We went out to dinner here when we first moved to the metro Detroit area. I regret that we also brought my parents here. We had spent the day out and about around town and we were starving for dinner. O'mara's seemed nice enough from the out side and there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. My husband I shared the shepherds pie- it was almost inedible! I left the restaurant still hungry. All the food was waaaaaaay too salty. The placed did reek of smoke. There was live music but it could not make up for the horrible food. I would never eat here again and I would tell everyone to avoid it at all costs.
Wow my experience with this restaurant is totally different than the other reviewers. Maybe they had the wrong impression going in. This is a tavern or pub; then add the food. The service has always been amazing. The dinner salads excellent. The chicken Marsala I'm told is very good. The fish fresh. But it has always been the staff and love Irish music that makes it a pleasant evening. Yes the interior needs a major overhaul. They must have run put of money after doing up the exterior so well. Overall a nice evening out. I'm not saying that it's gourmet. But it's a big step up from diner and more interesting than average.
(3)
Natalie Z.
This was our second visit, and I thought the shepherd's pie was quite good. Our salads were fresh, and they brought plenty of bread to our table. It did seem that we waited a bit to order, but all in all, it was a nice dinner. It seems like they have special events scheduled, too. On the wall, they had a calendar saying a psychic and a handwriting analysis expert would be in on different nights.
(3)
Alexandra K.
Gross. Gross. Gross. We waited forever to be served, and there was a bowl of butter on the table, but no bread. The salad was gross, the lettuce did not taste fresh. The eggplant was over-fried, oily, and simply lackluster. I would not return by choice. It fits in well with other Berkley restaurants, ie: gross.
(2)
Moira G.
FUN! Went to O'Mara's Friday night ISO dinner... much to our delight we were treated to a live R&B trio, Even Exchange. They were awesome! The menu had a wide variety of dinner items that all sounded very tempting but we decided to try the specials since we might not see these offered in the future. Glad we did! There was a beautiful attention to details uich as the puff pastry fish with the black olive eye that topped my dish, I see from other reviews that the breakfast is something to try. You can bet we will be back soon :)
(4)
Brandi D.
Can you say UNCOOKED FOOD??? I decided to try this restaurant since I am pretty new to the area. The placed smelled of dead people but the waitresses seemed plenty nice. I figured maybe the smell was for nostalgia. I ordered the chicken mackinaw and boy was I in for a treat! Never go to this place hungry because you will LEAVE HUNGRY, and Completely UNSATISFIED. The previous reviews are accurate!!!!!!! This restaurant must have a hugely successful catering service for the departed. No one with a beating heart would enjoy a dish here............
(1)
Theresa U.
Was not impressed. First of all, the place smelt like a hospital. Our waitress was very unfriendly. She asked if this was our first time here. We said yes. All she said was 'oh', and conveniently forgot to mention they had a complimentary dessert if we ordered a dinner plate. Waited 35 - 40 minutes for our food. The pork tenderloin I ordered was very salty and presentation was as poor as a soup kitchen. The steak my friend ordered was small and dry. I will not waste my $ here again.
(1)
JOHN A.
Last night my wife and I made the mistake of going to O'MARA'S Restaurant in Berkley, Michigan. The food was just awful. My wife had the Grilled Chicken Breast. The chicken had been pounded flat and was as tough and a shoe sole. We wondered why they gave her a steak knife - now we know. I had the half slab of BBQ'd Spareribs. The ribs were undercooked and also tough. I used more calories trying to get the meat off the bones than I got from eating the little meat I could salvage. Our server was very good however the birthday party of four at the next table left in a huff without eating because their service was soooo slooooow. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Linda W.
There seems to be mixed reviews on this place. I went there yesterday for lunch following a wedding (the bride and groom treated about 12 guests). I had never heard ot this place but from the outside it looked pretty good. I had a bowl of clam chowder and the sandwich du jour which was cod. The soup was cold but when it was brought back it was piping hot and delicious. The sandwich was your typical fish sandwich. Nothing special kinda bland with a slice of processed cheese and what looked like coleslaw. I shared an appetizer platter with the other guests. The platter was delicious. I wish I had ordered that for myself instead of what I had. The platter was very large. Our host ordered a platter large enough for every one. I'm guessing it was expensive. The platter had about 6 or seven items on it. The best item was the beef burgundy and mushroom dish. It was served in a hollowed out loaf of bread and the sauce over it was delicious. There was also a salmon pate, shrimp, crab cakes, and a couple of other things. I would suggest based on the reviews that first timers go with the appetizer plate. You can select your own items from a list of about 10 things.
(4)
JOHN A.
Last night my wife and I made the mistake of going to O'MARA'S Restaurant in Berkley, Michigan. The food was just awful. My wife had the Grilled Chicken Breast. The chicken had been pounded flat and was as tough and a shoe sole. We wondered why they gave her a steak knife - now we know. I had the half slab of BBQ'd Spareribs. The ribs were undercooked and also tough. I used more calories trying to get the meat off the bones than I got from eating the little meat I could salvage. Our server was very good however the birthday party of four at the next table left in a huff without eating because their service was soooo slooooow. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
matt k.
after having dinner delivered my wife and i sampled each dish together. exquisite! filet mignon,brewers sausage platter,ramiki shrimp,crab cakes. another winner has been found. sorry we are leaving the area soon.just discovering the best of the best. called and complimented the manager and chef. hope you will too. batfish
(5)
Matt W.
Over priced, barley any real irish dishes, looks like a banquet hall---o wait it is, service is good, outside is much nicer than interior, would never go back, and I was overall extremely disappointed. Go Irish or don't call yourself O'maras.
(1)
Mike D.
Great menu and good food. It's a very enjoyable and long standing local Berkley establishment that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's equally adept for a diner out with the the spouse, as well as accommodating larger groups. Kind of disappointed to see all the negative reviews. I've been going to O'maras for years and very rarely leave less than completely satisfied.
(4)
Linda W.
There seems to be mixed reviews on this place. I went there yesterday for lunch following a wedding (the bride and groom treated about 12 guests). I had never heard ot this place but from the outside it looked pretty good. I had a bowl of clam chowder and the sandwich du jour which was cod. The soup was cold but when it was brought back it was piping hot and delicious. The sandwich was your typical fish sandwich. Nothing special kinda bland with a slice of processed cheese and what looked like coleslaw. I shared an appetizer platter with the other guests. The platter was delicious. I wish I had ordered that for myself instead of what I had. The platter was very large. Our host ordered a platter large enough for every one. I'm guessing it was expensive. The platter had about 6 or seven items on it. The best item was the beef burgundy and mushroom dish. It was served in a hollowed out loaf of bread and the sauce over it was delicious. There was also a salmon pate, shrimp, crab cakes, and a couple of other things. I would suggest based on the reviews that first timers go with the appetizer plate. You can select your own items from a list of about 10 things.
(4)
Lindsey C.
The complimentary bread was the most edible portion of the meal. Salad was wilted, with a hair in it. Chicken pot pie= mostly gravy with hardly any chicken, and the puff of crust on top was an oily mess. My boyfriends Salmon sandwich wasn't anything to write home about. The salmon was cold, hard, and may have been from one of those pouched salmons you can get next to the canned tuna at the grocery store. The toppings were just as sad looking. We were the youngest customers there, by roughly 40 years. Clue #1. Won't go back. Service was good.. no complaints there.
(2)
Karen G.
I've dined at O'mara's periodically over the years without much to complain about, until this past Sunday. This was only my second visit to the restaurant for Sunday brunch. I was extremely disapointed when my friend and I entered the restaruant at approximately 10:50am (brunch is from 10:30-2:30) and were told that because we didn't have a reservation, all they could offer us, was a table in the smoking section, which was just beside the bar. In this day and age when the economy is suffering, especially in Michigan, I'm amazed that they just let us leave to go to a competitor's restaurant. I understand restaurants holding a portion of their tables for reservations, but almost all of the tables had reserved signs on them. For the sake of the wait staff, I really hope all the reservations showed up! Obvously management wasn't worried about business or the fact that we were not going to be coming back in the future.
(1)
Lindsey C.
The complimentary bread was the most edible portion of the meal. Salad was wilted, with a hair in it. Chicken pot pie= mostly gravy with hardly any chicken, and the puff of crust on top was an oily mess. My boyfriends Salmon sandwich wasn't anything to write home about. The salmon was cold, hard, and may have been from one of those pouched salmons you can get next to the canned tuna at the grocery store. The toppings were just as sad looking. We were the youngest customers there, by roughly 40 years. Clue #1. Won't go back. Service was good.. no complaints there.
(2)
Karen G.
I've dined at O'mara's periodically over the years without much to complain about, until this past Sunday. This was only my second visit to the restaurant for Sunday brunch. I was extremely disapointed when my friend and I entered the restaruant at approximately 10:50am (brunch is from 10:30-2:30) and were told that because we didn't have a reservation, all they could offer us, was a table in the smoking section, which was just beside the bar. In this day and age when the economy is suffering, especially in Michigan, I'm amazed that they just let us leave to go to a competitor's restaurant. I understand restaurants holding a portion of their tables for reservations, but almost all of the tables had reserved signs on them. For the sake of the wait staff, I really hope all the reservations showed up! Obvously management wasn't worried about business or the fact that we were not going to be coming back in the future.
(1)
Alexandra K.
Gross. Gross. Gross. We waited forever to be served, and there was a bowl of butter on the table, but no bread. The salad was gross, the lettuce did not taste fresh. The eggplant was over-fried, oily, and simply lackluster. I would not return by choice. It fits in well with other Berkley restaurants, ie: gross.
(2)
tim d.
Pretty sure they should start some sort of Social Security direct deposit scheme. Apparently you have to be about five thousand years old to think this food doesn't taste like wallpaper.
(1)
Valerie G.
The commericals on TV told me that this place was amazing and that this was going to be a fabulous dining experience. We were just down 12 Mile and were looking for a place to dine with our little guy in tow, and this seemed like a good idea. We were pretty hungry so we didn't waste too much time mulling over the menu. We ordered the Chicken Strudel as an appetizer - the menu describing it as phyllo triangles filled with chicken, roasted red peppers and feta. My initial thought when it arrived was that it seemed pretty small - but I cut into one, and as bad as I feel saying this - the first thing that came to mind was that it tasted like the chicken quesadilla lean pockets that I used to it... with the exception of the phyllo. It wasn't disgusting, but it was not very good. Luckily the fresh bread they bring to each table was good enough to munch on. Our entree selections were the fish & chips and the Brewer's Sausage Platter. The fish and chips were a bad choice- I cannot stand it when the batter is soggy, and it was definitely soggy here. A lot of this dish went untouched. The Brewer's Sausage Platter was a ridiculous amount of food. There was kielbasa, bratwurst and knackwurst with sauerkraut, braised red cabbage and Irish potatoes. This dish was actually the one saving grace of the food that we were served. This dish actually had some flavor and did not disappoint. It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge that we also had incredibly good service. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly- I just wish he would have steered me in a different direction when we were mulling over our menu options... perhaps I would have been happier if I would have steered toward the more traditional Irish pub fare.
(3)
Lola D.
Where ordinarily the old decorum does spoil the general experience of a foody, in this particular case it didn't. The food was top quality with a ribeye steak full of flavor and cooked properly. Pasta was al dente, good mixture of flavors and a balanced sauce. Guinnes, very appropriately was readily available and service was like back in 1982. To go along with 3 decade old decorum, you gotta check out the women's bathroom and you will be sure high rollers of the party ridden 80s had more than a few drinks there. I give this restaurant 3 due to a general $5+ overcharge on all food items.
(3)
Troy D.
I also want so badly for omaras to be better. I really should give it three and a half stars because the place seems to have consistency issues. I have always found the food to be great, and reasonably priced ( particularly if you get any of the specials), but the service is not always four star material. Don't get me wrong, alot of times it's great, but I have certainly had to sit with an empty glass (water or drink) a fair bit longer than I would have liked to a few times. Nonetheless, I frequent the place fairly often and think that it is usually pretty brilliant. I recommend the house steak, prime rib thursday, and the after ten 1/2 price drinks. Also, they sometimes get some pretty good acts in there. The orbitsuns played just last week, and they get some good comedians and Quizzo on wed. nights. Overall, really like the place, just think it could so easily be a solid four instead of the 3 1/2 it really is.
(4)
Valerie G.
The commericals on TV told me that this place was amazing and that this was going to be a fabulous dining experience. We were just down 12 Mile and were looking for a place to dine with our little guy in tow, and this seemed like a good idea. We were pretty hungry so we didn't waste too much time mulling over the menu. We ordered the Chicken Strudel as an appetizer - the menu describing it as phyllo triangles filled with chicken, roasted red peppers and feta. My initial thought when it arrived was that it seemed pretty small - but I cut into one, and as bad as I feel saying this - the first thing that came to mind was that it tasted like the chicken quesadilla lean pockets that I used to it... with the exception of the phyllo. It wasn't disgusting, but it was not very good. Luckily the fresh bread they bring to each table was good enough to munch on. Our entree selections were the fish & chips and the Brewer's Sausage Platter. The fish and chips were a bad choice- I cannot stand it when the batter is soggy, and it was definitely soggy here. A lot of this dish went untouched. The Brewer's Sausage Platter was a ridiculous amount of food. There was kielbasa, bratwurst and knackwurst with sauerkraut, braised red cabbage and Irish potatoes. This dish was actually the one saving grace of the food that we were served. This dish actually had some flavor and did not disappoint. It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge that we also had incredibly good service. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly- I just wish he would have steered me in a different direction when we were mulling over our menu options... perhaps I would have been happier if I would have steered toward the more traditional Irish pub fare.
(3)
Lola D.
Where ordinarily the old decorum does spoil the general experience of a foody, in this particular case it didn't. The food was top quality with a ribeye steak full of flavor and cooked properly. Pasta was al dente, good mixture of flavors and a balanced sauce. Guinnes, very appropriately was readily available and service was like back in 1982. To go along with 3 decade old decorum, you gotta check out the women's bathroom and you will be sure high rollers of the party ridden 80s had more than a few drinks there. I give this restaurant 3 due to a general $5+ overcharge on all food items.
(3)
Troy D.
I also want so badly for omaras to be better. I really should give it three and a half stars because the place seems to have consistency issues. I have always found the food to be great, and reasonably priced ( particularly if you get any of the specials), but the service is not always four star material. Don't get me wrong, alot of times it's great, but I have certainly had to sit with an empty glass (water or drink) a fair bit longer than I would have liked to a few times. Nonetheless, I frequent the place fairly often and think that it is usually pretty brilliant. I recommend the house steak, prime rib thursday, and the after ten 1/2 price drinks. Also, they sometimes get some pretty good acts in there. The orbitsuns played just last week, and they get some good comedians and Quizzo on wed. nights. Overall, really like the place, just think it could so easily be a solid four instead of the 3 1/2 it really is.
(4)
Jason E.
First of all I have to say that this seems to be a posting board for people that love to complain. O'maras is always packed on the weekends and sometimes during the week as well. For "Berkley", it's the best food you can find, period. They have unique appetizers that taste great and we have tried them all. The fillet mignon which is absolutely to die for. They put this great zip sauce on top of the steaks that really sets this melt in your mouth steak off, you could eat it with a butter knife and you won't find a scrap of fat on it. The staff is always friendly and attentive. There used to be more smoke then we preferred but the laws have cured that issue for us. Honestly, I wonder if some of these posts are from competitors in the area. After all, they are the best thing going for Berkley and I wish that "normal" people that don't love to bash places so that they can get attention and have a voice in the world would step up here and share more. But again, it seems to be mostly negative people who are obviously miserable. Omaras is definitely worth your time and money.
(5)
Gwen R.
Had dinner at O'Mara's a couple of weeks ago. The service was exceptional and our server (Taylor?) was extremely helpful. I had a hamburger and it was one of the best I have had for a long time.
(5)
Shannon S.
Birthday time again at work...this was the birthday girls choice... Not bad... The service was decent. Our waitress was getting more tables so it affected us, but not too bad. I had the Duck cherry salad.. It was okay, I was trying to stay healthy, since Mondays are my jump back on the wagon days....not sure what I was thinking with this salad but it was good.. By all means, I wasn't wow'ed by this restaurant, but I also wouldn't not go back either.. There were some other items I'd like to try on the menu... Since it's an Irish restaurant, I'd like to try their Shepherds pie, or fish & chips. Over all a good experience. p.s. The girls bathroom, besides the stanky sewer smell, has this crazy mirror, it's almost like you're at a bridal salon, because you can step into the center of it and see yourself from every possible angle...haha...leave it to me to be more excited about the bathroom! We al ldid the split a couple of desserts so we tried the bumpy cake (HUGE!! rich, delish!) and the lemon merengue...this also was good.. Everyone elses lunch looked really good too... I don't know...mine wasn't as fabulous as I'd hoped it to be :~/
(3)
Maggie Margaret G.
After a long hard shift some times you just need a cold beer and O'Maras doesn't disappoint,even at 0800 in the morning!! There were plenty of choices and the beer was SUPER cold,just the way I like it!! A comprehensive breakfast menu with the things you expect to find and some unexpected things like chorizo sausage gravy and biscuits....a great spin on a classic item!! As a midnight shift worker it's nice to have a place to go after work that a comfortable place with good food and great drinks! Also the staff was very accommodating and friendly....I definitely recommend this place...good food friendly staff and cold beer....don't need much else!
(5)
Dominique K.
Went here w/my SO & mom at lunch time. I ate from the breakfast menu, having a smoked salmon fritatta and smoothie. The smoothie was made with fresh fruit (a plus), and the frittata was decent (the option to have it as a frittata, scramble or omelet was also nice, as was the homemade jam for my toast). My mom had a lunch special sandwich-a club concoction with egg salad and Canadian bacon. A unique combo and huge, but it didn't come toasted as she requested. Her hot tea was a premium blend of fresh tea leaves, and the water came in its own little ceramic pot (a plus). Tim ate from the dinner menu, having the Brewers' sausage platter (huge portions of sausage, kraut & red cabbage...plus the bratwurst had a very unique taste...tasty, though). Service was slow at a time when it was the tail end of lunch and the dining room wasn't very full. The food came out hot, so we're guessing the slowness was the result of a slow kitchen, rather than the server. Overall, the food was decent with some unique selections, but the sluggish service contributed to giving this place 3 stars, rather than 4.
(3)
M V.
Good solid food. Big portions. Good prices. I never leave here hungry. The egg rolls that they have as an app are surprisely really good. Give them a try.
(3)
Carie H.
We went here for breakfast on Sunday... Food was good. The scrambles looked awesome! My smoked salmon frittata was pretty good. I definitely recommend the bloody mary bar! $5 and make it the way you like it!!! They even had smoked salmon stuffed olives & blue cheese stuffed olives - YUM! The service was excellent. Couldn't have asked for a nicer, more accommodating individual (we had 2 gluten free dieters with us). Definitely ask for Cindy if you go in!
(4)
Ashley H.
We stopped in for dinner for the first time last night. Their menu has a wide variety of options sure to please most people. I thought our food had great flavor and was reasonably-priced. There wasn't anything that was over-the-top awesome about this place, hence the three stars, but it's a great alternative to chain restaurants.
(3)
Dina B.
I don't speak for the new brunch menu. Maybe it's a phenomenon. I ordered "tomato chicken celebration." Presumptous title. Penne noodles with a very plain red sauce with some canned artichoke hearts and kalamatas thrown in. With boiled pieces of flavorless chicken. I imagine everything coming pretty much out of it's can onto the plate. One time I ordered something with a mixed fruit side and it was clearly canned fruit. I hate that. Family ordered shepard's pie. It literally was shaped like a pie, which threw us off. It had a weird brown skin (my SIL said "jacket" which was apt) which threw us more off. What's that??
I had my bridal shower here on Saturday and had a very positive experience. The servers were friendly and attentive (particularly with the drink orders, which I've had issues with at similar events at other venues). The food was good, too - we had 3 menu options and people at my table enjoyed all of them. Had multiple guests comment positively on both the service and the food. There was another party at the back of the same room we were in which we were a little worried about but it ended up being fine (I think we were both pretty energetic groups so it wasn't a problem but could have been if we were a quiet bunch). We definitely were pushing it at the later end of our event but they were very polite and didn't make us feel rushed even though it was clear they had to get the next group in quickly. Would definitely come back to see Blackthorn or comedy night when I'm in town again.
(4)
Jess T.
We went out to dinner here when we first moved to the metro Detroit area. I regret that we also brought my parents here. We had spent the day out and about around town and we were starving for dinner. O'mara's seemed nice enough from the out side and there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. My husband I shared the shepherds pie- it was almost inedible! I left the restaurant still hungry. All the food was waaaaaaay too salty. The placed did reek of smoke. There was live music but it could not make up for the horrible food. I would never eat here again and I would tell everyone to avoid it at all costs.
(1)
Emily S.
I had my bridal shower here on Saturday and had a very positive experience. The servers were friendly and attentive (particularly with the drink orders, which I've had issues with at similar events at other venues). The food was good, too - we had 3 menu options and people at my table enjoyed all of them. Had multiple guests comment positively on both the service and the food. There was another party at the back of the same room we were in which we were a little worried about but it ended up being fine (I think we were both pretty energetic groups so it wasn't a problem but could have been if we were a quiet bunch). We definitely were pushing it at the later end of our event but they were very polite and didn't make us feel rushed even though it was clear they had to get the next group in quickly. Would definitely come back to see Blackthorn or comedy night when I'm in town again.
Wow my experience with this restaurant is totally different than the other reviewers. Maybe they had the wrong impression going in. This is a tavern or pub; then add the food. The service has always been amazing. The dinner salads excellent. The chicken Marsala I'm told is very good. The fish fresh. But it has always been the staff and love Irish music that makes it a pleasant evening. Yes the interior needs a major overhaul. They must have run put of money after doing up the exterior so well. Overall a nice evening out. I'm not saying that it's gourmet. But it's a big step up from diner and more interesting than average.
(3)
Natalie Z.
This was our second visit, and I thought the shepherd's pie was quite good. Our salads were fresh, and they brought plenty of bread to our table. It did seem that we waited a bit to order, but all in all, it was a nice dinner. It seems like they have special events scheduled, too. On the wall, they had a calendar saying a psychic and a handwriting analysis expert would be in on different nights.
(3)
Jason E.
First of all I have to say that this seems to be a posting board for people that love to complain. O'maras is always packed on the weekends and sometimes during the week as well. For "Berkley", it's the best food you can find, period. They have unique appetizers that taste great and we have tried them all. The fillet mignon which is absolutely to die for. They put this great zip sauce on top of the steaks that really sets this melt in your mouth steak off, you could eat it with a butter knife and you won't find a scrap of fat on it. The staff is always friendly and attentive. There used to be more smoke then we preferred but the laws have cured that issue for us. Honestly, I wonder if some of these posts are from competitors in the area. After all, they are the best thing going for Berkley and I wish that "normal" people that don't love to bash places so that they can get attention and have a voice in the world would step up here and share more. But again, it seems to be mostly negative people who are obviously miserable. Omaras is definitely worth your time and money.
(5)
tim d.
Pretty sure they should start some sort of Social Security direct deposit scheme. Apparently you have to be about five thousand years old to think this food doesn't taste like wallpaper.
(1)
Moira G.
FUN! Went to O'Mara's Friday night ISO dinner... much to our delight we were treated to a live R&B trio, Even Exchange. They were awesome! The menu had a wide variety of dinner items that all sounded very tempting but we decided to try the specials since we might not see these offered in the future. Glad we did! There was a beautiful attention to details uich as the puff pastry fish with the black olive eye that topped my dish, I see from other reviews that the breakfast is something to try. You can bet we will be back soon :)
(4)
Brandi D.
Can you say UNCOOKED FOOD??? I decided to try this restaurant since I am pretty new to the area. The placed smelled of dead people but the waitresses seemed plenty nice. I figured maybe the smell was for nostalgia. I ordered the chicken mackinaw and boy was I in for a treat! Never go to this place hungry because you will LEAVE HUNGRY, and Completely UNSATISFIED. The previous reviews are accurate!!!!!!! This restaurant must have a hugely successful catering service for the departed. No one with a beating heart would enjoy a dish here............
