Catherine Rooney’s Irish Pub
102 E Main St, Newark, DE, 19711
Catherine Rooney’s Irish Pub Menu
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Address :
102 E Main St
Newark, DE, 19711 - Phone (302) 369-7330
- Website https://www.catherinerooneys.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Street, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : DJ, Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Scott K.
This is one of my favorite outdoor spots in Newark. Its a great location for people watching with a decent beer list. As far as the food goes the burgers are good but the Belfast chicken sandwich is my go to. The outside seating is somewhat limited but if you can get a spot I highly recommend taking advantage of their location.
(4)Ed D.
Terrible experience, and a boring atmosphere overall. There is ample space for a dance floor downstairs, bit dining tables were left in place until 1am. Who is eating dinner from 11pm-1am?!? You need music to attract people under 65, if that is your target demographic. I will be taking my business to one of the other bars on main street.
(1)Glen K.
Not the best experience on the morning of St. Patrick's day. First the positives: We were the first customers of the day so obviously we were seated right away. The service was quick and our waiter was super accommodating and friendly. There is nothing bad to be said about the staff or service. On the contrary, the food wasn't the best. First of all, they advertised "pancakes and pitchers" on their Facebook page and there was no such thing. I didn't see this for myself and the girl who claims she did is pretty stupid, so maybe Rooney's isn't at fault. Not sure. I'm no food critic but I ordered French toast and it was pretty bland. My friends pancakes were crumbly and not the best either. The other 4 people in our group had no complaints about their food. This was the second time I ordered mimosas at a restaurant and compared to the first these were very watered down. They offer $1 mimosas which is sweet, but "doubles" cost $5. I don't get it....$1 x 2= $2, not $5. To be fair, it came in a large cup that could roughly fit 3. I didn't feel anything at all after drinking two doubles. The reviews for this place are generally pretty good so I think it was just one poor experience, especially during one of the busiest days of the year.
(3)Amy R.
Of all the eating establishments on Main Street in Newark, this is not my 'go to" place but it's fine. Food choices are fine, service has always been good. I have been there for lunch as well as for dinner. When all else is over crowded on Main St., you can usually get a table at Catherine Rooney's! Last visit, I had the crab cakes. They were not the best on the east coast but they were pretty good. Corned beef and cabbage was very good - so was the pot pie! The night we went for dinner there was live music in the bar. The music was actually pretty good and the bar seemed quite lively and interactive. I would say this is a good fall back place but I wouldn't make it my first choice. You can probably do better but if you end up here you won't be unhappy with your selection.
(3)Michelle A.
Fix the ladies, please. Everything is broken. , not just shabby in there. Friendly staff, passable food, too many menus, 4 is too many to give, even if 2 are for drinks. Traditional irish food should be on lunch menu always. Nice outside and indoor seating options. Again, staff is very friendly and super on the ball.
(2)Bob C.
As a veteran Yelper and too much traveler, I have no clue why this place is only a 3 star. My Irish Burger might be one of the best burgers I've had. Sweet potatoes fries are excellent. Other meals were rated as fairly good but overall a 4 with the good service.
(4)Jamie S.
Ya know what's cool about the GPS world? A phone ap that can lead you to your destination by foot. Step by step. Ya know what is cool about the real world? You can put that phone back into your pocket, pay no mind to it and have a human conversation while your walking to said (or unsaid) destination. Then you could walk right past the place and miss it by about 2 blocks, scrap it and say "Hey, let's go here instead. It's right here." This arrived us at new said destination: Catherine Rooney's. Rolled on in for the brunch. Lotta choices for brekkie and lunch. Gaelic dip hit the spot. It's their version of the french dip, not a dip sauce. Spot was hit. Was told the crab bisque is a stand out so next time we get lost we'll order that. Bar was lightly populated at noon on the Sabbath and that was just the way I liked it for a Sunday morning coming down. Staff was cool. Everything was easy. This was important. I'll be back.
(4)Paul H.
