Mr. Wet Wooly said:
I spend a lot of time at Japanese sake bars, called izakayas, in midtown in the 40s and 50s. Draft beer, shochu and sake, cheap decent pub chow--not sushi, but small, cooked dishes like yakitori. Most are open till 3am or later and are ideal for pre or post-mongering snacks. They usually feature an attractive all-female staff and can really get you in the mood.
Some of my usual haunts are Sakagura on 43rd st, Hagi on 49th and Oga on 47th St.