New Kid on the Block: The Cricketers Arms

The Cricketers Arms has opened on Murray, in the space that was local favorite Uncle Mike’s. If you’re British, you’ll be in heaven. There’s a Tudoresque façade, a quintessentially pubbish name, a crease (it’s a cricket word) on the floor near the bar, and all manner of British knickknacks. “A friend went back to Britain last summer and went crazy at jumble sales,” says owner Brian McLaughlin, who also owns the Dark Horse on Murray, the Irish American on John, and Liam’s on Fulton.

The menu lists all manner of British greatest hits—not just fish and chips, Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, and sticky toffee pudding, but chicken tikka masala, mushy peas, baked beans, cottage pie, and a “full and proper English brekkie!” (Exclamation point not mine. You can also get something called Loftus “Ruby Murray” sauce on the side.) There are also more American options: burgers, sandwiches, and entrées such as chicken Marsala and steak. Prices are reasonable, with burgers starting at $10 and that chicken Marsala going for $16. On Sunday, the restaurant will serve a classic British roast.

The bar area makes up a relatively small part of the overall space, which is sure to please neighbors concerned about their street. And McLaughlin says that TVs will only be on when there’s a reason for them to be on—soccer games and cricket matches being two prime reasons.

“There’s nothing like it down here,” says McLaughlin. “Or even in the city—I’ve been to places and they don’t have this, or they don’t have that. If the British give the thumbs up to this place, then other people will come.”

UPDATE: I had to disable comments because of a spam attack; feel free to comment on the Cricketers Arms’s page in the Tribeca Citizen Restaurant Guide.

The Cricketers Arms is at 57 Murray (between W. Broadway and Greenwich), 212-619-5550; thecricketersarmsnyc.com.

Recent New Kid on the Block/First Impressions articles:
Tribeca Canvas
Nish Nush
Scissor
Aamanns/Copenhagen
Saleya
Roberta Roller Rabbit
Westville Hudson
Sushi of Gari Tribeca
Barry’s Bootcamp

 

11 Comments

  1. More taxidermy! Is that a red fox above the bar?

  2. looks delish. I miss full english brekkies! I hope they make good tea… (very hard to find good tea in the US, almost impossible)

  3. Anxiously not waiting on Suzanne F’s dissertation about her first dining experience here. I lost my appetite and my will to read while trying to get thru the first few sentences of her Benares reviewopedia.

  4. Jim!

  5. Sticky toffee pudding – BRILLIANT!!!

  6. I went here today, had the “plougmans” toastie… Oh my gosh, it was delish!
    Will definitely be here again and again! Decor is warm and cozy, reminds me of home… =)

  7. @Natascha H: free piece of advice : when posting a shill review, try to spell the dish name properly at least…

  8. Went today and had Cottage Pie & few pints Guinness. Cottage pie was awesome. Was like being in an old pub in London. Great alternative to the Irish bars around the hood and a big upgrade from Uncle Mikes.

  9. went there for the English Brekkie – which was a perfect English brekkie and just what we wanted. Place looks very authentic and had Strongbow cider on tap! (very hard to find in the US, an alternative to beer, alcholic apple cider, always love it)
    And we made a point of telling them that we knew about it because of the Tribeca Citizen write up! Spreading the word…

  10. @Johnbull : you should go in and try the food! Had the Roast Turkey Sunday special today… Again, reminds me of home! But thanks for the advise and lesson… Have a great day!

  11. Been in twice now, a comfortable walk from Beach Street, great food, the decor is very warm and a class above anything in the area. A great addition to the neighborhood, I will be back with friends on a regular basis. It is a “must visit” whether you are a Brit or not.