So, here's the thing. My wife and I really wanted to find either an English or Irish pub and there simply wasn't one around us. The short story is that we found this place and it is a gem. Though a 30 minute drive away for us on a good day, we love it so much we call it our secret pub. It looks unassuming from the outside, but the staff and patrons are tops. Steven and Ashley bartend and will take care of you. I like a lot of the items on their menu. I'm almost afraid to recommend this place so as to not lose our secret spot, but I'm sure anyone reading this will love the place too. Side note; I keep going back for fish and chips. So crispy yet flaky. Love this place. read more

I was really looking forward to the French dip but it fell flat and the fish was greasy. The staff seemed more concerned with the folks at the bar than those at tables but we did get there when they first opened. And it is a pub so I get it but there are other pubs that are friendlier in my opinion. I'm sure they love their regulars. Oh well. Next. read more

McSwiggan's Irish Pub - French Dip - Irish Pub Near Me - The Colony, Texas

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Love this spot! Great food, really cool ambiance, excellent drinks, and the service was top notch!

Not all experiences can be 5 stars and unfortunately this didn't really quite hit the mark! Ordered the fried ravioli as an appetizer....nothing special but by far the best of the night. My main dish, the shepherds pie was a tad sweet and disappointing. My friend had the philly cheese steak and enjoyed it. The sliders were served really late and again were just "ok"! Service was lacking and it was slow. I've had some really good Irish Food before but this place just wasn't that good. On a different note...it's definitely got that Irish Pub feel. Based on the other reviews maybe this was just a bad night.... read more

Was never noticed at the door, tables were disgusting and it looked like mayhem. Ended up walking out disappointed.

It's hard to make a modern pub that doesn't suck and actually FEELS like a pub - dark, woody, kind of dank with that old-beer-soaked-wood musk... This place may not have it all, but it comes damn close for a modern pub. I was really, truly pleasantly surprised with how they pulled off PUB vs traditional shiny American bar posing as a pub. Did it have 50+ years of existence to get that old-beer-soaked-wood completeness? Of course not. But they did a fine job with the pub vibe given the place is less than 10-years old. Dark, woody, and cozy. Gary took great care of us and was later helped out by Jeremy. My wife and I both thought they were a good set of dudes to tend to this place - contrary to some reviewers' thoughts that only chick bartenders are good here. Service was pretty prompt and beer discussions were good and honest. Friendly. Good vibe. My wife went with a pulled pork sandwich and I went with the often highly touted and more traditional shepherds pie. She loved her sammich, and I thought it was very good - but not as good as she did. It could have used a tad more moisture and a better bun. (I've had better.) Her fries were also good - but standard. Nothing special, but good... which fits for a pub, I suppose. My shepherds pie was nothing short of comfort food. It was good, simple, and without pretense. Think of Mom's meat loaf... but with an Irish / UK twist. It was definitely good and I cleaned my plate, but it wasn't amazing or whatever. It was also a bit on the small side, with no side dish, so prolly don't order it if you're starving. Still, I enjoyed it. Beer selection could be better for a pub, but it was respectable. Whiskey selection was lacking - they could use some work there. For being located where it is (super new and shiny Austin Ranch), this place does a fine job. We'll be back for sure. But we will NOT be back during a Patriots game, as this place... alas... is a Patriot bar. (Weird.) Also, good value overall, especially for being in the swank little area it's in. read more

McSwiggan's Irish Pub - Yum!!! An excellent example of this seasonal genre. - Irish Pub Near Me - The Colony, Texas

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Had the fish and chips. Very good! Will come again. We need more Pubs like this with good food to accompany the whiskey and beers.

