The Mad Cow Reviewer Well, color me udderly impressed! I wandered into McKracken's Irish Pub in Spokane Valley after a long day chewing cud and was greeted with the warmest "moo" of hospitality I've felt in ages. The owner clearly knows how to make everyone--two-legged or four-hooved--feel right at home. Let's start with the Guinness--cold, creamy, and poured with care. It's enough to make a bull tear up with joy (and that's saying something). The Irish stew? Hearty, rich, and packed with flavor. The cornbread is the real surprise--soft, slightly sweet, and perfect for soaking up the last bits of stew. Whoever's in that kitchen deserves a medal--or at least a salt lick of appreciation. They've got WiFi, so you can update your herd on your dining adventures, and the regulars add to that cozy, small-town pub vibe. Karaoke on Fridays is a real treat too--nothing like hearing a few pints in patrons belt out "Don't Stop Believin'" while I hum along in low, soulful moos. All in all, McKracken's is the kind of place that makes you want to settle in, loosen your bell, and stay awhile. Great food, cold beer, friendly faces--what more could a mad cow ask for? -- The Mad Cow Reviewer read more

Couple friends and I decided to give this restaurant a try. The restaurant is clean, slightly dated, with MeTV showing on the small TVs in the dining area. Our server was very busy, handling both the bar and restaurant areas. We all started with appetizers, which we shared. Fried green beans were good, kind of spendy. The onion rings were great and the tarter they came with was nice. The mozzarella sticks were good, the marinara was cold and chunky. For meals, two of us went with their Irish Stew, salad, and absolutely delicious cornbread. Our other friend tried their Burnt End sandwich. She said it was really good. What I really wanted was BBQ turkey, which is on their online menu but not on the menu in the restaurant. It was a good experience and we'll definitely give them another try in the future. read more

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The bartender was the only one working out front when we went on Saturday afternoon & she was working very hard. She was still very friendly & helpful. I love their ultimate chicken sandwich. It doesn't come out super quickly, but that's because everything is so fresh, & you can really taste the difference. We'll be back for sure! read more

This place is now called Torby's we ate there last week, and it was very good. I'm giving a 4 because 2 out of 6 mozzarella sticks were really burnt. Too bad, because the other ones were really good. Don't put up burnt food! The smash burger we had was fantastic! The drinks were well made! The service was great, food came out on time. Overall great experience! read more

Went here for a party that was. Ring out on by the bar and The Studio for Valentine's Day and it was a good time! The bar is definitely old and certainly gives the feel of a dive bar or old pub, but for the most part it was clean, pretty open, had good music, and the service was good. I unfortunately didn't try anything except an iced tea so I can't really speak to the food. My sister got a cocktail that was on special (she got a double) and she said they mean business with that double lol. So, if you're looking for strong drinks you know you can try here! I probably won't visit again, but that's just because it's not my scene. That's not any reflection on the business - if little pubs are your thing definitely try here!! read more

Lately, I have had two dinners from this restaurant that are subpar and not even close to where it was. Do not get me wrong, the breakfast and lunch are still exceptional. The first meal was the fish and chips with a side of mayo instead of tarter sauce, The fish was so heavily breaded that you could not begin to taste any fish, When you removed the breading, you found out that it was 95% breading and therefore tasteless. I then tried the meat and potatoes with a biscuit. The biscuit I got was cold, beginning to get hard and tasteless. The meat and potatoes had no seasoning and were both bland and unappealing. I am disappointed because I know that the food served there for dinner used to be very good and flavorful. It is not that any longer. I do hope that you can correct this. As for me, I will still come for breakfast and lunch but will not eat dinner there. Glennda Simpson read more

Haven't been here in 7 years since it used to be the old O'Doherty's. Got the Ultimate burger with a side salad and was not disappointed. The vibes are good, the staff and service is friendly. Will be back read more

McCracken's Irish Pub & BBQ Cater - Ultimate Burger - Pubs Near Me - Spokane Valley, Washington

My wife and I stopped in for a late lunch. Owner (Todd) was very friendly and service was great. We really enjoyed the French dip and bbq pulled pork sandwich. Love the feel of the pub as well. We will be back. read more

