Decided to check this place out after taking our kayak out on Lake Washington. The location (which used to be an Italian restaurant I believe) is good...decent sized patio, Lake Washington views... that's pretty much where it stops. We ordered the Caprese to start... it was definitely the best part of our meal. We also split the taco salad (that's what JP was feeling) and it was mediocre at best.... the salsa tasted like vinegar...pretty much meaning it had turned. Service was slow but I understand they were slammed due to the heat and people seeking some sort of refuge in the form of a drink or a breeze. I would recommend this place for drinks...dinner, not so much, although the sandwich that the father/son table behind us ordered looked pretty tasty....I hate when I get dining envy! read more

I don't know where to begin. I specifically downloaded this app just to write this review. The service was really slow and our order was wrong. When we tried to correct the order, the waitress seemed irritated. When one of the waiters brought our food, they dipped their whole elbow in the top of my meal and whipped it off and walked away. Then they proceeded to joke about how extra we are and that the staff was all making fun of us inside just because we asked for a couple of sauces. We were waiting so long for our check that we ended up going inside to try and pay, which still ended up taking forever. They told us the registers weren't working so they ended up pocketing 11$ from us due to the inability to give us back our change. I cannot express enough that this is the worst service I've ever experienced in my life and the most mediocre food I've received from a restaurant, especially in such a prime location. I downloaded this app and wrote this whole review in the time it took to get my check after I was done eating with time to spare. read more

It was a long day - after spending the previous day in the ER and having waited an hour for some Vicodin at the pharmacy, I was ravenous. My boyfriend, taking pity on me, suggested we take a drive up to McGilvra's for some dinner. We started out with the Kobe Beef sliders ($9), which were surprisingly good. Three per order, they were juicy and came with simple accoutrements of pickles, tomato and lettuce. My boyfriend ordered the Corned Beef and Cabbage ($12) - to which, he nearly died upon first bite. Upon first judgment, it was a stark plate of two slabs of corned beef, some fried potatoes, and cabbage. But that corned beef is deceiving in all of its tender juiciness. I ordered the Guinness Beef Stew ($11), which came with a side salad and some pieces of bread. It was okay. Not flavorful enough to gleam about but not terrible to the point of utter disparaging. My boyfriend loves the place, but I suspect it's because he's corn-fed and could live off meat, carbs, and beer alone. Personally, based on the food, I'd probably give the restaurant a 3 given it's all standard . But our waitress was sweet and incredibly accommodating to seat us outside then inside once the Seattle drizzle snuck up on us. As for the location, on any given beautiful day, you must sit outside! Probably one of the best parts of the restaurant is the view - looking at on Lake Washington while people are playing frisbee and meandering around, life couldn't be better. Sometimes when you just break your ankle, all you need is hearty fare and a good view to counteract the nauseating side effects of pain meds. If that's the case, McGilvra's is the place to go. read more

Nice little Irish pub in the middle of swanky Madison, surprisingly laid back and chill. Good service and drinks, and fantastic entrees, especially the shepherds pie. Seems a bit eccentric but all in all a solid place to have a pint, watch a game or meet friends. Don't be put off if the staff seem a bit indifferent; it just adds to the character of an Irish pub... read more

McGilvra's - Heavy half and half - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Mcgilvra's is a great place to grab a pitcher on a nice day. They routinely swap out the beer selection, and always have trivia or some other event happening on week nights. Favorite food items are the jalapeño mozzarella sticks, the Greek salad and the bacon Mac. Mcgilvra's has a great community feel where it seems like everyone knows everyone, and there are always familiar faces at the bar. During the summer, It's probably the best for lunch. The guys who work the bar are awesome and always down to chat. If it's nice out, expect it to be busy and service can get slow. Great local bar with an awesome local crowd! read more

McGilvra's - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

For some reason, I have been in quite a coconut shrimp phase the last two months. Lucky for me, McGilvra's is two blocks away and their coconut shrimp always hits the spot. I first decided to stop in on a Tuesday (remembering a sign I had once seen that mentioned Taco Tuesday). I was elated to hear that they have fish tacos as well as regular meat options. Although the tacos are relatively small, I was perfectly content with a meal of three fish tacos. On a warm, sunny evening, the patio is always filled with people (without too much of a wait ever) and is a great spot to grab a drink and a bite. McGilvra's has become our new favorite spot to hang out at when a friend is over and we want to go somewhere within walking distance. read more

