Galway Bay Irish Pub, Restaurant and Gift Shop — Restaurant in Ocean Shores

We went in expecting to find a quaint & friendly Irish Pub...which we did not. The location is very nice & has all the potential to fulfill our expectations...but the service was anything but friendly! It appears the owners of this establishment are more focused to get you into one of their gifts shops that surround the Galway rather than making sure guests want to return. I mean...what kind of Irish Pub has no Guinness to offer? Well...that basically set the stage for this review. As we asked what kind of beer they had...the waitress just rattled through the list with "we have 2 reds, and IPA, a Stout"...and so on! She appeared to not even know from who! I tried the Galway Red...it was "good". Would have liked to possibly try more...but if you cannot even tell me what you have or where it comes from, or even make recommendations...it makes it difficult to be energetic and want to try more. BUT, the disappointment did NOT STOP here...NO! As we sat at the bar, which was amazingly stocked with a vast array of whiskeys and scotches...we then asked to see a menu to "sample" a couple of the "nectar of gods". Guess what...NO MENU or even a List of what they had there! How can you have $25k worth of liquor on the wall...and yet not give your guests a way to order...or even be out making recommendations, or even offer a "sampler opportunity". This was utterly disgraceful 😳 as a vendor of fine spirits!!! This is NOT what you expect from an Irish Pub!!! After being disappointed too many times in the short amount of time we were there...this is one location you can scratch off your list of sites to see in Ocean Shores...and believe me, this pains me to say so since the list is already very limited...but Galway is not doing the Irish anything to be proud of! Sorry guys... There is a saying..."Build it, and they will come". WELL, we were there...and you stopped building when you put in that great Pub. You should have kept "building", and built an "Irish experience" that would make any Irishman proud! Like...having a waitstaff that is friendly & knowledgeable...and encouraging guests to sample some of those amazing beverages you have behind the bar 😉. The pub is gorgeous...the staff was lacking terribly. And where was the music? No Irish Pub music playing??? You have got to be kidding! Where was the "environment" that the Irish are famous for? You know...fun, welcoming, great drink and above all...friendly! Sorry...you didn't lose me at "hello"...you lost me as I sat "at the bar!" The funny thing is...because I am sure you are just thinking this is just me, and my review doesn't matter anyhow...but the guy who was sitting with us at the bar...said the same things as us. You guys may want to think about that for a moment... Nothing destroys a great bar, or a great menu as fast as a waitstaff that just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Have months of a pandemic, and now the guests venturing out once again...NOW is the time to step up your game, and create guests for life! Sorry, but not a good review...but an...

It was a wait to get in, so expectations were high, despite the recommendation from the hotel clerk to not go here for dinner because the atmosphere seemed pretty cool. Turns out the atmosphere was really about all that this place has going for it.

Service was slow once we finally got a table. We ordered a 2 beers, 2 waters and the corned beef egg rolls to start. The beers came. Guinness nitro was as expected. Their Galway Bay Irish red arrived with no head and was kind of flat but drinkable. No waters. We order our entrees and again, a couple of glasses of water. 20 minutes go by and the server comes back and asks if there's anything we'd like before our entrees arrive...just our appetizer and waters. He says they're working on it...another employee comes by to drop the app, ask for water again... And yet still no water arrives. The hostess comes by to check on us, again ask for water, but then she saw a squirrel and still no water. Finally a bus person came by and took our appetizer plate and we asked him for water and got it. Literally 5 times over 30 minutes we asked...

Then our food finally comes, and this is when it gets really bad....

The small salad I ordered with chicken arrived with no chicken. The Sheppards pie my husband ordered showed up as calamari....but he had just brought the wrong food to our table?? Except for the salad. The Shepards pie showed shortly after with what seemed to be boiled potatoes just kind of broken up into a pile on the top of the meat, topped with some rando frozen/baked piece of crust? The entire thing seemed to have spent a ridiculous amount of time in the microwave based on the crust that had formed around the top. It was not good.

The salad was good. But the chicken seemed like the precooked fake smoked Oscar Meyer chicken strips you'd buy from the grocery store, only stuck under a heat lamp or salamander until it became chicken jerky. I ate a couple of pieces but that's it. The server came back and asked if I wanted a box for the chicken. I said no, it was terrible, and not even an inquiry as to why or any possible remedies, just the check.

My husband left a 15% tip and that was quite generous in my opinion. I can't remember the last time the we've left less than 22%. This was literally the worst service we've received at a restaurant all year, and we go out to eat usually a couple times a week.

As a chef that's worked at several restaurants I just really want to go into that kitchen to see what the actual heck is going on in that kitchen. It's like they don't prep literally anything. Otherwise the ticket times are just shear incompetence. It says right on the menu to expect dinners to come out in 30-45 minutes. Mind blowing. They could turn over some tables with some decent planning and execution and for God's...

Galway Irish Pub: A Taste of the Emerald Isle on the Ocean Shore

Nestled along the picturesque beaches of Ocean Shores, the Galway Irish Pub stands as a beacon of warmth and authenticity, a testament to the rich culinary heritage of the Emerald Isle. Amidst the seaside tranquility, this charming establishment transports patrons to a cozy corner of Ireland, where hearty meals and lively conversations abound. On a recent visit, I was treated to the restaurant's signature dish – a clam chowder so exquisite that it warrants its own feature.

From the moment I crossed the threshold, the Galway Irish Pub enveloped me in a welcoming embrace. The soft glow of the stained-glass lamps bathed the dark wooden interiors in a warm, amber light, while the melodic lilt of traditional Irish music whispered in the background. The walls, adorned with Gaelic memorabilia and vintage posters, seemed to tell a story of their own. It was like stepping into a time capsule, one that captured the essence of an Irish respite on the shores of the Pacific.

But, the pièce de résistance, the crescendo of this symphony of senses, lay in a humble bowl of clam chowder. Served in a rustic, hollowed-out bread bowl, the dish was a sight to behold. The rich, creamy broth boasted a velvety texture, with each spoonful revealing a treasure trove of succulent clams, tender potatoes, and smoky bacon. The symphony of flavors sang in harmony, with the briny taste of the sea melding seamlessly with the earthy undertones of the root vegetables.

The Galway Irish Pub's clam chowder is not just a dish; it is a sensory experience, a culinary journey that takes your taste buds on an epic voyage across the pacific. Each mouthful transported me to the rugged Irish coastline, where the waves crash against the verdant cliffs, and the salty sea air mingles with the scent of peat fires. A masterful blend of New England and Irish traditions, this chowder is a testament to the culinary prowess of the establishment's talented chefs.

Accompanied by a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, I found myself sinking into the plush leather booth, lulled by the convivial atmosphere that is characteristic of a true Irish pub. My fellow diners, an eclectic mix of locals and tourists, engaged in animated conversations, their laughter and clinking glasses providing a melodious soundtrack to my culinary adventure.

In a seaside town renowned for its natural beauty, the Galway Irish Pub stands out as a beacon of authenticity and tradition. The clam chowder alone is worth the pilgrimage, but the establishment as a whole is a testament to the lasting appeal of Irish hospitality. If you find yourself yearning for a taste of the Emerald Isle amidst the steel and glass of Ocean Shores, look no further than this charming haven on Beach...