A Tuesday night visit with friends, and indeed, it was definitely A-OK. Have been to Rooney's a few times now, and I would say A-OK is about where it's at, (perhaps with the exception of one particularly memorable lunch that I remember being 4-star tasty.) In this case, we hit $5 burger night, which means that after sharing a beer, upgrading to sweet potato fries, and leaving a nice tip, we still got out the door for around 40 bucks. Seems that they also still maintain a nice express lunch menu with reasonable prices - something the "other Irish pub" down the street used to do but has since abandoned. In short, good food, nice atmosphere (especially enjoy the patio on a warm evening), good beer list, reasonable prices. Somewhat amused by some of the other reviews. I suppose one of the perils of running a pub in a college town is deciding whether you're more concerned about catering to the faculty types who are seeking out ambiance and food, or the student types who are in search of a good, cheap buzz. I would say that Rooney's aligns more with the former than that latter (thought admittedly, I've resisted the urge to drop in at 11:30 on a Friday night - may just skip that, thank you very much!)
(3)Stephen D.
Poor service. Bartenders are slow. Food is just okay. Drinks are poorly made. And they wonder why students flock to all the other bars.
(2)Nina P.
I enjoyed the bar but I'm not too crazy about the food. Certainly not a place I'd go for a lunch. Two things I didn't like is that you need multiple forms of ID to get in (my ID should be enough, what if I just wanna spend by cash and now bring my cards? It's a burden). The other thing I didn't like is if you go upstairs to dance and whatnot, there is NO bathrooms upstairs. So if you gotta go, good luck getting back upstairs again!. No coat check either. That REALLY sucks. Especially when winter comes.
(3)Andrea C.
Came here with my boyfriend-- got the soft pretzel appetizer which was just warmed up frozen soft pretzels, the Irish breakfast which was OK and the crab cakes which were surprisingly the best part of the meal, and the sweet potato fries which came with a maple dipping sauce (I wasn't crazy about the sauce as it tasted like straight maple syrup to me, but my boyfriend liked it). Nice beer selection and the other alcoholic drinks they offered were unique and delicious (I got the warm peach cobbler which was peach schnapps, apple cider and a cinnamon stick all warmed up--warm and yummy!) I know this is a college town and I get that they hire local college kids for waiters and waitresses (which I'm all for!) but every question we had our waitress couldn't answer. We had asked about 3 different "traditional" Irish things (black and white pudding?) and she admitted that she hadn't tried almost anything on the menu and didn't even know what they were herself. I wish they would spend some time giving their employees a little more training (give them samples to try off the menu, tell them a little bit of history about the traditional Irish dishes on the menu--something!) so they aren't so lost when customers ask them questions.
(2)Catalina D.
Not out original destination for a sat. night dinner, but the wait time was the least here of all places, 30min, so Catherine Roooney's it was. Littered with U.Del students, but one of the nicer Irish pubs I've been to. Drinks are strong and food is good. Blat flatbread for an app was good, with bacon and avocado. I had the Chesapeake crab cakes with hash, which was nice. Friend had the Guinness stew. I liked the decor, books and glass beakers, wooden walls, nice combo of Irish and campus life.
(4)Patrick M.
Nice ambience, and pretty good service. The food I ordered was not good. While the salad was fine and the beer cold, the chicken was rubbery and I didn't eat it. They didn't try to comp anything even though I told them about it. Great location and in a really cool building. Not the best service from front-of-house and it took a good five minutes to get someone's attention at the bar.
(2)Morgan G.
Alright for eating but if you're going there for a night out - don't. Just drive to the one in Wilmington.
(3)Mary Lu F.
Good food in a fun atmosphere. The staff here has always been great and particularly helpful with my dietary restrictions. (Willing to adapt menu items to make them gluten and garlic free.) Wonderful bar. My husband loves their soup.
(5)Alaina B.
This place has a great atmosphere and friendly wait staff, we were seated upstairs by the window, providing a nice view of main street and some natural light, we had sweet potato fries and the house burger, one of the best I've ever had! Loved the entire experience!
(5)Shannon H.
