I went to McGeary's while on business in Albany this week. I gotta say: I loved it. I went in the first time to just get a drink before a show at the Palace Theatre, which is just next door. It was around 6:30 and my Sam Adams Oktoberfest (yay!) was $3. Excellent price! So of course I had two... Went to my show and decided I needed dinner afterwards to I decided to try out the food. Very reasonably priced and deeeelish. I had the Ceaser Salad and the Mozzarella Sticks. I think both were $7.95 each. Atmosphere: traditional irish pub. However, there are something like 6 or 8 flatscreen tvs on the wall. Somehow this doesn't detract. Also the music was kept at a reasonable level so you could hear yourself think. I loved all the pictures and things on the wall, it just really reminds me of a perfect traditional irish pub. Actually going to get lunch there now. :-) read more

For a pub, I'm really impressed by their service and quality. We attended the Drink Beer, Help Animals event and they were SLAMMED. But here's the crazy thing - it was as if they weren't busy at all. I got to the bartender relatively quick, got a couple beers to wait only 15 minutes for a table. All the waitstaff were very friendly and fast. Even the super busy manager who seated us built in a little time to chat with us quickly. I made a comment on how busy they were, and she said, "Yeah, it's crazy. What crazier are the people who ask me to switch the TV to the Ranger's game in the middle of it all." And then she looked at the couple next to us. Classic. Great beer selections, and the food is really good. Highly recommend the "Larkarella Sticks". They were perfectly cooked just like my chicken sandwich and the other apps we got. I can't emphasize enough how well they handled the event. They were clearly prepared, as it looked like they had everyone they employed on hand. I'm curious to see how they do on a 'regular' night. If you're looking for a pub I'd be shocked if you were disappointed here. read more

Gaby is awesome!!! Made our late night bar crawl great. Food was better than I was expecting for a bar at 11 PM too - try the raspberry with the mozz sticks! read more

It's a great bar, but only OK food. Most notable for the entirely passable beef on weck. Not amazing, but all the proper ingredients are there, and one of the only places around where you can get one. read more

My favorite place for food and drinks ever! I have always heard great things about McGeary's, but unfortunately I have never been until recently. Food is amazing, try the burgers or wings. A-MAZ-ING. Beers on draft are always fresh and they have a wide variety. Staff are always accommodating and friendly. Trust me, you've gotta try the truffle burger. read more

McGeary's has the feel of a real neighborhood spot--it seems like everyone there is a regular and I felt like it was the kind of spot I would frequent if I lived in Albany. As it was, I was there with my family for a concert so unfortunately I can't go back to McGeary's all the time. If you order two things, they must be: 1) The sliders appetizer. Seriously, these little burgers are perfectly cooked, and are substantial patties, no White Castle-style grease bites here! 2) The brownie sundae. So warm, so chocolatey and gooey and delicious. I enjoyed my chicken sandwich also, and the jerk chicken sandwich looked amazing, complete with sweet potato tots! On top of the tasty eatz, there is a hefty beer list that has some great choices to pair with your food. read more

Cheap drink specials, close to home, good wings, nice waitstaff and decent feel. I am a fan! Love the outdoor seating especially in the summer. Honestly though, I've never been here on a weekend night, so can't say anything about that. It's more of a lunch bar for me. read more

A great place to watch a game. Quiet on a weekend when we were there but my son said it is more lively during the week. Food is decent.

I met a friend here for lunch about a month ago and was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the food was! The front is very much the pub part, with what appeared to be a few regulars drinking and being kind of loud and noisy considering this was a Saturday afternoon ... But sit toward the back for a good meal, the tables are gorgeous with glass tiling. I ordered a crab cake sandwich with wasabie sauce and it was delicious. We had cheese sticks with raspberry sauce as an appetizer and it was great. It was a bit drafty when we went, so bring layers if it's cold out! Cost was about average. read more

Haven't been there in a while to sit down eat.. Restaurant is small, large bar area that's almost always lively with a crowd of 9-5 commuters and/or workers of the State past 5PM on any weekday. It can be pretty shotty on the weekends with most of the business uptown, but still a nice bar nonetheless.. Their Irish Nachos leave a little to be desired, but let's talk about their 2013 cap city award winning wings.. More specifically.. Can I get a drum roll please..? Chipotle BBQ Bacon Wings - If you like spicy food and anything coated with bacon. Just try these wings. Trust. The other flavors are pretty generic other than that one. X hot is just hot with pepper flakes, which isn't too creative of a twist on "X" for me.. But there it is. On the flipside.. As one who cares about how girthy of a chicken wing I'm about to ingest (paying nearly a dollar a wing at most reputable pubs), you can rest e z knowing McGearys doesn't skimp on size. read more

