We loved this restaurant! Really cool vibe and family friendly if you go for an early dinner. It's a little pricey but it felt like very authentic and delicious Irish food. 10/10 recommend the soft pretzel. It's one of the best we've had! Service was good and we had a great night! You can rent out spaces for events, too, and I can see that being really popular, read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - Corned Beef & Cabbage - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

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Ballydoyle's definitely nails the authentic Irish pub vibe. From the moment you walk in, it looks, feels, and even smells like a real pub, which I appreciated. The atmosphere alone makes it a comfortable place to grab a drink and hang out. Five stars when it comes to the atmosphere. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, which always goes a long way and made the experience more enjoyable. As for the food, it was okay but nothing that really stood out. I ordered the shepherd's pie, it was good overall, but I found it to be a bit too salty for my taste. Not bad by any means, just not something I'd go out of my way for again. All in all, Ballydoyle's is a solid spot for the atmosphere and service, especially if you're looking for a genuine pub experience. The food is decent, but not the main highlight for me. read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - Shepherd's Pie - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Bottom Line: Warm Summer Thursday night, Pierce Tavern (competitor down the block) overflowing and spilling into another restaurant's outdoor dining area, this place empty--and likely for good reason. I think they've stoped giving a rat's about you as a customer: Come, don't come, like us or not, we couldn't give a patoot. So, a year later, long enough to forget my last check-in downsides, but again impressed upon me the continued downslide of this once very good experience, so, removing another star. Waited at the table for over 15 minutes with no waiter. Decided to go to the bar and order myself. The tender basically tells me to go sit down and wait for a server as he was busy talking to a couple of much younger lasses who seemed very impressed with his head bartenderness--not. I ask if they have an Oktoberfest yet. He proceeds to, smugly mind you, explain "his" philosophy on the beer offerings. I suppose the Irish accent gave it bit more gravitas and panache, after all we are in an Irish pub, but smug nevertheless. Feeling smugged, as he intended, I replied that the place around the corner already has a beauty on tap so, what's wrong with you guys? :) --well, he didn't care about an Oktoberfest in August so much that he wanted to know what it was! Ha! I ordered the Yuengling but I had to wait for a server to bring it, which was another 10 minutes. The place is pretty much empty mind you, except for the too-loud cover band "check, checking" every few. Waitress finally decides she'll take our order, doesn't write anything down--can you guess the result? Mangled order. At nearly 20 bucks for mediocre at best, uninspired lonely sandwiches with a few fries on the side, I'm sorry you're getting taken. To cut to the chase, maybe ownership will again take an active roll in holding its staff accountable to the paying customer but for now they appear to be asleep at the switch, resting on the laurels of what once was, while the biz could be going the way of Emmett's. Where's Emmett's you ask? Exactly. p.s. The corned beef bites are not a bad idea and actually decent but serving them with shrimp cocktail sauce--store bought shrimp cocktail sauce--is lazy and lame. p.p.s. To emphasize my point about ownership not caring anymore, they have not claimed their business on Yelp which in and of itself says a lot. read more

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I absolutely loved this place. My husband and I stopped in on a Saturday night. It was packed but we were able to get seated immediately. The food was delicious- (highly recommend the soup and fish & chips) great vibe and wonderful attentive staff. Would definitely return. read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

This place has the vibes. The design is very well done, especially with the bourbon lounge and outdoor seating during the summer.

I stopped by **Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant** in downtown **Downers Grove** for a late lunch on 3/14/26 hoping for a good experience, but unfortunately it turned out to be pretty disappointing. When we walked in, it was "seat yourself," which was fine. The problem was that most of the available tables hadn't been bussed. The table we sat at still had another customer's receipt, dirty dishes, glasses, and even spent beer cans on it. It didn't create a great first impression. After waiting quite a while, who I believe was the bartender (and possibly the only person waiting tables) finally came over and asked what I wanted. I replied that I'd like a cleared table first. The response felt dismissive and a bit contemptuous -- something along the lines of "I'll be back later." Eventually someone did come by and clear the table, although one of the empty beer cans was left behind. The table was wiped down but left soaking wet, so we ended up using our napkins just to dry it off ourselves. We finally ordered from another server. I had the fish and chips. The fish itself was okay, but the chips (fries) tasted like they were air-fried and they got cold very quickly. For the price and the level of service we experienced, it just wasn't worth it. Honestly, you might be better off going to **Culver's** -- at least the young staff there tend to be friendly and attentive. If management reads this, please don't default to saying you were busy. I was busy too earning the money I spent at your location, and I expected a much better experience. read more

