Llewelyns has great food, atmosphere, and waiters! Annie was our waiter tonight, and she was as good as our dinner, which was perfect! Great band in the bar is another perk! We plan on visiting this restaurant on a regular basis, and will tell our friends how friendly, and fun this place is!
(5)
Shannon M.
If you like to eat your pub fare in the dark with a side of Holy Ghost, you've come to the right place. Llywelyn's is in an old church, and the decor is essentially Guinness signs and darkness. Like I could barely see my plate at midday. The World Cup and a baseball game played on about 6 different competing televisions. Food was good: my "adult grilled cheese" with bacon was hearty and satisfying, though their "famous" chips were frankly a bit too roasty-toasty for me. A friend swears by their chicken salad. Overall, it's a pub, but a cool one. Worth checking out if you need your fish and chips fix.
(3)
Emily M.
We've been going to LP's for many years. And over the last few years there have been changes. Some good--like the decor and cleaner bathrooms but some not so great. There used to be nightly specials and now it's just cheaper apps at happy hour. Also, the menu keeps changing. Are they trying to make it gourmet? I wish they would just stick with the traditional food and keep it simple. (Ex. Burger came on some ground corn bun, which just was really dry and crunchy. I'll take a cheap bun any day over that! And we get the steak and cheese sandwich, but it has changed and they added toppings?) On our last visit I ordered a medium well hamburger and it came out raw. When I asked for a new one, they obliged. But, it took over 20 minutes to get the new one and everyone else at the table was done with dinner by the time it arrived. No apology and no discount, it was as if it was my fault I didn't want a cold, pink patty. This used to be our go-to place, but after multiple visits of being "underwhelmed" with food and service we will visit elsewhere.
(3)
Christian H.
Great atmosphere, good music and a decent draft selection and Jen the bartender/waitress was really quick and prompt to approach us and take our order. The place overall had a great vibe to it. Would definitely recommend coming and checking this place out.
(5)
Bailey M.
ALWAYS good. We don't live close and we drive out that way for the food/atmosphere/service. Sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had. The beer selection is amazing as well. Did I mention the food is freakin fantastic! We highly recommend!
(5)
Shannon L.
I used to love this place, but I think it's on the decline... My husband and I went for dinner on Saturday night and it wasn't busy at all...we sat in the bar area with a server that seemed VERY new. She was sweet, but had no idea what beers were on draft. I always like to try new beers and asked if there was anything different on tap--her suggestion was Bass, which I think is there all the time. It would have been helpful to see a menu. We were craving burgers, and they just weren't as good as we remember. My husband got a side of mac and cheese and it was a little blah. If you order french fries, get the thick cut. I hope this was just an off night. We'll check it out again, but skip the food and go for the live music and drinks only.
(3)
Brent G.
Great place with great food. Very nice entertainment options here on the weekend as well. Lots of TV's for watching sporting events. Big selection of international and domestic beers.
(5)
Miles M.
Overall it has a home style feel overseas but I must say the Rueben sandwich was on point and well I will make sure to be back to try another taste of greatness on my palette. Pricing was fair and service overall good especially during peak lunch time.
(5)
Alex W.
The muscles are surprisingly good for their price and for an Irish pub, dedicatedly a good choice for an appetizer every once in awhile. Make sure you ask for Zoe as your waitress, she's the best one there!
(4)
Bob K.
This very Irish bar is housed in an old church that lends an odd feel to the place. I have been here mostly for lunches, and it is straight bar food all the way. The bar is in an upper area where they also have a stage and high top tables. Down some steps from there is more of a dinning area and then out the door is a patio area with plenty of seating. The patio area is the only place where you can have a decent conversation when the place is full. The kitchen is in the basement, and the smoking area seems to be out the west side basement door. I don't smoke, but I see people walking over there to smoke. Ok, so that is the layout. For food, I try something different every time I come, and have not found something that I "have to have" yet. The staff is attentive and helpful, and i'll usually just ask them what they like and then get that. Hamburgers are good. Pretty much anything I've gotten is good and edible. But what I really like is that for lunch there is next to nobody there. You can walk in, sit down with your group, chat and pull out laptops or whatever. Instant access to the wait staff. And a beer or a Scotch, if you need it to smooth out your lunch company. You will find that the ambiance of the churchy feel with a hamburger and echoing voices in a big empty bar can make for a good lunch with your office mates. It's also a good place for live music especially on a Saturday night.
(4)
Matt F.
Sat on the patio area, little cramped but nice. The apps were very yummy and just about the right price. Lots of drink options to choose from and staff was friendly.
(5)
Ben S.
Eaten here a couple times, but the stuff I had here seems to have been removed from the menu (a burger on an english muffin with bacon and other awesomeness. Totally forget the name) I'm sorta 'meh' when it comes to pub food, but this place is basically where a few of my friends call their local haunt. I've never been truly into it...but it's a decent pub atmosphere. Nothing to write home about, but the notable part is that the pub is located in an old church and now feels like a local rowdy pub you can play beer pong at.
(3)
Mark P.
Friendly, prompt, helpful staff, a great atmosphere, and great food. How can you go wrong? In three visits, I've had their white chili and it has been exceptionally good each time. On cold days, I think about it often. On my first visit, at the suggestion of my friend, I tried their shepherd's pie. I thought it was good, but it was very heavy on the worcestershire sauce and very salty as a result. On my second visit, with my wife this time, I tried their Beer Battered Cod Sandwich. The cod was quite thick, so it was very moist, which caused the batter to be soggy on the inside and slide off easily. The cod was almost flavorless, but the tartar sauce and other toppings gave it enough kick to make it a decent sandwich. The Llewelyn's chips were good. On my latest visit, also with my wife, I tried their Famous Steak & Cheese with Llwelyn's chips. The sandwich was quite good, flavorful, and the steak was cooked well, but tender and moist. Llywelyn's is a great, independent restaurant/pub that I look forward to each time.
(4)
Lucas J.
We dined here on 9/14/14 at about 2:00pm. I visited for lunch with two guys and myself in town on a business trip. All three of us enjoyed our food (two burgers and a shepherds pie) had a couple of beers a well. Food selections and prices were good and lots of beer on tap. I would love to have given a better review but the service was so bad it was laughable. Our server was also the bartender (we sat at a high top bar table) and she was so over the top rude that it was impossible to overlook. Her name was Jamie (if I remember correctly as she was annoyed that I asked). She was very inattentive and rushed us at every interaction. The restaurant was not even close to full as we were one of the only tables in at the time. Every time she spoke to us she was very harsh and from even our first interaction, made it very obvious that she wanted no form of even basic service with us. She even rushed my colleague to hand her his check, it was just weird. I want to rate the place higher because the food was good and had a nice beer selection but I have not ever, in recent memory received such rude service. As a group we were as friendly as possible and just wanted friendly service. I have worked as a server in the past so I am usually very sympathetic, but this was just too ridiculous to ignore. Visit if you like but watch out for hostile servers.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Had the Ploughman's sandwich, basically a Cuban sandwich with pulled pork and not pressed but it was delicious. Was here for lunch so pretty mellow, service at the bar was prompt. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Tyra W.
I will definitely need to make my way back here because my boyfriend and I weren't able to finish a "complete" visit on the account I wasn't feeling well prior to our arrival. We popped in on a Saturday night with a simple mission: grab some Guinness and food. Service was quick, our food came out in what felt like not even 10 minutes after ordering. Fried Irish pies, calamari, and sweet potato waffle fries made their way to us. Our server was even surprised at the amount of fried calamari we received--it was practically a double order--SCORE! My boyfriend adored the fried pies which consist of corned beef, white cheddar, mashed potatoes, leeks, and cabbage. I got mostly just potatoes out of them. Next time I'm opting for the Welsh rarebit though! Overall the location is what makes Llywelyn's unique! Where else can you drink inside a 100 year old church? I hope to return here soon so I can do a full scope of the menu and enjoy the patio but for now this visit was just average in my books.
(3)
Emilee C.
Fantastic food, no doubt. A lot of their stuff is homemade. The Spinach-artichoke dip is my favorite. My friends and I always go out to get drinks here and the ladies there are always nice. However, the last time we went, the manager would not serve the guys alcohol because they have verticle Missouri Drivers Licenses. They are both 21 years old and had to get the verticle drivers licenses because they received their motorcycle permits and had it put on their new Id's, while they were under 21. The date on the ID clearly says "under 21 until.." and clearly shows they are each over 21. We will not be going back anytime soon, even though we were loyal customers. Maybe she should become educated about a Missouri's Drivers license and what to look for instead of ruining someone's night because she cannot read.
(3)
Matt M.
I left a review about 10 months ago that was very negative. It may have been overly harsh for that particular experience due to previous visits being better. In my review I commented that my experience was primarily related to how badly the manager had treated me after sending back a dish that was inedible. The result was me not going back to Llewellyn's for about 8 months. I have now been back twice over the past 2 months and have noticed a tremendous difference. The old manager left a few months back and the new manager was on top of things. The bar was clean, much cleaner than previously. I noticed small improvements to the food that made a big difference. Everything just tasted fresher with more attention to detail. The french fries were excellent! I could tell that the oil used to cook them was fresh and the temperature perfect. The fries were well balanced with a soft center and a crispy outer texture that was not at all overcooked and had a great lightly added seasoned salt. I also had the Adult Grilled Cheese with Ham which was delicious. As always, the bartender and wait staff was friendly, helpful, and courteous. Overall, Llewellyn's has earned back my business thanks to the change in the Manager.
(4)
Perry B.
Wanna drink brewskies in an old ass church with cool decor and a nice open area? This is the place my friend. Beer selection is on point and the place is low key. No bros, no frills, always a table. Chchcheck it out.
(5)
Kristen L.
I was not impressed at all here. The best part about the experience was our conversation at our table. My girlfriend wanted to come, she was 8+ months prego and wanted a ruben sandwich. So informed our husbands and went where the pregnant lady wanted to go. The restaurant is very dark, more than just mood lighting. It was not an inviting atmosphere at all. No one greeted us when we walked in, we just looked around and decided to pick our own table. Eventually our serve came for our order. I tried the Fish & Chips (homemade). It was basically a plate of greasy, fried flavorless food. This chips nor the fish had any flavor or even any salt. I doused it with vinegar, lemon and salt and still the oil from the grease was still the predominate flavor. I did try my friend's ruben and it was pretty tasty, stacked high on rye bread. My husband did like his burger. So maybe I didn't make the best meal choice. However, even if my food had been better, the atmosphere just really didn't appeal to me. It felt dark and grimy and maybe that's how an authentic Irish pub feels, however it wasn't some where I wanted to eat dinner.
(2)
Beau E.
Craig, the General Manager, reached out to me via e-mail and addressed the issues I had at my previous visit. This speaks in droves about the management of this establishment. That alone tells me that my first experience here was a fluke and I will be tempted to give this place another go in the future. Thanks, Craig!
(4)
Jenn S.
Great place to get black-out wasted without judgment.
(5)
Russell K.
Wow, it's been crazy watching this. I've tried to hang in there, but the last 4 visits have seen continued declines in service. Last straw today- Smithwicks was room temp, waitress too busy on her phone to check on us, DJ can't keep a song playing without tech problems, a guy jumping down the steps every time he passes- shakes floor and table enough to almost spill drinks (5x so far, not a word from the hostess). Done with it...
(1)
D W.
What could be cooler than a pub inside a old church. Prices are little high. The bartender didn't seem very friendly last time(was a while ago) I was there but that a crap shoot.
(3)
Kelsey H.
Great place! Great menu options! I had the fried fish slider and pulled pork slider. I lived the fried fish and the pulled pork had great BBQ flavoring. The beer was cold and fresh. I would go back because of the cost, good food and laid back atmosphere. Friendly and fast service!
(4)
Beth B.