(1)
Theresa U.
Was not impressed. First of all, the place smelt like a hospital. Our waitress was very unfriendly. She asked if this was our first time here. We said yes. All she said was 'oh', and conveniently forgot to mention they had a complimentary dessert if we ordered a dinner plate. Waited 35 - 40 minutes for our food. The pork tenderloin I ordered was very salty and presentation was as poor as a soup kitchen. The steak my friend ordered was small and dry. I will not waste my $ here again.
(1)
Lonny B.
We had been here a while back, when they still had the Sunday bruch, which was great. They no longer have it, we knew that going in. But it was noon on a Sunday, they give us a menu with omelets etc, and also sandwiches etc. We want a burger, a rueben etc, and the waiter says "breakfast only on Sundays" Even though the girl at the door had said breakfast and lunches. So a few in our party were disapointed, but there were 8 of us and we weren't going to get up an leave, so we had "breakfast" again, though at home I had already had eggs. Don't expect to get a sandwich on a Sunday here. Kind of misleading..........If you want anything other than breakfast, you have to come after 3:00pm
o'mara's is like your sad irish sister. kinda dumpy and her food is tasteless. being a nurse, i often eat breakfast and have cocktails around 8am. i'm pretty well versed with most the options in south oakland county for this type of meal. o'mara's is the worst. the service is slow, the servers have no idea what kind of beer they have on any given day, and the food is overpriced. best thing for breakfast is the little salad that comes with everything. love, juston
(2)
Zachary J.
Pretty good food, fairly large portions, just a little pricey. I had the Ruben, it was good but I've had better and for less money. However it came with yummy fries and surprisingly good coleslaw. I don't usually crave coleslaw but the slaw here is better than most. I went with a group of 20+ by the way, we were accommodated nicely.
(4)
Jennifer W.
O'Mara's food was good. Our service was great. The decor was dark and stuffy. Cloth napkins and glass water goblets add to the ambiance. The average patron age eating during lunch was 65. They serve High Tea during the week but have a bar area and dancing, as every good Irish restaurant should. Interesting restaurant with decent food and good service.
(3)
Wisdom H.
I visited O'Mara's for the first time after having passed it everyday for nearly 4 years (as it is within walking distance from my house). If I feel a place has potential or is exceptional, I like to visit it 3 times, across the day and with different shifts. This first visit came on a Monday around 10:15am, for its "famed" Breakfast. Upon walking in, I was pleasantly surprised with the old pub feel. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but it was rather nice, for back in the day and I felt a bit under dressed. I was quickly greeted and seated and a gentleman brought water and filled my glass. Eventually, a server greeted me and I told her I was ready to order. She cleared my table of the extra settings and took my order - Greek Omelette, Rye toast and Turkey Sausage. About 15 minutes later, she brought fresh in-house jams and explained them. Another 15 minutes, and food finally arrived (turkey sausage coming separately). I opened my silverware and found it to be dirty. The server at the tables around me (who was extremely nice to her customers) noticed me waiting to eat and asked if I needed anything. I discreetly asked for a clean set of silverware and she apologized profusely and switched my silver. Then my server came and asked if I was ok. I told her I was fine. I ate my breakfast and the food was . The house made jam is not the prettiest, but it is tasty. Everything seems fresh, which is a huge bonus for me. As for ambiance, it's a nice, old-style restaurant. Feels like an old country-club or lodge to me, but a little more upscale (emphasis on 'a little'). Be aware, however, that you will inadvertently overhear EVERY conversation around you. One group on the other side of the room had a chatty ringleader. I was annoyed by her boisterous, uninteresting stories. She almost drowned out the politely-conversing women directly on either side of me... Almost. And finally, the bill. I expected to pay under $20 for my meal, and I did. The food is moderately priced, per person. There seems to be a good variety of dishes to choose from and my food all came out hot. I had water and had to ask for my refill. The same gentleman who filled my glass initially came around with a pitcher and filled my glass again. Then my server came with a pitcher of water. I can't say I'd be compelled to ever come back. I didn't have a good or a bad experience, per se. It was just ok. As for the breakfast being considered the best in Berkley, I don't think that is accurate. But then again, Berkley is pretty small and lacks diversity. There is plenty of diversity among Europeans, but otherwise, I found none of that here either.
(3)
Jenny O.
My first time in here today, as I walked in I noticed the layout was quite neat. I like how the bar is upfront and dining is separate. I was here for breakfast, it was nice, quiet and pretty empty. (Monday morning) I ordered the fresh squeezed orange juice, which is absolutely amazing & sweet! To eat, I ordered a spinach and feta omelette which was unlike any other omelette I've tried before. An abundant amount of feta (pricey cheese) and other veggies as well. There was a taziki sauce and a small breakfast salad alongside the omelette that complimented very well. For the toast there was three homemade jams (YUM ) there was strawberry, mixed berry and marmalade I believe. Seriously so delicious. My server, Donna if I'm not mistaken, was very friendly and jolly which just made my experience there that much better. I'll definitely be coming back for lunch and dinner as well.
(5)
Heather J.
Doth mine eyes deceive? Be there an Irish pub in downtown Berkley? Until the rumoured renovation of Hiller's Grocery happens, the answer is a resounding no. O'Mara's is Irish, yes, and the theme is evident from the glowing sign on the corner of Coolidge and 12 Mile. They serve alcohol, yes. A pub? Not particularly. In fact, this counts as one of the finest dining establishments in the People's Republic. It may not offer while tablecloths, though the napkins are linen and the menu at a higher price point than any pub dares to charge outside Temple Bar. I don't know many pubs that serve up gourmet omelettes and steaks, rather than cheap burgers and delicious boxty (Irish pancakes, but savory). O'Mara's really has two menus to consider; their everyday menu with its sandwiches, a few choice soups and salads, and plenty of entrees with a gently Irish slant. Then there's the brunch menu, the granddaddy, offering a hearty plough man's breakfast, corned beef hash, eggs Benedict, and do I need to go on because your mouth should be conspicuously drooling. Whatever you get, request toast or an English muffin -- yes, even in an Irish restaurant, you aren't sinning against Eire doing so. Why? Jam. Homemade jam. Resplendent, sticky fingers and conspicuously bright mouth jam. It's the adult form of Saturday morning all over again when your parents made you toast and slathered it in the good stuff. Maybe the jellies your Irish grandmother made, or the special preserves that only came out if you'd been good. It's delicious. 1 star is earned for the jars of happiness that leave yucky old Smuckers in the dust. I particularly like it with the heavy Irish rye or soda bread. O'Mara's also serves tea from Kristie's, a local shop which thrives on a lot of loose leaf blends that are well worth sampling. Their proper tea menu contains greens, herbals, blacks, and fruity combinations as far away from the norm as you can get. Tuesdays see tea time, but for a girl with a job, I never get to attend these lovely times. Boo! I would give a lot for a weekend teatime or an evening tea. The food here is spendy, even at brunch. $12 for an egg dish seems excessive, though the portions are comfortably filling and the preparations beautiful. We always wince a bit seeing the price for orange juice and brunch, although you won't lack for savory food. Alex's next door covers more run of the mill breakfast options if that's more your speed. But you won't get that awesome freaking jam. Another special factor about this place is the live music, which admittedly I don't get to see often due to scheduling conflicts and my small child. However, Friday and Saturday frequently feature live acts beyond the usual Gaelic Storm knockoffs. They have jazz, rock, folk, and pop acts just to name a few, and it's always worth to see who is on the roster. Don't get too deep into your cups because the parking lot is a tragic nightmare, a pitted wasteland of potholes and uneven gaps that doesn't belong outside so nice a restaurant. The number of times I've had to skitter through no man's land in the rain and almost broken my neck is no fun at all, and I really wish they'd repave it all!
(3)
Ellen K.
Let me preface this by saying that as a rule we only go to O'Mara's for breakfast. It may have delicious lunch or dinner, and I would have no idea. O'Mara's is reasonably priced and delicious. They've got a plethora of omelettes, frittatas, and scrambles. Also delicious pancakes and waffles. I usually get an omelette, and normally the spinach, gorgonzola and walnut one. You can also build your own, and there are a billion choices (most of which boyfriend takes advantage of all at once. Bring on the bacon.) It comes with toast (I recommend the honey oat) and a bunch of delicious jams (sounds weird, but you'll see what I mean). They also have a $5 Bloody Mary bar, which we rarely skip. The waitstaff is always really friendly and chatty. The only thing is that O'Mara's, at least at brunchtime, doesn't really have a "happenin" atmosphere. More like people's grandparents after church. Doesn't take away from the experience at all!...just something to note.
(4)
Jeremy M.
I come in for breakfast once a month or so. The service is great, the food is good, the selection is somewhat limited though what they have is good. It is a bit on the pricey side for what it is. I know they make their own jams...but none of them (mixed berry, marmalade and strawberry) taste any good to me...maybe it is just me, they all taste sour. I guess everyone else seems to like them so maybe it is just me. I've ordered from their lunch/dinner menu, it is good, but again pricey but decent food. I'd like them one star more if they would lower their prices and/or expand their menu a bit but for what they are they are good. The waitstaff is very nice and polite.
(3)
Colette N.
I am not a frequent visitor of O'Mara's, but throughout the years I have gone many times. It is a classic neighborhood restaurant/watering hole, with plenty of regulars - like the Berkley Cheers. The food has always been solid - not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Then, I got the word - they have a great Maurice Salad! In my never-ending search for the best Maurice Salad, I raced to O'Maras to check it out. It was solid. Not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Lots of cherry tomatoes (huh?), decent lettuce, light on meat and cheese and so/so pickles (for me, the tell tale sign of a great Maurice is a good pickle). Three stars for the salad, 4 stars for the place O'Mara's plays in the neighborhood. By the way, I can't speak to the Sunday Brunch or the weekend entertainment, but Ive heard good things. Well O'Mara's, you're the closest Maurice Salad to my work - so I'm guessing I'll be back. but I won't be giving up my search!
(4)
Leslie C.
I've been here for lunch and thought it was good. Well dinner tonight was bad enough we probably won't come back. Anniversary salad with chicken, gross and ugly. I was starving so I ate the salad. Tasted alright but tossed with heavy dressing that wilts the shredded salad, like eating $12 coleslaw. Chicken was flavorless and gnarly looking. I didn't eat and asked them to take it off the bill. Husband got pot roast with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Was easier to eat but still not great. Heavy tomato tang. Box potatoes? Just not great for $14. Like truck stop food or Ponderosa buffet.
(2)
Jill B.
Last night was our first time at O'Mara's. Friends made a reservation for 12 up front near the live band, Blackthorn. (Blackthorn was excellent as always, great music and very entertaining.) When we arrived there wasn't a host or hostess and we waited five minutes or so. I asked a waitress if a host was on duty, and she was a bit snippy in reply. A guy behind us in line went looking for the host and the host directed his attention to that person first. When it was our turn haha we said we were with the John Doe party and instead of leading us to the table, he pointed out at 15 tables or so and said they are here already at Table 2, as though we knew their table numbering system. We looked and didn't see anyone we recognized. We apologized and said we don't know where he was pointing. He was exasperated at having to walk us to the table. And it was true, the people we knew hadn't arrived yet. So first impression wasn't very good. The atmosphere was like an old fashioned supper club- low ceilings, lots of noise and jam packed. Our seats were great, close to the band. The table ordered appetizers of smoked salmon plates. The plate had a nice presentation, nice size and all the right accompaniments. Yum! Menu prices were $15 - $30 for entrees. The salads were very good. The thousand island dressing seemed homemade or at least one of the better store bought brands. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi and the shrimp were large and cooked perfectly, and there were more than 6- maybe 10- on a bed of rice. Lots of garlic and butter with a nice presentation. My husband had a chicken dish that was also quite delicious. Unfortunately in his bowl of mixed vegetables, he bit into a large, bigger than a marble sized chunk of used ginger swept into the dish from another menu item. He had to remove it from his mouth and find a place for it, which was awkward. We asked the waitress to let the chef know, and she said she was sorry. Despite the situation at first with the host, the service the rest of the evening was great. We were drinking ice water, and it was refilled continuously. Our orders arrived smoothly with no mix-ups. The waitress kept separate tabs for our party of 12, no mistakes. It's a bit far from Novi just for a meal but I would go back again for the entertainment and arrive early for dinner!
(4)
Elizabeth M.
I've been hesitant to write this, as it's not my style to write a negative review, but the level of blatantly awful customer service requires me to give a warning to future banquet guests of O'Mara's. I booked an August rehearsal dinner at O'Mara's. I knew the food would be good, and it was. The back room was crowded with 50 people, but adequate. The servers, except one, were relatively friendly. But when I received my bill, I had been charged the Plan B price, for my Plan A dinners, which were $2 per person more. In addition, I was charged $1.95 per person for drinks--"including water" is what I was told. I was also still charged for two other non-alcoholic drinks, along with my open bar tab (which I now of course totally mistrust). A 20% gratuity was written on the bottom of the receipt, even though the paperwork says it would be 18%. The runaround I have received since is disgraceful. I've never received an apology, or any response from the owner even though I sent him a letter explaining the situation. After many calls, I finally got one manager to "receive approval" to reimburse me for just the $2.00 per meal that I was overcharged. What a shame that O'Mara's tried so hard to get an extra $200+ from me, and in the meantime lost me as a customer, my extended family and friends, and hopefully anyone else who reads this review.
(1)
Ellie K.
At first a bit leary when my dinner partner suggested this Irish pub. Even though it was their treat you know how vegetarians are. Irish cuisine is not one I would chose on my own, since I no longer consume liters of beer and don't eat corned beef. But decided to give it a try. Like the heavy flatwareand even though some some plates show wear it gives the place a feeling of not being another trendy Royal Oak locale. Extensive menu made me leery of premade food that is just finished or thawed. is also heavy on meat dishes. But lo and behold there in the corner of the menu are vegetarian entrees! As usual I queried the waitstaff with a usual round of questions expecting not to get many answers. But she knew, could describe the dishes, knew whether the mushrooms were fresh! You know how nice it is to have this in a restaurant where you want more than a white bread sandwich? And she was accurate. The Vegetarian pasta primavera was actually very nice. My dinner partern went for the fsh and chips again, loved that the chips weren't salted. The pea soup was very tasty but for me a bit too salty; drank water rest of the evening. Portions too big, which usually happens for us. When I asked for a box for the leftovers (good for 2 more meals for me) Diana actually took the plates in the back and packed up the food. So much better than having a box simply left on the table. I'm curious about the shepherd's pie which is made with sliced potatoes, not mashed. Might have to try it if I need a protein overdose. Oh, the rolls were very nice - small and tasty with a nice firm outer texture and soft inside. Diana was super - just the right mix of attention and knows the food!
(4)
Amanda S.
Calling this place an Irish pub is a bit misleading. Went last night for the first time and I doubt I'll go back. I wanted pub food but the menu was more similar to a steakhouse. I had the fish and chips and the best part of my meal was the bread we had when we were seated. That bread was fantastic but nothing else was. Our service was very good but a table near us waited a long time to even have a drink order taken. Seems to be a popular place with the older crowd but I wasn't impressed.
(2)
Rob M.
I used to really like this place- but recently their service has gotten pretty bad. And they removed the corned been and cabbage from the menu! What kind of IRISH restaurant does that?! That was my favorite dish but since they removed it and service has dwindled I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)
Joe B.
My girl recently threw a baby shower for our friends at O'Mara's in their banquet room and the staff deserves major applause. The managers and the catering servers were all so gracious and helpful and fulfilled any request asked of the facility. The food was timely and even though the group was large they did a great job keeping up with drink orders. That said, I swear the shepherd's pie I had for lunch had refried beans instead of a meat filling but it still tasted pretty good.
(4)
Regina S.
Took my Diva Queen daughter and my son out to dinner here last week. Haven't been, honestly, in like, 20 years... It was a fave of my stepmom's. The restaurant is pretty nice and clean, albeit all the walls were closed off, because it wasn't busy and that made it seem awful small compared to how it appears outside. It was also darker than it should be, in my opinion. There were a few stragglers at the bar, and a few tables, pretty standard I guess for a Wednesday night. Interesting background music. We heard everything from Tom Petty to Bob Marley... :) The waitress, I never did get her name, was nice enough, but seemed kinda rushed to me... Not sure why. DQ got the corned beef, I got froglegs, and my son got a NY strip (his go-to usually). There is really nothing Irish about the place except the name and the few Irish dishes they serve. They also serve Continental, Italian, Mexican, seafood, chicken, steaks... etc... Ahh... another restaurant with an identity complex. We were given some tasty fresh pull apart bread with poppy seeds and butter... and CRAB butter. That's right, I said CRAB BUTTER. I could have eaten just this and been happy, I swear to you!!! We got soup and salad.. it was good, nothing special. My froglegs were cooked nicely, lightly fried, but they put this "garlic oil" on the side and OMG it was fucking disgusting!!!! Like totally burned garlic, I don't know WHO would eat this, but thankfully it was in a cup and not all over my tasty froglegs!! DQ's corned beef was tasty, and it came with some nice horseradish cream on the side... in a giant gravy boat... that was kinda weird, it was A LOT of sauce for a side. She didn't like it, but I thought it was tasty. But the plain boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots were yet to be desired. She ate it, but was kinda like "meh" over all but the corned beef. My son's steak was nicely done, with one giant super salty mushroom on it... and he got rice pilaf as a side. He liked it all, cleaned his plate, except the mushroom which I made the mistake of eating and almost choking on. So, as a wrap, the food is decent in parts, the decor is kinda dated, but clean and pretty comfy, but the prices are a little higher than they should be, and the menu is just very confused. Been running into a lot of this lately. Over $70.00 for the 3 of us with tip... Just too steep for what we got. Walking out, my son said, "this restaurant is pretty good, but they should stick to like, one thing...I think they don't know what they want to be " Well said!! /Irish????
(3)
Mark H.
Friendly service and pleasant atmosphere. Spinach feta egg white omelette was excellent, as were all the homemade jams.
(4)
Mary J.
Stopped here with friends on a Friday night for their live entertainment and some cocktails. This was our first time there and we were very disappointed with the atmosphere. Dingy, harsh track lighting in the entertainment area. Very basic, unkempt and outdated atmosphere. Has potential if lighting had a better ambience and if tables could have candles at least. Sound system was very poor as well. When the band took a break there was nothing interesting to keep customers hanging around. No overhead music, no music videos.,.just a bland, hall-like atmosphere. It's too bad they don't put a little thought and TLC into the evening entertainment area. Not at all impressed. Won't be back.
(2)
Ron C.
Even on day # 1 of the O'Mara's Breakfast Club there was ZERO let down or skimping on anything. My wife had a rare day off & I said can I buy you breakfast? YES! SO we scooted the 17 miles over to O'Mara's and being such a gorgeous day we sat outside. Lisa the Fabulous & Personable bartender gave us a hearty hello and Donna walked us to the patio, a very gracious assistant brought us water & he called it Natures Champagne . Donna full of life & 'ON" brought us our menu's & 1 coffee. The Menus has a nice variation of you can order your egg Feature as an: Omlette Fritatta Wrap or a Scramble all for the same price $6-$7.50 range I ordered the Chorizo Sausage Omlette,with peppers & jack cheese Oh Yea! cooked perfectly..nice light brown edge and 1.5 to 2 inches tall & a very generous piece A+ I wanted to be adventurous & try a different bread so I ordered Challulah? B+ not b/c anything was wrong with it, it just was not meant for me.. However the 3 homemade jams/jellies on the table were truly spectacular A+ I also ordered the Natural Smoked Bacon with zero Nitrates 4-5 pieces $3.50 My wife ordered a Omelette with grilled asparagus & fontina cheese A+ Donna as a server was such a joy A+ I was very impressed with the day one launch as being up & running quite well
(5)
Kristen H.
4 stars for service, 2 stars for food=3 stars overall We went here on a Saturday night because my husband had a gift card. after reading the reviews, I can't say I was looking forward to the dinner but hey, it's a free meal. Our server, Nicole, was SO nice and accommodating. She was always very fast with her service, getting us more water, and refilling our wine glass. We split the smoked salmon appetizer. It was ok, basically a filet of salmon cooked, which was not really what I was expecting. My husband got the french onion soup and the soft shelled crab (a special). The french onion soup was pretty salty. I didn't try his main course because it literally was two crabs dipped in fry batter and fried, which I found to be a tad unappetizing. I ordered the maurice and it was pretty good. Overall, a decent experience but I doubt we will ever go back as we live downtown.
(3)
dawn v.
Really, this place cAn go either way, depends on what you order and who is working when you're there. There are some really unique and unexpected things: note the fresh, homemade tasting jam trio that comes to your table with breakfast!! Yum! On the per hand, half of the time the waitresses will fail to bring it so sometimes you have to ask for it. I've been there with great service, but more often than not, it's near awful. Last breakfast, weekday and I was one of two tables in the whole place and this happens: He waitress for the other table refills his coffee, pus the coffee away and then Talks to the hostess. I ask them for a refill and they wait until my waitress comes back, (from where? There's no one there), to tell her to refill my coffee. By now, I'm done and looking for my bill. I'm no sure if they pick up on the less than 10% tip when their service is so bad or they think people sometimes cheap?
(2)
Kellie B.
Carry out is as far as I've been with O'maras but boy was she good!!! The spinach and artichoke dip in a BREAD BOWL with home made CHIPS was delish, the tenders were nice and moist but came on skewers ( found out the hard way ) can't forget the Chicken Struddel. It is a dish I don't think you could find anywhere else it is heavenly!!! Not cheap but worth every penny.
(4)
Nykol M.
Wow, I'm so surprised that O'Mara's got such mixed reviews. I've been there about five times and I've had nothing but positive experiences. The place IS dark, but that is what lends to its charm. I love hearing Irish music playing softly in the background (I've yet to visit during a live band performance). Also, I love the fact that they use real linen. The service has never been either. As far as the food is concerned, I am a fan. I've had the corned beef and cabbage, which was tender, well seasoned, and just plain old goodness. I've also had the coconut shrimp salads, some standard fare, and their chicken and bread pudding dish. The last dish was an interesting take on the chicken and waffles that are growing in popularity, but instead of fried chicken, O'Mara's does a baked chicken breast accompanied with a delicious bread pudding that has a fruit topping. Sounds odd, but it's really quite good. I paired it with a nice Riesling. It's unfortunate that other Yelpers have had this problem, but I'll continue to patronize this place. I'm 40 years old, but I love being around the old-timers, which largely comprise the crowd that dine here.
(4)
Jenn A.
We went for breakfast on a Saturday just on a whim, about 5 of us ladies. I had no real expectations, and I have to say, it was absolutely out of the this world.
(5)
Diane H.
!y Husband took me to O'Mara restaurant in Berkley for my birthday dinner, we were both pleasantly surprised.The Dublin broil had wonderful flavor and was accompanied with awsome scaloped potatoes and augratin califlower..mmmm.We will be going back to sample some more food for sure!
(4)
Michael P.
Love it every time. I highly recommend the Maurice salad. Nice selection of local brews.
(4)
Russ H.
This is a nice place for a vaguely Irish vibe. Decent menu and a full bar, I come here because I have been for years. I love the bourbon beef tips. I used to like the Pub Belfast scallops, but over time they went from several large scallops to a few large scallops to a number of small scallops to fewer small scallops. But the price stayed the same, however the mustard sauce is great, Friendly staff and sometimes they have live music, including a standing night for BLACKTHORN, which is one of the best celtic bands in the city. The place is nice and clean and has a cool patio outside. In the end, I could nit pick the place apart, but I love it and is very comfortable for me. However be careful with the bench seats in the bar corner...last time I was there it was loose.
(3)
Chuck H.
Matt and I went to O'Maras for breakfast on Saturday. The restaurant feels like a small banquet hall, not very cozy at all. I ordered the vegetarian omelete with light cheese and the marinara sauce on the side with multi grain toast and well done hashbrowns Matt ordered lightly scrambled eggs and toast, Matt had coffee, I had iced tea. Matt had to send his eggs back as they were overcooked and dry. The food was very good but should be at the prices they charge. It ended up costing $29.00 The service left much to be desired. Friendly but unattentive. The busboy refilled my water by grabbing the glass from the top with his entire hand and the waitress never came by to ask how the food was or if we needed anything until the end of the meal when she came to clear away plates. I'd be willing to go back and try again but Matt has no interest in that.
