Danielle
To be honest, Auld Dubliner was Plan B since all the tables at Ra Sushi were taken and I hate to be the vulture standing by tables pressuring people to wrap up their bill payment. We made our way to the bar as we figured this would be prime seating for people-watching and “casing the joint.” The ambiance is what you would expect in an Irish pub so no surprises there, and my nose got acclimated to the musty smell permeating the corner of the bar area after sitting for a while. It was very loud. I know, I know, before you say it…it IS a pub. However, the volume was from a particular bar staff member who may not have had that “inside voice” switch and continually violates OSHA standards. It was in good fun because the person made up for it in service and attentiveness. The crowd was very mixed and the numbers kept pouring in as 6PM approached. The crowd ranged from “after work” groups of professional men or mixed men/women, solo gals at the bar (go girl!), and frat-type boys. The food selection of “bar food” was quite good for a pub. I had the corned beef tacos—unique and delish. I also had the “spicy potatoes” which were basically baby new potatoes deep fried and tossed in hot sauce then topped with blue cheese. Although they sounded somewhat different, I wouldn’t recommend those. The service was quick despite the crowd and the staff was very accommodating if an order was inaccurate or misleading (my friend ordered the Ahi tacos expecting them to be cooked so they gladly took them back and cooked them). After walking out, I realized the prime seating was outside on the patio (which was almost empty when we came in). Speakers play music into the patio and there is ample seating at tables. It’s in a great location to draw in local professionals and to also get out of there and check out other places if the crowd is dead.
Food: ★★★☆☆ (because of my corned beef tacos)
Service: ★★★☆☆
Price: ★★☆☆☆
Ambience: ★★★☆☆
Overall: ★★★☆☆
Candice
Consider it your typical Irish bar happy hour--an open, fairly crowded bar area with multiple television screens airing football in the background, diverse groups of men, and plenty of beer. The happy hour menu was standard fare and a bit over-priced considering the ambiance in which the food was being presented. Of course, the beer selection was fairly good and my taste buds craved a Belgian white beer (Hoegaarden) and some Ahi fish tacos. Okay, so it wasn’t your traditional Irish fare, but it was alright. Despite the bar area becoming progressively crowded over time, the service was genuine. The bartender was attentive and checked up on us frequently. There was a mixed age range and a decent ratio of men to women (more so in our favor), which is always welcomed in my book. Overall, it was a pleasant experience for me given my earlier disappointment of hoping to find empty seats across the way at RA sushi and finding none. The location of the bar is fantastic so if the crowd happens to be less than appealing during your visit, you can easily walk to another happy hour spot in hopes of a lucky strike.
Food: ★★☆☆☆
Service: ★★★☆☆
Price: ★★☆☆☆
Ambience: ★★★☆☆
Overall: ★★★☆☆
No comments:
Post a Comment