What can ya say about this place? Dick O'Dows has been around for what seems like an eternity in a world where bars come and go faster than you can pound a pint. That says something good about this place. Dick O'Dows is one of the main drinking holes in Birmingham, if not the main one. As the name suggests, the interior looks and feels like a neighborhood pub in Dublin. Wood paneling, a good beer selection, and frequent live music. This is a bar with a lot of character. It gets pretty crowded and loud here, but I've never had any hassle getting getting in. Prices are reasonable, and bartenders pretty cool and responsive.
(4)
Blaise B.
If you're looking for reasonable prices in Birmingham, this is pretty much one of your only options. The food is great! The wings are great, the burgers are great, and I had this salad with steak and blue cheese that was delicious. If you're coming on a bar night, be prepared for the place to be totally packed!
(5)
Harleen K.
Came here a few times for after dinner drinks. Solid, large venue. Beers are good with a good variety available. Our waitress was nice and quick with service. Haven't really tried much of the food, but the chicken wings were pretty average. The prices are good, on par with most bars. This is a solid bar hang out.
(3)
Maureen M.
Most people are shocked that I've never been to Dick O'Dow's. I'm not sure if it's because I'm Irish or that I live a few miles away or maybe both. The opportunity just never came around and it's not on my radar. We went here for drinks and food after work. It's pretty much what I imagined it would be. Very similar to most Irish Pubs that I've been in, just a different name. I like the back area, where we sat. It's definitely a good space for groups. I did not order any food. I wasn't staying long, and made the mistake of parking at a 1 hour meter. The menu had a good variety of typical bar food, but nothing really appealed to me. My coworkers seemed to enjoy their food though. The beer list was just OK. I guess I have higher expectations for an Irish pub to have a good draft list. They do, however, have a pretty good bottle list. They have $3 Shorts beer bottles on Wednesday nights. They had several Shorts beers to choose from. I don't usually order bottled beer that I can buy at the store. I'd like to go back. Maybe if I'm up for some greasy, fried food, I'll try something off the menu.
(3)
Dianne W.
We were here tonight for dinner, the food was horrible and it was so noisy that we could barely hear each other talk! I had the Shepard's pie and my husband had potato-leek soup which should have been a no brainier for an Irish restaurant. The soup was very thick & was like dry creamy mashed potatoes if you can imagine it and the Shepard's pie was so dry after a couple of bites I pushed it away, I could not swallow any more!!!!! Management did take both items off my bill. I guess sandwiches & burgers are the way to go here as the other couple we were with had no complaints!!! Service was very slow, it took forever for our food to arrive. I was surprised that this restaurant/bar was so busy for a Wednesday evening. Needless to say none of us will be back!!!!!
(1)
Mrs. And Mr. G.
One of the worst places that i have been in my life. The food quality is very bad, the burger is not tasty at all, burned, and without sauce. it took them 45 minutes to bring the food, and 10 min to bring the check. it was in the middle of the week after 7 pm, so no need for the late and bad service. The waitress did not came to our table frequently, and did not apologies for the bad service. No point of coming back to this place, as the service and food are bad
(1)
Terry K.
This reliable, longstanding pub of downtown Birmingham welcomes locals, out of towner's and newcomers alike with good drinks and an excellent staff. The atmosphere is fantastic which is odd because the music typically sucks. In terms of food, they're fairly decent (i.e. Shepard's Pie) although I'm usually much more focused on drinking here rather than eating. On any given night, you'll find a diverse array of executives, singles ready to mingle or even a hollywood star or pro athlete blowing off some steam with shots of Jameson. It's the perfect low key bar for when you don't necessarily feel like dressing to impress but still want to enjoy a good night in bham. They have a decent patio although I typically shy away from sitting in such close proximity to the street in fear of being demolished by a drunk driver in a Denali. Ask for Katie to serve you, she's sassy, brilliant and always on her A-game. Feel free to punch the bouncer Dan in the abdomen on the way out because he has abs made of titanium.
(4)
Norma S.
Every time I go in thinking "maybe THIS time it won't be so bad" and I always leave disappointed. Food You pay way more than what is worth! And the service leaves a lot to be desired.
(1)
Robert D.
I love a good Irish pub, even faux irish pubs. I had heard about Dick O'Dows for a number of years and decided to fianally pay it a visit. I was expecting something like Conor O'Neills out in Ann Arbor. I could not have been more wrong. Maybe I went on the wrong night, but it seemed like everyone in the place knew everyone else in the place except my friend and I. It was cramped, hot and uncomfortable. I could not believe how small and narrow the place was. The people were unfriendly, we were never waited on because we could not find a spot to be waited on I suppose. There was an irish band playing, but the crowd could not have been less interested. This is just another trendy Birmingham place with little too offer. Someone else rightly defined the place as full of douchebags. I will stick to Claddaugh.
(1)
Joseph K.
Great atmosphere, good service and fine food.
(4)
Daron D.
I am actually torn between 4 and 5 stars on this one. Came here while the lady was shopping. NIce people and great staff. They even put me on this drink the bartender created call dangerous (dundee shandy and either blueberry or peach vodka). As for menu I had their spinach and artichoke dip (chips are thin but with that said, The dip is probably one of 5-10 best i have ever had) and their hot wings (dry rub with cayenne pepper, also really good here. Beer is about 6 dollars, and overall is it kind of high but not expensive. I do like this place a lot and will be here again.
(4)
Antonella C.
For an area that purports to having good quality dining, this place snuck in and I hope it starts getting better or closes. I mean, REALLY, how hard is it to make a SALAD good? A Cobb salad no less, supposedly one of their "specialties". Wilted and over saturated ICEBERG lettuce, very little of the other "traditional" ingredients (very few slices of hard boiled egg, hardly any chicken, a few tomato pieces and, CROUTONS (?!), all swimming in dressing (last I checked, I got to pick it and pour it), --maybe they lost the recipe?-- NOT worth the 12 dollars I paid. Funny enough, my friend ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer which was a MUCH better choice....again, not amazing, but much better presented and seemingly better than my salad. And on this note, for an IRISH pub....when was Seared Ahi Tuna "traditional" Irish fare? or Cobb Salad for that matter? I did notice some dishes that seemed or were Irish, but nothing that was featured or that the waitress we had encourage for us to try when I asked her about one of them..... The beers were fine, again, not a spectacular selection. In all, for the area and what is out there, this place needs to seriously overhaul their menu and perhaps their kitchen. Afterall, if you can't manage to serve something as basic as a Cobb Salad.....I don't want to think about the rest of it.
(1)
Dan W.
The food was mediocre bar food at best buy the staff was absolutely horrible. I've waited tables before and I've never seen a server this horrible. Probably won't be back. Place needs a revamp badly starting with the staff
(2)
B J.
Good place to grab a beer and hang out. Anything beyond that and you're taking a big risk. The food is either horrible or totally average. The menu is WAAAY too big for an Irish bar. They need to drastically cut down on the menu size. This is what's on their menu: -14 appetizer choices, including egg rolls. At an Irish bar. -8 salad choices -9 burger options + 4 types of sliders -10 types of sandwiches & wraps -PIZZA -7 classic Irish entrees like bangers & mash and shepherd's pie Usually, the bigger the menu, the worse the place is (see: Cheesecake Factory), and that's definitely the case here. They should trim it down, focus on some things they do very well, and remove the rest. That said, it's a cool atmosphere both in the front and back; they also have a nice patio. The patio is rather small, so if you're expecting to sit outside on a nice Saturday, good luck getting a table. You might have to wait a bit. They also have live music on occasion, which is usually pretty good. It might get a little loud in the main bar area if you're on a date or trying to converse. In summary, go eat dinner somewhere else in Birmingham and then just stop here for a drink or two afterward.
(2)
Nick M.
I'm not a fan of Birmingham in general, but if I end up there I usually try to go and stay at Dick O'Dows. It's a less ostentatious place, full of numerous drunkards and great craft beers. The decor is simple but offers a nice, homey feel with all the wood tables and what not. Beer prices are pretty standard in the craft beer realm, although the place can get really packed and people may be bumping you and spilling your beer in no time. They do have live music sometimes too, which is pretty good. Solid Irish pub.
(3)
Holly S.
This place is only good for accommodating large parties. The food is sub par and the service was severely lacking. The waitress seemed extremely flustered when talking our order and rarely ever checked back or cleared the dishes. I literally stacked about 7-8 glasses and about 11 appetizer dishes before she finally picked them up. The food was just okay. The only things I would recommend were the southwest eggrolls and the ahi tuna slider.
(3)
Neil Y.
I've probably been here a dozen times since it opened and have never had a bad time or necessarily a bad meal. However, it's never been incredible either. The owners went through great lengths to create a true pub feel but the menu strays making just another "Irish" bar with a standard menu and few authentic Irish offerings. Perhaps this is what the owners were going for? Nice to see Scotch eggs (which is actually British) on a menu, but I thought they were pricey for the offering, and yet you can order Tex-Mex style nachos. Yes, they do have bangers, stew and Shepherd's Pie as well as Guinness battered fish but the menu also plays to virtually every current trend in Metro Detroit. You can order $12.00 mac-n-cheese, BBQ, fried pickles, sliders, and poutine. I'm grateful something like "Irish Sushi" isn't on the menu. So instead of Dick O'Dows being an original, it's part Mac Shack, part Slows, part Woodshop, part Vinsetta, part Red Coat Tavern and part Green Dot Stables. Stick with the girl that you brought to the dance. Why not be be the one true Irish pub in metro Detroit instead of being just another Irish themed bar with gimmicks? The door of authenticity is wide open for this because places like Duggan's, Blarney Stone, Old Shillelagh, McShanes, Gus O'Conners, Kennedy's, IT, and Forans are basically the same bar. Where is the dare to be different? You can get a draft pint of Guinness or a shot of Jameson at a hundred different places. On the plus side, I did like the acoustic band that played some great Irish folk songs. Think less Mumford and Sons and more Kennedy's Kitchen or Lunasa. I think this group used to play at Four Green Fields. I give DOD three stars only because they are better than those in their class.
(3)
Alex K.
Good Irish pub and moderately priced for the area. Had some Irish car bombs that were great. Service was ok. Waitress rolled her eyes when I went up to the bar to get a drink; apparently they really care about tips even if they have to be rude to warn you. Food is mediocre.
(3)
Shannon B.
Food is good, but I still avoid this place. Uncomfortable seats (like toddler stools) and rude (clearly over-served) regular customers ruined our last two experiences. A guy dressed like a 1998 Bugle Boy model got offended that we were seated at his "regular" table and yelled, "I make more money than you anyway!" and stomped away angrily in his Doc Martins. That is a typical regular.
(3)
Joe B.
I haven't decided if I'm a fan of this place during peak hours as it can get a little hairy in here on a busy Friday night. But on a Sunday afternoon Dick's is chill and quiet with plenty of friendly locals to chat up....I met several on our last visit and we were all pretty happy to have the place to ourselves.
(3)
Megan S.
Came in to watch the Red Wings game and had an excellent time. Bar service was great and the sweet potato fries are freaking delicious! I would definitely recommend this place if you're in the area
(5)
N P.
I owe the place a review. I don't like most of the social places in Birmingham but I like this one. It's a fun place to hear live music and get a small group of friends together. When I've been here with a few friends who wanted to hang out and listen to music is when I've had the most fun. Also, for some reason, we've always had more fun if it was later in the evening. I generally haven't cared much for the crowd here. We've met a lot of pushy people here. Thankfully the servers are great and very funny. When we went with a big group who wanted to order a lot of food, it wasn't as much fun and took forever. Otherwise no issues with anything. I think it's more a casual spot, better for after dinner. Again, I do not fit the Birmingham social scene in general (no fake accents, hair gel, or excess cologne for me) and am thankful for that but this is a place I like and would go back to. I wanted to get this review in before St. Patty's! If you do go out for that, I don't know if this is right place to celebrate the holiday. It's worth a shot and probably would be fun if you're thinking about it.
(3)
Carole H.
The Black & Bleu salad was everything I hoped it would be and more. So good! The service was alright, but there were definition a few times I was waiting on a refill, the tab, and the bartender's general attention because he was more engaged with the group of female regulars sitting down the bar from me. As the evening grew later, music started - pop covers done by a decent-but-nothing-special acoustic group. The place really started to crowd up at this point, with a mix of middle aged housewives imbibing on red wine with their friends (and dancing. Ooooh, how they danced. *shudder* ), and the early-20's crowd who were out drinking too much in celebration of their Christmas vacation from school. One important thing to be noted is that this is definitely a "come as you are" type of place, which is nice - not always the norm in downtown Birmingham. I'd come back for the food, but not necessarily to hang out.
(3)
Gina R.
Both the food and the service are marginal. I was not impressed. This was my second and last visit. We had three of the items highlighted as the favorites and none of them were very good, especially when you consider the price.
(2)
Evie B.
Great atmosphere, beer, service and food. I would skip the scotch eggs. Plain. Bland and for $8 you get 2 hard boiled eggs, cut in half, rolled in sausage and fried. They serve this up with diced potatoes... Eh Irish stew was very good and so filling. There was a balanced ratio of meat and veggies and all served up in a bread bowl. I didn't find this to have any distinct flavors- Guinness ???? Bangers and mad potatoes- the sausages aren't appealing to the eye, but they are very good. Served up with real mashed taters and brown gravy. Hubs requested extra gravy. Son ordered a hot dog, which at first we were told they no longer served hot dogs, but would check...dog was good but served on a huge arse hoagie bun. Fries were excellent. We will return. Sandwiches look fab!
