www.mccannspubnyc.com C elebrating nearly ten years on Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria, McCann's Pub and Grill welcomes every guest with warm hospitality. The fun, relaxed atmosphere attracts a youthful crowd each evening that comes for their specialty drinks, great food, friendly service and nightly drink and food

specials. Gregarious owner Paul Fogarty believes

in keeping his clientele happy and keeps a close eye on customer service, as does John, the friendly manager.

On a recent Wednesday, the crowd was celebrating "Ladies' Night" with half price drinks for ladies from 8pm until 1am. The French martini, with a splash of Chambourd was elegant and refreshing. I also enjoyed the summery, fresh watermelon martini. Other fruity drinks, such as strawberry daiquiri, pina colada and margaritas are mixed on the spot. A selection of over a dozen beers, served by the pint or pitcher, offers a brew for everyone. Flat screen televisions over the bar allow for prime viewing of your favorite sporting events.

Besides the fun atmosphere and frosty drinks, McCann's serves generous portions of hearty food. Whether you feel like a light snack, a juicy burger or a full meal, McCann's has it all and everything is served fresh and hot by the friendly wait staff. We began with some tempting appetizers that can be eaten at the bar or at one of the pub tables. Chicken quesadillas are large enough to have as an entrée and are filled with tender chicken and melted cheese, served with chunky salsa and creamy sour cream ($7.95). The Buffalo wings are

tender and juicy and can be ordered as spicy as you like them. The Buffalo shrimp are equally as good, served with tartar sauce. McCann's Buffalo bites put a new twist on the wings with these boneless chicken bites that are breaded and fried till golden, then served with your choice of hot sauce, barbecue sauce, teriyaki, or honey glaze ($7.25). The crab cakes are also bite-sized and full of sweet crab meat, with six to an order. Potato skins are full of melted cheese and bacon and served hot and crispy for just $6.95 for a large portion. You can also have them filled with Mc- Cann's famous chili or vegetables and cheese. McCann's chili is thick and meaty and can be ordered as an appetizer too. Steak tidbits are tender and juicy morsels or cubed Angus steak served with garlic bread with bubbling mozzarella. If you can't decide among these tantalizing choices, McCann's Sampler offers an assortment of their best appetizers and a pitcher of beer for just $16.

McCann's burgers are what burgers should be and you'll need two hands for these. The wraps and sandwiches are quite popular as well. The Cajun chicken wrap is one of the most popular for its zesty seasoning, lettuce, tomato, bacon and mayonnaise. The California wrap keeps it light with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, guacamole and ranch dressing ($8.95). For lunch, dinner or late night snack, these wraps fill you up.

For bigger bites, the chef cooks up traditional pub dishes such as Shepherd's Pie to steaks, chicken and more. Several chicken dishes appear on the menu, all nicely prepared, such as chicken Francese, with a lemony butter and white wine sauce, chicken teriyaki or Marsala, and a rib-sticking chicken cordon bleu, stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese ($11.95). Pasta dishes include penne with light tomato basil sauce or rich fettuccine Alfredo. Meat eaters will delight in a 12-ounce shell steak grilled to order or the Hungry Man steak smothered in mushrooms and onions ($15.95). Most entrées are served with colorful vegetables and your choice of mashed potatoes, steak fries or rice.

The party continues all week at McCann's where on Mondays, there are $3 beer specials, and Tuesdays feature burgers and a pint for $12. After Wednesday's ladies' night there's Thursday's margarita madness for $5.50. The weekends bring more fun and specials and a chartered fishing expedition is planned for August 16th so sign up now.

For lots of fun, a great selection of beers and frosty cocktails and hearty portions of home style food, McCann's is the place to be any night of the week.