I generally love going to bars for lunch but our experience at O'tooles last week was so bad I'd never go back and feel compelled to write a review about it. The place was not very busy for lunch on a Friday. Definately less than half the tables were full, and I'd say there couldn't have been more than 8-10 parties in the entire place. They had ONE waitress. ONE. And she definately was taking her time. We were there for about 1.5-2 hours for sandwich style lunches. We ordered shortly after 12, after arriving at 11:45. The food came out around 1. You know its bad when you forget what you wanted because it took so long to place your order. It got so bad the waitress started bringing us pitchers of soda to avoid having to come back and pour them herself. We didn't ask for this, it was just decided for us by the waitress. We weren't even drinking what she brought out, and after the first diet soda I was stuck drinking unflavored ice tea going forward. When the food came out, it came out in waves of 2-3 dishes for a table of eight with several minutes between waves, and some people said theirs was cold. It was just all around awful. They had your average bar menu and I got some sort of sandwich and fries....nothing to write home about. The food was very average. We were with a large party of people we rarely see which kept us distracted from how bad this place was. I'm sure we would have walked out otherwise if it was just the usual lunch crew I dine with. On an aside, I have heard the place mentioned as a good spot for Sunday football. I have never been. But to be honest? The TVs were all over the place and some very old. The layout for boothes and tables just kinda sucked for seeing the screens. The bottom line is that there are a million bars these days that have the Sunday ticket with a MUCH better layout and set up for that sort of thing. I'd never waste a Sunday there. No chance. read more

My wife, daughter and I visited for lunch on Labor Day. It was not busy. No excuses. My daughters order seems to have been forgotten about. My wife and I were done eating before daughters wings arrived. I downgraded my rating from 4 to 3 stars. I keep trying to give this place a chance. I ordered a medium rare burger, it arrived medium well The wings are Jumbo, that was the positive about our lunch. read more

This place was just what we wanted for a date night out the week of st. Paddys! We had our irish shirts on and enjoyed almost everything. The purple madness drink special was well worth it [i had 2 and felt nice]. Corned beef dinner was just what the doctor ordered. The irish linguini special is way to over the top. Interesting flavor but neither of us are sure we loved it or hated it. But the beer prices were great! Portions are awesome.it couldve been a tad bit warmer in the dining area. We both had lots leftover. Prices, portions, and our server Stephen made our night lots of fun! Thanks o'tooles! read more

O Toole's Restaurant Pub - Corned beef dinner - Sports Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

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Love Tuesday burger special. $4.99 with fries. Family friendly with nice outdoor eating read more

O Toole's Restaurant Pub - Sports Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

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The food here is AWFUL but this is a fun place to go for a beer and watch a game. Staff has been friendly and efficient on many occasions. Def stop in for drinks but the food is gross! read more

Thanks O'Toole's! Yesterday, Friday was Great Food, we loved the Fireplace, Fish Dinner Friday Special, the Ginger Beer was too Good! Our waitress was the Best!! 5 Stars from us! 12/16/2017 read more

Can you give a 1/2 star? Where to start?? We waited nearly 15 minutes to be greeted by anyone. A lot of people walked past and looked at us, but no one greeted us. When the server finally came to the table, she pointed out very clearly, this was our first time being here, she skipped over giving us an intro to the restaurant and just kind of rolled her eyes at us. We ordered a quesadilla (1/2 price apps on Sunday). We also ordered a steak Caesar naan flatbread. That was an embarrassment. It was literally dried steak with chopped romaine lettuce and powdered with Parmesan cheese. Behind us was a crew of about 20 men betting on everything. Horses, football, how long til their server came to refill their drinks. I don't know that I found a reason to return. The restaurant really left a bad impression of Albany on my husband and I. Terrible food, and awful service. I have to end my review because I'm getting nauseous reliving my experience. read more

No service unless your a regular. There are to many restaurants around to be ignored. The bartender spends all her time serving and engaging in conversation with the regulars. Waited over 20 minutes. read more

Pretty bad experience here after having two really good experiences, so I'm a bit torn. Someone was having a birthday party so the whole joint was pretty loud but service in the actual restaurant was lacking. Bathroom had a broken soap dispenser, stalls missing TP, waitress never checked in on us or filled up our water. I go here as a Celiac because of their great gluten free options. I ordered fajitas for the first time and they came out sizzling but totally tasteless. Waitress was happy to get me some wings as a replacement but they came out tasting a bit bland and were a totally different color than the last time I ordered them with the same sauce. I Waitress was either talking with other staff or not in sight to flag down for help, which affected the service that could have helped remedy the meal. Id still come again based on previous positive experiences, but this was really disappointing. read more

Good prices, good food, good atmosphere. Best wings and you can't beat the prices on burger night. The new nachos fit perfectly with any occasion. Best popcorn in the 518 in their new shop "What's Poppin". read more

The restaurant is part of Kohl's Plaza off of Central Avenue, one light southeast of the Karner/155 intersection. There is a large shared parking lot that has never filled beyond the 3rd of many rows while I've been there, so parking shouldn't be an issue. There's a bar on the right as you enter and the dining room is to the left. Restrooms are in the back corner of the place, near a large SHELL sign. The dining room is large enough that it's unlikely you'll have to wait for a table unless there's an event going on that night. I'm there every Tuesday with a big group of people. Chelsea is our usual waitress and she is fantastic. If you have a chance to request a waitress, ask for her. She'll remember your food and drink preferences by the second or third time you're there. I don't know how she does it, but she does. There's a $5 burger special on Tuesdays as well as beer and mixed drink specials. There are different food specials each night but I'm not sure how it works for drink specials on other nights. Happy hours are 3-7pm. After 9pm, the appetizers are half price. They also have half price lunches during the week. You can earn gift certificates (about 10% of your purchases over time) if you sign up for a free rewards account. Darts are near the bar. Buzztime gadgets are available if you want to play some trivia. There are quite a few TVs in this place. Some are for the trivia but most of them are for sports. We've requested particular channels and they're pretty quick at getting them changed. Not sure how they are regarding channels at the bar as we've always occupied a table (more like quite a few tables) in the dining room. They recently installed pour your own tables in the dining room near the bar. There are taps at the table and you take as much as you want up to some limit and you're charged for as much as you pour. I haven't used them, but it seems like some people enjoy them. I believe you can call ahead to reserve a table with your preferred beers on tap. The beer drinkers that join us enjoy the selection. The bar also has guest kegs that rotate beyond their regular offerings. I really like cider instead of beer. They have Woodchuck in bottles. I'd prefer Strongbow, but having a cider available is better than some bars out there. (In fact, they had Strongbow on tap as a guest keg for a while, but I don't believe they're planning to have it back anytime soon.) They're a little skimpy on the fries, especially if you get one of the specialty fries for an extra charge. I'm guessing they're portioned rather than used to fill the plate. I'd get the specialty fries more often (than never) if I got at least as many as the regular fries. Also, I haven't ordered bacon on a burger or extra sauces on the side there in a while but as of a few months ago, the bacon was not plentiful at all and you'd be charged 50 cents per sauce - we were surprised to see those charges on our checks. In addition, there are a few things missing from the menu that I'd like to order, but that could be just me. The food is ok. It's not gourmet food, but it's reasonable for a pub type place. It's totally worth it for the half price stuff and discounted drinks if you're there during those times. Chelsea's amazing service and the discounts bring this place up at least 1 star from what it would be otherwise. If you're looking for a decent place to hang out and have beverages with your friends without an annoying college student crowd, this is the place for you...especially if you're into sports. I see families in there all the time, but it's certainly more of a get-your-buddies-together sort of place. read more

Stopped here looking for food. For a Tuesday night it was pretty quiet. We ordered takeout. The food arrived quickly and was very tasty. This is a sports bar. Lots of TV's I'd go back again. read more

I love O'Toole's. I have a group of friends that has been going weekly for the past two years, and I can see why. First, I appreciate the giant parking lot. Second, I love that the waitress always remembers my face, and what I like to drink, despite the fact that I've only been there a couple of times. She's always friendly - and, more importantly for a waitress, she brings the food, made correctly, in a timely manner, or she lets us know what the problem is. The Tuesday special burgers are cheap and tasty. The chicken wings are tasty, the beer is cold and foamy (what more do you really need from beer), and the chocolate lava cake is everything I could possibly hope for. I personally don't like peppers in my salads, but that's an easy fix. I've never been disappointed at O'Toole's. read more

Fantastic experience from beginning to end. It's a nice atmosphere-you can choose to sit at the bar or at a table, both very nicely set up. We had an amazing waitress who was super friendly and informative without coming on too strong (unfortunately I forget her name, I think it started with a D). She had spot on suggestions. Not only was she great, but a gentleman who was either the manager or owner also came around to introduce himself, show us their daily specials, tell us about their VIP program and buy us a drink. He was also very nice, wasn't pushy at all. The food was awesome! You definitely have to give their wings a try. And the Reese pie! Great price, especially for the portions. read more

