50% Off O'Brien's Irish Pub & Restaurant
The Scoop: You've seen a good ol' Irish pub before. That's nothing new. But O'Brien's Irish Pub & Restaurant, having been opened by three Irishmen and named for one (Desmond O'Brien, whose family crest is a key part of their signage), is the real deal. Since it's their 7th, 9th, 14th? place, the proud fellas behind it have more than just an idea of what they're doing and so managed to create an environment that's got the energy and sports focus of your typical Irish pub, but a nicer, cleaner finish and far superior food than what usually comes standard with that category of bar. A change we'll welcome with open arms and a beer in hand.
Scout Notes: I hate to say it, but in my prior experience with bars that have a name like, "O'Brien's," I'm oftentimes hit with an overpowering odor comprised of stale beer residue and bleach-infused cleaning product as soon as I step inside. So, you can imagine my surprise and delight when I walked in and smelled... well, nothing at all. The glossy, wooden bar, tables and stools (not to mention the floor) gleamed, the gold railings glistened and the mirrors behind the bar were streak-free (from what I could see through the endless bottles of liquor lined up in front of them, anyway). The long, narrow space was warm and inviting, and the photographs of famous athletes of all kinds that were hung along the exposed brick wall seemed to dare me to eat my weight in Bar Bites. A challenge I gladly accepted.
Now, in addition to having to choose what to sample from the extensive menu, I also had to decide where to sit. There's the downstairs section, a long, communal bar facing a supremely impressive wall of almost any liquor you could name and topped with 12 different beers on tap, coated with a thin layer of ice, so you know you're lager will be sufficiently cold. And then there's the upstairs "Sin Bin" (named for the penalty box in rugby), where you'll find a somewhat smaller bar area, but far more tables set up alongside autographed rugby jerseys, as well as a cozy balcony overlooking... a church? I suppose it's comforting to know you can relish in debauchery and then immediately be forgiven for your sins of the day. Just don't leave any potentially humorous personal items behind, if for no other reason than for fear that it might be put on display for all to enjoy and laugh at. No kidding—there's a teddy bear behind the bar downstairs that's been there for three years and counting. I opted for the downstairs. The bartender, Aiden, had an accent that was too good to pass up.
A champion in my own right, I took on a record amount of food: Mini Burger Bites, Crabmeat and Asiago Cheese Gratinee, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and Artichoke 'N' Spinach Dip. Wow. And I'm not just referring to sheer volume. All of the above were actually unbelievable, decidedly some of the best food I've had not only at a pub, but anywhere for that matter. And the best part is, the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. every day. So, when you've had one too many beers and are ready to move on to find some late-night grub, you don't even need to leave your seat. You can get it all (from Irish breakfast, served all day, to wood oven, thin crust pizza) right here, all while enjoying the many sports that are showing on the flat screen TVs or the live music that plays Wednesday through Saturday.
Menu Highlights:
Artichoke 'N' Spinach Dip, $8.95
Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, $8.95
Crabmeat and Asiago Gratinee, $9.95
O'Brien's Burger, $12.95
Chicken Pot Pie, $16.95
Bangers & Mash, $16.95
Fish & Chips, $17.95
Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Scout Notes: I hate to say it, but in my prior experience with bars that have a name like, "O'Brien's," I'm oftentimes hit with an overpowering odor comprised of stale beer residue and bleach-infused cleaning product as soon as I step inside. So, you can imagine my surprise and delight when I walked in and smelled... well, nothing at all. The glossy, wooden bar, tables and stools (not to mention the floor) gleamed, the gold railings glistened and the mirrors behind the bar were streak-free (from what I could see through the endless bottles of liquor lined up in front of them, anyway). The long, narrow space was warm and inviting, and the photographs of famous athletes of all kinds that were hung along the exposed brick wall seemed to dare me to eat my weight in Bar Bites. A challenge I gladly accepted.
Now, in addition to having to choose what to sample from the extensive menu, I also had to decide where to sit. There's the downstairs section, a long, communal bar facing a supremely impressive wall of almost any liquor you could name and topped with 12 different beers on tap, coated with a thin layer of ice, so you know you're lager will be sufficiently cold. And then there's the upstairs "Sin Bin" (named for the penalty box in rugby), where you'll find a somewhat smaller bar area, but far more tables set up alongside autographed rugby jerseys, as well as a cozy balcony overlooking... a church? I suppose it's comforting to know you can relish in debauchery and then immediately be forgiven for your sins of the day. Just don't leave any potentially humorous personal items behind, if for no other reason than for fear that it might be put on display for all to enjoy and laugh at. No kidding—there's a teddy bear behind the bar downstairs that's been there for three years and counting. I opted for the downstairs. The bartender, Aiden, had an accent that was too good to pass up.
A champion in my own right, I took on a record amount of food: Mini Burger Bites, Crabmeat and Asiago Cheese Gratinee, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and Artichoke 'N' Spinach Dip. Wow. And I'm not just referring to sheer volume. All of the above were actually unbelievable, decidedly some of the best food I've had not only at a pub, but anywhere for that matter. And the best part is, the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. every day. So, when you've had one too many beers and are ready to move on to find some late-night grub, you don't even need to leave your seat. You can get it all (from Irish breakfast, served all day, to wood oven, thin crust pizza) right here, all while enjoying the many sports that are showing on the flat screen TVs or the live music that plays Wednesday through Saturday.
Menu Highlights:
Artichoke 'N' Spinach Dip, $8.95
Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, $8.95
Crabmeat and Asiago Gratinee, $9.95
O'Brien's Burger, $12.95
Chicken Pot Pie, $16.95
Bangers & Mash, $16.95
Fish & Chips, $17.95
Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m.
