Paddy Mac's Restaurant — Restaurant in Palm Beach Gardens

There was nothing wrong with the service or the establishment itself (it was clean, well maintained, and inviting) but the food was disappointing, sadly. The complimentary soda bread muffins were good, slightly sweet with raisins added, but if you expect standard American muffin or bread texture, you're not going to get it. This is soda bread. It's dry and crumbly. That's what soda bread does, so I give points for well made soda bread. We started with the pint of sausages which were tasty (they're more of the mild Irish/English style of sausage which is in keeping with the Irish pub theme, but don't go in expecting an Italian sausage which is all shouty, 'look at me! I'm full of basil and oregano and thyme!' In the UK, sausages are subtle and more reserved. Think Queen Elizabeth instead of a red Ferrari.) I ran into my first problem with the food with the hot mustard that came with them. It was just too much horseradish, and we LIKE horseradish. After that, when our entrees arrived, the problems compounded with one simple element that was lacking in every dish... salt. There was just NO SALT. Nothing was seasoned. Not the chicken pot pie (which had it's own set of extra problems that I'll address next), not the shepherd's pie, not the mashed potatoes on the bangers and mash, not even the hamburger or the FRIES. Not even the fries? You can't make fries without salt. Seriously. A fry without salt is just a sad potato. You have to season your food. Gordon Ramsay would flay a chef alive if they failed to season their food. Don't be afraid of a little salt and some fresh ground pepper, it won't hurt anyone. I promise. Lastly, the chicken pot pie. Lovely presentation with a big fluffy puff pastry placed on top as the crust, but underneath? No salt. No pepper. And huge chunks of carrots and potatoes far larger than 'bite sized' and undercooked. I mean, actually crunchy on the inside. Not to mention a lack of mushrooms... I say 'lack' because mushroom stems don't count. No caps = No mushrooms. Having been in the food business for 39 years, I know restaurants, customer service, and food. There was nothing offensive about this restaurant or its food. The problem was, it was frankly bland and in some ways, poorly executed. I really wanted to be blown away by the food, and sadly, we weren't. This will be my only chance to dine here, as I'm in from out of town, and I'm sorry that I can't give an outstanding review. I hope the owner reads this and takes it as it is meant to be taken; a well meaning and honest critique of the food that is the heart of his business and that he takes the time to improve the recipes. People WANT outstanding, unique food that they can enjoy over and over. Do that, and they will throw their money at you...

Paddy Mac's is so solid that I'm tempted to give them a bad review and keep the place all to myself - so to speak!

It's my personal "Irish Cheers" and I know there's a few dozen others (probably way more than that) that feel the same about it. A shockingly large number of people are greeted by name upon arrival and it's as common for a drink to be poured without a word spoken as it is to hear someone order one. The team behind the bar makes what feels like a truly genuine effort to get to know everyone and anyone who comes in and that warmth of familiarity permeates everything about the place. That includes the home cooked style meals that are always perfect when you want something hearty or are simply missing Mom's home cooking. The live music and Irish accents that often float above the drone of typical bar noise adds an indefinable charm that's hard to come by and the blend of age groups, income levels and motivations for being there are a testament to how universally the charms of the place are appreciated. It's the definitive Irish pub in this area and I be struggled to find a con and failed (read my other reviews - this is not common for me).

PS. I'll head off a silly "Con" that I'm sure a handful might suggest, which is price point. There will inevitably be a few folks who say the place "is expensive for an Irish pub". No offense, but that's a ridiculous position. The place is perfectly FAIRLY priced. You aren't going to walk out feeling like you got a steal and you shouldn't. You also aren't going to feel robbed or lose your breathe at the cost of anything. There is certainly a group of folks out there who think that anything that isn't underpriced is overpriced - what I call the "Groupon group" - folks who won't go anywhere at full value. More power to you, but don't confuse very fair market value with being pricey. I'd rather have the place there for another ~25 years and pay fair price than have them last 3 years at...

Hailing from the American Northeast, and having lived in communities and regions that predated the American Revolution, I have to admit that I am a lifelong fan of the classic American tavern, which is derived from its Irish and English predecessors. There is simply something special about a place where you can find some fantastic, regional home-cooked food, good stiff drink and a warm-hearted, welcoming staff and community under one roof - that's the magic of a local tavern.

It's also the kind of place that I wasn't expecting to find here in Southern Florida. I mean, I never thought of find a proper pub minutes away from my new PBG home in the tropics. Yet, here it is, and I couldn't be more pleased!

Paddy Mac's was founded by an Irish transplant looking to bring the hospitality and flavors of The Emerald Isle to Florida; and that he did!

Besides a menu filled with classic American tavern foods like burgers, wings and steaks, Floridian favorites like fish dip, conch fritters and local fish, there are a number of classic Irish-American and Irish favorites to be had. You can, of course, get a grilled corned beef sandwich but I am a fan of their bangers and mash (the Guinness gravy is to-die-for!) and weekly Prime Rib which reminds me of a classic Sunday Supper since they serve this slow-roasted classic with Yorkshire Pudding. It really is outstanding!

If you're looking for your new proper local, then Paddy Mac's might just...