Photo: City Search

Harefield Road: The Pencil Factory Returns

The bar Harefield Road, located on Metropolitan Avenue next to the Graham Avenue L stop, is déjà vu all over again. Harefield Road is owned by Sean O’Rourke, just like Greenpoint staple the Pencil Factory (O’Rourke co-owns that one), and just like the Pencil Factory, Harefield Road features dark, custom carpentry and a low-key, neighborhood vibe. At three years old, Harefield Road is the Pencil Factory’s remarkably similar-looking baby brother.

The bartender, who, when I came in, was very busy explaining to her friends the ins and outs of making free range duck pate, was also stumped for differences between Harefield Road and the Pencil Factory. She explained that the two bars had different management, and credited Harefield Road’s location just next to the Graham Avenue stop as bringing in a lot more business and different vibe, with a more End of the Day kind of crowd. The Happy Hour, from 3 to 8 pm Monday through Friday, is limited, but a good deal. For three dollars, you have your pick of two unusual draft beers: an Olde Saratoga, or the Amber Lager Shock Top Wheat. I tried the Olde Saratoga, which was mellow, light, and honey-tasting. It’s hard to find more quality than that for three dollars.

Harefield Road is a good day time bar. The interior doesn’t need to be blanketed in darkness to look good. In fact, the opposite is true: its unique wooden interiors deserve to be seen in the light of day. It also offers an inexpensive brunch on the weekends, including a free Bloody Mary or mimosa.

Harefield Road stands only a few feet before you reach Brooklyn’s own White Castle. Just like the protagonists of the film “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle”, you will end up spending most of your time just a hair’s breadth away from White Castle, and though, like them, you might turn up there in the end, it’s what happens on the way to White Castle that counts.