I knew I wouldn't be one of the first to review this popular Clark street pseudo-Irish pub, but I was shocked to see someone else already reviewed their restrooms. Getting a bathroom remodel at home really changes the way you look at some things, but I have to say, the W.C.s here sport some really beautiful tile work.
We came here for a birthday party, and my four-star rating is from the assumption that this place is a bar with food. If I were to think of this place as a restaurant with a big bar, maybe it would only rate three stars. It's very attractive, more expensively decorated than any real Irish tavern, with a much better whisky selection than any real Irish pub. In fact, this may have the best Irish whisky selection I've seen in any bar, with none of the deceptive hidden upcharges for neat or on-the-rocks which have insidiously crept into too many Milwaukee pub-restaurants. Just the opposite, they have a very impressive choice of whisky, from moderate to shockingly-expensive (not to say any of the prices are excessive, they offer some very old, special whisky in addition to the usual offerings), in choices of three sizes (precise, no over or under pour), with honestly printed prices (so you're not cheated or taken by surprise). Unfortunately they've fallen for the trendy new whiskey tot (Wine Spectator is so influential, it's a little frightening). Tradition isn't always bad, and progress isn't always good, these new whiskey glasses look like they were candles from Bath and Body Works or bath oil bead containers from Bed Bath and Beyond, and it's actually a little awkward to get the last drops out of the glass. Nothing wrong with a solid, flat bottomed whiskey tumbler, there's a reason why the movie trope uses serious whiskey glasses for the serious office discussion that turns the plot conflict with gravitas. Their mixed drinks are mixed large so you get the cocktail, and a little bumper car of extra, the wine selection far exceeds what you need for their bar food menu. The beer selection would be impressive outside of Andersonville, but here it's just de rigueur.
The front of the bar is busy, loud, and young on a Saturday night, a fun place that's so not for me. In the back, our party enjoyed the "wine room," perfect for the 20 of us to be able to talk and hear, but it must have been a nightmare for our waiter. The table and chairs take up the whole room, leaving a scant few inches for the waiter and busser to sidle carefully flat up against the wall on tip toes all the way around to serve and clear. The service, in spite of the awkward set up and Saturday night crowd, was competent, fast, attentive, and didn't spill anything. They also didn't automatically attach gratuity, someone said it's a new Illinois law, but sadly, in a group of 20, as you might expect, some couple shorted. The Chief of Staff offset that somewhat, but since I'm recommending this place for groups, I'm just saying, if your waiter gets complicated orders delivered correctly in a timely fashion from a crawlspace tightrope walk around an oversized table, he should get a little more, not a lot less than 20%. I noticed some variation in reviews on service here, so it may be that the waitstaff is inconsistent, but our waiter and busser were superb.
The food is okay, I liked my Reuben, the mac and cheese was good until I was rudely reminded that I'm lactose intolerant, the sticky toffee pudding dessert was very good. The Irish coffee with dessert was good, but came in an even prissier glass than the whiskey. I would think a single heterosexual man with even a slight insecurity about his masculinity might have a little embarrassment with this glassware, and really, why not a real Irish coffee glass?
The music was appropriate, U-2 and Irish folk music. The noise level outside of our little party room bordered on hearing damage levels, but really that's become typical. It was too dark for me, or any of us past 40 to be able to read menus, but the 20 something young lady next to me had no vision problems. "She is a girl and would not be afraid to walk the whole world with herself..." I actually think Lady Gregory could have been describing this particular German exchange student, but if you don't still enjoy 20 year old eyesight, you might want to bring a little flashlight if your phone doesn't have that function.
As with any establishment in this area, parking nearby is unrealistic. Most of the rest of our party walked here, I had to park so far away, I considered taking a taxi from where I parked to the restaurant. Besides, if you don't live in walking distance, you'll want to take public transportation or a taxi so unlike me, you won't have to limit yourself to two small drinks. read more