(4)
Lawrence F.
Dodgy clientele; most incompetent bartenders ever. Has all the ambiance and intimacy of a CVS.
(1)
Amy P.
I've only every come here for drinks and it's been fine. We've sat at the bar and the patio on previous occasions and the service was good both times. Draft selections are ok, not a lot of local stuff given this is an Irish themed bar. MOstly come here because it's one of the closer casual bars that's walking distance to our home.
(3)
Brett W.
Deep fried pickles, deep fried pickles and more deep fries pickles. They used to have prime rib sliders but they are no longer on the menu for some reason. Pretty good for after work drinks and getting drunk. Dark and solid.
(4)
Ivana J.
I've been to this Birmingham staple many times for drinks, but just recently tried to food for the first time for lunch. We sat on the outdoor patio, which was nice, and ordered the ahi tuna and original sliders. The ahi tuna sliders were one of the most "exciting" sliders I've ever eaten. The wasabi sauce on them had a tendency to build up in the back of the pharynx by the end of each slider, causing an intense but fleeting sensation that I found oddly fun. Nonetheless, I was relieved to have plenty of water and the original sliders to calm myself between tuna bites.
(4)
Adrienne D.
Delicious mac and cheese bites!
(4)
Cyndi T.
I imagine the food is better if you get loaded first. Lots of regulars that are professional drinkers and perhaps this is the place to drink, not the place to eat.
(2)
Roger I.
It was my first time here with my wife and friends and their son. I like the fact that it has the feel of an old Irish pub. Our waitress was very attentive, coming back to the table often to see how we were doing. I had the Celtic Ruben, my wife had the Fish and Chips, as did our friends son. We were very happy with our meals. I liked the bar made potato chips that came with my sandwich, they were very good. Our friends were not as happy with their meals, the Bangers and Mash, and the Shepherds Pie. Although, it is hard to compete with their homemade versions. Overall, we had a great time at dinner. I will return.
(4)
Brendan M.
Meh. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all: Mock Irish pubs serving beer and pub food. In a party of three, we visited Dick O'Dow's the other night looking for drinks and a bite to eat. The bar area was packed, so we decided to wait for a table, which the hostess said would be about 10 to 15 minutes. We stood and chatted in the entry way, which was chilly but better than being outside. As we were being seated, we were kindly notified that our seating area would become the stage (for live music) in two hours, so we'd have to finish by then or find room by the bar somewhere. Incidentally, it was very loud inside, so conversation even among the three of us required raised voices and some lip reading. Once we were seated, our waitress let us know that they had run out of some beers but also had some seasonal beers on tap. I settled for a Blue Moon, a decent beer but nothing special. From the food menu, I went with the macaroni & cheese with pesto. Our food was ready surprisingly quickly. My dish was hot and delicious, but not quite perfect. First, there were big globs of cheese throughout the dish. I would have preferred a cheese sauce with a more homogeneous consistency. Second, the penne noodles didn't absorb much cheesy goodness. Maybe fusilli or elbow macaroni would be better. Finally, a bread crumb topping would have helped absorb the excess fats/oils from the cheese. Regardless, I'd order the macaroni & cheese again. The pesto was a nice twist. Service was fine, especially considering how packed and loud the place was. The food was good. The beer was good. Three stars seems about right.
(3)
Vincent S.
J
(1)
Julie M.
We came for the trivia, which I called ahead to confirm was happening... whoever the booking manager here is has no idea what they are doing, because the band kept playing for 45 minutes past when trivia was supposed to start. Who books a band and trivia on the same night??? The first drink I ordered was a Bloody Mary, which when it showed up was in a tiny glass... i shrugged, chugged, and assumed it was some sort of wimpy size that they served unless you specified that you want a "normal Bloody Mary." Literally the only good thing was the Sporcle trivia guy, who played awesome music, kudos bro, you're the fucking tits. I ordered Smithwicks since it's an "Irish Pub" (it's not, at ALL) and it cost $6.00. It's not even that much at a Conor's! Then when I got the bill I got charged $7.00 for a Stoli Bloody Mary... which was not a pint but was literally an 8oz glass (I confirmed it with him before my rage - I would never complain about selling me a fake well, or a small portion, but BOTH?!), nor did I order Stoli, I just asked for a Bloody Mary. What kind of "bartender" up-sells you without asking if you want well/house/Stoli? Then he claims that their "well" is Stoli/Skyy/etc - yeah fucking right bro. I may have a CO license but I'm not a fucking idiot, I grew up in the "real OC." This guy was also doing shots earlier so I wasnt surprised that he was a fuck-up but I definitely took it out on him since I have a lot of bar experience and don't fuck around with idiots.
(1)
Dan B.
Stopped here over the summer and the service was great, sat out on the patio and enjoyed a few of their beers plus their big bourbon selection.
(5)
Rebecca B.
I struggle with this one which is probably why I have never written a review. I have gone there my whole adult life... And the bar part is good. Don't go to watch a game, go to socialize. 4-5 stars for the bar. The patio is nice in the summer. Now the not so great. The food isn't great. It isn't bad, but it is inconsistent and mostly fried. The service is even more inconsistent - it seems to depend mostly on the drama going on with the staff. The super not good. Last time I was there (Sunday afternoon) it was like kindercare. As in 100 children under the age of 10. The parents in Birmingham are sometimes not the best (I'm from there, so stop hating) and in my scenario, the kids were playing in the bathroom sinks, unsupervised... If I was at a place that I expected to see a banquet of children, fine. But Sunday night at a bar? Just totally not expected. Based on the good bar, medium food, and hodge-podge service / patrons, I averaged the scores and landed at a 3.
(3)
Fabio C.
I usually don't write review unless I am very disappointed. So I went to this place on a date to have a couple of drinks and some chat... We order 2 glasses of wine only. We had a good time chatting except for the fact the waitress kept coming by and asking us if we want to order something else. When they gave me the check I looked at it and it was about $35!!!! For 2 glasses of wine!!!! Honestly I was on a date and I didn't feel to discuss about the amount which should probably have been $15 before taxes, I just signed the check because I wanted to leave. I also put $5 tip which I thought was the right amount for the quality of the service. After a couple of days I was looking to my CC statement and I found a charge of $60 by this place on that night. I immediately contacted the owner via email asking for clarification. He said he needed the CC again to verify the transaction and that he would get back to me. I waited 2 days, then I contacted him again (he didn't actually wrote me back!!!). He said he had found the $60 charge to my name and that probably was a mistake (given 2 glasses of wine) so he would have contacted me again to find an agreement for a refund. He simply disappeared. I tried reaching him again a couple of times and there was always an excuse like "I will contact you back"... I think this is really a bad attitude because everyone can make a mistake typing a check, but a) how can you justify 2 glasses of wine for $60?? b) if you admit the mistake why delay so much replying and trying to fix it??? ... Seriously is this the way to treat a customer? I could have stopped the transaction through my CC but while I was waiting for his replies which did never come promptly, the CC billing period closed and the statement was printed. I don't care so much about the amount (and of course I will never put my feet anymore in this place) but about the attitude of non returning emails until the person gets sick of the situation.. Thank God there is Yelp where we can give our feedback. Be aware if the same could happen to you!
(1)
Gina S.
I've been here twice in the two years we've lived nearby. First visit, we got dessert and a drink. Dessert was not good--could've picked up a whole box of the same chocolate cake at GFS for the price of the single slice, and it would have been better and fresher. Second visit, we actually looked at the real menu. I was shocked to see gastropub- type dishes on the menu! I would never have thunk it, from the looks (and smell) of the place. Herbed goat cheese in puff pastry with crostini? Umm, yes please! Turns out, the pastry was more pillsbury, less puff. And it was not cooked through. It was chewy and gooey. The dough, not the goat cheese. Blech. It is always crowded, so I guess locals don't mind the sub-par food. Or the stinky, dank interior. We went on a Monday night in August for the second visit, and we were told it was a 45 minute wait for an outside table. We would have left, but we had to use up a Groupon that was set to expire. Stick to alcohol and you will probably be less disappointed. Oh well, lesson learned.
(2)
Cyndi J.
One of the cooler, laid back b-ham bars. Beer is always cold and food isn't too bad either.
(4)
Brett K.
Name says it all.
(3)
Jonas P.
Great place. Down to earth spot, in Birmingham, that's saying a lot :) Great for happy hour.
(4)
Lily G.
Horrible service, uncomfortable and filthy establishment, and subpar food quality. Not to mention the influx of an obnoxiously drunk and self righteous crowd anytime a live band is playing which, btw, will ruin your night (I mean the bands, although the drunk idiots are a nice cherry on top). This place disguises itself as a "pub" to hide its mediocrity, and through the years it's only been getting worse.
(1)
Seoung L.
*** I'm reviewing this place as restaurant and not as a bar. I come here for lunch often because it's close to my work. I have tried a lot of their food as you can see from pics I posted. I have to say that this place has good food. Lot of Irish style meals. Great sliders and I think their regular sliders and the irish sliders are one of their best things on the menu. Their regular hamburgers are bland. Not recommended. They have good soups and salad as well. Check out their daily specials. They have a fireplace in the back for warming up during winter. Service is usually good and they have good selections for beer.
(4)
Rachel F.
I must admit, this is probably one of my favorite hang outs whenever I am in the Birmingham area (especially since I work in Bham). I've spent many nights after work hanging out at Dick O' Dows. I love their pulled pork sandwich, jack and coke and play Jenga with my downtime. Dick O' Dows is friendly, quick on the service and have someone playing live music every Friday night possibly other nights, but I just can't remember. LOL. The staff is very friendly and will have conversations with you. They don't get too into the conversation, they don't over talk like many bartenders do.
(4)
Elizabeth M.
Good: Outdoor seating in the summer Homemade potato chips Bad: The service - waited over 30 minutes for our food, no napkins or plates on the table with our apps. Food: Burger (a turkey and a bacon burger were ordered) were both just OK - they were bland, lacked creativity and were overpriced for being...plain. Salad: A fajita salad was ordered - pretty standard. Would have liked to have seen more "fresh" ingredients used - pretty much just iceburg, cheese, corn and tortilla strips. It would pay for Dick O'Dow's to get a fun chef to change things up a bit in the kitchen. There is potential with this place...but they are losing the local business. I imagine pretty soon, they will be living off of the 21 year old drunk crowd as everyone who appreciates good food will put them on their D list.
(2)
Bob M.
I've never had a bad experience at Dick O Dows. The only reason that I can't rate it any higher is due to the fact that I've never had that WOW moment there. I do recommend that people give it a shot as it is the only place in BIrmingham, that I can think of anyway, that gives you that pub feeling.
(3)
Katie J.
I've been here twice. The first time was for dinner and a couple of beers with my boyfriend. The second time was sort of a double date. The first experience was not bad. The service wasn't great but they were very busy and the food was good. We ordered potato skins as an appetizer. They were huge and delicious. I got a chicken pesto sandwich for my entree which was also great and my boyfriend ordered the Reuben. We had zero complaints about any of the food. On our second occasion here, it was the day of the Woodward Dream Cruise so needless to say it was packed. Once again, service not so great. Bartenders literally looked right at me and did not acknowledge me. But they were slammed so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Still had an awesome time. Always the love the atmosphere here and love the authentic Irish pub decor. We spent half the night at the bar and the other half on the patio which is always a favorable feature of any bar or restaurant. It was a wonderful evening even if it was mostly due to the company and volume of alcohol. Oh and they even had live music this night. The band was not necessarily my taste but it was still cool. All in all I like the place and will be back.
(4)
Chuck B.
about as fake Irish as you get. Over priced and full of pretentious birmingham snobs, the only thing this place had going for it was lead bar man Sam and they screwed him out of a job after 16 years service. Oh well, i won't be missing this place whilst I'm kicking back in Belfast this summer!
(1)
Cristin R.
Wait staff are rude and inattentive. This is not a shock because when you talk to the owner, he's a total jerk! No wonder his staff act like that.
(1)
Brendan N.
I used to enjoy this place, when I was 21. If you're over 25...I would really not recommend it. It's fine for a quick nothing special lunch and a beer, but if avoid at all costs after 7-8pm, when it turns into a shoulder to shoulder house party where you can't hear yourself think.
(1)
Caroline C.
This is our Sunday night go-to bar. It's open late (until 2 AM I believe) and has the perfect atmosphere to grab some tasty grub and a good beer before bed and embarking on another painful work week in the morning. I love the intricacy in which the interior is decorated and the unique giant wood tables in the bar area that look like they were carved from singular trunks. Although you can go to watch a game, DoD is definitely not your typical obnoxious sports bar filled with just-graduated ex-frats boys. Instead, it's filled with cougars and ex-frat boys in their 30's. But at least they're quiet. Between the boyfriend and I we've literally tried almost everything on the menu, but our favorites are the killybeg mussels (although the 'soda bread' does not cut it for me), wings (the dry rub is phenomenal but the buffalo is good too), chicken pot pie, deep fried zuccini, potato leek soup, and half the sandwiches off the menu. Did we miss anything? Ah yes, NEVER pay full price here. DoDs offers discounts on practically every website there is out there including restaurant.com and halfoffdepot. I don't see why they need to offer promotions like that, but you want to take 50% off my bill for not-your-typical bar food? Go right ahead!