Went there for dinner. I was told an hour before closing that they are not serving dinner. The reason was they were slow for the day, so they are closing... they turned away 2 families. There was another family there at the same time we got there. When I said I would mention that on Yelp, she said, "Go ahead, complain all you want." I said I would say that too. Apparently they don't need the business and not very friendly. The only reason for 1 star is because I cannot comment without 1 star. read more

Your typical Irish Pub with a lot of heart! Wonderful ambiance and great service. Met the owner Todd McCracken who was SUPER friendly!! Google said they have some of the best fish n chips - and they definitely do!!! My wife had the Rueben which she really enjoyed. read more

McCracken's Irish Pub & BBQ Cater - Reuben - Pubs Near Me - Spokane Valley, Washington

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Very mixed emotions here. It's our first time at the valley location and I guess the menu is different than the downtown location. I was in the mood for fish and chips and they really delivered on that. The menu offered one fillet or two. Thinking I was ordering the typical 4-6 ounce fillets I ordered 2. These were easily 8-10 Oz fillets. They were breaded and cooked nicely and served with steak fries. Value was only fair because this carried a $19.50 price tag. The problem comes with the service. The place was divided into a bar area and a family friendly area. There was no hostess and the sign said seat yourself. We did and it took a bit to get noticed. Once we did get noticed, it seemed like we were second class to the bar crowd. Seems the table beside us was having a similar issue. We don't like being an afterthought and there's not enough there to lure us back. read more

We found McCracken's when Stupid Cow went out of business. What a find! The owner and his waitress responded well to our serly friend, and the food was great! We had the Irish Stew and the Smoked Turkey dip sandwich. We can't wait to try the rest of the menu! read more

Great food and service! Cool pub atmosphere! Large screen TVs for sports events. Did I mention great food. Traditional Irish grub and great BBQ also! read more

My husband has been to Ireland and we were in the mood for some Irish food. The staff were friendly and helpful. Great menu options. read more

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Delicious food at a very reasonable price. Great drinks and cold beer. They do a good barbecue. read more

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I guess this place is now called McCraken's Irish Pub & BBQ. Stopped by around 5:45 pm on Wednesday, 3/30/2022. Upon walking in I noticed we were the only ones there save for four or five sitting at the corner of the bar. Not sure where to sit or if we should wait to be seated but heard someone call out, "Just seat yourself." Then heard someone sitting at the bar on the other side of the room loudly ask, "What is wrong with you? Are you sick? Why are you wearing a mask?" Throughout our meal, Mr. Loud Guy continued to loudly try to string together words to make sentences. These sentences seemed to have a requirement of the F-Word making up about 65% of the sentences. Later Mr. Loud Guy used, not once, but twice, a super-offensive term targeting members of the Asian American community. This did not sit well with my Chinese guest. Mr. Loud Guy also suggested 'they,' obviously referring to us, may prefer going to Black Straw Tea Bar & Kitchen, the Asian place across the street. I heard the two ladies who had come in and sat behind us say how offensive the man was. Yes, I get it. Freedom of speech and all that. The problem is staff did not seem to have any interest in shutting Mr. Loud Guy down. It was as if that was acceptable behavior in the place. And since it seemed like he and his friends are regulars there, I can only assume it is acceptable at McCraken's Irish Pub & BBQ. And that is sad because the two items we ordered were pretty tasty. But since there are many dining options in Spokane and Spokane Valley, McCraken's Irish Pub & BBQ will likely not be a place we would return to or recommend. read more

Formerly "O'Doherty's" East, this is now McCrackens . . . still Irish, still good. I've been here for take out a few times since the change, but my first sit down meal was Friday. They claim the Fish & Chips is done to the same recipe as O'Doherty's, and I would agree except you get three medium pieces of fish instead of 1 big piece. Wonderful, as usual. The steak fries were perfectly done. Had a Harp's with my meal. I got remarks on my cane, a piece of Irish Shillelagh made from blackthorn wood . . . the (manager &/or owner) had one, too. Nice friendly service all around and much better parking than O'Doherty's downtown. They are both great, just indifferent ways. read more

Food is always amazing ! Bartenders are very nice and funny. I love going there for St. Pattys day ! Definitely will be coming back ! Love the vibe . read more

I was googling for the best fish and chips in Spokane this place came up. Boy did it ever deliver! The fish and chips was awesome and the staff is super friendly. Will definitely go back. read more