Great bar everything was what you'd want in an Irish pub . I walked in saw this young guy try g to order a beer . I quickly got her attention and pointed to the gentleman that was before me . She took care of his order . Then I placed mine . Went fine for one more round. I decided I was going to pay his tab and have one more beer . They were talking at the end of the bar not helping customers. I never said a word. Because I inconvenience. Them after I already got my tab for the kid and me the manager jumps out and says don't come back . Best guess don't talk to the bartenders . read more

First time trying this place was on St. Paddy's Day. Nice atmosphere, but parking was a little sparse. Staff was nice and attentive. For my appetizer, I got the Guinness beef stew ($5 cup). Flavor was good, a bit saltier than I'd prefer, but not bad. Good amount of meat. For my entree, I got the fish and chips ($13). Portion was better than I was expecting for the price. Fish was cooked well, batter wasn't over done, like a lot of places do. Fish itself had a very neutral taste, which let's you know it's fresh. Batter could have been more seasoned, but was fine. Fries were fine too. There was a $5 cover charge, which is pretty lame since there was no band or other special entertainment to justify a cover charge. Therefore, losing a star. read more

Looking for a place near Scheel's and wanted Guinness. This place was nearby, so decision was made. The server/bartender was very funny and perfect for the job. Drink orders taken; Guinness, Yuengling & Shiner. One ordered water and the server said, so Coors? We looked over the menu and decided to play it safe since we didn't take time to review first. I ordered the Club and my son ordered Fish & Chips. The server went on to tell us that nearly everything is freshly made and I happily changed my order to Fish & Chips. They were wonderful and the house made tartar was delicious. Husband had a Rueben Sandwich that was very good. The French fries may have stolen the show. Likely the best fries I have ever had. Fish was perfectly cooked. Lunch for 4 was under $80, including 4 beers. I really recommend this spot for good draft and good beer, and even a laugh or two. read more

I used to live in walking distance of what we affectionately dubbed McSquizzy's, & I miss it terribly. Reliably good & reasonably priced bar food, great staff, fun trivia nights, & generally a laid back, sociable and fun crowd. I enjoyed many fascinating chance conversations sitting at the bar. As another review mentioned, it can get insane when certain games are on. If that's not your idea of a good time, totally understandable, you'll just want to miss it at those times & come back later. Absolutely worth a trip. read more

Great place. Fun and food Awesome Real atmosphere, better than Irish pubs been to. Great not to have to go downtown for lively night out. read more

We were visiting our daughter and her boyfriend and were looking for a place to watch the football game. He heard of McSwiggan's and wanted to give it a try. We were a little hesitant when we walked in because the place was pretty empty. Well everyone else is missing out, because this place is a diamond in the rough! Being from Boston, we were excited to see the Boston sports memorabilia. Surprisingly the NE clam chowder was delicious. All food and drinks were very good so I definitely recommend McSwiggan's! read more

Nice little pub with great food! Onion rings were excellent, thick and cooked just right in a light flaky batter. Ruben was very good too, with good rye bread and lean tender corned beef, but a bit to much thousand island. Fish and chips were cooked perfectly, and fish was very good quality and texture. Nice crispy fries with a flavorful seasoning. Service was good and attentive. Will be back! read more

Irish pub ambiance... delicious fish and chips and Rueben sandwich ... enjoyed the Smithwick beer on tap... good service! We like this place a lot! read more

We were unfairly banned from trivia because we kept winning so angry I loved trivia and my dreams got crushed

Great place ice cold beer very friendly staff, love it and will be back!

We moved here two months ago from Southlake and found this place. We have since been here on four separate occasions and every time the service, food and atmosphere have been excellent! Reasonable pricing also. read more

It seems that if you are not a 'regular' or don't live in the apartments above this place, the employees do not care if you are there or not. We came in on a Saturday evening (7:30 ish) looking to try the Shepard's Pie. The 10 chairs at the bar were taken, so we sat at a table. While the table top was a bit sticky, it didn't bother us too much because this place is a "pub". However, after sitting at the table for over 10 minutes without anyone coming by to bring us a menu or take our drink order, we decided to leave. Life is too short to waste time in an establishment that doesn't really want your business and is content with serving only the folks that sit at the bar. Helpful hint: If there are no chairs at the bar available, look elsewhere for your adult beverages....this could explain why the bar next door is twice the size of this place. read more

Man these guys in the past have been awesome. Tonight, I was cut off. Sober. I had just witnessed one person of Asian decent barely able to stand still buy shots from Tom. I'm sitting here drinking Black and Tans and get cut off. I'm writing this immediately after being cut off. Seems odd right? I can complete grammatical sentences. Sorry Tom. You were awesome until tonight. May or may it go back. Seems like they pick and choose. Update: Todd is a good guy. He gave me shit about my review. Explained what had happen. Come back, even if you have a bad review. Nothing like having a peg leg gimp serve you. Knock something off the bar and ask him to pick it up. Then laugh. read more