McGilvra's - Coconut shrimp heaven! - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a great little lunchtime spot if you want pretty good food in a nice setting. With a view of the water in pretty Madison Park, the service in this place is always good, attentive and fast (although sometimes too fast!) They do great salads and, according to some of our Irish guests, a good stew and fish & chips! read more

Stopped by for an early dinner with a friend and split the crab cakes and a Greek salad. Food was wonderful, service was extremely attentive and friendly, and the portions were perfect for the cost. I would definitely recommend this place if you want a light lunch/dinner or a good glass of wine. read more

Visited McGilvra's today and found the atmosphere relaxing, our food was great. Cobb Salad, Calamari and a kid's pizza were ordered and all were fantastic. I would definitely come back. It was a good lunch location and will go back and try it at happy hour. read more

Great spot on a sunny day. They open the windows so even if you're sitting inside, you can feel the breeze. Couldn't ask for a better location in Madison Park. They have flat screen TVs for sporting events, and it wasn't as packed as The Attic. The food does not look especially creative, but the price was right and if you're looking for bar food, this place has got it. Husband had the "Kobe" beef sliders, which he knew in advance was suspect. "Just call them sliders" he says "you aren't fooling anyone." I thought the waitstaff was great, its just a real casual place, so its not going to be too formal. Kind of reminds me of the beach side shacks in the coastal Carolinas and Florida: everyone's having a good time, its more about getting together and drinking outside than food. Speaking if drinks, they didn't have any specials running, but they seem to have some sort of "Ladies Night" on Thursdays... They do have quite a high charge for groups of 10 or more... read more

I'll start off with what's nice... The outside seating has great views of the water. If you are looking for a place with a view to sip coffee or beer in the sun...McGilvra's delivers. They also have big screen TVs so if you are looking for a quiet place to watch the World Cup...McGilvra's delivers. Now on to the service and food. Ditto what everyone else said that has given a 1 or 2 star rating. Three different people served us. Two people asked us if we were ready to order. One of two orders came out wrong. Now don't get me wrong, the staff is super friendly and helpful when you have their attention. Something just happens to them between your table and the next place they walk to that makes them either forget what you were just talking about or forget you completely. I've never been in a restaurant where I was mad at the lack of service but pleased by the good service when provided. If you want to visit a restaurant to experience staff with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex...McGilvra's delivers. As for the food...it's really neither here nor there. Stick to the drinks, views and flat screen TVs. read more

I came here for lunch and decided to eat out on the patio. You get to seat yourself which was nice. The patio is pretty spacious for the amount of people that frequent the place. To eat, I ordered a chicken burger with friends, and cheesecake. The chicken burger was great; tender and juicy. The fries were good; thick cut and salted nicely. The cheesecake was only okay. It was a little dense, and slightly warm which I didn't happen to like. As for the drinks I thought they could have been mixed better. I got a margarita, rum and coke, and a mojito. The margarita was more like margarita-flavored tequila (which I don't have a problem with) but didn't really go nicely with food. The mojito was more like mint-flavored rum. Which in your mind may sound delicious, but again doesn't go well when eating food at the same time. The rum and coke was off as well. I'm not sure if it was the bartender's fault or the fact that the standard liquors used are so terrible. If you're looking for a bite to eat out in the sun, and to enjoy a couple glasses of beer I would say this is more of a place for you. If you're looking for mixed-drinks then maybe not so much. read more

Great location, OK food. I wasn't a big fan of the Irish nachos. But I did like the Shepherd's Pie. It was unusual--it tasted like veggie chili with a potato pancake on top, covered in melted cheese. But it was also good! Our server was really nice too. I'd go back! read more

My husband loves this place. I found it to be pretty decent. It's a place I like but I wouldn't die to go back. My husband disagrees with me. They have a great bar. We received fantastic service by the owner himself. We really enjoyed the feel of it being a chill place to spend some time. We ordered the meat and cheese appetizer. It's a lot of food. Pretty good selections as well. For me to give it more than three stars I'll have to go back for dinner and try their main dishes. Great outdoor seating. It's worth it for that and the Irish whiskey alone. read more