(4)
Kristen H.
First time to Birmingham, and I fell in love. We came here just for a drink and I was very surprised at how large this establishment is. There are three or four sections with the bar part in the front, and a quieter, more dinner appropriate, section in the back. It took a minute to find a spot, but we found a table in the front. There was a pretty extensive drink menu and I stuck with a beer. We also ordered dessert. The boyfriend and I shared the bread pudding, which was not very good. It came out cold and soggy with ice cream. It didn't have much flavor. I tried a bite of our friends' Guinness brownie and it was amazing! I would definitely get that next time. This place has a great pub feel with a friendly staff. You know when you walk in a place and just feel warm and comfy? That's how I would describe Dick O'Dows.
(4)
Jeff C.
As bars go this is the place to be if you want to be seen by the Birmingham crowd, however if you are looking for a good atmosphere to enjoy a tasty beverage with some friends, I'd recommend elsewhere. I should mention that this is more for the night crowd as during the day the bar is less packed and more tolerable. The owners spent a lot of money and effort to bring the look of an old Irish pub to the suburbs of Detroit, they did such a great job that it is almost too popular. Trying to have a conversation on a Friday night is useless, you'll loose your voice yelling at the other half of the conversation before you finish your first beer. I'm also not a fan of the bands they choose to play there. I've seen plenty of people dancing to the music but I'm not sure that is because of the band's talent or the amount of beer consumed. On the plus side they do have a more secluded and normal seating area in the back and serve good food. All said and done if you want to be in the biggest party in Birmingham this is the place to be but don't expect to be able to talk to anyone.
(2)
Andrea P.
I met some friends here for dinner and drinks last night. I order a Celtic Reuben and Chardonnay, both were good. Now the service was another story. Our waitress was very attentive at first. One of my friends thought that she was dipping ( chewing tobacco) the whole time. Not very appetizing when you are trying to eat. When we were ready to leave, our waitress was nowhere to be found. It took us about 30 min to locate her, then another 20 min to get our cards back. Mind you, it was near closing time and practically empty.
(2)
Dan J.
Super busy at happy hour, but my waitress Ashley was the best. She always made eye contact as she passed by to make sure I was ok on drinks. When I go back I will ask for her section. I recommend you ask for Ashley!!
(5)
Kathryn L.
We love Dick O'Dows - whether for meals or for barhopping. There are multiple seating options - an outdoor patio area, the actual bar, a main dining area, and a backroom dining area (with larger tables and more quiet ambiance). The food here is great. I think we ordered a stew and a shepherds pie, and both were great! The drinks are strong, but not obnoxious. And the service is great. If you're looking to hold a party here, they will hook you up with appetizers and party trays at a discounted price and will section off an area for your group. I would highly recommend this bar!
(5)
Patrick S.
Great service. Lovely atmosphere. It is way too easy to spend way too long here!
(4)
Dil F.
Good bartenders, good beers, good bar top. Nothing fancy and no complaints. Almost never am I up in Birmingham, let alone finding myself wandering around on foot (part of it began with an urgent need to find a public washroom... which was not easy up here!). In any event, popped in here at a late hour on a Sunday, and it was perfectly peopled... one seat left open at the bar just for me. Service was great - on point with no jazz hands. They have Boddingtons on tap which, even though it's becoming less and less of a rarity as euro distributors continue to consolidate and so all our favorite bars are carrying the same imports, still gets me in the can't-resist region of my brain. So I nursed a Boddington's, chatted with some Birminghamers (who weren't as obnoxious as they looked and dressed), and eyed the tail end of a baseball game. All the woodwork along the bar top and the walls makes for a nice old-timey guzzle environment too.
(3)
Sara H.
Just a quick review which I may add more to later: This place was *fine* for kids, on a summer day for a late lunch. We ate on their patio out front (nice and shady). And they do in fact even have a kids' menu. My kids got burgers, I had the shepherd's pie, my husband had a corned beef sandwich, and all was tasty. Inside atmosphere was nice as well.
(4)
Lydia W.
They have a nice small patio right on the street in the summer. They have a good dinner/lunch menu I have ate here a few times and liked everything I ordered. Decent beer selection and live music! Great casual atmosphere. Fun for a good night of drinking with friends!
(4)
Debbie L.
Visited this place on 01/27/1012 (I forgot my Review was in Draft mode) Nice decor, very comfortable. Service is a bit slow, but did not mind, because in great company. The food looks and taste homemade, which is a plus for me!
(4)
Tom N.
Unfortunately, this is the best hang out in downtown Birmingham, so it attracts everyone from the full-douchebags to the semi-douchebags. I fall somewhere in the middle and even I don't like myself. The only reason I go there is because I can stumble home and even then I still seem to regret it every time. By the way, who would give this place 5 stars? It's a fake irish pub, with the red wings blaring, that serves mediocre food on dirty tables. This is so far away from 5 stars.
(2)
Tony B.
Supposedly this place was "packed" so we were warned that they're running behind. Didn't look that busy. Waited an hour for lukewarm/cold food, then another 15 minutes for hot but bland food. They did end up giving it to us on the house, but that isn't going to bring me back. Also, they bill themselves to be an authentic irish pub but with football on the tele and go-go's on the stereo, didn't feel like dublin to me...I miss the bally cork!
(1)
Libby F.
Dick O'Dow's is a great place for meeting up with friends. You are always bound to have that six degrees of Kevin Bacon thing with someone in this pub. Maybe that's just Birmingham for you. The food's not great though. Fish and chips are dry, and with the boneless chicken wings you get 12 pieces the size of a quarter for $9.95. They have Boddington's on tap so that's worth a trip in itself.
(4)
Robert J.
My favorite things here are the Irish Fry and the Guinness. It's probably the closest place to me where I can get a plate with soda bread, tomatoes, black and white pudding, Irish sausage and bacon, and a couple of fried eggs. Now, how authentic is it? Well, I suppose it's authentic enough; honestly, I don't have much of a frame of reference as I've never been in a position to get a breakfast plate like this in Ireland. What they put on that plate at Dick O'Dow's sure goes well with the Guinness, and that's enough for me for now. I don't know that I necessarily should be in a hurry to try anything else on the menu. I know that I am not in any such hurry. I may get around to it someday. I just enjoy the Irish Fry enough that I can't seem to develop enough interest to try anything else.
(3)
Vania M.
I came here for lunch with some co-workers, and it was pretty good. I had the french dip, which was pretty good-sized, and came with a generous pile of delicious fries. My co-worker's bowl of veggie chili smelled amazing, and she said she really enjoyed it. The service was really slow, though - we waited quite a while (at least a half hour) after ordering before we actually got our food. If that's normal for them, I'd say go, but go on a day when you're not in a rush. It's worth the wait!
(3)
Kaylee H.
I really really like the vibe of this place. Maybe I just come in on good days or am just easily impressed with the intriguing decor, but they always leave me satisfied (TWSS). The food portions are huge and hearty. Get something outside of traditional sandwich or fried stuff... the good old "what you'd find at your grandma's" items on the menu are delish. The booze selection is typical, but not overlypriced. The staff - I have always loved the staff, down to the busboy. I complimented him (the busboy) for checking our area a record eight times in 10 minutes, just to make sure no dirty dishes were on tables and everybody's water was full. When I complimented him, he was very appreciative and my dining friend and I could tell that meant a lot to him.... it really showed he cared about his job. And that makes me care about this place. Good people all around.
(4)
Zoya z.
I am totally surprised by all the bad reviews on here. The food is OK (not great) but the service has always been welcoming, seating outside is nice and the decor different. With all the douche-filled places around Birmingham this one is not all that bad. If you go for dinner you'll see people getting their drink on, families of all ages having food and (especially in the back) a pretty chill crowd.
(4)
Cristopher B.
It's your standard fake irish pub. There's nothing too special about it, but they splurged on the decor because it's Birmingham. Like most folks, I didn't think much of the food - I mean it's not bad, it's just not outstanding - but their fried mac & cheese is surprisingly tasty. I wouldn't come here for a party, but if you play it right and head into the back where it's quieter and less crowded, you can still rack up a decent and enjoyable evening.
(3)
Kristine Z.
I came here with my cousins Bachelorette party back in 2006. This was the second bar we went to and it was such a great time. They had a band that was playing and how drunk we were from the last bar we went up and sang with them. The service was great and it was a great atmosphere to finish up the night.
(5)
K B.
The bf and I decided to stop here on a whim to drink some jamenson and ended up having a great time! We did go when it wasn't very busy so the service was great. Good drinks, relaxed atmosphere. Would definitely come here again.
(4)
Marisa M.
Dick O'Dows is Cheers Birmingham. And I love Dick's because sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name... While I haven't lived in Michigan for over 5 years now, I know that a few hours at Dick's will have me running into all of the people that I miss seeing and all of the people that I thought I would never see again. No trip to Michigan is complete without an evening here. The drinks are reasonable and, more often than not, there is live music in the front room. After making the rounds, I generally opt to head to the less crowded and more well lit back room and snag a table with friends. As everyone always seems to know everyone else, the evening inevitably turns into a musical chairs of catch up. Dick's is a great spot to see people any time of the year, but becomes crazy busy around both Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you aren't up for the chaos and potentially long door lines, I might suggest heading elsewhere.
(4)
Greg N.
Soo, I went to this place for a quick lunch time snatchel while in the area. There was a basketball game on, so there were more than a few patrons, but the bar was mostly clear, so I had a seat there. I ordered a monte cristo sandwich, and some sort of IPA. The bartender was friendly, and prompt, and the man sitting next to me was also nice. I thought overall this place was nicely decorated, and the atmosphere was authentic, despite it's "exclusive" location. I can't say anything about what this place is like on a friday or saturday night, but for a lunch time brew and sandwich, it was very nice. Cheers!
(4)
Lisa T.
I've been to Dick O'Dow's numerous times. It's the local pub of choice in Birmingham. For a great place to get drinks, enjoy cover bands, sit on the patio, I would rate this place a 4 star. For food though, it's lacking. Since I couldn't give a half star, my otherwise 2.5 star rating has been elevated to a 3 star. Of course, a caveat -- I ordered a few appetizers and one entree salad, nothing truly authentic Irish. The calamari was not good -- over-fried, something I could imagine you'd get at a diner. The Irish chips were very good (this is usually my fav accompaniment to a good beer), the mahi taco appetizer impressive (for an Irish themed pub), and the ahi tuna salad (yes, I realize it's an Irish pub), sub par with wilted lettuce and fair tuna. I enjoyed sitting on the patio, and the wait-staff was friendly. The food though wasn't that great, and I probably won't be back for more (except the Irish chips when I go for drinks). Perhaps a burger and fries would be a better bar food option, or maybe the traditional Irish fare - bangers and mash, shepards pie . . .
(3)
Ernie H.
Great atmosphere, a nice gathering place, and the food is great. We have been there several times already.
(4)
Erich Z.
The food was alright - your standard faux-pub stuff like fried you-name-it and pick-a-sauce. Most of it was pretty bland and not all that impressive, though the portions were huge of course. The beer selection had all the obvious choices, though no real surprises and not a ton of options for a pub nowadays. I would have loved to see a few local brews on tap. The check came out to be a bit more than $20 a person, which seemed a bit much for the food, but maybe that's just Birmingham for you.
(3)
Henry B.
We've setup a number of Michigan State alumni happy hours here. So if you have a group of people. Give DoD a ring and they'll give you a deal. They gave us a free appetizer buffet and $2.50 Labatts. Brian the bartender is AWESOME. The staff is pretty friendly though when it gets crowded, the waitresses don't come around as often as I'd like. The bar food is pretty standard but their beer selection is fantastic. They allow cigar smoking in the bar too though I don't think many people take advantage of that.
(5)
Donna L.
Good food and nice atmosphere for a casual evening out with friends and family.
(4)
Nina C.
Food is awesome!!! Homemade potato chips- need I say more?!? From salads to the standard Irish food- just really good!! Toms my favorite bartender at this joint- he kicks ass and takes no names!!!
(5)
Don K.
Everytime I come here I wonder to myself, "why do I ever go anywhere else for a brew or two with friends." The poor a beautiful looking black n tan, and ...well, I just love this place.
(5)
Jennifer H.
We headed here because we had a restaurants.com coupon to use--oh, and it was hubby's birthday! :) We lucked out with parking right in front of the place, otherwise we would have had to use the parking garage. We had been a bit hesitant because the other reviews led us to believe summertime Saturday nights were crazy busy, and we were really not up for that. But it was almost empty when we got there at 6:30--so either September isn't considered summer or we were there too early. Either way, we were happy. We started with the sampler platter and probably could have just gotten that--it was HUGE! Three each of potato skins, hot wings, fried mac and cheese bites, and fried zucchini with sides of ranch, their homemade remoulade, sour cream, and salsa. We were impressed by it all--yes, it could be considered typical bar fare, but it was a notch above. The ranch dressing was to die for (I asked if it was homemade, and it was). I got the Doyle's Chipper (Guinness-battered cod and chips) and it was tasty, although certainly not the best I've ever had. And while the remoulade that came with it instead of the tartar sauce was good...fish needs tartar sauce. I did ask for another side of ranch for the fries, and it was brought immediately. Hubby had the Shepard's Pie and that was good, as well. Not outstanding, but good. Very homey feeling and tasting. Since it was hubby's birthday, we splurged on the bread pudding--and holy cow, it's enough for 2-4 people! A table next to us looked over and asked what it was, then ordered it for themselves! It was good, but again, not great. So, overall, good food and service, but nothing to make me scream from the rooftops. Hence, three stars.
