O’Donovan’s Irish Pub
700 1st Ave N, Minneapolis, MN, 55403
O’Donovan’s Irish Pub Menu
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Address :
700 1st Ave N
Minneapolis, MN, 55403 - Phone (612) 317-8896
- Website https://www.odonovans.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :3:00 pm - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Iris S.
Being a good (?) Irish gal, I adore a fabulous pub and this is no exception. One of my favorite place to hang out downtown, it is warm and dark inside with wood booths and lots of tables. In the summertime it has a nice size patio area to get some black & tans in before a show at 1st Ave. Pint beer prices are average (~$5) for A) being downtown B) Guinness. O'Donovan's is in a precarious location, as if it isn't one of the first stops on a bar crawl, I have a tendency to get suckered into moving next door to the Seville Club by my insatiable male friends. With a low-key vibe, it isn't as artsy as The Local, which sometimes I prefer, but cannot get myself to stand with a beer in the wall-to-wall people fence. I loved that before the smoking ban they provided logo-ed wooden matches. Bonus points for consistently clean bathrooms. The only downside is that the live music can be a wee bit overpowering.
(5)Kevin H.
Drinks are a little bit pricey, but this is downtown. I've never run into a cover, and its usually a pretty laid back place to grab a drink after a show at First Ave. I had a friend who was banging on our table and spouting out nonsense syllables (he's a drunken asshole.) I was irritated, very very irritated, but the staff didn't seem to mind. That makes O'Donovan's a 4 star in my book.
(4)Kevin M.
I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Irish bars. Yeah, they tend to be either A) overpriced or B) peopled entirely by Ren Fest hippies, frat boys, and those with Celtic knot tattoos. But god save me, I love 'em anyway (and I mean no offense to those who enjoy the Renaissance Festival or Celtic knot designs). I enjoy going to O'Donovan's before shows at either Target Center or First Ave., but that's really the only time I ever find myself there. I will say this: As far as Irish bars go, O'D's is unfortunately located and way egregious in the A) category above. Honestly, people, $6 taps of anything?! Your happy hour is feeling blue - $4 Guinness pints are great, but $4 Miller Lites are standard, not happy. There's just no reason to charge the prices they do, especially since they always seem to be packed (especially on Karaoke night - though at least with drinks so spendy no one gets so drunk they assault us with bad renditions of "Sister Christian'" or anything). Sorry, O'Donovan's - I enjoy my time with you, but until I'm on a cushy expense account you'll remain a very rare treat before Wolves games or rock shows.
(3)Sarah J.
We contacted O'Donovan's a month in advance to cater a large work event and were told to talk to the owner, Dermot Cowley. Dermot was great....at first. He provided suggestions to appeal to a large crowd and even offered to provide the lunch at a discount since we were on a budget! Fabulous, right? He soon turned unresponsive when trying to finalize the food and finance just before the event. He would not answer his cell phone, return our phone messages, and did not send follow-up emails when he said he would. The whole ordeal was extremely unprofessional. Dermot should have been straightforward that he was not interested or unable to do it! The committee ended up having to scramble to find other arrangements a week before the event. Horrible customer service and from the owner no less!
(1)John D.
I had to go here for dinner as part of a work event. The food was not good. Worst Shepard's Pie I've ever had anywhere. Seriously, they served better Shepard's Pie at my college dining hall. Also, this place has a stale odor of dank pub air which is not the least bit appetizing. I'm quite sure the only reason this place stays in business is their location (close to Target Center). Only saving grace was that the New Belgium Ranger on tap was delicious -- probably because it was made in Colorado, far from this shitty pub. Out.
(2)Alan L.
Pros: Possibly the best chicken pot pie I've ever had (and this is coming from someone who spent 5 months in London). Lots of chicken and peas and carrots and onions inside and the crust is super fluffy - not the kind that's 2-inches thick and burnt. And the portion size is humongous. I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it all but I ate until the very last bite. Also, their happy hour specials are great! Cons: You're going to need more than a couple beers to get you through the terrible karaoke.
