Houlihan's — Restaurant in Upper Arlington

I'm very sad to watch this once wonderful restaurant on a steady downhill trajectory. This used to be our favorite go-to place that always left us genuinely satisfied and smiling. The menu is great, the service was friendly and fast. Due to the pandemic, it's become impossible for so many restaurants like this to hire and keep qualified, engaged staff (cooks, kitchen help, servers, bartenders and greeters). We'd become spoiled with a history of wonderful dining experiences and we brought family, friends and work associates here to enjoy it with us over the years. During the last year, every visit has been sub par at best. My husband's fish & chips arrived hot, crispy and full of flavor. He could not have been happier. Unfortunately, my sandwich (the advertised pot roast that I came for was sold out) was barely warm, the fries were lacking both flavor and heat. Poor kitchen management left my meal sitting near a warmer while my husband's was being freshly prepared. Last night we came after receiving an email about their chicken parmesan special. Reservations for 6:00 were made hours ahead of time and we arrived at 6 to find a dozen people standing at the cold entrance waiting to be seated, while looking at empty tables. About 8 came in and left with carry out orders. 20 minutes later we were finally shown to our table. The server was very nice and explained that their kitchen was totally understaffed, and said that management was working in the kitchen to help. We told her we were there for the chicken parmesan and she said there were only three left so she rushed off to ensure that we got ours. Running the ads had brought a lot of carry out business for them, depleting their supplies. Our food arrived quickly and the chicken was hot and crispy. But the fettuccini was just warm and completely undercooked. And I'm not talking al dente -- but chewy! I mean it should have been in the boiling water for at least another 2-3 minutes. No excuse. Just frustrating and disappointing and starting to feel dishearteningly familiar. I don't know what the fix is, but you don't advertise for business when you don't have the trained staff or the supplies to meet the demand. Maybe do reservation only with seating that matches your resources, and eliminate carry out. At least then your staff could be rewarded with tips of happy diners. I certainly wish them luck because they had a great thing going, but we won't be returning...

Went on Valentines day with my sister. We went early like first 6 people in there. The restaurant was clean and the waitress we had was outstanding! I left her a $20 tip based on her service but everything else was trash! I've had better food at soup kitchens I've volunteered at.

I ordered a vanilla Crème brûlée (yes to start with and a blueberry lemonade.) About 10minutes later get my lemonade that didn't taste like blueberry but it was still delicious my waitress made it. She asked if it tasted like blueberry i said not but it was still super tastey and immediately my waitress said hold on let me try again and dashed off. She came back in shortly after and eagerly had me another to try and it tasted like blueberry and still delicious. Then 2mins later she came back to tell me they didn't have my dessert only the chocolate for the day. No biggy.

I ordered a impossible burger with special sauce and mashed potatoes. It took 45mins for it to get there. Now it was still early and only 4 other tables. It gets to the table I'm like where's the special sauce? The kitchen said they are out but could give me some sauce most people use to dunk their chicken un. Im like um okay. Immediately before she leaves the mash looks like someone thew them on the plate. I said something and my waitress came right over (someone else brought the food out) told me give her a quick sec she'll get me something well put together. Not even a minute later here comes some pretty potatoes not thrown on a plate. Well don't you know they were disgusting. A real rancid taste. The impossible burger tasted straight out the freezer and unseasoned. I've had better from Burger king. The manager came over (white guy, baldish head, blue shirt, black pants) asked how everything was I told him the mashed potatoes tasted sour. Like a rancid dairy was in it. He was like ohhhhh ill be right back and check on that. He didn't come back to our table. Then I ordered a cheesecake, it was actually delicious. However the manager and kitchen were just below standard. The waitress was nice and attentive I couldn't leave a tip based on food & lackluster management so I left her a note on it (we paid separately). I hope she finds a job at a place where her talents can shine bec she was so personable, kind, funny, and caring. I wish we would have just eaten...

Great food, pretty good atmosphere and pretty poor service. So we went here tonight after never having gone before and after looking at the menu. We sat for 15 minutes…reservation at 5:30pm, we had gottten there at 5:25 and were promptly sat before waiting until 5:43 to asking if we had a server as 5 had passed by our table and none had offered to even get the drinks started. A few moments later she comes by and makes some excuse about being in the back despite seeing her on her phone at the service station. She asks if we had been there before which I hadn’t and then goes on a long explanation of the menu and how it’s a lot to look at and how it may be confusing. Respectfully we had been looking at the menu for 15 mins and had looked prior to coming in as well. It’s actually a very easy well thought out menu. We give our drink and food orders, and we don’t hear anything for about another 15 mins….reasonable considering the cook time.

The food arrived and it was excellent. I had the prime rib sandwich with parmesan garlic potatoes, my fiancé had the fried fish also with the potatoes. The fish was seasoned perfectly and fried to a beautiful golden color. My sandwich was tender, flavorful and perfectly seasoned as well. We were going to get one each of the crème brûlée desserts, the regular menu and the seasonal but unfortunately they were out. We do plan to see about giving those another try though.

We would definitely come back for the food and the atmosphere but I really hope that the service issue is addressed because despite all of it we did tip our server really well and it was solely based on the merit...