(3)
Chef K.
THIS is my home away from home, When i'm not in the kitchen or sleeping this is were u will find me. This is were everyone knows ur name. The staff is great and Bartender are awesome and even the owner will pour a pint wow. This place has the best guiness in Michigan and great Irish food try the Boxty or Shepards Pie
(5)
Dana L.
Nice little Irish pub in downtown Birmingham. I'm going to give them three stars for having a good selection of beers, and I think that I'll add another for the neat Guinness posters in the men's bathroom. If you're a lady, maybe there are other cool posters on the wall, but I didn't see them. However, I'll take one star back for there being a lot of smoking going on. We sat in the back room, which was pretty empty, so there wasn't anyone back there smoking (but I still ended up smelling mildly of smoke). The bartender will give you free pretzel nibs if you ask him.
(3)
Haroun K.
I was here once during a school holiday, with every other college student it seemed. There was nowhere to sit, the music was deafening, and the crowd was kind of horrible. The highlight of the night was watching the huge bouncer chasing some idiot down the street, catching him, and well...poor guy. Would not return.
(1)
kelly w.
you can't hate the playa, you gotta hate the game.. this is a perfect example of that horrific motto. on appearance alone, this place is extremely ideal; pub"ish" if you will. The bartenders are nice. Drinks aren't that outrageous in price. Food..well I would say scrap the food, it's nothing to write home about. All that sounds enjoyable... then add the people that go there. This is the "game" part in which the "game" is a Birmingham bar. Chach-leroy and his boys creep out of the wood-work and skeezily saunter around shamelessly scopin' out any girl that just might go home with him. It's either that, or everyone from your high school DYING to know "what you've been up to." So if you feel like taking a trip down memory lane or creating a memory you'd soon like to forget, go here on the weekend. If you go during the week, typically it's an elderly dude-fest (think older business men watching sports.. still in suits), but generally less packed and easier to enjoy your guinness.
(4)
Michael G.
Nothing bad about this place; but nothing tremendous either. It's your basic Irish bar. Lots of pretty people drink here until 2am. Loaded with so-called hipsters, but I can tolerate them in small doses. If I was in downtown B'ham drinking (which I try to avoid), this would be the place I go.
(3)
Tiffany D.
The good: great beer selection, good bartenders, vintagey pub feel of the place. The bad: The crowd. The crowd. The music. The crowd. I've never felt like such an outsider walking into a place as when I went to Dick O'Dows. The first time I went was for a private party, which required I walked all the way to the back and past all the peering eyes. The next time it wasn't much better. I'm not sure if the crowd is just all regulars and is not used to new people or what, but it was definitely not the Cheers kind of crowd I prefer in a bar.
(3)
o o.
One stars 'cause they have decent beer on tap. This place is my worse nightmare. Don't come here on Holidays. You are bound to see that person you never again wanted to see, here. The clientle is way too concerned with looking good and being cool. In the summer they have a deck they place in the street in front of the bar. Be forewarned ..... I am so very scared for those who dare to eat or drink there - looks like you are tempting fate.
(1)
Dan B.
Oh joy...another generic Irish pub with uninspired, mass produced mounds of fried foods and a mediocre cover band. We sat in the back to avoid some of the noise but spent the entire time listening to some very drunk girl across the room scream and yammer at full volume to her table-mates...who were sitting right across from her! The food was pretty greasy and kinda bland. The definite highlight of my experience here was the $5.50 Guinness draughts, which always seem to have the ability to win my heart, no-matter where they are served.
(2)
Rodney H.
Every now & again i get a hankering for really bad pub food.Especially a large grease filled artery hardening fried Irish breakfast & Dick ODows fits the bill exactly.In The summer its quite nice to while away a few hours on the small street side patio, drink a few Guinness or the wonderful Boddingtons Bitter & people watch.The food is really poor but the service is good & always a decent size crowd & Blood puddings & Boddingtons is sometimes all i need.
(2)
Taesu B.
Sam is the best bartender i've sat with. best Guiness pour i've experienced outside of Ireland (ok, i've never been to Ireland)
(4)
Deborah K.
I'm giving it three stars because I didn't have to pay for anything, and the staff was REALLY accomodating to our drunken rambling demands. Inexplicably we had a company Xmas party out here, and as an old Midwestern girl, displaced in L.A. it was nice to get back to the kind of bar I used to frequent when I was underage and drinking heavily. Weird that it was the venue for a corporate Xmas party, though. I have to say, after nearly a decade in L.A. I'm not a fan of smelling smoky at the end of the night, but it was a LOT better than I remember bars in the Midwest being, so that was terrific. The food was ok. Not spectacular...but ok...for a pub. The drinks were strong and came frequently. I didn't love that twice my drink disappeared by overzealous bussers before it was finished...like an OBVIOUSLY unfinished drink. A nearly-full Whisky and Coke for example. Lame. But, listen, they rearranged the room several times for us, put up with our crazy party, and it was a really cute space for our party. So yay! But no Leinies on tap, which is what I look forward to every time I go to the Midwest, so boo.
(3)
Otis M.
Dick's location in downtown Birmingham is a plus. Local Irish musicians hang out some nights practicing their music. The pints are good, the food is substance. Nothing super special, but its ethnic offerings are okay. Come here for the drink and crowd.
(3)
Claire D.
I feel like if you're under 40, this isn't the place to grab a drink on a Saturday night. Even though it's a pub (more laid back, right?) - it's in Birmingham so it's filled with older couples that are dressed up and have already had a few drinks to begin with while they were out to dinner. On top of the older couples, you've got the single Birmingham dads with their artfully done hair, expensive shoes and whitened teeth buying everything with boobs in a 5 mile radius a drink. I haven't eaten there in ages so I can't attest to their food but my drinks were consistently good and the guys that got beer seemed very happy with it. Our waitress was very busy but attentive - it just wasn't the right place for a younger crowd. We looked like kids when we were there the other night.
(2)
Theresa U.
Went here last night with some friends and saw the Mac/PC guy, Justin Long. Five Stars...
(5)
Parisa K.
If you want to go out in Birmingham, then you want to go out at Dick O'Dow's. With that being said, I don't love this place. It's got a pretty nice set up. On nights when it's not packed, I like it a lot more. Any time I go, I run into a ton of people I know... which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. In general, it's fun to run into old friends or acquaintances and chat it up a bit, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the small talk. Overall, it's a fun place with a good, younger crowd in Birmingham. Just avoid it around the holidays.
(3)
Sarah M. B.
Ugh, where to being....the place of where all duchebaggery is committed. I have to admit I do go here...only bar in downtown bham that you don't have to be a cougar or a loaded a-hole to go to....I will do massive updates with this bar too each time I go...so always remember to look this up. I was there recently and aside from some duchebags that were with the party I was with...I did not run into one other person from my past that wasn't trying to get info out of me as far as 'who is more successful now...' which in my drunken state was a bit of a disappointment, actually. Normally, I don't want to see anyone but the lack of crowd this certain Friday night has given me writers block for a good review.... Good beers on tap, food is OK...a couple things are good, but there are so many better places to eat. I have had ok salmon here before, but I have been to Ireland and uh, the 'Irish cuisine' it is not, especially the boxty's. Also, one of my favorite apps ever is fried zucchini, and as I found out and was EXTREMELY disappointed it was off the menu-BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Height of duchebag season here: Thanksgiving, Xmas and NYE, and the Saturdays in the summer...you won't be able to move in here, and trust me the line is in NO way worth the wait unless you are specifically waiting to see someone already inside. 5/4/08-UPDATE. OK went for a quick dinner on a Sunday night, and I have upped my star rating...the food was actually GOOD...the mac and cheese is one of the best I have had...the farmhouse salad was fresh and filling with a delicious homemade dressing....I have always been a fan of the cod sandwich and once again it was on par....the crab cakes were decent...BREAD pudding-a fantastic must have...apologies to Dick's for trashing the food...but then again if you can't get it right on a dead Sunday night....
(3)
Pamela H.
the worst meal and service. Cold atomosphere, salmon served cold and over cooked, waitress was cold (never asked us how our food was) and abrupt though they were busy it is not an excuse. Not returning!!!
(1)
Jenn P.
this place makes the best black and tans I have ever had!!! No trip to Michigan is complete without stopping here.... They have decent food, I had the shepherds pie, which was quite good.... The place is very rustic, reminded me of what a pub would look like in Ireland. If you are in the area, stop by and have a few, you wont regret it....
(4)
Jeremy D.
Food was mediocre. Server was terrible.dIdn't see her for almost an hour after taking our order. Also, she over charged us by exactly $10.
(2)
Krista R.
Yesssssssss! I love this place! Every time I come here I run into someone from St. Hugo, Marian or Brother Rice that I knew from a long time ago. Gotta' love it.
(4)
PAUL T.
Awesome place have been going here since it opened Mitch has longtime dedicated staff (Sam at the bar) that really love what they do. Food is quite good and service is exceptional. Music when there is always a blast and has long been a traditional stop for me whenever I am in town visiting family. You won't be disappointed and they pour a proper Guinness not many can or bother to do so and it makes a huge difference. Mitch you have much to be proud of!
(5)
marisa s.
DICK'S - really, the only bar-bar in downtown birmingham. this irish establishment opened when birmingham was still a downtown for those that lived in the surrounding areas. the palladium was yet to be built, which also means blue martini was not around, and the hype of the 'ham was far far away. when DOD's opened, i was not old enough to drink there, but one time i ate there - and still to this day, i will not eat "irish fare." besides the food, the atmosphere is always dark, drunk and full of people from high school, private school, public school and everywhere in between - staring you down, buying you a shot and asking what you've been up to since they last saw you at the mobil on oak and woodward, geri wardach's class, that house party on burning bush or greek isles. besides the bombardment of people you have to push through while having HS flash backs, once you get past the long bar, the irish band and the bathrooms - you'll find yourself in "the back" where it's lighter and there are plenty of booths and tables to spread out at and talk shit about people who a) got fat b) got married c) is still a douche d) is a bitch e) didn't "say hi." there's a fireplace back there and some weird irish decor - once you sit down, a waitress will come by, which is an easier way to get a drink than trying to fight the masses (mind you - these busy times i mention are during thanksgiving, christmas, wedding season.) in the front at the crowded bar. dick's does the trick for a "regular bar" in downtown b'ham - the other options are: corner bar - i'm not sure how this place stays associated with the townsend; it's a hazarai of music and 40-somethings, 20-somethings and randos midtown - oh wait, this place closed 220 - more likely to run into your mom there, some cougars and an old guy with a cigar looking for a good time streetside - fishy and 50-somethings on dates or affair rendezvous camron's - you're trying too hard - it's a place to eat, not "grab a drink" mitchell's - older crowd, fishy mt. chalet - down woodward, a hike if you walked from the downtown - but this place is a good #2 to a bar-bar in b'ham. "get yer skis shined up, grab a stick of juicy fruit!"
(3)
Amya S.
This is a great place to hang out and and relax. It's not pretentious, which I greatly appreciate. I've been in here a handful of times and the bartenders I have experienced are average or just rude. One bartender turned around and walked away when my friend and I tried to decide what to order. I was shocked. It would be one thing to say "I'll give you a couple of minutes" and then leave, but to just turn on his heel and dismiss us like that was unacceptable.
(3)
Kristin G.
I'm going with the very neutral three stars because we got there just before midnight and had to stand outside in line and our group was split so that one pair had to stay outside while the other pair was let in. There was a live band there on a Friday night, which I enjoyed, but in the back half of the bar it was so loud the bartenders had trouble hearing the orders.
(3)
Nina B.
Great little neighborhood Irish pub...great for knocking down a beer and some comfort food (I ordered the mac n'cheese....yuuum!) after a hard day's work. Not a great selection of "normal" pub food...they don't even have the most basic pub standards, like hot wings!! Despite the overall smokiness and the not-so-great selection, it's a relaxing place to be...especially the back room.
(3)
Mindy W.
on more than one occasion, i've declared aloud, "dick odow's is my favorite bar in birmingham because it's the only place where you can forgo your sequined halter-top." mind you, i don't actually own a sequined halter top, but you get the point. i like to kick up my heels and have a good time in standard bar armor: jeans and a t-shirt. during a recent trip to this establishment., i found myself gazing across the room to get a good look at the other patrons. much to my dismay, i concluded i was the only female in the joint not wearing a sequined halter top. so much for my theory. don't let the machismo irish regalia fool you. dick o'dows is the corner bar in sheep's clothing. with that said, i still always manage to have a great time here. kimmy deserves all the accolades in the world- bartender with a heart of gold. i must say i greatly prefer this bar in the winter. during the summer months, it can sometimes embody the feel of a bunch of 'bros' kicking back 'adult sodas' at a frat party. one last note: If you have the stomach to tolerate the crowd on thanksgiving eve, it usually proves to be one hell of a party.
(3)
Katia M.
