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| - The decor is really great. There are quite a few different places to sit: they have a bar, tables with stools, a few booths that have really private alcoves, and then different seating areas with bench type seats and regular chairs for groups. There is also some outdoor seating, and they are prepared for the winter chills with upright heaters. They have live music pretty regularly. There is... or was, not sure, a one-man band called Finnegan's Wake. The last band I saw did some pretty cool Van Morrison and Flogging Molly covers.
I know it's blasphemy not to drink at Irish pub, but I don't drink at all, so I can't really rate the drinks. I've heard from friends that the Guinness on tap is good, and that the Irish Coffee was ok. They have these "Bit o' Beers" which run about $5 and have a sampler of... I think it was 5 beers. There are 3 kinds, but the beers listed are all you can get, as in you can't substitute anything. They have similar offerings for whiskey, and there is always a beer on special for a $4 pint.
I like to start with the chips. They are homemade, and come with two different sauces. The rosemary is my favorite, but the curry isn't bad, either. They have Irish nachos, but it's basically just nachos with potato chips instead of tortilla chips. Ground beef, cheese and potato are Irish staples which could be had in better ways.
In the winter, my favorite dish is the Beef and Guinness Stew. Unfortunately, it is seasonal, so it's not currently being offered. It's a saucy stew, obviously, and has tender vegetables, and of course, of course, potato.
If you aren't sure of what to get, they have a dinner entree called "Aon, Do, Tri," which, if you say it out loud, is "One, Two, Three," with an Irish accent. That is a sampler with Corned Beef and Cabbage, Diddy's Irish Stew, and Shepherd's Pie. Quite good with the exception of the Irish Stew, which I found to be a bit bland.
I enjoy the fish and chips (make sure you ask for the Heinz Malt Vinegar on the side." Crispy fish and crispy french fries. I've been meaning to try the Reuben, but it comes with an onion relish or something like that, and you know how I feel about onions.
My friend had a slice of chocolate cake for dessert on her birthday, and that was rich, decadent, and delicious.
The reason it doesn't get a 5/5 is because of the service. The servers are nice and orders come out correctly, but sometimes it can be insanely slow. I've been on nights where it wasn't so crowded, and I've been on nights where, walking through the crowd, I couldn't tell if it was really that packed or I was getting groped. Although it doesn't happen every time, there are occasions, regardless of crowd, where a meal has taken an insanely long time. I don't mind because I go with friends and we have no problems chit chatting, but if I was in a hurry, or less easy going, it'd be frustrating. My last experience, I made a reservation at least a week prior for 7:00 for a birthday party, and came to find out when we arrived one of our tables had been given away. We didn't actually get seated until 8:00 (they put us outside to sit and wait where it was pretty hot. Who I assume is the owner came out and apologized, but nothing was really done to compensate), the appetizers we ordered didn't get there until almost 9:00, and the food took forever to come out once it was ordered. I will assume it's because it was packed and a Friday night, but jeez, the wait was really something else. I will continue to go here when the Irish food craving bites me, but I'll make sure not to go on a Friday night. I shudder to think about the wait times on St. Patty's Day.
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