(3)
Anna S.
I really, really, really want this place to do better. It makes me almost angry that they're so complacent about their attitude and execution. A downgrade in star-rating is required. I came here again today, alone, for the brunch. My brunch date canceled on me and I already had my heart set on it so I went anyway. My Driod and Facebook kept me company. The host and hostesses are so unprofessional. When you walk in there's no genuine greeting and the fake one they give you is paper-thin. I gladly took a crappy small table located right by the door as I know they have tons of reservations and I didn't need to take-up a bigger table in a better location. The side-effect of this table location was that I got to hear all the bitching and moaning from the hostess to every other employee that came her way. They were literally 6 feet behind me. I'll explain: The hostess made a phone call to a reservation who didn't show - it was for a party of 20 and they were 30 minutes late. I heard the phone call; the hostess asked where they were, she was told they were canceling the reservation and then the hostess brusquely told the person, "well thanks for calling to tell us." The guest apologized and the hostess hung up. She then told 4 other employees about this terrible injustice so I heard four rounds of complaining while I was eating. Firstly, I get that a no-show party of 20 sucks, I also know that the guest should have called to tell them, but a professional person says, nicely, "not a problem Mr. Guest, if you could, next time, just give us a call ahead of time to let us know you're not coming." I hate this. I hate rude customer service and I HATE hearing employees complain within earshot of guests. The food was, however, good today. The servers are great; friendly and efficient. I have to say I'll never be back, no matter what, and this is honestly a restaurant that doesn't care about their guests' experience.
(2)
Rob W.
The food was mediocre. The service was horrible!! Waited over 30 minutes to get our bill. Immediatley after paying, she collected the book to check her tip! Not impressed at all...
(2)
Maggie Margaret G.
After a long hard shift some times you just need a cold beer and O'Maras doesn't disappoint,even at 0800 in the morning!! There were plenty of choices and the beer was SUPER cold,just the way I like it!! A comprehensive breakfast menu with the things you expect to find and some unexpected things like chorizo sausage gravy and biscuits....a great spin on a classic item!! As a midnight shift worker it's nice to have a place to go after work that a comfortable place with good food and great drinks! Also the staff was very accommodating and friendly....I definitely recommend this place...good food friendly staff and cold beer....don't need much else!
(5)
Kelly S.
My mom and I live 25 minutes from Berkley, MI where O'Mara's is located at the corner of 12 mile and ... well it is bit west of Woodward. I travel on 12 mile quite a bit and have always wanted to try the food at O'Mara's as I passed by it. The parking was ample. Mom wanted to eat early so we arrived at 5pm on a Saturday evening. The dining room was quaint and clean but at 5pm there were only about ten diners in the place. We were greeted at the door and shown to a table top...no booths in this place. I know that we arrived early but I always feel cheated when I see a stage for musicians but never get to hear the music unless I am there 10 at night. The music starts 9:30pm at O'Mara's. We started our meal with a glass of wine and an appetizer. I had the house cabernet and mom had the Lombroso. Wines were served in a nice wine glass. Wines tasted fine. We ordered the Pork Egg Roll appetizer. It was very tasty but we were surprised there were only 3 egg rolls. There was a lot of pork with corn wrapped in a crunchy, chewy, yummy shell. For the main meal I ordered the Shepherd's Pie and mom ordered the Macadamia Chicken salad. My mixed review for the pie is listed below. Mom loved her salad. There was a lot of chicken on top of mom's salad and the dressing was light and delicious. For dessert we had coffee (fresh and hot) along with a bumpy cake for me and bailey's cream cheesecake for mom. The desserts are made right there at O'Mara's and you can tell in that they are fresh and well proportioned. Our waitress was MIA often but when she did show up she was a joy to have around. Overall, I'd say it was a wonderful meal/evening at O'Mara's I was expecting my Sheppard's Pie to be served in a bowl but it was served as a thick slice of pie. The actual pie was very good with lots of potatoes and ground meat. What ruined the pie for me was the salty brown gravy that was poured all over it. I love gravy but this was very salty. On top of the gravy was frozen peas...cooked, but obviously they were of the frozen variety.
(4)
Haroun K.
I need to add a star. For many years my ancient forbears tried to drag me along to O'Mara's on a Friday for dinner and the show, and I declined. But, as I found out last Friday, it is actually a hell of a time. The food is the food. Me, I still order what I always have (portobella + ravioli), which is ok. But the show was very entertaining - and I wasn't even drinking. Ron Coden and his trio sang a wide variety of folk songs, and did some shtick which cracked me up. Granted, I'm nuts, but I was very, very amused. And the old people in the packed restaurant loved it, too, which made me happy. I think I'll come back for this.
(4)
Sarah W.
Perhaps if I had ordered the colcannon or other Irish fare they could have mustered the third star. My dining companions all seemed to enjoy their meals and they even comped my niece a free ice cream. So maybe 2.5 stars... But seriously, my salmon caesar salad was just not good. I was envisioning warm grilled salmon on top of the salad, but the fish was cold and slimy and looked a bit like it had been recovered from the day before's brunch buffet. I think I had two sad little croutons, a stray tomato (I presume from someone else's salad) and a sprinkling of powdered parmesan that looked to be from a shaker can. Gross. My soda was never refilled and the server brought our food out at all different times. (And not in the good bring the 2 year old something right away way, but in the make the grown-ups watch their food get cold because they are too polite to eat before I've been served) The place was wicked busy for a Monday morning, so apparently someone likes it. But I wasn't impressed.
(2)
Cathy W.
When my sister visited recently, we went to O'Maras on a friend's recommendation. And after our first visit for breakfast, followed it with dinner and second breakfast visits. I'll start with the service - spot on for all three visits with different server each time. Each was pleasant and knowledgable. Food was brought to the table piping hot, and we were checked on appropriately. Now to the food! The breakfasts sold us on O''Maras immediately. Tried the vegetarian omellete which was accompanied by a tasty small salad in a phylo "dish". Good mix of vegetables, and omellete was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of cheese. The asparagus and potato omellete was fantastic. The roasted asparagus with roasted red pepper, onion was paired well with Fontana cheese. I opted for a toasted bagel which came with three house made preserves. On the second breakfast visit, we found that the vegetarian omellete was tasty made with egg whites. My favorite, however, is their crispy French Toast (read the description on their menu!) served with a warm berry compote - LOTS of compote served on the side in a boat. I was concerned that the French Toast might be greasy, but literally not a drop! It's my favorite metro Detroit breakfast item! As for dinner - my sister tried the Chipolte Salmon, with trepidation. She prefers the "natural" taste of salmon, not covered by sauces or marinades. That outlook is now a thing of the past! The Chipolte glaze was spectacular, and enhanced the flavor of the salmon. Presentation? Spectacular! Asparagus spears crisscrossed above the salmon was wonderful color-wise and just generally appealing. I ordered the Vegetarian Eggplant Napolean and was pretty much bowled over. Visually, it was stunning - and the taste matched! Feta, spinach, mushrooms, with mozerella cheese and a beautifully seasoned non-acedic tomato sauce with thin slices of lightly breaded eggplant made for a marvelous dish. Can't wait to have it again. I'm SO glad O'Mara's was recommended to me, and only regret I didn't try it earlier considering its so close to home. Should also mention that its extremely comfortable with casual attire appearing to be the norm. With O'Maras and Amicis, Berkley, in my estimation, is the place to go for excellent quality food.
(5)
Megan C.
I kept hearing about this place for a coworker so I dragged two friends with me to check it out. We were there around 1030 on a Saturday and it was nearly empty which was a bit surprising for such a well known breakfast restaurant. We were seated right away and greeted with friendly servers who went over the menu with us. I made my own omelette: mushrooms, green pepper, chorizo and smoked Gouda. It was amazing. I also got an English muffin instead of toast and it came with three different options for homemade jam. My friends Also both got omelettes: one a veggie and one a salmon. We were all impressed with our meals. There were several options on the menu. Next time I want to try the oatmeal, as it comes with a lazy Susan of options to put in it. Our waitress was pleasant and helpful, filling our water glasses on time and helping with the menu. We will be coming back!
(5)
Ryan L.
Jeffrey B., Mary Mack and I stopped here for drinks one Tuesday night because the sign said 1/2 off and $2 martini. We walked in and sat in the bar area since it seemed the restaurant was closed. The bar seemed like a hotel lounge with it's '90s decor and many televisions. We sat down and ordered drinks. A few minutes later the older gentleman who took our drink order came back and said he forgot what we ordered. We ordered again. The drinks were cheap, though not very strong. The martini was a well martini for $2 and was the best well martini I've had. The ambiance was strange. The service not impeccable for being the only people there. The drinks were ok. I don't think I'll return just because there was nothing outstanding about this place.
(3)
Jennifer W.
My husband and I went for breakfast this past Sunday. The food and service were good however there was dust hanging from the ceiling. Disgusting! This has nothing to do with the construction going on by the bar. This was clumps of dust bunnies and it appears they turned off the light above our table so no one would notice. I will not return until they do some housekeeping. If clumps of dust are visible in the dining room, wonder what's hiding in the kitchen?
(1)
Sofia P.
The food wasn't horrible but the service was. Our waitress, Suzanne, disappeared for 30 minutes when we wanted to order more drinks and get our bill and came to the table smelling like smoke. Once we paid the bill she came back immediately and took it and looked at the tip. Not pleased with the service.
(2)
Gwen R.
Had dinner at O'Mara's a couple of weeks ago. The service was exceptional and our server (Taylor?) was extremely helpful. I had a hamburger and it was one of the best I have had for a long time.
(5)
Shannon S.
Birthday time again at work...this was the birthday girls choice... Not bad... The service was decent. Our waitress was getting more tables so it affected us, but not too bad. I had the Duck cherry salad.. It was okay, I was trying to stay healthy, since Mondays are my jump back on the wagon days....not sure what I was thinking with this salad but it was good.. By all means, I wasn't wow'ed by this restaurant, but I also wouldn't not go back either.. There were some other items I'd like to try on the menu... Since it's an Irish restaurant, I'd like to try their Shepherds pie, or fish & chips. Over all a good experience. p.s. The girls bathroom, besides the stanky sewer smell, has this crazy mirror, it's almost like you're at a bridal salon, because you can step into the center of it and see yourself from every possible angle...haha...leave it to me to be more excited about the bathroom! We al ldid the split a couple of desserts so we tried the bumpy cake (HUGE!! rich, delish!) and the lemon merengue...this also was good.. Everyone elses lunch looked really good too... I don't know...mine wasn't as fabulous as I'd hoped it to be :~/
(3)
Dominique K.
Went here w/my SO & mom at lunch time. I ate from the breakfast menu, having a smoked salmon fritatta and smoothie. The smoothie was made with fresh fruit (a plus), and the frittata was decent (the option to have it as a frittata, scramble or omelet was also nice, as was the homemade jam for my toast). My mom had a lunch special sandwich-a club concoction with egg salad and Canadian bacon. A unique combo and huge, but it didn't come toasted as she requested. Her hot tea was a premium blend of fresh tea leaves, and the water came in its own little ceramic pot (a plus). Tim ate from the dinner menu, having the Brewers' sausage platter (huge portions of sausage, kraut & red cabbage...plus the bratwurst had a very unique taste...tasty, though). Service was slow at a time when it was the tail end of lunch and the dining room wasn't very full. The food came out hot, so we're guessing the slowness was the result of a slow kitchen, rather than the server. Overall, the food was decent with some unique selections, but the sluggish service contributed to giving this place 3 stars, rather than 4.
(3)
M V.
Good solid food. Big portions. Good prices. I never leave here hungry. The egg rolls that they have as an app are surprisely really good. Give them a try.
(3)
Carie H.
We went here for breakfast on Sunday... Food was good. The scrambles looked awesome! My smoked salmon frittata was pretty good. I definitely recommend the bloody mary bar! $5 and make it the way you like it!!! They even had smoked salmon stuffed olives & blue cheese stuffed olives - YUM! The service was excellent. Couldn't have asked for a nicer, more accommodating individual (we had 2 gluten free dieters with us). Definitely ask for Cindy if you go in!
(4)
Ashley H.
We stopped in for dinner for the first time last night. Their menu has a wide variety of options sure to please most people. I thought our food had great flavor and was reasonably-priced. There wasn't anything that was over-the-top awesome about this place, hence the three stars, but it's a great alternative to chain restaurants.
(3)
Dina B.
I don't speak for the new brunch menu. Maybe it's a phenomenon. I ordered "tomato chicken celebration." Presumptous title. Penne noodles with a very plain red sauce with some canned artichoke hearts and kalamatas thrown in. With boiled pieces of flavorless chicken. I imagine everything coming pretty much out of it's can onto the plate. One time I ordered something with a mixed fruit side and it was clearly canned fruit. I hate that. Family ordered shepard's pie. It literally was shaped like a pie, which threw us off. It had a weird brown skin (my SIL said "jacket" which was apt) which threw us more off. What's that??
We had been here a while back, when they still had the Sunday bruch, which was great. They no longer have it, we knew that going in. But it was noon on a Sunday, they give us a menu with omelets etc, and also sandwiches etc. We want a burger, a rueben etc, and the waiter says "breakfast only on Sundays" Even though the girl at the door had said breakfast and lunches. So a few in our party were disapointed, but there were 8 of us and we weren't going to get up an leave, so we had "breakfast" again, though at home I had already had eggs. Don't expect to get a sandwich on a Sunday here. Kind of misleading..........If you want anything other than breakfast, you have to come after 3:00pm
o'mara's is like your sad irish sister. kinda dumpy and her food is tasteless. being a nurse, i often eat breakfast and have cocktails around 8am. i'm pretty well versed with most the options in south oakland county for this type of meal. o'mara's is the worst. the service is slow, the servers have no idea what kind of beer they have on any given day, and the food is overpriced. best thing for breakfast is the little salad that comes with everything. love, juston
(2)
Wisdom H.
I visited O'Mara's for the first time after having passed it everyday for nearly 4 years (as it is within walking distance from my house). If I feel a place has potential or is exceptional, I like to visit it 3 times, across the day and with different shifts. This first visit came on a Monday around 10:15am, for its "famed" Breakfast. Upon walking in, I was pleasantly surprised with the old pub feel. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but it was rather nice, for back in the day and I felt a bit under dressed. I was quickly greeted and seated and a gentleman brought water and filled my glass. Eventually, a server greeted me and I told her I was ready to order. She cleared my table of the extra settings and took my order - Greek Omelette, Rye toast and Turkey Sausage. About 15 minutes later, she brought fresh in-house jams and explained them. Another 15 minutes, and food finally arrived (turkey sausage coming separately). I opened my silverware and found it to be dirty. The server at the tables around me (who was extremely nice to her customers) noticed me waiting to eat and asked if I needed anything. I discreetly asked for a clean set of silverware and she apologized profusely and switched my silver. Then my server came and asked if I was ok. I told her I was fine. I ate my breakfast and the food was . The house made jam is not the prettiest, but it is tasty. Everything seems fresh, which is a huge bonus for me. As for ambiance, it's a nice, old-style restaurant. Feels like an old country-club or lodge to me, but a little more upscale (emphasis on 'a little'). Be aware, however, that you will inadvertently overhear EVERY conversation around you. One group on the other side of the room had a chatty ringleader. I was annoyed by her boisterous, uninteresting stories. She almost drowned out the politely-conversing women directly on either side of me... Almost. And finally, the bill. I expected to pay under $20 for my meal, and I did. The food is moderately priced, per person. There seems to be a good variety of dishes to choose from and my food all came out hot. I had water and had to ask for my refill. The same gentleman who filled my glass initially came around with a pitcher and filled my glass again. Then my server came with a pitcher of water. I can't say I'd be compelled to ever come back. I didn't have a good or a bad experience, per se. It was just ok. As for the breakfast being considered the best in Berkley, I don't think that is accurate. But then again, Berkley is pretty small and lacks diversity. There is plenty of diversity among Europeans, but otherwise, I found none of that here either.
(3)
Jenny O.
My first time in here today, as I walked in I noticed the layout was quite neat. I like how the bar is upfront and dining is separate. I was here for breakfast, it was nice, quiet and pretty empty. (Monday morning) I ordered the fresh squeezed orange juice, which is absolutely amazing & sweet! To eat, I ordered a spinach and feta omelette which was unlike any other omelette I've tried before. An abundant amount of feta (pricey cheese) and other veggies as well. There was a taziki sauce and a small breakfast salad alongside the omelette that complimented very well. For the toast there was three homemade jams (YUM ) there was strawberry, mixed berry and marmalade I believe. Seriously so delicious. My server, Donna if I'm not mistaken, was very friendly and jolly which just made my experience there that much better. I'll definitely be coming back for lunch and dinner as well.
(5)
Ellen K.
Let me preface this by saying that as a rule we only go to O'Mara's for breakfast. It may have delicious lunch or dinner, and I would have no idea. O'Mara's is reasonably priced and delicious. They've got a plethora of omelettes, frittatas, and scrambles. Also delicious pancakes and waffles. I usually get an omelette, and normally the spinach, gorgonzola and walnut one. You can also build your own, and there are a billion choices (most of which boyfriend takes advantage of all at once. Bring on the bacon.) It comes with toast (I recommend the honey oat) and a bunch of delicious jams (sounds weird, but you'll see what I mean). They also have a $5 Bloody Mary bar, which we rarely skip. The waitstaff is always really friendly and chatty. The only thing is that O'Mara's, at least at brunchtime, doesn't really have a "happenin" atmosphere. More like people's grandparents after church. Doesn't take away from the experience at all!...just something to note.
(4)
Jeremy M.
I come in for breakfast once a month or so. The service is great, the food is good, the selection is somewhat limited though what they have is good. It is a bit on the pricey side for what it is. I know they make their own jams...but none of them (mixed berry, marmalade and strawberry) taste any good to me...maybe it is just me, they all taste sour. I guess everyone else seems to like them so maybe it is just me. I've ordered from their lunch/dinner menu, it is good, but again pricey but decent food. I'd like them one star more if they would lower their prices and/or expand their menu a bit but for what they are they are good. The waitstaff is very nice and polite.
(3)
Heather J.
Doth mine eyes deceive? Be there an Irish pub in downtown Berkley? Until the rumoured renovation of Hiller's Grocery happens, the answer is a resounding no. O'Mara's is Irish, yes, and the theme is evident from the glowing sign on the corner of Coolidge and 12 Mile. They serve alcohol, yes. A pub? Not particularly. In fact, this counts as one of the finest dining establishments in the People's Republic. It may not offer while tablecloths, though the napkins are linen and the menu at a higher price point than any pub dares to charge outside Temple Bar. I don't know many pubs that serve up gourmet omelettes and steaks, rather than cheap burgers and delicious boxty (Irish pancakes, but savory). O'Mara's really has two menus to consider; their everyday menu with its sandwiches, a few choice soups and salads, and plenty of entrees with a gently Irish slant. Then there's the brunch menu, the granddaddy, offering a hearty plough man's breakfast, corned beef hash, eggs Benedict, and do I need to go on because your mouth should be conspicuously drooling. Whatever you get, request toast or an English muffin -- yes, even in an Irish restaurant, you aren't sinning against Eire doing so. Why? Jam. Homemade jam. Resplendent, sticky fingers and conspicuously bright mouth jam. It's the adult form of Saturday morning all over again when your parents made you toast and slathered it in the good stuff. Maybe the jellies your Irish grandmother made, or the special preserves that only came out if you'd been good. It's delicious. 1 star is earned for the jars of happiness that leave yucky old Smuckers in the dust. I particularly like it with the heavy Irish rye or soda bread. O'Mara's also serves tea from Kristie's, a local shop which thrives on a lot of loose leaf blends that are well worth sampling. Their proper tea menu contains greens, herbals, blacks, and fruity combinations as far away from the norm as you can get. Tuesdays see tea time, but for a girl with a job, I never get to attend these lovely times. Boo! I would give a lot for a weekend teatime or an evening tea. The food here is spendy, even at brunch. $12 for an egg dish seems excessive, though the portions are comfortably filling and the preparations beautiful. We always wince a bit seeing the price for orange juice and brunch, although you won't lack for savory food. Alex's next door covers more run of the mill breakfast options if that's more your speed. But you won't get that awesome freaking jam. Another special factor about this place is the live music, which admittedly I don't get to see often due to scheduling conflicts and my small child. However, Friday and Saturday frequently feature live acts beyond the usual Gaelic Storm knockoffs. They have jazz, rock, folk, and pop acts just to name a few, and it's always worth to see who is on the roster. Don't get too deep into your cups because the parking lot is a tragic nightmare, a pitted wasteland of potholes and uneven gaps that doesn't belong outside so nice a restaurant. The number of times I've had to skitter through no man's land in the rain and almost broken my neck is no fun at all, and I really wish they'd repave it all!
(3)
Colette N.
I am not a frequent visitor of O'Mara's, but throughout the years I have gone many times. It is a classic neighborhood restaurant/watering hole, with plenty of regulars - like the Berkley Cheers. The food has always been solid - not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Then, I got the word - they have a great Maurice Salad! In my never-ending search for the best Maurice Salad, I raced to O'Maras to check it out. It was solid. Not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Lots of cherry tomatoes (huh?), decent lettuce, light on meat and cheese and so/so pickles (for me, the tell tale sign of a great Maurice is a good pickle). Three stars for the salad, 4 stars for the place O'Mara's plays in the neighborhood. By the way, I can't speak to the Sunday Brunch or the weekend entertainment, but Ive heard good things. Well O'Mara's, you're the closest Maurice Salad to my work - so I'm guessing I'll be back. but I won't be giving up my search!
(4)
Leslie C.
I've been here for lunch and thought it was good. Well dinner tonight was bad enough we probably won't come back. Anniversary salad with chicken, gross and ugly. I was starving so I ate the salad. Tasted alright but tossed with heavy dressing that wilts the shredded salad, like eating $12 coleslaw. Chicken was flavorless and gnarly looking. I didn't eat and asked them to take it off the bill. Husband got pot roast with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Was easier to eat but still not great. Heavy tomato tang. Box potatoes? Just not great for $14. Like truck stop food or Ponderosa buffet.
(2)
Ellie K.
At first a bit leary when my dinner partner suggested this Irish pub. Even though it was their treat you know how vegetarians are. Irish cuisine is not one I would chose on my own, since I no longer consume liters of beer and don't eat corned beef. But decided to give it a try. Like the heavy flatwareand even though some some plates show wear it gives the place a feeling of not being another trendy Royal Oak locale. Extensive menu made me leery of premade food that is just finished or thawed. is also heavy on meat dishes. But lo and behold there in the corner of the menu are vegetarian entrees! As usual I queried the waitstaff with a usual round of questions expecting not to get many answers. But she knew, could describe the dishes, knew whether the mushrooms were fresh! You know how nice it is to have this in a restaurant where you want more than a white bread sandwich? And she was accurate. The Vegetarian pasta primavera was actually very nice. My dinner partern went for the fsh and chips again, loved that the chips weren't salted. The pea soup was very tasty but for me a bit too salty; drank water rest of the evening. Portions too big, which usually happens for us. When I asked for a box for the leftovers (good for 2 more meals for me) Diana actually took the plates in the back and packed up the food. So much better than having a box simply left on the table. I'm curious about the shepherd's pie which is made with sliced potatoes, not mashed. Might have to try it if I need a protein overdose. Oh, the rolls were very nice - small and tasty with a nice firm outer texture and soft inside. Diana was super - just the right mix of attention and knows the food!
(4)
Jill B.