Dick O'Dow's is a cool nightspot. Its cozy, woodsy sort of decor and crowded barstools are always inviting, plus they pour a nice pint. I like the place ... especially when they've got an Irish band going.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Brian L.
What can ya say about this place? Dick O'Dows has been around for what seems like an eternity in a world where bars come and go faster than you can pound a pint. That says something good about this place. Dick O'Dows is one of the main drinking holes in Birmingham, if not the main one. As the name suggests, the interior looks and feels like a neighborhood pub in Dublin. Wood paneling, a good beer selection, and frequent live music. This is a bar with a lot of character. It gets pretty crowded and loud here, but I've never had any hassle getting getting in. Prices are reasonable, and bartenders pretty cool and responsive.
(4)Blaise B.
If you're looking for reasonable prices in Birmingham, this is pretty much one of your only options. The food is great! The wings are great, the burgers are great, and I had this salad with steak and blue cheese that was delicious. If you're coming on a bar night, be prepared for the place to be totally packed!
(5)Harleen K.
Came here a few times for after dinner drinks. Solid, large venue. Beers are good with a good variety available. Our waitress was nice and quick with service. Haven't really tried much of the food, but the chicken wings were pretty average. The prices are good, on par with most bars. This is a solid bar hang out.
(3)Maureen M.
Most people are shocked that I've never been to Dick O'Dow's. I'm not sure if it's because I'm Irish or that I live a few miles away or maybe both. The opportunity just never came around and it's not on my radar. We went here for drinks and food after work. It's pretty much what I imagined it would be. Very similar to most Irish Pubs that I've been in, just a different name. I like the back area, where we sat. It's definitely a good space for groups. I did not order any food. I wasn't staying long, and made the mistake of parking at a 1 hour meter. The menu had a good variety of typical bar food, but nothing really appealed to me. My coworkers seemed to enjoy their food though. The beer list was just OK. I guess I have higher expectations for an Irish pub to have a good draft list. They do, however, have a pretty good bottle list. They have $3 Shorts beer bottles on Wednesday nights. They had several Shorts beers to choose from. I don't usually order bottled beer that I can buy at the store. I'd like to go back. Maybe if I'm up for some greasy, fried food, I'll try something off the menu.
(3)Dianne W.
We were here tonight for dinner, the food was horrible and it was so noisy that we could barely hear each other talk! I had the Shepard's pie and my husband had potato-leek soup which should have been a no brainier for an Irish restaurant. The soup was very thick & was like dry creamy mashed potatoes if you can imagine it and the Shepard's pie was so dry after a couple of bites I pushed it away, I could not swallow any more!!!!! Management did take both items off my bill. I guess sandwiches & burgers are the way to go here as the other couple we were with had no complaints!!! Service was very slow, it took forever for our food to arrive. I was surprised that this restaurant/bar was so busy for a Wednesday evening. Needless to say none of us will be back!!!!!
(1)Mrs. And Mr. G.
One of the worst places that i have been in my life. The food quality is very bad, the burger is not tasty at all, burned, and without sauce. it took them 45 minutes to bring the food, and 10 min to bring the check. it was in the middle of the week after 7 pm, so no need for the late and bad service. The waitress did not came to our table frequently, and did not apologies for the bad service. No point of coming back to this place, as the service and food are bad
(1)Terry K.
This reliable, longstanding pub of downtown Birmingham welcomes locals, out of towner's and newcomers alike with good drinks and an excellent staff. The atmosphere is fantastic which is odd because the music typically sucks. In terms of food, they're fairly decent (i.e. Shepard's Pie) although I'm usually much more focused on drinking here rather than eating. On any given night, you'll find a diverse array of executives, singles ready to mingle or even a hollywood star or pro athlete blowing off some steam with shots of Jameson. It's the perfect low key bar for when you don't necessarily feel like dressing to impress but still want to enjoy a good night in bham. They have a decent patio although I typically shy away from sitting in such close proximity to the street in fear of being demolished by a drunk driver in a Denali. Ask for Katie to serve you, she's sassy, brilliant and always on her A-game. Feel free to punch the bouncer Dan in the abdomen on the way out because he has abs made of titanium.
(4)Norma S.
Every time I go in thinking "maybe THIS time it won't be so bad" and I always leave disappointed. Food You pay way more than what is worth! And the service leaves a lot to be desired.
(1)Robert D.
I love a good Irish pub, even faux irish pubs. I had heard about Dick O'Dows for a number of years and decided to fianally pay it a visit. I was expecting something like Conor O'Neills out in Ann Arbor. I could not have been more wrong. Maybe I went on the wrong night, but it seemed like everyone in the place knew everyone else in the place except my friend and I. It was cramped, hot and uncomfortable. I could not believe how small and narrow the place was. The people were unfriendly, we were never waited on because we could not find a spot to be waited on I suppose. There was an irish band playing, but the crowd could not have been less interested. This is just another trendy Birmingham place with little too offer. Someone else rightly defined the place as full of douchebags. I will stick to Claddaugh.
(1)Joseph K.
Great atmosphere, good service and fine food.
(4)Daron D.
I am actually torn between 4 and 5 stars on this one. Came here while the lady was shopping. NIce people and great staff. They even put me on this drink the bartender created call dangerous (dundee shandy and either blueberry or peach vodka). As for menu I had their spinach and artichoke dip (chips are thin but with that said, The dip is probably one of 5-10 best i have ever had) and their hot wings (dry rub with cayenne pepper, also really good here. Beer is about 6 dollars, and overall is it kind of high but not expensive. I do like this place a lot and will be here again.
(4)Antonella C.
For an area that purports to having good quality dining, this place snuck in and I hope it starts getting better or closes. I mean, REALLY, how hard is it to make a SALAD good? A Cobb salad no less, supposedly one of their "specialties". Wilted and over saturated ICEBERG lettuce, very little of the other "traditional" ingredients (very few slices of hard boiled egg, hardly any chicken, a few tomato pieces and, CROUTONS (?!), all swimming in dressing (last I checked, I got to pick it and pour it), --maybe they lost the recipe?-- NOT worth the 12 dollars I paid. Funny enough, my friend ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer which was a MUCH better choice....again, not amazing, but much better presented and seemingly better than my salad. And on this note, for an IRISH pub....when was Seared Ahi Tuna "traditional" Irish fare? or Cobb Salad for that matter? I did notice some dishes that seemed or were Irish, but nothing that was featured or that the waitress we had encourage for us to try when I asked her about one of them..... The beers were fine, again, not a spectacular selection. In all, for the area and what is out there, this place needs to seriously overhaul their menu and perhaps their kitchen. Afterall, if you can't manage to serve something as basic as a Cobb Salad.....I don't want to think about the rest of it.
(1)Dan W.
The food was mediocre bar food at best buy the staff was absolutely horrible. I've waited tables before and I've never seen a server this horrible. Probably won't be back. Place needs a revamp badly starting with the staff
(2)B J.
Good place to grab a beer and hang out. Anything beyond that and you're taking a big risk. The food is either horrible or totally average. The menu is WAAAY too big for an Irish bar. They need to drastically cut down on the menu size. This is what's on their menu: -14 appetizer choices, including egg rolls. At an Irish bar. -8 salad choices -9 burger options + 4 types of sliders -10 types of sandwiches & wraps -PIZZA -7 classic Irish entrees like bangers & mash and shepherd's pie Usually, the bigger the menu, the worse the place is (see: Cheesecake Factory), and that's definitely the case here. They should trim it down, focus on some things they do very well, and remove the rest. That said, it's a cool atmosphere both in the front and back; they also have a nice patio. The patio is rather small, so if you're expecting to sit outside on a nice Saturday, good luck getting a table. You might have to wait a bit. They also have live music on occasion, which is usually pretty good. It might get a little loud in the main bar area if you're on a date or trying to converse. In summary, go eat dinner somewhere else in Birmingham and then just stop here for a drink or two afterward.
(2)Nick M.
I'm not a fan of Birmingham in general, but if I end up there I usually try to go and stay at Dick O'Dows. It's a less ostentatious place, full of numerous drunkards and great craft beers. The decor is simple but offers a nice, homey feel with all the wood tables and what not. Beer prices are pretty standard in the craft beer realm, although the place can get really packed and people may be bumping you and spilling your beer in no time. They do have live music sometimes too, which is pretty good. Solid Irish pub.
(3)Holly S.
This place is only good for accommodating large parties. The food is sub par and the service was severely lacking. The waitress seemed extremely flustered when talking our order and rarely ever checked back or cleared the dishes. I literally stacked about 7-8 glasses and about 11 appetizer dishes before she finally picked them up. The food was just okay. The only things I would recommend were the southwest eggrolls and the ahi tuna slider.
(3)Neil Y.
I've probably been here a dozen times since it opened and have never had a bad time or necessarily a bad meal. However, it's never been incredible either. The owners went through great lengths to create a true pub feel but the menu strays making just another "Irish" bar with a standard menu and few authentic Irish offerings. Perhaps this is what the owners were going for? Nice to see Scotch eggs (which is actually British) on a menu, but I thought they were pricey for the offering, and yet you can order Tex-Mex style nachos. Yes, they do have bangers, stew and Shepherd's Pie as well as Guinness battered fish but the menu also plays to virtually every current trend in Metro Detroit. You can order $12.00 mac-n-cheese, BBQ, fried pickles, sliders, and poutine. I'm grateful something like "Irish Sushi" isn't on the menu. So instead of Dick O'Dows being an original, it's part Mac Shack, part Slows, part Woodshop, part Vinsetta, part Red Coat Tavern and part Green Dot Stables. Stick with the girl that you brought to the dance. Why not be be the one true Irish pub in metro Detroit instead of being just another Irish themed bar with gimmicks? The door of authenticity is wide open for this because places like Duggan's, Blarney Stone, Old Shillelagh, McShanes, Gus O'Conners, Kennedy's, IT, and Forans are basically the same bar. Where is the dare to be different? You can get a draft pint of Guinness or a shot of Jameson at a hundred different places. On the plus side, I did like the acoustic band that played some great Irish folk songs. Think less Mumford and Sons and more Kennedy's Kitchen or Lunasa. I think this group used to play at Four Green Fields. I give DOD three stars only because they are better than those in their class.
(3)Alex K.
Good Irish pub and moderately priced for the area. Had some Irish car bombs that were great. Service was ok. Waitress rolled her eyes when I went up to the bar to get a drink; apparently they really care about tips even if they have to be rude to warn you. Food is mediocre.
(3)Shannon B.
Food is good, but I still avoid this place. Uncomfortable seats (like toddler stools) and rude (clearly over-served) regular customers ruined our last two experiences. A guy dressed like a 1998 Bugle Boy model got offended that we were seated at his "regular" table and yelled, "I make more money than you anyway!" and stomped away angrily in his Doc Martins. That is a typical regular.
(3)Joe B.
I haven't decided if I'm a fan of this place during peak hours as it can get a little hairy in here on a busy Friday night. But on a Sunday afternoon Dick's is chill and quiet with plenty of friendly locals to chat up....I met several on our last visit and we were all pretty happy to have the place to ourselves.
(3)Megan S.
Came in to watch the Red Wings game and had an excellent time. Bar service was great and the sweet potato fries are freaking delicious! I would definitely recommend this place if you're in the area
(5)N P.
I owe the place a review. I don't like most of the social places in Birmingham but I like this one. It's a fun place to hear live music and get a small group of friends together. When I've been here with a few friends who wanted to hang out and listen to music is when I've had the most fun. Also, for some reason, we've always had more fun if it was later in the evening. I generally haven't cared much for the crowd here. We've met a lot of pushy people here. Thankfully the servers are great and very funny. When we went with a big group who wanted to order a lot of food, it wasn't as much fun and took forever. Otherwise no issues with anything. I think it's more a casual spot, better for after dinner. Again, I do not fit the Birmingham social scene in general (no fake accents, hair gel, or excess cologne for me) and am thankful for that but this is a place I like and would go back to. I wanted to get this review in before St. Patty's! If you do go out for that, I don't know if this is right place to celebrate the holiday. It's worth a shot and probably would be fun if you're thinking about it.
(3)Carole H.
The Black & Bleu salad was everything I hoped it would be and more. So good! The service was alright, but there were definition a few times I was waiting on a refill, the tab, and the bartender's general attention because he was more engaged with the group of female regulars sitting down the bar from me. As the evening grew later, music started - pop covers done by a decent-but-nothing-special acoustic group. The place really started to crowd up at this point, with a mix of middle aged housewives imbibing on red wine with their friends (and dancing. Ooooh, how they danced. *shudder* ), and the early-20's crowd who were out drinking too much in celebration of their Christmas vacation from school. One important thing to be noted is that this is definitely a "come as you are" type of place, which is nice - not always the norm in downtown Birmingham. I'd come back for the food, but not necessarily to hang out.
(3)Gina R.
Both the food and the service are marginal. I was not impressed. This was my second and last visit. We had three of the items highlighted as the favorites and none of them were very good, especially when you consider the price.
(2)Evie B.
Great atmosphere, beer, service and food. I would skip the scotch eggs. Plain. Bland and for $8 you get 2 hard boiled eggs, cut in half, rolled in sausage and fried. They serve this up with diced potatoes... Eh Irish stew was very good and so filling. There was a balanced ratio of meat and veggies and all served up in a bread bowl. I didn't find this to have any distinct flavors- Guinness ???? Bangers and mad potatoes- the sausages aren't appealing to the eye, but they are very good. Served up with real mashed taters and brown gravy. Hubs requested extra gravy. Son ordered a hot dog, which at first we were told they no longer served hot dogs, but would check...dog was good but served on a huge arse hoagie bun. Fries were excellent. We will return. Sandwiches look fab!
