Abbey Lodge Macmamees Pub

I’ve been going to this pub for twenty years since it was called Greg Allens in the 80’s. I like the atmosphere and the clientele that frequent the place. The drink is always good and the food is pretty good too. Upstairs there is a restaurant where you can sit and look out over the river Liffey. They do very good steaks but tend to overdo the amount of onions.
The only downside to the Abbey Lodge is the management, extremely unfriendly and non communicative even to regulars. They do a fairly good trade but i feel they could increase they customer numbers considerably if they made even a modest effort at being a bit more welcoming and appreciative to their existing clientele.

Aaah MacNamees.
Very tempted to go with a two-​star-​er for this one, but it’s a nice day and I’m feeling charitable. Truth be told as well, it’s not the facilities that would tip this place into two star territory, but the management that unfortunately has too great a bearing on the customer experience.
Situated on the bridge just before you go into Celbridge, is the Abbey Lodge, or MacNamees as it’s known locally. This pub is a bit of an institution in the area. It’s been here for years, and was extended and renovated when the good times were still rolling. This means that it’s been done up to a really high standard, and, cosmetically, is actually quite a nice addition to the Celbridge town landscape.
There is a cosy bar downstairs in which most sports are shown. Upstairs, there’s a restaurant area and giant cavernous bar. This is generally quite empty save for big nights like New Year’s Eve, Stephens’ Night and private parties. In which case it gets mobbed, you’ll have to put up with surly bouncers, and you’ll have to drink your 8 yoyo drink kout of a plastic cup. In which case, you’d really have a better time getting yourself a six pack of Dutch Gold (Celbridge can du jour) and sitting at the Liffey! (Not really, but still!!!)
Good points? They do nice food here — the steak on the stone /​sizzling fajitas tend to be the most popular dishes, and it’s a grand spot to sit on a Sunday. There’s also a pretty sizeable smoking area out the front.
There is also free parking outside for regulars. The problem is the definition of the word ‘regular’. ‘Lots of money coming in the till’ I suspect is the definition for McNamees. If you’re not fulfilling this obligation, there is a very real chance you may get clamped, so beware of that one!
If you come here on a nice quiet day, you’re likely to enjoy your sup. If you come here on a busy day, think again.