We were introduced to McGeary's by a local hotel employee, and it was exactly what we needed. We were with our toddler, and they accommodated us easily in the back dining room. Our son has an egg allergy, and they were great about checking items for us so I knew what he could eat. Even though there was live music when we were there, the back dining room was at a reasonable sound level (so we could have a conversation). The food and drinks were delicious. Highly recommend for tourists looking for some local flair while in town! read more

For the Bills games it's quite festive. Wings are done right. Rarely in downtown Albany so I probably wouldn't venture here unless I was into one of the aforementioned reasons. read more

Great atmosphere and The staff are incredible! Defiantly a place to have a good time with friends

First time visit ... found a fun atmosphere on a summer weekend night. It's tucked around the corner from N.Pearl clubbin' block ...and different feel altogether: patrons pouring into Clinton square easily conversing around patio tables ... gathered around the long,tv-lined, sufficiently-staffed bar... sitting in a quiet dining area at the back of the room ... friendly attentive staff all around (including an adopted? wandering matron of the house) They offer a long list of draught possibilities and not solely run o' the mill stuff ... as well as a sizable menu of locally inspired dishes (or simply named after local spaces). Truthfully ... neither of us found our meals impressive, or even good enough to finish, or even worth boxing up for home ... but nevertheless I'll be back to try again. It's one of rare places I'd be happy to bring out-of-town guests ... it's unique enough to feel like a neighborhood spot but attentive enough to not make you feel like your crashing the party. It's not Lark Tavern. Don't think it should try to be ... migration of staff notwithstanding. But it' shares a kindred spirit with LT - which is nice. read more

Above average hole in the wall Irish sports bar. We found ourselves here twice on two separate occasions and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. read more

Whenever I rehearse and/or perform in the Palace Theater few doors down, I ALWAYS come here. There is a bar section in the front, and a restaurant section in the back. The Good: Vast tap beer selection and delicious sliders appetizer. Very friendly wait staff. Small discount for Albany Symphony musicians who dine here. The Not-so-good: The service can be slow during lunch hour, and many tables are wobbly (the waitresses are happy to stabilize the tables for you with cardboards if you ask) I'm a fan! read more

We went there before a show this evening at the Palace. The place was busy but we were seated by a nice hostess, very quickly. We had a very nice waiter , but he didn't write our order down. I ordered a roast beef sandwich and said no lettuce. The waiter repeated it. Of course there was a lot of lettuce. The outside of the sandwich was dry, like bread that is left out for hours. The roast beef had no flavor at all. Big disappointment. My husband ordered a sandwich and chips. Instead he was given fries. The sandwich was corned beef. Very thin sandwich...very little flavor....and again the outside was dry as if it were left out for hours. The macaroni salad just tasted like garlic. We will not be going to this restaurant again. read more

If I'm ever here in town again I'm coming back. The bacon BBQ burger was like a velvety lullaby. It was about as big as my goldendoodle's head and cooked perfectly. The bun my delicious burger was rested on was supple...so supple. It was close to fresh croissant supple. Buttered and grilled... Can't say enough good things about the staff. I don't know who these two girls are tending bar but they are a couple of gems! read more

God, this was the worst food ever. I only give 2 stars to pity the kind and thoughtful waitresses in this joint whom I overtipped purposefully to make up for everything else. Service was fantastic. Food was utterly inedible. Not sure what else to say. How can you ruin fries and guacamole? Ingredients. Inexcusable. read more

We went before a show at the Palace the place was packed but the bar service was still fast, after the show we went back to eat. The burgers are fantastic and prices very reasonable, the waiter was a bit of a jerk but overall a good experience,I would recommend this place to everyone. read more

I went here several times when I lived in the area. I don't recall ever eating here, but stopped by with others for drinks - which they have a good selection of. It's a neat spot, and everytime I was here, it had a good mix of people. I would recommend. read more

Went on Saint Patricks day... They're was a cover charge to get in and there shouldn't have been. There was no band, dj or anything Special to warrant a cover charge. The food was decent, I liked it. My wife found her chicken sandwich to be dry. With so many choices, my bar money will go elsewhere. It may have an Irish name, but that's not a good enough reason to go here on Saint Patricks day, or any other day for that matter... PSP, Pearl Street Pub was way more happening and a much better time. PSP had a dj, a hype man and live music and the was no cover charge. read more

This place is great very diverse crowd food is delicious bar staff very friendly and knows what to be served, this is an Albany staple that I'll be around for a long long time thank God. See you Thursday! read more

Just went to McGeary's the a few nights ago for dinner as we happened to be near downtown Albany and wanted to have a nice dinner but didn't want to go to a chain restaurant and happened stop at McGeary's. We were all pleasantly surprised. Our dinners including appetizer were excellent pub food made fresh and very tasty. Service was quick and efficient and our waitress went out of her way to make us feel welcome. When she found out it was a birthday she brought us a terrific liqueur served in chocolate cups - a very nice touch. Unfortunately we don't live close to Albany but we will definitely come back to McGearys for dinner. read more

Excellent food & beer selection... service was prompt & friendly! Wings & burgers were delicious!