I'm not a huge fan of Irish pubs. I have nothing against them, I just don't search them out, care for Irish food, crave Irish beer or love Irish music. So, the fact that I am giving this 4 stars says something. Hubby and I went here because I had purchased a Groupon and the teens were out of town. Celebration week :). It's housed in an old church - where I used to get my hair cut 12 or so years ago - and the ambience is nice. I think if you went to Ireland, you might actually see a pub in an old church like this. It just seemed more authentic that some of the other pubs in OP. Our Groupon allowed us an appetizer and 2 entrees. We ordered the skins & shrooms for our appetizer. Rather than the normal cheddar cheese, these were stuffed with spinach dip and parmesan. I was not expecting much, but they were really good and the lack of cheddar cheese made them less greasy than normal. For our entrees, we ordered more expensive items, since we "wanted to get our money's worth". I ordered the Sesame Ginger Salmon ($14.99). The salmon was actually really good. I was kind of surprised. It was served with steamed vegetables that were kind of soggy - my husband ate them - and rice that tasted and looked like Uncle Ben's wild rice pilaf. It was good, but not what I was expecting. I probably would order a sandwich next time, but I did like the meal. My husband ordered the Llewellyn's Broil - which is marinated flank steak - and he had them add the Welsh Rarebit. It was really good. The home-made chips were excellent and not greasy like they are at some bars. The service was great. There was no live music, and the drink special was what we would call "crap" beer (i.e., PBR's, etc.) but my husband did get a couple of Mickey's Big mouths. I'd like to go back and listen to some music. Yes, we will be back.
(4)
Matthew H.
I'm giving this 5 stars for their shepherds pie alone. Incredible. The atmosphere is great as well, but if you like Irish shepherds pie, this is a great place. I stopped in for lunch so I can't speak for the rest.
(5)
Christie G.
I really want to love this place as it is very cool and kitschy as well as close to home. The French opinion soup is really odd and a but past normal salty sadly. Fish and chips were good and service pretty good. I just wish the food was great!
(3)
Angie S.
Unique atmosphere and food and service is good. I like that it is not your typical restaurant, both with the food and with the venue.
(5)
Reed N.
Quite the unusual pub. Formerly a church. I suppose the altar is now the stage. Fitting enough, and live Bluegrass tunes played this past Saturday. The beer list is not epic, but extensive enough to find your personal pleasure. I do not venture far from Guiness in an Irish place. When in Rome... er uh... Dublin. lol Their homemade chips are delicious here. And, being a St Louis based company, you can try the mustard based sauce on the chicken wings. It is very tasty, and you will not find it at too many places outside of St Louis metro estalishments (like Cybergs, Culpeppers).
(4)
Nicole B.
One of the best things about this place is that it's in an old church. I love the atmosphere! Stained glass windows, high cathedral ceilings, and an altar that is now a stage for live music. There is a pretty cool vibe in Llywelyn's, and that's my favorite thing about the place. You definitely feel like you are somewhere in Britain and not in JoCo, KS! The food is ok. Some English/Irish specialties on the menu along with your standard bar fare. The beer and whiskey selection is great, but the specials really aren't anything special. I did have a Bloody Mary and I thought it was great. Just the perfect spicy, and it didn't seem to be a premade mix. Service can be a bit slow and inattentive and I thought the prices were a bit steep for the quality. Overall, not a bad place.
(3)
Chad B.
Llywelyn's is the closest thing you will find to a old style English pub in Kansas. Remodeled from an old church it has a very old English feel inside. It is the kind of place that after an hour or two you start using words like arse and bloody hell. They have live music on and off during the week. Great place to have a pint with friends. Nice selection of Irish Whiskeys and good sized beer selection. The food is pretty good for bar food, but it is bar food. Good place overall if you are out in South OP.
(3)
Mj J.
I've been here a few times just to make sure it wasn't to good to be true. "Why" you may ask? Well, I am not much of a bar person. I like a drink or two but I hate the obnoxious people that tend to congregate at a bar. This, however, is your typical "irish" pub. Friendly folks, people just hanging out to have a pint, darker (not dirty) atmosphere. I would definately go here alone for a simple drink after work. Which leads me to my typical Pro/Con. Pros - Clean - Friendly and cozy - Fabulous food - The warm pretzels and cheese sauce... OMG.. those pretzels! - Drinks are drinks.. not just a "splash" in these. - Guiness Brownie. Need I say more? Cons - Their TV's can be a little loud during a game, but I'm not there for the sports - They don't update their internal boards as frequently as they should, bad marketing - The sheperds pie had way too much pepper when I had it.
(5)
Tony A.
Far above average bar food but a little pricey. The food and service are not the problem here, it's the environment. Too busy and crowded most nights so I've quit frequenting it. There is a constant foul smell emanating from the southern part of the restaurant, it smells like sewage and very old beer. Owner claims this has been addressed but it was immediately noticeable to me just this past week. The parking is horrendous, we had to park at a nearby dentists office and run over in an un-lit parking lot. The church is a cool idea but ultimately it is holding them back.
(3)
Rose L.
I wish I could write two reviews: one for meeting with friends for conversation, dinner, and beers and one for weekend music. I have been coming here for years, and not much could deter me from continuing to be a regular for either experience. Let's start with the "conversation" experience. I find this an absolutely dreamy venue for such. Their Sunday and Monday pint specials, the quite yummy menu, and the fabulous staff make this one of my top five (maybe top three) in KC for a low-key social evening. Their tap selection is my favorite in KC next to Barley's, and I can always find some unique options. Staff remembers the regulars, and that is something I really appreciate! The venue itself is the BEST! As a PK (if you are one, you know what it means), I really thrive on the Old Country Church design; it reminds me of my childhood in the Ozarks, visiting The Cope (Pleasant Valley Freewill Baptist) and singing a capella out of the shaped-note hymn book. That's where the similarities stop, though. Just enough to make me smile. This place really IS an old church house, and I would love to know the history. Now let's head into Friday and Saturday night. This place has some of the best live music in KC if you like blues and bluegrass. My personal favorite is the Ben Miller Band. Close seconds are Flannigan's Right Hook and Trampled Under Foot. Samantha Fish, LeveeTown and Government Cheese also make regular appearances. The down side?? Every southern JoCo middle-aged d-bag and glitzy-pocketed-jeans-wearing divorcee is in here on the weekend!! It is PACKED, and while I can deal when people are semi-polite, these folks have been drinking since early on and tend to act as if everyone else should cater to them and their space desires. I cannot count the number of times someone has violated my physical space roughly with no acknowledgment or simple "Excuse me.". As well, several dudes have been confrontational with my bf, starting stuff out of nowhere, seriously. The bf is the most polite, socially-appropriate, ethical guy I have ever known, and when someone picks an issue with him, it pisses me off. He always maintains his cool, though. To avoid much of this scene, we try to get there at about 11:45 pm. People with babysitters leave then to get home before midnight (at least that's what I surmise), so we have more of an intimate musical experience with fewer personal space violations. Obviously, this is NOT any fault of the venue. Overall, this is a great spot, and if I lived closer, I would be a raging yummybeeraholic. We will definitely continue to look forward to our visits here!
(4)
Martha W.
I went for lunch today for the first time. The hamburger & sweet potato fries were great along with the service. Martha Walker
(5)
Joe S.
Seems a little out of place. You are driving down the road and you nearly crash your car into the Green Dragon from the Lord of the Rings.
(4)
Erin W.
Buffalo wrap was one of the best wraps I've ever had. Love that they serve Smithwick's from the tap. The thing I didn't like was while we were eating, we had someone come over and put a reserved at 7:30 sign on our table. He didn't ask if we were staying for the band, which we were planning on and we had already been moved once before for being at a reserved table. I went and talked to him and the manager about it, so they talked to the people who "reserved" the table and got them to stay at the bar...but it was still very odd. It bothered us enough to leave. I'd try them again since the food was so good, but it won't be on a night there's a band.
(4)
Damon S.
The waitstaff was courteous, quick, and efficient. I had the Bangers and Mash plate. It was delicious! The sausage was cooked to perfection, the lamb wasnt too overwhelming, with a hint of mint. And the Mashed potatoes and gravy were a great addition! Although we did arrive immediately after they opened, with very few employees on board, we watched as every customer was treated with the same efficiency. The only downfall, it smelled a little like a very wet diaper... aside from that, 5 stars!
(4)
Jessi B.
The bad: The menu at this Irish pub looked great but the food wasn't. The cabbage rolls tasted like they were smothered in SpaghettiO's sauce: the rolls were decent, but the tomato sauce needs improvement. The Welsh rarebit served was more like a 3am drunken invention than the traditional tavern dish. Service was very attentive if not a bit awkward and unsure of what to do. (Maybe she was new?) The good: Llywelyn's had an excellent selection of aged whiskeys and the band on stage was lively and talented (last night it was the Ben Miller Band from Joplin). The 100-year-old converted church makes for a beautiful, rustic venue with a laid-back atmosphere. I probably won't be back for dinner anytime soon, but it seems like a great place to relax with friends, catch a bluegrass show, and sip some Scotch.
(3)
Emily S.
We love Llywelyn's Pub! My husband and I frequently visit this Irish pub virtually in our backyard. Great specials--Wednesday is Burger (1/2 pound) and fries for $5.50. We visited last night (Friday) and I tried the Salmon BLT. It was the first time I was really disappointed with my food and service at LP. The salmon had no flavor and was dry and the BL&T were very minimal. I had to ask for some mayo to moisten up the sandwich, which I was charged for. Also, we found if you go on Friday night for dinner--don't be in a hurry or expecting a fast dinner. It took our party of 4 over 2 hours just to eat an app and entrees. Slow/laid back service. We usually have no complaints, so I'm hoping this was an off night
(4)
Angela W.
I've been there 3-4 times. Everytime before today I had The Llyweln burger, which is delicious. Today I had the Pub burger. The burger was delicious except the meat, it is a different meat and smaller size... Meanwhile I watched my mom eat her Llywelyn burger. Next time I will get that. I ate some of my nephew's fish & chips, which was okay. The best thing on the table was the Llyweln burger and the house fries. Everybody was eating my salt and peppered fries.
(3)
Andrew C.
My girlfriend Kate and I ate lunch at Llywelyn's on a lovely Friday afternoon in late October. I was after some genuine Irish food, but I was torn portion-size wise between a shepherd's pie that our server told us was a big meal in and of itself, and a combo of their "award-winning" white chili paired with the Irish pies appetizer. My girlfriend ordered her all-time favorite, the Philly cheese steak, with french fries. I'm glad I ended up ordering the smaller meal, because despite the fact that both of us thought her sandwich was delicious (in her opinion, the best ever!), Kate couldn't finish her Philly cheese steak, and I had to help. Unfortunately the combination of the Irish pies (basically just fried mashed potato wedges) and the cheese steak/french fries proved a bit too heavy and starchy, but that was nobody's fault but mine for ordering what I ordered. The chili wasn't earth-shattering, but it was very good, with a smooth, hearty consistency. I thought the service was fine considering it was in the middle of the afternoon, just before a big Halloween party. Being built out of an old church, it was pretty dark, but once my eyes adapted to the low light it was adequate.
(4)
Erin W.
Good atmosphere, food, service and drink selection. I'm never usually out south, but I would probably make a special trip to eat here again...and especially if they had a live music gig.
(5)
Jennifer W.
My husband and I have been going here for years. The fish and chips and Shepard's pie are fantastic. They serve a fudge brownie dessert that is wonderful and have hard to find beer and cider on tap.
(5)
Sara O.
