WHILE well known and possibly not a candidate for a Forgotten NY entry, I did find a P.J. Clarke’s location not everyone may know about. Clarke’s, in its flagship location at 3rd Avenue and East 55th Street, was established by Ehret’s Brewery in 1890, with Patrick Joseph Clarke taking over in 1904, continuing until his death after World War II. The place still holds on to old-time trappings such as vintage porcelain urinals, mahogany woodwork, tin ceiling, and portraits of FDR, JFK and Abraham Lincoln. Customers jot down their orders on notepads provided by staff– a longtime Clarke’s tradition. Frank Sinatra, Jackie Onassis, and Nat King Cole were all regular patrons, and Buddy Holly proposed to his wife, Maria Elena, at Clarke’s on their first date in 1958. Dick Clark always made his way here after finishing his New Year’s Rockin’ Eve ABC broadcasts. And, Ray Milland staggered up 3rd Avenue in an alcoholic daze after cadging drinks at Clarke’s, which was called Nat’s Bar in The Lost Weekend. There are 7 other branches of P.J. Clarke’s in Manhattan, Chicago, Washington, Las Vegas, and São Paulo, Brazil, but this is the original.
This Clarke’s location, at Columbus Avenue and West 63rd Street, is perhaps best known for its appearance in the final scene of Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall,” in which Alvie Singer and Annie Hall have lunch after some years apart. Oddly enough I have never been in either location, but did pass the original Clarke’s each day for a few weeks in 2016 and 2017, when I freelanced at the Bloomingdale’s production office early each year. See note in Comments about this location.
My complete 9th Avenue/Columbus Avenue walk can be seen on this FNY page.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
3/25/26
5 comments
was ONeal’s Saloon then Balloon then a failure with a music theme then Clarkes. They have handled music and opera crowds well for a long time.
I used to be a regular at the 3rd Ave. location in the ’80s and 90s and spent a lot of time in the back room. I was able to schmooze with a lot of celebrities, including the late Jim Jensen who always stopped in after his 11 P.M. newscast.
The location in this photo did not become a P.J. Clarke’s satilite until 2007. During the 1976 filming of Annie Hall it was the site of O’Neal’s Baloon. Opening in 1966, the name was famously misspelled as it could not be issued a NYS Liquor License as a “Saloon” due to some Prohibition-era ordinance. With the large sign already mostly fabricated, they changed the “S” to a “B”. O’Neal’s Baloon was part of a resturant chain founded by brothers Mike and Patrick O’Neal (the actor) who’s first venue was The Ginger Man on nearby West 64th Street. Across from Lincoln Center, this O’Neal’s Baloon was a popular late-night spot for performers who were often cheered as they entered. It was also known for “Dancers at the Bar”, a large mural behind the bar depicting balerinas practicing at the “other” bar.
“… the late Jim Jensen…”
Jim was a very good softball pitcher. I pitched against him twice in Central Park in the late 70’s and was 1 and 1.
He beat me in our first contest, and I later beat him in our second.
I bought him a beer from the parky beer guy after the first game, and he returned the favor after I beat him.
We chatted for a bit and he had to split. Never saw him again.
Just be sure not to get the chicken soup. From a recent Yelp review:
“I got the chicken soup. This chicken soup looked honestly like if I waited any length of time without touching it, she’d think I ate it already and what’s left is just what I left behind. Take a look at the photo. It’s not even filled halfway to the middle of the bowl. For $17 you should have full bowl of soup. It was literally 6 sips of soup and the entire thing was finished.”