I love this bar. It's a nice chill out place. There are a lot of regulars that are nice. Well most of the time haha. Friendly staff and good food. read more

First time we have ever been to this long-time resident in Austin Ranch. Service was excellent (an actual professional waiter), Fish and Chips was excellent as was the Shepherd's Pie. Atmosphere was warm, friendly and decor was what it should be for a pub. We'll be back. read more

One of me and my coworker's favorite places to go for lunch! Nothing on the menu has ever disappointed either one of us but I highly recommend the Guinness Irish Stew!!! The lunch menu is priced at $7.99 or less and the portions are BIG so I always have to get a box! I was able to meet my husband and his crew there today and they all LOVED what they ordered and said it was well worth it! The best part of this place is not only the great food but the laid-back atmosphere and cool people that work there! When our server agreed to call one of his guys "sugar-tits" it was the highlight of our visit! Haaahaa!!! If you haven't been do yourself a favor and GO! read more

Stopped there for lunch and had the fish and chips which were good not greasy as can happen. Wait staff very friendly and attentive.

Great semi-divey irish joint. Nice patio, dog friendly. Bartenders are very personable and hilarious and make great drinks, and they are great at recommendations for drinks if you can't make up your mind. Nice, safe neighborhood, clean bathrooms, plenty of events (trivia, live music, etc.) read more

Awesome environment! Cool bar tender named Gary! Food is cooked to perfection! Low lit environment with good music playing where you can still hold a conversation w out yelling! I'll definitely be back. It's also a great place to entertain business clients & hold meetings! read more

This is not only an AMAZING place to hang out, but they have some of the best food you can get! Our apartment complex gave us a $20 gift card to patronize the restaurants (all restaurants are delivery or grab and go) in the complex and my wife's and my first choice was McSwiggan's. Please help this amazing Irish pub that serves as a home to us survive during this time. Here's the breakdown of the foods; Burgers: Burgers are better than Gourmet. It's everything out want in a burger. Nice thick patty, great toppings and made to order with some killer fries. The rueben: Had this mother tonight and it's what I come here for. Being a Bostonian, I love a killer Reuben. This is it right here. Not skimpy on the corned beef and the kraut and mustard is tits as well. The potato skins: These are the best potato skins. Bottom line end of story. If you need skins these are them. Chicken tenders and fries: Don't let this Illude you as a simple child's menu item. The tendies are beyond amazing. Hot and crispy on the out side and tender and juice on the inside. Oh, and the honey mustard is totally out of this world! Look, I don't work here nor do I own any part of this bar. I eat here and drink here on the regular and it's a really great place. I just want to make sure that the people that the people that cook here, serve here, and bartender here have a place to go to. If you live in the oaks please spend your card here. If you're bored order a drink (yes alcoholic they can still serve you to go), if you don't know what to do for dinner please check out there menu. Best to all staff April and Ed love each and every one of you and will be back in for drinks and food as soon as possible. These are the tru hero's right now. Sadly the bartenders can't share their craft, but the kitchen can still share theirs. These bartenders and service members NEED your support. Please eat out for delivery or take out. It MATTERS. read more

OK, so I didn't know that Shepherd's Pie is normally made without a crust. I've had it at other places, I guess like a pot pie? So I just assumed that was the way it was made. Now I know. So we went back tonight and got the 2x beer battered fish and chips - my new favorite. I can drink the Chef's Sauce right out of the bottle. I need to find that stuff and buy it!! They have a new Christmas Ale - Horton's. It's good and if Christmas had a taste - this would be it. Marley - AWESOME SERVER AWARD. She was sweet and and just the right about of service. She rocked. I hope to make this a Sunday night hang out! Oh TIP: they have a magazine there they advertise in and if you mention it, you get a 15% discount. Perfect!! read more

