Ok, what do you think an ugly oyster exactly refers to? Hmmm. Let me know when you have figured it out. It is neither a reference to the food nor a compliment to women. Or so I am told. Here is another tragic story related to Reading's past, for those interested in weird history. There was a terrible event of domestic violence here that I never fail to think about when I go in -- in 1987, an off-duty police officer shot his ex to death, downstairs where she ran to call for help. He also killed an elderly patron and shot a cook. He died on death row a few years later. Domestic violence statistics in this country are still shocking and include all social strata of people. The place received a Guinness revamp in the 90s with supposedly-authentic stuff shipped in from Ireland and became a lot nicer. I especially love the tin wall coverings. The pub food is decent. I used to get Reubens there sans the meat, and they never gave me a hassle. You can snag one of the two cozy window seats and have a street view to the eccentricities of Reading. As a real Irish pub would have, there are plenty of booths. It can get a bit rowdy on weekends, so we stick to weekdays or afternoons when we want a really good UK beer. The Irish Whisky selection is the best I have seen. The lighter one I kind of liked is the name of the murderous cop, Powers. Ugh. Bar staff used to doodle a cloverleaf into the foam head on your beer, cute. You will never see a more packed place on St. Patrick's Day. Last I knew, the bathrooms left a lot to be desired. Making up for this is a large free parking lot, well, free at night. In the winter particularly, this place seems to beg you to come in and get warm.
(2)
K C.
Great pub, for sure! Classic interior, big bar, great service, and amazing beers on tap or in bottle! There is a signature appetizer that is a new classic for me, as I have NEVER seen this on any menu in the US......Baked Hot Smoked Cheddar...wow...really inventive from the chef, gotta give him credit! A must stop when I am in that area, and love the place.
(4)
Justin K.
Ok, so I have decided to review the Ugly Oyster after my recent visit at New Years. Catchy name isn't it. Is it the best irish pub i have been to, probably not. Is it a good on in a now crappy city, yes. Growing up outside of Reading and seeing this city gradually get worse and worse over the years, we always had a lack of cool places to go. I wish this place was around when I was, this definitely would have been on our regular bar list. This Irish Bar is located down the street from the Sovereign Center. Quick tip, if there is a concert or something going on, your chances of actually getting a seat in here are slim to none. The Oyster's menu is typical bar food however their beer menu is fantastic. You can get anything from Weyerbacher to LaChouffe to Victory to Young's Double Chocolate. Of course being in an Irish bar, you go with what you know, Guinness. Is it typical, yes, but they pour a mean Guinness and it is cheaper than most of the other beers here. The food here is decent enough. Their raw bar is pretty solid. I really enjoy their hot steamed shrimp and French mussels. The service is always polite and prompt. For me, this place is a bright spot in a declining city. It is unfortunate because living in Berks County is great. I do enjoy coming back here and I have a good time every time that I do. If you are in the Reading area and what to check out a cool little Irish pub, come here, I don't think you will be disappointed.
(4)
Jamie M.
The place has a lot of character, but was ruined (at least for me) since our bartender had a lot of attitude. Plus she was extremely hard to get ahold of to order drinks or ask questions; she also wasn't very knowledgeable (my friend asked for suggestions and a bar menu and the bartender was uninterested/un-knowledgeable in helping her out). I had a Guinness(they had a $3 special) and my friend had a Smirnoff Ice ($3.75) and a Coors Light ($3.75) Despite that, the list of beers they carry is extensive, especially compared with other places in the area. Also, there is free parking in the church lot across the street after 6PM! To sum up- Pros: Very traditional type bar Mixed crowd (although tilting toward older) Extensive beer list Free parking across the street (at the church after 6PM) Cons: unknowledgeable/standoffish bartender (Dani?) Couldn't get the bar menu since the kitchen was closing in 15 min I may be back to try the food since I've heard such great things about it!
(3)
Heather M.
Always one of my most favorite places to go, I was in for a rare lunch visit around Halloween. I had the soup and salad special- which was prepared and served within 5 minutes- and was amazing. My waitress was super and my pint was worthy of a top star rating on the Guinness Pub Finder app ~~ Keep up the good work!! You make going into center city worthwhile...even just to see the oysters as I drive by. I heart the Ugly O!!
(5)
Kait H.
I went here last Friday before a concert at the Sovereign Center for dinner and afterwards for drinks. First off, the beer menu and selection is top-notch! The food was very good, some items were outstanding others just "eh". I really really enjoyed the crab dip and raw oysters, but the mussels were a bit salty. For dinner it was a nice grill-pub atmosphere. Where we returned there was blaring hip-hop music playing intermittently with silence (one song on, one song off basically) (note: I don't mind hip hop it just did not match the atmosphere of a cozy pubs with booth designed for chatting over a pint). I absolutely would go back for dinner if I am in the area... probably not later on.
(4)
John G.
Nice little Irish Styled Pub in the heart of Reading,Pa. Not your typical just Irish Fare. Has some unique food like the Roast Beef and bacon w cheddar sandwhich which I had it was very tender and tasty. The wife opted for a bowl of their Crab Corn Chowder which she said was thick hot and delicious she also had a salad with some honey mustard she commented on saying it was great but it had a hot taste she wasn't ready for but it was quite a nice change from the regular honey mustards you get elsewhere. Fries ihad were tasty only negative was the old bay type spice they sprinkled on a little toheavy for my liking. Over a very nice atmosphere and a very friendly place to enjoy our Meal. Ifyourin thereading area and would like someting a little different and not the norm try the Ugly Oyster and enjoy pint of Guinness too.
(4)
Erica R.
For me food has to be important of course, but the wait staff can make or break the entire experience. It started out rough but the wait staff recovered nicely. We asked for a booth and got seated then everyone disappeared. A few minutes later I'm looking around and cannot seem to find a waitress. We wait a few minutes more. Nobody comes by. I see waitresses hanging at bar and start to really look around. A waitress finally came by and apologized saying we were seated in an area unattended and they had just figured that out. That meant TONS. An honest explanation, apology, and quick recover. From that moment on we were taken care of. Compare that to a few weeks ago at the BRICK HOUSE where all night was awful getting service. Good service can make or break it. I won't go back to the BH but the Ugly Oyster recovered nicely with their honesty. Love it. Food was good as well. We had the steamed seafood as an appetizer (shared). It was supposed to be an entree and while it was good it was no way a meal! Loved it though. Crab legs excellent. Shrimp nicely seasoned in old bay. Clams excellent. A few mussels did not open but oh well. I ate portabella sandwich and ate it without the bun. Loved it! Perfect! Husband had crabcake sandwich and that was enjoyable as well. Did not drink beer but the margarita was good. I had a dirty martini and that was good as well. Nice atmosphere, good parking, friendly wait staff. Would return any day!
(4)
Caroline C.
This is my favorite hometown bar. I have been coming here for 9 years, and it's more than just the lovely beer selection and delicious crab pretzels ( and other menu items, of course!).. It's family. My lovely bar maids and fellow patrons are the best you can get. It's a cozy Irish pub, where everyone knows each other, and is accepting of newcomers. Come out and shoot some darts, drink some beers, and make some new friends!
(4)
Greg P.
Irish pub type atmosphere, fabulous beer selection. Over the years, the Ugly Oyster has been my second favorite property within the city limits of Reading. I love the building. The outside has the look of a real Irish pub, and inside, nice woodwork complements the bar and surroundings. The bar back is old and original and I believe the rest of the wood was built to match The Ugly Oyster is a gem in what can otherwise be a rather depressing city. An added bonus is that there is usually plenty of parking available, either on the street or in the lot across the street. The menu is more or less pub fare. Of the appetizers, I'm a fan of the crab dip for two. I also love the fried oyster platter. The crab cake is a bit of a let-down and the fish and chips are just so-so. God I wish somebody could authentically reproduce the fish and chips that you can get nearly anywhere in the UK. Now that would be something. The real attraction here is the beer. They have Guinness on tap, correctly done, and they always have a neat selection of Euro and micro beers on tap too. In addition to the nice draft selection, they also have about a hundred bottled beers hidden in the cooler, including some interesting Belgians. Ask for a beer menu. Why only 3 stars? If this was ten years ago, I would have given them 5. But the last three times I've been there this year, the staff seemed to act as they'd rather be anywhere else besides working here. Yes, I really do understand that it's hard to sound enthusiastic after the 10,000th time you've recited the draft beer selections, but damn... it's not my fault that I'm sitting where I can't see the tap handles. Bottom line: If you like pubs and/or if you're a beer geek and haven't been here yet, check it out. Just don't expect too much otherwise.
(3)
Margo K.
I've been dining at the Ugly Oyster since I was a kid and I'd go with my parents. I always enjoyed the food, because I love pub food, but I haven't had the chance to eat here in a couple years. I have been back for drinks though. It seems as though the clientele is mostly 30s-60s in age, even on Fridays at 11pm. I think the crowd can vary, because it was filled with mid-twenty-somethings around Thanksgiving break. I have always had a good time here. Their draft selection isn't that great in my opinion - it's not that varied at all. Fairly blah. I get that this is a certified Guiness bar, but perhaps I need to pick something from the bottle list next time. The bartenders aren't very charismatic, and it's not endearing. Good atmosphere though. I'll always come back here, but I think I prefer dinner over late-night here. To me, this is still one of the best spots in Reading.
(4)
John D.
amazing atmosphere! Friendly staff, great fresh food, and great drink selection.
(5)
Al T.
I tried the ugly oyster for the half off burger special on Thursday night running from 10:00 pm to 1:30 am . The place is awesome , great attention to detail , very warm friendly and well run. The beer selection was a pleasant surprise. I was blown away by the Belgium beer and a Burger that was tops . You know you found a great place when you can't wait to return and that was the case here. I can't wait for my next opportunity to visit this GEM in the heart of the Jungle.
(5)
Dake V.
It is too bad i can't give a review for the food and another for the service . The Oysters, mussels, crab cakes and fish and chips were to die for... The waitress seemed stoned out of her mind. The guy at the next table asked the manager if she was new, she never brought or even placed a bar order for my beer, she forgot our salad, the people at the two tables next to mine also never got their beer... I have to stop - my mother always told me to not say anything unless you had something nice to say. Wait a minute, my mom was there and she said "this waitress is horrible". But there must be something nice to say about her - she did add up the bill correctly... Go anyway - maybe by the time you make it there she will have been fired or have moved out of the service industry. DID I SAY THE BEER SELECTION IS OUTSTANDING AND THEY HAVE A HAND PUMPED BEER!!!
(3)
Aj D.
Seafood sampler and fresh cut fries..... You can't go wrong
(4)
Elena C.