Good food. Well made. Fast service. I will be back. Shepard pie was tasty and hit me he spot read more

I have never felt so welcome in my life! The food is amazing and very well portioned and if you're wondering what I got, wonder no further! I had the corned beef and cabbage of course and everything was cooked to perfection! The owner himself is a hard worker and this business needs more recognition and not only on Saint Patrick's day! Ambiance is comfortable and very accepting. Ten out of ten from me! read more

Let me preface by stating this place is not--repeat--not affiliated with O'Ds downtown. There's a long back story as to the name, and yes there are similarities with both menus, but I will refrain from relaying all the details. I've been acquainted with both families for over a decade, so just trust me on that factoid. Regardless, this place has great food, and a nice, sports bar atmosphere. This was a fellas lunch, and there were no prisoners. We had the NY Corned Beef, Corned Beef Irish Burger, and the Burnt End Sammie. Bites were shared and everything was delicious pub grub. There's a lot of traditional fare, but this visit we were yearning for hearty handhelds. Our gal was great, poured a generous double-shot, and took care of the entire FOH. This would be an excellent place to catch a game on TV, but I bet it could get real busy. Very comfortable with plenty of food options--but probably not a good choice for vegetarians/vegans, to let ya know. Best to pull up their menu online and see for yourself... read more

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Nothing is more heartbreaking than ordering hot chili on a 40 degree day and it coming out lukewarm. That happened today, the server never came to check and finally when he brought check and I told him ( I ate maybe 2 spoonfuls) he said oh, sorry... and still charged me. Too bad because the place was cool. read more

Great place as always, I do have to say, a wee disappointed in stew served with ground meet? Wtf? No beef, stew meet? Still love coming here but.... read more

Ordered the whiskey steak, medium-rare. The steak was cooked exactly to order and the sauce complemented it well. Sauce was a little sweet, which is usually a turn off for me, but I really liked it. The mashed potatoes were garlicky, from scratch, and absolutely delicious. read more

McCracken's Irish Pub & BBQ Cater - Tullamore Dew Whiskey Steak* - Pubs Near Me - Spokane Valley, Washington

This is my favorite Friday night haunt. Nice laid-back pub atmosphere with retro music and TVs. Best bangers & mash and buffalo wings in the area and never pass on the peanut slaw. I brought friends here from out of town and they loved it. read more

This place is great. Go here. Have the jalapeño poppers. You will thank me. Very attentive staff that worked very hard to make sure everything was great. read more

It was a Father's Day brunch. Nice to sit outside on the patio. The burnt brisket bbq omelette was fabulous!! read more

McCracken's Irish Pub & BBQ Cater - :) - Pubs Near Me - Spokane Valley, Washington

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My Mom and I stopped in this afternoon for lunch at O'doherty's in Spokane Valley. Mom has been craving fish and chips since she moved here from Florida where there are great fish and chip resturants on almost every corner. So far, we had not found a place that measured up to the places in Flordia. Until today! The beer battered fish was amazing! Light crispy crust with tender fish inside. Everything was cooked to perfection! The service was excellent! Our new favorite fish and chip place. read more

What I like: (1) Great little hometown-style pub in the valley; (2) Consistently great and friendly service (been here three or four times now and that has always been a big plus); (3) The Hooligan & Hannigan sandwich!! Order it!! (4) The BBQ, which they do not have at the downtown location. What I didn't like: The sausage in the Irish stew! Enjoyed the downtown location's version more. But that's it! Everything else about this place was good and enjoyable. Go, have a very good meal and enjoy the friendly service. read more

Great service good food. Cool vibe & liked the ambiance of the bar. Definitely will be back

4 1/2 out of 5. Wow. Great neighborhood pub with very good food and service. You feel comfortable and welcome as soon as you walk in. You know the feeling... like you've been here a hundred times. The new owner, Todd, impressed us with his sincere commitment to keep the tone "neighborhood friendly" and the food quality high. He is maintaining the same menu by not changing the recipes that have been so popular locally for 20 plus years. We had the Reuben and Burnt End sandwiches. The approach to the Pastrami Reuben is unique. They chop the meat and fry it with the sauerkraut. The result renders a "way above average" reuben. The Burnt Ends sandwich was also very good, but ohhhh that reuben. Todd also brought us a sample of their Peanut Slaw. They mix it after you order so it comes to the table fresh and crisp. Not being a coleslaw fan, I never would have tried it. Our next stop here (to try the fish & chips), I'm ordering it for a certainty. Todd, we are confident your "Pub Adventure" will be long and prosperous. By the way, the wide selection of brews available is a big plus. Damn, I like this place. read more