Last night was our first time at O'Mara's. Friends made a reservation for 12 up front near the live band, Blackthorn. (Blackthorn was excellent as always, great music and very entertaining.) When we arrived there wasn't a host or hostess and we waited five minutes or so. I asked a waitress if a host was on duty, and she was a bit snippy in reply. A guy behind us in line went looking for the host and the host directed his attention to that person first. When it was our turn haha we said we were with the John Doe party and instead of leading us to the table, he pointed out at 15 tables or so and said they are here already at Table 2, as though we knew their table numbering system. We looked and didn't see anyone we recognized. We apologized and said we don't know where he was pointing. He was exasperated at having to walk us to the table. And it was true, the people we knew hadn't arrived yet. So first impression wasn't very good. The atmosphere was like an old fashioned supper club- low ceilings, lots of noise and jam packed. Our seats were great, close to the band. The table ordered appetizers of smoked salmon plates. The plate had a nice presentation, nice size and all the right accompaniments. Yum! Menu prices were $15 - $30 for entrees. The salads were very good. The thousand island dressing seemed homemade or at least one of the better store bought brands. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi and the shrimp were large and cooked perfectly, and there were more than 6- maybe 10- on a bed of rice. Lots of garlic and butter with a nice presentation. My husband had a chicken dish that was also quite delicious. Unfortunately in his bowl of mixed vegetables, he bit into a large, bigger than a marble sized chunk of used ginger swept into the dish from another menu item. He had to remove it from his mouth and find a place for it, which was awkward. We asked the waitress to let the chef know, and she said she was sorry. Despite the situation at first with the host, the service the rest of the evening was great. We were drinking ice water, and it was refilled continuously. Our orders arrived smoothly with no mix-ups. The waitress kept separate tabs for our party of 12, no mistakes. It's a bit far from Novi just for a meal but I would go back again for the entertainment and arrive early for dinner!
(4)
Elizabeth M.
I've been hesitant to write this, as it's not my style to write a negative review, but the level of blatantly awful customer service requires me to give a warning to future banquet guests of O'Mara's. I booked an August rehearsal dinner at O'Mara's. I knew the food would be good, and it was. The back room was crowded with 50 people, but adequate. The servers, except one, were relatively friendly. But when I received my bill, I had been charged the Plan B price, for my Plan A dinners, which were $2 per person more. In addition, I was charged $1.95 per person for drinks--"including water" is what I was told. I was also still charged for two other non-alcoholic drinks, along with my open bar tab (which I now of course totally mistrust). A 20% gratuity was written on the bottom of the receipt, even though the paperwork says it would be 18%. The runaround I have received since is disgraceful. I've never received an apology, or any response from the owner even though I sent him a letter explaining the situation. After many calls, I finally got one manager to "receive approval" to reimburse me for just the $2.00 per meal that I was overcharged. What a shame that O'Mara's tried so hard to get an extra $200+ from me, and in the meantime lost me as a customer, my extended family and friends, and hopefully anyone else who reads this review.
(1)
Amanda S.
Calling this place an Irish pub is a bit misleading. Went last night for the first time and I doubt I'll go back. I wanted pub food but the menu was more similar to a steakhouse. I had the fish and chips and the best part of my meal was the bread we had when we were seated. That bread was fantastic but nothing else was. Our service was very good but a table near us waited a long time to even have a drink order taken. Seems to be a popular place with the older crowd but I wasn't impressed.
(2)
Rob M.
I used to really like this place- but recently their service has gotten pretty bad. And they removed the corned been and cabbage from the menu! What kind of IRISH restaurant does that?! That was my favorite dish but since they removed it and service has dwindled I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)
Joe B.
My girl recently threw a baby shower for our friends at O'Mara's in their banquet room and the staff deserves major applause. The managers and the catering servers were all so gracious and helpful and fulfilled any request asked of the facility. The food was timely and even though the group was large they did a great job keeping up with drink orders. That said, I swear the shepherd's pie I had for lunch had refried beans instead of a meat filling but it still tasted pretty good.
(4)
Ron C.
Even on day # 1 of the O'Mara's Breakfast Club there was ZERO let down or skimping on anything. My wife had a rare day off & I said can I buy you breakfast? YES! SO we scooted the 17 miles over to O'Mara's and being such a gorgeous day we sat outside. Lisa the Fabulous & Personable bartender gave us a hearty hello and Donna walked us to the patio, a very gracious assistant brought us water & he called it Natures Champagne . Donna full of life & 'ON" brought us our menu's & 1 coffee. The Menus has a nice variation of you can order your egg Feature as an: Omlette Fritatta Wrap or a Scramble all for the same price $6-$7.50 range I ordered the Chorizo Sausage Omlette,with peppers & jack cheese Oh Yea! cooked perfectly..nice light brown edge and 1.5 to 2 inches tall & a very generous piece A+ I wanted to be adventurous & try a different bread so I ordered Challulah? B+ not b/c anything was wrong with it, it just was not meant for me.. However the 3 homemade jams/jellies on the table were truly spectacular A+ I also ordered the Natural Smoked Bacon with zero Nitrates 4-5 pieces $3.50 My wife ordered a Omelette with grilled asparagus & fontina cheese A+ Donna as a server was such a joy A+ I was very impressed with the day one launch as being up & running quite well
(5)
Kristen H.
4 stars for service, 2 stars for food=3 stars overall We went here on a Saturday night because my husband had a gift card. after reading the reviews, I can't say I was looking forward to the dinner but hey, it's a free meal. Our server, Nicole, was SO nice and accommodating. She was always very fast with her service, getting us more water, and refilling our wine glass. We split the smoked salmon appetizer. It was ok, basically a filet of salmon cooked, which was not really what I was expecting. My husband got the french onion soup and the soft shelled crab (a special). The french onion soup was pretty salty. I didn't try his main course because it literally was two crabs dipped in fry batter and fried, which I found to be a tad unappetizing. I ordered the maurice and it was pretty good. Overall, a decent experience but I doubt we will ever go back as we live downtown.
(3)
Regina S.
Took my Diva Queen daughter and my son out to dinner here last week. Haven't been, honestly, in like, 20 years... It was a fave of my stepmom's. The restaurant is pretty nice and clean, albeit all the walls were closed off, because it wasn't busy and that made it seem awful small compared to how it appears outside. It was also darker than it should be, in my opinion. There were a few stragglers at the bar, and a few tables, pretty standard I guess for a Wednesday night. Interesting background music. We heard everything from Tom Petty to Bob Marley... :) The waitress, I never did get her name, was nice enough, but seemed kinda rushed to me... Not sure why. DQ got the corned beef, I got froglegs, and my son got a NY strip (his go-to usually). There is really nothing Irish about the place except the name and the few Irish dishes they serve. They also serve Continental, Italian, Mexican, seafood, chicken, steaks... etc... Ahh... another restaurant with an identity complex. We were given some tasty fresh pull apart bread with poppy seeds and butter... and CRAB butter. That's right, I said CRAB BUTTER. I could have eaten just this and been happy, I swear to you!!! We got soup and salad.. it was good, nothing special. My froglegs were cooked nicely, lightly fried, but they put this "garlic oil" on the side and OMG it was fucking disgusting!!!! Like totally burned garlic, I don't know WHO would eat this, but thankfully it was in a cup and not all over my tasty froglegs!! DQ's corned beef was tasty, and it came with some nice horseradish cream on the side... in a giant gravy boat... that was kinda weird, it was A LOT of sauce for a side. She didn't like it, but I thought it was tasty. But the plain boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots were yet to be desired. She ate it, but was kinda like "meh" over all but the corned beef. My son's steak was nicely done, with one giant super salty mushroom on it... and he got rice pilaf as a side. He liked it all, cleaned his plate, except the mushroom which I made the mistake of eating and almost choking on. So, as a wrap, the food is decent in parts, the decor is kinda dated, but clean and pretty comfy, but the prices are a little higher than they should be, and the menu is just very confused. Been running into a lot of this lately. Over $70.00 for the 3 of us with tip... Just too steep for what we got. Walking out, my son said, "this restaurant is pretty good, but they should stick to like, one thing...I think they don't know what they want to be " Well said!! /Irish????
(3)
Mark H.
Friendly service and pleasant atmosphere. Spinach feta egg white omelette was excellent, as were all the homemade jams.
(4)
Mary J.
Stopped here with friends on a Friday night for their live entertainment and some cocktails. This was our first time there and we were very disappointed with the atmosphere. Dingy, harsh track lighting in the entertainment area. Very basic, unkempt and outdated atmosphere. Has potential if lighting had a better ambience and if tables could have candles at least. Sound system was very poor as well. When the band took a break there was nothing interesting to keep customers hanging around. No overhead music, no music videos.,.just a bland, hall-like atmosphere. It's too bad they don't put a little thought and TLC into the evening entertainment area. Not at all impressed. Won't be back.
(2)
dawn v.
Really, this place cAn go either way, depends on what you order and who is working when you're there. There are some really unique and unexpected things: note the fresh, homemade tasting jam trio that comes to your table with breakfast!! Yum! On the per hand, half of the time the waitresses will fail to bring it so sometimes you have to ask for it. I've been there with great service, but more often than not, it's near awful. Last breakfast, weekday and I was one of two tables in the whole place and this happens: He waitress for the other table refills his coffee, pus the coffee away and then Talks to the hostess. I ask them for a refill and they wait until my waitress comes back, (from where? There's no one there), to tell her to refill my coffee. By now, I'm done and looking for my bill. I'm no sure if they pick up on the less than 10% tip when their service is so bad or they think people sometimes cheap?
(2)
Kellie B.
Carry out is as far as I've been with O'maras but boy was she good!!! The spinach and artichoke dip in a BREAD BOWL with home made CHIPS was delish, the tenders were nice and moist but came on skewers ( found out the hard way ) can't forget the Chicken Struddel. It is a dish I don't think you could find anywhere else it is heavenly!!! Not cheap but worth every penny.
(4)
Nykol M.
Wow, I'm so surprised that O'Mara's got such mixed reviews. I've been there about five times and I've had nothing but positive experiences. The place IS dark, but that is what lends to its charm. I love hearing Irish music playing softly in the background (I've yet to visit during a live band performance). Also, I love the fact that they use real linen. The service has never been either. As far as the food is concerned, I am a fan. I've had the corned beef and cabbage, which was tender, well seasoned, and just plain old goodness. I've also had the coconut shrimp salads, some standard fare, and their chicken and bread pudding dish. The last dish was an interesting take on the chicken and waffles that are growing in popularity, but instead of fried chicken, O'Mara's does a baked chicken breast accompanied with a delicious bread pudding that has a fruit topping. Sounds odd, but it's really quite good. I paired it with a nice Riesling. It's unfortunate that other Yelpers have had this problem, but I'll continue to patronize this place. I'm 40 years old, but I love being around the old-timers, which largely comprise the crowd that dine here.
(4)
Jenn A.
We went for breakfast on a Saturday just on a whim, about 5 of us ladies. I had no real expectations, and I have to say, it was absolutely out of the this world.
(5)
Diane H.
!y Husband took me to O'Mara restaurant in Berkley for my birthday dinner, we were both pleasantly surprised.The Dublin broil had wonderful flavor and was accompanied with awsome scaloped potatoes and augratin califlower..mmmm.We will be going back to sample some more food for sure!
(4)
Michael P.
Love it every time. I highly recommend the Maurice salad. Nice selection of local brews.
(4)
Russ H.
This is a nice place for a vaguely Irish vibe. Decent menu and a full bar, I come here because I have been for years. I love the bourbon beef tips. I used to like the Pub Belfast scallops, but over time they went from several large scallops to a few large scallops to a number of small scallops to fewer small scallops. But the price stayed the same, however the mustard sauce is great, Friendly staff and sometimes they have live music, including a standing night for BLACKTHORN, which is one of the best celtic bands in the city. The place is nice and clean and has a cool patio outside. In the end, I could nit pick the place apart, but I love it and is very comfortable for me. However be careful with the bench seats in the bar corner...last time I was there it was loose.
(3)
Chuck H.
Matt and I went to O'Maras for breakfast on Saturday. The restaurant feels like a small banquet hall, not very cozy at all. I ordered the vegetarian omelete with light cheese and the marinara sauce on the side with multi grain toast and well done hashbrowns Matt ordered lightly scrambled eggs and toast, Matt had coffee, I had iced tea. Matt had to send his eggs back as they were overcooked and dry. The food was very good but should be at the prices they charge. It ended up costing $29.00 The service left much to be desired. Friendly but unattentive. The busboy refilled my water by grabbing the glass from the top with his entire hand and the waitress never came by to ask how the food was or if we needed anything until the end of the meal when she came to clear away plates. I'd be willing to go back and try again but Matt has no interest in that.
(3)
Zachary J.
Pretty good food, fairly large portions, just a little pricey. I had the Ruben, it was good but I've had better and for less money. However it came with yummy fries and surprisingly good coleslaw. I don't usually crave coleslaw but the slaw here is better than most. I went with a group of 20+ by the way, we were accommodated nicely.
(4)
Jennifer W.
O'Mara's food was good. Our service was great. The decor was dark and stuffy. Cloth napkins and glass water goblets add to the ambiance. The average patron age eating during lunch was 65. They serve High Tea during the week but have a bar area and dancing, as every good Irish restaurant should. Interesting restaurant with decent food and good service.
(3)
Anna S.
I really, really, really want this place to do better. It makes me almost angry that they're so complacent about their attitude and execution. A downgrade in star-rating is required. I came here again today, alone, for the brunch. My brunch date canceled on me and I already had my heart set on it so I went anyway. My Driod and Facebook kept me company. The host and hostesses are so unprofessional. When you walk in there's no genuine greeting and the fake one they give you is paper-thin. I gladly took a crappy small table located right by the door as I know they have tons of reservations and I didn't need to take-up a bigger table in a better location. The side-effect of this table location was that I got to hear all the bitching and moaning from the hostess to every other employee that came her way. They were literally 6 feet behind me. I'll explain: The hostess made a phone call to a reservation who didn't show - it was for a party of 20 and they were 30 minutes late. I heard the phone call; the hostess asked where they were, she was told they were canceling the reservation and then the hostess brusquely told the person, "well thanks for calling to tell us." The guest apologized and the hostess hung up. She then told 4 other employees about this terrible injustice so I heard four rounds of complaining while I was eating. Firstly, I get that a no-show party of 20 sucks, I also know that the guest should have called to tell them, but a professional person says, nicely, "not a problem Mr. Guest, if you could, next time, just give us a call ahead of time to let us know you're not coming." I hate this. I hate rude customer service and I HATE hearing employees complain within earshot of guests. The food was, however, good today. The servers are great; friendly and efficient. I have to say I'll never be back, no matter what, and this is honestly a restaurant that doesn't care about their guests' experience.
(2)
Rob W.
The food was mediocre. The service was horrible!! Waited over 30 minutes to get our bill. Immediatley after paying, she collected the book to check her tip! Not impressed at all...
(2)
Kelly S.
My mom and I live 25 minutes from Berkley, MI where O'Mara's is located at the corner of 12 mile and ... well it is bit west of Woodward. I travel on 12 mile quite a bit and have always wanted to try the food at O'Mara's as I passed by it. The parking was ample. Mom wanted to eat early so we arrived at 5pm on a Saturday evening. The dining room was quaint and clean but at 5pm there were only about ten diners in the place. We were greeted at the door and shown to a table top...no booths in this place. I know that we arrived early but I always feel cheated when I see a stage for musicians but never get to hear the music unless I am there 10 at night. The music starts 9:30pm at O'Mara's. We started our meal with a glass of wine and an appetizer. I had the house cabernet and mom had the Lombroso. Wines were served in a nice wine glass. Wines tasted fine. We ordered the Pork Egg Roll appetizer. It was very tasty but we were surprised there were only 3 egg rolls. There was a lot of pork with corn wrapped in a crunchy, chewy, yummy shell. For the main meal I ordered the Shepherd's Pie and mom ordered the Macadamia Chicken salad. My mixed review for the pie is listed below. Mom loved her salad. There was a lot of chicken on top of mom's salad and the dressing was light and delicious. For dessert we had coffee (fresh and hot) along with a bumpy cake for me and bailey's cream cheesecake for mom. The desserts are made right there at O'Mara's and you can tell in that they are fresh and well proportioned. Our waitress was MIA often but when she did show up she was a joy to have around. Overall, I'd say it was a wonderful meal/evening at O'Mara's I was expecting my Sheppard's Pie to be served in a bowl but it was served as a thick slice of pie. The actual pie was very good with lots of potatoes and ground meat. What ruined the pie for me was the salty brown gravy that was poured all over it. I love gravy but this was very salty. On top of the gravy was frozen peas...cooked, but obviously they were of the frozen variety.
(4)
Haroun K.
I need to add a star. For many years my ancient forbears tried to drag me along to O'Mara's on a Friday for dinner and the show, and I declined. But, as I found out last Friday, it is actually a hell of a time. The food is the food. Me, I still order what I always have (portobella + ravioli), which is ok. But the show was very entertaining - and I wasn't even drinking. Ron Coden and his trio sang a wide variety of folk songs, and did some shtick which cracked me up. Granted, I'm nuts, but I was very, very amused. And the old people in the packed restaurant loved it, too, which made me happy. I think I'll come back for this.
(4)
Sarah W.
Perhaps if I had ordered the colcannon or other Irish fare they could have mustered the third star. My dining companions all seemed to enjoy their meals and they even comped my niece a free ice cream. So maybe 2.5 stars... But seriously, my salmon caesar salad was just not good. I was envisioning warm grilled salmon on top of the salad, but the fish was cold and slimy and looked a bit like it had been recovered from the day before's brunch buffet. I think I had two sad little croutons, a stray tomato (I presume from someone else's salad) and a sprinkling of powdered parmesan that looked to be from a shaker can. Gross. My soda was never refilled and the server brought our food out at all different times. (And not in the good bring the 2 year old something right away way, but in the make the grown-ups watch their food get cold because they are too polite to eat before I've been served) The place was wicked busy for a Monday morning, so apparently someone likes it. But I wasn't impressed.
(2)
Cathy W.
When my sister visited recently, we went to O'Maras on a friend's recommendation. And after our first visit for breakfast, followed it with dinner and second breakfast visits. I'll start with the service - spot on for all three visits with different server each time. Each was pleasant and knowledgable. Food was brought to the table piping hot, and we were checked on appropriately. Now to the food! The breakfasts sold us on O''Maras immediately. Tried the vegetarian omellete which was accompanied by a tasty small salad in a phylo "dish". Good mix of vegetables, and omellete was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of cheese. The asparagus and potato omellete was fantastic. The roasted asparagus with roasted red pepper, onion was paired well with Fontana cheese. I opted for a toasted bagel which came with three house made preserves. On the second breakfast visit, we found that the vegetarian omellete was tasty made with egg whites. My favorite, however, is their crispy French Toast (read the description on their menu!) served with a warm berry compote - LOTS of compote served on the side in a boat. I was concerned that the French Toast might be greasy, but literally not a drop! It's my favorite metro Detroit breakfast item! As for dinner - my sister tried the Chipolte Salmon, with trepidation. She prefers the "natural" taste of salmon, not covered by sauces or marinades. That outlook is now a thing of the past! The Chipolte glaze was spectacular, and enhanced the flavor of the salmon. Presentation? Spectacular! Asparagus spears crisscrossed above the salmon was wonderful color-wise and just generally appealing. I ordered the Vegetarian Eggplant Napolean and was pretty much bowled over. Visually, it was stunning - and the taste matched! Feta, spinach, mushrooms, with mozerella cheese and a beautifully seasoned non-acedic tomato sauce with thin slices of lightly breaded eggplant made for a marvelous dish. Can't wait to have it again. I'm SO glad O'Mara's was recommended to me, and only regret I didn't try it earlier considering its so close to home. Should also mention that its extremely comfortable with casual attire appearing to be the norm. With O'Maras and Amicis, Berkley, in my estimation, is the place to go for excellent quality food.
(5)
Megan C.
I kept hearing about this place for a coworker so I dragged two friends with me to check it out. We were there around 1030 on a Saturday and it was nearly empty which was a bit surprising for such a well known breakfast restaurant. We were seated right away and greeted with friendly servers who went over the menu with us. I made my own omelette: mushrooms, green pepper, chorizo and smoked Gouda. It was amazing. I also got an English muffin instead of toast and it came with three different options for homemade jam. My friends Also both got omelettes: one a veggie and one a salmon. We were all impressed with our meals. There were several options on the menu. Next time I want to try the oatmeal, as it comes with a lazy Susan of options to put in it. Our waitress was pleasant and helpful, filling our water glasses on time and helping with the menu. We will be coming back!
(5)
Ryan L.
Jeffrey B., Mary Mack and I stopped here for drinks one Tuesday night because the sign said 1/2 off and $2 martini. We walked in and sat in the bar area since it seemed the restaurant was closed. The bar seemed like a hotel lounge with it's '90s decor and many televisions. We sat down and ordered drinks. A few minutes later the older gentleman who took our drink order came back and said he forgot what we ordered. We ordered again. The drinks were cheap, though not very strong. The martini was a well martini for $2 and was the best well martini I've had. The ambiance was strange. The service not impeccable for being the only people there. The drinks were ok. I don't think I'll return just because there was nothing outstanding about this place.
(3)
Jennifer W.
My husband and I went for breakfast this past Sunday. The food and service were good however there was dust hanging from the ceiling. Disgusting! This has nothing to do with the construction going on by the bar. This was clumps of dust bunnies and it appears they turned off the light above our table so no one would notice. I will not return until they do some housekeeping. If clumps of dust are visible in the dining room, wonder what's hiding in the kitchen?
(1)
Sofia P.
The food wasn't horrible but the service was. Our waitress, Suzanne, disappeared for 30 minutes when we wanted to order more drinks and get our bill and came to the table smelling like smoke. Once we paid the bill she came back immediately and took it and looked at the tip. Not pleased with the service.
(2)
matt k.
after having dinner delivered my wife and i sampled each dish together. exquisite! filet mignon,brewers sausage platter,ramiki shrimp,crab cakes. another winner has been found. sorry we are leaving the area soon.just discovering the best of the best. called and complimented the manager and chef. hope you will too. batfish
(5)
Matt W.
Over priced, barley any real irish dishes, looks like a banquet hall---o wait it is, service is good, outside is much nicer than interior, would never go back, and I was overall extremely disappointed. Go Irish or don't call yourself O'maras.
(1)
Mike D.
Great menu and good food. It's a very enjoyable and long standing local Berkley establishment that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's equally adept for a diner out with the the spouse, as well as accommodating larger groups. Kind of disappointed to see all the negative reviews. I've been going to O'maras for years and very rarely leave less than completely satisfied.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jess T.
We went out to dinner here when we first moved to the metro Detroit area. I regret that we also brought my parents here. We had spent the day out and about around town and we were starving for dinner. O'mara's seemed nice enough from the out side and there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. My husband I shared the shepherds pie- it was almost inedible! I left the restaurant still hungry. All the food was waaaaaaay too salty. The placed did reek of smoke. There was live music but it could not make up for the horrible food. I would never eat here again and I would tell everyone to avoid it at all costs.
(1)Billy H.
O'mara's is a nice somewhat 'Irish pub' -- though more of casual restaurant in Berkley. We go O'mara's because they have an extensive menu covering basics like steak to shepherd's pie. During my recent visit, I had the mixed grille plate, which consist of grilled chicken, italian sausage, a couple ribs, two shrimp, and a small steak brochette. The meal also included fresh sautéed green beans and a basic tossed salad. Oh, I can't forget the fresh bread!! Each of the items on my 'make a hog of yourself platter' were very tasty -- the chicken was just a tad over seasoned (salty). However, this didn't stop me from eating everything on my plate like a good boy. My mother would be proud. The real bonus of the night was our server Donna. She was everything you want your server to be: prompt, friendly, and very nice. She made sure our drinks stayed filled and our food was delivered promptly. She is real star!
(3)Amy B.
Wow my experience with this restaurant is totally different than the other reviewers. Maybe they had the wrong impression going in. This is a tavern or pub; then add the food. The service has always been amazing. The dinner salads excellent. The chicken Marsala I'm told is very good. The fish fresh. But it has always been the staff and love Irish music that makes it a pleasant evening. Yes the interior needs a major overhaul. They must have run put of money after doing up the exterior so well. Overall a nice evening out. I'm not saying that it's gourmet. But it's a big step up from diner and more interesting than average.
(3)Natalie Z.
This was our second visit, and I thought the shepherd's pie was quite good. Our salads were fresh, and they brought plenty of bread to our table. It did seem that we waited a bit to order, but all in all, it was a nice dinner. It seems like they have special events scheduled, too. On the wall, they had a calendar saying a psychic and a handwriting analysis expert would be in on different nights.
