Eating while riding horseback was pioneered by the efficient Mongols, who also adjusted to reading, receiving haircuts, and filling out their taxes atop their four-legged mobiles. Enjoy the convenience of chairs and tables with today’s Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of classic American fare and drinks at The P & H Cafe in Midtown.

Since the original P & H opened in 1961, the meaning of the restaurant's signature letters has shifted from "Pearl and Harrison" to "Poor and Hungry," a term of endearment well understood by college kids. Hop a squat atop a bar stool and enjoy a foamy brew from the tap ($2.50–$4.75) as you peruse P & H's tempting menu of classic pub grub. Appetizers perk pep-deprived palates with chili-and-cheese tamales ($7.25), seasoned french fries ($3–$4), or fried pickle spears ($5–$6), giving you enough energy to finally write that great novel or to eat your main course. In addition to a wide variety of traditional sandwich options ($3.50–$7.50) including the meat-free veggie melt, P & H boasts succulently stuffed burgers ($7.50) including the El Espanol with cheddar and jalapenos and a feta- and caper-clad Greek that will have you gabbing about epistemology and metaphysics till bedtime.

P & H Café plays host to entertainment aplenty, with a calendar full of live music, open-mic comedy, and Trivia Tuesdays, all arranged in an amusing grid format. The restaurant also features the work of local artists in its art space, hosting openings the first Friday of each month. Grab your gabbiest guy friends to put their fast-talkin' ways to good use at trivia on a Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., or stop by on a Sunday when P & H is closed to wait outside the door with doe eyes until it joyously reopens on Monday.

Customers must order at least one food item. P&H is currently changing the pricing on some menu items; the pricing quoted above is up to date.

Reviews

Five Yelpers give P & H Cafe four stars:

• They've got vegetarian friendly food, including a kick-ass veggie melt. – april s.
• This bar doesn't care about your politics or your trendy clothes. It doesn't care whether you rolled up in a BMW or walked in with nothing but the shoes on your feet. It only cares that you've got enough booze in your hands to keep you happy. – Kendall K.