The place is really cute with Irish bar signs and dark wood everywhere. Great atmosphere for drinking. It had such promise. I would NOT eat there again. Perhaps if I'd selected a different dish things would have gone better. I got the crabcake sandwich and my fiance got the fish and chips. The crab cake ... for lack of a better word ... was odd. It tasted bad ... I don't even know how to describe it. It wasn't rotten or anything. Maybe it was cooked in dirty oil that had been around for awhile. Gross. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. I ate what I could but thank goodness there were fries to fill me up. The fries were actually quite good and the only thing pushing this to a two-star rating. I guess it's my fault. I could have sent it back and ordered something else but we had a baseball game to get to and didn't want to get into all that. My fiance said the fish and chips were "all right." He finished them but I have a feeling he wasn't any more impressed then I was. If I ever go to Reading again I'll go to The Peanut Bar. It looked kooky and fun ...
(2)
Alison H.
This is a great place to go have a pint! The beer selection was decent and the live music was a great touch! I had the wings, but they were nothing special.
(3)
J P.
Good food and a great atmosphere. I have only been here 2 or 3 times but it has always been a great experience and you feel like you can easily strike up a conversation with anyone in the pub.
(4)
Kassie E.
Good homemade food! I took my husband here (as he is Irish and also from New England ... So, he knows a good pub and he loves quality seafood). We both were very impressed and will frequent this pub again!!! The raw bar, fish and chips, fries and crab cakes are all awesome and tasted very fresh!
(5)
Andrea W.
Came excited for the fried oysters and they sucked. Also the french fries were uncooked and pretty much raw potato. The salad had slimy veggies and I ended up picking most of them off. I sent the whole meal back and split the cheese-steak that my date ordered. That was decent. The wait staff was apologetic and friendly and the atmosphere is really great. I would go there again for drinks only.
(1)
Juli K.
The only thing stopping me from giving 5 stars was that our server disappeared after we ordered and it took forever to get our food. That said, that is my *only* complaint with the Ugly Oyster. First of all, the place looks amazing inside and out. When you step through the doors, it's like walking back in time. It's very dim but warm with pattered tin walls painted red and shiny shiny wood everywhere. Even the tables are fabulous little inlaid rounds with wrought iron bases. To start, we had the Crab Dip for 2. It was a hot dish of cheesy crabby goodness. It came with some multigrain crackers, garlic bread and Pennsy style broken pretzels. Incredibly tasty once it cooled a little. It's going to be a few days before the napalm-like cheesy burns on the roof of my mouth heal. Consider yourself forewarned! I also tried a couple of the special Blue Point Oysters on the half shell from their raw bar. They were exceptionally fresh, sweet and clean. Pretty impressive for a place so far inland and that was our experience with all of the seafood at The Ugly Oyster. My boyfriend and I also shared the Steamed Seafood Platter that came with a snow crab cluster, some steamed shrimp, mussels and clams. The clams and mussels were impeccably clean. I hate eating clams that have grit in them. These were fabulous and perfectly cooked to doneness without getting rubbery. Same for the mussels-- if you try them here and don't like them, don't eat them anywhere else because seriously, they don't get any better. Next time I go, I am ordering the giant bowl of mussels. We also both had a sandwich (what can I say, we were hungry!). He had the cheese steak which had this interesting sweet, spicy sauce on it. He loved it. I had a fried oyster sandwich that I loved and I upgraded to the fresh cut french fries, which had been sprinkled in Old Bay. Super, super yummy. I just cannot get over how great the seafood is at this little hole-in-the-wall bar in Reading, PA! So, all of the food listed above, plus a Guinness and a Yuengling Lager and our check was $50. Yes, you read that correctly. Incredibly cheap for a seafood dinner if you ask me. If you are in, near, around or can get to The Ugly Oyster-- GO!!!
(4)
Marsha F.
Great place for fresh oysters - charming antique bar brought over from Ireland. Love the traditional music.
(3)
Rochelle M.
The chicken cheese steak, shrimp bisque, and ugly pretzel are my favourites for this establishment. Give them a try, if you haven't already!
(4)
N M.
Outstanding Irish Pub. I'm in Reading on business almost monthly and always find a way to come here at least once per trip for dinner and a pint or two. I frequent Irish pubs on both coasts and everywhere in between and this is on my top 5 list for sure. The unexpected surprise here is that the food is well beyond your standard pub food, and is well executed at that. I've had outstaning scallops, oysters on the half shell and samon here. Of course they also have great fish & chips and the other stuff you'd expect to see in a pub. Another nice treat is the live traditional Irish session music on Thursday evenings. Usually there are between five and eight performers playing unplugged towards the back. Loud enough to be heard and enjoyed, but not so loud you can't have a conversation at the bar. Really a nice experience. The staff has always been super friendly to me so I'm surprised to see any negative comments regarding service. Honestly, it's a pub. If you want waiters in tuxedos to fall all over themselves for you, maybe you shouldn't be hanging out in Pubs... just sayin'.
(5)
Chang P.
Decent Pub in Reading. Assembled a crew for a happy hour type visit prior to an event. Good wings and fries, and plenty of bottled brew options. However, Raw Bar oysters, the Ugly Pretzel and crab cake sandwich were average at best. If you're into a selection of ~40 different man sodas and you don't have freedom fry-burglars as friends, this may be your spot.
(2)
Michael L.
Went based on reviews on Yelp and was not disappointed. Planned on having dinner but, could'nt get past the appetizers. Great beer selection and great service. Zac was the best.
(5)
Jeremy W.
Great atmosphere, great Guinness! I had the crab cakes and they were very good, a little on the spicy side, but very good. I would definitely go back next time I am in Reading.
(4)
erin s.
This place was good. Lots of beers on tap, fun environment and the food was good- not amazing, but solid. I had the Ugly Pretzel and Steamed Shrimp. Both were tasty and satisfying.
(4)
Alex C.
Very salty crabcakes and kind of mushy. Just okay.
(3)
Joanne And Mike E.
What a great place to eat and drink. I love everything on the menu and my other has found many things she will eat, even though she is from Plainsillania. Seafood, Irish dishes, beef and chicken all great. One of the best places to find all the variety in beer you would want and a fully stocked bar. The bartenders are a collection of characters that take wonderful care of your needs. When in Reading visit and see for yourself.
(5)
Adam R.
I have relatives who have lived in and around Reading for years. So I was surprised that we'd never tried The Ugly Oyster before. Walking in the pub on the unassuming city corner, my wife and I were pleased by the authentic Irish pub atmosphere complete with Guinness decor. We ordered the pretzel/cheese/crab appetizer - tasty! - then settled in with a Guinness, the mussels (big portion!), and the fish & chips (crispy and delicious). Since it was a Monday afternoon, there wasn't a crowd, but I can only imagine the fun it would be to revisit on a Friday night. We'll be back for sure!
(4)
Joe P.
I grew up in the Reading area and this is by far my favorite bar in the area. I love the authentic Irish pub atmosphere. Every time I go in it reminds me of my trips to Ireland. The food is excellent. I always get some Oysters and a pint of Guinness to wash them down. The crab legs and shrimp are top notch as well. The O also has an amazing selection of bottled beers from all over the world. They also have one pump handle to serve some real ales.
(4)
Anthony G.
First off, in response to Mike F.: If you think this place is "dank", you were NEVER here before it was re-modeled. You probably would have turned tail and ran like hell. Pro tip: order the Chicken Cheesesteak, with peanuts. Just ask.
(5)
Tina K.
Ambiance is typical of irish bar. This is the 2nd time weve been here in the last week like many people we r here to grab beer n grub b4 a concert. Beer selection is respectable. They have 4 different types of oysters , all good. Bar service is ok but dont expect service with a smile. Crabcakes are not the best as they claim but were edible on the hand the steamed seafood sampler was generous and delicious. Salad was a nice green medley the bacon-y toasted croutons made the salad.
(3)
Michelle C.
Cool old looking Irish bar with excellent food and perfectly poured Guinness draft. Recommend Guinness beer battered fish and chips and various raw oysters. Great service. Only caveat was dim lighting and not so good area. Parking directly across the street.
(5)
Janelle G.
I hate to say it...but the one time I was there I got horrible food poisoning. My mother called because I was too sick to, and talked to the manager. He was very sorry and we could tell he meant it. His guess it was from the tarter sauce. Although I thought it was the fish because I was sick for 4 days. Needless to say, I will give this place another chance. It's cozy, and warm. And I do like the menu. And I always hear great things about it.
(2)
Matt C.
The food is pretty good for pub style food in Reading, PA and I love the atmosphere, the memories it brings back of the Hof Brau and the clothing stores once there. The only really bad aspect is the hostess attitude...definitely get reservations, because there's nowhere to wait except in the small entry while other patrons are entering. The wait is always long and the hostess will be consistently rude, so we don't bother going there any longer.
(2)
Brandy B.
We went into Reading to a Royals game and read the reviews here before traveling. Omg....this place is ah-mazing!!! We ordered a few (very cheap) drinks, a crab cake sandwich and the beefsteak. We also ordered fries. We were not disappointed with this place. The beefsteak was out of this world (and BIG). Not in the nicest area of Reading, but well worth it. We cannot wait to go back!!
(5)
Justin R.
Good fish and chips. Seafood platter is good and generously portioned.
(4)
Mike F.
The interior lives up to its name - it's dark, dank, and ugly ... the bathrooms in particular. But the Ugly "O" is CHARMING. Think of it in terms of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. In both cases, "ugly" is a term of endearment. The winner is still adored and praised. We can look past its homely qualities and directly into its unabashed, genuine soul. You see, the Ugly Oyster knows its not pretty. It also knows that looks are superficial, and it's what's inside that really matters. Owner Glenn Rigg apparently attended the Guinness Irish Pub Concept Program at the Guinness Brewery in Ireland in order to obtain official training in all things Guinness from varieties to pouring/serving to culinary uses. It's as authentic as you'll find in Berks County, and it doesn't disappoint. One note, though: beware the crab cakes. The menu touts there is "barely any filler", but they were loaded with bits of shell and absolutely overcooked. That's my fault for ordering crab cakes in Reading, PA and not the shore, but I thought perhaps their boastfulness was warranted. It's NOT! If you have a hankering for seafood here, try the fried oysters or stuffed shrimp. But stay away from the crab cakes.
(4)
Elena B.
Fresh and delicious food! We are picky NYC foodies and we were so happy. The staff keeps it real and the seafood tasted like it was right off the boat. Crab cake had no filler and wasn't too bready--mmmm! We'll be back!
(5)
nina s.
Very disappointing experience! I expected way more based on the reviews. The ambience was of a cheap neighborhood dive bar, the oysters were meh, the waitress seemed high. I couldn't wait to get out of there!
(2)
TJ N.
Best Oyster stop in reading, recommend this to anyone in search of solid beers and a great menu.
(5)
David B.
Dinner last night was great! I had the prime rib with salad, fries, and a Guiness on draft. Could not have been better! Nice owner and staff. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar. Cool history to the interior dining space.
(5)
Kristine D.