Went to dinner here one night last week for a spontaneous get together with a couple of friends. We sat outside because it was a beautiful night, and I love that their patio is raised off the street level. We had to wait a couple minutes for a table, but it was no more than five, so it was no big deal. Both the hostess and our server were very nice. Our server was actually pretty funny too, we were cracking jokes at him and it was nice that he made some witty comments back. We got a couple dips as appetizers, which were very yummy but super filling, so naturally I didn't save much room for my entree. I got the seafood sautee which was a mixture of shrimp, scallops, and mussels in a garlic white wine sauce. I had to take most of it home from being so full from the artichoke dip, but even the day after it was very good. Overall we had a nice time here, there was nothing super spectacular about the restaurant, but good nonetheless.
(3)Andrew H.
I'm a big fan of their classic Irish breakfast, and the food and drinks are authentic Irish. This isn't one of those "Irish" pubs in name only that ends up only selling cheeseburgers. So for a meal here, you can't go wrong. I came one late night, however, and was not a fan of their night scene. There was a DJ even though no one was on the "dance floor" (the area where they moved a few tables out of the way). Not only was it dead and awkward, the music was up too loud to talk to the people I came with. Needless to stay, I did not stay long. Maybe it picked up a bit later, but they should have waited to blast the music until the party started.
(4)Ivan B.
I've been to this place a few times now and every time I've been they have really surprised me. Consistent food....very good ....great service. I went during restaurant week and had the swordfish and it is absolutely amazing.
(4)Angela P.
We went in for the "Irish Brunch" on Sunday and were pleasantly surprised. $3 Mimosas and $3 Bloody Marys! My husband said his Bloody Mary was one of the best he'd had in a long time and my Mimosa was served in a pint glass. How can you go wrong for 3 bucks?! As far as the food goes, I got a spinach, cheese & ham omelet, our girls got the Kids Breakfast (1 pancake, scrambled egg, home fries & juice) and my husband got the breakfast sandwich. All of the food was good with the exception of the home fries. They were undercooked, not hot and really blah. The pancakes were fluffy and light and really very delicious. The table next to ours got the French Toast & it looked amazing. I'll be trying that next time! Our server was also the bartender and she was fantastic. Very attentive, engaging and personable.
(4)Oscar D.
Had a really bad experience first week of February where I was served a Guinness in a cracked glass. Waiter simply dumped the beer into another glass and I called him on it. He fessed up and a manager came over and apologized. A week later I got an apology letter and a coupon for a free meal. Ordered the sirloin medium-rare. It came out well-done. Beyond that it was such a tiny piece of meat for the $19.99 price tag. The waitress agreed the steak was well-done. My other pet peeve is that the Shepherd's Pie is made with beef, not lamb. I won't be going back. What a shame. I
(1)Jesse A.
First time here but we will be back. Everything we tried was great right down to the loaded fries. Service was just a little off today is the reason for -1 star.
(4)Debbie E.
For the unique sounding items on the menu, everything still tasted like bar food. Good, but not great. Decent amount of beers from your basic domestics to others. I had a Dogfish 60 Minute IPA and it was good. Service is just OK. Music (acoustic) on the weekends. Tends to get an "older" crowd versus the typical college crowd.
(3)Jamie M.
UPDATE 11/30/2013 Gave their Fish and Chips one more try, mentioning to the server that my previous orders of the Fish and Chips were soggy on one side. The manager, who apparently had read my review below a couple of weeks ago, said they had looked into this and found that they had not been prepping the fish incorrectly. This time was much better! Enjoyed the fish and chips. Upgraded to 4 stars. Thanks Rooney's (and Yelp)! ____________ Friendly staff and prompt service. One of the best patios on Main St. I've only been about 6 times since they opened, including opening day. Most dishes are pretty good. But on three of those visits I've had the Fish and Chips, and all three times it was overly greasy and heavy. Like a grease sponge on one side. I could squeeze oil out. I think the fryer might not be hot enough for the type of batter they're using. And the batter was really thick, so it absorbed more oil than you really want to eat. All three times I had to gut my fish out of the batter shell to be able to eat it. And at 15.99, it's not a good feeling to have to pick at your dish. On the third time (last night) I said something to the server since he had claimed earlier upon my ordering it that "you can't go wrong with the Fish and Chips", and he replied "that's funny because another customer tonight said he wished it had had even more batter". He could tell I hadn't eaten much of it, and didn't offer to comp it (nor did I really ask). I don't mind paying for what I order, but I will not order that dish from them again. Other items I've had there were good, and the bar has a good selection and service. But if you don't like heavy greasy items, avoid the Fish and Chips. Also, for those who eat a more plant based diet, there are not many vegetarian options, and vegans would be limited to just a couple of choices here.
