Ireland’s Own

Ireland’s Own has been closed for approximately 2 weeks. Not sure why. There’s a hand made sign in the window that says «Closed.» No indication when it might be re-​opening. Doesn’t look good.

This establishment used to be Pat Troy’s and my goodness it has certainly gone down hill with the name change and/​or new ownership. I went here one weekend just to get some wangs or buffalo wings for the non-​hip and they gave me a seat inside and just forgot about me. I’m like damn they’re treating me like some laundry… set it and forget it.
I waited for a good 6 minutes getting my speech together of how I was gonna be passive and aggressive to my waiter but that moment never came. Because the workers were just ghost… Wah lah (magic). I wasn’t the only person that just got dropped off the hostess did the same to another family. I’m upset cuz the menu does not look like it has changed that much and the food is probably the same but if the service is as Charles Barkley would say Tuuurrrible, I just can’t do it.
The World Cup is around the corner also and Pat Troy’s used to be a very cool place to hear the national anthem and show patriotic pride. I will have to find another spot and some yard bird for my mouf! 0 stars!!! I hope the management reads this I wanna see changes and even reparations, come on Ireland’s Own as a distant countryman make this happen!

It’s an okay place for a beer. Mixed drinks were, eh. Our food came out without silverware… we waited, but finally had to get up to request silverware and napkins! Not going back.

2 stars: 1 for having a pet-​friendly patio out back and 1 for service (our waitress attentive and didn’t forget about us out back). However, the food was awful (I didn’t even know you could have potato skins with sour cream, bacon, and cheese that have no flavor!) and the cheese fries were a joke.
If you’re just looking for a spot to hang out on a sunny afternoon and kick back a few drinks, this place will do as well as any. If there’s any chance you’re going to get the munches, however, don’t bother. It’s not worth the disappointment.

the bar tender will randomly change tv channels w/​o even considering what paying customers are watching. Priscilla the waitress was awesome. Live Music by Pat was great.

A nice Irish pub in Old Town Alexandria. Friendly staff, fresh Guinness. A large selection of whiskeys as well as cocktails. The food menu looks good although so far I’ve only been there for the Guinness. Live music most nights. Service at the bar is usually good.
Smoking is allowed at the tables on the patio out front. It’s a good spot to quaff Guinness while having a cigar.

It is correct that the food isn’t great but Irish Pubs usually aren’t in my opinion — service could be better as well. It does have Boston oriented ownership but I would not call it a «Red Sox» bar (thank god)
It does have a feel that is closer to a real Irish place than the others in Old Town.
The biggest advantage is that it is not as crowded — its off King street by a bit so it does not get packed with yuppies like Murphy’s or O’Connells.
It does trend older so that probably is a factor for the younger set.
On the whole I like it and stop by regularly.

If you’re looking for good food, polite staff, and an Irish setting then do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs. Instead of a welcome sign at the front door, there should be a warning label telling all potential customers to turn back. How we were fooled by the darkened windows and even darker interior that this place would be somewhat decent is beyond me; the only thing of value that this place had was giving me the knowledge never to return, even if i’m starving/​in need of human contact.
Our waitress could not have been more rude, and even became combative when I questioned the questionably cooked piece of meat that was my meal. The cabbage that came had the essence of death, and the accompying vegetables may very well have been discovered at the bottom of the sewer.
I feel ill even remembering the time I spent there, so I will leave you with this. Please do not ever eat at this establishment and if you find yourself enjoying it regardless of this review I would honestly ask you to evaluate your own mental stability.

Service was terrible — waitress took way too long to get our orders or even bring out water. The food we ordered was very simple but took 30+ minutes to get out to us, and it wasn’t good. My burger was okay but my friend’s chicken tenders were served on an awkwardly dead bed of lettuce and my other friend’s beef was not cooked at all. Wine is way overpriced too.

We went a few weeks ago for dinner on the outdoor patio and then a few days ago during the Scottish Walk festivities. The dinner was a very slow night and was warm enough that we sat on the outdoor patio. The waitress was friendly and brought us our drinks quickly. One of us got the pretzel chicken which was very good and another got the chicken fingers which tasted good but had an interesting coating (more of a catfish fry coating than something you would normally have on chicken fingers). A few days ago for Scottish Walk the place was mobbed (in a good way). We had a group of about 15 people, but when we went to the bar and asked for 10 Guinness and 5 ciders they snapped into action and had the drinks out in no time. One complaint from the 5 cider drinkers… no cider on draft. We had to get 5 bottles of Magners several times over. For a good Irish pub, there should be at least one cider on draft. Three stars just because something about the place on a normal night isn’t appealing for whatever reason. There is very little curb appeal, and the interior needs some updating. We will be back and maybe I’ll re-​review and up it a star if things go better next time.

It’s a Red Sox bar, IT’S A RED SOX BAR!!!
Can you tell I was shocked, awed, and super excited when I first walked in this place? A group of us had gone to Old Town for a ghost tour and had decided to stop in at a bar on the way back to the metro. I’m so glad that we got stopped at a crosswalk causing me to turn and say «Oh hey, there’s an Irish bar. We haven’t been to that one yet.» Best. Decision. Ever.
As far as décor, its obviously being redone. Half the place was done up in «traditional Irish bar» style, the other half was very plain and a different color. We stayed in the bar area which is surround by warm, dark wood. If you’ve only ever been here while wasted, make it a point to stop by when you’ve only had one or two and check out the cases above the bar stools. They contain a uniform from every military branch, very cool.
They have the usual suspects on tap here as well as some of my lessor seen faves. Their whisky selection isn’t half bad either. We didn’t try the food, pretty sure the kitchen had stopped serving before we got there. I am, however, interested in trying their food the next time were in. They apparently have a weekend brunch as well.
Do I even need to say it? Ok, ok. We’ll definitely be back. :)