I met a friend here today for lunch. This was my first time here. We sat at the bar. Service was quick and very friendly. I ordered the French onions soup and no lie, it was the best I have ever had! It could have almost been a meal alone! I also ordered the grilled chicken salad. It was amazing! I will be back!
(5)
Jessica P.
Went here before a concert. Good we had reservations or else we never would have gotten a table. I have NO IDEA what everyone likes about this place. The servers are rude. Our chicken fingers needed to be cooked longer so we told the waitress. Our reply was, "well what do you expect me to do?" Really?!?!? Sorry to bother you to fix something I am paying for! Also, I asked for a Malibu and coke. I got Captain Morgan and something that resembled soda. Again attitude when I asked for what I ordered. Def WONT be going back for the bad service or overpriced bad food
(1)
Christina D.
Great authentic Celtic atmosphere. I really liked this place, I had a starter of different kinds of raw oysters, all of them were great tasting & fresh. My dinner came with a side salad that was delicious, I don't know if it was the kind of lettuce, the croutons or the dressing (probably a mixture of all of them) but it was really good for just a side salad! Then my entree came... The Salmon topped with a creamy crabmeat mixture & jerk seasoning sauce, sounds like a strange combination but it definitely worked!!! What shocked me was the sheer size of this piece of salmon, it was HUGE!!! It came on a cast iron hot plate, still sizzling. It also came with a side of wild rice. I got through half of the salmon & ate hardly any of the rice & I was stuffed. What I took home was enough for dinner the next day. My boyfriend got the Poor Man's Surf & Turf, 2 big chicken breasts & shrimp skewers all grilled, glazed with bbq sauce, atop a mound of french fries, he loved it. I would definitely go back when in the area!
(4)
Kerry L.
I love coming here for oysters!! They get them in fresh on Fridays, the price is great and they have a fantastic rotating draft selection. My husband and I have tried their hand cut fries, the stuffed portobello mushroom, the crab and corn chowder and the crab dip. I find getting more than a dozen oysters, small fries to split and a cup of soup it's way too filling....especially if you have a couple of drafts.
(4)
Kristie S.
This is the former Hof Brau restaurant. I have only been to ugly oyster once, and it left alot to be desired, unfortunately. Service was on the slow side, and being a burger girl, that is what I ordered. It wasn't anything special. In the future I will review as soon as I'm done because I cannot really comment in detail because it has been awhile since I have been there. However the Decor was beautiful, dark wood and alot of nice wall art. I do give a place X2 to see if I just was there on a bad night, so hopefully I can give better props next time!
(1)
Allison G.
The Ugly Oyster is a fun, casual bar and restaurant. It's a nice spot to grab a drink and if you're hungry, food too. The artwork on the outside of the place is great. You'll have to check it out before or after you go. The food is pub fare with some added finesse. The Ugly Oyster has a raw bar menu. It also offers meat too. The soups are usually very delicious. The beer selection is huge with many imports and crafts. Like the name implies, it definitely has a lot of shellfish, fish and other seafood. The decor nails it with the Irish pub/ UK bar decor. It surely looks authentic. It has a lot of wooden detailing and dividers. The ceilings are incredible to look at too. The stained glass is a nice touch. There are wooden booths to sit in and stools at the bar. It has been hit or miss with the wait staff. But at least you get a tootsie pop at the end of your meal.
(4)
Melissa W.
I SO want to like this place. It has SO many cool aspects to it - but I was wholly underwhelmed by my experience. That being said - I am waffling between 2 & 3 stars. Cool story - bar was built in England, taken apart, shipped over, & reconstructed by the original designer. I've been to many, many Irish pubs (both in the states & in the Old Country) and so many aspects are spot on. The beer taps, the lighting (low, on the bar, no overhead lighting), the correctly poured Guinness, the wrap-around bar, the walls & ceilings, & the authentic Irish music being played in the background. The first thing that went wrong was something Kate S. said below. There were approximately 7 or 8 employees hanging out at the end of the bar gossiping, LOUDLY. I heard one loudly proclaiming that she was happy that her license photo looked silly, so that when she was pulled over after drinking it would look like her. Loud, personal stories continued the whole time we were there. This was around 5:30-6:30pm. It truly ruined my experience. They seemed totally uninterested in their tables, or the rest of the people at the bar. This seems to go along with the experiences of some other reviews in regards to the service here. The second problem was the food. Ordered a crab pretzel to hold me over until dinner, & this was something the bartender recommended. It was not good. It seemed like one of those frozen pretzels, slathered with cheese & crab dip, and microwaved for far too long. The pretzel was soggy - the whole thing was. It was half stuck to the skillet it came out on, it was by far the worst crab pretzel I've had. And lastly - bras on the ceiling?? Come on. There's a time & place for that - & in those situations I can totally appreciate it. It doesn't belong in a nice, beautiful, wooden Irish pub. So disappointed. If the staff had been more well-mannered & polite but the food was still bad, I still would have rated it more highly. I say these things not to bash on the place - I'd love for it to succeed. Reading needs something like this. I mention these things with the hope that an owner or manager sees them & maybe takes some steps to rectify the problems.
(2)
John F.
I stopped in for a light dinner and a couple of pints and this was perfect for both. First, this is a quaint spot with a Irish Pub feel. Second the staff was friendly enough, but one comment would be to put the phone away. Finally, the food, I had their Mussels Maryland style (Old Bay & Onions) they were phenomenal and the Guinness was poured right in the right glass. I will be in again on my next visit to Reading!
(4)
Jorey S.
This is the perfect corner bar! Glenn and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming for our party. The fried oysters were fresh and Glenn's Big Smokin' Cheese was out of this world! Make sure you order the French Fries - really the best I've ever had! If only I lived in Reading...
(5)
Tiffany S.
The location of the bar felt a little shady. We walked past quite a few boarded up windows on the way in. Not that this affected the dining experience but it soes bear mentioning. The bar itself is gorgeous and makes you want to sit down and stay awhile. We came on a weekday night so the atmosphere was low key...this place seems like it would be bustling on the weekends. We were directed to an awesome little table right by the window. The waitress was a little gruff but also nice and full of personality. The food was good...not excellent but good. The crab dip and wings were great. I wasn't a huge fan of the fried oysters I ordered (they seemed soggy)....but I'm not sure if I'm a fan of oysters in general so it's hard to say.
(4)
Jeff W.
This place had a divey feel to it, but the music was pretty alright and the food was tasty.
(3)
Leon S.
Nice friendly local bar with a solid selection on the draft beers. Around 100 choices of bottled beer as well. Food choice are pretty good as well mainly fried American and some sea food. The feeling it gives you is totally spells reading pa. The location is a little shady but I'm sure the neighborhood just went down over the years :( The bartenders and cooks are all very nice and generous. I tried the their burger and chicken wings .. It went really well with my Stella and some shots of random drinks me and my friend decided to try.
(5)
Mike S.
I wish I could recall more about this place, but all you really need to know is the oysters aren't that ugly and they tasted fresh and fantastic. Nice atmosphere and service. Check it out.
(4)
Kathy M.
I was at the Oyster on Friday with my family. Had the salmon with crab. DELICIOUS amazing portions. Beer and wine selection is astounding. Had the most amazing waiter Kevin very attentive and a rather handsome fellow. Love the Oyster and staff.
(5)
Vicki M.
The Hollywood Oysters were delicious. Had the Fried Oyster Platter, good but lots of Panko breading but the oysters were very large. Plenty of seasonings and the house special fries were salty and seasoned well. Had a bowl of the oyster mushroom soup, generous and quite good with a cream base . Had the caramel crunch cake that was made by a local bakery that was absolutely delicious Very friendly staff Waiter was great Need to clean their bathrooms Would definitely go back
(3)
karen z.
This oyster is far from ugly! Met up with a couple of friends I hadn't seen in a million years and we decided to go here from some oysters, some brews and some lunch. The warm and inviting atmosphere was only exceeded by the warmth of the workers in this place. They were cheery, gave great food recommendations and seemed to genuinely appreciate our business. So refreshing! And the food was great. Go - you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kate S.
I should have walked right back out of the door when I went to use the bathroom and the toilet fell forward and almost had me on the ground. The service was terrible. The entire time we were eating, the staff (I counted 8 at one point) were crowded around a corner of the bar holding very inappropriate conversations (I don't need to know how drunk you were at your job the night before). Our server was always sparse, apparently too worried he might miss an important part of the bar conversation. The food: Mediocre. I had the fish and chips and the chips...horrible. So hard, listless, and devoid of flavour. The fish was okay but waaay too much on the plate. How in the world do they keep food costs down? My boyfriend had the mussels which he said were not memorable and definitely not worth having again. By the end of our meal we were deeply disappointed and didn't want to pay the bill in front of us because we felt like we had been cheated. But apparently the place wasn't through with the...disappointments? Our server brought a basket of tootsie pops to our table with our bill. I'm sorry, but I obviously had mistakenly walked into a child's place. Between the actions of the employees, the toilet ride, and the lollipops The Ugly Oyster's owner might want to think about opening a Chuckie Cheese franchise.
(1)
Cheryl O.
I recommend this bar very highly. The design and atmosphere in the bar feels very like home (Ireland). The food here is delicious and the drinks are generous but the biggest draw are the amazing staff. There friendly, fun and incredibly kind. After a great night in the Ugly oyster the taxi I had organised to bring me home canceled because of snow. The wonderful manager drove my husband and I home (in the opposite direction to her home) and refused to take any payment. This was above and beyond any customer service and we will be returning again for sure. This bar will not disappoint!
(5)
Tory W.
Well here we are at the Ugly Oyster, our waitress looks and acts as if she should work at a truck stop (put a clean shirt on and clean up your appearance, it's a must as a waitress) Our paper menus were soiled with god knows what (print new ones, they're just paper for pity sake) My Guinness had the head so large it took up quarter of the glass, btw, the fruit/bar flies were having a ball with my pint, I had to put a napkin over my pint to protect it from swimmers. Wings are too big to be a good buffalo wing. Fish and Chips (OMG go to Ireland to get a lesson PLEASE, What's with that batter??) Kill the Salt.. Jesus, I'll need to drink a gallon of water to flush out the salt I've ingested and I got the mussels, not fried but heavily salted ... Oh please fix yourselves, give customers a true experience of Ireland and not this hodge podge of an Irish Bar and Restaurant.. Thank You.. SLAINTÉ
(2)
Bill H.
Went here with a friend on a Saturday at 5pm. The place was packed. We sat at the bar and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The female bartender was friendly and engaging and our drinks were served promptly. I ordered oysters on the half shell and they were outstanding. I also ordered the fried oyster platter which were excellent. I would definitely return to this classic Irish Pub.
(4)
Kenneth G.
