Owl 'n Thistle Irish Pub & Restaurant

03/12/2008 Posted by jamesdeanreeves

I'm not sure why some people like this place - it's a cesspool - It reeks of bile & urine, and if that's a signature of and authentic Irish Pub, then NO THANKS. The service is pretty bad in there (wait 10-15 minutes on beer), and the food was far, far less than stellar - McD's has better food. I counted 3 items on the menu that are true Irish dish, the rest was just your normal American Pub Food. I've been there twice, several months apart and it was the same experience - same stench, same service, same food. If you want a good, clean Irish Pub with good Irish food, complete with Irish employees, go to Paddy Coynes.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: Not enough room to list here

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

03/10/2008 Posted by nelsg

Yes, this place has terrible service, but has anyone else noticed that the staff if on their lips halfway through the night? Could this possibly be the reason it takes 20 minutes to get a beer? Or that when your beer does arrive, it's wrong? This past Saturday was a joke, not only were the waitresses just plowed, the bartender in the back was rude and totally not holding the shots they kept trying to "sneak". But I guess that's what you can expect since the owner was clearly intoxicated as well. So sad, this place was great a couple years ago when we all first started going. It's gone down hill and fast. I would also have to agree with the "if you're a regular, you'll get service" quote from an earlier post. I guess that's what the owners and staff want. Just hope they make all their money on St. Patrick's Day. They wont be getting anymore of ours' (money that is).

Pros: Music

Cons: Everything else.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

02/18/2008 Posted by youreallyshouldnot

After reading the reviews and frequenting the bar many times, I had yet to receive horrible service. That was until this past weekend. After a horrible night (good music I will always state that) of just plain weirdness with the staff and management, my girlfriend and I decided to go grab a bite. After a perfect ending to a imperfect night, we headed home. While walking to our Condo on the hill, we noticed an employee (a couple actually) and the owner near our place seeming to scuffle a might bit. Needless to say, I can surmise the reason everyone has their job still at this place is because they all seem a bit too close for employer/employee relations. That being said, you can bet cold hard earned cash, this bar will never see a penny from either of us or our friends/family.

Pros: Always a Good Band

Cons: The Music isn't enough to save the service.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

02/12/2008 Posted by morgenbeers

My husband and I were attacked by "a regular" in this establishment last night. It was a Monday and our day off so we decided to go out to have a few shots and play some pool. We have been coming to the Owl and thistle for three years now. It's not the nicest place but the staff knows our names and they are nice to us. This guy at the bar starts calling me the b-word and just being really mean to me for no reason. I thought talking to people and socializing is ok when drinking at a bar. So, my husband and I decide to leave. I left and then realized I didn't have my sweater, which is still missing. We walk inside to look around and the guy attacks my husband, rips his shirt and then we get kicked out. WHAT? Standard practice when there has been a fight is to kick both parties out. He is still sitting at the bar, drinking his beer? We were treated terribly. We were treated like we had attacked him. Ridiculous. I will never give another dime to these people. I no longer feel safe in The Owl and Thistle. This drunk guy should have been cut off a long time ago. Instead, WE were disrespected, I was called names, my husband was attacked and thrown to the ground, the drunk guy ripped his shirt, I was unable to get my belongings and then we were kicked out with no support from the employees who I thought would see the situation fairly. Terrible experience, I don't recommend anyone going to this bar. If you do, watch your back.

Pros: Used to be able to relax and have a good time.

Cons: If you are "a regular" you'll get the service you deserve.

01/08/2008 Posted by seriana

The thing you must understand about the Owl & Thistle is that this a dingy pub, NOT a swanky hotel lounge and patrons like it that way. They are not trying to impress you and your Mother-In-Law. No one will greet you at the door with a nosegay of pansies. The people who go here know how to navigate the scene. The music is the draw. Know what you are looking for and you will be rewarded. The crowd is friendly and engaging ...as long as you are not shaking like a Chihuahua.

Pros: hip hangout, the music is often great

Cons: the music is a bit 'win some lose some'

12/28/2007 Posted by strouke

We took a chance and went there, even after reading the reviews on this site. We were optimistic but what a let down. I will have to agree with everyone's impression of the staff for the most part. Being a bar owner myself, I would never allow the type of behaviors shown by the staff as were shown to my wife and I. The waitress, less than enthusiastic. I get having a drink after work, but to let your staff get totaled and act they way she was, it's inexcusable. We had high hopes, just moving to town. We will most assuredly not be going back to this place.

Pros: Not a one

Cons: the staff

11/15/2007 Posted by mollyclune

It's my very irish husband's birthday this weekend and I was searching through reviews to locate the perfect venue for our brewd, but honestly after reading all of these reviews, I am at a loss. O+T looks like a great venue for the fun we are antisipating.... but I am a little weary of the infamous Holly along with the other careless waitstaff. I am suprised that management hasn't taken any of these reports into consideration, owning your own business is a risk of sorts, and the public eyes is everything when you dont have any other means of advertising. Good luck.

Pros: appearently this is an amazing venue...

Cons: but the staff has infected it's core.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

10/30/2007 Posted by sgtelluride

I've never had the food here before but everytime I've gone for music and drinks, have had an amazing time here. My sister and I were coming in from out of town and wanted to find a bar exactly like the Irish pub we are used to going to in Telluride and found a great match at this place. The music is always great and people in the bar have always been friendly to us, and it's not prententious at all. Love this place!!!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful

10/12/2007 Posted by sarahmull

My friends and I decide to go in for drinks after work, and get some snaky foods. The bartendress was the biggest Meany I've ever encountered. Apparently if you aren't a man or look like one, you get horrible service. The food was good when we got it, but it took forever. And everyone seemed like it was a chore to take our orders. One of the girls with me was the one who suggested the place, within 15 minutes, she was apologizing over and over again. I've been there before on the weekends and honestly, the service then is deplorable at best as well, but the music is so good it makes some of the hassle worthwhile. I'm really just over the fence about the bartender, haggard at best. I'm just wondering how this place is doing so well when it seems like the general consensus on city search is the horrible staff. I also noticed the bar has a myspace page, and believe it or not, the person in charge of the page, actually put the main body of the editorial review on the page. I would think twice about broadcasting the pub via city search, unless they want everyone to know how horrible the staff is, and that brings another thing to mind, WHY are they all still employed if the owners read the reviews????? Take note, better people, better bar.

Pros: The Music.

Cons: ................

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

09/23/2007 Posted by trevm

I would have to agree with the consensus so far. The staff is too concerned with the people they apparently know to pay attention to the general crowd. The front bar was very crowded. the wait staff seemed overwhelmed and in poor moods all around. The back bar, just a serious waste of time. Not to mention the man woman who pretty much took up residency and made even attempting to order a chore.I've heard good things, musically and drink wise about the place, after last night, I wont be going back and I will never recommend it to anyone I know.

Pros: The Band was Good

Cons: Everything else about the place.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful