Doyle's Public House — Restaurant in Tacoma

Dear Doyle's, You have gotten pretentious. I realize that at some point you had an award for good food. That point seems to have passed. The regular menu is a weird fusion in which everyone's comfort foods are ruined by trendy ingredients. Some of it is tasty, and you aren't going to get food poisoning, but they are going to ruin your favorite dish in some way. Because bacon jelly (sweet and chewy) and guiness (way to ruin beef/lamb gravy) totally go in traditional shepherd's pie, along with a large amount of nearly raw onions (our first visit). There are some good items, like the grilled cheese, but the pricing is overall too high.

We came in for the "special cajun event" prior to Mardi Gras. As someone who has eaten in New Orleans more than once prior to Katrina, and at other Cajun places on the gulf cost after, I have to say you got it ALL WRONG. (On a side note, who the heck chose the date? If you don't know when Mardi Gras is, you might rethink having a Cajun pop up) Also, you might want to price special event menus to save wear and tear on servers. We quickly reconsidered the dip appetizer when we found out it was $13.

The po boy was actually great. I'd happily eat it again. In the summer, on a diet. You know, when I'm going for cool, crisp and healthy instead of a traditional po boy loaded with fried shrimp and remoulade. Your "cajun mayo" is a complete failure. There was not enough spice. It was very "refreshing," which might have been great in August, but not when I'm one of 5 people shivering in your establishment in February. Your regular side choices were inappropriate for the event.

Let's get to the soup, the "gumbo." While I could have added approximately a 4oz cup to my sandwich to replace the side at a $3 upcharge, I got a cup seperately for $6. I expected more (size and flavor)for the price- think 8oz coffee mug minimum. You failed at the "holy trinity" in this dish. I couldn't find a single bell pepper or bit of celery. I did find some odd, tiny asian pepper as a topping, and I could taste tabasco, yet it was bland even with the sausage. The rice seemed to be half a microwaveable single serve rice with the soup poured over it. Just bad. It never soaked up any of the soup, and it wasn't on the side to cut the heat. Instead I paid a lot for poorly cooked rice.

Our shivering and still hungry selves wanted desert, and didn't want to eat it where everyone (2 bartenders and like 4 other guests) could hear everything we said while seated on hard benches. We ordered 2 slices of the special cheesecake (chocolate caramel pecan) to go and the check. $9 each (surprise!) plus an undisclosed (prior to the check) $0.75 each to go fee. What we got was a regular slice of pre-made plain cheesecake, a portion cup of hershey's syrup, a portion cup of toasted pecan bits, and a portion cup of caramel sauce. The caramel sauce might have been made in house, but there's no way anything else was. Contrast this with an easily twice the size piece of Cheesecake factory caramel turtle cheesecake for $8.50 (and no to go fee) and tell me the pricing is good.

Like everything else parking here sucks, even though they...

Too bad we can't give negative stars. This place deserves about a negative 4 for the worst pub service in the history of pubs. I think this place is supposed to be in the business of selling alcohol, but it doesn't appear that tgestaff knows that. We ambled in here last night after a night tour of Stadium high and were surprised to find the place mostly empty at 10:30pm on a Saturday night.... The reason for the last of patron soon became pretty clear....they all died of thirst waiting for a drink. Now, to be fair, when we first came in we asked for two large glasses of ice water and the waitress did bring us those. Best ice water I ever had. She also left some menus on the table.......and that was the last we heard from her....although we did see he moving around between the bar and the kitchen. The clueless bartender came out from behind the bar twice to push in chairs but never said a peep to us....until the end.. We drank our waters and then waited patiently for someone to take our order. After 15 plus minutes, it became pretty obvious that our chances of getting a drink or anything to eat here were non existent. Finally, we decided enough was enough, gave up, and hot up to leave. As we were headed for the door, the bartender told us to have a nice night. I gave him a "you gotta be kidding me?" look that could have melted a polar ice cap. Maybe they just don't like middle-aged women with money to spend. Whatever their problem was, it will never again be mine. I wouldn't recommend this...

Came here on a Sunday funday, and I thought I would enjoy a lunch and a few drinks with friends. Love Irish bar's and was extremely disappointed with 1st drink ordered. I couldn't wait too eat a pretzel & food smelled delicious. Yup, 4 staff members were very moody & upset. I witnessed them being rude to two ladies & thought they must know these customers. (Followed) Went outside and listened to them complain to the security staff of the facts. Whenever I finished my 1st drink, I asked for a menu. Waiting for the table to be open. I had my chance to sit at the table & bartenders were rude to me and a waste of our time. Afterthought, I could have stayed home & drank, saying the 3 others who were at my party. Furthermore, as a prior business owner & a classy bartender in luxury location. I was stunned, shocked, and disappointed that my 35 minutes in bar was an uncomfortable situation. Please let bartenders know that they work for the Owners & treat customers better. People will buy a 2nd or 3rd drink & maybe spend $100 in your location ordering food. The disappointment allows us to tell thousands of people of our encounter, horrid experience & witnessed other situations could of been handled with a smile and kindness for there rudeness was a simple sign they hate working for the Owners or they don't get paid enough. Either way... you look at it. Poor...