Because we had a good experience at this restaurant about a month ago we decided to bring family (9 of us) for our monthly get--together. The last time we visited we were so delighted. My wife and I are vegan, have been so for several years, and when we saw the veggie sandwich on the menu last month couldn't wait to try it. We always carry some vegan cheese when going out so we asked the server if the cook would please replace regular cheese with our vegan cheese. No problem! The sandwich was wonderful! We couldn't wait to return. Unfortunately, this visit was not the same. The server took our order and our cheese. However, she returned shortly with the cheese, stating that the cook had "a fit" and refused to use it. We were so disappointed. However,being very hungry, I agreed to have the sandwich without cheese. My wife decided to simply not eat. so i had the server pull her order. We asked to speak to the owner or manager and were told that neither was on the premises. My sandwich came out with limp lettuce and a few mushrooms. It was nothing like we have had a month ago. I could not eat it. We will never return again. Why would a restaurant function on a Saturday night with no owner manager. The server stated that it was very slow tonight. No wonder!!
(1)
Shiny W.
I love this place I always stop in for the seafood sampler and margarita! Never heard anyone complain about food or prices they are very reasonable
overpriced, however the beer selection and atmosphere is great. draft beer selection is not idea but if you're into bottled craft beer this is a great place to stop.
(5)
Jeff G.
Got the salmon this past visit and it was fantastic. My complaint would be it was gigantic! I managed to eat it all though :) Fries and beer were all top notch. Reasonable prices. Recommend it.
(5)
Dwayne S.
Nothing else to say but...Great Bar!!!. Friendly bartenders, excellent food, the environment is very comfortable. The decor is filled with strange and exotic things to strike up a convo. The crowd is usually professionals after work, so the vibe is real calm and collected. Recommend you stop in and see Kerry...One of the best!!!
(5)
Sarah M.
This place is awesome. Fantastic beer selection and generally, the bartenders/servers will help you find something you like (unless you get a new guy, who is probably a little overwhelmed, so give him a break and take a chance on something that sounds good). The beer selection is made even better by the fact that many of your options are on tap, whereas most places with an extensive beer list only offer 5-7 draft choices. The oysters have always tasted fresh and they usually have a few different kinds with descriptions on the cute little oyster menu left on the table. I have had all three varieties of mussels and they are all distinct and flavorful. The rest of the menu is typical pub food. It does get a little rowdy late at night, and the employees join in on the fun. I've seen the complaints about this, and I'd like to point out that while it is a restaurant, there is also a very large bar that wraps around almost the entire dining room. It is probably the nicest bar in the area, so yes, it gets pretty busy, and usually people who get drunk at bars like to get loud and have a good time. Personally, I think it's awesome that the staff is having a good time, too--it makes for a fun, laid-back ambience overall. They offer tootsie pops at the end of the meal, which are optional, so if you don't like lollipops you don't have to take one. I have never felt that any of the prices were unreasonable. There are some pricier beers, but you're not going to find them much cheaper anywhere else (if you can find them at all). The only reason I gave this place 4 instead of 5 stars is due to the couple of times I have gone in to eat within the last couple of hours of the kitchen being open (I have never ordered within the last hour, because I have manners). The service is usually slow at that point and the food is not always hot. As someone who has worked in restaurants for many years, I don't like to complain, but it would be nice if the quality of food and service was consistent throughout all hours of operation.
(4)
Barry G.
Great draft beers. Great pour of Guinness. We went on a Thursday night where they had, kind of an open mic night. About 10 musicians playing Irish Music around a table. Very enjoyable..... Got there late, so, only burgers, which were very good. I will be back to try out the full menu
(4)
Sandy B.
My favorite place to go for wonderful food, great service and friendly atmosphere. I especially love the mussels, scallops, oysters and salmon. Have not had a bad meal in all the years that I have gone there. The owner and head cook, creator of the wonderful recipes served there, is amazing..... talented, creative, and dedicated to making sure that his customers are happy with their Ugly Oyster experience.
(5)
Charles M.
not a big fan, but still above average
(4)
Kelly M.
The worst!!! The food was unbelievably bad, so bad that it motivated me to sign up for yelp in order to write this review. We ordered expensive seafood platters and what was served to us should be an embarrassment to the establishment. The "crab cake" was just plain awful, I've had better from a frozen supermarket box. The "stuffed shrimp" were small, previously frozen and were covered in some gross white sauce that was inedible. Their "imperial crab sauce" is simply disgusting. As if all of that wasn't enough, someone in our party is a vegetarian and ordered a simple garden salad and found a piece of bacon in it! Oh, and for all their bragging about their fries, we've had better at the local diner. The worst dining experience in recent years. Waste of $200 but NEVER AGAIN!
(1)
Brittany B.
This place was one of a kind. My boyfriend and I love to find unique places we have never been before and I am so happy I found this one. With our new found love for mussels we were excited to see they had a variety. At 7 on a Wednesday the places seems a little desolate, I would love to see it at full volume but none the less the staff were very friendly and welcoming and recommend beers for us when we sat down. the food was to die for and I would recommend this place to anyone, you'll swoon over the Pub decor and the food soon after.
(5)
Mike L.
This place is serious about good beer... and about crab covered pretzels. We had a great time at the Ugly Oyster. It's in a fun neighborhood on a lively, vibrant street in down town Reading. The locals are a wily bunch. No indoor smoking makes for a nice environment and everyone seemed to agree on the jukebox selections. If you are not from the area, deff check out The Ugly Oyster!! Have a few beers and pretzel and see if you aren't in love :)
(5)
Ben T.
Coolest looking Bar in Reading, Real Handmade Irish bar. Great place to drink good beers and whiskey. Never really ate the food, but heard it's great. If in CC Reading its worth it to stop by and have a beer just to check out the real irish bar.
(4)
Kimberly M.
There are places that I've been to during a trip that I just get bummed out because its just simply not closer and I know ill only go there Maybe once a year and this would be one of them. Due to the high ratings on YELP I decided to go here after spending an entire day at the WWII weekend in Reading PA(which was fantastic, Id suggest going to anyone). This place hit the spot. Prices were great and service was the nicest I have encountered. I got the pretzel app that everyone raves about and they aren't kidding when they say this thing is amazing & got the mussels for dinner. For 10 bucks u get an entire plate piled high with mussels and garlic bread.... Back in CT this plate would easily of been like 20-30 bucks. WHAT A DEAL! And they tasted awesome! I will be making this trip a yearly thing and each time will be going to the Ugly Oyster.
(5)
M F.
I love this place. I have been here several times and every time I have had really good food. The service is not that great sometimes but the food and the fun atmosphere makes up for it. I love the oyster sandwich, the fries are super good, and the Ugly Pretzel is very tasty. I have had the fish and chips and crab cakes before as well and all very very good. I would highly recommend this place just for the food and the beer selection.
(4)
Katie R.
I love the Ugly Oyster! It's the best bar in Reading. They have a great food (try the crabby pretzel), but let's be honest, I usually just go for the beer. Long live the Ugly O!
(5)
Justin B.
I loved this place the ugly pretzel is cheese and crab pretzel served in a cast iron skillet was delicious and I had the crab cake sandwich which was awesome. The beer selection is excellent. If you are looking for a good pub to also get a bite to eat you cannot go wrong with this one.
(4)
John K.
If I lived near here I'd be a regular, particularly if I could walk .Of course that would mean living in downtown Reading which would be truly strange.Reading is in a somewhat strange way a beautiful old town but it has seen better days.Any connoisseur of cities should check it out .If you sit near the window here you'll get to view some great urban street life.The nook in the back is also very nice.To eat, the crab cakes ,period.You should be here for the beer ,they have a consistently wonderful list of drafts .The waitresses vary in quality but they are generally nice.My favorite was a punk girl they had a few years ago, maybe for all I know a couple of days .She seemed bright and charming,I suspect the neo punk look was a phase.Typical reflection of an old timer (in my day when we put beer in our hair and spiked it ,it really meant something,blah blah).For a few years the Cranberries seemed to be the place soundtrack,fortunately Delores O'Riordan seems to have been banished.
(3)
Ted C.
My Mother, wife to be and myself had dinner recently at the Ugly Oyster and it was a fantastic experience all around. The establishment itself is remarkable and has the characteristics of an Irish pub, including the ornate decor and amazing craftsmanship of the bar. I had the NY Strip and it was almost fork tender. My mother had the crab cakes and they were irresistable as well. My SO had the fried chicken fingers plus the crab imperial pretzel and they turned out great. The service was excellent, the beer was cold and the overall atmosphere was friendly. If you are in DT Reading, do yourself a favor and drop in, even if it's only for a drink or two. I do look forward to my next visit to the Ugly O!
(5)
jess M.
The food here is amazing. Seriously. The mussels french style are a must-have no matter what time I'm there. The french onion soup is the best I've ever had, and the rest of the food is great too. The beer is also amazing. They have a hand cask and change up the offerings regularly. Aside from that, there is a great tap and bottle selection. I honestly can't say enough about this place, other than I wish I could take it with me wherever I go.
(5)
Michael R.
I really like this place and just had lunch there today. The owner even let us in early (nice guy). Had a VERY LARGE fish sandwich (haddock?) that was on special and it was excellent and fairly priced. The chicken and steak sandwiches are excellent, the fries are good and the prices are fair. Just a cool place with good food, tons of beers and a great atmosphere. Too bad it's in Reading.
(4)
Nicole L.
Ugly Oyster is bar/restaurant designed and built by English craftsmen it's a beautifully decorated restaurant -both on the exterior and interior. Don't know the deal with hanging bras as decors though at the bar. The bar offers a long list of beer it was very impressive for a bar in Reading including Duvel, Chimay Hoegarden, Tripistes and of cos Guinness! We sat there for a good 15-20 min before the waitress came over to take out order - it was like they could tell we were from out of town. Other tables after us had orders taken and served before we got our appetizers. We tried the wings - it was weak slightly sweet sauce not buffalo style. It was ok. We also ordered the chickensteak sandwich - my friend's sandwich was incorrectly made with all the peppers and mushroom (cost extra) when she asked for peppers to be excluded. I got mine with buffalo sauce. It turned out they made a mistake by giving her someone else's sandwich. It was too late when I tasted the 'sweet sauce' and I didnt like it in my sandwich. The 5 0z sandwich was HUGE and I only ate half of it, to get fries it would cost extra $1.50. I got it cos I thought it was advertised that it's true large idaho potatos fried in peanut oil. The fries were just average - nothing extraordinary. After the dinner, my roommate and I felt really queasy and were sick. Wonder if it was because of this place.
(2)
Ryan F.
Been here plenty of times, usually at night. Really good food and atmosphere. A great place to just take some friends after work have a couple drinks and chat all night.
(4)
Scott W.
Great atmosphere, great beer selection and fabulous food!! Definately check it out!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kimba Z.