Great bar with fantastic staff. All other bars in the area were closed. The bartenders were on their own handling both the floor and the bar. Then they got slammed, and... handled it like champions! I was stuck in Albany due to a snowstorm and was seriously impressed. Will be back any time I find myself in the capital city! Thank you Shane and DC. I was impressed! read more

The wings were so good & i had an apple beer dont remember the name but it was sooooo good. The staff are very sweet too.

We were in town for a couple of days while our son visited Rensselaer. We felt like strangers in a strange land, but as soon as we walked into McGeary's we felt so much at home. Great food, great atmosphere, and genuine kindness and hospitality. I want to go back to Albany - just to experience McGeary's. A special thanks to Shane for giving us tips about Rensselaer and the area. We all felt like we made a friend. We will be back. Take care all. Burt, Janet, Trenton & Anderson read more

Sometimes I wonder if I'm too easy on my Yelp ratings; almost all of my ratings are 4s and 5s. But then I realize that I travel extensively, and I remember the best places...and McGeary's is a place I return to time and again. True story: my first time there was in January of 2011. I was with a small group of friends, and we felt instantly welcomed. The banter with the managers, owner, and staff was exactly what I'd expect from an Irish Pub - in Ireland. The line between 'customer' and 'staff' blurred, as we sat together, joked, told stories, had a delicious meal at very reasonable prices, and drank some great beer. The Manager, Tess, is the former owner of the Lark Pub that was destroyed in a fire a few years back. The next time I visited was May 2012 - and they remembered my partner and me - right down to the table we sat at. THAT is customer service....and, in spite of the fact that was crazy-busy, it was just as fun, just as delicious, just as down-to-earth. I will be going back in three weeks, because now, no trip to Albany is complete without a stop at McGeary's. read more

We're visiting Albany and this was a great place for a quick dinner. Good food, good service, fun atmosphere.

Great place to sit down and have a beer. The owner is awesome and frequently is chatting with the customers. You can really feel at home here with fantastic service and a reasonably large draft selection. Favorite place in downtown Albany read more

Mcgeary's is great. Great Beers on tap, and amazing food, I recommend the Irish Nachos, and the Chicken Wings. It's also great on Sundays for Football, it is the Albany Bills Backers Bar, tons of Buffalo Bills fans! read more

Had some wings and a roast beef sandwich. Everything was good. The service was faster than the first time i went but it was also way less busy. There was a band. Too bad it was raining and we couldnt sit outside. read more

We have been going here for about a year, we used to go to hurleys from 1983-1990 and just recently came back to the area and found mcgrearys .We have had very good wings there in the past this time they were soggy after we asked for extra crispy We sent them back 3 times each time they came back worse , coming back at the end burnt due to deep frying them with sauce( this was an order of 30) and inedible The one waitress trying to be helpful while the other being sarcastic with her "have a nice day" We came home and called the owner who suggested we dont return. I feel you should stand by your product and the customer is right read more

First time here. Fantastic food!!!! Soooo gooood. Excellent service!! Definitely coming back. Stop in when you're in the area! Marie the bartender is one of a kind!! Stop in to visit her. read more

went on my 70th birthday before a show at the palace. The place was mobbed & the atmosphere was like something out of a keystone cops episode. We waited for a table until the "back room" was made ready for us. That place was a clown show headed by a waiter who ran around like a chicken with his head cut off. one of our party actually had to ask if our order could be taken. three people at our table got their food while I sat there with nothing in front of me. I ordered a simple corn beef sandwich. When the mistake was detected my sandwich was hastily slapped together & thrown at me by a waitress who said to me when I expressed my disappointment, " Next time dont come" we spent from a little after 5 until 6:30 in a mad house. It was one of the worse dining experiences I have ever had & for me there will not be a "next time " read more

If your going to hunt in bear country.... Make sure to hunt with a partner who is slower then u are

Nice bar - went for trivia night with some friends. I got a Thai Chicken sandwich and it was really good, I highly recommend it if you like the ingredients in it! read more

Came here with friends for bar food and cold beer and was not dissappointed! I highly reccomend the eggplant fries. The sweet potato tots were just okay, but the fried mac and cheese and the nachos were delicious. Definitely a hipster crowd vibe was going on, since it was an open mic night and the music was awesome. Irish food, irish beers, Love this place. Went on a Wednesday night and it was crowded. read more

I travel four days a week and go to many establishments and the thing that impresses me most about McGeary's is the staff. Shane, Marie, Hallsie and Mark ( I think I have the names right ) are super professional and make you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door. Thank you for hiring such quality people to make McGeary's shine. I am sorry that I brought my troubled friend Jeff in but we all have a cross to bare! read more