Smokey O'Grady's — Restaurant in East Lyme

My husband and I are visiting from California, we stopped in Saturday November 1st around 9:30pm. The place was very busy but we found a couple seats at the bar by the back entrance. We didn't try any food because we had just eaten but everything we saw go by us looked & smelled great. Whoever owns this bar I just want to say what amazing two young woman bartenders that you have. I bartended for many many years so I think I know what im talking about. Your bartenders hustle their butts off. The bar is really big, what those two bartenders did would normally be covered by four bartenders. Neither of them stopped the whole time we were in there. They were making drinks, serving food, clearing tables, ringing up checks, shouting out to regulars that came in asking if they wanted "what ever" that person normally drinks all with a smile on their faces. What really impressed us was how well they worked together and helped eachother out. The bartender that served us our drinks was zooming around and we were getting ready to leave so my husband got out some cash to pay our bill when the other bartender started walking our way my husband very subtle like pushed the twenty dollar bill toward the edge of the bar when I stopped him and said "That's not who helped us" just wait till she comes back which she did just a few seconds later. The other bartender who my husband had pushed the money towards, as the bartender that served us went by her she leaned in and said something to her, which she then glanced at us then dropped off the dirty glasses she was bringing she cruised right by us and went straight to the POS system to print our check I was like holy crap that other bartender had seen the slight push from my husband of his twenty and knew immediately we wanted to pay our bill and shared that info with the other bartender. I could have sworn she hadn't even been looking towards my husband or me when he did that but somehow she saw it and passed that info on. I know some people are going to read this review and not understand why im making a big deal out of this because they won't understand how big a deal it is. Your two bartenders are doing the work of four bartenders and on top of all that they had NO barback!! They were getting the ice in a big bucket not a 5 gallon bucket that every other bar uses but a much bigger one and this skinny bartender hauled it up and dumped it like it weighed nothing. They deserve a raise and I really hope you know what amazing bartenders...

Spent hundreds of dollars at this establishment. They NEVER get my order right, charge me for things that I asked for ie an extra sauce that I do not receive and have to go back for (dont mind being charged but give me what I paid for) and when it was my birthday (I am a regular and already had spent 65 dollars) asked if I could have a birthday shot (was ready to provide my ID) said no, they dont acknowledge their customers' birthday. I have had enough. They charge me for things I do not receive, get my order wrong constantly and when asked can I get a birthday shot ( what is it like 4 dollars?) Cant even acknowledge their best/regular customers on their birthday (and I tip like crazy!!) . I will never give them my business again. They treat me like dirt and I have literally spent hundreds of dollars at their establishment. I spent over 65 dollars on my birthday alone and asked if we could do a shot. Was flat out denied. So my 4 dollar shot is worth my 65 dollar patronage? And the kicker is they got my order wrong AGAIN on this particular occasion. Never again. Not if you were the last place on earth. They dont care about you or your business. You are only a dollar sign. And their customer service and food sucks anyways. Save your time and especially your money....

I gave Smokey O'Grady's a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating because its up to par and beyond in all the qualities that come together to form a perfect home town sports bar with a delicious menu to match focussing on the essentials you'd expect from such an establishment. They're fairly-very busy every time I go there yet still manage to correctly take my order, refill my beverage, and bring the bill right on queue to boot (which is important when on a "45 minute" lunch break 😉). Everything I've tried has been delicious and although it's a tad bit on the more expensive side, the portions are generous and it's totally worth it considering the ambiance paired with the quality service. I visit as often as I can and always leave satisfied whilst already plotting my next return. Is Smokey O'Grady's a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant? Not in the normal sense but when one accepts it for what it is it sure as hell is. I'm not a paid spokesperson lol, just a satisfied customer. Hope you enjoy...