Ok, what do you think an ugly oyster exactly refers to? Hmmm. Let me know when you have figured it out. It is neither a reference to the food nor a compliment to women. Or so I am told. Here is another tragic story related to Reading's past, for those interested in weird history. There was a terrible event of domestic violence here that I never fail to think about when I go in -- in 1987, an off-duty police officer shot his ex to death, downstairs where she ran to call for help. He also killed an elderly patron and shot a cook. He died on death row a few years later. Domestic violence statistics in this country are still shocking and include all social strata of people. The place received a Guinness revamp in the 90s with supposedly-authentic stuff shipped in from Ireland and became a lot nicer. I especially love the tin wall coverings. The pub food is decent. I used to get Reubens there sans the meat, and they never gave me a hassle. You can snag one of the two cozy window seats and have a street view to the eccentricities of Reading. As a real Irish pub would have, there are plenty of booths. It can get a bit rowdy on weekends, so we stick to weekdays or afternoons when we want a really good UK beer. The Irish Whisky selection is the best I have seen. The lighter one I kind of liked is the name of the murderous cop, Powers. Ugh. Bar staff used to doodle a cloverleaf into the foam head on your beer, cute. You will never see a more packed place on St. Patrick's Day. Last I knew, the bathrooms left a lot to be desired. Making up for this is a large free parking lot, well, free at night. In the winter particularly, this place seems to beg you to come in and get warm.
(2)K C.
Great pub, for sure! Classic interior, big bar, great service, and amazing beers on tap or in bottle! There is a signature appetizer that is a new classic for me, as I have NEVER seen this on any menu in the US......Baked Hot Smoked Cheddar...wow...really inventive from the chef, gotta give him credit! A must stop when I am in that area, and love the place.
(4)Justin K.
Ok, so I have decided to review the Ugly Oyster after my recent visit at New Years. Catchy name isn't it. Is it the best irish pub i have been to, probably not. Is it a good on in a now crappy city, yes. Growing up outside of Reading and seeing this city gradually get worse and worse over the years, we always had a lack of cool places to go. I wish this place was around when I was, this definitely would have been on our regular bar list. This Irish Bar is located down the street from the Sovereign Center. Quick tip, if there is a concert or something going on, your chances of actually getting a seat in here are slim to none. The Oyster's menu is typical bar food however their beer menu is fantastic. You can get anything from Weyerbacher to LaChouffe to Victory to Young's Double Chocolate. Of course being in an Irish bar, you go with what you know, Guinness. Is it typical, yes, but they pour a mean Guinness and it is cheaper than most of the other beers here. The food here is decent enough. Their raw bar is pretty solid. I really enjoy their hot steamed shrimp and French mussels. The service is always polite and prompt. For me, this place is a bright spot in a declining city. It is unfortunate because living in Berks County is great. I do enjoy coming back here and I have a good time every time that I do. If you are in the Reading area and what to check out a cool little Irish pub, come here, I don't think you will be disappointed.
(4)Jamie M.
The place has a lot of character, but was ruined (at least for me) since our bartender had a lot of attitude. Plus she was extremely hard to get ahold of to order drinks or ask questions; she also wasn't very knowledgeable (my friend asked for suggestions and a bar menu and the bartender was uninterested/un-knowledgeable in helping her out). I had a Guinness(they had a $3 special) and my friend had a Smirnoff Ice ($3.75) and a Coors Light ($3.75) Despite that, the list of beers they carry is extensive, especially compared with other places in the area. Also, there is free parking in the church lot across the street after 6PM! To sum up- Pros: Very traditional type bar Mixed crowd (although tilting toward older) Extensive beer list Free parking across the street (at the church after 6PM) Cons: unknowledgeable/standoffish bartender (Dani?) Couldn't get the bar menu since the kitchen was closing in 15 min I may be back to try the food since I've heard such great things about it!
(3)Heather M.
Always one of my most favorite places to go, I was in for a rare lunch visit around Halloween. I had the soup and salad special- which was prepared and served within 5 minutes- and was amazing. My waitress was super and my pint was worthy of a top star rating on the Guinness Pub Finder app ~~ Keep up the good work!! You make going into center city worthwhile...even just to see the oysters as I drive by. I heart the Ugly O!!
(5)Kait H.
I went here last Friday before a concert at the Sovereign Center for dinner and afterwards for drinks. First off, the beer menu and selection is top-notch! The food was very good, some items were outstanding others just "eh". I really really enjoyed the crab dip and raw oysters, but the mussels were a bit salty. For dinner it was a nice grill-pub atmosphere. Where we returned there was blaring hip-hop music playing intermittently with silence (one song on, one song off basically) (note: I don't mind hip hop it just did not match the atmosphere of a cozy pubs with booth designed for chatting over a pint). I absolutely would go back for dinner if I am in the area... probably not later on.
(4)John G.
Nice little Irish Styled Pub in the heart of Reading,Pa. Not your typical just Irish Fare. Has some unique food like the Roast Beef and bacon w cheddar sandwhich which I had it was very tender and tasty. The wife opted for a bowl of their Crab Corn Chowder which she said was thick hot and delicious she also had a salad with some honey mustard she commented on saying it was great but it had a hot taste she wasn't ready for but it was quite a nice change from the regular honey mustards you get elsewhere. Fries ihad were tasty only negative was the old bay type spice they sprinkled on a little toheavy for my liking. Over a very nice atmosphere and a very friendly place to enjoy our Meal. Ifyourin thereading area and would like someting a little different and not the norm try the Ugly Oyster and enjoy pint of Guinness too.
(4)Erica R.
For me food has to be important of course, but the wait staff can make or break the entire experience. It started out rough but the wait staff recovered nicely. We asked for a booth and got seated then everyone disappeared. A few minutes later I'm looking around and cannot seem to find a waitress. We wait a few minutes more. Nobody comes by. I see waitresses hanging at bar and start to really look around. A waitress finally came by and apologized saying we were seated in an area unattended and they had just figured that out. That meant TONS. An honest explanation, apology, and quick recover. From that moment on we were taken care of. Compare that to a few weeks ago at the BRICK HOUSE where all night was awful getting service. Good service can make or break it. I won't go back to the BH but the Ugly Oyster recovered nicely with their honesty. Love it. Food was good as well. We had the steamed seafood as an appetizer (shared). It was supposed to be an entree and while it was good it was no way a meal! Loved it though. Crab legs excellent. Shrimp nicely seasoned in old bay. Clams excellent. A few mussels did not open but oh well. I ate portabella sandwich and ate it without the bun. Loved it! Perfect! Husband had crabcake sandwich and that was enjoyable as well. Did not drink beer but the margarita was good. I had a dirty martini and that was good as well. Nice atmosphere, good parking, friendly wait staff. Would return any day!
(4)Caroline C.
This is my favorite hometown bar. I have been coming here for 9 years, and it's more than just the lovely beer selection and delicious crab pretzels ( and other menu items, of course!).. It's family. My lovely bar maids and fellow patrons are the best you can get. It's a cozy Irish pub, where everyone knows each other, and is accepting of newcomers. Come out and shoot some darts, drink some beers, and make some new friends!
(4)Greg P.
Irish pub type atmosphere, fabulous beer selection. Over the years, the Ugly Oyster has been my second favorite property within the city limits of Reading. I love the building. The outside has the look of a real Irish pub, and inside, nice woodwork complements the bar and surroundings. The bar back is old and original and I believe the rest of the wood was built to match The Ugly Oyster is a gem in what can otherwise be a rather depressing city. An added bonus is that there is usually plenty of parking available, either on the street or in the lot across the street. The menu is more or less pub fare. Of the appetizers, I'm a fan of the crab dip for two. I also love the fried oyster platter. The crab cake is a bit of a let-down and the fish and chips are just so-so. God I wish somebody could authentically reproduce the fish and chips that you can get nearly anywhere in the UK. Now that would be something. The real attraction here is the beer. They have Guinness on tap, correctly done, and they always have a neat selection of Euro and micro beers on tap too. In addition to the nice draft selection, they also have about a hundred bottled beers hidden in the cooler, including some interesting Belgians. Ask for a beer menu. Why only 3 stars? If this was ten years ago, I would have given them 5. But the last three times I've been there this year, the staff seemed to act as they'd rather be anywhere else besides working here. Yes, I really do understand that it's hard to sound enthusiastic after the 10,000th time you've recited the draft beer selections, but damn... it's not my fault that I'm sitting where I can't see the tap handles. Bottom line: If you like pubs and/or if you're a beer geek and haven't been here yet, check it out. Just don't expect too much otherwise.
(3)Margo K.
I've been dining at the Ugly Oyster since I was a kid and I'd go with my parents. I always enjoyed the food, because I love pub food, but I haven't had the chance to eat here in a couple years. I have been back for drinks though. It seems as though the clientele is mostly 30s-60s in age, even on Fridays at 11pm. I think the crowd can vary, because it was filled with mid-twenty-somethings around Thanksgiving break. I have always had a good time here. Their draft selection isn't that great in my opinion - it's not that varied at all. Fairly blah. I get that this is a certified Guiness bar, but perhaps I need to pick something from the bottle list next time. The bartenders aren't very charismatic, and it's not endearing. Good atmosphere though. I'll always come back here, but I think I prefer dinner over late-night here. To me, this is still one of the best spots in Reading.
(4)John D.
amazing atmosphere! Friendly staff, great fresh food, and great drink selection.
(5)Al T.
I tried the ugly oyster for the half off burger special on Thursday night running from 10:00 pm to 1:30 am . The place is awesome , great attention to detail , very warm friendly and well run. The beer selection was a pleasant surprise. I was blown away by the Belgium beer and a Burger that was tops . You know you found a great place when you can't wait to return and that was the case here. I can't wait for my next opportunity to visit this GEM in the heart of the Jungle.
(5)Dake V.
It is too bad i can't give a review for the food and another for the service . The Oysters, mussels, crab cakes and fish and chips were to die for... The waitress seemed stoned out of her mind. The guy at the next table asked the manager if she was new, she never brought or even placed a bar order for my beer, she forgot our salad, the people at the two tables next to mine also never got their beer... I have to stop - my mother always told me to not say anything unless you had something nice to say. Wait a minute, my mom was there and she said "this waitress is horrible". But there must be something nice to say about her - she did add up the bill correctly... Go anyway - maybe by the time you make it there she will have been fired or have moved out of the service industry. DID I SAY THE BEER SELECTION IS OUTSTANDING AND THEY HAVE A HAND PUMPED BEER!!!
(3)Aj D.
Seafood sampler and fresh cut fries..... You can't go wrong
(4)Elena C.
The place is really cute with Irish bar signs and dark wood everywhere. Great atmosphere for drinking. It had such promise. I would NOT eat there again. Perhaps if I'd selected a different dish things would have gone better. I got the crabcake sandwich and my fiance got the fish and chips. The crab cake ... for lack of a better word ... was odd. It tasted bad ... I don't even know how to describe it. It wasn't rotten or anything. Maybe it was cooked in dirty oil that had been around for awhile. Gross. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. I ate what I could but thank goodness there were fries to fill me up. The fries were actually quite good and the only thing pushing this to a two-star rating. I guess it's my fault. I could have sent it back and ordered something else but we had a baseball game to get to and didn't want to get into all that. My fiance said the fish and chips were "all right." He finished them but I have a feeling he wasn't any more impressed then I was. If I ever go to Reading again I'll go to The Peanut Bar. It looked kooky and fun ...