(3)Alexandra K.
Gross. Gross. Gross. We waited forever to be served, and there was a bowl of butter on the table, but no bread. The salad was gross, the lettuce did not taste fresh. The eggplant was over-fried, oily, and simply lackluster. I would not return by choice. It fits in well with other Berkley restaurants, ie: gross.
(2)Moira G.
FUN! Went to O'Mara's Friday night ISO dinner... much to our delight we were treated to a live R&B trio, Even Exchange. They were awesome! The menu had a wide variety of dinner items that all sounded very tempting but we decided to try the specials since we might not see these offered in the future. Glad we did! There was a beautiful attention to details uich as the puff pastry fish with the black olive eye that topped my dish, I see from other reviews that the breakfast is something to try. You can bet we will be back soon :)
(4)Brandi D.
Can you say UNCOOKED FOOD??? I decided to try this restaurant since I am pretty new to the area. The placed smelled of dead people but the waitresses seemed plenty nice. I figured maybe the smell was for nostalgia. I ordered the chicken mackinaw and boy was I in for a treat! Never go to this place hungry because you will LEAVE HUNGRY, and Completely UNSATISFIED. The previous reviews are accurate!!!!!!! This restaurant must have a hugely successful catering service for the departed. No one with a beating heart would enjoy a dish here............
(1)Theresa U.
Was not impressed. First of all, the place smelt like a hospital. Our waitress was very unfriendly. She asked if this was our first time here. We said yes. All she said was 'oh', and conveniently forgot to mention they had a complimentary dessert if we ordered a dinner plate. Waited 35 - 40 minutes for our food. The pork tenderloin I ordered was very salty and presentation was as poor as a soup kitchen. The steak my friend ordered was small and dry. I will not waste my $ here again.
(1)JOHN A.
Last night my wife and I made the mistake of going to O'MARA'S Restaurant in Berkley, Michigan. The food was just awful. My wife had the Grilled Chicken Breast. The chicken had been pounded flat and was as tough and a shoe sole. We wondered why they gave her a steak knife - now we know. I had the half slab of BBQ'd Spareribs. The ribs were undercooked and also tough. I used more calories trying to get the meat off the bones than I got from eating the little meat I could salvage. Our server was very good however the birthday party of four at the next table left in a huff without eating because their service was soooo slooooow. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Linda W.
There seems to be mixed reviews on this place. I went there yesterday for lunch following a wedding (the bride and groom treated about 12 guests). I had never heard ot this place but from the outside it looked pretty good. I had a bowl of clam chowder and the sandwich du jour which was cod. The soup was cold but when it was brought back it was piping hot and delicious. The sandwich was your typical fish sandwich. Nothing special kinda bland with a slice of processed cheese and what looked like coleslaw. I shared an appetizer platter with the other guests. The platter was delicious. I wish I had ordered that for myself instead of what I had. The platter was very large. Our host ordered a platter large enough for every one. I'm guessing it was expensive. The platter had about 6 or seven items on it. The best item was the beef burgundy and mushroom dish. It was served in a hollowed out loaf of bread and the sauce over it was delicious. There was also a salmon pate, shrimp, crab cakes, and a couple of other things. I would suggest based on the reviews that first timers go with the appetizer plate. You can select your own items from a list of about 10 things.
(4)JOHN A.
Last night my wife and I made the mistake of going to O'MARA'S Restaurant in Berkley, Michigan. The food was just awful. My wife had the Grilled Chicken Breast. The chicken had been pounded flat and was as tough and a shoe sole. We wondered why they gave her a steak knife - now we know. I had the half slab of BBQ'd Spareribs. The ribs were undercooked and also tough. I used more calories trying to get the meat off the bones than I got from eating the little meat I could salvage. Our server was very good however the birthday party of four at the next table left in a huff without eating because their service was soooo slooooow. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)matt k.
after having dinner delivered my wife and i sampled each dish together. exquisite! filet mignon,brewers sausage platter,ramiki shrimp,crab cakes. another winner has been found. sorry we are leaving the area soon.just discovering the best of the best. called and complimented the manager and chef. hope you will too. batfish
(5)Matt W.
Over priced, barley any real irish dishes, looks like a banquet hall---o wait it is, service is good, outside is much nicer than interior, would never go back, and I was overall extremely disappointed. Go Irish or don't call yourself O'maras.
(1)Mike D.
Great menu and good food. It's a very enjoyable and long standing local Berkley establishment that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's equally adept for a diner out with the the spouse, as well as accommodating larger groups. Kind of disappointed to see all the negative reviews. I've been going to O'maras for years and very rarely leave less than completely satisfied.
(4)Linda W.
There seems to be mixed reviews on this place. I went there yesterday for lunch following a wedding (the bride and groom treated about 12 guests). I had never heard ot this place but from the outside it looked pretty good. I had a bowl of clam chowder and the sandwich du jour which was cod. The soup was cold but when it was brought back it was piping hot and delicious. The sandwich was your typical fish sandwich. Nothing special kinda bland with a slice of processed cheese and what looked like coleslaw. I shared an appetizer platter with the other guests. The platter was delicious. I wish I had ordered that for myself instead of what I had. The platter was very large. Our host ordered a platter large enough for every one. I'm guessing it was expensive. The platter had about 6 or seven items on it. The best item was the beef burgundy and mushroom dish. It was served in a hollowed out loaf of bread and the sauce over it was delicious. There was also a salmon pate, shrimp, crab cakes, and a couple of other things. I would suggest based on the reviews that first timers go with the appetizer plate. You can select your own items from a list of about 10 things.
(4)Lindsey C.
The complimentary bread was the most edible portion of the meal. Salad was wilted, with a hair in it. Chicken pot pie= mostly gravy with hardly any chicken, and the puff of crust on top was an oily mess. My boyfriends Salmon sandwich wasn't anything to write home about. The salmon was cold, hard, and may have been from one of those pouched salmons you can get next to the canned tuna at the grocery store. The toppings were just as sad looking. We were the youngest customers there, by roughly 40 years. Clue #1. Won't go back. Service was good.. no complaints there.
(2)Karen G.
I've dined at O'mara's periodically over the years without much to complain about, until this past Sunday. This was only my second visit to the restaurant for Sunday brunch. I was extremely disapointed when my friend and I entered the restaruant at approximately 10:50am (brunch is from 10:30-2:30) and were told that because we didn't have a reservation, all they could offer us, was a table in the smoking section, which was just beside the bar. In this day and age when the economy is suffering, especially in Michigan, I'm amazed that they just let us leave to go to a competitor's restaurant. I understand restaurants holding a portion of their tables for reservations, but almost all of the tables had reserved signs on them. For the sake of the wait staff, I really hope all the reservations showed up! Obvously management wasn't worried about business or the fact that we were not going to be coming back in the future.
(1)Lindsey C.
The complimentary bread was the most edible portion of the meal. Salad was wilted, with a hair in it. Chicken pot pie= mostly gravy with hardly any chicken, and the puff of crust on top was an oily mess. My boyfriends Salmon sandwich wasn't anything to write home about. The salmon was cold, hard, and may have been from one of those pouched salmons you can get next to the canned tuna at the grocery store. The toppings were just as sad looking. We were the youngest customers there, by roughly 40 years. Clue #1. Won't go back. Service was good.. no complaints there.
(2)Karen G.
I've dined at O'mara's periodically over the years without much to complain about, until this past Sunday. This was only my second visit to the restaurant for Sunday brunch. I was extremely disapointed when my friend and I entered the restaruant at approximately 10:50am (brunch is from 10:30-2:30) and were told that because we didn't have a reservation, all they could offer us, was a table in the smoking section, which was just beside the bar. In this day and age when the economy is suffering, especially in Michigan, I'm amazed that they just let us leave to go to a competitor's restaurant. I understand restaurants holding a portion of their tables for reservations, but almost all of the tables had reserved signs on them. For the sake of the wait staff, I really hope all the reservations showed up! Obvously management wasn't worried about business or the fact that we were not going to be coming back in the future.
(1)Alexandra K.
Gross. Gross. Gross. We waited forever to be served, and there was a bowl of butter on the table, but no bread. The salad was gross, the lettuce did not taste fresh. The eggplant was over-fried, oily, and simply lackluster. I would not return by choice. It fits in well with other Berkley restaurants, ie: gross.
(2)tim d.
Pretty sure they should start some sort of Social Security direct deposit scheme. Apparently you have to be about five thousand years old to think this food doesn't taste like wallpaper.
(1)Valerie G.
The commericals on TV told me that this place was amazing and that this was going to be a fabulous dining experience. We were just down 12 Mile and were looking for a place to dine with our little guy in tow, and this seemed like a good idea. We were pretty hungry so we didn't waste too much time mulling over the menu. We ordered the Chicken Strudel as an appetizer - the menu describing it as phyllo triangles filled with chicken, roasted red peppers and feta. My initial thought when it arrived was that it seemed pretty small - but I cut into one, and as bad as I feel saying this - the first thing that came to mind was that it tasted like the chicken quesadilla lean pockets that I used to it... with the exception of the phyllo. It wasn't disgusting, but it was not very good. Luckily the fresh bread they bring to each table was good enough to munch on. Our entree selections were the fish & chips and the Brewer's Sausage Platter. The fish and chips were a bad choice- I cannot stand it when the batter is soggy, and it was definitely soggy here. A lot of this dish went untouched. The Brewer's Sausage Platter was a ridiculous amount of food. There was kielbasa, bratwurst and knackwurst with sauerkraut, braised red cabbage and Irish potatoes. This dish was actually the one saving grace of the food that we were served. This dish actually had some flavor and did not disappoint. It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge that we also had incredibly good service. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly- I just wish he would have steered me in a different direction when we were mulling over our menu options... perhaps I would have been happier if I would have steered toward the more traditional Irish pub fare.
(3)Lola D.
Where ordinarily the old decorum does spoil the general experience of a foody, in this particular case it didn't. The food was top quality with a ribeye steak full of flavor and cooked properly. Pasta was al dente, good mixture of flavors and a balanced sauce. Guinnes, very appropriately was readily available and service was like back in 1982. To go along with 3 decade old decorum, you gotta check out the women's bathroom and you will be sure high rollers of the party ridden 80s had more than a few drinks there. I give this restaurant 3 due to a general $5+ overcharge on all food items.
(3)Troy D.
I also want so badly for omaras to be better. I really should give it three and a half stars because the place seems to have consistency issues. I have always found the food to be great, and reasonably priced ( particularly if you get any of the specials), but the service is not always four star material. Don't get me wrong, alot of times it's great, but I have certainly had to sit with an empty glass (water or drink) a fair bit longer than I would have liked to a few times. Nonetheless, I frequent the place fairly often and think that it is usually pretty brilliant. I recommend the house steak, prime rib thursday, and the after ten 1/2 price drinks. Also, they sometimes get some pretty good acts in there. The orbitsuns played just last week, and they get some good comedians and Quizzo on wed. nights. Overall, really like the place, just think it could so easily be a solid four instead of the 3 1/2 it really is.
(4)Valerie G.
The commericals on TV told me that this place was amazing and that this was going to be a fabulous dining experience. We were just down 12 Mile and were looking for a place to dine with our little guy in tow, and this seemed like a good idea. We were pretty hungry so we didn't waste too much time mulling over the menu. We ordered the Chicken Strudel as an appetizer - the menu describing it as phyllo triangles filled with chicken, roasted red peppers and feta. My initial thought when it arrived was that it seemed pretty small - but I cut into one, and as bad as I feel saying this - the first thing that came to mind was that it tasted like the chicken quesadilla lean pockets that I used to it... with the exception of the phyllo. It wasn't disgusting, but it was not very good. Luckily the fresh bread they bring to each table was good enough to munch on. Our entree selections were the fish & chips and the Brewer's Sausage Platter. The fish and chips were a bad choice- I cannot stand it when the batter is soggy, and it was definitely soggy here. A lot of this dish went untouched. The Brewer's Sausage Platter was a ridiculous amount of food. There was kielbasa, bratwurst and knackwurst with sauerkraut, braised red cabbage and Irish potatoes. This dish was actually the one saving grace of the food that we were served. This dish actually had some flavor and did not disappoint. It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge that we also had incredibly good service. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly- I just wish he would have steered me in a different direction when we were mulling over our menu options... perhaps I would have been happier if I would have steered toward the more traditional Irish pub fare.
(3)Lola D.
Where ordinarily the old decorum does spoil the general experience of a foody, in this particular case it didn't. The food was top quality with a ribeye steak full of flavor and cooked properly. Pasta was al dente, good mixture of flavors and a balanced sauce. Guinnes, very appropriately was readily available and service was like back in 1982. To go along with 3 decade old decorum, you gotta check out the women's bathroom and you will be sure high rollers of the party ridden 80s had more than a few drinks there. I give this restaurant 3 due to a general $5+ overcharge on all food items.
(3)Troy D.
I also want so badly for omaras to be better. I really should give it three and a half stars because the place seems to have consistency issues. I have always found the food to be great, and reasonably priced ( particularly if you get any of the specials), but the service is not always four star material. Don't get me wrong, alot of times it's great, but I have certainly had to sit with an empty glass (water or drink) a fair bit longer than I would have liked to a few times. Nonetheless, I frequent the place fairly often and think that it is usually pretty brilliant. I recommend the house steak, prime rib thursday, and the after ten 1/2 price drinks. Also, they sometimes get some pretty good acts in there. The orbitsuns played just last week, and they get some good comedians and Quizzo on wed. nights. Overall, really like the place, just think it could so easily be a solid four instead of the 3 1/2 it really is.
(4)Jason E.
First of all I have to say that this seems to be a posting board for people that love to complain. O'maras is always packed on the weekends and sometimes during the week as well. For "Berkley", it's the best food you can find, period. They have unique appetizers that taste great and we have tried them all. The fillet mignon which is absolutely to die for. They put this great zip sauce on top of the steaks that really sets this melt in your mouth steak off, you could eat it with a butter knife and you won't find a scrap of fat on it. The staff is always friendly and attentive. There used to be more smoke then we preferred but the laws have cured that issue for us. Honestly, I wonder if some of these posts are from competitors in the area. After all, they are the best thing going for Berkley and I wish that "normal" people that don't love to bash places so that they can get attention and have a voice in the world would step up here and share more. But again, it seems to be mostly negative people who are obviously miserable. Omaras is definitely worth your time and money.
(5)Gwen R.
Had dinner at O'Mara's a couple of weeks ago. The service was exceptional and our server (Taylor?) was extremely helpful. I had a hamburger and it was one of the best I have had for a long time.
(5)Shannon S.
Birthday time again at work...this was the birthday girls choice... Not bad... The service was decent. Our waitress was getting more tables so it affected us, but not too bad. I had the Duck cherry salad.. It was okay, I was trying to stay healthy, since Mondays are my jump back on the wagon days....not sure what I was thinking with this salad but it was good.. By all means, I wasn't wow'ed by this restaurant, but I also wouldn't not go back either.. There were some other items I'd like to try on the menu... Since it's an Irish restaurant, I'd like to try their Shepherds pie, or fish & chips. Over all a good experience. p.s. The girls bathroom, besides the stanky sewer smell, has this crazy mirror, it's almost like you're at a bridal salon, because you can step into the center of it and see yourself from every possible angle...haha...leave it to me to be more excited about the bathroom! We al ldid the split a couple of desserts so we tried the bumpy cake (HUGE!! rich, delish!) and the lemon merengue...this also was good.. Everyone elses lunch looked really good too... I don't know...mine wasn't as fabulous as I'd hoped it to be :~/
(3)Maggie Margaret G.
After a long hard shift some times you just need a cold beer and O'Maras doesn't disappoint,even at 0800 in the morning!! There were plenty of choices and the beer was SUPER cold,just the way I like it!! A comprehensive breakfast menu with the things you expect to find and some unexpected things like chorizo sausage gravy and biscuits....a great spin on a classic item!! As a midnight shift worker it's nice to have a place to go after work that a comfortable place with good food and great drinks! Also the staff was very accommodating and friendly....I definitely recommend this place...good food friendly staff and cold beer....don't need much else!
(5)Dominique K.
Went here w/my SO & mom at lunch time. I ate from the breakfast menu, having a smoked salmon fritatta and smoothie. The smoothie was made with fresh fruit (a plus), and the frittata was decent (the option to have it as a frittata, scramble or omelet was also nice, as was the homemade jam for my toast). My mom had a lunch special sandwich-a club concoction with egg salad and Canadian bacon. A unique combo and huge, but it didn't come toasted as she requested. Her hot tea was a premium blend of fresh tea leaves, and the water came in its own little ceramic pot (a plus). Tim ate from the dinner menu, having the Brewers' sausage platter (huge portions of sausage, kraut & red cabbage...plus the bratwurst had a very unique taste...tasty, though). Service was slow at a time when it was the tail end of lunch and the dining room wasn't very full. The food came out hot, so we're guessing the slowness was the result of a slow kitchen, rather than the server. Overall, the food was decent with some unique selections, but the sluggish service contributed to giving this place 3 stars, rather than 4.
(3)M V.
Good solid food. Big portions. Good prices. I never leave here hungry. The egg rolls that they have as an app are surprisely really good. Give them a try.
(3)Carie H.
We went here for breakfast on Sunday... Food was good. The scrambles looked awesome! My smoked salmon frittata was pretty good. I definitely recommend the bloody mary bar! $5 and make it the way you like it!!! They even had smoked salmon stuffed olives & blue cheese stuffed olives - YUM! The service was excellent. Couldn't have asked for a nicer, more accommodating individual (we had 2 gluten free dieters with us). Definitely ask for Cindy if you go in!
(4)Ashley H.
We stopped in for dinner for the first time last night. Their menu has a wide variety of options sure to please most people. I thought our food had great flavor and was reasonably-priced. There wasn't anything that was over-the-top awesome about this place, hence the three stars, but it's a great alternative to chain restaurants.
(3)Dina B.
I don't speak for the new brunch menu. Maybe it's a phenomenon. I ordered "tomato chicken celebration." Presumptous title. Penne noodles with a very plain red sauce with some canned artichoke hearts and kalamatas thrown in. With boiled pieces of flavorless chicken. I imagine everything coming pretty much out of it's can onto the plate. One time I ordered something with a mixed fruit side and it was clearly canned fruit. I hate that. Family ordered shepard's pie. It literally was shaped like a pie, which threw us off. It had a weird brown skin (my SIL said "jacket" which was apt) which threw us more off. What's that??
(2)Vida H.
I went to O'Mara's for the first time and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious ths food was! I had the Dublin chicken & my fiancé had the Chicken Marsala, which was also divine! Our server Donna was the best, lovely attitude & customer service! We will be going to dine there again in the near future!
(5)Emily S.
I had my bridal shower here on Saturday and had a very positive experience. The servers were friendly and attentive (particularly with the drink orders, which I've had issues with at similar events at other venues). The food was good, too - we had 3 menu options and people at my table enjoyed all of them. Had multiple guests comment positively on both the service and the food. There was another party at the back of the same room we were in which we were a little worried about but it ended up being fine (I think we were both pretty energetic groups so it wasn't a problem but could have been if we were a quiet bunch). We definitely were pushing it at the later end of our event but they were very polite and didn't make us feel rushed even though it was clear they had to get the next group in quickly. Would definitely come back to see Blackthorn or comedy night when I'm in town again.
(4)Jess T.
We went out to dinner here when we first moved to the metro Detroit area. I regret that we also brought my parents here. We had spent the day out and about around town and we were starving for dinner. O'mara's seemed nice enough from the out side and there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. My husband I shared the shepherds pie- it was almost inedible! I left the restaurant still hungry. All the food was waaaaaaay too salty. The placed did reek of smoke. There was live music but it could not make up for the horrible food. I would never eat here again and I would tell everyone to avoid it at all costs.
(1)Emily S.
I had my bridal shower here on Saturday and had a very positive experience. The servers were friendly and attentive (particularly with the drink orders, which I've had issues with at similar events at other venues). The food was good, too - we had 3 menu options and people at my table enjoyed all of them. Had multiple guests comment positively on both the service and the food. There was another party at the back of the same room we were in which we were a little worried about but it ended up being fine (I think we were both pretty energetic groups so it wasn't a problem but could have been if we were a quiet bunch). We definitely were pushing it at the later end of our event but they were very polite and didn't make us feel rushed even though it was clear they had to get the next group in quickly. Would definitely come back to see Blackthorn or comedy night when I'm in town again.
(4)Billy H.
O'mara's is a nice somewhat 'Irish pub' -- though more of casual restaurant in Berkley. We go O'mara's because they have an extensive menu covering basics like steak to shepherd's pie. During my recent visit, I had the mixed grille plate, which consist of grilled chicken, italian sausage, a couple ribs, two shrimp, and a small steak brochette. The meal also included fresh sautéed green beans and a basic tossed salad. Oh, I can't forget the fresh bread!! Each of the items on my 'make a hog of yourself platter' were very tasty -- the chicken was just a tad over seasoned (salty). However, this didn't stop me from eating everything on my plate like a good boy. My mother would be proud. The real bonus of the night was our server Donna. She was everything you want your server to be: prompt, friendly, and very nice. She made sure our drinks stayed filled and our food was delivered promptly. She is real star!
(3)Amy B.
Wow my experience with this restaurant is totally different than the other reviewers. Maybe they had the wrong impression going in. This is a tavern or pub; then add the food. The service has always been amazing. The dinner salads excellent. The chicken Marsala I'm told is very good. The fish fresh. But it has always been the staff and love Irish music that makes it a pleasant evening. Yes the interior needs a major overhaul. They must have run put of money after doing up the exterior so well. Overall a nice evening out. I'm not saying that it's gourmet. But it's a big step up from diner and more interesting than average.
(3)Natalie Z.
This was our second visit, and I thought the shepherd's pie was quite good. Our salads were fresh, and they brought plenty of bread to our table. It did seem that we waited a bit to order, but all in all, it was a nice dinner. It seems like they have special events scheduled, too. On the wall, they had a calendar saying a psychic and a handwriting analysis expert would be in on different nights.
(3)Jason E.
First of all I have to say that this seems to be a posting board for people that love to complain. O'maras is always packed on the weekends and sometimes during the week as well. For "Berkley", it's the best food you can find, period. They have unique appetizers that taste great and we have tried them all. The fillet mignon which is absolutely to die for. They put this great zip sauce on top of the steaks that really sets this melt in your mouth steak off, you could eat it with a butter knife and you won't find a scrap of fat on it. The staff is always friendly and attentive. There used to be more smoke then we preferred but the laws have cured that issue for us. Honestly, I wonder if some of these posts are from competitors in the area. After all, they are the best thing going for Berkley and I wish that "normal" people that don't love to bash places so that they can get attention and have a voice in the world would step up here and share more. But again, it seems to be mostly negative people who are obviously miserable. Omaras is definitely worth your time and money.
(5)tim d.
Pretty sure they should start some sort of Social Security direct deposit scheme. Apparently you have to be about five thousand years old to think this food doesn't taste like wallpaper.
(1)Moira G.
FUN! Went to O'Mara's Friday night ISO dinner... much to our delight we were treated to a live R&B trio, Even Exchange. They were awesome! The menu had a wide variety of dinner items that all sounded very tempting but we decided to try the specials since we might not see these offered in the future. Glad we did! There was a beautiful attention to details uich as the puff pastry fish with the black olive eye that topped my dish, I see from other reviews that the breakfast is something to try. You can bet we will be back soon :)
(4)Brandi D.
Can you say UNCOOKED FOOD??? I decided to try this restaurant since I am pretty new to the area. The placed smelled of dead people but the waitresses seemed plenty nice. I figured maybe the smell was for nostalgia. I ordered the chicken mackinaw and boy was I in for a treat! Never go to this place hungry because you will LEAVE HUNGRY, and Completely UNSATISFIED. The previous reviews are accurate!!!!!!! This restaurant must have a hugely successful catering service for the departed. No one with a beating heart would enjoy a dish here............
(1)Theresa U.