(4)Bill W.
I have been a customer at Rooneys since it opened and am a big fan. However, I went to Rooneys with some firends on a Wednesday night expecting an acoustic band that typically plays there. Instead I found an empty bar with mediocre college DJ pumping loud obnoxious beats just like many other bars in Newark on a Wednesday. If Rooney's is going to try and stoop to that level of entertainment then they will not be getting my business. If a manager reads this BRING BACK A CHILL SCENE so my friends and I can listen to music, relax after work and have a beer!!
(3)Ken M.
We stopped in for a few pints and sandwiches, we sat at the bar. They have a fairly decent beer selection. We had a Harp beer. I also tried my first 'layered pint', it was a 'Poor Mans Black Velvet' (Strongbow cider layered with Guinness), I liked that. We had the Emerald Turkey Burger, it was very good. Quite often, turkey burgers can be dry or lacking in seasoning but this burger was very juicy & tasted great. We also had the 'Gaelic Dip'; slow roasted beef sandwich with au jus, that was tasty as well. The bartender was cool. The prices were reasonable. If we are in town again, we would stop back.
(3)Marie C.
This place is decent. I only go if I want to get a drink after work or meet up with friends. I've had their food twice and thought it was greasy and bland both times so I honestly do not recommend getting food there. The drinks were good and the bartenders were nice and very helpful. Nothing is overpriced at the bar. I usually get mixed drinks or draft beers.
(3)Jill W.
Love the Irish wings and Irish coffee! The shepherd's pie is also my fav! But other dishes are so-so.
(3)German S.
I met several of my friends at this pub which took me back to Ireland. The decor at Catherine Rooneys was one of the best Irish decors I seen in a while. The bartender was a friendly and attentive one. He was on top of things. We order some food and the food was out in a very timely manner and I must say the wings were greeeeat. I will return to Catherine Rooneys.
(3)Tara W.
I've been here a few times, and the food is ok. The waiters are very friendly and there's a great atmosphere. The food is reasonable priced, good enough for college students to afford it! The portions are fairly big too, so go hungry :)
(3)Dave G.
I was surprised by how many awesome things were on the menu....Jameson wings & Guinness Stew, to name a few....the food is excellent! Service is quick and friendly. Beer selection is pretty decent - they have some unique beers on tap, such as Dogfish 60 Minute and Sam Adam's Noble Pils. They have some decent specials during most of the week, including $0.45 cent wings & $6 burgers on Sundays! The wings are excellent....the hot Jameson sauce is definitely a unique flavor - it's not your traditional "buffalo wing" flavor, but it has a great taste. They have some other wing flavors as well. The only thing that I thought was weird was the $0.25 cent charge for mayo. Otherwise, I highly recommend!
(4)Zakiya W.
Great ambiance. Wonderful brunch. Lots of choices on the menu. Quaint bar/restaurant. Try to get outdoor seating if the weather is nice. In house soups are delicious, especially the French onion soup. Reasonable prices.
(4)Joel H.
Not so impressed. Renaming American dishes with Irish names is not what I expect our of an Irish restaurant. At least the Guinness was cold, and the food I had was good.
(3)Summer B.
Came here with a group of 8- there was a little Miscommunication between our waiters when they switched shifts, but our waiter was great. The wait time for the food was a little long, which I think can be credited to the fact that we were a bigger party and sitting kind of isolated upstairs. Otherwise, we all liked our food. A huge bonus to this place is the FANTASTIC music selection they play- we were content jamming to their tunes all night!
