O’Neils Irish Pub
Written by admin on October 10th, 2006 8 Comments
O’Neils Irish Pub
126 Washington Street
978 740.8811
O’Neills is a chameleon restaurant/pub/nightclub right in down town Salem. It’s the place to go after work if you want a good pint in a dark pub setting. Their burgers and shepard’s pie are tasty and filling, just the kind of home cooking you need on a cold winters night. Early Friday nights young familys show up with kids in tow so mom and dad can have a pint with dinner while the kids listen to a live Irish band. Friday and Saturday nights is all about the 30 somethings hanging out.
There are things going on all week at O’Neils but on Thursday they break all the rules of an Irish bar. Thursdays around 9pm the true duality of this joint shows itself as a place for college kids to hang out, drink and dance. Good DJ + decent drinks + college kids=good old-fashioned meat market. Its sled-dog central with the bass thumping and a line out the door.
Both locals and tourists love O’Neils for the warm atmosphere (they even have a stone fireplace) hearty food, good drinks and friendly service.
Atmosphere: Depends on when you come B
Food: B
Drinks: B
Overall: B
Tags: nightlife · restaurant
What happened to this place on Sundays??? Used to be a place where you could go, sit, relax, have a beer, and watch the game while John and Larry played some geninely great music. Now, though, it has turned into some sort of daycare, and really just been ruined. My wife and I used to go there each Sunday, and it was getting in worse and worse, up until today, and that was the last straw!! We walked in, and there were just hordes of people with their tiny tots running around, all over the place. People were up with their kids, surrounding the band in some sort of kids’ singalong, but still occupying the tables with their finished plates, coats sitting there, etc. The hostess said there was a waiting list for a table, b/c these people were still ‘at them,’ even though they were up and about, obviously done with their meals. That is just inconsiderate. Go there if you want to have a daycare, but the place has been ruined for us. We were not the only people who turned and left….group after group were just taking off upon entering, and seeing the ‘madhouse’ as the band called it at one point. They must be losing money like crazy now, though. Those kids werent going to eat much, and the parents werent really drinking. What an awful situation.
Dismayed,
We have noticed the same thing as of late. It appears to have coincided with their foray into Sunday brunch. While we too would prefer a moratorium on children at our favorite pubs, after a recent trip to Ireland I would be remiss to point out that children in pubs is common behavior. Now if parents would be a bit more considerate about other patrons I don’t think this would be an issue.
I was in O’neils on Saturday, Oct 11th, This is one of the worst service places I have been to, We were seated right away. Placed our orders within 10 minutes, Forty five minutes later I asked our hostess to find our waitress to find out about our orders. The waitress finally showed her face only to say they were busy. I asked for the manager, none ever came to table, than I was told the manager was also the bar tender, Angie, I tried to talk to her, however she said she was too busy. Three sandwiches showed up at our table, when Angie finally walked over. Bottome line,,no one inthe place cared. Perhaps they thought we were one timers and wouldn’t be back, Guess what, my daughter goes to school near by, I am always in the area, WILL NEVER GO BACK to O’neils, No service and rude people,,they can keep it.
Bonnie,
I understand your frustration. This past Sunday I went to the Old Spot for brunch and after waiting for 30 minutes to be seated we were told “no brunch in October.” I also went out for drinks the other night (I forget where) and was not allowed to order a beer and a shot, I could only order one drink. The brand spanking new waitress told me it was Mass law. I have my TIPS certification and know that the law says no more than 2 per person per time. When I called her out on it she got all indignant and threatened not to serve us at all.
The big problem here is that in October everywhere that is normally good to eat or drink is slammed and they have to hire part time staff. As a person who has worked in kitchens and bars I know that the well oiled machine of a busy Friday night crew comes to a grinding hault when a few new people who don’t know what they are doing are introduced into the mix.
Thanks for letting us know of your experience and make sure you send an email off to O’Neills management. We’d love to hear what they have to say.
I love O’Neills and I go there relatively often, in spite of the fact that the service is spotty and the food is just OK. I prefer to sit at the bar, only because then I know exactly where my server is at all times.
Yes, it depends on the day that you go - I am waaaay to old to be there on a Thursday or Friday night, preferring the Tuesday night trivia challenge or John & Larry whenever they happen to be there. The wee kids can be either a royal pain in the arse or the cutest thing you ever saw - depends on the kids, the parents and how many pints I’ve had.
As a person that works in the industry I did want to chime in on the beer and a shot thing. Any bar (or bartender) can refuse service to anyone if they feel uncomfortable doing so. At my restaurant, on crazy nights, we will suspend the selling of shots altogether after a certain hour - usually late night. With so many people in town and in our bars, and with new/inexperienced staff monitoring them, I can totally understand why the Old Spot wants to err on the side of caution. The risks we take, as restauranteurs are pretty big - we are responsible for our guests welfare even after they leave. We want them to be safe AND have a good time. Sometimes it’s a wicked hard balance to strike.
ronnie brogan dont be sitting at home watching the cameras get of your ass and get behind the bar and put order on your staff and quit telling porkies at home!!!!
PS keep the hoodrats OUT!!