Rob P.
Yelp
There are "Irish pubs" and there are Irish pubs. This is an Irish pub in every way that matters. There are places that have an Irish name and slap green paint on the walls, which is okay. But, O'Connor's feels like pubs I visited in Ireland years ago. There's dark wood on the bar, the tables, the chairs, and the ceiling. The only green is in the Christmas decorations. And, decorations are thoughtfully placed.
Sorry for taking so much time on the decor, but it really does set the stage for the amazing food. To be honest, the food here is better - and certainly more varied - than most pubs in Ireland.
My wife ordered the Salmon O'Connor, which has a gorgeous maple, mustard, and ale glaze coating the surface. The mashed potatoes are beautifully buttery. And, get this: she loved the roasted vegetables. She normally picks at them, then pushes them out of the way. But, there was a wonderful savory flavor that made chomping through chunks of carrots a pleasure.
I couldn't decide between a few different things, so I ordered the Irish Trinity. This is a phenomenal way to try 3 excellent classics: Irish stew, shepherd's pie, and chicken pot pie. It's a bargain at $20.
I had a bite of the Irish stew, and I thought I could easily have eaten a huge bowl. The beef is high quality, and there are more of those fantastic roasted vegetables.
Then, I dug into the charred surface of the mashed potatoes covering the shepherd's pie, and enjoyed a spoonful of lean ground beef and more of those excellent vegetables. I think I actually said "mmmm" when I ate it. I could definitely see myself eating a full serving.
The chicken pot pie was the only thing that wasn't flawless. But, after a dusting of salt, I loved it. The square of pastry crust gave a nice crispness to those spoonfuls of chicken and vegetables.
And, of course, we got potatoes. The colcannon potatoes have cabbage and scallions mixed in. I loved the extra flavors in the mashed potatoes. My wife liked the regular potatoes better, but she surprised me when she liked these. She normally hates scallions in anything.
There was also a huge drink selection beyond Guinness and Irish whiskey, with a variety of beer and mixed drinks.
Even though it was busy, the service was excellent. And, the prices were reasonable for how excellent the food is. If this weren't a 45 minute drive, I could easily see this becoming a regular stop. As it stands, I'm trying to find an excuse to drive out this way so I can eat here again.