During quarantine, we've been ordering family combo (pizza, salad and wings) and the burgers. We love McGilvra's burger as it has all our favorites, avocado, bacon, pickle and cheese. My husband also just chimed in and said it is fatty and juicy. read more

I love the atmosphere at Mcgilvra's. My friend plays there about once a month, it's nice to catch some late night music. The food: I love their Irish nachos! I had never had Nachos made from potatoes. But I'm a fan. Piled with sour cream, guacamole, jalapenos- YUM! My only complaint is the service. They are not very friendly or attentive. One night we had to ask three of four times just to get a glass of water! Usually, we have to hunt down a waiter to get what we need. read more

McGilvras embodies what a neighborhood pub should be; friendly, great service, reasonable food! They cater to making people feel welcome, open on some holidays, music on the weekends, multiple seating areas-patio, bar, restaurant. Wouldn't hesitate to go on my own, or with a group-fun neighborhood spot! read more

Every time I go into McGilvras, I am welcomed by the staff, with a pleasant hello and "sit wherever you would like". My friends and I usually belly up to the bar, where we are greeted with drinks right away and menus to go with. The food is good, I have actually taken some pizzas for to-go out to the beach with friends, Always a hit. I have had the burger, complete with bacon and fresh avocado.. delicious, and the beef tips on appetizers are really tasty for a quick bite or small meal. The weekend brunch is great too, crab benedict.. with home fries. and a bloody mary without some of the crazy crowds around town, Ill go here anytime for that. Some could call it pricey, but welcome to the neighborhood. Madison Park is that. It more about the ambiance of the neighborhood and people you keep your company with. Great choice for any day of the week. read more

We discovered McGilvra's 2 years ago. Beautiful view of lake Washington especially on the patio in the summer time. Valentines Day this year was on a Thursday and we decided to celebrate on the following Saturday night. We showed up kind of late (9:00) and we noticed the lights were dim and we weren't sure if they were open. Once we approached the door we noticed that they had a man singing and play the guitar. It was a pleasant surprise! He was amazing! We had the burger and cheese steak sandwich. We enjoyed both very much. Every time we go we try to order something different each time; I haven't been disappointed yet! We love McGilvra's! read more

I was having lunch and a man asked the hostess to sit outside and she snapped very aggressively at him. She was so rude I asked to cash out and I left. I don't like seeing patrons treated disrespectfully read more

Used to love this place, but recently the quality of service has plummeted. Took 15 minutes to get seated even though it wasn't very busy and then the server took another 20 to come ask about our order even though we told him we were dropping in for a drink. By far the worst service I've had in a long time. Drinks were good, as always but not worth the hassle. read more

This location has really struggled ever since the days it was Hank's. Great bar, but the rest of the space doesn't really work and the menu misses. The crab chowder is good but too rich. The taco salad is too blah and the other items on the menu are uninspiring. read more

Horrible service! So bad! Food was great, but we never saw the same waitress twice. I literally had to remind the waitres that I even ordered. A dine and dashers dream...too bad I'm honest. Go for the food and the game, but I recommend, if the waitres shows at your table, order everything you need for the entire stay! ...she probably wont be back for a long time. read more

McGilvra's - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What's in a traditional Reuben Sandwich? Typically plenty of sliced corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut with caraway, Swiss cheese, mustard. Not Thousand Island dressing, as modified by this establishment. And instead of shredded meat, a real Reuben has sliced viands in quantity. The taste of the sandwich was just OK, but for a real Reuben look elsewhere. read more

Guinness Stew? What a mistake. Thin under seasoned tomato base could have been the starter for Campbell's Chunky Veggie soup. Zero flavor development. Comes with 3 thin slices of cold dry french bread. No butter. Accompanying romaine side salad was covered in some kind of runny blue cheese dressing. The waiter served with a smile but seemed clueless. First n last meal for this neighbor. My fellow diners commented on their plates, "dining disaster." Best you chug your beer and run! read more

