It takes a lot to get me into an Irish pub when I am in a foreign country that is not Ireland…read more
Sheer thirst forced my hand.
(I had been at an amazing concert in the nearby Anglican Church in the middle of a heat wave.
The music had been extraordinary.
The acoustics had been extraordinary.
The water had been non-existent.)
So I stagger, happy but dry as the Sahara into the Flann O'Brien.
My wife wouldn't go into an Irish pub
Even if she was being pursued by muggers and needed someone to call the police.
If you look at the side door of the Flann O'Brien, you can see two heel tracks etched into the cement.
That was me dragging my wife into the Flann O'Brien.
* * *
There were tons and tons of people in the Flann O'Brien.
They were all having a wonderful time.
This has been true of nearly every Irish pub I have been to in non-Ireland Europe.
There is always a crowd in the pub and they are all enjoying themselves mightily.
In tourist districts, the patrons are tourists.
In residential districts, the patrons are locals.
Either way, high spirits prevail.
Either way, no other establishment anywhere nearby has as many people
Let alone as many happy people.
* * *
I promised my wife I would chug down my beer and we would get out of there as soon as the glass was empty.
The beer I was chugging down was an absolutely first rate Irish hoppy lager: 7 Virtues.
I would order 7 Virtues again in a nanosecond.
While we were eating, plate after plate of absolutely wonderful looking viands were being carried by the waiters to other tables.
Somewhere there was karaoke.
The Flann O'Brien is huge.
Loud music in one room does not rule out quiet intimate conversation in one of the many other rooms.
Had I been there solo, I would have had gone through a string of 7 Virtues, ordered a plate of something, and listened to the karaoke singers ... some of whom were really good.
But a deal is a deal. I finished my beer, and off we went.
That said - if you are in the center of town, and you want to have a good time, and you don't care if that good time is particularly Italian,
The Flann O'Brien is calling your name.
I would go with a burger or nachos ... but they have pizzas and Italian entrees if you are so inclined.
Stick to the Irish beer.
* * *
Revision based on the advice of other Yelpers:
The other reviews are unanimous in claiming that the "American-style" food at the Flann O'Brien is terrible.
Pizza gets higher marks.
No one seems to have tried the Italian mains.
But since there is virtually no disagreement on this point ...
Make sure your food order is Italian.
You can still go with Irish beer.