John S.
Yelp
This place would qualify for Bar Rescue. Let me begin with the overall condition, in total disrepair and neglect, with neglect not giving enough emphasis really.
Went into the men's room in the upstairs bar/dining area. Tried to use the stall, upon opening the door, the cross bar that should be anchored in the wall came swinging down and almost hit me in the head.
I stepped backwards into what I hope was simply a puddle of water. So, instead, I went to use the downstairs men's room, not much better, though I didn't almost lose my head via the swinging cross bar. This one seemed relatively well anchored to the wall.
However, feces that was smeared at the base of the toilet bowl was a turn off. Now, in fairness, perhaps it was splashed Demi Glacé, just not sure. The issue at play in the men's room downstairs was the toilet bowl was so loose that I was afraid to engage it, meaning, sitting on it. Again in fairness, it was clean.
Onto the food and drinks...
Onion rings-cold, limp and blonde?
Skewered shrimp-cold, raw...and no skewer to be found?
Chicken wings-cold and fried in dirty grease?
To be fair, the house brewed IPA and Wheat beers were very good and cold, pint glasses seemed clean too.
When I explained to the server that we didn't want to eat the food and that I would be happy to pay for the IPA, Wheat and Coors Light beers we drank, she took away the food and came back 10 minutes later with an IPA, Wheat and Coors Light???
When I explained we simply wanted to pay for what we drank, she left, not to be seen again. I had to go up to the bar and engage the individual who sat us originally. I guess she was not pleased with our lack of desire to consume unsafely prepared food.
She took my credit card which is signed "ASK 4 ID", so I gave her my drivers license as well. She returned my card and check, but not my license.
The Bruins were losing, so my subtle request for her to hand me my drivers license was not heard, fair enough. When I spoke over the cries of the patrons, she simply turned and tossed my license at me.
I have been in the food service business for over 40 years, so I think I learned a few things along the way.
First off, keep the establishment clean and safe, good idea, as it keeps legal fees down.
Second, adopt a customer centric outlook, and ownership should lead by example and drive this home with their employees.
Third, ensure that the kitchen understands and follows safe food handling practices and techniques.
Fourth, if you can't achieve the first three bullets, be honest with yourself, and don't put people at risk.
I have been in the food service business for over 40 years, tonight was not a first, but certainly a let down.
I saw two older individuals sitting downstairs at a table in the bar seating area. They struck me as the owners, maybe not, but probably so. Their indifference to the conditions of what Owen O' Leary's was disappointing.
This place may have once been a shining star bar of Rt. 9, but that day has long passed away. What my wife and I encountered was a mess that local government should quickly investigate, people are at risk.
As I always say, in the world of culinary arts, it's either culinarily correct or its not. It's either employee and customer safe or it's not.
This place failed in both instances. Stay away until these issues have been addressed.
