O’Donnells Irish Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Queensland

I’ve seen your response, and I am extremely disappointed. It’s very clear that you are twisting the facts to protect your staff member, Nick.

Let me be clear: Nick was rude, dismissive, and acted without any respect for me as a customer. I was not assigned a table — I was told to find one myself. When I wanted to order a second drink, he impatiently cut me off and said he would “surprise me,” without asking what I actually wanted. He brought me an IPA, which I clearly did not want, and I had to ask another waitress to change it for me.

Your claim that your staff provided me with a reserved table is completely false. Nothing about my experience felt welcoming or respectful.

I swear on my life, your staff training and customer service standards are shockingly poor — especially Nick. I also felt that I was being treated unfairly, perhaps even with racial bias, as I had previously inquired about a job at your venue and was met with coldness ever since.

This entire experience has been upsetting and unacceptable. Your response shows no accountability, and instead attempts to discredit a valid complaint.

Rude staff and racial discrimination

I had an extremely disappointing and uncomfortable experience at O’Donnells.

A middle-aged man named Nick — who seemed to be in charge — ignored my second drink order and insisted on “surprising me” with an IPA, which I clearly didn’t want. I had to ask a kind waitress to change it.

Before this, I had come to the venue to ask about potential job opportunities. It’s hard not to feel that I was treated with less respect because of that — as if I wasn’t seen as a real guest, but someone they looked down on.

Despite just wanting to enjoy two beers and the beach view, I was seated at a reserved table without being informed. It became clear he wanted me to finish quickly and leave. When I politely asked what I should do, Nick abruptly said, “Yeah, you should go now,” and walked away without offering any help.

As an Asian woman, I felt dismissed, disrespected, and subtly but unmistakably targeted. The entire interaction wasn’t just rude — it carried a clear undertone of racial discrimination and class-based prejudice.

I left feeling humiliated and unwelcome. I would not recommend this place to anyone who values respect, fairness, and basic...

Had an impromptu dinner at O'Donnells as it literally shares a fence line with our accommodation!

In a nutshell, our expectations were exceeded and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The venue is inviting and cosy, with ample seating both indoors and out. Grabbing a table in the sunlight, with the ocean breezes keeping things cool and a large paperbark tree overhead, it was hard to go wrong.

We were served by three young ladies during our time, all of whom offered friendly and pleasant interaction. One was perhaps a little less personable, but not enough to have impacted our mood. She was more formal in her approach, without really doing/saying anything wrong.

As for the meals - Bangers & Mash for me, Pork Belly for my wife, both were fantastic. The large serving of pork was superbly tender and flavoursome, and perfectly accompanied by the broccolini, mash, bacon, and jus. It was a stellar selection. My Bangers & Mash, often considered standard pub grub, was also remarkably good. The sausages were moist and tender yet full of flavour. The mash and jus were lovely, carrying that salty edge to complement the snags, while the caramelised onions (fancy onion rings!) were not only a novel addition but beautiful to eat.

On the side, we had a couple of bowls of fries with the Irish curry sauce. The chips were decent and I quite enjoyed the sauce. It was definitely curry based but had many other elements to it, creating a rather unique flavour. My wife found it a little spicy so requested a bowl of aioli, which the staff happily provided. Word of warning, this aioli knew what it wanted to be, so the garlic was XXL! Delicious but potent.

By the end of the meals, a drink each and some table water, we were well-and-truly filled to the brim. It was a pass on any more drinks, and a pass on dessert.

Overall, O'Donnells proved itself to be a strong player on the Palm Cove scene. The food, drinks, service, location, and ambience were all on-point, and that ensured we had a wonderful evening. Thank...

O’Donnell’s Irish Bar and Grill delivers a commendable Italian dining experience that delighted my family. Our order included a ribeye steak, calamari, salt and pepper squid, chicken parmigiano, several kids’ meals, and a few additional dishes. Most of the food was impeccably prepared, with flavors that were nothing short of sublime. The calamari was tender and crisp, the chicken parmigiano was rich and satisfying, and the salt and pepper squid was among the finest in the area. The kids’ meals were perfectly portioned and eagerly devoured, earning high praise from our little ones.

The sole disappointment was the ribeye steak, which, while cooked adequately, was marred by an average cut riddled with excessive fat and inedible sections, leaving us slightly dissatisfied with this particular dish.

The ambiance was elevated by a talented live musician whose ukulele renditions of recent pop hits were both charming and perfectly suited to the vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere. The performance was a highlight, captivating diners with its polished presentation.

Service was generally attentive, with staff checking on our table multiple times to ensure our satisfaction and offer drinks. While their visits were slightly less frequent than ideal, their warmth and professionalism were appreciated. The price, however, was notably steep—higher than anticipated for the meal and service. Though comparable to other local establishments, it felt marginally disproportionate given the steak’s shortcomings.

Overall, O’Donnell’s offers a delightful dining experience with exceptional food and entertainment, tempered only by minor inconsistencies. It’s a worthy choice for Italian cuisine in an unexpectedly...