Was not impressed. First of all, the place smelt like a hospital. Our waitress was very unfriendly. She asked if this was our first time here. We said yes. All she said was 'oh', and conveniently forgot to mention they had a complimentary dessert if we ordered a dinner plate. Waited 35 - 40 minutes for our food. The pork tenderloin I ordered was very salty and presentation was as poor as a soup kitchen. The steak my friend ordered was small and dry. I will not waste my $ here again.
(1)Lonny B.
We had been here a while back, when they still had the Sunday bruch, which was great. They no longer have it, we knew that going in. But it was noon on a Sunday, they give us a menu with omelets etc, and also sandwiches etc. We want a burger, a rueben etc, and the waiter says "breakfast only on Sundays" Even though the girl at the door had said breakfast and lunches. So a few in our party were disapointed, but there were 8 of us and we weren't going to get up an leave, so we had "breakfast" again, though at home I had already had eggs. Don't expect to get a sandwich on a Sunday here. Kind of misleading..........If you want anything other than breakfast, you have to come after 3:00pm
(3)Mattie O.
This Irish pub in Berkley is a low-key neighborhood gem. A well rounded beer selection (maybe a little light on trendy microbrew drafts) with typical Irish and pub food as well as delicious main course entrées add to the allure. They have standard entrées such as steak and burgers, but they also have some interesting options including a scrumptious cherry and duck salad. Their house wines in my experience so far have been universally delicious. I've noticed they do try to update their beer selection, especially with respect to bottled options. Mixed drinks in my opinion have been the weak point in the alcoholic selections. I had a mojito the other night that tasted like Sprite and rum with some muddled mint. The atmosphere at O'mara's is a strong point. You definitely get that friendly neighborhood restaurant feeling. The bartenders and waitstaff are helpful and not overly aggressive, and the patrons are pretty nice as well. There is a pretty rockin' karaoke session hosted on Wednesday nights by Julie Haven that is always fun. They do have live music on the patio many nights in the warmer months. Of note, they also allow well-behaved, leashed dogs on the patio. I brought my dog in this week, and the waiters made sure to bring him a dish of water. It was really cute.
(5)juston m.
o'mara's is like your sad irish sister. kinda dumpy and her food is tasteless. being a nurse, i often eat breakfast and have cocktails around 8am. i'm pretty well versed with most the options in south oakland county for this type of meal. o'mara's is the worst. the service is slow, the servers have no idea what kind of beer they have on any given day, and the food is overpriced. best thing for breakfast is the little salad that comes with everything. love, juston
(2)Zachary J.
Pretty good food, fairly large portions, just a little pricey. I had the Ruben, it was good but I've had better and for less money. However it came with yummy fries and surprisingly good coleslaw. I don't usually crave coleslaw but the slaw here is better than most. I went with a group of 20+ by the way, we were accommodated nicely.
(4)Jennifer W.
O'Mara's food was good. Our service was great. The decor was dark and stuffy. Cloth napkins and glass water goblets add to the ambiance. The average patron age eating during lunch was 65. They serve High Tea during the week but have a bar area and dancing, as every good Irish restaurant should. Interesting restaurant with decent food and good service.
(3)Wisdom H.
I visited O'Mara's for the first time after having passed it everyday for nearly 4 years (as it is within walking distance from my house). If I feel a place has potential or is exceptional, I like to visit it 3 times, across the day and with different shifts. This first visit came on a Monday around 10:15am, for its "famed" Breakfast. Upon walking in, I was pleasantly surprised with the old pub feel. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but it was rather nice, for back in the day and I felt a bit under dressed. I was quickly greeted and seated and a gentleman brought water and filled my glass. Eventually, a server greeted me and I told her I was ready to order. She cleared my table of the extra settings and took my order - Greek Omelette, Rye toast and Turkey Sausage. About 15 minutes later, she brought fresh in-house jams and explained them. Another 15 minutes, and food finally arrived (turkey sausage coming separately). I opened my silverware and found it to be dirty. The server at the tables around me (who was extremely nice to her customers) noticed me waiting to eat and asked if I needed anything. I discreetly asked for a clean set of silverware and she apologized profusely and switched my silver. Then my server came and asked if I was ok. I told her I was fine. I ate my breakfast and the food was . The house made jam is not the prettiest, but it is tasty. Everything seems fresh, which is a huge bonus for me. As for ambiance, it's a nice, old-style restaurant. Feels like an old country-club or lodge to me, but a little more upscale (emphasis on 'a little'). Be aware, however, that you will inadvertently overhear EVERY conversation around you. One group on the other side of the room had a chatty ringleader. I was annoyed by her boisterous, uninteresting stories. She almost drowned out the politely-conversing women directly on either side of me... Almost. And finally, the bill. I expected to pay under $20 for my meal, and I did. The food is moderately priced, per person. There seems to be a good variety of dishes to choose from and my food all came out hot. I had water and had to ask for my refill. The same gentleman who filled my glass initially came around with a pitcher and filled my glass again. Then my server came with a pitcher of water. I can't say I'd be compelled to ever come back. I didn't have a good or a bad experience, per se. It was just ok. As for the breakfast being considered the best in Berkley, I don't think that is accurate. But then again, Berkley is pretty small and lacks diversity. There is plenty of diversity among Europeans, but otherwise, I found none of that here either.
(3)Jenny O.
My first time in here today, as I walked in I noticed the layout was quite neat. I like how the bar is upfront and dining is separate. I was here for breakfast, it was nice, quiet and pretty empty. (Monday morning) I ordered the fresh squeezed orange juice, which is absolutely amazing & sweet! To eat, I ordered a spinach and feta omelette which was unlike any other omelette I've tried before. An abundant amount of feta (pricey cheese) and other veggies as well. There was a taziki sauce and a small breakfast salad alongside the omelette that complimented very well. For the toast there was three homemade jams (YUM ) there was strawberry, mixed berry and marmalade I believe. Seriously so delicious. My server, Donna if I'm not mistaken, was very friendly and jolly which just made my experience there that much better. I'll definitely be coming back for lunch and dinner as well.
(5)Heather J.
Doth mine eyes deceive? Be there an Irish pub in downtown Berkley? Until the rumoured renovation of Hiller's Grocery happens, the answer is a resounding no. O'Mara's is Irish, yes, and the theme is evident from the glowing sign on the corner of Coolidge and 12 Mile. They serve alcohol, yes. A pub? Not particularly. In fact, this counts as one of the finest dining establishments in the People's Republic. It may not offer while tablecloths, though the napkins are linen and the menu at a higher price point than any pub dares to charge outside Temple Bar. I don't know many pubs that serve up gourmet omelettes and steaks, rather than cheap burgers and delicious boxty (Irish pancakes, but savory). O'Mara's really has two menus to consider; their everyday menu with its sandwiches, a few choice soups and salads, and plenty of entrees with a gently Irish slant. Then there's the brunch menu, the granddaddy, offering a hearty plough man's breakfast, corned beef hash, eggs Benedict, and do I need to go on because your mouth should be conspicuously drooling. Whatever you get, request toast or an English muffin -- yes, even in an Irish restaurant, you aren't sinning against Eire doing so. Why? Jam. Homemade jam. Resplendent, sticky fingers and conspicuously bright mouth jam. It's the adult form of Saturday morning all over again when your parents made you toast and slathered it in the good stuff. Maybe the jellies your Irish grandmother made, or the special preserves that only came out if you'd been good. It's delicious. 1 star is earned for the jars of happiness that leave yucky old Smuckers in the dust. I particularly like it with the heavy Irish rye or soda bread. O'Mara's also serves tea from Kristie's, a local shop which thrives on a lot of loose leaf blends that are well worth sampling. Their proper tea menu contains greens, herbals, blacks, and fruity combinations as far away from the norm as you can get. Tuesdays see tea time, but for a girl with a job, I never get to attend these lovely times. Boo! I would give a lot for a weekend teatime or an evening tea. The food here is spendy, even at brunch. $12 for an egg dish seems excessive, though the portions are comfortably filling and the preparations beautiful. We always wince a bit seeing the price for orange juice and brunch, although you won't lack for savory food. Alex's next door covers more run of the mill breakfast options if that's more your speed. But you won't get that awesome freaking jam. Another special factor about this place is the live music, which admittedly I don't get to see often due to scheduling conflicts and my small child. However, Friday and Saturday frequently feature live acts beyond the usual Gaelic Storm knockoffs. They have jazz, rock, folk, and pop acts just to name a few, and it's always worth to see who is on the roster. Don't get too deep into your cups because the parking lot is a tragic nightmare, a pitted wasteland of potholes and uneven gaps that doesn't belong outside so nice a restaurant. The number of times I've had to skitter through no man's land in the rain and almost broken my neck is no fun at all, and I really wish they'd repave it all!
(3)Ellen K.
Let me preface this by saying that as a rule we only go to O'Mara's for breakfast. It may have delicious lunch or dinner, and I would have no idea. O'Mara's is reasonably priced and delicious. They've got a plethora of omelettes, frittatas, and scrambles. Also delicious pancakes and waffles. I usually get an omelette, and normally the spinach, gorgonzola and walnut one. You can also build your own, and there are a billion choices (most of which boyfriend takes advantage of all at once. Bring on the bacon.) It comes with toast (I recommend the honey oat) and a bunch of delicious jams (sounds weird, but you'll see what I mean). They also have a $5 Bloody Mary bar, which we rarely skip. The waitstaff is always really friendly and chatty. The only thing is that O'Mara's, at least at brunchtime, doesn't really have a "happenin" atmosphere. More like people's grandparents after church. Doesn't take away from the experience at all!...just something to note.
(4)Jeremy M.
I come in for breakfast once a month or so. The service is great, the food is good, the selection is somewhat limited though what they have is good. It is a bit on the pricey side for what it is. I know they make their own jams...but none of them (mixed berry, marmalade and strawberry) taste any good to me...maybe it is just me, they all taste sour. I guess everyone else seems to like them so maybe it is just me. I've ordered from their lunch/dinner menu, it is good, but again pricey but decent food. I'd like them one star more if they would lower their prices and/or expand their menu a bit but for what they are they are good. The waitstaff is very nice and polite.
(3)Colette N.
I am not a frequent visitor of O'Mara's, but throughout the years I have gone many times. It is a classic neighborhood restaurant/watering hole, with plenty of regulars - like the Berkley Cheers. The food has always been solid - not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Then, I got the word - they have a great Maurice Salad! In my never-ending search for the best Maurice Salad, I raced to O'Maras to check it out. It was solid. Not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Lots of cherry tomatoes (huh?), decent lettuce, light on meat and cheese and so/so pickles (for me, the tell tale sign of a great Maurice is a good pickle). Three stars for the salad, 4 stars for the place O'Mara's plays in the neighborhood. By the way, I can't speak to the Sunday Brunch or the weekend entertainment, but Ive heard good things. Well O'Mara's, you're the closest Maurice Salad to my work - so I'm guessing I'll be back. but I won't be giving up my search!
(4)Leslie C.
I've been here for lunch and thought it was good. Well dinner tonight was bad enough we probably won't come back. Anniversary salad with chicken, gross and ugly. I was starving so I ate the salad. Tasted alright but tossed with heavy dressing that wilts the shredded salad, like eating $12 coleslaw. Chicken was flavorless and gnarly looking. I didn't eat and asked them to take it off the bill. Husband got pot roast with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Was easier to eat but still not great. Heavy tomato tang. Box potatoes? Just not great for $14. Like truck stop food or Ponderosa buffet.
(2)Jill B.
Last night was our first time at O'Mara's. Friends made a reservation for 12 up front near the live band, Blackthorn. (Blackthorn was excellent as always, great music and very entertaining.) When we arrived there wasn't a host or hostess and we waited five minutes or so. I asked a waitress if a host was on duty, and she was a bit snippy in reply. A guy behind us in line went looking for the host and the host directed his attention to that person first. When it was our turn haha we said we were with the John Doe party and instead of leading us to the table, he pointed out at 15 tables or so and said they are here already at Table 2, as though we knew their table numbering system. We looked and didn't see anyone we recognized. We apologized and said we don't know where he was pointing. He was exasperated at having to walk us to the table. And it was true, the people we knew hadn't arrived yet. So first impression wasn't very good. The atmosphere was like an old fashioned supper club- low ceilings, lots of noise and jam packed. Our seats were great, close to the band. The table ordered appetizers of smoked salmon plates. The plate had a nice presentation, nice size and all the right accompaniments. Yum! Menu prices were $15 - $30 for entrees. The salads were very good. The thousand island dressing seemed homemade or at least one of the better store bought brands. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi and the shrimp were large and cooked perfectly, and there were more than 6- maybe 10- on a bed of rice. Lots of garlic and butter with a nice presentation. My husband had a chicken dish that was also quite delicious. Unfortunately in his bowl of mixed vegetables, he bit into a large, bigger than a marble sized chunk of used ginger swept into the dish from another menu item. He had to remove it from his mouth and find a place for it, which was awkward. We asked the waitress to let the chef know, and she said she was sorry. Despite the situation at first with the host, the service the rest of the evening was great. We were drinking ice water, and it was refilled continuously. Our orders arrived smoothly with no mix-ups. The waitress kept separate tabs for our party of 12, no mistakes. It's a bit far from Novi just for a meal but I would go back again for the entertainment and arrive early for dinner!
(4)Elizabeth M.
I've been hesitant to write this, as it's not my style to write a negative review, but the level of blatantly awful customer service requires me to give a warning to future banquet guests of O'Mara's. I booked an August rehearsal dinner at O'Mara's. I knew the food would be good, and it was. The back room was crowded with 50 people, but adequate. The servers, except one, were relatively friendly. But when I received my bill, I had been charged the Plan B price, for my Plan A dinners, which were $2 per person more. In addition, I was charged $1.95 per person for drinks--"including water" is what I was told. I was also still charged for two other non-alcoholic drinks, along with my open bar tab (which I now of course totally mistrust). A 20% gratuity was written on the bottom of the receipt, even though the paperwork says it would be 18%. The runaround I have received since is disgraceful. I've never received an apology, or any response from the owner even though I sent him a letter explaining the situation. After many calls, I finally got one manager to "receive approval" to reimburse me for just the $2.00 per meal that I was overcharged. What a shame that O'Mara's tried so hard to get an extra $200+ from me, and in the meantime lost me as a customer, my extended family and friends, and hopefully anyone else who reads this review.
(1)Ellie K.
At first a bit leary when my dinner partner suggested this Irish pub. Even though it was their treat you know how vegetarians are. Irish cuisine is not one I would chose on my own, since I no longer consume liters of beer and don't eat corned beef. But decided to give it a try. Like the heavy flatwareand even though some some plates show wear it gives the place a feeling of not being another trendy Royal Oak locale. Extensive menu made me leery of premade food that is just finished or thawed. is also heavy on meat dishes. But lo and behold there in the corner of the menu are vegetarian entrees! As usual I queried the waitstaff with a usual round of questions expecting not to get many answers. But she knew, could describe the dishes, knew whether the mushrooms were fresh! You know how nice it is to have this in a restaurant where you want more than a white bread sandwich? And she was accurate. The Vegetarian pasta primavera was actually very nice. My dinner partern went for the fsh and chips again, loved that the chips weren't salted. The pea soup was very tasty but for me a bit too salty; drank water rest of the evening. Portions too big, which usually happens for us. When I asked for a box for the leftovers (good for 2 more meals for me) Diana actually took the plates in the back and packed up the food. So much better than having a box simply left on the table. I'm curious about the shepherd's pie which is made with sliced potatoes, not mashed. Might have to try it if I need a protein overdose. Oh, the rolls were very nice - small and tasty with a nice firm outer texture and soft inside. Diana was super - just the right mix of attention and knows the food!
(4)Amanda S.
Calling this place an Irish pub is a bit misleading. Went last night for the first time and I doubt I'll go back. I wanted pub food but the menu was more similar to a steakhouse. I had the fish and chips and the best part of my meal was the bread we had when we were seated. That bread was fantastic but nothing else was. Our service was very good but a table near us waited a long time to even have a drink order taken. Seems to be a popular place with the older crowd but I wasn't impressed.
(2)Rob M.
I used to really like this place- but recently their service has gotten pretty bad. And they removed the corned been and cabbage from the menu! What kind of IRISH restaurant does that?! That was my favorite dish but since they removed it and service has dwindled I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)Joe B.
My girl recently threw a baby shower for our friends at O'Mara's in their banquet room and the staff deserves major applause. The managers and the catering servers were all so gracious and helpful and fulfilled any request asked of the facility. The food was timely and even though the group was large they did a great job keeping up with drink orders. That said, I swear the shepherd's pie I had for lunch had refried beans instead of a meat filling but it still tasted pretty good.
(4)Regina S.
Took my Diva Queen daughter and my son out to dinner here last week. Haven't been, honestly, in like, 20 years... It was a fave of my stepmom's. The restaurant is pretty nice and clean, albeit all the walls were closed off, because it wasn't busy and that made it seem awful small compared to how it appears outside. It was also darker than it should be, in my opinion. There were a few stragglers at the bar, and a few tables, pretty standard I guess for a Wednesday night. Interesting background music. We heard everything from Tom Petty to Bob Marley... :) The waitress, I never did get her name, was nice enough, but seemed kinda rushed to me... Not sure why. DQ got the corned beef, I got froglegs, and my son got a NY strip (his go-to usually). There is really nothing Irish about the place except the name and the few Irish dishes they serve. They also serve Continental, Italian, Mexican, seafood, chicken, steaks... etc... Ahh... another restaurant with an identity complex. We were given some tasty fresh pull apart bread with poppy seeds and butter... and CRAB butter. That's right, I said CRAB BUTTER. I could have eaten just this and been happy, I swear to you!!! We got soup and salad.. it was good, nothing special. My froglegs were cooked nicely, lightly fried, but they put this "garlic oil" on the side and OMG it was fucking disgusting!!!! Like totally burned garlic, I don't know WHO would eat this, but thankfully it was in a cup and not all over my tasty froglegs!! DQ's corned beef was tasty, and it came with some nice horseradish cream on the side... in a giant gravy boat... that was kinda weird, it was A LOT of sauce for a side. She didn't like it, but I thought it was tasty. But the plain boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots were yet to be desired. She ate it, but was kinda like "meh" over all but the corned beef. My son's steak was nicely done, with one giant super salty mushroom on it... and he got rice pilaf as a side. He liked it all, cleaned his plate, except the mushroom which I made the mistake of eating and almost choking on. So, as a wrap, the food is decent in parts, the decor is kinda dated, but clean and pretty comfy, but the prices are a little higher than they should be, and the menu is just very confused. Been running into a lot of this lately. Over $70.00 for the 3 of us with tip... Just too steep for what we got. Walking out, my son said, "this restaurant is pretty good, but they should stick to like, one thing...I think they don't know what they want to be " Well said!! /Irish????
(3)Mark H.
Friendly service and pleasant atmosphere. Spinach feta egg white omelette was excellent, as were all the homemade jams.
(4)Mary J.
Stopped here with friends on a Friday night for their live entertainment and some cocktails. This was our first time there and we were very disappointed with the atmosphere. Dingy, harsh track lighting in the entertainment area. Very basic, unkempt and outdated atmosphere. Has potential if lighting had a better ambience and if tables could have candles at least. Sound system was very poor as well. When the band took a break there was nothing interesting to keep customers hanging around. No overhead music, no music videos.,.just a bland, hall-like atmosphere. It's too bad they don't put a little thought and TLC into the evening entertainment area. Not at all impressed. Won't be back.
(2)Ron C.
Even on day # 1 of the O'Mara's Breakfast Club there was ZERO let down or skimping on anything. My wife had a rare day off & I said can I buy you breakfast? YES! SO we scooted the 17 miles over to O'Mara's and being such a gorgeous day we sat outside. Lisa the Fabulous & Personable bartender gave us a hearty hello and Donna walked us to the patio, a very gracious assistant brought us water & he called it Natures Champagne . Donna full of life & 'ON" brought us our menu's & 1 coffee. The Menus has a nice variation of you can order your egg Feature as an: Omlette Fritatta Wrap or a Scramble all for the same price $6-$7.50 range I ordered the Chorizo Sausage Omlette,with peppers & jack cheese Oh Yea! cooked perfectly..nice light brown edge and 1.5 to 2 inches tall & a very generous piece A+ I wanted to be adventurous & try a different bread so I ordered Challulah? B+ not b/c anything was wrong with it, it just was not meant for me.. However the 3 homemade jams/jellies on the table were truly spectacular A+ I also ordered the Natural Smoked Bacon with zero Nitrates 4-5 pieces $3.50 My wife ordered a Omelette with grilled asparagus & fontina cheese A+ Donna as a server was such a joy A+ I was very impressed with the day one launch as being up & running quite well
(5)Kristen H.
4 stars for service, 2 stars for food=3 stars overall We went here on a Saturday night because my husband had a gift card. after reading the reviews, I can't say I was looking forward to the dinner but hey, it's a free meal. Our server, Nicole, was SO nice and accommodating. She was always very fast with her service, getting us more water, and refilling our wine glass. We split the smoked salmon appetizer. It was ok, basically a filet of salmon cooked, which was not really what I was expecting. My husband got the french onion soup and the soft shelled crab (a special). The french onion soup was pretty salty. I didn't try his main course because it literally was two crabs dipped in fry batter and fried, which I found to be a tad unappetizing. I ordered the maurice and it was pretty good. Overall, a decent experience but I doubt we will ever go back as we live downtown.
(3)dawn v.
Really, this place cAn go either way, depends on what you order and who is working when you're there. There are some really unique and unexpected things: note the fresh, homemade tasting jam trio that comes to your table with breakfast!! Yum! On the per hand, half of the time the waitresses will fail to bring it so sometimes you have to ask for it. I've been there with great service, but more often than not, it's near awful. Last breakfast, weekday and I was one of two tables in the whole place and this happens: He waitress for the other table refills his coffee, pus the coffee away and then Talks to the hostess. I ask them for a refill and they wait until my waitress comes back, (from where? There's no one there), to tell her to refill my coffee. By now, I'm done and looking for my bill. I'm no sure if they pick up on the less than 10% tip when their service is so bad or they think people sometimes cheap?
(2)Kellie B.
Carry out is as far as I've been with O'maras but boy was she good!!! The spinach and artichoke dip in a BREAD BOWL with home made CHIPS was delish, the tenders were nice and moist but came on skewers ( found out the hard way ) can't forget the Chicken Struddel. It is a dish I don't think you could find anywhere else it is heavenly!!! Not cheap but worth every penny.
(4)Nykol M.
Wow, I'm so surprised that O'Mara's got such mixed reviews. I've been there about five times and I've had nothing but positive experiences. The place IS dark, but that is what lends to its charm. I love hearing Irish music playing softly in the background (I've yet to visit during a live band performance). Also, I love the fact that they use real linen. The service has never been either. As far as the food is concerned, I am a fan. I've had the corned beef and cabbage, which was tender, well seasoned, and just plain old goodness. I've also had the coconut shrimp salads, some standard fare, and their chicken and bread pudding dish. The last dish was an interesting take on the chicken and waffles that are growing in popularity, but instead of fried chicken, O'Mara's does a baked chicken breast accompanied with a delicious bread pudding that has a fruit topping. Sounds odd, but it's really quite good. I paired it with a nice Riesling. It's unfortunate that other Yelpers have had this problem, but I'll continue to patronize this place. I'm 40 years old, but I love being around the old-timers, which largely comprise the crowd that dine here.
(4)Jenn A.
We went for breakfast on a Saturday just on a whim, about 5 of us ladies. I had no real expectations, and I have to say, it was absolutely out of the this world.
(5)Diane H.
!y Husband took me to O'Mara restaurant in Berkley for my birthday dinner, we were both pleasantly surprised.The Dublin broil had wonderful flavor and was accompanied with awsome scaloped potatoes and augratin califlower..mmmm.We will be going back to sample some more food for sure!
(4)Michael P.
Love it every time. I highly recommend the Maurice salad. Nice selection of local brews.
(4)Russ H.
This is a nice place for a vaguely Irish vibe. Decent menu and a full bar, I come here because I have been for years. I love the bourbon beef tips. I used to like the Pub Belfast scallops, but over time they went from several large scallops to a few large scallops to a number of small scallops to fewer small scallops. But the price stayed the same, however the mustard sauce is great, Friendly staff and sometimes they have live music, including a standing night for BLACKTHORN, which is one of the best celtic bands in the city. The place is nice and clean and has a cool patio outside. In the end, I could nit pick the place apart, but I love it and is very comfortable for me. However be careful with the bench seats in the bar corner...last time I was there it was loose.