We had our family Christmas party here and they hosted 50 of us for a warm, welcoming and festive celebration!! Wonderful service from James, our party coordinator; fabulous drinks, lovely appetizers, mains and dessert selections. Parking in the area was so easy for everyone, including our older family members in the parking garage nearby. The whole family had a wonderful time and we got so many compliments on the experience. Thank you, Ballydoyle! read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - Highlander party room! - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

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LOUSY service. As another reviewer wrote they don't seem to care at all. Walked in and stood there for several minutes as no one came to help seat us. Finally walked up to a server to inquire who said to just sit somewhere. Then ordered a Lucky Sour drink. First one was good, ordered a second one which tasted completely different and disgusting. When I asked our server about it she took it back, dumped it in a different glass and gave me back the same drink. And it smells awful in there. Will not be back. read more

Drove here for a book event, and needed some good food. I ended up getting their dumplings, and the portion size was great! Their service was a little slow even though the pub wasn't super busy. Otherwise, we did enjoy the live entertainment of different singers and had a great time. read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Gawy was phenomenal, we were drawn in from the energy and the night was lit. We will definitely be back and whomever is reading this better be on their way for a fantastic time! Ask for Gawy! He's legit the best! read more

Really good- always- food is always good and service (even on Memorial Day, short handed, gorgeous out and patio rocking- great service. Had to share! Yellow fin tuna sandwich was 10/10- soooo good! Can't wait to order again! The cocktails were meh, but in their defense we ordered a mezcal tequila drink and a Blackberry smash or something;) at an Irish pub... ‍) 2nd round we went with some beers and that was the win. Outdoor seating is great here- full sun yet blocking with a building next door so you aren't in a wind tunnel. Hubby ordered the burger that came with the AuJus sauce, good as well. We will be back for sure- great outdoor spot! Also have had the chicken pot pie- SO good - and the chicken tortilla soup is delish! read more

Bit overpriced but decent and ussually good Irish pub food. Service is slow, but friendly. It's a hit or a miss for comfort, as the chairs are not designed well for sitting. Expect it to get loud, but they balance out with local music, or trivia nights. read more

Classic Irish pub. Pub food and tons of choices for beer and food. Nice sidewalk patio too. Love giving business to locally owned folks. Skip the chains and give them a try. read more

Food is very bland and although I go for mostly the buffet of several times, everything seemed to be overcooked and tried it out, except for the eggs and bacon. And they, for some reason I allow their tortillas to dry out to the point that they're no longer edible. read more

If you are looking for a classic corned beef dinner, be sure to check out Ballydoyle's. I wanted corned beef, but didn't have time to make it so I picked up their Corned Beef Dinner. It had a very generous serving of corn beef accompanied by cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. Everything was freshly prepared and delicious. Don't forget to ask for some horseradish on the side. read more

Great environment, great music, bad food. Their "signature Irish dust seasoning" on the chips is sugar. They gave me chips coated in sugar. Then proceeded to charge me extra for a side of ranch that I didn't order, (though they took it off after I disputed). read more

The service and the food need to be improved greatly. When ordering a Margarita it should be presented in a Margarita glass and it should taste like a Margarita. Ours was delivered in a water glass and it did not taste like a Margarita. Our food was served cold and fries were not fresh. And we ordered an appetizer and it showed up when our food arrived. If you want more customers they need to change the menu and serve drinks better. read more

I hadn't been here in years, and after a couple false starts for dinner tonight (no parking at one place, another was closed) I headed to downtown DG to see what I could find, but knew vaguely in my mind that there was this pub here, and by the time I arrived I was in the mood for fish and chips. Lucky me that there was live music tonight as well! The live performance was by Small Batch, an Irish folk trio who were taking requests (I was gratified to see my favorite faire/folk song on the list, "Isn't It Grand Boys (To Be Bloody Well Dead)," and requested that). Food was tasty. I had a cup of potato soup (thick and hearty; had to fish out some overlong strings of green onion) and the fish and chips (fish was crisp outside and flaky within, and the fries were perfectly crunchy, perhaps double fried). The place was hopping, and my waiter Trevor did a good job of checking on me while running around. There's street parking in this area as well as a small lot just south of the restaurant. I'll be back for more pub grub and live music! read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - Live entertainment, Small Batch - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