(4)Michael K.
Stopped by for a draft at the bar. They have a limited draft selection. The floor and bar top were sticky and the atmosphere looks worn and dated.
(2)Andy D.
Went for a work function...15-20 of us... Had the upstairs to ourselves. Ordered the meatloaf after watching another eating it downstairs at the bar...AMAZING!! Good atmosphere for a college hangout and awesome bar staff! I'll be back!!
(4)Suzanne B.
My husband and I ate here on Friday night and it was a total waste of time and money. although it wasn't busy at all the service was terrible. our appetizer was actually came out before our drinks did. the waiter was so slow that we barely had a chance to order another round of drinks. the food wasn't very good either I ordered a hamburger on recommendation of the waiter and it was not tasty rather greasy and did not have a nice grilled flavor to it. the hamburger bun was run-of-the-mill. my husband got the shepherd's pie which was a little bit better but still nothing to write home about. I would skip this place because obviously they just don't care.
(2)A P.
Drove from syracuse this morning to drop my daughter off at school after thanksgiving. Chose this location because we had yet to try it. It was the Sunday brunch menu. I had the Gaelic Dip. It was pretty good. My daughter asked me, and I said I wouldn't need to order it again next time. I'll try something else on the menu. Wife and daughter had the Irish BBQ sandwich. They both consider it average. French fries were better than the sandwich. Service was very friendly and timing was good. Will probably return at some point to try the dinner menu.
(3)Bill S.
Bar food, and nothing more. Which is great if its what you're after, and the bar staff is generally great (especially Patty). Happy hour specials are well priced and make up for any shortcomings on the menu. Otherwise, you can do better on Main Street.
(3)Rob M.
Okay. Fish & Chips - fish was good, but greasy, as were the chips and the salmon and pappardelle was not tasty. Cole slaw was crunchy! Meh. Sorry salmon was dry and not really servable.
(4)David B.
Just got say and so far the worst thing is the slamming front door! It is a hydronic hinge just fix it!
(2)Kesha S.
So I've only been to Catherine Rooney's a handful of times & I've consistently ordered the same 3 items. The crowd is an weird 50/50 mix of college kids & (apparently) U of D professors. It has that laid back kind of Cheers feel. Rustic decor, without any of those overly done phoney details you see in a lot of chain restaurants. It's not the most phenomenal experience you will ever have; sometimes I wonder what people expect from a bar. Oh yeah & it's not an "authentic" Irish pub either. So don't be appalled & horrified when a tattooed Puerto Rican guy is pouring your Guiness. haha. IMO the drinks, atmosphere & food are above average for Main Street. Bartenders are pretty cute & very nice. On my last visit, about two weeks ago, these bleach blondes in leggings & Ugg boots were taking pics with the bartenders screaming "I'm going to post this on Facebook!" Yaay. College bar. Cute, right? Very little annoys me when I'm tipsy and stuffing my face. For the love of God, please try the Jameson wings! Anyway, the Jameson wings are perfect. Except for that time I had a friend pick some up for me at lunch time & the sauce was totally off & the wings both looked and tasted like rubber. Everything has been consistently good dining in. I also always order the reuben & a warm cider drink. I can't remember the name of the cider, but it's a woman's name? Ahhh check the drink menu. It's a good place to stop for something light before your night really begins. Well that's what I do, anyway.
(3)Rodge B.
Came here a few weeks ago for the Delaware-Eastern Washington game, and it was cool. Beers were reasonable, and the wings were on special and good, so that was worth 2 stars alone. Good service with a nice upstairs area. Downstairs looked pretty happening with a live musician when I was on the way out, so I'll be back.
(4)Frank C.
Good place for a beer. The stew we ordered a few weeks back was good.
(4)Tracy M.
For an Irish pub I would have expected more Irish beers either bottled or on tap. My companion ordered the crab bisque and the ribs and was pretty disappointed in them. I had wings and they were fine. Very friendly service and attentive management once we complained about the soup and ribs.
(2)