Callaghan's Irish Social Club — Restaurant in Mobile

My friend comes to Mobile for work several times a year so I decided to make the trip to visit him for the weekend. All I've heard about for 2 months before coming here is about the burgers at Callaghan's and how amazing they are and it's his tradition to eat there as soon as he arrives in Mobile.

The location was great. To get there you drive through local streets with homes not stores. It was tucked nicely into a neighborhood. That gave it a nice authentic neighborhood bar(/family restaurant*) feel.

We went for lunch around 11:15 and I expected to be one of the first tables to sit since they open at 11:00. Nope! When we walked in they already had a steady flow of patrons coming in and full tables.

But getting down to business and what you really need to know:

THE BURGERS WERE AMAZING!

I let my friend guide me as to what I should get. It was very simple though, he said order the bacon cheese burger with everything and pick your cheese. I got it with cheddar. And I have to say I was hesitant about having mustard on the burger but i took his advice and it was so perfect. It blended the flavors so well. There was so much flavor, and I don't mean seasoning, I mean, my first bite and every one after was such a mouth watering burst of juicy burger goodness. My friend also had the chicken club which he recommends as well. And their sweet tea was great, just the right amount of sweet with plenty of tea flavor.

The burgers do not come with Fries but you have options for a few items. I tried the coleslaw, I personally like a creamier coleslaw but their's was still very good.

I absolutely will be returning for another burger...

Liz was not very friendly. Your 3 and 1 halph percent credit convenience fee for using a credit card was deducted from HER tip. This is a convenience for your customers as well as you. This is beginning to be added to customers bills without telling them before they check out that they could pay cash and avoid the credit card charge. This is a growing trend that I hope will bring it to everyone's attention as if you use your card instead of cash at all locations at 3and 3 and one halph percent,4 percent on a driver's license, that adds up very fast and can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. Although it saves you thousands a year if your customers pay cash, which most people don't want to carry, it also makes people wonder how much cash could possibly being not recorded on their total yearly income (cash), perhaps skimmed off just as an ALL cash business for income not reported and saving the business thousands while reporting all credit transactions but not all cash ones. If everyone deducted your credit transaction fees from your waitresses or waiters tip like I did tonight, you would or will here from them. I left 16 and halph instead of my usual 20 percent. If your prices can't be increased to handle your fees to Visa, then go cash only, see how that works. At least your waitresses might get a better tip. Everyone's catching on and if all businesses continue to do the same it will cost the consumer hundreds to thousands a year. Think about what it cost at those rates when you spend even $200.00 and $50.00 ,25, 10 ,5 componded over and over with every purchase on a credit card if...

Odd for me to review one of my all time favorite places in the world 1-Star. But I just happened to have the most dissapointing experience that honestly will leave me to never bother returning. Very much a shame.

Monday, March 31st- Walked in to a what looked like a good last little pop at around 8:40, sat down, took a little longer than Id prefer for server to touch tables but aye, Im a Chef for their sister business and industry veteran so I get it. Server/Bartender eventually made it over to us, asked for drinks and order, stated we would start off with our first round and an app. Aside from a very short refill of a beer we did not see or hear from her for 30-40 minutes. Empty glasses, empty stomaches. She was by all means touching tables and doing close-out computer work, but we felt pretty much as ignored as you can physically be. Only came by the push us to close our tab, with a chuckle that the kitchen just closed up. As far as service goes, its terrible on many fronts. Slow to start, never any follow-up, headup that the kitchen was closed or closing, or even that they were limited. Just nothing. Below even the bare minimum expectations.

Ive been doing FOH and BOH since I was a pizza faced kid. Never felt worse service or unwelcomed before. Business misses out as does the server ironically. That would have been one last nice $100+ tab with tip because I feel wierd using employee discounts even though we share them between the sister/same...