most pubs/bars in Washington State where we live), so I was a little hesitant to walk in. But we did, and couldn't have been happier with the choice. This is as authentic of a neighborhood pub as exists anywhere in the U.S. Not only did we receive great service and excellent food (I suggest the prime rib sandwich), we were made to feel like "regulars" at home, even though we'd never been there before. Our server (a delightful woman with a distinct Irish accent), held our son while we ate so that we could enjoy our meal, showering him with love an attention like only a mother can do. In that moment, we felt like family, and most of all, were able to take a break from being parents and just sit and enjoy a wonderful meal and a couple pints of Guinness in a place that felt like home. And yes, she respected our parental instincts and stayed well within our line of sight the whole time. We took our time to look at the pictures of the building showing the devastation after 9/11, as well as to find a patch on the wall from our local fire department and reflect on the impact that day had on not just those in the towers, but the community as a whole. It was a special experience and we will never forget it. O'Hara's is no tourist trap.