It's been awhile since I've felt compelled to write a review, but after my most recent visit to Llywelyn's, I was inspired. We've been frequenting Llywelyn's since we moved here from St. Louis (about 3 years now). We were big fans in STL, and initially, big fans in KC. Had I written this review a few years ago, it would have easily been 4 stars. Sadly, things have fallen off a bit over the last year. Let me preface this--we always sit on the restaurant level. We're there for a meal, usually accompanied by a beer. The atmosphere is great--old church, superfun. The floor can be a bit bouncy, so if you sit at certain tables, you can feel it shake when people walk by. It's not awful, but it really can get annoying when I'm in the wrong mood. The slight sewage smell seems to have been resolved with their recent "remodel," which is a relief. The food, however, hasn't fared quite as well. The fish and chips is one of my favorites, and it remains solid. Not terribly salty, but a squeeze of lemon and it's good. The fried Irish pies (appetizer) are also very good. Burgers are standard bar food, bangers and mashed are good, not great. The shepherd's pie used to be very, very good. And that's where my disappointment begins. It's my husband's favorite dish, but over the past year its quality has steadily declined. When he first started ordering it three years ago, it was a hearty dish with a layer of bread, layer of ground beef, and a nice topping of mashed potatoes. The meat layer has steadily shrunk over the last six months or so. On our last visit a few weeks ago, the pie consisted of a thick piece of bread, with a tiny sprinkle of meat, and a giant layer of mashed potatoes. Seriously, it was impossible to get meat in every bite. We almost never send food back, but this was so ridiculous we had to do it. The manager was very nice and took care of it for us (which is easily worth a star in itself), but it's always so frustrating to feel like I'm "making a fuss." The dish was well-corrected, and reminded us of better times. Bottom line: Bring back the beef! The other issue we've had on our last two visits is minor, but annoying nonetheless. The children's menu very clearly says the meals come with a drink. But on our last two visits, the server has charged us for the kids' drinks. The first waitress was annoyed when we caught it, but apologized and fixed it. The second time, our waitress acted like we were wrong, but offered to fix it for us anyway. So, I showed her the menu. But, again, I hate feeling like I have to do a thorough review of our bill and then "make a fuss" to get the bill fixed properly. Now that sodas are $2.50 a pop at most places, it's not something I'm willing to overlook.
(3)
Susie M.
Fried pies were bad. Server tried to warn us that they were just mashed potatoes, but we thought we would try them. She was right...no sign of ANY cabbage or corned beef. Beer was good and pretzels were good, although welsh rarebit was nacho sauce.
(2)
Scott M.
I first discovered this place by accident about a year ago, but didn't get a chance to visit until this past weekend. It was worth the wait. (Note, I didn't try the food and there wasn't a band at the time, so this review is about the pub aspect.) The most obvious and striking feature about this bar is that it's in a converted 100+ year old church. This is one of only two church-bars I am aware of in the greater metro region -- the other being Fugley's in East Lynne, MO -- and both are striking in their beauty and charm. Llywelyn's has the original hardwood floors and as much of the original woodwork as possible. Even the bar itself, imported from Illinois, is about 130 years old. Then you have the cathedral ceiling and the huge chandelier lights... this is one of the more beautiful bars in the region. There's a great beer selection. Not a ridiculously long list, but a well- thought-out list that suits the pub well. The drink prices are very reasonable. And I'm pleased that, despite the most recently enacted of Kansas's looney liquor laws, Llywelyn's didn't ditch the half-pint size. Our server was very friendly and gave us lots of info about the place. Unfortunately she didn't know anything about the history of the building, which was something I was really interested in. My only complaint about this place is that it is extremely far south, so my future visits will be infrequent. Still, I'll gladly take a beautifully-restored 100+ year old building 25+ miles south of civilization over a cookie-cutter, character-free, manufactured place a few blocks away.
(4)
Sheila D.
Decent food, best Bangers & Mash since I ate it in Dublin. Beer could be a bit colder but a unique place,
(4)
Katie W.
A great place to hang out and drink. The food was really good (I had fish and chips) and they had a great beer selection. My only issue would be that it's ALWAYS super busy, which is good for them but not so good for me.
(4)
Greta W.
Been here multiple times, just to see Flannigan's Right Hook. The best band ever. it's inevitably crowded, but most of the times we've had no problems getting Guinness (the bf claims its one of the best on-tap Guinnesses/Guinnessi he can get in town). Top picks: chips with pub cheese and the sliders. SLIDERS.
(4)
Henry Z.
Stopped by one night for some drinks with a group. Seemed like the place is geared towards the older crowd, most likely given that it's located near neighborhoods/suburbs. They had live music going on that night which was nice. Drinks were ok, normal priced/a bit high for Kansas I guess. Didn't quite get the pub feel as the place is mostly a restaurant with a bar area.
(3)
Sarah W.
I have been here twice now, once for happy hour and once for dinner. Both times I had great experiences. When I was their for a work hosted happy hour, our server was extremely nice and very attentive. We had most of the appetizers from the menu, and all were good, but two that stood out for me were the fried pickles and the pretzels. Order them, they are awesome! For dinner the other night I had the Shepard's Pie along with some Ace Pear cider (on tap!!). I'm a huge cider fan, and it's nice to eat somewhere in Johnson County that: A. Knows what cider is and B. Has something other than Woodchuck. The Shepard's Pie was huge, so I only ate a quarter of it, and took the rest home, but it was delicious. I will be back!
(4)
Lindsay H.
Is it strange to have one of the best drinking establishments in south JoCo in an old church? Never. The atmosphere is unique and authentic, it has great decor and a true Irish feel. The shepards pie is out of this world, although be prepared to take some home with you.....the portions are massive. The service can be slow but the food makes up for the wait. This is a great, and sometimes loud, place to grab a beer and some truly delightful Irish fare.
(4)
Shana S.
It is a fun place on the inside. It's what I imagine a European pub would look like without ever having been to Europe. It's full of European team gear. We went for lunch on a day when they were apparently short-staffed. It took awhile to order, it took awhile to get drinks, to-go box, check, etc. I got the fish and chips. I mean why get a salad if you're going to a place like this. You should get pub food. It was good. It didn't blow my mind, but it was satisying. I would be willing to go back, but I would hope that all the servers showed up to work, or that I wasn't in a hurry.
(3)
Kevin C.
A must destination if you live in KC! Great food and live music.
(5)
Nancy H.
I've been meaning to find a "local pub" for awhile now. Now I'm not naive enough to believe that I'll be able to find an authentic anything in the US simply because you can't replicate locale. It's like New York pizza...you can't exactly copy the recipe because their secret is the water. You can truck the water in, but that is neither green nor economical for you or your customers. That being said, Llywelyn's Pub is a great American Irish pub. The selection of beer is good, and you have friendly but busy staff. I had the fish and chips with the recommended pub chips. Not bad, Llywelyn's. The white fish was sweet, thick and flaky. The exterior was thick and crisp, but it was bordering on getting soft. Still, a very delicious attempt and I would recommend it. If you're the kind of person who doesn't ever order fish because you don't like a very mayo tartar sauce, don't worry they serve the fish with a ranch-like, almost thin sauce that isn't watery. I know ranch is also mayo based, but that flavor doesn't over power the sauce and therefore doesn't over power the fish. The waiter was very friendly, very personable. He checked on us often without being overbearing. In fact, I'd say he did one of the better wait jobs I've ever experienced. Good job guy.
(4)
Zach G.
Went back again...tried the Guinness again...poured a little better, tasted a little better. $2.50 pints on Sunday of all beers, INCLUDING Guinness, made it taste a lot better. However, the service was quite disappointing this time, seeing as the place was almost empty. I tried again...really wanted to like this place, again...and really left saying "ugh...not what I had hoped" again.
(3)
Erin M.
Ugh. But not as negative as "ugh" sounds, OK? UGH Llywelyn's being so FREAKING. FAR. south from me. And ugh for making me so incredibly stuffed. I have no idea why I felt the need to eat so much, not even a week after Thanksgiving. Diet starts tomorrow? Llywelen's originated in the St. Louis area and you can definitely tell, given a lot of the sandwiches and other menu items have provel cheese on them. Some would rather die then eat it, I personally love it. The portobella sandwich was huge and came with roasted red pepper, red onion and aforementioned yummy provel, all on a toasted wheat roll. The bites I stole from my mom's grilled cheese were amazing, and the fries are tasty too. I had to take off a star for the service--nice enough, but sloooooooow. However, it *was* pretty busy for a Tuesday night in random Stanley, KS. I'd also suggest they use bigger plates. Not bigger portions (deargodno), but just to give me more space to cut my sandwich, figure out the ketchup situation, etc. Should I find myself in the area again, I'll be back. And I'll TRY not to stuff myself.
(4)
David A.
Let me start off to say that we will be back when they have live entertainment and to sample the entrees. However, I have to rate it as I experienced it. This appears to be an older building with a really cool look and feel to it. Cathedral ceilings. It's pretty large and can get quite a few people packed into there. We sat at the bar where they had 4 tv's playing 4 different types of sports. I chose football of course. Every day, they have specials running for drink and food. On Sundays, they offer $2.75 pints of non-premium beer and well drinks. I had 2 Guinesses. The bartender knew how to pour them correctly and they were quite smooth. We got an appetizer called Pub Pretzels. It was innovative and we've never had a dish like this before, so we thought we'd try it. It had soft doughy pretzels cut into small pieces, salted, and then some cheese over it. They were kind enough to put the cheese on the side so that I could share (I can't do dairy). I didn't find the app very appetizing. Was I missing something due to the cheese? It was a signature dish of theirs. However, their menu looked quite tasty. I'll come back when we want to stay around for lunch or dinner. Unfortunately we had other plans and couldn't stay for dinner or live entertainment.
(3)
J C.
Surprisingly good and consistent food. Highlights: pretzels, English and Irish fare. Fish is pretty good, but not a knock out. Watch out for the crowds and the noise, unless that's why you're there.
(4)
Alison M.
The converted church setting takes the cake! We ate here on a warm summer evening, so we opted for the outside patio. Our server was a bit slow, but it really didn't matter on such a beautiful night. The interior was bustling, and seems like a fun spot to sit and drink a beer or share a meal with friends. There aren't a lot of veggie options on the menu, so we went pescetarian for the evening and tried the Tuna Melt and the Fish and Chips, both were great, particularly the tuna, which wasn't too gooey, but just right with the cheese. The next table over had huge pretzels with their beers, something I'd definitely like to try next time. A fun little spot with a great atmosphere.
(4)
Sarah D.
Great food.... Funny that it is a bar in an old church building! On weekends it gets pretty packed and loud, but that is just the atmosphere! O did I mention they had great food!
(4)
Kyle L.
Great atmosphere makes this a local favorite. Fish and chips were amazing - irish stew was so-so. Dessert was thrown together and disappointing. Live music and atmosphere bumps this from 3 to 4 stars.
(4)
Connie G.
Went there for the first time with a friend for lunch. We each had a small house salad and split the Shepperd's pie. The waitress was very nice about us asking for an extra plate for the pie. Some places are not very nice about sharing food. It was really a large serving plenty for 2 people for lunch.
(4)
Ron B.
Food ranks right up there as good as any Irish place I've ever been! Love the beer selections, staff, church interior, and it's not a chain in JOCO! Always have great drink specials. And beer is cold! It is a 1-2 times a month place for us!
(5)
Chris P.
I stopped in for a late lunch about 1:15, there were 10-12 customers and 2 waitresses including the bartender. I had a lunch time special hamburger and chips, I drank water. The cost $11.90. I was never offered a napkin or silverware and I had to ask for a water refill. Service was slow, it took a long time to get my food and it could have been hotter. I checked my checking account debits this morning and there were two from this restaurant., $11.90 and $8.00. The receipt I was given clearly shows I was leaving a $2.00 tip. 20% is my norm and I had to thing about the $2.00 tip. I will never go back. I hope management cares enough to read this and make the appropriate credit.
(1)
Jay W.
Came to watch a band with my in-laws, and actually had a really good time. The shepherd's pie was ok, but I've had better in similar bars. The servers were friendly, and the atmosphere was very comfortable.
(3)
Chris S.
I can't stop eating here. I've been here twice in the last week, and the food is always everything I had hoped it would be. The charm of this pub is indisputable, and their menu is fantastic. Yesterday I had the Brittany Chicken Salad sandwich with french fries, and it is the best CS sandwich I've ever had. "All white meat, pecans, onions, craisins, celery, and cheddar cheese are blended in our own tangy dressing and served on a flaky croissant". You got that right. Delicious. The french fries go down a little too easily as well, crispy and seasoned perfectly. They have a great beer selection, and if I recall correctly, they won the 2010 Pitch Best of KC Award for Best Live Music. I often visit there during the lunch hour, but have been there on a weekend night and it is a lot of fun as well. I do see some of the other reviews complaining about the service, and I did notice on my earlier visit this week that the servers were really flying around, and it made the visit a bit tense. It almost seemed a little disorganized, but the latest visit didn't seem like that at all. Perhaps one of the servers called in sick? In any case, Llywelyn's is a refreshingly Celtic/Welsh pub in a world of half-bred and knock-off restaurants.