I DO NOT live in Austin Ranch. I hate all the pretentious muscle heads and barbie dolls, I'll also include the idiots that fall somewhere around them as well. This place is the ONLY reason I go to Austin Ranch. For such a small place, it's insane. The bartenders are nice, friendly, and when they get to know you they are like friends. Service to the tables is slow when it's busy, but they're working hard and if you watch them you'll see it. The food is alright. I've had a few things and they were as I expected, I'm interested in the Shepherd's Pie. My mom makes a different version. The beer selection is great. John even knows I drink Belhaven Scottish Ale. He's also recommended beers that they have to replace ones they don't. We had the Sing Tao instead of the Stella. Great choice. EVERYONE I have brought here has loved this place. My friends from Austin want to visit and go back there. I hope this place does great. I love how it's small, and personal. Like a true neighborhood pub. read more

I live in Austin Ranch so I had to McSwiggans on a pretty regular basis. I really enjoy their beer selection. I like the atmosphere here. The bar is a bit on the smaller side so if there are a lot of people there it can get a bit crowded. Typically it is an average crowd and not too packed. They have shuffle board tables, dart boards and tvs to keep you entertained. Food is also pretty good although I typically go here for happy hour and appetizers. I'm a big fan of the fried pickles and pretzels. Super delicious!!! For beer, I tend to indulge in UFO. I recommend this place. And I love that it is non-smoking. read more

Shh....hey, want to know a secret? Do ya? ;) Keep this quiet...but there is a GREAT BOSTON IRISH PUB in The Colony!!!! Yeah, keep it quiet...we don't want everyone to know....cause gotta have a reason to go "home" once in a while, right? Seriously. This place is right out of Boylston St, Brighton Ave in Allston....or most any pub in Southie. And you know what? They got people FROM there coming in..... Ok, I know, what's the service like? How about the food? How was the beer? Service was excellent. I just walked down near the bar and John the bartender saw me standing there, and made sure I had what I needed. Then, when I ordered a Buffalo Chicken Grinder (yep, it is), made a "spot" on the bar where I could stand and eat the sandwich, while still watching the Patriots/Bills game. Most places would just tell you, if you're standing, you gotta find a place for your food. The beer? Had 3 Sam Adams BL and they were excellent. The grinder? Had a REAL kick (only kick Buffalo had all day) and was just great! Fries were good too, who knew ranch dressing went well with fries? Now, here is the "occasional" bad news....for Patriots games...this place will be PACKED. And that's GREAT! Problem is, if you don't get there early enough....you're standing. Next time I go, I'll be there early enough. Parking IS tight....as the pub is in a condo/apt/townhouse complex. Should be able to find a spot in the lot behind the pub. Prices? Very reasonable! Looking forward to my next visit....when I'm back in town. read more

I live in Austin Ranch so I go here often. The atmosphere is relaxed, beer selection is great, and the fact that it's a Red Sox haven are just three reasons why I love this bar. Gecko has terribly rude servers and Zen is just d-bag central. If you want to sit down, catch up w/ friends, watch a game, enjoy good beer, all while being served by friendly and capable staff, this is your place. If you're a shitty beer drinking, 'roided-out douchetastic Yankees fan, go elsewhere. :) I'mma go get me a burger now, meh! read more

Came on a weeknight to watch football but all they had on the screen was baseball. This place has a great Irish pub ambiance, it is very low key and quiet enough to have a conversation. The regulars and the bartender were exceptionally friendly and welcoming. The food was just so-so and I probably will stick to the fish n chips next time. I had the lobster roll, it was a toasted small hot dog bun with a scoop of very finely chopped lobster with a lottttta mayo for $13.99. At least the fries crispy and seasoned well. This is a good place with good drinks and we will add this to our regular stops, just not a place to eat. read more

I made the mistake of ordering the Bangers & Mash here my first night moving in to Austin Ranch... They were repugnant. The potatoes were like rubber and the sausages were mushy. Everything was doused in a heaping of grease. I went back again with some friends last night, and while the food was a bit more palatable everything was still slathered with grease. The waitress was friendly, it just took upwards of 20 minutes to get her to circulate through the 4 tables and only three reminders of the drinks were ordered. They aren't getting a chance for me to give them a third strike. read more

Outstanding. Had Guinness Beef Stew and Fish and Chips. Loud here, but a nice place to eat anyhow. Service was great. Looking forward to coming back again. Looking forward to trying other menu items next time here. read more