(4)Lawrence F.
Dodgy clientele; most incompetent bartenders ever. Has all the ambiance and intimacy of a CVS.
(1)Amy P.
I've only every come here for drinks and it's been fine. We've sat at the bar and the patio on previous occasions and the service was good both times. Draft selections are ok, not a lot of local stuff given this is an Irish themed bar. MOstly come here because it's one of the closer casual bars that's walking distance to our home.
(3)Brett W.
Deep fried pickles, deep fried pickles and more deep fries pickles. They used to have prime rib sliders but they are no longer on the menu for some reason. Pretty good for after work drinks and getting drunk. Dark and solid.
(4)Ivana J.
I've been to this Birmingham staple many times for drinks, but just recently tried to food for the first time for lunch. We sat on the outdoor patio, which was nice, and ordered the ahi tuna and original sliders. The ahi tuna sliders were one of the most "exciting" sliders I've ever eaten. The wasabi sauce on them had a tendency to build up in the back of the pharynx by the end of each slider, causing an intense but fleeting sensation that I found oddly fun. Nonetheless, I was relieved to have plenty of water and the original sliders to calm myself between tuna bites.
(4)Adrienne D.
Delicious mac and cheese bites!
(4)Cyndi T.
I imagine the food is better if you get loaded first. Lots of regulars that are professional drinkers and perhaps this is the place to drink, not the place to eat.
(2)Roger I.
It was my first time here with my wife and friends and their son. I like the fact that it has the feel of an old Irish pub. Our waitress was very attentive, coming back to the table often to see how we were doing. I had the Celtic Ruben, my wife had the Fish and Chips, as did our friends son. We were very happy with our meals. I liked the bar made potato chips that came with my sandwich, they were very good. Our friends were not as happy with their meals, the Bangers and Mash, and the Shepherds Pie. Although, it is hard to compete with their homemade versions. Overall, we had a great time at dinner. I will return.
(4)Brendan M.
Meh. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all: Mock Irish pubs serving beer and pub food. In a party of three, we visited Dick O'Dow's the other night looking for drinks and a bite to eat. The bar area was packed, so we decided to wait for a table, which the hostess said would be about 10 to 15 minutes. We stood and chatted in the entry way, which was chilly but better than being outside. As we were being seated, we were kindly notified that our seating area would become the stage (for live music) in two hours, so we'd have to finish by then or find room by the bar somewhere. Incidentally, it was very loud inside, so conversation even among the three of us required raised voices and some lip reading. Once we were seated, our waitress let us know that they had run out of some beers but also had some seasonal beers on tap. I settled for a Blue Moon, a decent beer but nothing special. From the food menu, I went with the macaroni & cheese with pesto. Our food was ready surprisingly quickly. My dish was hot and delicious, but not quite perfect. First, there were big globs of cheese throughout the dish. I would have preferred a cheese sauce with a more homogeneous consistency. Second, the penne noodles didn't absorb much cheesy goodness. Maybe fusilli or elbow macaroni would be better. Finally, a bread crumb topping would have helped absorb the excess fats/oils from the cheese. Regardless, I'd order the macaroni & cheese again. The pesto was a nice twist. Service was fine, especially considering how packed and loud the place was. The food was good. The beer was good. Three stars seems about right.
(3)Vincent S.
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(1)Julie M.
We came for the trivia, which I called ahead to confirm was happening... whoever the booking manager here is has no idea what they are doing, because the band kept playing for 45 minutes past when trivia was supposed to start. Who books a band and trivia on the same night??? The first drink I ordered was a Bloody Mary, which when it showed up was in a tiny glass... i shrugged, chugged, and assumed it was some sort of wimpy size that they served unless you specified that you want a "normal Bloody Mary." Literally the only good thing was the Sporcle trivia guy, who played awesome music, kudos bro, you're the fucking tits. I ordered Smithwicks since it's an "Irish Pub" (it's not, at ALL) and it cost $6.00. It's not even that much at a Conor's! Then when I got the bill I got charged $7.00 for a Stoli Bloody Mary... which was not a pint but was literally an 8oz glass (I confirmed it with him before my rage - I would never complain about selling me a fake well, or a small portion, but BOTH?!), nor did I order Stoli, I just asked for a Bloody Mary. What kind of "bartender" up-sells you without asking if you want well/house/Stoli? Then he claims that their "well" is Stoli/Skyy/etc - yeah fucking right bro. I may have a CO license but I'm not a fucking idiot, I grew up in the "real OC." This guy was also doing shots earlier so I wasnt surprised that he was a fuck-up but I definitely took it out on him since I have a lot of bar experience and don't fuck around with idiots.
(1)Dan B.
Stopped here over the summer and the service was great, sat out on the patio and enjoyed a few of their beers plus their big bourbon selection.
(5)Rebecca B.
I struggle with this one which is probably why I have never written a review. I have gone there my whole adult life... And the bar part is good. Don't go to watch a game, go to socialize. 4-5 stars for the bar. The patio is nice in the summer. Now the not so great. The food isn't great. It isn't bad, but it is inconsistent and mostly fried. The service is even more inconsistent - it seems to depend mostly on the drama going on with the staff. The super not good. Last time I was there (Sunday afternoon) it was like kindercare. As in 100 children under the age of 10. The parents in Birmingham are sometimes not the best (I'm from there, so stop hating) and in my scenario, the kids were playing in the bathroom sinks, unsupervised... If I was at a place that I expected to see a banquet of children, fine. But Sunday night at a bar? Just totally not expected. Based on the good bar, medium food, and hodge-podge service / patrons, I averaged the scores and landed at a 3.
(3)Fabio C.
I usually don't write review unless I am very disappointed. So I went to this place on a date to have a couple of drinks and some chat... We order 2 glasses of wine only. We had a good time chatting except for the fact the waitress kept coming by and asking us if we want to order something else. When they gave me the check I looked at it and it was about $35!!!! For 2 glasses of wine!!!! Honestly I was on a date and I didn't feel to discuss about the amount which should probably have been $15 before taxes, I just signed the check because I wanted to leave. I also put $5 tip which I thought was the right amount for the quality of the service. After a couple of days I was looking to my CC statement and I found a charge of $60 by this place on that night. I immediately contacted the owner via email asking for clarification. He said he needed the CC again to verify the transaction and that he would get back to me. I waited 2 days, then I contacted him again (he didn't actually wrote me back!!!). He said he had found the $60 charge to my name and that probably was a mistake (given 2 glasses of wine) so he would have contacted me again to find an agreement for a refund. He simply disappeared. I tried reaching him again a couple of times and there was always an excuse like "I will contact you back"... I think this is really a bad attitude because everyone can make a mistake typing a check, but a) how can you justify 2 glasses of wine for $60?? b) if you admit the mistake why delay so much replying and trying to fix it??? ... Seriously is this the way to treat a customer? I could have stopped the transaction through my CC but while I was waiting for his replies which did never come promptly, the CC billing period closed and the statement was printed. I don't care so much about the amount (and of course I will never put my feet anymore in this place) but about the attitude of non returning emails until the person gets sick of the situation.. Thank God there is Yelp where we can give our feedback. Be aware if the same could happen to you!
(1)Gina S.
I've been here twice in the two years we've lived nearby. First visit, we got dessert and a drink. Dessert was not good--could've picked up a whole box of the same chocolate cake at GFS for the price of the single slice, and it would have been better and fresher. Second visit, we actually looked at the real menu. I was shocked to see gastropub- type dishes on the menu! I would never have thunk it, from the looks (and smell) of the place. Herbed goat cheese in puff pastry with crostini? Umm, yes please! Turns out, the pastry was more pillsbury, less puff. And it was not cooked through. It was chewy and gooey. The dough, not the goat cheese. Blech. It is always crowded, so I guess locals don't mind the sub-par food. Or the stinky, dank interior. We went on a Monday night in August for the second visit, and we were told it was a 45 minute wait for an outside table. We would have left, but we had to use up a Groupon that was set to expire. Stick to alcohol and you will probably be less disappointed. Oh well, lesson learned.
(2)Cyndi J.
One of the cooler, laid back b-ham bars. Beer is always cold and food isn't too bad either.
(4)Brett K.
Name says it all.
(3)Jonas P.
Great place. Down to earth spot, in Birmingham, that's saying a lot :) Great for happy hour.
(4)Lily G.
Horrible service, uncomfortable and filthy establishment, and subpar food quality. Not to mention the influx of an obnoxiously drunk and self righteous crowd anytime a live band is playing which, btw, will ruin your night (I mean the bands, although the drunk idiots are a nice cherry on top). This place disguises itself as a "pub" to hide its mediocrity, and through the years it's only been getting worse.
(1)Seoung L.
*** I'm reviewing this place as restaurant and not as a bar. I come here for lunch often because it's close to my work. I have tried a lot of their food as you can see from pics I posted. I have to say that this place has good food. Lot of Irish style meals. Great sliders and I think their regular sliders and the irish sliders are one of their best things on the menu. Their regular hamburgers are bland. Not recommended. They have good soups and salad as well. Check out their daily specials. They have a fireplace in the back for warming up during winter. Service is usually good and they have good selections for beer.
(4)Rachel F.
I must admit, this is probably one of my favorite hang outs whenever I am in the Birmingham area (especially since I work in Bham). I've spent many nights after work hanging out at Dick O' Dows. I love their pulled pork sandwich, jack and coke and play Jenga with my downtime. Dick O' Dows is friendly, quick on the service and have someone playing live music every Friday night possibly other nights, but I just can't remember. LOL. The staff is very friendly and will have conversations with you. They don't get too into the conversation, they don't over talk like many bartenders do.
(4)Elizabeth M.
Good: Outdoor seating in the summer Homemade potato chips Bad: The service - waited over 30 minutes for our food, no napkins or plates on the table with our apps. Food: Burger (a turkey and a bacon burger were ordered) were both just OK - they were bland, lacked creativity and were overpriced for being...plain. Salad: A fajita salad was ordered - pretty standard. Would have liked to have seen more "fresh" ingredients used - pretty much just iceburg, cheese, corn and tortilla strips. It would pay for Dick O'Dow's to get a fun chef to change things up a bit in the kitchen. There is potential with this place...but they are losing the local business. I imagine pretty soon, they will be living off of the 21 year old drunk crowd as everyone who appreciates good food will put them on their D list.
(2)Bob M.
I've never had a bad experience at Dick O Dows. The only reason that I can't rate it any higher is due to the fact that I've never had that WOW moment there. I do recommend that people give it a shot as it is the only place in BIrmingham, that I can think of anyway, that gives you that pub feeling.
(3)Katie J.
I've been here twice. The first time was for dinner and a couple of beers with my boyfriend. The second time was sort of a double date. The first experience was not bad. The service wasn't great but they were very busy and the food was good. We ordered potato skins as an appetizer. They were huge and delicious. I got a chicken pesto sandwich for my entree which was also great and my boyfriend ordered the Reuben. We had zero complaints about any of the food. On our second occasion here, it was the day of the Woodward Dream Cruise so needless to say it was packed. Once again, service not so great. Bartenders literally looked right at me and did not acknowledge me. But they were slammed so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Still had an awesome time. Always the love the atmosphere here and love the authentic Irish pub decor. We spent half the night at the bar and the other half on the patio which is always a favorable feature of any bar or restaurant. It was a wonderful evening even if it was mostly due to the company and volume of alcohol. Oh and they even had live music this night. The band was not necessarily my taste but it was still cool. All in all I like the place and will be back.
(4)Chuck B.
about as fake Irish as you get. Over priced and full of pretentious birmingham snobs, the only thing this place had going for it was lead bar man Sam and they screwed him out of a job after 16 years service. Oh well, i won't be missing this place whilst I'm kicking back in Belfast this summer!
(1)Cristin R.
Wait staff are rude and inattentive. This is not a shock because when you talk to the owner, he's a total jerk! No wonder his staff act like that.
(1)Brendan N.
I used to enjoy this place, when I was 21. If you're over 25...I would really not recommend it. It's fine for a quick nothing special lunch and a beer, but if avoid at all costs after 7-8pm, when it turns into a shoulder to shoulder house party where you can't hear yourself think.
(1)Caroline C.
This is our Sunday night go-to bar. It's open late (until 2 AM I believe) and has the perfect atmosphere to grab some tasty grub and a good beer before bed and embarking on another painful work week in the morning. I love the intricacy in which the interior is decorated and the unique giant wood tables in the bar area that look like they were carved from singular trunks. Although you can go to watch a game, DoD is definitely not your typical obnoxious sports bar filled with just-graduated ex-frats boys. Instead, it's filled with cougars and ex-frat boys in their 30's. But at least they're quiet. Between the boyfriend and I we've literally tried almost everything on the menu, but our favorites are the killybeg mussels (although the 'soda bread' does not cut it for me), wings (the dry rub is phenomenal but the buffalo is good too), chicken pot pie, deep fried zuccini, potato leek soup, and half the sandwiches off the menu. Did we miss anything? Ah yes, NEVER pay full price here. DoDs offers discounts on practically every website there is out there including restaurant.com and halfoffdepot. I don't see why they need to offer promotions like that, but you want to take 50% off my bill for not-your-typical bar food? Go right ahead!
