Wow. This place really shone in every facet of food and drink service. Perhaps one of the best lunches we have had in a decade. A dear friend just bought a condo near Newfound Lake and needed to attend the HOA meeting, so we decided to join with them afterwards and they searched the food offerings and came up with Kathleen's Irish Pub. Arriving at the place we noticed a sizable parking area although I am sure it's on overflow at St. Patty's Day. For a first timer, the premises used to be a hardware store so there are several doors and although the one that seems to be the main door, is not. The entrance is towards the front and there is a ramp to the main door Entering the Pub, there is an ample bar area and the food area is towards the left, facing Main Street. We were warmly greeted by a wonderful hostess whose demeanor and customer care was the best I've seen in a long time. We began the afternoon festivities with, of course, Guinness, certainly slow poured, which is good for you. My other half had their Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, creamy and tasty. The next course we had was their Giant Pretzel. Really giant. Baby Huey giant. It served as the appetizer for four of us. We got it with both, homemade beer cheese dipping sauce and the Irish Whiskey Dipping sauce. Both sauces are delicious, really so. Then they brought out the main courses; I had their delicious fish and chips. Perhaps one of the best, tastiest, crispy pieces of fish I've ever had. My spouse ordered the Galway Girl, a true half pound prime Black Angus burger topped by Swiss cheese and fried cheddar curds, poblano dressing and chips. The mix of the fried curds and meat and sauce was amazingly tasty. Another friend had the Boxty, basically a potato pancake filled with a delicious chicken stew. The quality of the food was amazing. Really so. But that wasn't enough, we ordered both, their Bread Pudding, and their Sticky Toffee Pudding. The Bread Pudding was amazing, but the Sticky Pudding was unequaled. I am glad we shared the dessert among four people... At the end of the lunch, the owner came in and engaged us in conversation. Affable, full of energy, friendly, and she knows the path of excellence where she's taking the place. We learned a second pub is planned for Franklin. If it is anywhere near the quality of Kathleen's, Franklin will have one superb eatery. Absolutely recommended. read more

We've been to Kathleen's a number of times over the last couple of years, including this evening. There were a couple of occasions that, similar to other reviews, where things did not go well. But overall and current experience has been excellent. There is a mix of authentic Irish dishes and some Irish-ish fare. The Shepherds Pie and Fish and Chips are consistently excellent. Bangers and Mash is also,very good. Salads are fresh and appetizers good, though most are on the heavy side. Good selection, of beer and a number of memorable irish whiskies are available. Service is usually very good, especially when the owners are present. Everyone is friendly. We'll be back again. Very soon. read more

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Kathleen's is a charming, local Irish pub and restaurant. My family went in for dinner on Saturday night and had a lovely visit. Before going into more details, let me reveal the star of the show: the corned beef! Truly decadent, the best I have ever had. You can get it on their Ruben, which is The most popular dish, or on their Dublin Decker, which is like a burger-Reuben. The decker was great but be warned that it is a lot to handle; I enjoyed it as a knife and fork dish (sacrilege!). My wife had one of their special Mac and cheeses and enjoyed it, and also agreed on my opinion about the corned beef. Their kids menu is pretty standard but my kids finished their meals and as parents of young children know that is a victory in itself. The atmosphere will be familiar to any previous visitor of an Irish pub but it was charming and homey. On the Saturday night we visited they had a comedy show. All in all I would definitely return. read more

Kathleen's Irish Pub - The Dublin Decker was a great choice. - Irish Near Me - Bristol, New Hampshire

The food is authentic Irish, The service was fantastic, very friendly and knowledgeable. The pub is set up as it would be in Ireland, comfortable and they make you feel right at home. Highly recommended. read more

I am in love with this spot. My only complaint is that its four hours away from me :(. Service was great, interior was homey, and the food was delicious. If you like corned beef as much as me please dont miss out on the corned beef burger. Ive been telling everyone about it. I highly recommend the chicken strips appetizer. Only Not a fan of the boxty potatoes. read more

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This is a lovely place with delicious food and kind employees. The Irish music really adds to the ambiance of the place giving it a very friendly effect. Their specials menu includes even better food than the normal menu which is already hard to beat. Rarely can you find food this good even in NYC. Definitely worthy of 5 stars. read more

overpriced and small portions. We both ordered the fish and chips, when it arrived we were stunned on how little food there was! $18 for fish and chips, three nugget size pieces of fish didnt cut it for the price. The coleslaw was served in a condiment cup, same size as the tarter sauce. Looked like a child size portion! The waitress was pleasant, people sitting at bar and no one else in dining room. We wont be returning sad to say we left disappointed and hungry ! read more

