P.J. O'Brien Irish Pub & Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

🍀🍀...FIVE STAR IRISH... 🍀🍀 🍀 EXPERIENCE 🍀 🍀🌟🍀 🍀

As soon as you come across the bright Blue & Yellow exterior - out of place in the otherwise staid surroundings - it takes your breath away...🍀🇮🇪🍀 Check out the side wall with a huge clock under the words

🍀 "After work it's Guinness time." 🍀

Upon entering the decor, ambience & friendly welcome provided really makes one believe that you've been transported to Dublin, Limerick, Cork or Kilkenny... 🇮🇪 💕 🇮🇪

A great variety of draft Ales/Beers were available of which I found the "Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale" my favourite - so smooth. And my No.1 Canadian tipple "Alexander Keith's" on tap....🍁🍺🍁

Now I've never been a great fan of "Guinness" but woebetide you if NOT having at least a half to accompany the excellent large bowl of... 'Mussels Provencale' for the full Celtic experience.

And as for the food - tremendous, cooked to order from fresh ingredients (presumably from the nearby 'St. Lawrence Market'). Hot, delicious, served with a little BUT worthwhile wait - and a friendly smile - good sized portions @ very reasonable prices. I can strongly recommend the :- Mussels Provencale - Crab Cakes - Beef & Guiness Irish Stew - Lamb Chops - Bangers & Mash - Kilkenny Ale battered Fish & Chips -

...all of which I tried on aeveral visits during my stay in Toronto... 🍀💥🍀💥🍀 but I did find it best to go during the afternoon - after Lunch & before 5:30pm (remember the Clock).

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The seating was so arranged to suit singles, couples, foursomes or groups adequately.

🔴...ONE SMALL WARNING... 🔴 The Bar area gets busy for 'After Work Time' around 5:30pm. The place gets packed on a Saturday night (live entertainment) making intimate dining "iffy". I was told that on 'St.Patrick's Day' & when Ireland were playing Football or Rugby it was "heaving" even at 3:00am, 9:00am - whatever time of day....⚽🍀🏈

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In my opinion the ONLY place to visit for great food, beer & a memorable experience....one I could not find fault with !!!!

I've written over 150 reviews and I can be harsh BUT this is only the THIRD time I've given 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🍀..."COCKLES & MUSSELS......

Me and my husband had our wedding reception at P.J. Obriens Pat Quinn Room. It was the best decision we made! Everyone we dealt with (Theresa and Marc) leading up to the day was amazing:) All we did was pick the day, the menu and PJs did the rest. They had a chalkboard outside so our guests could find the venue easily, there were white linens and candles on the tables and large printed menus for our guests, they set up a table for wedding presents - these were the details we probably should have thought of but they just did it on their own without us asking. I was completely blown away when I walked in. They provided me with a vase for my bouquet and when they saw I used some of the babysbreath from my cake to decorate the arrangement they got me 2 other little vases with flowers left over from another event. When I went to add the babysbreath flowers to my cake , Mark one of the bartenders offered to do it for me:) We picked appetizers and a 3 course menu ....and they had 4 different options. They even split up the appetizers so half was for the cocktail hour and half for late night food. Our guests loved the food (beef & guiness stew was the most popular choice.) Chef Bala did such a great job ! All the food and appies were so delicious from tandoori chicken, chicken curry to the agnolotti! Special shout out to the staff Mark, Anita and Alex were so personable and friendly to us and all our guests, they really added to making it the best wedding celebration. Anita even organised limbo at our wedding and cued the dj, she somehow found a lighted string decoration for it😃 Thank you P.J.s ! I don't think I will ever forget what a wonderful time we had at our wedding. The best part is that this is our neighbourhood pub so it's always nice to come back and have a...

The most disrespectful experience I have ever had in a pub.

1. We were in line waiting for a table for 2 hours (ok, it's St Patrick's day, so we were expecting some waiting) when a large group of 8 people arrives at the street, a lady from the staff comes, welcome them and bring wristbands for all of them. They wear it and go in trough a side entrance. We complain for the security guard. The manager comes and with zero respect says "you were told you would might need to wait and line all day". However, I was never complaining about the waiting time. I was complaining about the fact that some people were skipping the line (with staff assistance!!) while many many others were standing there for 2 hours.
2. 10 minutes later, the same situations happens AGAIN with a group of 4.
3. There is more. When I was the second in line, suddenly a man arrives in the pub and goes in front of us in the line. Both my group and the group which was first in line argued with the security guard that that man was NOT in line. Guess what? The security guard says he was, and allow him to go in. Even though everyone in line was arguing he was not in line.
4. There is MORE. When it is finally our turn to go in, we pay the 20$ fee, as ask where is our table. Guess what? There is no table. They inform us we should stand anywhere in the bar (which was absolutely full).
5. Last but not least: when we ask for the band, we are informed that they are playing in an area already crowded, so we can not enter that part of the bar to see the live music.

The worst experience I have had in a pub. So absurd, in many ways.

Paying 20$ entry fee for NO music and NO table? Waiting in line for 2 hours while some groups arrive and go in with help from the...