(3)Chuck H.
Matt and I went to O'Maras for breakfast on Saturday. The restaurant feels like a small banquet hall, not very cozy at all. I ordered the vegetarian omelete with light cheese and the marinara sauce on the side with multi grain toast and well done hashbrowns Matt ordered lightly scrambled eggs and toast, Matt had coffee, I had iced tea. Matt had to send his eggs back as they were overcooked and dry. The food was very good but should be at the prices they charge. It ended up costing $29.00 The service left much to be desired. Friendly but unattentive. The busboy refilled my water by grabbing the glass from the top with his entire hand and the waitress never came by to ask how the food was or if we needed anything until the end of the meal when she came to clear away plates. I'd be willing to go back and try again but Matt has no interest in that.
(3)Anna S.
I really, really, really want this place to do better. It makes me almost angry that they're so complacent about their attitude and execution. A downgrade in star-rating is required. I came here again today, alone, for the brunch. My brunch date canceled on me and I already had my heart set on it so I went anyway. My Driod and Facebook kept me company. The host and hostesses are so unprofessional. When you walk in there's no genuine greeting and the fake one they give you is paper-thin. I gladly took a crappy small table located right by the door as I know they have tons of reservations and I didn't need to take-up a bigger table in a better location. The side-effect of this table location was that I got to hear all the bitching and moaning from the hostess to every other employee that came her way. They were literally 6 feet behind me. I'll explain: The hostess made a phone call to a reservation who didn't show - it was for a party of 20 and they were 30 minutes late. I heard the phone call; the hostess asked where they were, she was told they were canceling the reservation and then the hostess brusquely told the person, "well thanks for calling to tell us." The guest apologized and the hostess hung up. She then told 4 other employees about this terrible injustice so I heard four rounds of complaining while I was eating. Firstly, I get that a no-show party of 20 sucks, I also know that the guest should have called to tell them, but a professional person says, nicely, "not a problem Mr. Guest, if you could, next time, just give us a call ahead of time to let us know you're not coming." I hate this. I hate rude customer service and I HATE hearing employees complain within earshot of guests. The food was, however, good today. The servers are great; friendly and efficient. I have to say I'll never be back, no matter what, and this is honestly a restaurant that doesn't care about their guests' experience.
(2)Rob W.
The food was mediocre. The service was horrible!! Waited over 30 minutes to get our bill. Immediatley after paying, she collected the book to check her tip! Not impressed at all...
(2)Maggie Margaret G.
After a long hard shift some times you just need a cold beer and O'Maras doesn't disappoint,even at 0800 in the morning!! There were plenty of choices and the beer was SUPER cold,just the way I like it!! A comprehensive breakfast menu with the things you expect to find and some unexpected things like chorizo sausage gravy and biscuits....a great spin on a classic item!! As a midnight shift worker it's nice to have a place to go after work that a comfortable place with good food and great drinks! Also the staff was very accommodating and friendly....I definitely recommend this place...good food friendly staff and cold beer....don't need much else!
(5)Kelly S.
My mom and I live 25 minutes from Berkley, MI where O'Mara's is located at the corner of 12 mile and ... well it is bit west of Woodward. I travel on 12 mile quite a bit and have always wanted to try the food at O'Mara's as I passed by it. The parking was ample. Mom wanted to eat early so we arrived at 5pm on a Saturday evening. The dining room was quaint and clean but at 5pm there were only about ten diners in the place. We were greeted at the door and shown to a table top...no booths in this place. I know that we arrived early but I always feel cheated when I see a stage for musicians but never get to hear the music unless I am there 10 at night. The music starts 9:30pm at O'Mara's. We started our meal with a glass of wine and an appetizer. I had the house cabernet and mom had the Lombroso. Wines were served in a nice wine glass. Wines tasted fine. We ordered the Pork Egg Roll appetizer. It was very tasty but we were surprised there were only 3 egg rolls. There was a lot of pork with corn wrapped in a crunchy, chewy, yummy shell. For the main meal I ordered the Shepherd's Pie and mom ordered the Macadamia Chicken salad. My mixed review for the pie is listed below. Mom loved her salad. There was a lot of chicken on top of mom's salad and the dressing was light and delicious. For dessert we had coffee (fresh and hot) along with a bumpy cake for me and bailey's cream cheesecake for mom. The desserts are made right there at O'Mara's and you can tell in that they are fresh and well proportioned. Our waitress was MIA often but when she did show up she was a joy to have around. Overall, I'd say it was a wonderful meal/evening at O'Mara's I was expecting my Sheppard's Pie to be served in a bowl but it was served as a thick slice of pie. The actual pie was very good with lots of potatoes and ground meat. What ruined the pie for me was the salty brown gravy that was poured all over it. I love gravy but this was very salty. On top of the gravy was frozen peas...cooked, but obviously they were of the frozen variety.
(4)Haroun K.
I need to add a star. For many years my ancient forbears tried to drag me along to O'Mara's on a Friday for dinner and the show, and I declined. But, as I found out last Friday, it is actually a hell of a time. The food is the food. Me, I still order what I always have (portobella + ravioli), which is ok. But the show was very entertaining - and I wasn't even drinking. Ron Coden and his trio sang a wide variety of folk songs, and did some shtick which cracked me up. Granted, I'm nuts, but I was very, very amused. And the old people in the packed restaurant loved it, too, which made me happy. I think I'll come back for this.
(4)Sarah W.
Perhaps if I had ordered the colcannon or other Irish fare they could have mustered the third star. My dining companions all seemed to enjoy their meals and they even comped my niece a free ice cream. So maybe 2.5 stars... But seriously, my salmon caesar salad was just not good. I was envisioning warm grilled salmon on top of the salad, but the fish was cold and slimy and looked a bit like it had been recovered from the day before's brunch buffet. I think I had two sad little croutons, a stray tomato (I presume from someone else's salad) and a sprinkling of powdered parmesan that looked to be from a shaker can. Gross. My soda was never refilled and the server brought our food out at all different times. (And not in the good bring the 2 year old something right away way, but in the make the grown-ups watch their food get cold because they are too polite to eat before I've been served) The place was wicked busy for a Monday morning, so apparently someone likes it. But I wasn't impressed.
(2)Cathy W.
When my sister visited recently, we went to O'Maras on a friend's recommendation. And after our first visit for breakfast, followed it with dinner and second breakfast visits. I'll start with the service - spot on for all three visits with different server each time. Each was pleasant and knowledgable. Food was brought to the table piping hot, and we were checked on appropriately. Now to the food! The breakfasts sold us on O''Maras immediately. Tried the vegetarian omellete which was accompanied by a tasty small salad in a phylo "dish". Good mix of vegetables, and omellete was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of cheese. The asparagus and potato omellete was fantastic. The roasted asparagus with roasted red pepper, onion was paired well with Fontana cheese. I opted for a toasted bagel which came with three house made preserves. On the second breakfast visit, we found that the vegetarian omellete was tasty made with egg whites. My favorite, however, is their crispy French Toast (read the description on their menu!) served with a warm berry compote - LOTS of compote served on the side in a boat. I was concerned that the French Toast might be greasy, but literally not a drop! It's my favorite metro Detroit breakfast item! As for dinner - my sister tried the Chipolte Salmon, with trepidation. She prefers the "natural" taste of salmon, not covered by sauces or marinades. That outlook is now a thing of the past! The Chipolte glaze was spectacular, and enhanced the flavor of the salmon. Presentation? Spectacular! Asparagus spears crisscrossed above the salmon was wonderful color-wise and just generally appealing. I ordered the Vegetarian Eggplant Napolean and was pretty much bowled over. Visually, it was stunning - and the taste matched! Feta, spinach, mushrooms, with mozerella cheese and a beautifully seasoned non-acedic tomato sauce with thin slices of lightly breaded eggplant made for a marvelous dish. Can't wait to have it again. I'm SO glad O'Mara's was recommended to me, and only regret I didn't try it earlier considering its so close to home. Should also mention that its extremely comfortable with casual attire appearing to be the norm. With O'Maras and Amicis, Berkley, in my estimation, is the place to go for excellent quality food.
(5)Megan C.
I kept hearing about this place for a coworker so I dragged two friends with me to check it out. We were there around 1030 on a Saturday and it was nearly empty which was a bit surprising for such a well known breakfast restaurant. We were seated right away and greeted with friendly servers who went over the menu with us. I made my own omelette: mushrooms, green pepper, chorizo and smoked Gouda. It was amazing. I also got an English muffin instead of toast and it came with three different options for homemade jam. My friends Also both got omelettes: one a veggie and one a salmon. We were all impressed with our meals. There were several options on the menu. Next time I want to try the oatmeal, as it comes with a lazy Susan of options to put in it. Our waitress was pleasant and helpful, filling our water glasses on time and helping with the menu. We will be coming back!
(5)Ryan L.
Jeffrey B., Mary Mack and I stopped here for drinks one Tuesday night because the sign said 1/2 off and $2 martini. We walked in and sat in the bar area since it seemed the restaurant was closed. The bar seemed like a hotel lounge with it's '90s decor and many televisions. We sat down and ordered drinks. A few minutes later the older gentleman who took our drink order came back and said he forgot what we ordered. We ordered again. The drinks were cheap, though not very strong. The martini was a well martini for $2 and was the best well martini I've had. The ambiance was strange. The service not impeccable for being the only people there. The drinks were ok. I don't think I'll return just because there was nothing outstanding about this place.
(3)Jennifer W.
My husband and I went for breakfast this past Sunday. The food and service were good however there was dust hanging from the ceiling. Disgusting! This has nothing to do with the construction going on by the bar. This was clumps of dust bunnies and it appears they turned off the light above our table so no one would notice. I will not return until they do some housekeeping. If clumps of dust are visible in the dining room, wonder what's hiding in the kitchen?
(1)Sofia P.
The food wasn't horrible but the service was. Our waitress, Suzanne, disappeared for 30 minutes when we wanted to order more drinks and get our bill and came to the table smelling like smoke. Once we paid the bill she came back immediately and took it and looked at the tip. Not pleased with the service.
(2)Gwen R.
Had dinner at O'Mara's a couple of weeks ago. The service was exceptional and our server (Taylor?) was extremely helpful. I had a hamburger and it was one of the best I have had for a long time.
(5)Shannon S.
Birthday time again at work...this was the birthday girls choice... Not bad... The service was decent. Our waitress was getting more tables so it affected us, but not too bad. I had the Duck cherry salad.. It was okay, I was trying to stay healthy, since Mondays are my jump back on the wagon days....not sure what I was thinking with this salad but it was good.. By all means, I wasn't wow'ed by this restaurant, but I also wouldn't not go back either.. There were some other items I'd like to try on the menu... Since it's an Irish restaurant, I'd like to try their Shepherds pie, or fish & chips. Over all a good experience. p.s. The girls bathroom, besides the stanky sewer smell, has this crazy mirror, it's almost like you're at a bridal salon, because you can step into the center of it and see yourself from every possible angle...haha...leave it to me to be more excited about the bathroom! We al ldid the split a couple of desserts so we tried the bumpy cake (HUGE!! rich, delish!) and the lemon merengue...this also was good.. Everyone elses lunch looked really good too... I don't know...mine wasn't as fabulous as I'd hoped it to be :~/
(3)Dominique K.
Went here w/my SO & mom at lunch time. I ate from the breakfast menu, having a smoked salmon fritatta and smoothie. The smoothie was made with fresh fruit (a plus), and the frittata was decent (the option to have it as a frittata, scramble or omelet was also nice, as was the homemade jam for my toast). My mom had a lunch special sandwich-a club concoction with egg salad and Canadian bacon. A unique combo and huge, but it didn't come toasted as she requested. Her hot tea was a premium blend of fresh tea leaves, and the water came in its own little ceramic pot (a plus). Tim ate from the dinner menu, having the Brewers' sausage platter (huge portions of sausage, kraut & red cabbage...plus the bratwurst had a very unique taste...tasty, though). Service was slow at a time when it was the tail end of lunch and the dining room wasn't very full. The food came out hot, so we're guessing the slowness was the result of a slow kitchen, rather than the server. Overall, the food was decent with some unique selections, but the sluggish service contributed to giving this place 3 stars, rather than 4.
(3)M V.
Good solid food. Big portions. Good prices. I never leave here hungry. The egg rolls that they have as an app are surprisely really good. Give them a try.
(3)Carie H.
We went here for breakfast on Sunday... Food was good. The scrambles looked awesome! My smoked salmon frittata was pretty good. I definitely recommend the bloody mary bar! $5 and make it the way you like it!!! They even had smoked salmon stuffed olives & blue cheese stuffed olives - YUM! The service was excellent. Couldn't have asked for a nicer, more accommodating individual (we had 2 gluten free dieters with us). Definitely ask for Cindy if you go in!
(4)Ashley H.
We stopped in for dinner for the first time last night. Their menu has a wide variety of options sure to please most people. I thought our food had great flavor and was reasonably-priced. There wasn't anything that was over-the-top awesome about this place, hence the three stars, but it's a great alternative to chain restaurants.
(3)Dina B.
I don't speak for the new brunch menu. Maybe it's a phenomenon. I ordered "tomato chicken celebration." Presumptous title. Penne noodles with a very plain red sauce with some canned artichoke hearts and kalamatas thrown in. With boiled pieces of flavorless chicken. I imagine everything coming pretty much out of it's can onto the plate. One time I ordered something with a mixed fruit side and it was clearly canned fruit. I hate that. Family ordered shepard's pie. It literally was shaped like a pie, which threw us off. It had a weird brown skin (my SIL said "jacket" which was apt) which threw us more off. What's that??
(2)Vida H.
I went to O'Mara's for the first time and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious ths food was! I had the Dublin chicken & my fiancé had the Chicken Marsala, which was also divine! Our server Donna was the best, lovely attitude & customer service! We will be going to dine there again in the near future!
(5)Lonny B.
We had been here a while back, when they still had the Sunday bruch, which was great. They no longer have it, we knew that going in. But it was noon on a Sunday, they give us a menu with omelets etc, and also sandwiches etc. We want a burger, a rueben etc, and the waiter says "breakfast only on Sundays" Even though the girl at the door had said breakfast and lunches. So a few in our party were disapointed, but there were 8 of us and we weren't going to get up an leave, so we had "breakfast" again, though at home I had already had eggs. Don't expect to get a sandwich on a Sunday here. Kind of misleading..........If you want anything other than breakfast, you have to come after 3:00pm
(3)Mattie O.
This Irish pub in Berkley is a low-key neighborhood gem. A well rounded beer selection (maybe a little light on trendy microbrew drafts) with typical Irish and pub food as well as delicious main course entrées add to the allure. They have standard entrées such as steak and burgers, but they also have some interesting options including a scrumptious cherry and duck salad. Their house wines in my experience so far have been universally delicious. I've noticed they do try to update their beer selection, especially with respect to bottled options. Mixed drinks in my opinion have been the weak point in the alcoholic selections. I had a mojito the other night that tasted like Sprite and rum with some muddled mint. The atmosphere at O'mara's is a strong point. You definitely get that friendly neighborhood restaurant feeling. The bartenders and waitstaff are helpful and not overly aggressive, and the patrons are pretty nice as well. There is a pretty rockin' karaoke session hosted on Wednesday nights by Julie Haven that is always fun. They do have live music on the patio many nights in the warmer months. Of note, they also allow well-behaved, leashed dogs on the patio. I brought my dog in this week, and the waiters made sure to bring him a dish of water. It was really cute.
(5)juston m.
o'mara's is like your sad irish sister. kinda dumpy and her food is tasteless. being a nurse, i often eat breakfast and have cocktails around 8am. i'm pretty well versed with most the options in south oakland county for this type of meal. o'mara's is the worst. the service is slow, the servers have no idea what kind of beer they have on any given day, and the food is overpriced. best thing for breakfast is the little salad that comes with everything. love, juston
(2)Wisdom H.
I visited O'Mara's for the first time after having passed it everyday for nearly 4 years (as it is within walking distance from my house). If I feel a place has potential or is exceptional, I like to visit it 3 times, across the day and with different shifts. This first visit came on a Monday around 10:15am, for its "famed" Breakfast. Upon walking in, I was pleasantly surprised with the old pub feel. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but it was rather nice, for back in the day and I felt a bit under dressed. I was quickly greeted and seated and a gentleman brought water and filled my glass. Eventually, a server greeted me and I told her I was ready to order. She cleared my table of the extra settings and took my order - Greek Omelette, Rye toast and Turkey Sausage. About 15 minutes later, she brought fresh in-house jams and explained them. Another 15 minutes, and food finally arrived (turkey sausage coming separately). I opened my silverware and found it to be dirty. The server at the tables around me (who was extremely nice to her customers) noticed me waiting to eat and asked if I needed anything. I discreetly asked for a clean set of silverware and she apologized profusely and switched my silver. Then my server came and asked if I was ok. I told her I was fine. I ate my breakfast and the food was . The house made jam is not the prettiest, but it is tasty. Everything seems fresh, which is a huge bonus for me. As for ambiance, it's a nice, old-style restaurant. Feels like an old country-club or lodge to me, but a little more upscale (emphasis on 'a little'). Be aware, however, that you will inadvertently overhear EVERY conversation around you. One group on the other side of the room had a chatty ringleader. I was annoyed by her boisterous, uninteresting stories. She almost drowned out the politely-conversing women directly on either side of me... Almost. And finally, the bill. I expected to pay under $20 for my meal, and I did. The food is moderately priced, per person. There seems to be a good variety of dishes to choose from and my food all came out hot. I had water and had to ask for my refill. The same gentleman who filled my glass initially came around with a pitcher and filled my glass again. Then my server came with a pitcher of water. I can't say I'd be compelled to ever come back. I didn't have a good or a bad experience, per se. It was just ok. As for the breakfast being considered the best in Berkley, I don't think that is accurate. But then again, Berkley is pretty small and lacks diversity. There is plenty of diversity among Europeans, but otherwise, I found none of that here either.
(3)Jenny O.
My first time in here today, as I walked in I noticed the layout was quite neat. I like how the bar is upfront and dining is separate. I was here for breakfast, it was nice, quiet and pretty empty. (Monday morning) I ordered the fresh squeezed orange juice, which is absolutely amazing & sweet! To eat, I ordered a spinach and feta omelette which was unlike any other omelette I've tried before. An abundant amount of feta (pricey cheese) and other veggies as well. There was a taziki sauce and a small breakfast salad alongside the omelette that complimented very well. For the toast there was three homemade jams (YUM ) there was strawberry, mixed berry and marmalade I believe. Seriously so delicious. My server, Donna if I'm not mistaken, was very friendly and jolly which just made my experience there that much better. I'll definitely be coming back for lunch and dinner as well.
(5)Ellen K.
Let me preface this by saying that as a rule we only go to O'Mara's for breakfast. It may have delicious lunch or dinner, and I would have no idea. O'Mara's is reasonably priced and delicious. They've got a plethora of omelettes, frittatas, and scrambles. Also delicious pancakes and waffles. I usually get an omelette, and normally the spinach, gorgonzola and walnut one. You can also build your own, and there are a billion choices (most of which boyfriend takes advantage of all at once. Bring on the bacon.) It comes with toast (I recommend the honey oat) and a bunch of delicious jams (sounds weird, but you'll see what I mean). They also have a $5 Bloody Mary bar, which we rarely skip. The waitstaff is always really friendly and chatty. The only thing is that O'Mara's, at least at brunchtime, doesn't really have a "happenin" atmosphere. More like people's grandparents after church. Doesn't take away from the experience at all!...just something to note.
(4)Jeremy M.
I come in for breakfast once a month or so. The service is great, the food is good, the selection is somewhat limited though what they have is good. It is a bit on the pricey side for what it is. I know they make their own jams...but none of them (mixed berry, marmalade and strawberry) taste any good to me...maybe it is just me, they all taste sour. I guess everyone else seems to like them so maybe it is just me. I've ordered from their lunch/dinner menu, it is good, but again pricey but decent food. I'd like them one star more if they would lower their prices and/or expand their menu a bit but for what they are they are good. The waitstaff is very nice and polite.
(3)Heather J.
Doth mine eyes deceive? Be there an Irish pub in downtown Berkley? Until the rumoured renovation of Hiller's Grocery happens, the answer is a resounding no. O'Mara's is Irish, yes, and the theme is evident from the glowing sign on the corner of Coolidge and 12 Mile. They serve alcohol, yes. A pub? Not particularly. In fact, this counts as one of the finest dining establishments in the People's Republic. It may not offer while tablecloths, though the napkins are linen and the menu at a higher price point than any pub dares to charge outside Temple Bar. I don't know many pubs that serve up gourmet omelettes and steaks, rather than cheap burgers and delicious boxty (Irish pancakes, but savory). O'Mara's really has two menus to consider; their everyday menu with its sandwiches, a few choice soups and salads, and plenty of entrees with a gently Irish slant. Then there's the brunch menu, the granddaddy, offering a hearty plough man's breakfast, corned beef hash, eggs Benedict, and do I need to go on because your mouth should be conspicuously drooling. Whatever you get, request toast or an English muffin -- yes, even in an Irish restaurant, you aren't sinning against Eire doing so. Why? Jam. Homemade jam. Resplendent, sticky fingers and conspicuously bright mouth jam. It's the adult form of Saturday morning all over again when your parents made you toast and slathered it in the good stuff. Maybe the jellies your Irish grandmother made, or the special preserves that only came out if you'd been good. It's delicious. 1 star is earned for the jars of happiness that leave yucky old Smuckers in the dust. I particularly like it with the heavy Irish rye or soda bread. O'Mara's also serves tea from Kristie's, a local shop which thrives on a lot of loose leaf blends that are well worth sampling. Their proper tea menu contains greens, herbals, blacks, and fruity combinations as far away from the norm as you can get. Tuesdays see tea time, but for a girl with a job, I never get to attend these lovely times. Boo! I would give a lot for a weekend teatime or an evening tea. The food here is spendy, even at brunch. $12 for an egg dish seems excessive, though the portions are comfortably filling and the preparations beautiful. We always wince a bit seeing the price for orange juice and brunch, although you won't lack for savory food. Alex's next door covers more run of the mill breakfast options if that's more your speed. But you won't get that awesome freaking jam. Another special factor about this place is the live music, which admittedly I don't get to see often due to scheduling conflicts and my small child. However, Friday and Saturday frequently feature live acts beyond the usual Gaelic Storm knockoffs. They have jazz, rock, folk, and pop acts just to name a few, and it's always worth to see who is on the roster. Don't get too deep into your cups because the parking lot is a tragic nightmare, a pitted wasteland of potholes and uneven gaps that doesn't belong outside so nice a restaurant. The number of times I've had to skitter through no man's land in the rain and almost broken my neck is no fun at all, and I really wish they'd repave it all!
(3)Colette N.
I am not a frequent visitor of O'Mara's, but throughout the years I have gone many times. It is a classic neighborhood restaurant/watering hole, with plenty of regulars - like the Berkley Cheers. The food has always been solid - not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Then, I got the word - they have a great Maurice Salad! In my never-ending search for the best Maurice Salad, I raced to O'Maras to check it out. It was solid. Not fantastic, certainly not horrible. Lots of cherry tomatoes (huh?), decent lettuce, light on meat and cheese and so/so pickles (for me, the tell tale sign of a great Maurice is a good pickle). Three stars for the salad, 4 stars for the place O'Mara's plays in the neighborhood. By the way, I can't speak to the Sunday Brunch or the weekend entertainment, but Ive heard good things. Well O'Mara's, you're the closest Maurice Salad to my work - so I'm guessing I'll be back. but I won't be giving up my search!
(4)Leslie C.
I've been here for lunch and thought it was good. Well dinner tonight was bad enough we probably won't come back. Anniversary salad with chicken, gross and ugly. I was starving so I ate the salad. Tasted alright but tossed with heavy dressing that wilts the shredded salad, like eating $12 coleslaw. Chicken was flavorless and gnarly looking. I didn't eat and asked them to take it off the bill. Husband got pot roast with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Was easier to eat but still not great. Heavy tomato tang. Box potatoes? Just not great for $14. Like truck stop food or Ponderosa buffet.