All in all, it's a good place to go with friends. Good, reasonably priced food. Usually good service. This most recent time, our waitress was kind of rude. I understand sometimes when you're swamped you have a hard time keeping up with everything. First when she ordered our drinks, I asked what Sam Adams Seasonal they currently had, because I know generally the Cold Snap is out right now. She told me they had Angry Orchard. Which is a completely different thing - a cider. I ignored that and after some deliberation I finally ordered a Southern Tier IPA. Which is fine. Then she took a long time to come back for our food order. We ordered it and then it took a very long time to actually get the food. We only ordered a burger and chicken sandwich. Wasn't like a steak or anything. Finally she came over after we were finished and asked if we wanted desert, we declined and she said she'd grab the check. Without saying a word, she dropped it on our table in passing. Never said anything to us about it. I was a little offended. Unfortunately for her sake, I tip more for good service and I didn't think she deserved it. Despite that incident, I've always enjoyed my time there. The Tap tables are a great asset and I think this is the only place in the area that has them. read more

I really like O'Toole's. They have great drinks, awesome trivia and a relaxed environment with FIRE. I loves me a fireplace. For reelz. But anyway, the food here is very serviceable and totally filling. When I went, the waitress accidentally put in my steak order for the larger size, but it was not my fault so she only charged me for what I ordered. SO legit. Totally delicious, medium rare, a little bit red and pink and drippy and delicious meat. And I love that I wasn't penalized for something that wasn't my mistake. Honestly, acknowledging the issue and alerting me to it is one of the best examples I've seen recently of proactive customer service. If a restaurant messes up your order, it's on them, not you. O'Toole's made a mistake but they owned and delivered on it in a way that makes me want to come back to them the next time I'm in NY. As someone who almost never goes to NY anymore, that's a feat. Try their fries and sign in to the free trivia! It's worth a laugh, if nothing else. read more

First time i came Here with my two daughters. Ate a salad w grilled chicken and spent the rest of the night throwing up. Called and told them and they said no one else has complained. The second time i went was today. Was seated with my daughter next to two men who were SCREAMING AT THE YOP OF THEIR LUNGS at the tv. After waiting for ten minutes for a server, I asked to be seated outside. No one came so we seated ourselves and still after 5 minute, no one came to that table either. Needless to say, I wont be back. read more

I absolutely love Otools. Best new England clam chowder in the capital district and vast menu. Everything I've ever had has been very good. And they have 18 beers on tap, 15 always and 3 rotating. I very highly recommend Otools. read more

Today there was a bit of a busy spell at the restaurant when I arrived. I was greeted by the Manager who helped me find a seat. Leadership like this is obvious at O'Tooles, and this attention towards the customer is certainly the reason why I keep coming back to this fine establishment. read more

Well, new menu and instead of free bar popcorn, gourmet popcorn for $5.00, just over a cup!!!! What????new menu features lobster rolls, hello, they are on hamburger buns - that's not a lobster roll!! The nachos we ordered had cheese on one side. Bartender was super nice, but can't believe you are giving up the historic bar menu and free pop in favor of profits. Sad changes. read more

Great place to go to watch sports. The food is excellent and the have daily specials. Thursday when I was there I had a 10 NY Strip, potato and veggies $14.99. Medium steak cooked perfectly along with my favorite merlot (Estrella) our server Steven was attentive and managed many tables but you would never know. The manager stopped by to check our satisfaction. Great value for your dollar and the service was professional read more

Just arrived in Albany after all day travel. We found this place by just passing by. Cool place, food looks good, but the service is not up to par. Even though its a Monday and not many people - lets just say, the service should be better. Maybe we got the "B" team. read more

Sucked! This used to be a great place to go out to lunch during the work day. Not any more... Couldn't even get a burger medium. It came to the table very rare - nearly raw. The manager and the waitress were rude when I complained. They took the burger off the bill but I ended up paying nearly $3 for a club soda! Poor customer service! Lousy food. I've made excuses before but this was the last straw! Never again. read more

The staff were very nice and the food just OK. I don't think this is a place to go with high expectations. The burger was good - it had a nice char and I ordered the shoestring ("plain") fries instead of the beer-battered ones that would normally have come with the meal because I didn't want all that extra seasoning. Nice long bottled beer selection, about 20 more on tap. Pathetic wine list and not much choice in terms of quality liquor so if you are with a friend who doesn't like beer and wants a drink find another venue. Lively bar scene but no Happy Hour specials in the dining area. Plenty of parking. read more

Great place for gluten free people! They have 3 gluten free beers so I decided to try the one from Spain. Can't remember the name of it but it was soooo good. I had a gluten free Reuben and it was yummy. I asked for my fries to be extra crispy and they were perfect. The service was spot on as well. Always loved O'Tooles and I'm happy to see they are still are doing a good job after all these years. read more