(4)Kristen H.
First time to Birmingham, and I fell in love. We came here just for a drink and I was very surprised at how large this establishment is. There are three or four sections with the bar part in the front, and a quieter, more dinner appropriate, section in the back. It took a minute to find a spot, but we found a table in the front. There was a pretty extensive drink menu and I stuck with a beer. We also ordered dessert. The boyfriend and I shared the bread pudding, which was not very good. It came out cold and soggy with ice cream. It didn't have much flavor. I tried a bite of our friends' Guinness brownie and it was amazing! I would definitely get that next time. This place has a great pub feel with a friendly staff. You know when you walk in a place and just feel warm and comfy? That's how I would describe Dick O'Dows.
(4)Jeff C.
As bars go this is the place to be if you want to be seen by the Birmingham crowd, however if you are looking for a good atmosphere to enjoy a tasty beverage with some friends, I'd recommend elsewhere. I should mention that this is more for the night crowd as during the day the bar is less packed and more tolerable. The owners spent a lot of money and effort to bring the look of an old Irish pub to the suburbs of Detroit, they did such a great job that it is almost too popular. Trying to have a conversation on a Friday night is useless, you'll loose your voice yelling at the other half of the conversation before you finish your first beer. I'm also not a fan of the bands they choose to play there. I've seen plenty of people dancing to the music but I'm not sure that is because of the band's talent or the amount of beer consumed. On the plus side they do have a more secluded and normal seating area in the back and serve good food. All said and done if you want to be in the biggest party in Birmingham this is the place to be but don't expect to be able to talk to anyone.
(2)Andrea P.
I met some friends here for dinner and drinks last night. I order a Celtic Reuben and Chardonnay, both were good. Now the service was another story. Our waitress was very attentive at first. One of my friends thought that she was dipping ( chewing tobacco) the whole time. Not very appetizing when you are trying to eat. When we were ready to leave, our waitress was nowhere to be found. It took us about 30 min to locate her, then another 20 min to get our cards back. Mind you, it was near closing time and practically empty.
(2)Dan J.
Super busy at happy hour, but my waitress Ashley was the best. She always made eye contact as she passed by to make sure I was ok on drinks. When I go back I will ask for her section. I recommend you ask for Ashley!!
(5)Kathryn L.
We love Dick O'Dows - whether for meals or for barhopping. There are multiple seating options - an outdoor patio area, the actual bar, a main dining area, and a backroom dining area (with larger tables and more quiet ambiance). The food here is great. I think we ordered a stew and a shepherds pie, and both were great! The drinks are strong, but not obnoxious. And the service is great. If you're looking to hold a party here, they will hook you up with appetizers and party trays at a discounted price and will section off an area for your group. I would highly recommend this bar!
(5)Patrick S.
Great service. Lovely atmosphere. It is way too easy to spend way too long here!
(4)Dil F.
Good bartenders, good beers, good bar top. Nothing fancy and no complaints. Almost never am I up in Birmingham, let alone finding myself wandering around on foot (part of it began with an urgent need to find a public washroom... which was not easy up here!). In any event, popped in here at a late hour on a Sunday, and it was perfectly peopled... one seat left open at the bar just for me. Service was great - on point with no jazz hands. They have Boddingtons on tap which, even though it's becoming less and less of a rarity as euro distributors continue to consolidate and so all our favorite bars are carrying the same imports, still gets me in the can't-resist region of my brain. So I nursed a Boddington's, chatted with some Birminghamers (who weren't as obnoxious as they looked and dressed), and eyed the tail end of a baseball game. All the woodwork along the bar top and the walls makes for a nice old-timey guzzle environment too.
(3)Sara H.
Just a quick review which I may add more to later: This place was *fine* for kids, on a summer day for a late lunch. We ate on their patio out front (nice and shady). And they do in fact even have a kids' menu. My kids got burgers, I had the shepherd's pie, my husband had a corned beef sandwich, and all was tasty. Inside atmosphere was nice as well.
(4)Lydia W.
They have a nice small patio right on the street in the summer. They have a good dinner/lunch menu I have ate here a few times and liked everything I ordered. Decent beer selection and live music! Great casual atmosphere. Fun for a good night of drinking with friends!
(4)Debbie L.
Visited this place on 01/27/1012 (I forgot my Review was in Draft mode) Nice decor, very comfortable. Service is a bit slow, but did not mind, because in great company. The food looks and taste homemade, which is a plus for me!
(4)Tom N.
Unfortunately, this is the best hang out in downtown Birmingham, so it attracts everyone from the full-douchebags to the semi-douchebags. I fall somewhere in the middle and even I don't like myself. The only reason I go there is because I can stumble home and even then I still seem to regret it every time. By the way, who would give this place 5 stars? It's a fake irish pub, with the red wings blaring, that serves mediocre food on dirty tables. This is so far away from 5 stars.
(2)Tony B.
Supposedly this place was "packed" so we were warned that they're running behind. Didn't look that busy. Waited an hour for lukewarm/cold food, then another 15 minutes for hot but bland food. They did end up giving it to us on the house, but that isn't going to bring me back. Also, they bill themselves to be an authentic irish pub but with football on the tele and go-go's on the stereo, didn't feel like dublin to me...I miss the bally cork!
(1)Libby F.
Dick O'Dow's is a great place for meeting up with friends. You are always bound to have that six degrees of Kevin Bacon thing with someone in this pub. Maybe that's just Birmingham for you. The food's not great though. Fish and chips are dry, and with the boneless chicken wings you get 12 pieces the size of a quarter for $9.95. They have Boddington's on tap so that's worth a trip in itself.
(4)Robert J.
My favorite things here are the Irish Fry and the Guinness. It's probably the closest place to me where I can get a plate with soda bread, tomatoes, black and white pudding, Irish sausage and bacon, and a couple of fried eggs. Now, how authentic is it? Well, I suppose it's authentic enough; honestly, I don't have much of a frame of reference as I've never been in a position to get a breakfast plate like this in Ireland. What they put on that plate at Dick O'Dow's sure goes well with the Guinness, and that's enough for me for now. I don't know that I necessarily should be in a hurry to try anything else on the menu. I know that I am not in any such hurry. I may get around to it someday. I just enjoy the Irish Fry enough that I can't seem to develop enough interest to try anything else.
(3)Vania M.
I came here for lunch with some co-workers, and it was pretty good. I had the french dip, which was pretty good-sized, and came with a generous pile of delicious fries. My co-worker's bowl of veggie chili smelled amazing, and she said she really enjoyed it. The service was really slow, though - we waited quite a while (at least a half hour) after ordering before we actually got our food. If that's normal for them, I'd say go, but go on a day when you're not in a rush. It's worth the wait!
(3)Kaylee H.
I really really like the vibe of this place. Maybe I just come in on good days or am just easily impressed with the intriguing decor, but they always leave me satisfied (TWSS). The food portions are huge and hearty. Get something outside of traditional sandwich or fried stuff... the good old "what you'd find at your grandma's" items on the menu are delish. The booze selection is typical, but not overlypriced. The staff - I have always loved the staff, down to the busboy. I complimented him (the busboy) for checking our area a record eight times in 10 minutes, just to make sure no dirty dishes were on tables and everybody's water was full. When I complimented him, he was very appreciative and my dining friend and I could tell that meant a lot to him.... it really showed he cared about his job. And that makes me care about this place. Good people all around.
(4)Zoya z.
I am totally surprised by all the bad reviews on here. The food is OK (not great) but the service has always been welcoming, seating outside is nice and the decor different. With all the douche-filled places around Birmingham this one is not all that bad. If you go for dinner you'll see people getting their drink on, families of all ages having food and (especially in the back) a pretty chill crowd.
(4)Cristopher B.
It's your standard fake irish pub. There's nothing too special about it, but they splurged on the decor because it's Birmingham. Like most folks, I didn't think much of the food - I mean it's not bad, it's just not outstanding - but their fried mac & cheese is surprisingly tasty. I wouldn't come here for a party, but if you play it right and head into the back where it's quieter and less crowded, you can still rack up a decent and enjoyable evening.
(3)Kristine Z.
I came here with my cousins Bachelorette party back in 2006. This was the second bar we went to and it was such a great time. They had a band that was playing and how drunk we were from the last bar we went up and sang with them. The service was great and it was a great atmosphere to finish up the night.
(5)K B.
The bf and I decided to stop here on a whim to drink some jamenson and ended up having a great time! We did go when it wasn't very busy so the service was great. Good drinks, relaxed atmosphere. Would definitely come here again.
(4)Marisa M.
Dick O'Dows is Cheers Birmingham. And I love Dick's because sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name... While I haven't lived in Michigan for over 5 years now, I know that a few hours at Dick's will have me running into all of the people that I miss seeing and all of the people that I thought I would never see again. No trip to Michigan is complete without an evening here. The drinks are reasonable and, more often than not, there is live music in the front room. After making the rounds, I generally opt to head to the less crowded and more well lit back room and snag a table with friends. As everyone always seems to know everyone else, the evening inevitably turns into a musical chairs of catch up. Dick's is a great spot to see people any time of the year, but becomes crazy busy around both Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you aren't up for the chaos and potentially long door lines, I might suggest heading elsewhere.
(4)Greg N.
Soo, I went to this place for a quick lunch time snatchel while in the area. There was a basketball game on, so there were more than a few patrons, but the bar was mostly clear, so I had a seat there. I ordered a monte cristo sandwich, and some sort of IPA. The bartender was friendly, and prompt, and the man sitting next to me was also nice. I thought overall this place was nicely decorated, and the atmosphere was authentic, despite it's "exclusive" location. I can't say anything about what this place is like on a friday or saturday night, but for a lunch time brew and sandwich, it was very nice. Cheers!
(4)Lisa T.
I've been to Dick O'Dow's numerous times. It's the local pub of choice in Birmingham. For a great place to get drinks, enjoy cover bands, sit on the patio, I would rate this place a 4 star. For food though, it's lacking. Since I couldn't give a half star, my otherwise 2.5 star rating has been elevated to a 3 star. Of course, a caveat -- I ordered a few appetizers and one entree salad, nothing truly authentic Irish. The calamari was not good -- over-fried, something I could imagine you'd get at a diner. The Irish chips were very good (this is usually my fav accompaniment to a good beer), the mahi taco appetizer impressive (for an Irish themed pub), and the ahi tuna salad (yes, I realize it's an Irish pub), sub par with wilted lettuce and fair tuna. I enjoyed sitting on the patio, and the wait-staff was friendly. The food though wasn't that great, and I probably won't be back for more (except the Irish chips when I go for drinks). Perhaps a burger and fries would be a better bar food option, or maybe the traditional Irish fare - bangers and mash, shepards pie . . .
(3)Ernie H.
Great atmosphere, a nice gathering place, and the food is great. We have been there several times already.
(4)Erich Z.
The food was alright - your standard faux-pub stuff like fried you-name-it and pick-a-sauce. Most of it was pretty bland and not all that impressive, though the portions were huge of course. The beer selection had all the obvious choices, though no real surprises and not a ton of options for a pub nowadays. I would have loved to see a few local brews on tap. The check came out to be a bit more than $20 a person, which seemed a bit much for the food, but maybe that's just Birmingham for you.
(3)Henry B.
We've setup a number of Michigan State alumni happy hours here. So if you have a group of people. Give DoD a ring and they'll give you a deal. They gave us a free appetizer buffet and $2.50 Labatts. Brian the bartender is AWESOME. The staff is pretty friendly though when it gets crowded, the waitresses don't come around as often as I'd like. The bar food is pretty standard but their beer selection is fantastic. They allow cigar smoking in the bar too though I don't think many people take advantage of that.
(5)Donna L.
Good food and nice atmosphere for a casual evening out with friends and family.
(4)Nina C.
Food is awesome!!! Homemade potato chips- need I say more?!? From salads to the standard Irish food- just really good!! Toms my favorite bartender at this joint- he kicks ass and takes no names!!!
(5)Don K.
Everytime I come here I wonder to myself, "why do I ever go anywhere else for a brew or two with friends." The poor a beautiful looking black n tan, and ...well, I just love this place.
(5)Jennifer H.
We headed here because we had a restaurants.com coupon to use--oh, and it was hubby's birthday! :) We lucked out with parking right in front of the place, otherwise we would have had to use the parking garage. We had been a bit hesitant because the other reviews led us to believe summertime Saturday nights were crazy busy, and we were really not up for that. But it was almost empty when we got there at 6:30--so either September isn't considered summer or we were there too early. Either way, we were happy. We started with the sampler platter and probably could have just gotten that--it was HUGE! Three each of potato skins, hot wings, fried mac and cheese bites, and fried zucchini with sides of ranch, their homemade remoulade, sour cream, and salsa. We were impressed by it all--yes, it could be considered typical bar fare, but it was a notch above. The ranch dressing was to die for (I asked if it was homemade, and it was). I got the Doyle's Chipper (Guinness-battered cod and chips) and it was tasty, although certainly not the best I've ever had. And while the remoulade that came with it instead of the tartar sauce was good...fish needs tartar sauce. I did ask for another side of ranch for the fries, and it was brought immediately. Hubby had the Shepard's Pie and that was good, as well. Not outstanding, but good. Very homey feeling and tasting. Since it was hubby's birthday, we splurged on the bread pudding--and holy cow, it's enough for 2-4 people! A table next to us looked over and asked what it was, then ordered it for themselves! It was good, but again, not great. So, overall, good food and service, but nothing to make me scream from the rooftops. Hence, three stars.
