Two Very Different Local Bars...

The Shamrock, 138 New York Avenue, Huntington  631-427-4221 has been in business for 34 years since their opening in 1979.  It's located in a small strip mall right across from the waters of Huntington Harbor, which may explain the large numbers of men in rubber boots.  They're clam diggers, lobster fisherman and scungilli hunters and they just came in from work.

I don't really remember "the Rock" as it's called affectionately offering food back in the day, but they sure do now.  I had a trio of pulled pork slidrs and they were good.  Richie had the crab cakes.


Crab Cakes







Coconut Shrimp







One dish looked particularly good to me - a bowl of chili, topped with macaroni and cheese with a crunchy Panko crust. 

What I ordered the second time was their coconut shrimp appetizer.  Served with orange marmalade as a dip, they were obviously handmade in their kitchen.  I think it was $14 for nearly a dozen shrimp.  This is an appetizer? 

The Valencia, 236 Wall Street, Huntington  631-683-4166 is rumored to have opened in 1929 during Prohibition and I find that easy to believe, based on the sepia-colored photos on the walls of various Huntington landmarks. 

This is the essential dive bar. The stand-up bar is dead ahead as you walk in; there is another, larger room to the right at the end of the bar.  Stools in this room are topped with Western saddles, there is a fireplace, a pool table and an oldtime shuffleboard court. 

The bar mirror is covered with slogans -- "Time flies when you're having RUM!"  "Wanted: woman who can cook, clean and owns a boat.  Please enclose photo of the boat in your response."  My favorite is a mouse trap mounted vertically on a wall.  The sign next to it says, "Complaint Dept.  Just push bell and wait." 

The water workers hit the place at about 3:30 or 4 p.m. so when we popped in for a beer it was nearly 5 p.m. and the place was packed.  The only women in the place where the bartender and me.  But, Female Readers, I can' really recommend the Valencia as a watering hole.  This is not the best gene pool in town.

Still, we've been going in for a brewski or two for 30 years and unless it blows up or burns down, we will again.