Three of us had dinner here one weeknight evening. We were seated at 6pm and had to leave by 7:30, since there was not a big crowd it seemed that that would be no problem.. The menu has such a variety we had trouble deciding. We ended up ordering a bunch of appitizers and one of us got a burger. I ordered a margarita. It was so bad that I took a sip and set it to the side of the table for the server to remove from the table. The food took so long to come that I had to ask for the check when the food was delivered. The food was so unimpressive that we didn't take any of the large amount of uneaten food with us. When he brought the check I told the server that he could take the margarita away. He never asked if it was ok, or took it off the bill. I felt like I completely wasted $80. We will not be back. read more

Came back again while I was in town with family. We came here after a day of being in Schenectady with family, which really should be a review in itself... The really good news here is that there is beer. Top it off O'tooles had live music, Keno or as I see below it's Quick Draw, and the claw game. I love me some claw game :) But really, Ithaca Apricot Ale was a hit and Kevin McKrell was singing that night. He's obviously a local legend because he drew quite the crowd and was very good, singing lots of favorites. My family and I loved it! Thanks O'Tooles! read more

I love this place. When ever we're in Albany I try to stop in. Love the atmophere and the food. Pub style food is what I love. Service is usually pretty good. I wish my town had a bar/restaurant like this because it would be my favor place to go on weekends. read more

For a Sunday, they have 1/2 price appetizers which you could totally make into a meal. A lot of food for price. Typical pub food with lots of tables and sport theme tvs. Try getting seat near fireplace in winter months. Have specials throughout football season! read more

We went on a Wednesday night and beginning at 7 pm they had "Big Crunch BIngo" which was really fun. They played 80s and 90s music and you had bingo cards with the band/singer names. They eventually would tell you who the artists were, but the edge for winning is to know them. We had fun singing along. The nachos are excellent here. Very generous portion with very tasty toppings in great proportion. House wine (I tried the chardonnay) not bad and reasonably priced. Great beer selection for the beer fans, including many gluten free choices for those who need them. Service was great and pleasant despite bustling crowd. Family friendly. Classic pub fare. Look forward to coming back! read more

I just had my daughter's baby shower in the Back Room at O'Tooles. The manager, Anthony and his staff were so professional and easy to work with.Tony, the event coordinator for my party was so attentive and constantly making sure I had everything I needed. The Backroom is beautiful and perfect for any kind of party. If you are looking for a reasonably priced venue for a party, this is your place. I guarantee you won't be dissapointed. Also, food was great and bartender excellent. read more

This place is pretty disappointing... The food was terrible... The service was less than desirable and it was cold in the restaurant. They have a fireplace that wasn't lit...They advertise that they show the NFL games and yet the tvs are strategically placed so you can't see the 22in screens if you are in the dining room. If you can't deal with tilted/crooked wall decor, well that's another uphill battle. read more

Heard it was a great restaurant from radio advertisement. My husband and I decided to try it. The absolute worst! Soup was beef teriyaki! Tasted like mud! Chicken quesadillas were awful and so was burger. Never will we go back. Don't waste your money!! Horrendous read more

We had a holiday party at O'Toole's renovated backspace. The space is elegant, warm and modern. The food was good. I would recommend the space for any large group get together. read more

Good bar food. Fun atmosphere. Lots of seating. Bar with sports or booths for 4. Daily specials for lunch. Beer specials. Near EV charging station. read more

We won't be back. Service was suuuppper slow, the cheese on the grilled cheese was not even melted and the burger was over cooked.

I live 4 blocks away so decided to give it a shot. Got sat and given menu's... 15 minutes later still no server. 3 tables over, another table that sat 5 minutes after ours already had drinks and were putting a food order in. Got up and walked out, nobody even noticed. Won't ever be going back. read more

We waited to be sat. We waited to be greeted. We waited for everything to the point that we'll probably never be back. After spending 11 years in the restaurant industry, I have a lot of tolerance for a busy day, which this was not. High prices, so they run lots of specials, and small portion sizes. Mediocre at best. Don't bother. read more

Tried O'Toole's again after a year's absence due to disappointing experiences. Well this was, sadly, more of the same. Our order was wrong and we waited quite a while for the correction. The service was terribly slow, and, to be clear, it was not crowded. We ordered food to go and obviously it was forgotten, so we waited even longer. Even though we sat with no drinks and were waiting for food, we had to go out of our way to get refills. Then, out of nowhere, the temperature dropped about ten degrees. Mediocre food, terrible service, uncomfortable environment, it will be another year before we might try this again. Too bad it's so convenient. read more

I ordered the chopped salad and it looked awesome when it came out. However, when i bit into the chicken, it was so hard and chewy - so gross! If the salad had come without chicken, it would have been one of the best salads I ever had. Just a heads up - don't order the chopped salad with chicken!! read more