It was Saturday night and after a rough Friday, it was off to O'Donnell's Pub to check out a bar I had never visited before. My first impression? Nicer than what I was expecting, but what really stole my heart this Valentine's Day weekend were the drink specials. Namely, the $5 dollar shot and beer, which is any shot that comes to mind and any beer, draft or domestic under the roof at O'Donnell's. Choose wisely, as the $5 dollar shot/beer could end up in the customer's favor if they are affluent in shots. Jaeger straight is usually around $5 dollars alone, so be creative and get the most out of the deal. The only catch? You have to drink the shot right then and there, simply because there needs to be some order to this madness..jpg)
Of course, this author's love affair with Pabst Blue Ribbon was not broken off this weekend, as the $1.50 16 oz. made an appearance at O'Donnell's. Did I ever mention how it tastes amazing in 16 oz form? Naturally I had a few PBRs before venturing into my well planned $5 shot/beer which included a Starry Night (Goldschläger and Jaeger) and another PBR to chase.
The bar itself was fairly busy for a Saturday night, however the group I had came with was one fourth the crowd of the entire bar, and I was with ten people. If I hadn't come with the group, I probably would visit O'Donnell's on a weeknight if I wanted to catch a game on television or grab a beer with a friend. All I'm really saying is that it was a bit quiet on a Saturday night. To be fair, it was Valentine's day weekend, which might have been why there was a lack of crowding.
Aside from the quieter night that O'Donnell's provided, the bar service was bad. It appeared that there was only one person working the entire bar that night, the lone female bartender. It would have been one thing if the bar was packed, or if the bartender had any sort of hustle, but both were lacking here and yours truly's hand was falling asleep holding the money out at the bar. Not to mention, getting her attention was a game in itself, and the drinks were amateur at best (as she poured ice into our shots, which was surprising to say the least). It would be one thing if there was another bartender, but the slow, unresponsive and often unreachable service at a small bar like this one, gets a nod of disappointment in my book.
I really wanted to like O'Donnell's, which could have been a diamond in the rough with its Monster energy drink specials (that are very tempting), but ultimately the poor service just kills any chance for me to openly recommend it to my fellow partiers. If it's not a big deal for scenery, and a fair deal on drinks is all you desire, and you are in the neighborhood, then hop on down by all means - but if you are looking for a neat off-the-map hang out you might be let down.
Summary: Grew a beard waiting for a drink
The Low Down
Monday - $1 Domestic, $2 Imports
Tuesday- All Drinks $2, Red Bull extra $1
Wednesday - Pitchers (Price n/a)
Thursday - $2.75 24oz. Domestics
Friday - $2.00 Long Islands
Saturday - $5.00 Shot and Beer
Best Booze Buy - $1.50 Pabst Blue Ribbon or $2.00 Monster Bombs
O'Donnell's Pub is located at 16204 Madison Ave. Lakewood Ohio 44107 (M-F 3pm - 2:30am, Saturday and Sunday 2pm - 2:30 am).
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