Have been here 3 times now, so I feel qualified to leave a review. Excellent food and iffy service so far are the big highlights. Really hope they work out the kinks over time. Hopefully this is taken as constructive feedback, as we absolutely loved the food. Issues seem to be the bar getting extremely backed up and servers being way too chatty and slow.
Once the kitchen finally gets your order (which can be an issue) they crank out the food and everything we've had is extremely delicious. Fish and chips are fantastic, Shepherds Pie is amazing, the wings are very good, and the corned beef on the Rueben is top notch. Reuben was a tad dry, needing a tad more dressing and more sauerkraut. The coleslaw is great, with green onion adding lots of flavor. Rueben dip is a tad too thick, but delicious otherwise. The kitchen here is great and the tight menu and dialed in dishes would make this place 5 stars if not for service issues. (That again, I hope they work out) Some entrees are a bit pricey for what they are, but when the food is this good and Morganton has as few options as it does, I'll pay.
Okay, on to the service issues. I realize they're figuring it out after a hugely successful opening, but each time we've had a pretty good wait for a table. Empty tables take 5-10+ minutes to get turned. One night, a hostess that we know from another former establishment took things into her own hands and turned tables multiple times while other wait staff lingered. We know this experienced hostess from another former establishment and I hope they cling onto her like grim death, as she gets the job done and knows her stuff. The wait wouldn't be a big deal as you can go to the bar and get drinks and chat while you wait. But the bar will leave the tab open and say you can transfer it to your table. 3 out of 3 times, I've told the server that I have an open tab and she says okay, but then never finds and claims it and it's been an issue at the end of the night while she's looking for the ticket and trying to figure out how to combine it. One night it took us almost 30 minutes to have a server come by and acknowledge us and take our order and we were literally sitting right next to the kitchen where all the server traffic was. 2 out of our 3 times, the bar has run out of beers that we wanted. That's not the end of the world, but we've also waited 20+ minutes for drinks 2 out of our 3 times. One time I ordered a pour of bourbon and had to ask 3 people until a non-server finally volunteered to go run up the ladder and get it herself. The bar gets extremely backed up, and I sure hope they work out the flow and stop getting so backed up. Folks sitting at the bar were being waited on while apparently no one was checking the orders fired from the mobile units they use at the table. Once they gave us our drinks free, as I told them we were ready to go and to close out the ticket since I'd been waiting 20 minutes. Another time we ordered dessert and 2 more drinks at the end of our meal. The dessert had come and was completely eaten while we still waited for 5-10 minutes for drinks that never came. 2 out of our 3 times we would have ordered another drink had anyone come to check on us after receiving entrees. Once we requested to order more drinks when our entrees came and the support staff who brought the food said they'd tell our waitress but she never came. 2 out of our 3 times our waitress chatted with someone at a single table for roughly 10 minutes without prying themselves away. I know it sounds like I'm being harsh, but all the staff was very kind and cheery, and I hope they work out the timing issues. If the bar stops getting backed up, the wait staff gets more urgency and stops being so chatty, and the tables get turned more quickly, I'd give this place 7 stars, not just 5.
As far as ambience and decor, the owners nailed it. The atmosphere is great. I do wish the music was a bit more "Irish-y" (is that a word?). I think they're playing with the music selections, as one night it seemed like bluegrass and country were the theme, and each time the songs have changed a bit. A pub like this needs Irish music, perhaps 80s or classic rock, but they'll figure it out. The signage and atmosphere are great and the theming is amazing, as can be expected when you took inspiration from an original pub in Ireland.
All-in-all, I hope this place does amazing and becomes a Morganton staple. They're already in need of more seats, and I sure hope that problem increases in time and they look to expand further. Would also love to see them do lunch with a lighter menu and some rotating specials. Perhaps an occasional brunch with a full English/Irish fry-up breakfast? Excited to see how they continue to grow and we will definitely be back regularly. read more