Sitting in the middle of a golf resort, inside and next to a golf shop is O'Brien's. Simply put, a…read moregorgeous, classy interior meets creepy dolls and a sports bar.
On a recent family trip, it was suggested that we stop in for a late lunch. Given that it was a holiday and a lack of other options in the area, I went along. When you first step inside, you'll notice that it wants so hard to be an Irish sports bar. Lots of sports memorabilia and statues accompany cheesy, over-done Irish slogans and designs. With its location, the sports angle is a logical slant. I get it. However, this is no Irish pub.
One section of the restaurant is elegant, with linen napkins and beautiful dark wood trim. Its appearance is reminiscent of Victorian age dining and probably more typical of a finer resort-style atmosphere. Another section is a little less fancy, with white tablecloths and a more casual appearance. A third option, where we dined, is in the sports bar area, complete with patio and view of the golf course.
The menu is fairly typical pub fare: burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, and appetizers. I didn't see anything that stood out. With the exception of a shepherd's pie, it also lacked curry fries, which was disappointing, given the facade of an Irish pub.
Right off the bat, I suspected we were in for a lacking experience when we were told that the staff was short-handed due to the holiday. I initially cut them a bit of slack because I understood. However, that's where my forgiveness ended.
Our server, apparently covering the entire place, won no points when she took our drink orders and couldn't tell us what they had on tap for beers, nor did she have a list. The group ordered a few appetizers, including wings. For my meal, I opted for a turkey burger with avocado.
The wings were barely flavored, except with too much salt and the only redeeming qualities were that they were crispy and served with both ranch and blue cheese dressing. The celery was even a tad soggy.
My turkey burger was served to me with an added note that they were out of avocado. Had I been told that from the beginning, I would've ordered something else. The burger was peppery and also quite salty and the bun barely stood up to the challenge of keeping my tomato in place. The sodium levels gave me a hint that it was probably a frozen, low-quality patty. Ick. I drank far too much soda and water to try to keep my heart rate down for the rest of the day. The fries were also nothing special and also likely frozen items.
The plus of the place is that the patio does have a pretty view of the golf course. If you like golf courses, that is. Other than that, it's a way to enjoy the outside and there are a lot of tables and room to walk around.
If you're looking for a place to park yourself for some drinks and conversation this may just be the spot for you. I'd consider giving the other dining options a chance, though I wouldn't count on seeing me here anytime soon. Otherwise, if you do, I've been driving around the area looking for something resembling civilization and was hungry or drug along for family time when I'm not the decision-maker.