(2)Alison H.
This is a great place to go have a pint! The beer selection was decent and the live music was a great touch! I had the wings, but they were nothing special.
(3)J P.
Good food and a great atmosphere. I have only been here 2 or 3 times but it has always been a great experience and you feel like you can easily strike up a conversation with anyone in the pub.
(4)Kassie E.
Good homemade food! I took my husband here (as he is Irish and also from New England ... So, he knows a good pub and he loves quality seafood). We both were very impressed and will frequent this pub again!!! The raw bar, fish and chips, fries and crab cakes are all awesome and tasted very fresh!
(5)Andrea W.
Came excited for the fried oysters and they sucked. Also the french fries were uncooked and pretty much raw potato. The salad had slimy veggies and I ended up picking most of them off. I sent the whole meal back and split the cheese-steak that my date ordered. That was decent. The wait staff was apologetic and friendly and the atmosphere is really great. I would go there again for drinks only.
(1)Juli K.
The only thing stopping me from giving 5 stars was that our server disappeared after we ordered and it took forever to get our food. That said, that is my *only* complaint with the Ugly Oyster. First of all, the place looks amazing inside and out. When you step through the doors, it's like walking back in time. It's very dim but warm with pattered tin walls painted red and shiny shiny wood everywhere. Even the tables are fabulous little inlaid rounds with wrought iron bases. To start, we had the Crab Dip for 2. It was a hot dish of cheesy crabby goodness. It came with some multigrain crackers, garlic bread and Pennsy style broken pretzels. Incredibly tasty once it cooled a little. It's going to be a few days before the napalm-like cheesy burns on the roof of my mouth heal. Consider yourself forewarned! I also tried a couple of the special Blue Point Oysters on the half shell from their raw bar. They were exceptionally fresh, sweet and clean. Pretty impressive for a place so far inland and that was our experience with all of the seafood at The Ugly Oyster. My boyfriend and I also shared the Steamed Seafood Platter that came with a snow crab cluster, some steamed shrimp, mussels and clams. The clams and mussels were impeccably clean. I hate eating clams that have grit in them. These were fabulous and perfectly cooked to doneness without getting rubbery. Same for the mussels-- if you try them here and don't like them, don't eat them anywhere else because seriously, they don't get any better. Next time I go, I am ordering the giant bowl of mussels. We also both had a sandwich (what can I say, we were hungry!). He had the cheese steak which had this interesting sweet, spicy sauce on it. He loved it. I had a fried oyster sandwich that I loved and I upgraded to the fresh cut french fries, which had been sprinkled in Old Bay. Super, super yummy. I just cannot get over how great the seafood is at this little hole-in-the-wall bar in Reading, PA! So, all of the food listed above, plus a Guinness and a Yuengling Lager and our check was $50. Yes, you read that correctly. Incredibly cheap for a seafood dinner if you ask me. If you are in, near, around or can get to The Ugly Oyster-- GO!!!
(4)Marsha F.
Great place for fresh oysters - charming antique bar brought over from Ireland. Love the traditional music.
(3)Rochelle M.
The chicken cheese steak, shrimp bisque, and ugly pretzel are my favourites for this establishment. Give them a try, if you haven't already!
(4)N M.
Outstanding Irish Pub. I'm in Reading on business almost monthly and always find a way to come here at least once per trip for dinner and a pint or two. I frequent Irish pubs on both coasts and everywhere in between and this is on my top 5 list for sure. The unexpected surprise here is that the food is well beyond your standard pub food, and is well executed at that. I've had outstaning scallops, oysters on the half shell and samon here. Of course they also have great fish & chips and the other stuff you'd expect to see in a pub. Another nice treat is the live traditional Irish session music on Thursday evenings. Usually there are between five and eight performers playing unplugged towards the back. Loud enough to be heard and enjoyed, but not so loud you can't have a conversation at the bar. Really a nice experience. The staff has always been super friendly to me so I'm surprised to see any negative comments regarding service. Honestly, it's a pub. If you want waiters in tuxedos to fall all over themselves for you, maybe you shouldn't be hanging out in Pubs... just sayin'.
(5)Chang P.
Decent Pub in Reading. Assembled a crew for a happy hour type visit prior to an event. Good wings and fries, and plenty of bottled brew options. However, Raw Bar oysters, the Ugly Pretzel and crab cake sandwich were average at best. If you're into a selection of ~40 different man sodas and you don't have freedom fry-burglars as friends, this may be your spot.
(2)Michael L.
Went based on reviews on Yelp and was not disappointed. Planned on having dinner but, could'nt get past the appetizers. Great beer selection and great service. Zac was the best.
(5)Jeremy W.
Great atmosphere, great Guinness! I had the crab cakes and they were very good, a little on the spicy side, but very good. I would definitely go back next time I am in Reading.
(4)erin s.
This place was good. Lots of beers on tap, fun environment and the food was good- not amazing, but solid. I had the Ugly Pretzel and Steamed Shrimp. Both were tasty and satisfying.
(4)Alex C.
Very salty crabcakes and kind of mushy. Just okay.
(3)Joanne And Mike E.
What a great place to eat and drink. I love everything on the menu and my other has found many things she will eat, even though she is from Plainsillania. Seafood, Irish dishes, beef and chicken all great. One of the best places to find all the variety in beer you would want and a fully stocked bar. The bartenders are a collection of characters that take wonderful care of your needs. When in Reading visit and see for yourself.
(5)Adam R.
I have relatives who have lived in and around Reading for years. So I was surprised that we'd never tried The Ugly Oyster before. Walking in the pub on the unassuming city corner, my wife and I were pleased by the authentic Irish pub atmosphere complete with Guinness decor. We ordered the pretzel/cheese/crab appetizer - tasty! - then settled in with a Guinness, the mussels (big portion!), and the fish & chips (crispy and delicious). Since it was a Monday afternoon, there wasn't a crowd, but I can only imagine the fun it would be to revisit on a Friday night. We'll be back for sure!
(4)Joe P.
I grew up in the Reading area and this is by far my favorite bar in the area. I love the authentic Irish pub atmosphere. Every time I go in it reminds me of my trips to Ireland. The food is excellent. I always get some Oysters and a pint of Guinness to wash them down. The crab legs and shrimp are top notch as well. The O also has an amazing selection of bottled beers from all over the world. They also have one pump handle to serve some real ales.
(4)Anthony G.
First off, in response to Mike F.: If you think this place is "dank", you were NEVER here before it was re-modeled. You probably would have turned tail and ran like hell. Pro tip: order the Chicken Cheesesteak, with peanuts. Just ask.
(5)Tina K.
Ambiance is typical of irish bar. This is the 2nd time weve been here in the last week like many people we r here to grab beer n grub b4 a concert. Beer selection is respectable. They have 4 different types of oysters , all good. Bar service is ok but dont expect service with a smile. Crabcakes are not the best as they claim but were edible on the hand the steamed seafood sampler was generous and delicious. Salad was a nice green medley the bacon-y toasted croutons made the salad.
(3)Michelle C.
Cool old looking Irish bar with excellent food and perfectly poured Guinness draft. Recommend Guinness beer battered fish and chips and various raw oysters. Great service. Only caveat was dim lighting and not so good area. Parking directly across the street.
(5)Janelle G.
I hate to say it...but the one time I was there I got horrible food poisoning. My mother called because I was too sick to, and talked to the manager. He was very sorry and we could tell he meant it. His guess it was from the tarter sauce. Although I thought it was the fish because I was sick for 4 days. Needless to say, I will give this place another chance. It's cozy, and warm. And I do like the menu. And I always hear great things about it.
(2)Matt C.
The food is pretty good for pub style food in Reading, PA and I love the atmosphere, the memories it brings back of the Hof Brau and the clothing stores once there. The only really bad aspect is the hostess attitude...definitely get reservations, because there's nowhere to wait except in the small entry while other patrons are entering. The wait is always long and the hostess will be consistently rude, so we don't bother going there any longer.
(2)Brandy B.
We went into Reading to a Royals game and read the reviews here before traveling. Omg....this place is ah-mazing!!! We ordered a few (very cheap) drinks, a crab cake sandwich and the beefsteak. We also ordered fries. We were not disappointed with this place. The beefsteak was out of this world (and BIG). Not in the nicest area of Reading, but well worth it. We cannot wait to go back!!
(5)Justin R.
Good fish and chips. Seafood platter is good and generously portioned.
(4)Mike F.
The interior lives up to its name - it's dark, dank, and ugly ... the bathrooms in particular. But the Ugly "O" is CHARMING. Think of it in terms of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. In both cases, "ugly" is a term of endearment. The winner is still adored and praised. We can look past its homely qualities and directly into its unabashed, genuine soul. You see, the Ugly Oyster knows its not pretty. It also knows that looks are superficial, and it's what's inside that really matters. Owner Glenn Rigg apparently attended the Guinness Irish Pub Concept Program at the Guinness Brewery in Ireland in order to obtain official training in all things Guinness from varieties to pouring/serving to culinary uses. It's as authentic as you'll find in Berks County, and it doesn't disappoint. One note, though: beware the crab cakes. The menu touts there is "barely any filler", but they were loaded with bits of shell and absolutely overcooked. That's my fault for ordering crab cakes in Reading, PA and not the shore, but I thought perhaps their boastfulness was warranted. It's NOT! If you have a hankering for seafood here, try the fried oysters or stuffed shrimp. But stay away from the crab cakes.
(4)Elena B.
Fresh and delicious food! We are picky NYC foodies and we were so happy. The staff keeps it real and the seafood tasted like it was right off the boat. Crab cake had no filler and wasn't too bready--mmmm! We'll be back!
(5)nina s.
Very disappointing experience! I expected way more based on the reviews. The ambience was of a cheap neighborhood dive bar, the oysters were meh, the waitress seemed high. I couldn't wait to get out of there!
(2)TJ N.
Best Oyster stop in reading, recommend this to anyone in search of solid beers and a great menu.
(5)David B.
Dinner last night was great! I had the prime rib with salad, fries, and a Guiness on draft. Could not have been better! Nice owner and staff. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar. Cool history to the interior dining space.
(5)Kristine D.
I met a friend here today for lunch. This was my first time here. We sat at the bar. Service was quick and very friendly. I ordered the French onions soup and no lie, it was the best I have ever had! It could have almost been a meal alone! I also ordered the grilled chicken salad. It was amazing! I will be back!
(5)Jessica P.
Went here before a concert. Good we had reservations or else we never would have gotten a table. I have NO IDEA what everyone likes about this place. The servers are rude. Our chicken fingers needed to be cooked longer so we told the waitress. Our reply was, "well what do you expect me to do?" Really?!?!? Sorry to bother you to fix something I am paying for! Also, I asked for a Malibu and coke. I got Captain Morgan and something that resembled soda. Again attitude when I asked for what I ordered. Def WONT be going back for the bad service or overpriced bad food
(1)Christina D.