(5)
Rob S.
We've been here before and sat at the bar and had a drink and appetizer and it was good. Yesterday (it was not busy) we used a Group-on and sat at a table and had dinner. What a complete difference. We ordered the pretzels (they are good) at the same time as our dinner -Big Mistake - I had to ask the server (Amanda) when our pretzels were going to come out and said that I didn't want them at the same time as our dinner. So they bring out the pretzels and not 2-3 Min's later here comes our dinner, the hot meal I ordered was COLD...sent it back and it showed back up after everybody else was done eating. Amanda was a very nice girl but seemed to want to spend more time sitting at the bar talking and playing with her smart phone. It will be sometime before we go back again, if we do at all. It's a shame because we really like the atmosphere.
(2)
Amy G.
I like the food here a lot but the service is really hit-or-miss. When we first visited last fall, our waitress was terrific. Every time we go, though, the wait staff has changed and service seems to be getting progressively worse. My latest complaint: don't bring out my hot entree two minutes after you've brought out the hot appetizer. It's a pretty basic premise that people want to eat their food at the correct temperature--let me finish the appetizer, THEN serve the entree. My latest compliment: the current lamb sausage and cheese appetizer plate is terrific. But eat it fast. ;-)
(3)
T P.
Good food, neat atmosphere, a little pricey. Why only 3-stars, its frequently to busy to enjoy yourself. Good luck finding a seat Thursday night, Friday, or Saturday. A group of friends and myself used to frequent the bar when it first opened and we loved it. The weekends had a vibrant atmosphere, and the weekdays were low key. One time we went in, and were the only ones there and they were watching movies! Recently when I have gone though the crowd has turned into a lot of upper middle aged individuals who have had way to much to drink. The live bands are great, but its a mad house when there is good live music.
(3)
Richard H.
this is it for me....my search for a great pub is over. And the bangers & mashed is heavenly! I also had an 18 yr old single malt that id have swore was worth it's weight in gold...they only charged me 10 clams for 3 fingers, ahhhhhhhh
(5)
Jason W.
Wings were great, had the pub burger....very tasty, loved the English muffin as the bun. Will be back.
(5)
Andy H.
After a recent relocation from St. Louis to Overland Park KS, I was excited to hear that there was a Llwelyns here. There are 4 total think, 3 in St. Louis, and the Central West End location by far was my favorite bar in STL. The OP location didn't appear to have $2 pints on Tuesdays like I seem to remember in STL, but it is still an awesome place, a converted old church, oddly enough the second one of those I was at in the last month. I only drank there last night, but I will soon eat there I'm sure.
(4)
Justin D.
One summer during law school, I worked in St. Louis and lived in the Central West End. My favorite bar there was Llywelyn's. They used hand pumps to dole out tasty English brews. So I was pretty excited when I saw they opened another Llywelyn's in Kansas City. And then I saw where in Kansas City it was located. This place is really, really far away. And they do not appear to have hand pumps. But, it is still highly recommended, if for some reason you need to go out to 119th and Metcalf. First the atmosphere is very cool; they converted an old church. Second, the food is pretty decent; the reuben is a double-decker and the fish sandwich is excellent. Third, plenty of tasty beer options, including Bass and Guinness. (Side note: they know how to properly make a black & tan (or half & half, depending on your politics), which is kind of a rarity around these parts.) However, perhaps the best part of Llywelyn's is the live music they have on Friday and Saturday nights. The type of music can vary, but generally it is Irish/bluegrass/dixieland/blues. If it isn't a band I've heard of before, I usually call up beforehand and ask about it. The staff is always nice and answer all my questions. Despite being hella-far away from everything, it gets crazy crowded there, so if you're looking for a seat for the music, I suggest going early, getting some dinner, and then start drinking.
(4)
Jaime F.
This beautifully restored building was formerly a church. I was a little leery of consuming libations in such a locale. This is the closest I have been to one since the days when those plastic shiny buckle shoes were cool and my mom still styled my hair. I was concerned there may be repercussions in the form of a lightening strike... I keep hearing little rumbles about this joint from the Stanley locals. Apparently the house band really packs the place with a crowd of the jovial fun variety on the weekends when they play. I can't attest to this personally, but I will tell you about my Sunday visits.... First time I rolled in alone and instantly noticed the bar. The physical bar, the wood itself. It is from the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company I confirm with manager...I am a bit of a geek over the aesthetic quality and history behind such pieces. Most of these were produced between 1885-1900...so while you sit here, sipping your brew (which happen to be $2.75 on Sundays for non premium) contemplate the history of this beautiful bar. Touch the wood that someone else touched over 100 years a go, also enjoying a quality beverage. This is a really nicely restored example of the style. Alright enough geeking out, second time I arrive with friend for what I will call "Sunday Fatty Delight." Oh yea, multiple varieties of deep friend comfort food washed down with full bodied beer. For whatever reason chicken fingers were on our minds (not an option on the normal menu) but the bartender went ahead and ordered them for us off the kids menu. This is something most restaurants frown upon to enhance ticket sales but she understood that was what we really wanted, not what we were ordering to save a few bucks and happily accommodated. We also went for some onion rings (I warned you, caloric content at maximum levels right now....). Fat and happy and bordering on cardiac arrest we appreciated the greasy grub, the fresh affordable quality brews and the accommodating nature of the staff. Oh, and did I mention that bar? Glad lightening didn't strike so I was able to enjoy this experience a second time.
(4)
Adam S.
This is my favorite bar in KC. The food is excellent. Don't get the cabbage rolls, or you'll be left hungry, though. They serve Strongbow, for those interested. And the wait staff is hottttttt. They should bring back the bread pudding because when I'm drunk it tastes like Jesus. Parking is shared and is sometimes crowded.
(5)
Jenny D.
We've tried really hard to like this place, which wouldn't appear to be difficult given the beautiful architecture, wide beer selection, entertaining live music, and a decent menu. The problem is the service. There is none. Its hard to get acknowledged at the bar and don't expect a smile. Even on slow days the bartenders seem put off to do their jobs. It's truly almost comical... Side note: it smells like they have plumbing issues.
(2)
Keith K.
I give this place four stars, but that should, in no way, mean that this place wasn't top-notch. I have eaten at Llywelyn's several times over the past couple of years, and my recollections are that the food is delicious, the service is good, and the beer is cold. They have a decent selection of beers, and can make a black & tan w/o screwing it up. If i could give it 4.5 stars, I would, but alas, we must deal with whole numbers here, and the place isn't quite perfect, but damn close, so 4 it is, with a thumb on the scale, if you will. Try the bangers and mashed - I probably eat that on 75% of my visits, and it never fails to please.
(4)
Jim L.
I like this restaurant as has many unique qualities and have patronized on many occassions. I tried not to write this review, but need to share this experience. My apologies to the band Trampled Under foot, as you guys are a great band, and hope this review does not create any issues for you. I had been looking forward to hearing TUF at Llywelyn's on Jan 1. Upon entering the Pub that night, and finding out the cover charge was $10, I was shocked. It is hard to believe that Llywelyn's is taking advantage of the Overland Park area by charging this cover charge. At other local spots in the greater KC area the cover is around $4. What's up with this. I understand it is a Holiday, but still feel this is too much. It's not that band isn't worth $10, it's the point of it all. I tried to express my views to the management, but was just too busy in the restaurant to get his attention. So, we left, and Llywelyn's lost the estimated $40, plus tip, we would have spent on dinner, and at a minimum, another $25 on drinks. I will just have to hear this great band at another establishment, and have not been back to Llywelyn's pub since.
(1)
Erin L.
Great atmosphere, great food, good music, good drinks, good service.
(5)
Mike B.
What a cool place! It certainly has a pub feel to it. It's kind of a throwback to the pre-sports bar days. It's the perfect place to gather with friends, enjoy a wide range of beers, enjoy decent bar food and if it's Friday or Saturday night you'll probably hear some lively live music.
(3)
Chuck M.
I have been a member of a music server list and received a notice about Irish music being played at Llywelyn's Pub, but didn't read it too closely and realized I was a day late for the Friday night's music with it being Saturday, so I thought it would be a nice trip to try this place out anyway and was glad that I did. Llywelyn's Pub is located in Old Stanley and bills itself as a "cozy, inviting, authentic, Celtic Restaurant and Pub" and I must agree, as I have never been to either Ireland, Scotland or Wales but this might be the closest you could come to being there in the midwest with its food and beer selection. Once there we had to decide which door to go in since there wasn't really a door marked as a main entrance so we choose to go in on the side which had stairs leading up and then realized this was the main entrance since it brought us to the host station. Llywelyn's has a large bar area with bar and hi-top seating, which is on the raised level and the restaurant seating on the lower level. Since we wanted to take in the full "Celtic" experience we chose the bar area at a hi-top table. We were seated without a wait, once seated the waitress was quick to take our drink order but had to ask for more time since the beer selection is vast and finally decided on a Stella Artois, the beers come in pints, imperials and pitchers as well as bottles but not as large of a selection in the latter. When the waitress came with our beers we asked about the building since it had high ceilings and tall windows and she stated that it had twice been a church. We opted to get a appetizer while we gave the menu a once over for a entree and picked the "Skins and Shrooms" but not being too much of potato skin enthusiast we asked if we could just get double the shrooms and was told it was no problem. The menu seem to carry a lot of entree's that look as though a second and third visit will be in the works and was hard to choose what to try first and decided on the "Bangers and Mash" but also came across a "white Chili" in the soup section and ordered a cup when she brought out our appetizer. Our 'shrooms were to be stuffed with spinach dip, bacon and parmesan cheese, but they were far from being stuffed, since the mushroom caps were small and had the billed stuffed ingredients actually laid on top and were more luke warm than hot, but once the chili came out it more than made up for it, the white chili is made with Chicken breast meat blended with navy and garbanzo beans, pepperoncini Peppers and cream. While waiting for our entree, we were able to really look around, while it has TV's playing in the bar area they have music piped in that was playing '80's tunes and while it wasn't any type of Celtic music we were glad it wasn't blasting the game overhead but did hear between songs that the restaurant area did have traditional music played. Llwelyn's is a smoke-free establishment which is a big plus in my book which made it easier to take in the kitchen smells. Our entree order came out and it look very delicious, the bangers and mash are two links of lamb sausage, grilled and topped in a rich gravy, served with garlic mashed potatoes, and sauteed green beans. The sausages were flavorful but a little over done but the brown gravy really helped the dryness out, the mash potatoes are the homestyle kind and green beans with bits of chopped onion were good. We hung out after dinner watching the dinner crowd come in which made the noise level go up and at a few times they had a wait list. We ended up having a few more beers and the dinner crowd thinned and realized that we will be making a return visit to try the "Shepards Pie" or the "Irish Stew" which says its simmered in a Guinness-Jameson stock. If you are a fan of Guiness beer I would recommend a visit to Llwelyn's, since it has alot of Guiness promo pieces displayed along with a painted wall of the logo and seem to bring that "Irish" feel with that type of promotion. Overall, outside of the appetizer and the dry sausage I would recommend at least one visit and I am sure you will plan to make a return trip, like I am planning to do.
(4)
Tim T.
I had driven by this place a couple of times in the past, and never really thought about stopping in. I needed a place to watch Russia-Spain in the Euro cup, and figured an Irish/Scotch/Welsh place in a converted church would turn on the match for me. They were very accommodating, even turned on the sound throughout the bar/restaurant. The service from start to finish was top notch. However, my friend and I were pretty much the only people in here at 3pm on a Thursday. The beer selection here was above average for KC bars. Not quite on par with Waldo, Grinders or Flying Saucer, but certainly something you can find and enjoy. The even have two beer engines. The food was really good pub grub as well - I started with the Rarebit, and had a Sausage Sandwich on pretzel bread. If you find yourself out this way, certainly check it out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jim F.