Very busy day as it's the last of the summer sun before fall weather begins to set in. Under staffed, so long wait but foods delicious! Recommended read more

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I purchased the Cubano and when I finally got it, it was delicious. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and the place had very few people in it. It took way too long for them to take our order and way too long for them to bring our food. Although the food was very good, they need to speed up service and wait time. read more

I feel horrible for the people that have eaten here in the past and not received good service or delicious food. Bummer! I absolutely love this place! My friend lives nearby, so whenever we get the chance to hang out we always come here. It's never been too crowded, and even when it gets busy, the staff seems to do a great job. The hummus platter is by far my favorite thing to eat here. They present this plate so wonderfully with everything you'd want with hummus. Warm pita bread, tomato slices, cucumbers, red peppers and tzatziki sauce. Delicious! I've also enjoyed the festivities here during St. Patty's Day - it was a blast! I did have my friends saving a table practically the entire day, so my husband and I were lucky enough to sit down. But I remember other parties were able to come in and have a good time too! Overall, I like coming here. Location is PERFECT for a sunny day in Seattle. read more

For those of you who remember "Cheers" this is our Cheers.... Staff is ALWAYS friendly, helpful and gracious, the food is elevated pub food ( better than what you'd expect for a sports bar). I really enjoy the BLTA, the fries are fantastic, and potato salad is yummy too! A good spot to see the neighbors, take the kids, watch a game, or unwind with a cocktail on the outdoor patio across from Madison Park Beach. read more

Stop in here for a quick lunch on a quiet Wednesday. I had a meeting with a client and ordered a few items off the appetizer menu. The gal was sweet with including us another table. I adore the area, I know this place gets busy during the summer since it's off the water and Madison Park is a feet from the bar. Can't wait for warmer weather to come back! read more

First impression walking into the bar the waiter told us "sit where you want" in a rude manner. Then once he waited our table he only asked me if I wanted a drink and not my friend and walked away. Came back 4 min later and asked what our drinks were again. I really hope this poor guy was having a bad day otherwise I would ask management to seriously train this guy on his Customer service. read more

The best part of Mcgilvras is the staff. If you're a regular you are part of the family and a heavy pour is in your favor. The food is average... Burgers, pizza, salad, Irish pub grub, most of it is frozen. You can get a decent Caprese salad in the summer, sit outside and have a glass of rose and take in the beach scene. Great sports bar and if you're a Seahawks fan even better (they do let a few Broncos in, so be warned). read more

There really isn't anything bad to say about this place. I honestly, can't think of one. This is a great place to go to after a long day at work or to watch the sports events with a large group of friends. Locally known as "the bar for people who were not born in Madison Park", it is the cleanest bar in the neighborhood and the newest. The staff is friendly and if you are a frequent customer, they remember your name. It's popularity is greatly increasing because of these qualities which are not found in the other 2 local bars down the street. They have a full menu and even vegetarian options for those more health conscious. They also have a full bar with a great selection of liquor and wine, which can not be found at the other 2 local bars. The hard wood design that covered the bar and floors gives it a warm and classy feel to this local hang out. Definitely a great place to go for brunch or evening drinks. read more

