Open since 2008, HOP DEVIL GRILLE, and its smaller, demure Belgian Room next door, have fared well in the East Village. Located towards the end of S. Mark’s Place next to a pizza parlor cornering Avenue A, this hellishly-dubbed aluminum-fronted mustard-browned hole in the wall serves great food and better beer. Truly, the fabulous draft selection competes favorably with ‘older uptown sister’ bar and grill, DAVID COPPERFIELD’S.
Just a few steps from Alphabet City’s Tompkins Square Park, Hop Devil’s semi-Industrial sportsbar appeal invites a mostly young crowd. Stainless steel front door leads to 12-seated left bar with shelved high-caliber liquor and select beer bottles above 25 tap handles. Several TV’s and metal brewery banners line the rustic green-marbled wallpapered interior and a devilish figure giving the finger peers out from the bar’s blackboard.
On my first visit, March ’10, I discovered Mikkeller Whiskey-Barreled Breakfast Stout, Flying Dog Garde Dog, and Green’Flash Palate Wrecker on tap (reviewed in Beers A-Z section). Several fine Belgian brews could be found at adjacent Belgian Room.
On Wednesday, April 14th, a mix of beer connoisseurs, cute college gals, and long-time locals gathered for Kuhnhenn Night to taste several worthy selections from awesome Michigan pub, Kuhnhenn Brewing. I caught an early evening buzz while chowing delicious South O’ Da Border grilled chicken fajita. Had top-line Cask-Conditioned Loonie Kuhnie, White Devil, Double Rice IPA, Extraneous Sixtel, and Mayhem Belgian Dark, plus cloying Play in The Hay Blueberry Lambic (reviewed at Beers A-Z section).