Great authentic Celtic atmosphere. I really liked this place, I had a starter of different kinds of raw oysters, all of them were great tasting & fresh. My dinner came with a side salad that was delicious, I don't know if it was the kind of lettuce, the croutons or the dressing (probably a mixture of all of them) but it was really good for just a side salad! Then my entree came... The Salmon topped with a creamy crabmeat mixture & jerk seasoning sauce, sounds like a strange combination but it definitely worked!!! What shocked me was the sheer size of this piece of salmon, it was HUGE!!! It came on a cast iron hot plate, still sizzling. It also came with a side of wild rice. I got through half of the salmon & ate hardly any of the rice & I was stuffed. What I took home was enough for dinner the next day. My boyfriend got the Poor Man's Surf & Turf, 2 big chicken breasts & shrimp skewers all grilled, glazed with bbq sauce, atop a mound of french fries, he loved it. I would definitely go back when in the area!
(4)Kerry L.
I love coming here for oysters!! They get them in fresh on Fridays, the price is great and they have a fantastic rotating draft selection. My husband and I have tried their hand cut fries, the stuffed portobello mushroom, the crab and corn chowder and the crab dip. I find getting more than a dozen oysters, small fries to split and a cup of soup it's way too filling....especially if you have a couple of drafts.
(4)Kristie S.
This is the former Hof Brau restaurant. I have only been to ugly oyster once, and it left alot to be desired, unfortunately. Service was on the slow side, and being a burger girl, that is what I ordered. It wasn't anything special. In the future I will review as soon as I'm done because I cannot really comment in detail because it has been awhile since I have been there. However the Decor was beautiful, dark wood and alot of nice wall art. I do give a place X2 to see if I just was there on a bad night, so hopefully I can give better props next time!
(1)Allison G.
The Ugly Oyster is a fun, casual bar and restaurant. It's a nice spot to grab a drink and if you're hungry, food too. The artwork on the outside of the place is great. You'll have to check it out before or after you go. The food is pub fare with some added finesse. The Ugly Oyster has a raw bar menu. It also offers meat too. The soups are usually very delicious. The beer selection is huge with many imports and crafts. Like the name implies, it definitely has a lot of shellfish, fish and other seafood. The decor nails it with the Irish pub/ UK bar decor. It surely looks authentic. It has a lot of wooden detailing and dividers. The ceilings are incredible to look at too. The stained glass is a nice touch. There are wooden booths to sit in and stools at the bar. It has been hit or miss with the wait staff. But at least you get a tootsie pop at the end of your meal.
(4)Melissa W.
I SO want to like this place. It has SO many cool aspects to it - but I was wholly underwhelmed by my experience. That being said - I am waffling between 2 & 3 stars. Cool story - bar was built in England, taken apart, shipped over, & reconstructed by the original designer. I've been to many, many Irish pubs (both in the states & in the Old Country) and so many aspects are spot on. The beer taps, the lighting (low, on the bar, no overhead lighting), the correctly poured Guinness, the wrap-around bar, the walls & ceilings, & the authentic Irish music being played in the background. The first thing that went wrong was something Kate S. said below. There were approximately 7 or 8 employees hanging out at the end of the bar gossiping, LOUDLY. I heard one loudly proclaiming that she was happy that her license photo looked silly, so that when she was pulled over after drinking it would look like her. Loud, personal stories continued the whole time we were there. This was around 5:30-6:30pm. It truly ruined my experience. They seemed totally uninterested in their tables, or the rest of the people at the bar. This seems to go along with the experiences of some other reviews in regards to the service here. The second problem was the food. Ordered a crab pretzel to hold me over until dinner, & this was something the bartender recommended. It was not good. It seemed like one of those frozen pretzels, slathered with cheese & crab dip, and microwaved for far too long. The pretzel was soggy - the whole thing was. It was half stuck to the skillet it came out on, it was by far the worst crab pretzel I've had. And lastly - bras on the ceiling?? Come on. There's a time & place for that - & in those situations I can totally appreciate it. It doesn't belong in a nice, beautiful, wooden Irish pub. So disappointed. If the staff had been more well-mannered & polite but the food was still bad, I still would have rated it more highly. I say these things not to bash on the place - I'd love for it to succeed. Reading needs something like this. I mention these things with the hope that an owner or manager sees them & maybe takes some steps to rectify the problems.
(2)John F.
I stopped in for a light dinner and a couple of pints and this was perfect for both. First, this is a quaint spot with a Irish Pub feel. Second the staff was friendly enough, but one comment would be to put the phone away. Finally, the food, I had their Mussels Maryland style (Old Bay & Onions) they were phenomenal and the Guinness was poured right in the right glass. I will be in again on my next visit to Reading!
(4)Jorey S.
This is the perfect corner bar! Glenn and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming for our party. The fried oysters were fresh and Glenn's Big Smokin' Cheese was out of this world! Make sure you order the French Fries - really the best I've ever had! If only I lived in Reading...
(5)Tiffany S.
The location of the bar felt a little shady. We walked past quite a few boarded up windows on the way in. Not that this affected the dining experience but it soes bear mentioning. The bar itself is gorgeous and makes you want to sit down and stay awhile. We came on a weekday night so the atmosphere was low key...this place seems like it would be bustling on the weekends. We were directed to an awesome little table right by the window. The waitress was a little gruff but also nice and full of personality. The food was good...not excellent but good. The crab dip and wings were great. I wasn't a huge fan of the fried oysters I ordered (they seemed soggy)....but I'm not sure if I'm a fan of oysters in general so it's hard to say.
(4)Jeff W.
This place had a divey feel to it, but the music was pretty alright and the food was tasty.
(3)Leon S.
Nice friendly local bar with a solid selection on the draft beers. Around 100 choices of bottled beer as well. Food choice are pretty good as well mainly fried American and some sea food. The feeling it gives you is totally spells reading pa. The location is a little shady but I'm sure the neighborhood just went down over the years :( The bartenders and cooks are all very nice and generous. I tried the their burger and chicken wings .. It went really well with my Stella and some shots of random drinks me and my friend decided to try.
(5)Mike S.
I wish I could recall more about this place, but all you really need to know is the oysters aren't that ugly and they tasted fresh and fantastic. Nice atmosphere and service. Check it out.
(4)Kathy M.
I was at the Oyster on Friday with my family. Had the salmon with crab. DELICIOUS amazing portions. Beer and wine selection is astounding. Had the most amazing waiter Kevin very attentive and a rather handsome fellow. Love the Oyster and staff.
(5)Vicki M.
The Hollywood Oysters were delicious. Had the Fried Oyster Platter, good but lots of Panko breading but the oysters were very large. Plenty of seasonings and the house special fries were salty and seasoned well. Had a bowl of the oyster mushroom soup, generous and quite good with a cream base . Had the caramel crunch cake that was made by a local bakery that was absolutely delicious Very friendly staff Waiter was great Need to clean their bathrooms Would definitely go back
(3)karen z.
This oyster is far from ugly! Met up with a couple of friends I hadn't seen in a million years and we decided to go here from some oysters, some brews and some lunch. The warm and inviting atmosphere was only exceeded by the warmth of the workers in this place. They were cheery, gave great food recommendations and seemed to genuinely appreciate our business. So refreshing! And the food was great. Go - you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kate S.
I should have walked right back out of the door when I went to use the bathroom and the toilet fell forward and almost had me on the ground. The service was terrible. The entire time we were eating, the staff (I counted 8 at one point) were crowded around a corner of the bar holding very inappropriate conversations (I don't need to know how drunk you were at your job the night before). Our server was always sparse, apparently too worried he might miss an important part of the bar conversation. The food: Mediocre. I had the fish and chips and the chips...horrible. So hard, listless, and devoid of flavour. The fish was okay but waaay too much on the plate. How in the world do they keep food costs down? My boyfriend had the mussels which he said were not memorable and definitely not worth having again. By the end of our meal we were deeply disappointed and didn't want to pay the bill in front of us because we felt like we had been cheated. But apparently the place wasn't through with the...disappointments? Our server brought a basket of tootsie pops to our table with our bill. I'm sorry, but I obviously had mistakenly walked into a child's place. Between the actions of the employees, the toilet ride, and the lollipops The Ugly Oyster's owner might want to think about opening a Chuckie Cheese franchise.
(1)Cheryl O.
I recommend this bar very highly. The design and atmosphere in the bar feels very like home (Ireland). The food here is delicious and the drinks are generous but the biggest draw are the amazing staff. There friendly, fun and incredibly kind. After a great night in the Ugly oyster the taxi I had organised to bring me home canceled because of snow. The wonderful manager drove my husband and I home (in the opposite direction to her home) and refused to take any payment. This was above and beyond any customer service and we will be returning again for sure. This bar will not disappoint!
(5)Tory W.
Well here we are at the Ugly Oyster, our waitress looks and acts as if she should work at a truck stop (put a clean shirt on and clean up your appearance, it's a must as a waitress) Our paper menus were soiled with god knows what (print new ones, they're just paper for pity sake) My Guinness had the head so large it took up quarter of the glass, btw, the fruit/bar flies were having a ball with my pint, I had to put a napkin over my pint to protect it from swimmers. Wings are too big to be a good buffalo wing. Fish and Chips (OMG go to Ireland to get a lesson PLEASE, What's with that batter??) Kill the Salt.. Jesus, I'll need to drink a gallon of water to flush out the salt I've ingested and I got the mussels, not fried but heavily salted ... Oh please fix yourselves, give customers a true experience of Ireland and not this hodge podge of an Irish Bar and Restaurant.. Thank You.. SLAINTÉ
(2)Bill H.
Went here with a friend on a Saturday at 5pm. The place was packed. We sat at the bar and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The female bartender was friendly and engaging and our drinks were served promptly. I ordered oysters on the half shell and they were outstanding. I also ordered the fried oyster platter which were excellent. I would definitely return to this classic Irish Pub.
(4)Kenneth G.
Because we had a good experience at this restaurant about a month ago we decided to bring family (9 of us) for our monthly get--together. The last time we visited we were so delighted. My wife and I are vegan, have been so for several years, and when we saw the veggie sandwich on the menu last month couldn't wait to try it. We always carry some vegan cheese when going out so we asked the server if the cook would please replace regular cheese with our vegan cheese. No problem! The sandwich was wonderful! We couldn't wait to return. Unfortunately, this visit was not the same. The server took our order and our cheese. However, she returned shortly with the cheese, stating that the cook had "a fit" and refused to use it. We were so disappointed. However,being very hungry, I agreed to have the sandwich without cheese. My wife decided to simply not eat. so i had the server pull her order. We asked to speak to the owner or manager and were told that neither was on the premises. My sandwich came out with limp lettuce and a few mushrooms. It was nothing like we have had a month ago. I could not eat it. We will never return again. Why would a restaurant function on a Saturday night with no owner manager. The server stated that it was very slow tonight. No wonder!!