(4)Tasha G.
O'Donovan's offered a great atmosphere and selection of drinks when hanging out with friends before a concert. Although we missed the happy hour window, which was a bummer as the drink prices were a little spendy, it was still a great place that I'd check out again. I can't say anything for the food as we didn't order any, but the menu had many delicious sounding items that I would love to give a try.
(3)KatieRae A.
Who would think an Irish pub would have such amazing salads!? I love this place just because of that....and beside that I have been there about six times over the past 4 or 5 years, and have had no problems. Its in a great spot where you get to watch the rockers go to 1st ave, and the twins fans leaving the game they lost! Everyone has always been friendly here...and I have yet to fear for my safety...but again there salads are awesome, filling, and just mmmmm...I think I'm hungry.
(5)Jacqui B.
We enjoyed good pub fare and a pint of Harp, all brought by a smiling waitress and while listening to The Cranberries, U2, and Van Morrison from the overhead speakers......this Irish girl got homesick, but otherwise this was a nice evening Downtown Minneapolis! I had the Chicken Curry over Chips (you can get it over rice, if you prefer) and it came out steaming hot and with the chips done nicely so the curry didn't obliterate their crispness right away. My son ordered the Chicken Pot Pie and Oh-my-goodness, was it STUFFED with chicken and potatoes and veggies....great flaky pastry on top of a large pot pie base. A tip: if you're a light eater, you can easily share one entree with a friend....portions were quite generous!
(3)Nick M.
Looking for a nice Smithwick's, Guinness, or Harp, but don't want to deal with the crowd of The Local, or head out to the suburbs? This place feels like a real Irish Pub, with some occasionally entertaining patrons, a great beer selection, some surprisingly good food... and irish nachos. A quick hint -- if you order those, you probably don't need dinner. Just saying.
(4)Scott H.
Best Irish bar I've ever been to. GREAT music. The food was a little bit more than I would like to pay. Conveniently located by Target Field and First Avenue (the music place). Cool crowd.
(5)Grahame B.
My first trip to O'Donovan's was on a lovely summer evening. My wife and our friends and I had just been to see a show at Northrup Auditorium, and some other friends called us and said, "We're at O'Donovan's across from First Ave. Come and join us." So we did. I wasn't blown away by the service, but that's not a bad thing. The servers and bartenders were prompt, but I guess they could sense that we were having a good time and didn't want to keep interrupting. I appreciated that. They have a nice patio, and it was nice for us to be able to just sit outside and talk and drink and smoke. The atmosphere inside is excellent. Lots of dark, warm wood and coloured glass decorate the place, and it feels very Irish. Like I said, the outdoor patio is pleasant as well, and perhaps because it's not on a particularly busy downtown street, it's relatively quiet (compared to, say, The Local, whose patio is right on Nicollet Mall where all the buses and taxis rumble by). It actually feels a little more Irish than Kieran's, in kind of an understated way. Kieran's almost feels like they're commercially Irish, if that makes any sense, like their selling point is that they're an Irish pub. O'Donovan's seems more like they're a pub that happens to be Irish, and I like that better. Seems more authentic. I soon went back to meet a friend before going to another concert, and asked for a Newcastle (gasp! English beer in an Irish pub? What's wrong with me?). The bartender said he was out of it, and told me about Smithwick's, which I'd never heard of. He even poured one for me and said it was on the house. At that moment I realized that I loved this place. I wish I worked downtown so I could go there for a beer after work. As it is, I'd have to go 45 minutes out of my way to do so. But it'd almost be worth it.
(4)Shawn S.
A fine pub alternative to the Kieran empire, lots of pub space but does lack some of the character of Local and Kieran's. Decent selection of drafts, and a large outdoor patio. Just one thing - there is only on "d" in Midleton.
(3)Drew B.
Great place for a pint!
(4)Nazgul W.