(2)Ellie K.
At first a bit leary when my dinner partner suggested this Irish pub. Even though it was their treat you know how vegetarians are. Irish cuisine is not one I would chose on my own, since I no longer consume liters of beer and don't eat corned beef. But decided to give it a try. Like the heavy flatwareand even though some some plates show wear it gives the place a feeling of not being another trendy Royal Oak locale. Extensive menu made me leery of premade food that is just finished or thawed. is also heavy on meat dishes. But lo and behold there in the corner of the menu are vegetarian entrees! As usual I queried the waitstaff with a usual round of questions expecting not to get many answers. But she knew, could describe the dishes, knew whether the mushrooms were fresh! You know how nice it is to have this in a restaurant where you want more than a white bread sandwich? And she was accurate. The Vegetarian pasta primavera was actually very nice. My dinner partern went for the fsh and chips again, loved that the chips weren't salted. The pea soup was very tasty but for me a bit too salty; drank water rest of the evening. Portions too big, which usually happens for us. When I asked for a box for the leftovers (good for 2 more meals for me) Diana actually took the plates in the back and packed up the food. So much better than having a box simply left on the table. I'm curious about the shepherd's pie which is made with sliced potatoes, not mashed. Might have to try it if I need a protein overdose. Oh, the rolls were very nice - small and tasty with a nice firm outer texture and soft inside. Diana was super - just the right mix of attention and knows the food!
(4)Jill B.
Last night was our first time at O'Mara's. Friends made a reservation for 12 up front near the live band, Blackthorn. (Blackthorn was excellent as always, great music and very entertaining.) When we arrived there wasn't a host or hostess and we waited five minutes or so. I asked a waitress if a host was on duty, and she was a bit snippy in reply. A guy behind us in line went looking for the host and the host directed his attention to that person first. When it was our turn haha we said we were with the John Doe party and instead of leading us to the table, he pointed out at 15 tables or so and said they are here already at Table 2, as though we knew their table numbering system. We looked and didn't see anyone we recognized. We apologized and said we don't know where he was pointing. He was exasperated at having to walk us to the table. And it was true, the people we knew hadn't arrived yet. So first impression wasn't very good. The atmosphere was like an old fashioned supper club- low ceilings, lots of noise and jam packed. Our seats were great, close to the band. The table ordered appetizers of smoked salmon plates. The plate had a nice presentation, nice size and all the right accompaniments. Yum! Menu prices were $15 - $30 for entrees. The salads were very good. The thousand island dressing seemed homemade or at least one of the better store bought brands. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi and the shrimp were large and cooked perfectly, and there were more than 6- maybe 10- on a bed of rice. Lots of garlic and butter with a nice presentation. My husband had a chicken dish that was also quite delicious. Unfortunately in his bowl of mixed vegetables, he bit into a large, bigger than a marble sized chunk of used ginger swept into the dish from another menu item. He had to remove it from his mouth and find a place for it, which was awkward. We asked the waitress to let the chef know, and she said she was sorry. Despite the situation at first with the host, the service the rest of the evening was great. We were drinking ice water, and it was refilled continuously. Our orders arrived smoothly with no mix-ups. The waitress kept separate tabs for our party of 12, no mistakes. It's a bit far from Novi just for a meal but I would go back again for the entertainment and arrive early for dinner!
(4)Elizabeth M.
I've been hesitant to write this, as it's not my style to write a negative review, but the level of blatantly awful customer service requires me to give a warning to future banquet guests of O'Mara's. I booked an August rehearsal dinner at O'Mara's. I knew the food would be good, and it was. The back room was crowded with 50 people, but adequate. The servers, except one, were relatively friendly. But when I received my bill, I had been charged the Plan B price, for my Plan A dinners, which were $2 per person more. In addition, I was charged $1.95 per person for drinks--"including water" is what I was told. I was also still charged for two other non-alcoholic drinks, along with my open bar tab (which I now of course totally mistrust). A 20% gratuity was written on the bottom of the receipt, even though the paperwork says it would be 18%. The runaround I have received since is disgraceful. I've never received an apology, or any response from the owner even though I sent him a letter explaining the situation. After many calls, I finally got one manager to "receive approval" to reimburse me for just the $2.00 per meal that I was overcharged. What a shame that O'Mara's tried so hard to get an extra $200+ from me, and in the meantime lost me as a customer, my extended family and friends, and hopefully anyone else who reads this review.
(1)Amanda S.
Calling this place an Irish pub is a bit misleading. Went last night for the first time and I doubt I'll go back. I wanted pub food but the menu was more similar to a steakhouse. I had the fish and chips and the best part of my meal was the bread we had when we were seated. That bread was fantastic but nothing else was. Our service was very good but a table near us waited a long time to even have a drink order taken. Seems to be a popular place with the older crowd but I wasn't impressed.
(2)Rob M.
I used to really like this place- but recently their service has gotten pretty bad. And they removed the corned been and cabbage from the menu! What kind of IRISH restaurant does that?! That was my favorite dish but since they removed it and service has dwindled I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)Joe B.
My girl recently threw a baby shower for our friends at O'Mara's in their banquet room and the staff deserves major applause. The managers and the catering servers were all so gracious and helpful and fulfilled any request asked of the facility. The food was timely and even though the group was large they did a great job keeping up with drink orders. That said, I swear the shepherd's pie I had for lunch had refried beans instead of a meat filling but it still tasted pretty good.
(4)Ron C.
Even on day # 1 of the O'Mara's Breakfast Club there was ZERO let down or skimping on anything. My wife had a rare day off & I said can I buy you breakfast? YES! SO we scooted the 17 miles over to O'Mara's and being such a gorgeous day we sat outside. Lisa the Fabulous & Personable bartender gave us a hearty hello and Donna walked us to the patio, a very gracious assistant brought us water & he called it Natures Champagne . Donna full of life & 'ON" brought us our menu's & 1 coffee. The Menus has a nice variation of you can order your egg Feature as an: Omlette Fritatta Wrap or a Scramble all for the same price $6-$7.50 range I ordered the Chorizo Sausage Omlette,with peppers & jack cheese Oh Yea! cooked perfectly..nice light brown edge and 1.5 to 2 inches tall & a very generous piece A+ I wanted to be adventurous & try a different bread so I ordered Challulah? B+ not b/c anything was wrong with it, it just was not meant for me.. However the 3 homemade jams/jellies on the table were truly spectacular A+ I also ordered the Natural Smoked Bacon with zero Nitrates 4-5 pieces $3.50 My wife ordered a Omelette with grilled asparagus & fontina cheese A+ Donna as a server was such a joy A+ I was very impressed with the day one launch as being up & running quite well
(5)Kristen H.
4 stars for service, 2 stars for food=3 stars overall We went here on a Saturday night because my husband had a gift card. after reading the reviews, I can't say I was looking forward to the dinner but hey, it's a free meal. Our server, Nicole, was SO nice and accommodating. She was always very fast with her service, getting us more water, and refilling our wine glass. We split the smoked salmon appetizer. It was ok, basically a filet of salmon cooked, which was not really what I was expecting. My husband got the french onion soup and the soft shelled crab (a special). The french onion soup was pretty salty. I didn't try his main course because it literally was two crabs dipped in fry batter and fried, which I found to be a tad unappetizing. I ordered the maurice and it was pretty good. Overall, a decent experience but I doubt we will ever go back as we live downtown.
(3)Regina S.
Took my Diva Queen daughter and my son out to dinner here last week. Haven't been, honestly, in like, 20 years... It was a fave of my stepmom's. The restaurant is pretty nice and clean, albeit all the walls were closed off, because it wasn't busy and that made it seem awful small compared to how it appears outside. It was also darker than it should be, in my opinion. There were a few stragglers at the bar, and a few tables, pretty standard I guess for a Wednesday night. Interesting background music. We heard everything from Tom Petty to Bob Marley... :) The waitress, I never did get her name, was nice enough, but seemed kinda rushed to me... Not sure why. DQ got the corned beef, I got froglegs, and my son got a NY strip (his go-to usually). There is really nothing Irish about the place except the name and the few Irish dishes they serve. They also serve Continental, Italian, Mexican, seafood, chicken, steaks... etc... Ahh... another restaurant with an identity complex. We were given some tasty fresh pull apart bread with poppy seeds and butter... and CRAB butter. That's right, I said CRAB BUTTER. I could have eaten just this and been happy, I swear to you!!! We got soup and salad.. it was good, nothing special. My froglegs were cooked nicely, lightly fried, but they put this "garlic oil" on the side and OMG it was fucking disgusting!!!! Like totally burned garlic, I don't know WHO would eat this, but thankfully it was in a cup and not all over my tasty froglegs!! DQ's corned beef was tasty, and it came with some nice horseradish cream on the side... in a giant gravy boat... that was kinda weird, it was A LOT of sauce for a side. She didn't like it, but I thought it was tasty. But the plain boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots were yet to be desired. She ate it, but was kinda like "meh" over all but the corned beef. My son's steak was nicely done, with one giant super salty mushroom on it... and he got rice pilaf as a side. He liked it all, cleaned his plate, except the mushroom which I made the mistake of eating and almost choking on. So, as a wrap, the food is decent in parts, the decor is kinda dated, but clean and pretty comfy, but the prices are a little higher than they should be, and the menu is just very confused. Been running into a lot of this lately. Over $70.00 for the 3 of us with tip... Just too steep for what we got. Walking out, my son said, "this restaurant is pretty good, but they should stick to like, one thing...I think they don't know what they want to be " Well said!! /Irish????
(3)Mark H.
Friendly service and pleasant atmosphere. Spinach feta egg white omelette was excellent, as were all the homemade jams.
(4)Mary J.
Stopped here with friends on a Friday night for their live entertainment and some cocktails. This was our first time there and we were very disappointed with the atmosphere. Dingy, harsh track lighting in the entertainment area. Very basic, unkempt and outdated atmosphere. Has potential if lighting had a better ambience and if tables could have candles at least. Sound system was very poor as well. When the band took a break there was nothing interesting to keep customers hanging around. No overhead music, no music videos.,.just a bland, hall-like atmosphere. It's too bad they don't put a little thought and TLC into the evening entertainment area. Not at all impressed. Won't be back.
(2)dawn v.
Really, this place cAn go either way, depends on what you order and who is working when you're there. There are some really unique and unexpected things: note the fresh, homemade tasting jam trio that comes to your table with breakfast!! Yum! On the per hand, half of the time the waitresses will fail to bring it so sometimes you have to ask for it. I've been there with great service, but more often than not, it's near awful. Last breakfast, weekday and I was one of two tables in the whole place and this happens: He waitress for the other table refills his coffee, pus the coffee away and then Talks to the hostess. I ask them for a refill and they wait until my waitress comes back, (from where? There's no one there), to tell her to refill my coffee. By now, I'm done and looking for my bill. I'm no sure if they pick up on the less than 10% tip when their service is so bad or they think people sometimes cheap?
(2)Kellie B.
Carry out is as far as I've been with O'maras but boy was she good!!! The spinach and artichoke dip in a BREAD BOWL with home made CHIPS was delish, the tenders were nice and moist but came on skewers ( found out the hard way ) can't forget the Chicken Struddel. It is a dish I don't think you could find anywhere else it is heavenly!!! Not cheap but worth every penny.
(4)Nykol M.
Wow, I'm so surprised that O'Mara's got such mixed reviews. I've been there about five times and I've had nothing but positive experiences. The place IS dark, but that is what lends to its charm. I love hearing Irish music playing softly in the background (I've yet to visit during a live band performance). Also, I love the fact that they use real linen. The service has never been either. As far as the food is concerned, I am a fan. I've had the corned beef and cabbage, which was tender, well seasoned, and just plain old goodness. I've also had the coconut shrimp salads, some standard fare, and their chicken and bread pudding dish. The last dish was an interesting take on the chicken and waffles that are growing in popularity, but instead of fried chicken, O'Mara's does a baked chicken breast accompanied with a delicious bread pudding that has a fruit topping. Sounds odd, but it's really quite good. I paired it with a nice Riesling. It's unfortunate that other Yelpers have had this problem, but I'll continue to patronize this place. I'm 40 years old, but I love being around the old-timers, which largely comprise the crowd that dine here.
(4)Jenn A.
We went for breakfast on a Saturday just on a whim, about 5 of us ladies. I had no real expectations, and I have to say, it was absolutely out of the this world.
(5)Diane H.
!y Husband took me to O'Mara restaurant in Berkley for my birthday dinner, we were both pleasantly surprised.The Dublin broil had wonderful flavor and was accompanied with awsome scaloped potatoes and augratin califlower..mmmm.We will be going back to sample some more food for sure!
(4)Michael P.
Love it every time. I highly recommend the Maurice salad. Nice selection of local brews.
(4)Russ H.
This is a nice place for a vaguely Irish vibe. Decent menu and a full bar, I come here because I have been for years. I love the bourbon beef tips. I used to like the Pub Belfast scallops, but over time they went from several large scallops to a few large scallops to a number of small scallops to fewer small scallops. But the price stayed the same, however the mustard sauce is great, Friendly staff and sometimes they have live music, including a standing night for BLACKTHORN, which is one of the best celtic bands in the city. The place is nice and clean and has a cool patio outside. In the end, I could nit pick the place apart, but I love it and is very comfortable for me. However be careful with the bench seats in the bar corner...last time I was there it was loose.
(3)Chuck H.
Matt and I went to O'Maras for breakfast on Saturday. The restaurant feels like a small banquet hall, not very cozy at all. I ordered the vegetarian omelete with light cheese and the marinara sauce on the side with multi grain toast and well done hashbrowns Matt ordered lightly scrambled eggs and toast, Matt had coffee, I had iced tea. Matt had to send his eggs back as they were overcooked and dry. The food was very good but should be at the prices they charge. It ended up costing $29.00 The service left much to be desired. Friendly but unattentive. The busboy refilled my water by grabbing the glass from the top with his entire hand and the waitress never came by to ask how the food was or if we needed anything until the end of the meal when she came to clear away plates. I'd be willing to go back and try again but Matt has no interest in that.
(3)Zachary J.
Pretty good food, fairly large portions, just a little pricey. I had the Ruben, it was good but I've had better and for less money. However it came with yummy fries and surprisingly good coleslaw. I don't usually crave coleslaw but the slaw here is better than most. I went with a group of 20+ by the way, we were accommodated nicely.
(4)Jennifer W.
O'Mara's food was good. Our service was great. The decor was dark and stuffy. Cloth napkins and glass water goblets add to the ambiance. The average patron age eating during lunch was 65. They serve High Tea during the week but have a bar area and dancing, as every good Irish restaurant should. Interesting restaurant with decent food and good service.
(3)Anna S.
I really, really, really want this place to do better. It makes me almost angry that they're so complacent about their attitude and execution. A downgrade in star-rating is required. I came here again today, alone, for the brunch. My brunch date canceled on me and I already had my heart set on it so I went anyway. My Driod and Facebook kept me company. The host and hostesses are so unprofessional. When you walk in there's no genuine greeting and the fake one they give you is paper-thin. I gladly took a crappy small table located right by the door as I know they have tons of reservations and I didn't need to take-up a bigger table in a better location. The side-effect of this table location was that I got to hear all the bitching and moaning from the hostess to every other employee that came her way. They were literally 6 feet behind me. I'll explain: The hostess made a phone call to a reservation who didn't show - it was for a party of 20 and they were 30 minutes late. I heard the phone call; the hostess asked where they were, she was told they were canceling the reservation and then the hostess brusquely told the person, "well thanks for calling to tell us." The guest apologized and the hostess hung up. She then told 4 other employees about this terrible injustice so I heard four rounds of complaining while I was eating. Firstly, I get that a no-show party of 20 sucks, I also know that the guest should have called to tell them, but a professional person says, nicely, "not a problem Mr. Guest, if you could, next time, just give us a call ahead of time to let us know you're not coming." I hate this. I hate rude customer service and I HATE hearing employees complain within earshot of guests. The food was, however, good today. The servers are great; friendly and efficient. I have to say I'll never be back, no matter what, and this is honestly a restaurant that doesn't care about their guests' experience.
(2)Rob W.
The food was mediocre. The service was horrible!! Waited over 30 minutes to get our bill. Immediatley after paying, she collected the book to check her tip! Not impressed at all...
(2)Kelly S.
My mom and I live 25 minutes from Berkley, MI where O'Mara's is located at the corner of 12 mile and ... well it is bit west of Woodward. I travel on 12 mile quite a bit and have always wanted to try the food at O'Mara's as I passed by it. The parking was ample. Mom wanted to eat early so we arrived at 5pm on a Saturday evening. The dining room was quaint and clean but at 5pm there were only about ten diners in the place. We were greeted at the door and shown to a table top...no booths in this place. I know that we arrived early but I always feel cheated when I see a stage for musicians but never get to hear the music unless I am there 10 at night. The music starts 9:30pm at O'Mara's. We started our meal with a glass of wine and an appetizer. I had the house cabernet and mom had the Lombroso. Wines were served in a nice wine glass. Wines tasted fine. We ordered the Pork Egg Roll appetizer. It was very tasty but we were surprised there were only 3 egg rolls. There was a lot of pork with corn wrapped in a crunchy, chewy, yummy shell. For the main meal I ordered the Shepherd's Pie and mom ordered the Macadamia Chicken salad. My mixed review for the pie is listed below. Mom loved her salad. There was a lot of chicken on top of mom's salad and the dressing was light and delicious. For dessert we had coffee (fresh and hot) along with a bumpy cake for me and bailey's cream cheesecake for mom. The desserts are made right there at O'Mara's and you can tell in that they are fresh and well proportioned. Our waitress was MIA often but when she did show up she was a joy to have around. Overall, I'd say it was a wonderful meal/evening at O'Mara's I was expecting my Sheppard's Pie to be served in a bowl but it was served as a thick slice of pie. The actual pie was very good with lots of potatoes and ground meat. What ruined the pie for me was the salty brown gravy that was poured all over it. I love gravy but this was very salty. On top of the gravy was frozen peas...cooked, but obviously they were of the frozen variety.
(4)Haroun K.
I need to add a star. For many years my ancient forbears tried to drag me along to O'Mara's on a Friday for dinner and the show, and I declined. But, as I found out last Friday, it is actually a hell of a time. The food is the food. Me, I still order what I always have (portobella + ravioli), which is ok. But the show was very entertaining - and I wasn't even drinking. Ron Coden and his trio sang a wide variety of folk songs, and did some shtick which cracked me up. Granted, I'm nuts, but I was very, very amused. And the old people in the packed restaurant loved it, too, which made me happy. I think I'll come back for this.
(4)Sarah W.
Perhaps if I had ordered the colcannon or other Irish fare they could have mustered the third star. My dining companions all seemed to enjoy their meals and they even comped my niece a free ice cream. So maybe 2.5 stars... But seriously, my salmon caesar salad was just not good. I was envisioning warm grilled salmon on top of the salad, but the fish was cold and slimy and looked a bit like it had been recovered from the day before's brunch buffet. I think I had two sad little croutons, a stray tomato (I presume from someone else's salad) and a sprinkling of powdered parmesan that looked to be from a shaker can. Gross. My soda was never refilled and the server brought our food out at all different times. (And not in the good bring the 2 year old something right away way, but in the make the grown-ups watch their food get cold because they are too polite to eat before I've been served) The place was wicked busy for a Monday morning, so apparently someone likes it. But I wasn't impressed.
(2)Cathy W.
When my sister visited recently, we went to O'Maras on a friend's recommendation. And after our first visit for breakfast, followed it with dinner and second breakfast visits. I'll start with the service - spot on for all three visits with different server each time. Each was pleasant and knowledgable. Food was brought to the table piping hot, and we were checked on appropriately. Now to the food! The breakfasts sold us on O''Maras immediately. Tried the vegetarian omellete which was accompanied by a tasty small salad in a phylo "dish". Good mix of vegetables, and omellete was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of cheese. The asparagus and potato omellete was fantastic. The roasted asparagus with roasted red pepper, onion was paired well with Fontana cheese. I opted for a toasted bagel which came with three house made preserves. On the second breakfast visit, we found that the vegetarian omellete was tasty made with egg whites. My favorite, however, is their crispy French Toast (read the description on their menu!) served with a warm berry compote - LOTS of compote served on the side in a boat. I was concerned that the French Toast might be greasy, but literally not a drop! It's my favorite metro Detroit breakfast item! As for dinner - my sister tried the Chipolte Salmon, with trepidation. She prefers the "natural" taste of salmon, not covered by sauces or marinades. That outlook is now a thing of the past! The Chipolte glaze was spectacular, and enhanced the flavor of the salmon. Presentation? Spectacular! Asparagus spears crisscrossed above the salmon was wonderful color-wise and just generally appealing. I ordered the Vegetarian Eggplant Napolean and was pretty much bowled over. Visually, it was stunning - and the taste matched! Feta, spinach, mushrooms, with mozerella cheese and a beautifully seasoned non-acedic tomato sauce with thin slices of lightly breaded eggplant made for a marvelous dish. Can't wait to have it again. I'm SO glad O'Mara's was recommended to me, and only regret I didn't try it earlier considering its so close to home. Should also mention that its extremely comfortable with casual attire appearing to be the norm. With O'Maras and Amicis, Berkley, in my estimation, is the place to go for excellent quality food.
(5)Megan C.
I kept hearing about this place for a coworker so I dragged two friends with me to check it out. We were there around 1030 on a Saturday and it was nearly empty which was a bit surprising for such a well known breakfast restaurant. We were seated right away and greeted with friendly servers who went over the menu with us. I made my own omelette: mushrooms, green pepper, chorizo and smoked Gouda. It was amazing. I also got an English muffin instead of toast and it came with three different options for homemade jam. My friends Also both got omelettes: one a veggie and one a salmon. We were all impressed with our meals. There were several options on the menu. Next time I want to try the oatmeal, as it comes with a lazy Susan of options to put in it. Our waitress was pleasant and helpful, filling our water glasses on time and helping with the menu. We will be coming back!
(5)Ryan L.
Jeffrey B., Mary Mack and I stopped here for drinks one Tuesday night because the sign said 1/2 off and $2 martini. We walked in and sat in the bar area since it seemed the restaurant was closed. The bar seemed like a hotel lounge with it's '90s decor and many televisions. We sat down and ordered drinks. A few minutes later the older gentleman who took our drink order came back and said he forgot what we ordered. We ordered again. The drinks were cheap, though not very strong. The martini was a well martini for $2 and was the best well martini I've had. The ambiance was strange. The service not impeccable for being the only people there. The drinks were ok. I don't think I'll return just because there was nothing outstanding about this place.
(3)Jennifer W.
My husband and I went for breakfast this past Sunday. The food and service were good however there was dust hanging from the ceiling. Disgusting! This has nothing to do with the construction going on by the bar. This was clumps of dust bunnies and it appears they turned off the light above our table so no one would notice. I will not return until they do some housekeeping. If clumps of dust are visible in the dining room, wonder what's hiding in the kitchen?
(1)Sofia P.
The food wasn't horrible but the service was. Our waitress, Suzanne, disappeared for 30 minutes when we wanted to order more drinks and get our bill and came to the table smelling like smoke. Once we paid the bill she came back immediately and took it and looked at the tip. Not pleased with the service.
(2)matt k.
after having dinner delivered my wife and i sampled each dish together. exquisite! filet mignon,brewers sausage platter,ramiki shrimp,crab cakes. another winner has been found. sorry we are leaving the area soon.just discovering the best of the best. called and complimented the manager and chef. hope you will too. batfish
(5)Matt W.
Over priced, barley any real irish dishes, looks like a banquet hall---o wait it is, service is good, outside is much nicer than interior, would never go back, and I was overall extremely disappointed. Go Irish or don't call yourself O'maras.
(1)Mike D.
Great menu and good food. It's a very enjoyable and long standing local Berkley establishment that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's equally adept for a diner out with the the spouse, as well as accommodating larger groups. Kind of disappointed to see all the negative reviews. I've been going to O'maras for years and very rarely leave less than completely satisfied.
(4)