O'Hara's Food & Spirits — Restaurant in Newton

The same scenario happened on several Friday nights... I met a friend at O'Hara's between 9-930 pm. We have an excellent, attentive bartender who makes wonderful drinks. I don't know her name, she has dark hair, very friendly, heavy set.

After we order our first drink, there is a shift change and an older man takes over. He's probably the GM or owner as he is training, correcting & advising staff. He is inattentive, slow and makes terrible drinks. You have to call out, "excuse me!" because he is too busy supervising, cleaning or engaged in conversation. He always seems annoyed that we've interrupted him, but we've only done it after waiting 10-15 mins with empty glasses and trying to make eye contact.

He'll ask the same question at least three times, I.e. from this past Friday night: Us: Excuse me, can we order drinks? Him: do you have a tab? Us: no Him: did you pay for the first round? Us: no Him: did she start a tab? Us: no Him: so you haven't paid for your first round? Us: thinking to ourselves, is he trying to get us to say we paid?

He makes our drinks, the cocktails taste so different than the ones the woman made, completely different ratios and possibly completely different ingredients. When the kitchen was closing, he came to us and said, "would you like to order food? The kitchen is closing." We said no, we didn't want food. Him- are you sure? Us- yes, thank you Him- positive? The kitchen is closing Us- thanks, we're good Him- ok, if you're sure, because the kitchen is closing.

The quality when the woman is bartending is many times superior to when the man is there. She is attentive, quick, efficient and an excellent drink maker. He is distracted, doing too many tasks at once (cleaning, training staff, moving furniture, taking orders, making drinks), and his drinks are horrible.

Engaging with him is awkward and repetitive.

If you go on a Friday night, get there before 9pm so that the woman makes the drinks for you. Or, go at 930 for the social experiment that will show the incredible difference between the two bartenders, or order beer so he...

O'Hara's Hands down is the best Family Restaurant in the Newton Highlands area. I have been going to O'Hara's for about 10 years now and eaten here dozens of times. I have never had a problem.

I don't usually give out 5 stars buy O'Hara's is a Newton Highland's Gem. Not one bad thing to say.

Clean, Staff is kind and helpful. The food is all good, Yes Everything on the Menu is good. The Prices are affordable and right for the area. Price to portion ratio is very good. Portions are large and oh so yummy.

2 Notes: 1, the Owners are always on hand, And actually work the Restaurant along with their staff. They are exceptionally nice.

2, Even after a large overhaul and remodel of the Restaurant. The Owners remodeled the Bar area and expanded a Larger dinning room with a new Wheelchair entrance. They didn't skip a beat. And the prices didn't go through the roof like with most places after a large remodel.

Some of my Favorite dish's at O'Hara's are. The Dinner Rolls...Get extras there so good served warm. Fried pickles, Clam chowder, French onion soup, Nacho's, Fish & chip's, Shepard's pie, Bleu max burger.

Oh Yeah the Best Dish is! the Kilkenny Steak Tips. They are so good.

The only thing I could nit pick about O'Hara's is the is only street parking. But there is a T Bus stop, Green line stop and taxi stops one block up the street. Most people walk here. O'Hara's is in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Newton. I you go to O'Hara's you will not be...

It was a very busy weeknight and we lucked out and were seated right away. We had read the menu online and knew just what we wanted to eat, so we quickly ordered. The chicken pot pie was fabulous and my son loved his shepherd's pie. We also both ordered a cup of French Onion Soup which was good, but had rye bread in it (not my favorite). Our server was so sweet, attentive and lightening fast.

We were seated next to a couple who had already ordered before we sat down (a burger and a chicken parm). Our food came long before theirs. They were just getting served when we were finishing up.

Their server was surly, unapologetic and kind of rude when they asked for an update on their order. "IT'S BUSY AND THE KITCHEN IS BACKED UP, THEIR ORDER JUST CAME OUT FASTER" yup, that is what she said, but with serious nasty attitude.. So although it wasn't my experience, it did impact how I felt being there. Grateful that we had the great service, felt terribly for the other people.

I wish I recalled our server's name. But if I ever go back I'll definitely remember the rude server's face and ask to...