I went with a friend who lives in the area. She said she ate there a few years ago and has been craving Irish food for awhile so we went. We arrived as the only people in the place at around 6pm on Thursday. The décor was a weird mixture of militaria with random American history stuff? I guess there was a few Irish type decorations. Kind of an 80’s feel.
This next part was actually the highlight of my day which is why I bumped them up to two stars. The waitress, who was actually pretty attentive and efficient the whole time, took our order. After our order was completed and she wrote it all down, she inexplicably proceeded to tell us the dinner special for the night… which was meat loaf. I found this extremely funny! I wish I had a snappy one liner for her, but did not until an hour later :/​
I ordered Shepards pie my friend ordered chicken pot pie. The Shepards pie was borderline offensive. Very bland flavor, very greasy. The peas and carrots were frozen, you can tell because the only place to get perfectly cube uniformed sized carrots is frozen. I’d guess the gravy was canned and I’m certain the mashed potatoes were instant, all very bland. I also tried the chicken pot pie, truly disgusting, nothing was homemade all prepared or frozen.
Disappointing to say the least, with such a large amount of competition in the area I’m shocked they are still open.

We had a similar problem to Marc V.‘s review. We sat on the back patio for so long, I finally went inside to find a waiter. While inside, I waited another 5 minutes. The place was nearly empty.
The positive side is that we did get our food in a reasonable about of time.

Its a cute pub decked out from trinkets that you can find around Ireland on the side of the road. The beer is alright priced but the food tastiness it varied per plate from okay to I wish I could get my money back.

We live in Alexandria Virginia and have been going to Pat Troys for about 8 years. It was always a nice Irish Bar with the typical cop patches on the wall, irish fare, cold beer and singers on the weekends. Not very fancy but a nice way to spend the evening with friends. The food has always been so-​so (it’s a pub expect pub fare). We go there for drinks and to enjoy a night of sometimes rowdy bar music.
On June 15, 2013 we stopped in having not been there since the following summer (2012) to enjoy after dinner cocktails and perhaps sing along with the entertainment. We will not be making that mistake again.
The waiter finally took our order and then it was 15 minutes before the drinks arrived. We actually had to track him down and ask where the drinks were — he forgot to put the order in. The bar was not busy, there were maybe 15 people total in the whole place. He never stopped by a single time during the two hours we were there to ask if we needed refills, again we had to track him down for every refill.
The singer was ok, had we been at a funeral. I’ve been listening to irish music for years and there is a time and place for the repeated dirge. A bar on a Saturday night was not that place. We wanted the sing along bar songs, we got the plant him in the dirt songs all night.
We finally had enough and decided to throw in the towel after two hours (we kept hoping it would get better) and asked for the check. After a solid 10 minutes went by and the waiter was nowhere to be found we went looking for him again. Once we had check in hand my husband took it directly to the bartender (the only form of manager on hand) and laid out the whole evening. We were apologized to and told they were having trouble with the staff. That was obvious. We won’t be back.

Avoid if possible…
Décor is cheesy, dark and gross. Felt very dirty. Silverware was twice dirty… not a great thing…
Service was terrible… waitress was outwardly annoyed with us and her job and didn’t care who knew it. She was slow and absent… as if she went into the kitchen and was texting her friends and then would remember she had tables and would re emerge disheveled and angry. had to ask her for things 3 times each. for like napkins and refills… finally had to ask another server for help. I’m not trying to be mean… but it was just very obvious she wasn’t enjoying her job in the «service» industry.
Server out right told us to never order the soup of the day… unless we have a death wish… great advertising sweetie.
Food was marginal… cheese fries… only good thing was the ranch dressing… chicken pretzel was way over cooked. tough and bland… the flank salad was like the saddest little steak smashed on top of romaine lettuce… didn’t even mix the dressing in… not great not great.
Location I think is the only good thing here… televisions are like 20 years old so you might as well go buy a 6 pack at giant and stay home to watch a game.

I have enjoyed this place for years. The staff are very nice and the new owners are welcoming. They have great ideas and incredible enthusiasm.
This is one of the few places in Old Town that serves good, affordable food. It’s a great place for neighbors, families, tourists and regulars to meet. I have really enjoyed meeting people from all over the world.
My husband and I have a standing date for Tuesday night Pub Quiz. It is great fun!
This place is not to be missed.

It was okay… I suppose. A bowl of soup and ice tea = $ 11.00.
I’ve had much better…

I can’t decide if these folks are totally rocking the «we refuse to update this place since 1984» vibe, or if they’ve just completely given up.
Kind of a coin flip at this point.
Since the new owners have taken over, not much has changed. And to be honest, that’s not an awful thing. I like the dusty charm of this place. I like that’s it’s almost always empty for lunch. It’s consistently forgettable, and that’s sort of comforting for me.
The only real change I’ve noticed is one of the owners usually sitting in the middle of the dining room with lots of paperwork around him during lunch time.
«He’s crunching numbers,» I tell myself, not really knowing what that means.
I think of this place like a grandfather. He’s old, he’s cranky, sometimes his dentures fall into your soup, but he’s your grandpa. You love him anyway.
P. S. Grandpa, the free wi-​fi isn’t working again. Can you please reset the router?

Ronald Reagan had a Guinness here. That didn’t sell you? Well okay, read on.
A very divey, blue-​collar sort of feeling bar, with police and firefighter memorabilia behind the bar. I actually enjoyed this atmosphere, but other than that and the Ronald Reagan thing, there’s nothing else that really distinguishes this place from the other Irish bars in Old Town. The Guinness I had was expertly poured though, and that gains major points in my book.
I plan on coming back some day to at least try the food and some other drinks. Drink one (more) for the Gipper, I suppose.