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A mainstay for Downers Grove, delicious burgers and a great atmosphere, especially when music plays. The prices are a bit higher than expect but the vibe of an Irish pub is perfect and always a blast. read more

St. Patty's So I went to BallyDoyle this St. Patrick's Day and it was awesome. They are one of the only places around given approval to open and serve alcohol at 8AM for the holiday. They serve breakfast with the alcohol, and typically the Mayor of Downers Grove attends. Several different entertainment shows. Really good time! read more

Out of all the bars in downtown DG, I probably come to Ballydoyle the least because it's almost always packed when I try to go. The food is good enough, they've switched around some appetizer staples (pour one out for the cheese curds, yall), but there's still a good amount to pick from. The beer list is pretty extensive, but when we went they were out of a bunch of things - I wish they would have labeled it because I think I tried two different beers and they were both tapped. Also knocking off a star because the barstools are the most uncomfortable chairs that I have ever sat in. The other chairs are totally fine, it's just those satan chairs at the bar. I love the live music that they host & the overall vibe is definitely different from the other DG bars. read more

I ordered a hazy Jane ipa, but they gave me a darker ale and told me this was a brewdog hazy ipa. Maybe the beer is really old or something is really wrong with it. But it was horrible. See the picture for what the beer should look like. Managet was no help. Horrible service and really bad beer. read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - This is what I was expecting but on tap. - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

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good place for a beer and to listen to live music, but the food is not good. I've eaten here 3-4 times and they don't even get basic bar food done well. clearly it's not a priority for the management team. it's a shame because it's a great location but everyone knows the profits are in the booze. its likely they offer food due to their business license. it shows. read more

Food was good...the decor definitely hit the theme of the Irish Pub...the service could have been better you get the feeling the servers are tired and ones there spent more time with a small group at the bar area while we waited on a bill read more

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Ummmm...WTF 11:30 the band stops playing??? Bar is full and the band stops at 11:30?!?!? read more

This local irish bar/restaurant has food and live music that are somewhat unique in our area. While the irish fare is not for everyone, try the turkey burger which is one of my favorites in the western suburbs. Add in a band or two and you've got yourself a great time! read more

Corned Beef Sandwich - terrible. No Cubs, no Marque- what is wrong with you guys?! An Irish pub should have an outstanding corned beef, and any pub within 100 miles of Chicago should get the Cubs!! Shame on you! read more

Love the live music and fun atmosphere. The food was so good, too. I ordered a bowl of potato soup and had to fight off my husband from eating it all! It was that good. My husband had the Shepards pie. It looked like something my mom would make but it was so rich and flavorful. Big bites of meat and good mix of veggies. We washed it down with ice cold Guinness. We love this place and enjoy sitting outside and pretending we are in Ireland. Such a nice secret of the alley. read more

I used to come here all the time and loved it (pre-covid)!!! I have been here a few times since then, meh. Somethings that are just the way of this location. Yes, this one is in the heart of DG, so easy to walk to from the downtown area which we love. However, note: BEST SERVICE you will Receive is from the BARTENDER!!! DO not, I repeat Do not expect to receive good service from the waitresses. They are mean and nasty!!! This place always has a weird smell to it, smells like a cat's litter box..My friends and I always wonder if there are cats in place..it's a joke we tell ourselves lol The food is good! Love the irish burger and fries!! Wednesday nights used to be open mic jam session where Nate was running it, not sure if he still does that, but a very nice individual. Always fun to talk to. read more

Honestly, I have never tried their food yet. We come here for the fun vibe and the drinks! It's a cool chill place when you wanna stay local but don't want boring. They usually have a band playing everytime I go there! read more

Came in on a Wednesday about 4:15pm. Place was pretty empty for a while but began to fill up as we were leaving around 6:30. Service was pretty slow, I think there was only one girl working all tables, which was pretty manageable but it felt like she forgot about us multiple times. The food was eh- the portion for a bowl of soup was so tiny- they used a very shallow bowl so that was definitely a rip-off. I ordered wings and they were burnt and dry. The inside has a cool vibe with a stage for live music, a bar, and two private party rooms. I probably wouldn't go back here, though. read more

I will never go back here again. Being a Downers regular, I was very disappointed by the host. We walked in with family from MA and NY for lunch and the person working was a lazy bum. According to him, the entire place was unavailable as they had parties coming in for every room. Put some tables together. Do what you need to do for your customers who WANT TO SPEND MONEY THERE. Talk about pathetic. We went to Emmett's across the street and had an amazing lunch with great service. Update. The bartenders here are great. For that reason I am upping my review to three stars. read more

We have been here numerous times and have had good food and good service. Tonight however will be our last. I don't know if it's new owners or manager but it was a train wreck. I ordered a black and blue burger, medium rare with sweet potato fries. The waitress advised of the up charge for the sweet potato fries which we were fine with. She also said they did not have the black and blue any more so I asked for a bacon burger and some crumbled blue cheese on top. What arrived was a well-done burger patty with two strips of bacon it and a soup cup of melted blue cheese, and regular fries. No lettuce, tomato, or onion with the burger. As to the burger, it was tasteless, clearly frozen, and nothing like what we have had in the past. When the waitress came back to check in our table I let her know my whole order was wrong. She said she could do another burger and get the sweet potato fries but we were with two other couples and I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable eating while I wasn't. My wife then ordered another Smitty's and the waitress came back to say they were out it. It was Friday at 6:30pm, you are an Irish bar, and you are out of Smitty's? I get that mistakes happen in restaurants, but changing your burgers to frozen, and simply putting a patty on a plain bun is a deal breaker. We will never go back. There are plenty of other Irish places we can spend our money. read more

Love the music, authentic Irish pub atmosphere, and great beer selection, but food is sub-par. All the dishes we had were excessively greasy on three different visits. Maybe this is authentic, but I have enjoyed other Chicagoland Irish pubs' food much more. read more

YUM!! So good! We had the Irish chips. That's a mountain of chips! He had a sausage platter. I had corned beef. His hot toddy was good. I would come here again! They do a lot of live music. read more

LOVE the cocktails here. Great, friendly people. And top-notch live music ! You won't get it anywhere else in Downers! Tip Linda well! read more

Was here last weekend with 5 of my friends . First of all, the menu at this location is different than the one in Aurora . I was disappointed bc they didn't have the Mac and cheese bites. The prices are high , I don't come to either one very often though . My friend and I shared the spinach dip , which has 5 stars in my book all of us LOVE it best thing on the menu. I also got the turkey burger , I wanted to try the cheese curds so I asked the waitress if I can substitute them for fries . The manager said yes but it was a $4.50 up charge. I should have stuck with the fries bc there was sooooo much grease on the curds I couldn't even eat them the turkey burger was good , wish they had a pretzel bun as an option though. My friend got a cheeseburger and looked inside and saw what she thought was romaine, with the whole recall thing going on she told the waitress about it and asked for a new burger . The waitress seemed very annoyed , she left and came back to tell her the manager said it was iceberg , take a look at the picture I posted that is NOT iceberg honey!!! My friend was very nice , she didn't yell or bitch , she just wanted a new burger plus being lied to was getting on her nerves . Now the manager came over and my friend told her that is not iceberg and the manager said I didn't say it was come on ladies get it together !! One of them obviously was lying . The manager rolled her eyes got pissed and walked away!!!! Omg really ? Like a baby!!! All she wanted was a new burger , what does that cost you? $2?!? She didn't apologize didn't say no problem we will make you a new one . Waitress came back and asked ... so you want a new burger ?!? YES .. YES that would be great. Her too got mad and took the place with a smug face and walked away. The manager came back later and now said it was lead lettuce . My friend said, that I believe, if you would have known that and told me that I wouldn't have a problem but telling me it was iceberg, I knew it was a lie. Now she was all smiles and laughs not good management at all... this was just a simple burger issue , I can't imagine what would happen if she came across a huge issue ‍ read more

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant - Irish Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Went for trivia night, which had good following. The servers were nice and solid Irish bar vibes. Type of place you'd want to come back to with a group of friends for some day beers. Just had pretzel and a tequila smash, both solid. ONLY suggestion would be starting trivia before 9 on a weeknight as it goes for couple of hours. And 7-9 for dinner would be more ideal for this old lady. read more

Came here to watch a band. Overpacked took about 20 Mins to get a drink. Food was cold! Staff & bouncer were very rude! My friends & I will never go back! read more

Irish Family day on 3/12/2023 was excellent! Lots of entertainment for kids and adults. Service was excellent. I like that there was a set amount of people. Not crazy packed. We'll do this again next year. Thank you very much. I just suggest to add black pudding to the Buffett. Also, maybe some music between food serving and Irish dancing. read more