Llewelyns has great food, atmosphere, and waiters! Annie was our waiter tonight, and she was as good as our dinner, which was perfect! Great band in the bar is another perk! We plan on visiting this restaurant on a regular basis, and will tell our friends how friendly, and fun this place is!
(5)Shannon M.
If you like to eat your pub fare in the dark with a side of Holy Ghost, you've come to the right place. Llywelyn's is in an old church, and the decor is essentially Guinness signs and darkness. Like I could barely see my plate at midday. The World Cup and a baseball game played on about 6 different competing televisions. Food was good: my "adult grilled cheese" with bacon was hearty and satisfying, though their "famous" chips were frankly a bit too roasty-toasty for me. A friend swears by their chicken salad. Overall, it's a pub, but a cool one. Worth checking out if you need your fish and chips fix.
(3)Emily M.
We've been going to LP's for many years. And over the last few years there have been changes. Some good--like the decor and cleaner bathrooms but some not so great. There used to be nightly specials and now it's just cheaper apps at happy hour. Also, the menu keeps changing. Are they trying to make it gourmet? I wish they would just stick with the traditional food and keep it simple. (Ex. Burger came on some ground corn bun, which just was really dry and crunchy. I'll take a cheap bun any day over that! And we get the steak and cheese sandwich, but it has changed and they added toppings?) On our last visit I ordered a medium well hamburger and it came out raw. When I asked for a new one, they obliged. But, it took over 20 minutes to get the new one and everyone else at the table was done with dinner by the time it arrived. No apology and no discount, it was as if it was my fault I didn't want a cold, pink patty. This used to be our go-to place, but after multiple visits of being "underwhelmed" with food and service we will visit elsewhere.
(3)Christian H.
Great atmosphere, good music and a decent draft selection and Jen the bartender/waitress was really quick and prompt to approach us and take our order. The place overall had a great vibe to it. Would definitely recommend coming and checking this place out.
(5)Bailey M.
ALWAYS good. We don't live close and we drive out that way for the food/atmosphere/service. Sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had. The beer selection is amazing as well. Did I mention the food is freakin fantastic! We highly recommend!
(5)Shannon L.
I used to love this place, but I think it's on the decline... My husband and I went for dinner on Saturday night and it wasn't busy at all...we sat in the bar area with a server that seemed VERY new. She was sweet, but had no idea what beers were on draft. I always like to try new beers and asked if there was anything different on tap--her suggestion was Bass, which I think is there all the time. It would have been helpful to see a menu. We were craving burgers, and they just weren't as good as we remember. My husband got a side of mac and cheese and it was a little blah. If you order french fries, get the thick cut. I hope this was just an off night. We'll check it out again, but skip the food and go for the live music and drinks only.
(3)Brent G.
Great place with great food. Very nice entertainment options here on the weekend as well. Lots of TV's for watching sporting events. Big selection of international and domestic beers.
(5)Miles M.
Overall it has a home style feel overseas but I must say the Rueben sandwich was on point and well I will make sure to be back to try another taste of greatness on my palette. Pricing was fair and service overall good especially during peak lunch time.
(5)Alex W.
The muscles are surprisingly good for their price and for an Irish pub, dedicatedly a good choice for an appetizer every once in awhile. Make sure you ask for Zoe as your waitress, she's the best one there!
(4)Bob K.
This very Irish bar is housed in an old church that lends an odd feel to the place. I have been here mostly for lunches, and it is straight bar food all the way. The bar is in an upper area where they also have a stage and high top tables. Down some steps from there is more of a dinning area and then out the door is a patio area with plenty of seating. The patio area is the only place where you can have a decent conversation when the place is full. The kitchen is in the basement, and the smoking area seems to be out the west side basement door. I don't smoke, but I see people walking over there to smoke. Ok, so that is the layout. For food, I try something different every time I come, and have not found something that I "have to have" yet. The staff is attentive and helpful, and i'll usually just ask them what they like and then get that. Hamburgers are good. Pretty much anything I've gotten is good and edible. But what I really like is that for lunch there is next to nobody there. You can walk in, sit down with your group, chat and pull out laptops or whatever. Instant access to the wait staff. And a beer or a Scotch, if you need it to smooth out your lunch company. You will find that the ambiance of the churchy feel with a hamburger and echoing voices in a big empty bar can make for a good lunch with your office mates. It's also a good place for live music especially on a Saturday night.
(4)Matt F.
Sat on the patio area, little cramped but nice. The apps were very yummy and just about the right price. Lots of drink options to choose from and staff was friendly.
(5)Ben S.
Eaten here a couple times, but the stuff I had here seems to have been removed from the menu (a burger on an english muffin with bacon and other awesomeness. Totally forget the name) I'm sorta 'meh' when it comes to pub food, but this place is basically where a few of my friends call their local haunt. I've never been truly into it...but it's a decent pub atmosphere. Nothing to write home about, but the notable part is that the pub is located in an old church and now feels like a local rowdy pub you can play beer pong at.
(3)Mark P.
Friendly, prompt, helpful staff, a great atmosphere, and great food. How can you go wrong? In three visits, I've had their white chili and it has been exceptionally good each time. On cold days, I think about it often. On my first visit, at the suggestion of my friend, I tried their shepherd's pie. I thought it was good, but it was very heavy on the worcestershire sauce and very salty as a result. On my second visit, with my wife this time, I tried their Beer Battered Cod Sandwich. The cod was quite thick, so it was very moist, which caused the batter to be soggy on the inside and slide off easily. The cod was almost flavorless, but the tartar sauce and other toppings gave it enough kick to make it a decent sandwich. The Llewelyn's chips were good. On my latest visit, also with my wife, I tried their Famous Steak & Cheese with Llwelyn's chips. The sandwich was quite good, flavorful, and the steak was cooked well, but tender and moist. Llywelyn's is a great, independent restaurant/pub that I look forward to each time.
(4)Lucas J.
We dined here on 9/14/14 at about 2:00pm. I visited for lunch with two guys and myself in town on a business trip. All three of us enjoyed our food (two burgers and a shepherds pie) had a couple of beers a well. Food selections and prices were good and lots of beer on tap. I would love to have given a better review but the service was so bad it was laughable. Our server was also the bartender (we sat at a high top bar table) and she was so over the top rude that it was impossible to overlook. Her name was Jamie (if I remember correctly as she was annoyed that I asked). She was very inattentive and rushed us at every interaction. The restaurant was not even close to full as we were one of the only tables in at the time. Every time she spoke to us she was very harsh and from even our first interaction, made it very obvious that she wanted no form of even basic service with us. She even rushed my colleague to hand her his check, it was just weird. I want to rate the place higher because the food was good and had a nice beer selection but I have not ever, in recent memory received such rude service. As a group we were as friendly as possible and just wanted friendly service. I have worked as a server in the past so I am usually very sympathetic, but this was just too ridiculous to ignore. Visit if you like but watch out for hostile servers.
(2)Jennifer M.
Had the Ploughman's sandwich, basically a Cuban sandwich with pulled pork and not pressed but it was delicious. Was here for lunch so pretty mellow, service at the bar was prompt. Definitely recommend.
(4)Tyra W.
I will definitely need to make my way back here because my boyfriend and I weren't able to finish a "complete" visit on the account I wasn't feeling well prior to our arrival. We popped in on a Saturday night with a simple mission: grab some Guinness and food. Service was quick, our food came out in what felt like not even 10 minutes after ordering. Fried Irish pies, calamari, and sweet potato waffle fries made their way to us. Our server was even surprised at the amount of fried calamari we received--it was practically a double order--SCORE! My boyfriend adored the fried pies which consist of corned beef, white cheddar, mashed potatoes, leeks, and cabbage. I got mostly just potatoes out of them. Next time I'm opting for the Welsh rarebit though! Overall the location is what makes Llywelyn's unique! Where else can you drink inside a 100 year old church? I hope to return here soon so I can do a full scope of the menu and enjoy the patio but for now this visit was just average in my books.
(3)Emilee C.
Fantastic food, no doubt. A lot of their stuff is homemade. The Spinach-artichoke dip is my favorite. My friends and I always go out to get drinks here and the ladies there are always nice. However, the last time we went, the manager would not serve the guys alcohol because they have verticle Missouri Drivers Licenses. They are both 21 years old and had to get the verticle drivers licenses because they received their motorcycle permits and had it put on their new Id's, while they were under 21. The date on the ID clearly says "under 21 until.." and clearly shows they are each over 21. We will not be going back anytime soon, even though we were loyal customers. Maybe she should become educated about a Missouri's Drivers license and what to look for instead of ruining someone's night because she cannot read.
(3)Matt M.
I left a review about 10 months ago that was very negative. It may have been overly harsh for that particular experience due to previous visits being better. In my review I commented that my experience was primarily related to how badly the manager had treated me after sending back a dish that was inedible. The result was me not going back to Llewellyn's for about 8 months. I have now been back twice over the past 2 months and have noticed a tremendous difference. The old manager left a few months back and the new manager was on top of things. The bar was clean, much cleaner than previously. I noticed small improvements to the food that made a big difference. Everything just tasted fresher with more attention to detail. The french fries were excellent! I could tell that the oil used to cook them was fresh and the temperature perfect. The fries were well balanced with a soft center and a crispy outer texture that was not at all overcooked and had a great lightly added seasoned salt. I also had the Adult Grilled Cheese with Ham which was delicious. As always, the bartender and wait staff was friendly, helpful, and courteous. Overall, Llewellyn's has earned back my business thanks to the change in the Manager.
(4)Perry B.
Wanna drink brewskies in an old ass church with cool decor and a nice open area? This is the place my friend. Beer selection is on point and the place is low key. No bros, no frills, always a table. Chchcheck it out.
(5)Kristen L.
I was not impressed at all here. The best part about the experience was our conversation at our table. My girlfriend wanted to come, she was 8+ months prego and wanted a ruben sandwich. So informed our husbands and went where the pregnant lady wanted to go. The restaurant is very dark, more than just mood lighting. It was not an inviting atmosphere at all. No one greeted us when we walked in, we just looked around and decided to pick our own table. Eventually our serve came for our order. I tried the Fish & Chips (homemade). It was basically a plate of greasy, fried flavorless food. This chips nor the fish had any flavor or even any salt. I doused it with vinegar, lemon and salt and still the oil from the grease was still the predominate flavor. I did try my friend's ruben and it was pretty tasty, stacked high on rye bread. My husband did like his burger. So maybe I didn't make the best meal choice. However, even if my food had been better, the atmosphere just really didn't appeal to me. It felt dark and grimy and maybe that's how an authentic Irish pub feels, however it wasn't some where I wanted to eat dinner.
(2)Beau E.
Craig, the General Manager, reached out to me via e-mail and addressed the issues I had at my previous visit. This speaks in droves about the management of this establishment. That alone tells me that my first experience here was a fluke and I will be tempted to give this place another go in the future. Thanks, Craig!
(4)Jenn S.
Great place to get black-out wasted without judgment.
(5)Russell K.
Wow, it's been crazy watching this. I've tried to hang in there, but the last 4 visits have seen continued declines in service. Last straw today- Smithwicks was room temp, waitress too busy on her phone to check on us, DJ can't keep a song playing without tech problems, a guy jumping down the steps every time he passes- shakes floor and table enough to almost spill drinks (5x so far, not a word from the hostess). Done with it...
(1)D W.
What could be cooler than a pub inside a old church. Prices are little high. The bartender didn't seem very friendly last time(was a while ago) I was there but that a crap shoot.
(3)Kelsey H.
Great place! Great menu options! I had the fried fish slider and pulled pork slider. I lived the fried fish and the pulled pork had great BBQ flavoring. The beer was cold and fresh. I would go back because of the cost, good food and laid back atmosphere. Friendly and fast service!
(4)Beth B.