Best food and drink AND Service in the Lakes Region! We really enjoyed the Jaegarschnitzel: A boneless cutlet of chicken pounded thin, dredged in flour - dipped in egg wash then bread crumbs and fried until golden brown, topped by a smoked bacon and mushroom gravy served over mashed potatoes with rotkohl. OMG!! It was a huge portion and just amazing. Such a beautiful collaboration of salty and savory flavors. And you can really tell the chef takes pride in their art. It tasted so clean and carefully put together. Moving onto the Snake Bite, which was Blackberry cider and topped with Guinness....a mist try. Then the ginormous delicious Carrot Cake was the perfect ending to our already full meal. I have never had a bad meal or drink here. In fact, this is my top 5 restaurant in all of New Hampshire hands down. read more

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Bad service, bad food, dirty place. Table was sticky & the bathroom was gross. Won't be back. read more

Kathleen's Irish Pub - Front of restaurant. Water dripping from Air conditioner on to ramp going to door. Dangerous! - Irish Near Me - Bristol, New Hampshire

Completely disappointed. My friends came here before and talked it up so much. The waiter was clueless. he had to ask questions over and over. He did not know the menu at all. We had to wait an hour for our food. We ordered appetizers that never came. The waiter then admitted he never put the order in for it. my food was expensive and very subpar. Several beer selections were out. The scallops were over cooked, dry and tasteless: I had to ask for the rice that was supposed to come with my meal. Then had to wait an additional time and the rice was hot but not cooked. The salmon was overcooked and very dry. The food presentation was not good. The Irish breakfast my friend got looked to be ok. 1 meal of 4 that was good is not a good outcome. Customer service training and waitstaff training would definitely be beneficial. There were no menus either which was decidedly inconvenient. I am on the fence about giving this restaurant a second chance. It would definitely take someone to twist my arm quite a bit. read more

Kathleen's Irish Pub - Wall in the dining area - Irish Near Me - Bristol, New Hampshire

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I can't believe I've never been here before! The place is your typical Irish pub with the decor and Irish music playing, which makes you feel like you're in Kilkenny having a pint. Walk in and grab a seat on your own...no need to "wait to be seated" here. You can also let them know you'll be dining outside. Restaurant is clean (win!). Lots of room to bring friends and family, or seating for just you and a date. Full service bar with a great cocktail menu, too! Our server was just the sweetest thing and so friendly and welcoming. She knew a lot about the menu and had some good suggestions. I got a perfect mojito to start my epic food journey. The food....... let's get to what you really want to know about.... We had the duck legs, eggplant fries, buffalo chicken wrap, and the classic (New England boiled dinner) corned beef dinner. Duck legs were huge - covered in a delicious balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of goat cheese. A perfect match. The duck was tender and tasty and cooked to perfection. The eggplant fries were lightly coated and fried crisp and sprinkled with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese, served with a Your-Italian-Nonni-Loves-You kinda homemade marinara sauce right out of Nonni's Italian home kitchen. You know she was simmering that sauce all day just for you! Bf had the buffalo chicken wrap and loved it. He said it was the best wrap he ever had. A bit on the messy side because the juices were dripping down his arm and his face was covered in buffalo sauce, but I guess that's a sign of good food, ammiright?. Honestly, sometimes it's like eating out with my grandkids! But anyway.... I had the boiled dinner. Be prepared- you're warned....unbuckle that belt now... You literally get the whole brisket. This serving is huge!!! You can feed a family of four with it. Huge chunks of the most tender, delicious corned beef I've ever had. Boiled potato, cabbage, carrot, and parsnip for good measure. If you're in the area be sure to stop in - you will not be disappointed. You're welcome. read more

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Always good food Huge menu but stick with the Irish foods Good bar Clean, friendly, my family always wants to go when they visit the area read more

Good food. Slow service due to staff shortage but our waitress was great none the less.

GET. THE. FRIED. CHEESE. CURDS! You will not be disappointed. Cozy, traditional Irish pub atmosphere with friendly servers and frequent live music. read more

Went for dinner burger came out medium rare ordered it medium well also was charged for a roll 2.00 one would think after sending back food they wouldn't be an added charge for something I think should come with the food anyways read more

We just got up & left Kathleens Pub. If you want services DO NOT bothering to go there. After sitting at a table for some time & the staff acknowledges you and continued talking to a table of customers / family AND another couple cames in, sits and didn't even have there coats off and a waiter come right over to see what they wanted.... WE then got up & left and no one seamed to care... I guess they don't need your business? read more

Everything was delicious! Service was great! I got the smokehouse Burger and chili cheese fries.