(1)Shiny W.
I love this place I always stop in for the seafood sampler and margarita! Never heard anyone complain about food or prices they are very reasonable
(5)CoryMissy B.
This is one of my fiancé's favorite places to eat, but I am not as huge a fan as he. The burgers here are delicious - and they also have a really yummy app with crab meat and a soft pretzel. It's delicious - I'm sure it's horrendous in terms of calories, but if it's a cheat meal, it's definitely the way to go. I was never super impressed with the fries, but then again I am French fry snob. A few more gripes...the wait staff isn't the most pleasant. I also ordered a dirty martini and was asked specifically if I wanted gin or vodka. I said vodka (obvi), but they definitely gave me gin. I couldn't drink it. I have had the pleasure of eating at the bar and conversing with the owner and I really liked him. The other female bartender is a sweetheart also. Make reservations if you are planning on going on a Friday or Saturday night, Also, the place as a whole is really cool. It was actually a real Irish pub in Ireland...they disassembled it and reassembled it here in the states. That stuff always fascinates me.
(3)Jenny I.
overpriced, however the beer selection and atmosphere is great. draft beer selection is not idea but if you're into bottled craft beer this is a great place to stop.
(5)Jeff G.
Got the salmon this past visit and it was fantastic. My complaint would be it was gigantic! I managed to eat it all though :) Fries and beer were all top notch. Reasonable prices. Recommend it.
(5)Dwayne S.
Nothing else to say but...Great Bar!!!. Friendly bartenders, excellent food, the environment is very comfortable. The decor is filled with strange and exotic things to strike up a convo. The crowd is usually professionals after work, so the vibe is real calm and collected. Recommend you stop in and see Kerry...One of the best!!!
(5)Sarah M.
This place is awesome. Fantastic beer selection and generally, the bartenders/servers will help you find something you like (unless you get a new guy, who is probably a little overwhelmed, so give him a break and take a chance on something that sounds good). The beer selection is made even better by the fact that many of your options are on tap, whereas most places with an extensive beer list only offer 5-7 draft choices. The oysters have always tasted fresh and they usually have a few different kinds with descriptions on the cute little oyster menu left on the table. I have had all three varieties of mussels and they are all distinct and flavorful. The rest of the menu is typical pub food. It does get a little rowdy late at night, and the employees join in on the fun. I've seen the complaints about this, and I'd like to point out that while it is a restaurant, there is also a very large bar that wraps around almost the entire dining room. It is probably the nicest bar in the area, so yes, it gets pretty busy, and usually people who get drunk at bars like to get loud and have a good time. Personally, I think it's awesome that the staff is having a good time, too--it makes for a fun, laid-back ambience overall. They offer tootsie pops at the end of the meal, which are optional, so if you don't like lollipops you don't have to take one. I have never felt that any of the prices were unreasonable. There are some pricier beers, but you're not going to find them much cheaper anywhere else (if you can find them at all). The only reason I gave this place 4 instead of 5 stars is due to the couple of times I have gone in to eat within the last couple of hours of the kitchen being open (I have never ordered within the last hour, because I have manners). The service is usually slow at that point and the food is not always hot. As someone who has worked in restaurants for many years, I don't like to complain, but it would be nice if the quality of food and service was consistent throughout all hours of operation.
(4)Barry G.
Great draft beers. Great pour of Guinness. We went on a Thursday night where they had, kind of an open mic night. About 10 musicians playing Irish Music around a table. Very enjoyable..... Got there late, so, only burgers, which were very good. I will be back to try out the full menu
(4)Sandy B.
My favorite place to go for wonderful food, great service and friendly atmosphere. I especially love the mussels, scallops, oysters and salmon. Have not had a bad meal in all the years that I have gone there. The owner and head cook, creator of the wonderful recipes served there, is amazing..... talented, creative, and dedicated to making sure that his customers are happy with their Ugly Oyster experience.
(5)Charles M.
not a big fan, but still above average
(4)Kelly M.
The worst!!! The food was unbelievably bad, so bad that it motivated me to sign up for yelp in order to write this review. We ordered expensive seafood platters and what was served to us should be an embarrassment to the establishment. The "crab cake" was just plain awful, I've had better from a frozen supermarket box. The "stuffed shrimp" were small, previously frozen and were covered in some gross white sauce that was inedible. Their "imperial crab sauce" is simply disgusting. As if all of that wasn't enough, someone in our party is a vegetarian and ordered a simple garden salad and found a piece of bacon in it! Oh, and for all their bragging about their fries, we've had better at the local diner. The worst dining experience in recent years. Waste of $200 but NEVER AGAIN!
(1)Brittany B.
This place was one of a kind. My boyfriend and I love to find unique places we have never been before and I am so happy I found this one. With our new found love for mussels we were excited to see they had a variety. At 7 on a Wednesday the places seems a little desolate, I would love to see it at full volume but none the less the staff were very friendly and welcoming and recommend beers for us when we sat down. the food was to die for and I would recommend this place to anyone, you'll swoon over the Pub decor and the food soon after.
(5)Mike L.
This place is serious about good beer... and about crab covered pretzels. We had a great time at the Ugly Oyster. It's in a fun neighborhood on a lively, vibrant street in down town Reading. The locals are a wily bunch. No indoor smoking makes for a nice environment and everyone seemed to agree on the jukebox selections. If you are not from the area, deff check out The Ugly Oyster!! Have a few beers and pretzel and see if you aren't in love :)
(5)Ben T.
Coolest looking Bar in Reading, Real Handmade Irish bar. Great place to drink good beers and whiskey. Never really ate the food, but heard it's great. If in CC Reading its worth it to stop by and have a beer just to check out the real irish bar.
(4)Kimberly M.
There are places that I've been to during a trip that I just get bummed out because its just simply not closer and I know ill only go there Maybe once a year and this would be one of them. Due to the high ratings on YELP I decided to go here after spending an entire day at the WWII weekend in Reading PA(which was fantastic, Id suggest going to anyone). This place hit the spot. Prices were great and service was the nicest I have encountered. I got the pretzel app that everyone raves about and they aren't kidding when they say this thing is amazing & got the mussels for dinner. For 10 bucks u get an entire plate piled high with mussels and garlic bread.... Back in CT this plate would easily of been like 20-30 bucks. WHAT A DEAL! And they tasted awesome! I will be making this trip a yearly thing and each time will be going to the Ugly Oyster.
(5)M F.
I love this place. I have been here several times and every time I have had really good food. The service is not that great sometimes but the food and the fun atmosphere makes up for it. I love the oyster sandwich, the fries are super good, and the Ugly Pretzel is very tasty. I have had the fish and chips and crab cakes before as well and all very very good. I would highly recommend this place just for the food and the beer selection.
(4)Katie R.
I love the Ugly Oyster! It's the best bar in Reading. They have a great food (try the crabby pretzel), but let's be honest, I usually just go for the beer. Long live the Ugly O!
(5)Justin B.
I loved this place the ugly pretzel is cheese and crab pretzel served in a cast iron skillet was delicious and I had the crab cake sandwich which was awesome. The beer selection is excellent. If you are looking for a good pub to also get a bite to eat you cannot go wrong with this one.
(4)John K.
If I lived near here I'd be a regular, particularly if I could walk .Of course that would mean living in downtown Reading which would be truly strange.Reading is in a somewhat strange way a beautiful old town but it has seen better days.Any connoisseur of cities should check it out .If you sit near the window here you'll get to view some great urban street life.The nook in the back is also very nice.To eat, the crab cakes ,period.You should be here for the beer ,they have a consistently wonderful list of drafts .The waitresses vary in quality but they are generally nice.My favorite was a punk girl they had a few years ago, maybe for all I know a couple of days .She seemed bright and charming,I suspect the neo punk look was a phase.Typical reflection of an old timer (in my day when we put beer in our hair and spiked it ,it really meant something,blah blah).For a few years the Cranberries seemed to be the place soundtrack,fortunately Delores O'Riordan seems to have been banished.
(3)Ted C.
My Mother, wife to be and myself had dinner recently at the Ugly Oyster and it was a fantastic experience all around. The establishment itself is remarkable and has the characteristics of an Irish pub, including the ornate decor and amazing craftsmanship of the bar. I had the NY Strip and it was almost fork tender. My mother had the crab cakes and they were irresistable as well. My SO had the fried chicken fingers plus the crab imperial pretzel and they turned out great. The service was excellent, the beer was cold and the overall atmosphere was friendly. If you are in DT Reading, do yourself a favor and drop in, even if it's only for a drink or two. I do look forward to my next visit to the Ugly O!
(5)jess M.
The food here is amazing. Seriously. The mussels french style are a must-have no matter what time I'm there. The french onion soup is the best I've ever had, and the rest of the food is great too. The beer is also amazing. They have a hand cask and change up the offerings regularly. Aside from that, there is a great tap and bottle selection. I honestly can't say enough about this place, other than I wish I could take it with me wherever I go.
(5)Michael R.
I really like this place and just had lunch there today. The owner even let us in early (nice guy). Had a VERY LARGE fish sandwich (haddock?) that was on special and it was excellent and fairly priced. The chicken and steak sandwiches are excellent, the fries are good and the prices are fair. Just a cool place with good food, tons of beers and a great atmosphere. Too bad it's in Reading.
(4)Nicole L.
Ugly Oyster is bar/restaurant designed and built by English craftsmen it's a beautifully decorated restaurant -both on the exterior and interior. Don't know the deal with hanging bras as decors though at the bar. The bar offers a long list of beer it was very impressive for a bar in Reading including Duvel, Chimay Hoegarden, Tripistes and of cos Guinness! We sat there for a good 15-20 min before the waitress came over to take out order - it was like they could tell we were from out of town. Other tables after us had orders taken and served before we got our appetizers. We tried the wings - it was weak slightly sweet sauce not buffalo style. It was ok. We also ordered the chickensteak sandwich - my friend's sandwich was incorrectly made with all the peppers and mushroom (cost extra) when she asked for peppers to be excluded. I got mine with buffalo sauce. It turned out they made a mistake by giving her someone else's sandwich. It was too late when I tasted the 'sweet sauce' and I didnt like it in my sandwich. The 5 0z sandwich was HUGE and I only ate half of it, to get fries it would cost extra $1.50. I got it cos I thought it was advertised that it's true large idaho potatos fried in peanut oil. The fries were just average - nothing extraordinary. After the dinner, my roommate and I felt really queasy and were sick. Wonder if it was because of this place.
(2)Ryan F.
Been here plenty of times, usually at night. Really good food and atmosphere. A great place to just take some friends after work have a couple drinks and chat all night.
(4)Scott W.
Great atmosphere, great beer selection and fabulous food!! Definately check it out!!
(4)