I'm not a huge fan of Irish pubs. I have nothing against them, I just don't search them out, care for Irish food, crave Irish beer or love Irish music. So, the fact that I am giving this 4 stars says something. Hubby and I went here because I had purchased a Groupon and the teens were out of town. Celebration week :). It's housed in an old church - where I used to get my hair cut 12 or so years ago - and the ambience is nice. I think if you went to Ireland, you might actually see a pub in an old church like this. It just seemed more authentic that some of the other pubs in OP. Our Groupon allowed us an appetizer and 2 entrees. We ordered the skins & shrooms for our appetizer. Rather than the normal cheddar cheese, these were stuffed with spinach dip and parmesan. I was not expecting much, but they were really good and the lack of cheddar cheese made them less greasy than normal. For our entrees, we ordered more expensive items, since we "wanted to get our money's worth". I ordered the Sesame Ginger Salmon ($14.99). The salmon was actually really good. I was kind of surprised. It was served with steamed vegetables that were kind of soggy - my husband ate them - and rice that tasted and looked like Uncle Ben's wild rice pilaf. It was good, but not what I was expecting. I probably would order a sandwich next time, but I did like the meal. My husband ordered the Llewellyn's Broil - which is marinated flank steak - and he had them add the Welsh Rarebit. It was really good. The home-made chips were excellent and not greasy like they are at some bars. The service was great. There was no live music, and the drink special was what we would call "crap" beer (i.e., PBR's, etc.) but my husband did get a couple of Mickey's Big mouths. I'd like to go back and listen to some music. Yes, we will be back.
(4)Matthew H.
I'm giving this 5 stars for their shepherds pie alone. Incredible. The atmosphere is great as well, but if you like Irish shepherds pie, this is a great place. I stopped in for lunch so I can't speak for the rest.
(5)Christie G.
I really want to love this place as it is very cool and kitschy as well as close to home. The French opinion soup is really odd and a but past normal salty sadly. Fish and chips were good and service pretty good. I just wish the food was great!
(3)Angie S.
Unique atmosphere and food and service is good. I like that it is not your typical restaurant, both with the food and with the venue.
(5)Reed N.
Quite the unusual pub. Formerly a church. I suppose the altar is now the stage. Fitting enough, and live Bluegrass tunes played this past Saturday. The beer list is not epic, but extensive enough to find your personal pleasure. I do not venture far from Guiness in an Irish place. When in Rome... er uh... Dublin. lol Their homemade chips are delicious here. And, being a St Louis based company, you can try the mustard based sauce on the chicken wings. It is very tasty, and you will not find it at too many places outside of St Louis metro estalishments (like Cybergs, Culpeppers).
(4)Nicole B.
One of the best things about this place is that it's in an old church. I love the atmosphere! Stained glass windows, high cathedral ceilings, and an altar that is now a stage for live music. There is a pretty cool vibe in Llywelyn's, and that's my favorite thing about the place. You definitely feel like you are somewhere in Britain and not in JoCo, KS! The food is ok. Some English/Irish specialties on the menu along with your standard bar fare. The beer and whiskey selection is great, but the specials really aren't anything special. I did have a Bloody Mary and I thought it was great. Just the perfect spicy, and it didn't seem to be a premade mix. Service can be a bit slow and inattentive and I thought the prices were a bit steep for the quality. Overall, not a bad place.
(3)Chad B.
Llywelyn's is the closest thing you will find to a old style English pub in Kansas. Remodeled from an old church it has a very old English feel inside. It is the kind of place that after an hour or two you start using words like arse and bloody hell. They have live music on and off during the week. Great place to have a pint with friends. Nice selection of Irish Whiskeys and good sized beer selection. The food is pretty good for bar food, but it is bar food. Good place overall if you are out in South OP.
(3)Mj J.
I've been here a few times just to make sure it wasn't to good to be true. "Why" you may ask? Well, I am not much of a bar person. I like a drink or two but I hate the obnoxious people that tend to congregate at a bar. This, however, is your typical "irish" pub. Friendly folks, people just hanging out to have a pint, darker (not dirty) atmosphere. I would definately go here alone for a simple drink after work. Which leads me to my typical Pro/Con. Pros - Clean - Friendly and cozy - Fabulous food - The warm pretzels and cheese sauce... OMG.. those pretzels! - Drinks are drinks.. not just a "splash" in these. - Guiness Brownie. Need I say more? Cons - Their TV's can be a little loud during a game, but I'm not there for the sports - They don't update their internal boards as frequently as they should, bad marketing - The sheperds pie had way too much pepper when I had it.
(5)Tony A.
Far above average bar food but a little pricey. The food and service are not the problem here, it's the environment. Too busy and crowded most nights so I've quit frequenting it. There is a constant foul smell emanating from the southern part of the restaurant, it smells like sewage and very old beer. Owner claims this has been addressed but it was immediately noticeable to me just this past week. The parking is horrendous, we had to park at a nearby dentists office and run over in an un-lit parking lot. The church is a cool idea but ultimately it is holding them back.
(3)Rose L.
I wish I could write two reviews: one for meeting with friends for conversation, dinner, and beers and one for weekend music. I have been coming here for years, and not much could deter me from continuing to be a regular for either experience. Let's start with the "conversation" experience. I find this an absolutely dreamy venue for such. Their Sunday and Monday pint specials, the quite yummy menu, and the fabulous staff make this one of my top five (maybe top three) in KC for a low-key social evening. Their tap selection is my favorite in KC next to Barley's, and I can always find some unique options. Staff remembers the regulars, and that is something I really appreciate! The venue itself is the BEST! As a PK (if you are one, you know what it means), I really thrive on the Old Country Church design; it reminds me of my childhood in the Ozarks, visiting The Cope (Pleasant Valley Freewill Baptist) and singing a capella out of the shaped-note hymn book. That's where the similarities stop, though. Just enough to make me smile. This place really IS an old church house, and I would love to know the history. Now let's head into Friday and Saturday night. This place has some of the best live music in KC if you like blues and bluegrass. My personal favorite is the Ben Miller Band. Close seconds are Flannigan's Right Hook and Trampled Under Foot. Samantha Fish, LeveeTown and Government Cheese also make regular appearances. The down side?? Every southern JoCo middle-aged d-bag and glitzy-pocketed-jeans-wearing divorcee is in here on the weekend!! It is PACKED, and while I can deal when people are semi-polite, these folks have been drinking since early on and tend to act as if everyone else should cater to them and their space desires. I cannot count the number of times someone has violated my physical space roughly with no acknowledgment or simple "Excuse me.". As well, several dudes have been confrontational with my bf, starting stuff out of nowhere, seriously. The bf is the most polite, socially-appropriate, ethical guy I have ever known, and when someone picks an issue with him, it pisses me off. He always maintains his cool, though. To avoid much of this scene, we try to get there at about 11:45 pm. People with babysitters leave then to get home before midnight (at least that's what I surmise), so we have more of an intimate musical experience with fewer personal space violations. Obviously, this is NOT any fault of the venue. Overall, this is a great spot, and if I lived closer, I would be a raging yummybeeraholic. We will definitely continue to look forward to our visits here!
(4)Martha W.
I went for lunch today for the first time. The hamburger & sweet potato fries were great along with the service. Martha Walker
(5)Joe S.
Seems a little out of place. You are driving down the road and you nearly crash your car into the Green Dragon from the Lord of the Rings.
(4)Erin W.
Buffalo wrap was one of the best wraps I've ever had. Love that they serve Smithwick's from the tap. The thing I didn't like was while we were eating, we had someone come over and put a reserved at 7:30 sign on our table. He didn't ask if we were staying for the band, which we were planning on and we had already been moved once before for being at a reserved table. I went and talked to him and the manager about it, so they talked to the people who "reserved" the table and got them to stay at the bar...but it was still very odd. It bothered us enough to leave. I'd try them again since the food was so good, but it won't be on a night there's a band.
(4)Damon S.
The waitstaff was courteous, quick, and efficient. I had the Bangers and Mash plate. It was delicious! The sausage was cooked to perfection, the lamb wasnt too overwhelming, with a hint of mint. And the Mashed potatoes and gravy were a great addition! Although we did arrive immediately after they opened, with very few employees on board, we watched as every customer was treated with the same efficiency. The only downfall, it smelled a little like a very wet diaper... aside from that, 5 stars!
(4)Jessi B.
The bad: The menu at this Irish pub looked great but the food wasn't. The cabbage rolls tasted like they were smothered in SpaghettiO's sauce: the rolls were decent, but the tomato sauce needs improvement. The Welsh rarebit served was more like a 3am drunken invention than the traditional tavern dish. Service was very attentive if not a bit awkward and unsure of what to do. (Maybe she was new?) The good: Llywelyn's had an excellent selection of aged whiskeys and the band on stage was lively and talented (last night it was the Ben Miller Band from Joplin). The 100-year-old converted church makes for a beautiful, rustic venue with a laid-back atmosphere. I probably won't be back for dinner anytime soon, but it seems like a great place to relax with friends, catch a bluegrass show, and sip some Scotch.
(3)Emily S.
We love Llywelyn's Pub! My husband and I frequently visit this Irish pub virtually in our backyard. Great specials--Wednesday is Burger (1/2 pound) and fries for $5.50. We visited last night (Friday) and I tried the Salmon BLT. It was the first time I was really disappointed with my food and service at LP. The salmon had no flavor and was dry and the BL&T were very minimal. I had to ask for some mayo to moisten up the sandwich, which I was charged for. Also, we found if you go on Friday night for dinner--don't be in a hurry or expecting a fast dinner. It took our party of 4 over 2 hours just to eat an app and entrees. Slow/laid back service. We usually have no complaints, so I'm hoping this was an off night
(4)Angela W.
I've been there 3-4 times. Everytime before today I had The Llyweln burger, which is delicious. Today I had the Pub burger. The burger was delicious except the meat, it is a different meat and smaller size... Meanwhile I watched my mom eat her Llywelyn burger. Next time I will get that. I ate some of my nephew's fish & chips, which was okay. The best thing on the table was the Llyweln burger and the house fries. Everybody was eating my salt and peppered fries.
(3)Andrew C.
My girlfriend Kate and I ate lunch at Llywelyn's on a lovely Friday afternoon in late October. I was after some genuine Irish food, but I was torn portion-size wise between a shepherd's pie that our server told us was a big meal in and of itself, and a combo of their "award-winning" white chili paired with the Irish pies appetizer. My girlfriend ordered her all-time favorite, the Philly cheese steak, with french fries. I'm glad I ended up ordering the smaller meal, because despite the fact that both of us thought her sandwich was delicious (in her opinion, the best ever!), Kate couldn't finish her Philly cheese steak, and I had to help. Unfortunately the combination of the Irish pies (basically just fried mashed potato wedges) and the cheese steak/french fries proved a bit too heavy and starchy, but that was nobody's fault but mine for ordering what I ordered. The chili wasn't earth-shattering, but it was very good, with a smooth, hearty consistency. I thought the service was fine considering it was in the middle of the afternoon, just before a big Halloween party. Being built out of an old church, it was pretty dark, but once my eyes adapted to the low light it was adequate.
(4)Erin W.
Good atmosphere, food, service and drink selection. I'm never usually out south, but I would probably make a special trip to eat here again...and especially if they had a live music gig.
(5)Jennifer W.
My husband and I have been going here for years. The fish and chips and Shepard's pie are fantastic. They serve a fudge brownie dessert that is wonderful and have hard to find beer and cider on tap.
(5)Sara O.
