OK - My dislike of things "Chain" is well known. But a chain pub? Really? Doesn't that sort of pre-defeat the entire essence of the pub concept?
This was a typical group drag-along, you know the deal - taken several blocks out of your way with a bunch of people you're not even sure you want to be out with... and you end up at Fionn MacCools.
The drinks are nothing to right home about - uninspired selection of mid-shelf booze and craft-like beer with a chain resto mark-up. Service was decent, but in no way exceptional.
But the food. The food is truly an abomination. This is the place where the wash-outs from Applebees training academy end up. Limp fries and chips and chili from a recipe that I swear they ripped off from my high school cafeteria. Bad food - truly bad.
The people turned out to be pretty decent and I ended up having a pretty good time; the extra star is a charitable gift as a reminder of a pleasant evening out.