(3)Chef K.
THIS is my home away from home, When i'm not in the kitchen or sleeping this is were u will find me. This is were everyone knows ur name. The staff is great and Bartender are awesome and even the owner will pour a pint wow. This place has the best guiness in Michigan and great Irish food try the Boxty or Shepards Pie
(5)Dana L.
Nice little Irish pub in downtown Birmingham. I'm going to give them three stars for having a good selection of beers, and I think that I'll add another for the neat Guinness posters in the men's bathroom. If you're a lady, maybe there are other cool posters on the wall, but I didn't see them. However, I'll take one star back for there being a lot of smoking going on. We sat in the back room, which was pretty empty, so there wasn't anyone back there smoking (but I still ended up smelling mildly of smoke). The bartender will give you free pretzel nibs if you ask him.
(3)Haroun K.
I was here once during a school holiday, with every other college student it seemed. There was nowhere to sit, the music was deafening, and the crowd was kind of horrible. The highlight of the night was watching the huge bouncer chasing some idiot down the street, catching him, and well...poor guy. Would not return.
(1)kelly w.
you can't hate the playa, you gotta hate the game.. this is a perfect example of that horrific motto. on appearance alone, this place is extremely ideal; pub"ish" if you will. The bartenders are nice. Drinks aren't that outrageous in price. Food..well I would say scrap the food, it's nothing to write home about. All that sounds enjoyable... then add the people that go there. This is the "game" part in which the "game" is a Birmingham bar. Chach-leroy and his boys creep out of the wood-work and skeezily saunter around shamelessly scopin' out any girl that just might go home with him. It's either that, or everyone from your high school DYING to know "what you've been up to." So if you feel like taking a trip down memory lane or creating a memory you'd soon like to forget, go here on the weekend. If you go during the week, typically it's an elderly dude-fest (think older business men watching sports.. still in suits), but generally less packed and easier to enjoy your guinness.
(4)Michael G.
Nothing bad about this place; but nothing tremendous either. It's your basic Irish bar. Lots of pretty people drink here until 2am. Loaded with so-called hipsters, but I can tolerate them in small doses. If I was in downtown B'ham drinking (which I try to avoid), this would be the place I go.
(3)Tiffany D.
The good: great beer selection, good bartenders, vintagey pub feel of the place. The bad: The crowd. The crowd. The music. The crowd. I've never felt like such an outsider walking into a place as when I went to Dick O'Dows. The first time I went was for a private party, which required I walked all the way to the back and past all the peering eyes. The next time it wasn't much better. I'm not sure if the crowd is just all regulars and is not used to new people or what, but it was definitely not the Cheers kind of crowd I prefer in a bar.
(3)o o.
One stars 'cause they have decent beer on tap. This place is my worse nightmare. Don't come here on Holidays. You are bound to see that person you never again wanted to see, here. The clientle is way too concerned with looking good and being cool. In the summer they have a deck they place in the street in front of the bar. Be forewarned ..... I am so very scared for those who dare to eat or drink there - looks like you are tempting fate.
(1)Dan B.
Oh joy...another generic Irish pub with uninspired, mass produced mounds of fried foods and a mediocre cover band. We sat in the back to avoid some of the noise but spent the entire time listening to some very drunk girl across the room scream and yammer at full volume to her table-mates...who were sitting right across from her! The food was pretty greasy and kinda bland. The definite highlight of my experience here was the $5.50 Guinness draughts, which always seem to have the ability to win my heart, no-matter where they are served.
(2)Rodney H.
Every now & again i get a hankering for really bad pub food.Especially a large grease filled artery hardening fried Irish breakfast & Dick ODows fits the bill exactly.In The summer its quite nice to while away a few hours on the small street side patio, drink a few Guinness or the wonderful Boddingtons Bitter & people watch.The food is really poor but the service is good & always a decent size crowd & Blood puddings & Boddingtons is sometimes all i need.
(2)Taesu B.
Sam is the best bartender i've sat with. best Guiness pour i've experienced outside of Ireland (ok, i've never been to Ireland)
(4)Deborah K.
I'm giving it three stars because I didn't have to pay for anything, and the staff was REALLY accomodating to our drunken rambling demands. Inexplicably we had a company Xmas party out here, and as an old Midwestern girl, displaced in L.A. it was nice to get back to the kind of bar I used to frequent when I was underage and drinking heavily. Weird that it was the venue for a corporate Xmas party, though. I have to say, after nearly a decade in L.A. I'm not a fan of smelling smoky at the end of the night, but it was a LOT better than I remember bars in the Midwest being, so that was terrific. The food was ok. Not spectacular...but ok...for a pub. The drinks were strong and came frequently. I didn't love that twice my drink disappeared by overzealous bussers before it was finished...like an OBVIOUSLY unfinished drink. A nearly-full Whisky and Coke for example. Lame. But, listen, they rearranged the room several times for us, put up with our crazy party, and it was a really cute space for our party. So yay! But no Leinies on tap, which is what I look forward to every time I go to the Midwest, so boo.
(3)Otis M.
Dick's location in downtown Birmingham is a plus. Local Irish musicians hang out some nights practicing their music. The pints are good, the food is substance. Nothing super special, but its ethnic offerings are okay. Come here for the drink and crowd.
(3)Claire D.
I feel like if you're under 40, this isn't the place to grab a drink on a Saturday night. Even though it's a pub (more laid back, right?) - it's in Birmingham so it's filled with older couples that are dressed up and have already had a few drinks to begin with while they were out to dinner. On top of the older couples, you've got the single Birmingham dads with their artfully done hair, expensive shoes and whitened teeth buying everything with boobs in a 5 mile radius a drink. I haven't eaten there in ages so I can't attest to their food but my drinks were consistently good and the guys that got beer seemed very happy with it. Our waitress was very busy but attentive - it just wasn't the right place for a younger crowd. We looked like kids when we were there the other night.
(2)Theresa U.
Went here last night with some friends and saw the Mac/PC guy, Justin Long. Five Stars...
(5)Parisa K.
If you want to go out in Birmingham, then you want to go out at Dick O'Dow's. With that being said, I don't love this place. It's got a pretty nice set up. On nights when it's not packed, I like it a lot more. Any time I go, I run into a ton of people I know... which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. In general, it's fun to run into old friends or acquaintances and chat it up a bit, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the small talk. Overall, it's a fun place with a good, younger crowd in Birmingham. Just avoid it around the holidays.
(3)Sarah M. B.
Ugh, where to being....the place of where all duchebaggery is committed. I have to admit I do go here...only bar in downtown bham that you don't have to be a cougar or a loaded a-hole to go to....I will do massive updates with this bar too each time I go...so always remember to look this up. I was there recently and aside from some duchebags that were with the party I was with...I did not run into one other person from my past that wasn't trying to get info out of me as far as 'who is more successful now...' which in my drunken state was a bit of a disappointment, actually. Normally, I don't want to see anyone but the lack of crowd this certain Friday night has given me writers block for a good review.... Good beers on tap, food is OK...a couple things are good, but there are so many better places to eat. I have had ok salmon here before, but I have been to Ireland and uh, the 'Irish cuisine' it is not, especially the boxty's. Also, one of my favorite apps ever is fried zucchini, and as I found out and was EXTREMELY disappointed it was off the menu-BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Height of duchebag season here: Thanksgiving, Xmas and NYE, and the Saturdays in the summer...you won't be able to move in here, and trust me the line is in NO way worth the wait unless you are specifically waiting to see someone already inside. 5/4/08-UPDATE. OK went for a quick dinner on a Sunday night, and I have upped my star rating...the food was actually GOOD...the mac and cheese is one of the best I have had...the farmhouse salad was fresh and filling with a delicious homemade dressing....I have always been a fan of the cod sandwich and once again it was on par....the crab cakes were decent...BREAD pudding-a fantastic must have...apologies to Dick's for trashing the food...but then again if you can't get it right on a dead Sunday night....
(3)Pamela H.
the worst meal and service. Cold atomosphere, salmon served cold and over cooked, waitress was cold (never asked us how our food was) and abrupt though they were busy it is not an excuse. Not returning!!!
(1)Jenn P.
this place makes the best black and tans I have ever had!!! No trip to Michigan is complete without stopping here.... They have decent food, I had the shepherds pie, which was quite good.... The place is very rustic, reminded me of what a pub would look like in Ireland. If you are in the area, stop by and have a few, you wont regret it....
(4)Jeremy D.
Food was mediocre. Server was terrible.dIdn't see her for almost an hour after taking our order. Also, she over charged us by exactly $10.
(2)Krista R.
Yesssssssss! I love this place! Every time I come here I run into someone from St. Hugo, Marian or Brother Rice that I knew from a long time ago. Gotta' love it.
(4)PAUL T.
Awesome place have been going here since it opened Mitch has longtime dedicated staff (Sam at the bar) that really love what they do. Food is quite good and service is exceptional. Music when there is always a blast and has long been a traditional stop for me whenever I am in town visiting family. You won't be disappointed and they pour a proper Guinness not many can or bother to do so and it makes a huge difference. Mitch you have much to be proud of!
(5)marisa s.
DICK'S - really, the only bar-bar in downtown birmingham. this irish establishment opened when birmingham was still a downtown for those that lived in the surrounding areas. the palladium was yet to be built, which also means blue martini was not around, and the hype of the 'ham was far far away. when DOD's opened, i was not old enough to drink there, but one time i ate there - and still to this day, i will not eat "irish fare." besides the food, the atmosphere is always dark, drunk and full of people from high school, private school, public school and everywhere in between - staring you down, buying you a shot and asking what you've been up to since they last saw you at the mobil on oak and woodward, geri wardach's class, that house party on burning bush or greek isles. besides the bombardment of people you have to push through while having HS flash backs, once you get past the long bar, the irish band and the bathrooms - you'll find yourself in "the back" where it's lighter and there are plenty of booths and tables to spread out at and talk shit about people who a) got fat b) got married c) is still a douche d) is a bitch e) didn't "say hi." there's a fireplace back there and some weird irish decor - once you sit down, a waitress will come by, which is an easier way to get a drink than trying to fight the masses (mind you - these busy times i mention are during thanksgiving, christmas, wedding season.) in the front at the crowded bar. dick's does the trick for a "regular bar" in downtown b'ham - the other options are: corner bar - i'm not sure how this place stays associated with the townsend; it's a hazarai of music and 40-somethings, 20-somethings and randos midtown - oh wait, this place closed 220 - more likely to run into your mom there, some cougars and an old guy with a cigar looking for a good time streetside - fishy and 50-somethings on dates or affair rendezvous camron's - you're trying too hard - it's a place to eat, not "grab a drink" mitchell's - older crowd, fishy mt. chalet - down woodward, a hike if you walked from the downtown - but this place is a good #2 to a bar-bar in b'ham. "get yer skis shined up, grab a stick of juicy fruit!"
(3)Amya S.
This is a great place to hang out and and relax. It's not pretentious, which I greatly appreciate. I've been in here a handful of times and the bartenders I have experienced are average or just rude. One bartender turned around and walked away when my friend and I tried to decide what to order. I was shocked. It would be one thing to say "I'll give you a couple of minutes" and then leave, but to just turn on his heel and dismiss us like that was unacceptable.
(3)Kristin G.
I'm going with the very neutral three stars because we got there just before midnight and had to stand outside in line and our group was split so that one pair had to stay outside while the other pair was let in. There was a live band there on a Friday night, which I enjoyed, but in the back half of the bar it was so loud the bartenders had trouble hearing the orders.
(3)Nina B.
Great little neighborhood Irish pub...great for knocking down a beer and some comfort food (I ordered the mac n'cheese....yuuum!) after a hard day's work. Not a great selection of "normal" pub food...they don't even have the most basic pub standards, like hot wings!! Despite the overall smokiness and the not-so-great selection, it's a relaxing place to be...especially the back room.
(3)Mindy W.
on more than one occasion, i've declared aloud, "dick odow's is my favorite bar in birmingham because it's the only place where you can forgo your sequined halter-top." mind you, i don't actually own a sequined halter top, but you get the point. i like to kick up my heels and have a good time in standard bar armor: jeans and a t-shirt. during a recent trip to this establishment., i found myself gazing across the room to get a good look at the other patrons. much to my dismay, i concluded i was the only female in the joint not wearing a sequined halter top. so much for my theory. don't let the machismo irish regalia fool you. dick o'dows is the corner bar in sheep's clothing. with that said, i still always manage to have a great time here. kimmy deserves all the accolades in the world- bartender with a heart of gold. i must say i greatly prefer this bar in the winter. during the summer months, it can sometimes embody the feel of a bunch of 'bros' kicking back 'adult sodas' at a frat party. one last note: If you have the stomach to tolerate the crowd on thanksgiving eve, it usually proves to be one hell of a party.
(3)Katia M.
Dick O'Dow's is a cool nightspot. Its cozy, woodsy sort of decor and crowded barstools are always inviting, plus they pour a nice pint. I like the place ... especially when they've got an Irish band going.
(4)