It was a sad day... The day I insisted on going to McGilvra's. I thought to myself, "Try somewhere new! Step outside your box!! Find a new favorite!" And what happened? Devastation. When we walked in, there were 3 girls that clearly worked there standing near the door. I thought this was a good thing... They were overstaffed in a nearly empty restaurant, which SHOULD mean prompt service. My first misunderstanding. After picking a table, a girl (our server) came by to take our order. We had just sat and hadn't looked at the menu, so we ordered drinks. The non-alcoholic type, that shouldn't cause confusion or take much time. Nearly 15 minutes later, in the still practically empty restaurant, a different server came by and asked if we were ready. We asked her for reccommendations, gave our order to her, and pondered where our drinks could be. About 5 minutes later, our original server dropped our drinks on the table (without explanation or apology for the nearly 20 minute gap) and rushed off before we could ask for straws-- I understand drinking a beer from a pint glass, but a soda and ice in a pint glass is easier with a straw. I don't think that's unheard of. A few minutes later I was able to grab her attention (it nearly took a physical grab) for straws. Then our food was dropped off, by a different server. I had the stuffed cabbage, which had been reccommended. Bland, dry, boring, and disappointing. The cabbage was overcooked and translucent, the meat inside was overcooked and grayish in color, and the mashed potatoes were covered in a dry crust after clearly being warmed up and squished around on a flat top grill. My boyfriend had gotten the beef stew. The highlight of that was the side salad... Chopped romaine with a few veggies and average dressing. The stew itself was bland (weird, I'm sensing a pattern?) and tasted most strongly of canned stew tomatoes. But it didn't go to waste. Since I couldn't for the life of me flag anyone down to ask for some sort of sauce to mask my lacking flavor and moisture in, I just spooned his stew onto my cabbage meat and potatoes and stirred it up. It reminded me of the food my grandpa ate at the nursing home before he died, but more creative and less flavorful. And at least at the nursing home the staff are checking in on you... When we got our check from server #1, she still didn't bother asking how anything was. My boyfriend and I split the check, since neither of us could justify "treating" eachother to this. He normally tips 30-50% because he thinks it's good karma, and he left 10%. In the two years we've been together, I've NEVER seen him tip that low. I followed in his footsteps and left 10%, which seemed more than fair for someone who took at least 4 cigarette breaks while "serving" us. We both wished we had cash so we could tip the girl who wasn't actually our server, that reccommended the bad food and took our order. At least she tried! read more

Very poor service , I can not say anything about the food as we sat for more than one hour , we only had our drinks but no food , so we decided to leave !! Thankfully we at least got to enjoy the sun while waiting for ..... Well nothing !! I don't think I m going back again which is unfortunate because i love their location .. read more

Went to lunch here a couple weeks back with a group of friends. Food was pretty good, beer was cold. Service was a bit lacking but not bad. Trouble started when one of the group noticed he'd been charged twice. We asked each other who might not have been charged only to find we ALL had been double charged. A quick phone call to the restaurant and the person answering the phone said she would take my number and the manager (Marsha??) would be giving me a call. Three days later and still no call back so I decided to call again. This time spoke to the assistant manager who apologized for the double charge saying it was the bank's fault. He gave my number to the manager and she called to leave a message on my voicemail saying the charge would be reversed in 3-5 days. Now it's been 15 days and I've not heard back from them nor has the double charge been reversed. This is a perfect example of how NOT TO TREAT CUSTOMERS. I understand that mistakes happen, that computer issues can be out of control of the people working at a place, but come on now. Do what you say you'll do (call me back, reverse the charge, call me back) and maybe follow up on it too. Marsha said she had 20 people to call back regarding this same issue. My question is, was it 20 people who got double charged or 20 people who noticed ...probably the later since this business doesn't seem to be pro-active. Fail Marsha, fail. read more

Overpriced food for the quality it is. I have went a handful of times with a group of my friends and every single time someone's order gets messed up. The waitstaff seems to be used to this from the kitchen and they are quite passive about it..no offer has ever been made to rectify errors/bad food to ensure customer satisfaction. I've never eaten anything here that was worth the price. My friend ordered the chicken fried steak two weeks ago and it was so salty it was inedible. It was if someone accidentally dumped a cup of salt in the gravy and still used it. We won't be going back. read more

I think they deserve at least 4 stars. Perfect location where you can see the lake and their happy hour menus are definitely good deals.

I love McGilvra's as the food and service is good, and it's like a pub, where you can bring underage folks and still have a good time. It's right across from the beach and Lake Washington, which is always fun on a summer day. I think my favorite item on the menu is "Irish Nachos", which is like regular nachos but instead of corn chips, all the good stuff is on potatoes. The owner is Irish so maybe it's authentic? Haha! read more

Worst bar experience ever. Our waitress pronounced pinot noir "pie-no", was rude when we ordered a cocktail she'd never heard of, and charged us $13 each for Kir Royales, which she put way too much chambord in. She complained about having worked since 8:30 in the morning. She never brought us the water we asked for three times. The menu was uninspired and the food was meh. Won't be returning. Too bad, since the location is sweet and the former incarnation (different owners) was memorably good. read more