Popular Midtown Irish Pub the Mean Fiddler to Reopen in Time for St. Patrick’s Day

Midtown’s the Mean Fiddler is back

Popular Midtown Irish pub the Mean Fiddler, which was forced to shut down permanently last October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is making a return this Wednesday just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

Co-owner Mike McNamee tells Eater that the bar reached a new agreement with its landlord that has allowed it to reopen. McNamee didn’t immediately disclose the terms of this new agreement, but Eater has reached out for more details. Back in October 2020, McNamee said he had no choice but to close as business tanked while Broadway venues remained shuttered and his landlord refused to make concessions over rent payments.

A deal with a new tenant to take over the space reportedly fell through, according to McNamee, which has now allowed the Mean Fiddler to return. McNamee says he’s put in new flooring, painted the bar, and brought in new kitchen equipment for the opening. The beloved Midtown spot has reportedly hosted the likes of Bono, Jimmy Fallon, and Liam Gallagher over the years.

In other news

— Chinese fine dining legend Shun Lee West has reopened after a six-month closure on the Upper West Side. The restaurant is limited to takeout and delivery for now but plans to open its dining room by the end of this month.

— Sotheby’s Wine is reopening on March 17. The retail store is following all COVID-19-related safety precautions to welcome customers indoors.

— Chef Nasrin Rejali is serving up a pop-up dinner on March 20 in celebration of Nowruz, the Persian new year. The $145 meal serves two people and is available for pick up or delivery that day.

— Il Bacco, a Queens restaurant that was part of a class action lawsuit against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration over a ban on indoor dining, has dropped its case now that indoor dining has returned to the city.

— New York Times reporter and critic Guy Trebay examines the legacy of the 21 Club, and whether its longtime workers, who were laid off after its closure last year, will have a role in the planned reimagining of the legendary Midtown speakeasy.

— An outpost of Koreatown’s Jian Bing Man is coming to the East Village later this year. It replaces the short-lived Doma Food and Drinks, which was forced to close because of the pandemic.

— Astoria Afghan restaurant Sami’s Kabab House is set to open a second location in Long Island City this summer.

— Enjoy: