D'Arcy McGee's Irish Pub - Tempe - Awful

[tastyjon]

Located in the Tempe Marketplace next to the theaters, I keep getting invited to events there.
No more.

It's a nice space - new, clean. But it's also a corporate chain from Canada, so immediately it starts losing any charm when you start looking closer. The nachos, wings and burgers should have been a giveaway! But I'm not a stickler for tradtion and realize many places have to appeal to other tastes. But they should be able to deliver on pub grub and it wasn't very good.

The food is ok. to blah. Anything we ordered that seemed authentic was tiny and made without love. Bev selection is decent, if you can figure out their odd version of happy hour. The biggest issue has been with service.

We went just after it opened and the service was horrible, but we filed that away as it was new.
After subsequent visits, it has gotten even worse. Staffers are nice, but untrained. Managers can't be found. We had some huge problems with the tab on our last visit and neither the waitress or bar staff could get a manager to stop by - for 45 minutes. We ended up leaving cash on the table and walked out. On another visit, our waitstaff would swing by every 20 minutes and only look at one person to take an order, then zip away.

In any case, I would strongly advise anyone from going there and expecting a good Irish pub meal or experience. But it might work for a place to go after a movie. If you want a real pub, however, go to Rula Bula or any number of other good places in the region.

[achicken]

I went once, and even with three bartenders behind the bar, it took us 20 minutes to get 2 beers. I haven't been back, nor am I planning on it.

[themis]

That's odd to hear -- I work with an Irish guy and he loves the place. Took his family, who came to visit for his birthday, there. He's somewhat of a foodie, too, he's into local and organic. This makes me question his taste. Maybe one gets better service if one has a brogue?

[randogu]

Gah...I can't even bring myself to go near the place. I mean, I can't, in good conscience go into some Irish themed chain when both Casey Moore's and Rula Bula are less than five minutes away.

Then again, that's sort of how I feel about pretty much everything at TMP. Every option there has 1 or 2 better choices mere minutes away.

[Bill Hunt]

Thank you for the review. I had not heard of it, but it is now off my radar screen.

Though one of my favorite pubs on Earth is a mini-chain (O'Neil's in Shepard's Market, London, Mayfair), I have been burned at a lot of "chains" in the US. It seems as though pubs are hot, and a lot of concept folk are going for that market. For all, that I have experienced in the US - bad move.

I have always had good food and friendly service at Rula Bula, and also George & Dragon on Central. From another "pub-crawler," I have heard great things about the "Roosevlet" (offical name ?) and another (name forgotten) in the same general area. Do not dine downtown enough, so we have yet to go.

I also heard great things about the Codfather out my way, but my wife tells me that I missed it. My bad.

Just panned a mini-chain in San Antonio, TX, that was horrible. Another chain pub, that did not even come close to delivering. If they cannot do decent fish-n-chips, what is there to like? A few imported brews does not, a pub make. I place them into the same category as Elephant & Castle - not worth my time, my calories or my $.

Even though most of the pubs in, and around London are chains now, there are still some great ones, The Running Footman, the Eagle and the Baby and the mini-chain O'Neil's (though it appears that the Shepard's Market location is closing... ).

Thanks for saving me the grief.

Hunt

[tismeinaz]

How strange - we went there today for the first time and the food was great. I had the Guinness Steak and Mushroom Crock with buttermilk mash potatoes and it was great. I'd be curious to know how many folks complaining about it not serving Irish pub food have been to an Irish pub. Just asking. Most taverns/pubs I've been to tend to serve local comfort food with their stamp on it. Hot and tasty (and makes you thirsty). I can't speak to the speed of service because we landed there when it was quiet, but our waitress was attentive and the food came to the table quickly.

[Dapuma]

me and the mrs like the place, they have a good selection of beers on tap and a few rotating taps, and it is close the theatre

the house salad is pretty good along with the chips (especially compared to London heh) and the pies the steak and seafood are pretty tasty

it isnt gormet but it is solid comfort food

Compared to George and Dragon's food it is a lot better IMO and i love G and D for a football match but their food there leaves a lot to be desired

have not been to casey moores or rula bula - is caseys in tempe off mill next to the smoke shop and the canteen tequilla place?

[hohokam]

Casey Moore's is on Ash at 9th St (west of Mill, south of University). Rula Bula is on the east side of Mill, just south of 3rd St.

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Rula Bula
401 S Mill Ave Ste 101, Tempe, AZ 85281

Casey Moore's Oyster House
850 S Ash Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281

[cactuschowdah]

There's yet another Irish-themed bar opening in Tempe Marketplace at the Artist Formerly Known as Maria Maria. It's called Thirsty Lion Pub and Grill. It's also a chain (a small one with 2 locations in Oregon), but looking at the Oregon location's menu, they have 52 (!) beers and a decent looking menu. Really looking forward to this place opening up and being able to catch a few EPL games there.

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Maria Maria Restaurant
2000 East Rio Salado Parkway Ste K-1, Tempe, AZ 85281

[Dapuma]

How early can bars serve here now?

That always seemed to be the reason no one would be open in time for the games before - well that and tea time kick off in england is 5am

would be cool to have a place with a good beer selection that is open for the games and can serve

[cactuschowdah]

I'm not sure if this an exception or the rule, but during World Cup last year, we were at 16th St Bar and Grill drinking Irish Cofees and Bloody Marys at 7 AM. That place is a great soccer bar, the owner's a great guy- its just so damn far away from my house, I've never looked into a morning of EPL over there. I have high hopes for this Thirsty Lion place...

[hohokam]

As of August of last year, Sunday sales of alcohol can legally begin at 6am (and run through 2am on the following day), as on the other 6 days of the week. From cactuschowdah's post, it sounds like the bars have adapted well to the new policy environment.