It's been awhile since I've felt compelled to write a review, but after my most recent visit to Llywelyn's, I was inspired. We've been frequenting Llywelyn's since we moved here from St. Louis (about 3 years now). We were big fans in STL, and initially, big fans in KC. Had I written this review a few years ago, it would have easily been 4 stars. Sadly, things have fallen off a bit over the last year. Let me preface this--we always sit on the restaurant level. We're there for a meal, usually accompanied by a beer. The atmosphere is great--old church, superfun. The floor can be a bit bouncy, so if you sit at certain tables, you can feel it shake when people walk by. It's not awful, but it really can get annoying when I'm in the wrong mood. The slight sewage smell seems to have been resolved with their recent "remodel," which is a relief. The food, however, hasn't fared quite as well. The fish and chips is one of my favorites, and it remains solid. Not terribly salty, but a squeeze of lemon and it's good. The fried Irish pies (appetizer) are also very good. Burgers are standard bar food, bangers and mashed are good, not great. The shepherd's pie used to be very, very good. And that's where my disappointment begins. It's my husband's favorite dish, but over the past year its quality has steadily declined. When he first started ordering it three years ago, it was a hearty dish with a layer of bread, layer of ground beef, and a nice topping of mashed potatoes. The meat layer has steadily shrunk over the last six months or so. On our last visit a few weeks ago, the pie consisted of a thick piece of bread, with a tiny sprinkle of meat, and a giant layer of mashed potatoes. Seriously, it was impossible to get meat in every bite. We almost never send food back, but this was so ridiculous we had to do it. The manager was very nice and took care of it for us (which is easily worth a star in itself), but it's always so frustrating to feel like I'm "making a fuss." The dish was well-corrected, and reminded us of better times. Bottom line: Bring back the beef! The other issue we've had on our last two visits is minor, but annoying nonetheless. The children's menu very clearly says the meals come with a drink. But on our last two visits, the server has charged us for the kids' drinks. The first waitress was annoyed when we caught it, but apologized and fixed it. The second time, our waitress acted like we were wrong, but offered to fix it for us anyway. So, I showed her the menu. But, again, I hate feeling like I have to do a thorough review of our bill and then "make a fuss" to get the bill fixed properly. Now that sodas are $2.50 a pop at most places, it's not something I'm willing to overlook.
(3)Susie M.
Fried pies were bad. Server tried to warn us that they were just mashed potatoes, but we thought we would try them. She was right...no sign of ANY cabbage or corned beef. Beer was good and pretzels were good, although welsh rarebit was nacho sauce.
(2)Scott M.
I first discovered this place by accident about a year ago, but didn't get a chance to visit until this past weekend. It was worth the wait. (Note, I didn't try the food and there wasn't a band at the time, so this review is about the pub aspect.) The most obvious and striking feature about this bar is that it's in a converted 100+ year old church. This is one of only two church-bars I am aware of in the greater metro region -- the other being Fugley's in East Lynne, MO -- and both are striking in their beauty and charm. Llywelyn's has the original hardwood floors and as much of the original woodwork as possible. Even the bar itself, imported from Illinois, is about 130 years old. Then you have the cathedral ceiling and the huge chandelier lights... this is one of the more beautiful bars in the region. There's a great beer selection. Not a ridiculously long list, but a well- thought-out list that suits the pub well. The drink prices are very reasonable. And I'm pleased that, despite the most recently enacted of Kansas's looney liquor laws, Llywelyn's didn't ditch the half-pint size. Our server was very friendly and gave us lots of info about the place. Unfortunately she didn't know anything about the history of the building, which was something I was really interested in. My only complaint about this place is that it is extremely far south, so my future visits will be infrequent. Still, I'll gladly take a beautifully-restored 100+ year old building 25+ miles south of civilization over a cookie-cutter, character-free, manufactured place a few blocks away.
(4)Sheila D.
Decent food, best Bangers & Mash since I ate it in Dublin. Beer could be a bit colder but a unique place,
(4)Katie W.
A great place to hang out and drink. The food was really good (I had fish and chips) and they had a great beer selection. My only issue would be that it's ALWAYS super busy, which is good for them but not so good for me.
(4)Greta W.
Been here multiple times, just to see Flannigan's Right Hook. The best band ever. it's inevitably crowded, but most of the times we've had no problems getting Guinness (the bf claims its one of the best on-tap Guinnesses/Guinnessi he can get in town). Top picks: chips with pub cheese and the sliders. SLIDERS.
(4)Henry Z.
Stopped by one night for some drinks with a group. Seemed like the place is geared towards the older crowd, most likely given that it's located near neighborhoods/suburbs. They had live music going on that night which was nice. Drinks were ok, normal priced/a bit high for Kansas I guess. Didn't quite get the pub feel as the place is mostly a restaurant with a bar area.
(3)Sarah W.
I have been here twice now, once for happy hour and once for dinner. Both times I had great experiences. When I was their for a work hosted happy hour, our server was extremely nice and very attentive. We had most of the appetizers from the menu, and all were good, but two that stood out for me were the fried pickles and the pretzels. Order them, they are awesome! For dinner the other night I had the Shepard's Pie along with some Ace Pear cider (on tap!!). I'm a huge cider fan, and it's nice to eat somewhere in Johnson County that: A. Knows what cider is and B. Has something other than Woodchuck. The Shepard's Pie was huge, so I only ate a quarter of it, and took the rest home, but it was delicious. I will be back!
(4)Lindsay H.
Is it strange to have one of the best drinking establishments in south JoCo in an old church? Never. The atmosphere is unique and authentic, it has great decor and a true Irish feel. The shepards pie is out of this world, although be prepared to take some home with you.....the portions are massive. The service can be slow but the food makes up for the wait. This is a great, and sometimes loud, place to grab a beer and some truly delightful Irish fare.
(4)Shana S.
It is a fun place on the inside. It's what I imagine a European pub would look like without ever having been to Europe. It's full of European team gear. We went for lunch on a day when they were apparently short-staffed. It took awhile to order, it took awhile to get drinks, to-go box, check, etc. I got the fish and chips. I mean why get a salad if you're going to a place like this. You should get pub food. It was good. It didn't blow my mind, but it was satisying. I would be willing to go back, but I would hope that all the servers showed up to work, or that I wasn't in a hurry.
(3)Kevin C.
A must destination if you live in KC! Great food and live music.
(5)Nancy H.
I've been meaning to find a "local pub" for awhile now. Now I'm not naive enough to believe that I'll be able to find an authentic anything in the US simply because you can't replicate locale. It's like New York pizza...you can't exactly copy the recipe because their secret is the water. You can truck the water in, but that is neither green nor economical for you or your customers. That being said, Llywelyn's Pub is a great American Irish pub. The selection of beer is good, and you have friendly but busy staff. I had the fish and chips with the recommended pub chips. Not bad, Llywelyn's. The white fish was sweet, thick and flaky. The exterior was thick and crisp, but it was bordering on getting soft. Still, a very delicious attempt and I would recommend it. If you're the kind of person who doesn't ever order fish because you don't like a very mayo tartar sauce, don't worry they serve the fish with a ranch-like, almost thin sauce that isn't watery. I know ranch is also mayo based, but that flavor doesn't over power the sauce and therefore doesn't over power the fish. The waiter was very friendly, very personable. He checked on us often without being overbearing. In fact, I'd say he did one of the better wait jobs I've ever experienced. Good job guy.
(4)Zach G.
Went back again...tried the Guinness again...poured a little better, tasted a little better. $2.50 pints on Sunday of all beers, INCLUDING Guinness, made it taste a lot better. However, the service was quite disappointing this time, seeing as the place was almost empty. I tried again...really wanted to like this place, again...and really left saying "ugh...not what I had hoped" again.
(3)Erin M.
Ugh. But not as negative as "ugh" sounds, OK? UGH Llywelyn's being so FREAKING. FAR. south from me. And ugh for making me so incredibly stuffed. I have no idea why I felt the need to eat so much, not even a week after Thanksgiving. Diet starts tomorrow? Llywelen's originated in the St. Louis area and you can definitely tell, given a lot of the sandwiches and other menu items have provel cheese on them. Some would rather die then eat it, I personally love it. The portobella sandwich was huge and came with roasted red pepper, red onion and aforementioned yummy provel, all on a toasted wheat roll. The bites I stole from my mom's grilled cheese were amazing, and the fries are tasty too. I had to take off a star for the service--nice enough, but sloooooooow. However, it *was* pretty busy for a Tuesday night in random Stanley, KS. I'd also suggest they use bigger plates. Not bigger portions (deargodno), but just to give me more space to cut my sandwich, figure out the ketchup situation, etc. Should I find myself in the area again, I'll be back. And I'll TRY not to stuff myself.
(4)David A.
Let me start off to say that we will be back when they have live entertainment and to sample the entrees. However, I have to rate it as I experienced it. This appears to be an older building with a really cool look and feel to it. Cathedral ceilings. It's pretty large and can get quite a few people packed into there. We sat at the bar where they had 4 tv's playing 4 different types of sports. I chose football of course. Every day, they have specials running for drink and food. On Sundays, they offer $2.75 pints of non-premium beer and well drinks. I had 2 Guinesses. The bartender knew how to pour them correctly and they were quite smooth. We got an appetizer called Pub Pretzels. It was innovative and we've never had a dish like this before, so we thought we'd try it. It had soft doughy pretzels cut into small pieces, salted, and then some cheese over it. They were kind enough to put the cheese on the side so that I could share (I can't do dairy). I didn't find the app very appetizing. Was I missing something due to the cheese? It was a signature dish of theirs. However, their menu looked quite tasty. I'll come back when we want to stay around for lunch or dinner. Unfortunately we had other plans and couldn't stay for dinner or live entertainment.
(3)J C.
Surprisingly good and consistent food. Highlights: pretzels, English and Irish fare. Fish is pretty good, but not a knock out. Watch out for the crowds and the noise, unless that's why you're there.
(4)Alison M.
The converted church setting takes the cake! We ate here on a warm summer evening, so we opted for the outside patio. Our server was a bit slow, but it really didn't matter on such a beautiful night. The interior was bustling, and seems like a fun spot to sit and drink a beer or share a meal with friends. There aren't a lot of veggie options on the menu, so we went pescetarian for the evening and tried the Tuna Melt and the Fish and Chips, both were great, particularly the tuna, which wasn't too gooey, but just right with the cheese. The next table over had huge pretzels with their beers, something I'd definitely like to try next time. A fun little spot with a great atmosphere.
(4)Sarah D.
Great food.... Funny that it is a bar in an old church building! On weekends it gets pretty packed and loud, but that is just the atmosphere! O did I mention they had great food!
(4)Kyle L.
Great atmosphere makes this a local favorite. Fish and chips were amazing - irish stew was so-so. Dessert was thrown together and disappointing. Live music and atmosphere bumps this from 3 to 4 stars.
(4)Connie G.
Went there for the first time with a friend for lunch. We each had a small house salad and split the Shepperd's pie. The waitress was very nice about us asking for an extra plate for the pie. Some places are not very nice about sharing food. It was really a large serving plenty for 2 people for lunch.
(4)Ron B.
Food ranks right up there as good as any Irish place I've ever been! Love the beer selections, staff, church interior, and it's not a chain in JOCO! Always have great drink specials. And beer is cold! It is a 1-2 times a month place for us!
(5)Chris P.
I stopped in for a late lunch about 1:15, there were 10-12 customers and 2 waitresses including the bartender. I had a lunch time special hamburger and chips, I drank water. The cost $11.90. I was never offered a napkin or silverware and I had to ask for a water refill. Service was slow, it took a long time to get my food and it could have been hotter. I checked my checking account debits this morning and there were two from this restaurant., $11.90 and $8.00. The receipt I was given clearly shows I was leaving a $2.00 tip. 20% is my norm and I had to thing about the $2.00 tip. I will never go back. I hope management cares enough to read this and make the appropriate credit.
(1)Jay W.
Came to watch a band with my in-laws, and actually had a really good time. The shepherd's pie was ok, but I've had better in similar bars. The servers were friendly, and the atmosphere was very comfortable.
(3)Chris S.
I can't stop eating here. I've been here twice in the last week, and the food is always everything I had hoped it would be. The charm of this pub is indisputable, and their menu is fantastic. Yesterday I had the Brittany Chicken Salad sandwich with french fries, and it is the best CS sandwich I've ever had. "All white meat, pecans, onions, craisins, celery, and cheddar cheese are blended in our own tangy dressing and served on a flaky croissant". You got that right. Delicious. The french fries go down a little too easily as well, crispy and seasoned perfectly. They have a great beer selection, and if I recall correctly, they won the 2010 Pitch Best of KC Award for Best Live Music. I often visit there during the lunch hour, but have been there on a weekend night and it is a lot of fun as well. I do see some of the other reviews complaining about the service, and I did notice on my earlier visit this week that the servers were really flying around, and it made the visit a bit tense. It almost seemed a little disorganized, but the latest visit didn't seem like that at all. Perhaps one of the servers called in sick? In any case, Llywelyn's is a refreshingly Celtic/Welsh pub in a world of half-bred and knock-off restaurants.
