The Cottage Irish Pub — Restaurant in Melbourne

This is perhaps the 10th Irish pub we've reviewed, but we've dined at many more. Our hope is to visit as many Irish pubs as possible before the good Lord calls. We truly wanted to like this one, but... well, read on. With a brogue. As usual, the spicy chicken was great; Oh wait. That was Chic fil A, where we went after our experience. Here's what really happened.

There were quite a few occupied tables on the south side of the entrance, and there was an Irish feel to the place. We worked our way to the front door of the establishment, and upon entry, an employee was coming out of the door and said "It's first come, first served" as he passed. I'd not a feckin' idea what that meant, but the wife shrugged and we went on in. There is no hostess, so we were about to grab a table but noticed seating available through a door on the north side, so we grabbed a table there. After ten minutes, the wife observes a sheet of paper stapled to a post saying "See the bartender and start a tab, give your order to her". I guess if you're a local, you'd know this, but OK, we accordingly order two pints of Guinness'. This is where it turned further south. The barmaid was busy filling orders for staff, but did take our pint order within 5 minutes. I'll point out there were only two people other than us at the bar. Off to a decent start. A proper first pour. But it was far too long for the second, easily over 4 minutes. Being properly Guinness-schooled in the pour, I should have asked her to do it again, but our pints remained behind the bar until the cascade was gone! When it was finally served, I was so disappointed we just sat, drank it down swiftly, and left. Oh, there was zero eye contact or friendliness that you'd expect BY DEFINITION from an Irish pub tender. To be fair, as the owners might read this, there was a young lady with red hair that was all smiles, and tho not our waitress, did ask about us. But the experience ruined our evening. If you are interested in comparisons, check out our prior reviews. Most are served with a proper side of humour. Darkey Kellys (Great, Dublin) and Katie O'Byrnes (Bad, New York) ranges our fairness meter. Alas, this was not a good experience. What a shame. I gave the food a neutral three as we consumed none, and wouldn't be...

BEST Irish Pub in Melbourne, hands down.

And I know there are a few other Irish pubs around that have been here longer and have bigger menus.. but The Cottage still blows them out of the water for me.

First of all: THE ATMOSPHERE Outside: you got twinkly lights, you got dog friendly patios, you got front & back seating, picnic tables perfect for large parties & two seat tables for a date! There's live music on certain nights out front but if that's not your cup of tea, you can sit out back! I like options and this place has 'em! Inside: the walls have framed pictures of real pubs and cottages in Ireland, JFK, and Catholic Jesus. So you can imagine, it really sets the authentic pub mood. The lighting is nice, there's bar seating, some high tables, & a little side room for a more intimate party!

This is in no particular order, btw! I just wanted to set the stage for what you'll see when you arrive...

Secondly: THE FOOD Almost every time I've been here, I've come with a group of people. And every. single. time. the whole group has been thrilled with their meals. And let me tell you (unfortunately) I have some some friends who are picky eaters! And even they have had zero complaints! As I mentioned above, the menu is not extensive but the food they have is quality and done so good. And I wish I could say that I've even tried everything on the menu but I just love the fish & chips so much it's what I end up getting almost every time. Paired with a cold magners hard apple cider!

Lastly: THE SERVICE Our servers have always been friendly, patient (again I'll mention we've often come in groups!), and knowledgeable.

So yeah, this is definitely a place I like to bring friends and family from out of town because everyone is always satisfied and it's in the Art District so after enjoying the meal we can walk the surrounding blocks and look at the murals, shops, parks, and river. But it's also a favorite spot for my husband and I to have...

My fair and honest review of "The Cottage Irish Pub," to start the food was good, the portion size is fairly decent. As far as the alcoholic drinks, they are a little over priced as per industry standard and neighboring establishments.

We ordered their version of Bangers and Mashes Potatoes, Shepard's pie and a sandwich they had on special. With my personal experience of Ireland, it was fairly comparable in taste with certain highnotes. The food deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

As for our drinks, we had a Guiness draught pint, a Harp pint and a half Guiness/Harp pint. Drink service did take awhile that night due to the amount of customers ordering drinks. Looking at the bill versus the presentation and size, we were not too happy but the food did make up for this feeling. The drink service, quality and cost deserves 2 out of 5 stars.

The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is quite cozy on the inside, but the rural environment of the outdoor dining does give a pleasurable charm. If the weather outside is hot, you may be able to find a comfortable seat inside but be weary as it is limited. There is not much they can do with the size of their building, so I will not give them an unfavorable rating. The decorations inside were very charming and reflected a great appeal to their namesake. The atmosphere deserves a 4 out of 5 stars.

Please keep this in mind, it is not like the other Irish eatery in town. They are fairly new to the downtown Eau Gallie arts district, and worth a shot if you are searching for a great meal. As for that particular corner of Highland, I have seen a fair share of restaurants come and go and I wish them the best of luck in longevity.

*I do offer repeat reviews of establishments on a 6 month standard giving a fair picture of...