I wanted to take a minute to update my McSwiggans review as I've been there several times since my last review. This update is all good news. The food, drinks, staff, & mix/mingle of people remains awesome! This is still a fun place! My last update from September promised updates on Clam Chowder, Fish & Chips, Sheppard's Pie, & The BBQ ribs. Plus I also re-tried the beef stew since it was the only low point from my last review. Here is a brief compilation of updates obtained over several visits -- 1. Beef stew is now awesome! It's no longer the over-salted, gloopy mess I had back in September. The beef stew is worth a try. It was rich and satisfying, but the broth was not overly heavy. It had that 'made from scratch' consistency and taste. 2. Clam Chowder rocks! The claims have a natural sweetness that comes through on the palate. The chowder is well done. This is traditional 'new England' style chowder but not overly thick. I'm going to ask, perhaps when the weather gets warmer, if they could also do a 'Rhode island' style clam chowder. 'Rhode Island' chowder is clear-broth based. Since they do use fresh claims in the chowder I'm going to ask if they can do clam cakes as well -- Rhode Island Chowder & Claim Cakes are favorite summertime dishes of mine. 3. Lobster roll. -- Well worth it. My lobster roll had lots of claw meat & was not overloaded with mayo. Plus it had a nice light seasoning that (celery salt?) that complimented the lobster meat really well. 4. Fish & Chips -- The fish and chips here do not disappoint! The fish did not disappoint & the chips were well done. I recommend ordering this & Skipping tartar sauce & just go with some squeezed lemons & a few harpoon UFO white beers. 5. BBQ ribs -- still to-do -- I'll try these when I return to McSwiggans around new years. 6. Fried Okra. I had a chance to try the fried okra as a new acquaintance suggested it. I'm not much of an okra eater, but if you like fried okra this is probably as good as fried okra gets. The okra was not gloopy, soft or overcooked. Okra had a bit of 'snap' to it and a nice crunch to the seeds on the inside. 7. Breakfast sandwiches. The same new acquaintance who had me try the fried okra suggested a special breakfast sandwich he calls an 'Irish hand grenade'. It's good to hear about these 'not-on-the-menu-one-off's' at a restaurant as that means the restaurant will to whatever it takes to keep their customers happy. Think 'in-n-out' & the success they've had :-). This particular breakfast sandwich was special ordered with the entire mutual-of-Omaha animal-kingdom of meats on it. I'd not recommend ordering an 'Irish hand grenade' breakfast sandwich unless you had a combination of being extremely hung over & extremely hungry. McSwiggans continues to have great conventional breakfasts & breakfast sandwiches as well. read more

I have only ever had great experiences at this pub. The bartenders have always been courteous and fun-loving, the dining area is dark but charming, and the drinks are all reasonably priced. The staff is more than accommodating, and we have always been able to get the games we want to watch on at least one of the TVs. If you happen to be in the area and need a place to to watch a game, this cozy neighborhood bar fits the bill. read more

Walked in and the bar is full. One bartender. Seating area empty. I sit in the middle of the seating area with no menu no drink. Waitress walks by twice. I wait 7 minutes. Not one acknowledgement. Finally guy bartender walks over. Friendly brought menu. Pushed prime rib. The Prime Rib was a lil undercooked for me but good. In conclusion this bar is very much a locals bar, Everyone that walked in the door was greeted with their name. Can be a friendly place if you are accepted into the Cliq. read more

McSwiggan's Irish Pub - Menu - Irish Pub Near Me - The Colony, Texas

Great hangout to come watch the game, great service at the bar...my friend says it's like the Cheers of Austin Ranch. Couldn't agree more! Also a must try: fried pickles and the kobe beef sliders. Both will rock your world. read more

A friend of mine planned a happy hour here, and a few us went. The environment was extremely laid back, and there were a few tv's in there if you are into sports. I love this little pub, it's very homey, and if you like to drink beer, this is the place for it. If you are not a beer drinker, they offer other beverages. I don't recommend the Kobe beef sliders because it tasted like cheap ground beef bought from the grocery store, it was too dry, but I do recommend the fried green beans and fried pickles if you are in the mood for a little something to nibble on. If you don't want to dress fancy or dress too casual, this is the place to venture out to. If you get bored and want to check out another place, there are plenty of bars to pick from in Austin Ranch. read more