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The best BBQ in Spokane and a fun environment with great owners! They do a fantastic breakfast on weekends. They also do catering for events and I have had them cater multiple events for me - everyone LOVES their food. read more

McCracken's Irish Pub & BBQ Cater - Denver omelette - Pubs Near Me - Spokane Valley, Washington

This is a treasure of a pub and awesome place to eat, drink, and socialize. The ownership is absolute the best, and the single best place to enjoy a night and laugh. There's no place better in the inland northwest. We are now regulars! Oh the food is the best of any restaurant or establishment. read more

Great meal and service. We had the owners (the brothers) come to our table to visit and ask how everything was. All was delicious. Fish was amazing as was anything with traditional Irish. I took my daughters, wife and granddaughters for lunch. What a great time!! read more

McCracken's Irish Pub & BBQ Cater - Pubs Near Me - Spokane Valley, Washington

Wow. What a amazing place. Great service. When we got there they sat us right away. We sat at the bar and they were prompt at getting to us. Met the owner and they were intrested at talking and knowing more about us. Service was prompt because it wasn't very busy. I ordered the corn beef hash and it was cooked tender and slow and even was crispy. The hash browns were good and salty. My fiancée got the biscuits and gravy and he was astounded. Just like his Southern grandma used to make. The biscuits were melt in ur mouth delicious. Just applause all around. They made us feel welcome and we will be back. Brava. read more

I must say that I used to go to this bar on several occasions years ago but I do not go there any longer because they do not put any alcohol in their drinks. They don't mind taking your money but they do not give you very much alcohol at all in your drinks. They have been extremely rude and horrible customer service in the past. I stopped going there. I would rather go somewhere and pay for a drink and get alcohol with your drink. read more

Best fish and chips ever! The staff (the owners and brother) are great and friendly! The food was great and came out quickly! Clean restaurant! Very welcoming and we would definitely eat here again. read more

Beef stew is supposed to have a thick, gravy-like base, not a watery soup base. The two-star rating, 'Meh, I've experienced better' is appropriate. The stew was a whole lot of meh. The beer selection certainly is impressive for a main-road pub in the States but the food left me feeling all kinds of blah. There was too much oregano in the stew, not enough beef and the sausage was just bland. The service was friendly and decent but I have a hard time believing I'll go back. read more

This is a message I want to send to all our great Spokane and Spokane Valley restaurants: First I love this place, never a bag time and is always close to my heart. Second: As a happily married couple here in Spokane, my husband and I are celebrating our 36 years of marriage. Our strong faith in God has helped us hash things out and struggle to successfully stay together and be a happy couple.  Part of the joy has included many wonderful outings and experiences in your restaurants; we have many favorites which have been a part of our lives. My husband and I want to encourage "you" the restaurant community and the owners to join together and stand up for your rights during this pandemic.  We all know and see the fear and facts are blown out of proportion.  Yes, there has been sickness.  That should not take away your rights to make a living.  It should not supersede your rights as American citizens; those come first!  To live your life as you see fit.  There has been a "one size fits all" solution applied across the whole state regardless of how much or how little the impact of covid-19 is.  If you look at Washington state sick map you will see that King County has between 70 and 80% of the infections.  If Contact Tracing is worth anything, it should already have indicated the hot spots and tougher restrictions should have been applied there only.  Also, I challenge you to search where most of the infections are taking place.  You will find that your dining spots are the least contributors to this pandemic.  These are easily searched facts and there are more.  You need to band together and present them to our elected elite and demand even our Senate and Congressional reps to use this info to help you.  Challenge them to work on a worthy cause instead of headline grabbing. We encourage you business owners to stand together and claim your rights and be open for business; let the customers choose whether to come or not.  We can choose for ourselves to visit or not. There is plenty of reason to believe the facts are distorted and government is not being honest or fair.  Our Governor is doing the dining community an injustice with its lack or concern you and your employees. Again we urge you to get together and do what you need to do to get your lives back. We will be there, fight the good fight. read more