Once upon a time, my friends and I were in the Art Museum area for a change of pace, walking along North 20th Street to be exact, when we stumbled upon a quaint little tavern. As we approached the building I felt like I was transported back to 1843 and was a character in A Christmas Carol. Or like I was Snow White walking through the forest and happened upon the dwarves cottage. Both of these thoughts excited me, and as we made our way up the steps I was quickly snapped out of my daydream as I noticed a sign that read "McCrossen’s Tavern", and a plethora of Saint Patty's Day decorations. 

But the inside of the Tavern was just as endearing as the outside of it was. It was a very small place, but the vibe that it gave off made me fall in love with it. It had a very old feel to it (it was built in 1852) with a fireplace on one end (where I imagined myself sitting in a robe and having a beer with Jacob Marley or Ebenezer Scrooge, depending on his mood). There was also a very interesting bar set up. It was as though the tavern was split into two halves with tables on either end, and was separated in the middle by a bar with open windows so that patrons could see who was sitting on either side. Very cool set up. 

I only hoped the specials would excite me as much as the way the bar looked. I read my menu by candlelight and liked the selection… but a word of advice before you go ??"the specials were not written on the menu so be sure to ask what they are! I did, and this is what I discovered: Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 and during this time it is $1 off drafts and $0.50 off of mixed drinks and bottles, half price for mussels, and $3 for the featured draft of the day (every day this draft is different). They must not have revealed these specials because they’re kind of awesome. Oops, I let the secret out. And oh, Thursday is rib night! Put that in your calendar. 

So I of course ordered a $3 draft which was Springhouse Pale Ale that night, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I had to get the mussels which were only $6! You got to choose a red or white sauce (and they come with bread). I got the white sauce and they were pretty delicious. I kept asking for more bread just so I could dip it into the sauce. Then I ordered the “Five Alarm Chili Cheese Fries” off the menu, per the waitress’s recommendation. I was expecting them to be super spicy, but to my surprise they weren’t really too spicy at all. They did have a little kick to them and were quite good, but I would rename them “Two Alarm Chili Cheese Fries”. Don’t let their original name fool you. 

All in all, McCrossen’s was a fun time. A fun place to spend Saint Patty’s day, perhaps. As I walked out of McCrossen’s and down the front steps with a smile on my face, I happened to notice a tiny little parking lot across the street reserved for patrons of McCrossen’s only. How nice of them! Though, if you do go to McCrossen’s I wouldn’t drive there ??" with their cheap specials I wouldn’t advise operating a vehicle! God bless us, everyone!