(5)Rob S.
We've been here before and sat at the bar and had a drink and appetizer and it was good. Yesterday (it was not busy) we used a Group-on and sat at a table and had dinner. What a complete difference. We ordered the pretzels (they are good) at the same time as our dinner -Big Mistake - I had to ask the server (Amanda) when our pretzels were going to come out and said that I didn't want them at the same time as our dinner. So they bring out the pretzels and not 2-3 Min's later here comes our dinner, the hot meal I ordered was COLD...sent it back and it showed back up after everybody else was done eating. Amanda was a very nice girl but seemed to want to spend more time sitting at the bar talking and playing with her smart phone. It will be sometime before we go back again, if we do at all. It's a shame because we really like the atmosphere.
(2)Amy G.
I like the food here a lot but the service is really hit-or-miss. When we first visited last fall, our waitress was terrific. Every time we go, though, the wait staff has changed and service seems to be getting progressively worse. My latest complaint: don't bring out my hot entree two minutes after you've brought out the hot appetizer. It's a pretty basic premise that people want to eat their food at the correct temperature--let me finish the appetizer, THEN serve the entree. My latest compliment: the current lamb sausage and cheese appetizer plate is terrific. But eat it fast. ;-)
(3)T P.
Good food, neat atmosphere, a little pricey. Why only 3-stars, its frequently to busy to enjoy yourself. Good luck finding a seat Thursday night, Friday, or Saturday. A group of friends and myself used to frequent the bar when it first opened and we loved it. The weekends had a vibrant atmosphere, and the weekdays were low key. One time we went in, and were the only ones there and they were watching movies! Recently when I have gone though the crowd has turned into a lot of upper middle aged individuals who have had way to much to drink. The live bands are great, but its a mad house when there is good live music.
(3)Richard H.
this is it for me....my search for a great pub is over. And the bangers & mashed is heavenly! I also had an 18 yr old single malt that id have swore was worth it's weight in gold...they only charged me 10 clams for 3 fingers, ahhhhhhhh
(5)Jason W.
Wings were great, had the pub burger....very tasty, loved the English muffin as the bun. Will be back.
(5)Andy H.
After a recent relocation from St. Louis to Overland Park KS, I was excited to hear that there was a Llwelyns here. There are 4 total think, 3 in St. Louis, and the Central West End location by far was my favorite bar in STL. The OP location didn't appear to have $2 pints on Tuesdays like I seem to remember in STL, but it is still an awesome place, a converted old church, oddly enough the second one of those I was at in the last month. I only drank there last night, but I will soon eat there I'm sure.
(4)Justin D.
One summer during law school, I worked in St. Louis and lived in the Central West End. My favorite bar there was Llywelyn's. They used hand pumps to dole out tasty English brews. So I was pretty excited when I saw they opened another Llywelyn's in Kansas City. And then I saw where in Kansas City it was located. This place is really, really far away. And they do not appear to have hand pumps. But, it is still highly recommended, if for some reason you need to go out to 119th and Metcalf. First the atmosphere is very cool; they converted an old church. Second, the food is pretty decent; the reuben is a double-decker and the fish sandwich is excellent. Third, plenty of tasty beer options, including Bass and Guinness. (Side note: they know how to properly make a black & tan (or half & half, depending on your politics), which is kind of a rarity around these parts.) However, perhaps the best part of Llywelyn's is the live music they have on Friday and Saturday nights. The type of music can vary, but generally it is Irish/bluegrass/dixieland/blues. If it isn't a band I've heard of before, I usually call up beforehand and ask about it. The staff is always nice and answer all my questions. Despite being hella-far away from everything, it gets crazy crowded there, so if you're looking for a seat for the music, I suggest going early, getting some dinner, and then start drinking.
(4)Jaime F.
This beautifully restored building was formerly a church. I was a little leery of consuming libations in such a locale. This is the closest I have been to one since the days when those plastic shiny buckle shoes were cool and my mom still styled my hair. I was concerned there may be repercussions in the form of a lightening strike... I keep hearing little rumbles about this joint from the Stanley locals. Apparently the house band really packs the place with a crowd of the jovial fun variety on the weekends when they play. I can't attest to this personally, but I will tell you about my Sunday visits.... First time I rolled in alone and instantly noticed the bar. The physical bar, the wood itself. It is from the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company I confirm with manager...I am a bit of a geek over the aesthetic quality and history behind such pieces. Most of these were produced between 1885-1900...so while you sit here, sipping your brew (which happen to be $2.75 on Sundays for non premium) contemplate the history of this beautiful bar. Touch the wood that someone else touched over 100 years a go, also enjoying a quality beverage. This is a really nicely restored example of the style. Alright enough geeking out, second time I arrive with friend for what I will call "Sunday Fatty Delight." Oh yea, multiple varieties of deep friend comfort food washed down with full bodied beer. For whatever reason chicken fingers were on our minds (not an option on the normal menu) but the bartender went ahead and ordered them for us off the kids menu. This is something most restaurants frown upon to enhance ticket sales but she understood that was what we really wanted, not what we were ordering to save a few bucks and happily accommodated. We also went for some onion rings (I warned you, caloric content at maximum levels right now....). Fat and happy and bordering on cardiac arrest we appreciated the greasy grub, the fresh affordable quality brews and the accommodating nature of the staff. Oh, and did I mention that bar? Glad lightening didn't strike so I was able to enjoy this experience a second time.
(4)Adam S.
This is my favorite bar in KC. The food is excellent. Don't get the cabbage rolls, or you'll be left hungry, though. They serve Strongbow, for those interested. And the wait staff is hottttttt. They should bring back the bread pudding because when I'm drunk it tastes like Jesus. Parking is shared and is sometimes crowded.
(5)Jenny D.
We've tried really hard to like this place, which wouldn't appear to be difficult given the beautiful architecture, wide beer selection, entertaining live music, and a decent menu. The problem is the service. There is none. Its hard to get acknowledged at the bar and don't expect a smile. Even on slow days the bartenders seem put off to do their jobs. It's truly almost comical... Side note: it smells like they have plumbing issues.
(2)Keith K.
I give this place four stars, but that should, in no way, mean that this place wasn't top-notch. I have eaten at Llywelyn's several times over the past couple of years, and my recollections are that the food is delicious, the service is good, and the beer is cold. They have a decent selection of beers, and can make a black & tan w/o screwing it up. If i could give it 4.5 stars, I would, but alas, we must deal with whole numbers here, and the place isn't quite perfect, but damn close, so 4 it is, with a thumb on the scale, if you will. Try the bangers and mashed - I probably eat that on 75% of my visits, and it never fails to please.
(4)Jim L.
I like this restaurant as has many unique qualities and have patronized on many occassions. I tried not to write this review, but need to share this experience. My apologies to the band Trampled Under foot, as you guys are a great band, and hope this review does not create any issues for you. I had been looking forward to hearing TUF at Llywelyn's on Jan 1. Upon entering the Pub that night, and finding out the cover charge was $10, I was shocked. It is hard to believe that Llywelyn's is taking advantage of the Overland Park area by charging this cover charge. At other local spots in the greater KC area the cover is around $4. What's up with this. I understand it is a Holiday, but still feel this is too much. It's not that band isn't worth $10, it's the point of it all. I tried to express my views to the management, but was just too busy in the restaurant to get his attention. So, we left, and Llywelyn's lost the estimated $40, plus tip, we would have spent on dinner, and at a minimum, another $25 on drinks. I will just have to hear this great band at another establishment, and have not been back to Llywelyn's pub since.
(1)Erin L.
Great atmosphere, great food, good music, good drinks, good service.
(5)Mike B.
What a cool place! It certainly has a pub feel to it. It's kind of a throwback to the pre-sports bar days. It's the perfect place to gather with friends, enjoy a wide range of beers, enjoy decent bar food and if it's Friday or Saturday night you'll probably hear some lively live music.
(3)Chuck M.
I have been a member of a music server list and received a notice about Irish music being played at Llywelyn's Pub, but didn't read it too closely and realized I was a day late for the Friday night's music with it being Saturday, so I thought it would be a nice trip to try this place out anyway and was glad that I did. Llywelyn's Pub is located in Old Stanley and bills itself as a "cozy, inviting, authentic, Celtic Restaurant and Pub" and I must agree, as I have never been to either Ireland, Scotland or Wales but this might be the closest you could come to being there in the midwest with its food and beer selection. Once there we had to decide which door to go in since there wasn't really a door marked as a main entrance so we choose to go in on the side which had stairs leading up and then realized this was the main entrance since it brought us to the host station. Llywelyn's has a large bar area with bar and hi-top seating, which is on the raised level and the restaurant seating on the lower level. Since we wanted to take in the full "Celtic" experience we chose the bar area at a hi-top table. We were seated without a wait, once seated the waitress was quick to take our drink order but had to ask for more time since the beer selection is vast and finally decided on a Stella Artois, the beers come in pints, imperials and pitchers as well as bottles but not as large of a selection in the latter. When the waitress came with our beers we asked about the building since it had high ceilings and tall windows and she stated that it had twice been a church. We opted to get a appetizer while we gave the menu a once over for a entree and picked the "Skins and Shrooms" but not being too much of potato skin enthusiast we asked if we could just get double the shrooms and was told it was no problem. The menu seem to carry a lot of entree's that look as though a second and third visit will be in the works and was hard to choose what to try first and decided on the "Bangers and Mash" but also came across a "white Chili" in the soup section and ordered a cup when she brought out our appetizer. Our 'shrooms were to be stuffed with spinach dip, bacon and parmesan cheese, but they were far from being stuffed, since the mushroom caps were small and had the billed stuffed ingredients actually laid on top and were more luke warm than hot, but once the chili came out it more than made up for it, the white chili is made with Chicken breast meat blended with navy and garbanzo beans, pepperoncini Peppers and cream. While waiting for our entree, we were able to really look around, while it has TV's playing in the bar area they have music piped in that was playing '80's tunes and while it wasn't any type of Celtic music we were glad it wasn't blasting the game overhead but did hear between songs that the restaurant area did have traditional music played. Llwelyn's is a smoke-free establishment which is a big plus in my book which made it easier to take in the kitchen smells. Our entree order came out and it look very delicious, the bangers and mash are two links of lamb sausage, grilled and topped in a rich gravy, served with garlic mashed potatoes, and sauteed green beans. The sausages were flavorful but a little over done but the brown gravy really helped the dryness out, the mash potatoes are the homestyle kind and green beans with bits of chopped onion were good. We hung out after dinner watching the dinner crowd come in which made the noise level go up and at a few times they had a wait list. We ended up having a few more beers and the dinner crowd thinned and realized that we will be making a return visit to try the "Shepards Pie" or the "Irish Stew" which says its simmered in a Guinness-Jameson stock. If you are a fan of Guiness beer I would recommend a visit to Llwelyn's, since it has alot of Guiness promo pieces displayed along with a painted wall of the logo and seem to bring that "Irish" feel with that type of promotion. Overall, outside of the appetizer and the dry sausage I would recommend at least one visit and I am sure you will plan to make a return trip, like I am planning to do.
(4)Tim T.
I had driven by this place a couple of times in the past, and never really thought about stopping in. I needed a place to watch Russia-Spain in the Euro cup, and figured an Irish/Scotch/Welsh place in a converted church would turn on the match for me. They were very accommodating, even turned on the sound throughout the bar/restaurant. The service from start to finish was top notch. However, my friend and I were pretty much the only people in here at 3pm on a Thursday. The beer selection here was above average for KC bars. Not quite on par with Waldo, Grinders or Flying Saucer, but certainly something you can find and enjoy. The even have two beer engines. The food was really good pub grub as well - I started with the Rarebit, and had a Sausage Sandwich on pretzel bread. If you find yourself out this way, certainly check it out.
(4)