Waited over 45 minutes for the burger I ordered only for it to never come and to be told by the waiter, Jim, that they had forgotten about me. After I had to flag him down and ask. Strange thing is that the place wasn't busy at all. Had to leave after having sat there waiting all that time. Wait staff doesn't seem to be in tune at all. A half decent waiter would have picked up that I had been sitting there, especially since he only had 2-3 tables he was looking after. Extremely disappointing. read more

Had dinner with my wife at Kathleen's last night, and once again I wasn't disappointed. From A to Z this place is wonderful. You can't get a more cozy atmosphere. The owners and staff are incredibly genuine, warm and inviting. The food is great. In fact, I am on a restricted diet and the owner completely altered my haddock dinner so that it was not only very healthy, but absolutely delicious. If you want to experience the total package, I highly recommend that you stop by Kathleen's. read more

I have visited Kathleen's Irish Pub in Bristol, NH several times in the past. Coming to this area for many years, there are not too many good places to grab a sandwich, dine and listen to some good Irish music. Relaxing, casual ambiance -- tasty 1/2lb Hamburgers, the best, freshly made Corned Beef (Reuben Sandwich) I ever had and an amazingly crunchy Onion Rings (also served as Gluten-free). I also enjoyed a Salad with a Basil-Lemon Dressing. I just named few of my choices and I am positive you'll find many other great meals on the restaurant's menue. The service was very friendly and attentive. If you are Gluten sensitive (as I am), just let the waiter know. Kathleen's Pub personell will try to work with you - accomodate you. read more

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The best show in town! Very authentic Irish pub. Every menu item has been a hit personally. They pour a proper Guinness. Fish and chips are always amazing. Sticky toffee pudding is a must have. We frequent here atleast twice a month. Friendly owners and always a great time. If you are in the area definitely worth your stop. read more

Incredible Authentic Irish food and atmosphere. We have gluten allergies and they are extremely knowledgeable and capable. They are willing to make anything gluten free. My wife has gluten and dairy allergies and they were up for the challenge. All the food was incredibly delicious and perfect temperature. Our first impression was overwhelming. The menu is HUGE but we found later huge for a reason. All of the menu items are their specialties, authentic and worth trying. This is our first time and certainly not our last. Melissa our server and Mary-Anne the cook and owner were helpful, knowledgeable and welcomed us as if we were entering their personal home. It honestly felt like we were dining with family. Thank you! Well done and keep up the good work!! read more

Kathleen's Irish Pub - Yes, that is gluten free!! - Irish Near Me - Bristol, New Hampshire

Our waiter would not give us a chance to breeze, so our first impression was really tough. I should say that at 4pm this place was filled with regulars. Beer was good and really nice chicken wings with house special sauce. Service was not the best. read more

Was my first time to restaurant. No menus offered as they were limited was told. Staff was not very attentive at first. Took a while to get refills. Food was plentiful, hot and presentation OK. Be ready for lots of noise. Study your App before going as menus not always offered. read more

I will start this review out by saying that I really wanted to like this place. The vibe is cool and they pour a really good Guinness. I would defteinly return to hang out at the bar and grab a beer but most likley I won't be back because the location really only serves as a stop off post hike and I need food after a hike. That being said, why only 3 stars? Well, I have to say that I had the worst wings I've ever eaten here. That may be harsh, but alas, it was true. First off, I don't like breaded wings. Personal preference, I know. Second, they were just not right. I think they were under cooked but even the bbq sauce wasn't very good. Plus, they came out luke warm and really, almost cold. I should have probably sent them back but I was starving after hiking Cardigan and ate them despite the issues I mentioned. My husbands had the fish and chips and found them to be rather bland. Ugh. I'm hoping that it was just a bad day in the kitchen and maybe I'll give it another change in the future, who knows? As far as the atmosphere, service, and drinks were, everything was great. I am a 3 star half full kinda gal, and hope that perhaps my mind can be changed in the future, perhaps just staying away from the wings. read more

When we went for dinner the business was busy. We were ignored for a bit .. Our waiter was doing his best, explained they were busy and the food would take a while. After an hour our food arrived. It's was ok. I was hoping it was worth the wait. The fries were soggy and idk how there screwed up a salad but they managed to. read more

Wow! The food was amazing! Duck wings and goat cheese was perfect. The egg plant fries were amazing. But the buffalo sandwich the best I ever ate. So happy! read more

Kathleen's Irish Pub - Mojito and diet pepsi - Irish Near Me - Bristol, New Hampshire

The atmosphere is excellent waitress extremely friendly and helpful. the food is pronominal. I got the Irish breakfast (my favorite) and my husband got the Ruben. His sandwich was so big he got a second meal out of it. The dessert was so good I can't describe it. Its called Sticky Pudding and is served hot. One of the best dessert I ever had. read more

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This is my favorite place in bristol, nh. So much that I ask my dad to bring the food down to me in Massachusetts. The chicken fingers are so good from the breading to the actually chicken. The whiskey mustard sauce is absolutely my favorite part of this place. Sometimes I get the chicken sandwich and I really love that as well not just the fingers. The service is always good and the place is small so it does fill up quick. read more

pretty disappointed with the food, service and for the first time in my life I actually sent a drink back because it was absolutely awful. I can stomach any alcoholic beverage no problem but this one tasted like pinesol, drink I ordered was a dark and stormy not easy to screw up but they managed to do so. We had been there a couple of months prior and the waitress we assumed was new seemed a bit scattered and unprepared, we had the same waitress this past Thursday and it was like Dejavu. The food quality has really taken a nose dive too something we brushed off a couple of months ago but to experience it again is such a disappointment. We used to love Kathleen's but now I feel like it's a Plastic Paddy's everyone should avoid. read more

Had a late lunch there a few days ago. Very comfortable atmosphere. Had onion soup that was very good with a chicken sandwich that was also very good. Cathy had a reuben that was great and a nice Porter. Had a great few hours there. read more

Wow! Walking into this kitchy pub was an experience. This is the neighborhood equivalent to Merlotte's (Trueblood fans) I had the Shepard's Pie. This was a treat! The lamb was sweet yet the vegetables were aldente. The sauce was amazing. It is a definite order when you come to this down home ale house. The side salad with whiskey cream dressing was creamy and delicious. The hubby got the Black Angus Sirloin steak which was cooked to perfection. Even though this is a "Guinness" bar, the bartender knows how to make a good ole Manhattan. I took another Yelpers advice and ordered the bread pudding. . . It is certainly as it says, "grandma's home-made." This area is truly lacking on restaurants, Kathleen's Cottage is a place not to be missed! read more

Kathleen's Irish Pub - The Shepard's Pie! - Irish Near Me - Bristol, New Hampshire

Absolutely delicious food! We stopped there at the recommendation of a local realtor and were thrilled with everything! The decor was not overly done or kitschy in any way. The food was scrumptious - my husband had the prime rib special and I had the chicken medallions in Irish whisky sauce. Be sure to ask about the drinks not on the menu - Creamy Snake Bite and Cocoa Mist - ohh la la!! The bread pudding was some of the best we have ever had! The servers were friendly and not in the least overbearing. There is a nice little outdoor patio that looks like it would be great on a summer night, and possibly live music (??), but since it was cold and windy today none of that was open yet. We will be sure to go back on a warmer night and try a few more of Les' drink concoctions! read more

Kathleen's Irish Pub - Cocoa Mist at Kathleen's Cottage - Irish Near Me - Bristol, New Hampshire

Well...let me just plainly say that this restaurant is amazing! Do not hesitate to go in and order pretty much anything. You will not be disappointed at all. I had the lamb confit with risotto. It was perfectly balanced and cooked and just the right portion. My guests had the shepherd's pie and the New England boiled dinner. It was perfection. I could easily tell that the vegetables were fresh and locally sourced. If you happen then be in Bristol, NH you have to visit the restaurant, or even make a special trip just for this experience. Definitely worth the drive. read more

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Just left without having a single bite. Waited over an hour for food- nothing came. While the table next to us came in after we did and was served before. Waitresses were very confused. Very frustrated at the whole experience. Can you tell I'm hangry! read more

Great authentic Irish Pub... Good Food... Owner is very attentive ! Highly recommend if in the Newfound Lake area

was there saturday just a bit after they opened up. In the beginning was fine service and the food was good. have to say after that it went downhill. had to ask for silverware after our meals were delivered, never came back to ask how it was or if we needed anything else. had to share my wife's water as my soda never got refilled. ended up taking our dessert to go as we couldn't sit there any longer. 9$ for dessert by the way? no i dont think we will return. read more

Great food and service. The staff makes you feel like you're a regular. Interesting menu. I need to try more things here! read more

Dear sweet Jesus! This place is awesome!! There were 4 of us out-of-towners stopped for lunch. One is gluten-free....they made our onions rings gluten-free and wowser!! Delicious! All of our lunch food was the best! So fresh and delicious. Highly recommend.... Wish we lived near by. read more

If I could give zero stars...I would. I have been vacationing at Newfound for 40 years. This year, my companion suggested Kathleen's for a drink and dinner and though dubious, I agreed. To detail our horrendous service would take too long...suffice it to say, we walked out after 45 minutes, never being served with our drinks or checked on..(even after checking at the bar prior, to serve ourselves)...they couldn't even pour a beer, apparently) or take our meal order. I've worked in customer service my entire life...(including kitchens and front of the house.) This was absolutely my worst experience. I think we dodged a bullet with their food. read more