O'Donovan's is pretty swell. With First Avenue, the Target Center and Target Field all basically across the street, this cozy pub has the location factor settled. In the winter time it's really nice and warm and snug in here like a cabin in the woods and in the summer it's airy with light flowing in and a big patio. From what I recall the food's good here but most of all it's a great place to have a beer or two when doing anything downtown. The staff is really friendly, there are booths to relax in, all the wonderful woodwork...it's favorable and a unique spot in Mpls.
(4)Ninja S.
Next door to a boobitorium and across from 1st Ave and the Target Center both, this place must have a post concert or game rush like no other. That would explain some of the traumatized shell shock that some of the wait staff throw at their patrons. Keep it under control, we're just here to eat, drink, and be merry. No need to loose your cool. Bring us the beer and everyone gets out alive and unharmed.
(4)Shelley S.
Went here on one of those 80 degree nights in October (feel free to stick around longer, warm weather) and sat on the patio with three of my friends before going to a show at First Ave. We didn't think we were in a huge hurry until we sat at a table for about 15 minutes before being approached by a server. She finally came and took our drink orders. Another 15 minutes go by and she brings us our drinks (easy drinks: beer and wine -- should take no more than 5 minutes). She then takes our food order. Another 15 minutes go by and we get our food. Pretty soon we realize we only have about 15 minutes left to eat and pay and getty on out of there! We ask for our check once our food comes because lord knows just closing the bill will probably be another 20 minutes. Geesh! I will say, however, that the salad I ordered (something with grilled beets and chicken) was really tasty! My friend ordered a grilled cheese that looked good and it came with fries, which were not as good. My other friend ordered a side of fries which came with an interesting aioli like dipping sauce, which was awesome (the sauce, not the fries). I don't think I would go back here. The only reason they're getting three stars instead of two is because of the delicious salad and tasty dipping sauce for the fries.
(3)Tony U.
In Minneapolis, the place to drink and let loose is basically the area around 1st Street North and 5th Avenue North. From there, you can go one of two directions: party at the hormone infested meat market bars, like Brothers, or go to the more mature, laid back bars, like O'Donovan's where you can watch and listen to some great music and carry on a decent conversation. Given the two options, O'Donovan's was my preferred choice. I was there last Friday and really enjoyed a real Irish Folk Band, from Belfast perform. I spoke to the singer, forgot his name but he was very friendly and down to earth. Anyways, it's great to sit outside in front of this place and have a few beers and catch up with old friends. A perfect bar to go to after many hours of being on a plane.
(5)Jafey A.
The service here is very good! We went before a Twins game and it was very busy so I didn't expect much on the service front but it was a very pleasant surprise. Very friendly and attentive. The food isn't too bad either.
(4)Juliet K.
I come here for karaoke sunday nights. SO much fun. O'donovans is a solid place. good food and beer selection. but my review is about their mainstay server tracey. she is seriously the *best* server in the twin cities. she remembers everyones names. and drinks. she can find you where ever you are inside the venue. she is always there when you need a new drink but she is not aggressive. I love my sunday nights and tracey always makes me feel like i'm at home. a bit cheesy but its like being at cheers. but way cooler.
(5)Tom L.
Food was mediocre, Decent tap beer selection. Typical "Irish Bar". Good place to grab a drink before a show at 1st avenue.
(3)M P.
This is probably one of my favorite pubs in Minneapolis. Located right by Target Field and across the street from First Ave. They are open 365 days a year!! So if you need to get away from the family or don't have family in town (like me), when the holidays arrive, it's an awesome place to visit. It's a very casual bar but on any night you will see people dressed up to go to a show, just getting off work or heading to a game. The food really is pretty good here. I'm personally a fan of the buffalo wings and they make a great spinach, prosciutto, blackberry salad. The drink prices are typical for downtown, but they also have very good happy hours. Most importantly they are cheaper than Kierans who seem to have no aversion to being the most expensive place downtown. The servers are great and super accommodating and the bartenders are fast, friendly and know there stuff. If you are downtown for a game or show it's definitely worth checking out. Just be warned that they will be packed and you may have to wait for a drink. But if you like a good Guinness pour or just about any Irish whiskey I highly recommend the place. They even have some decent bands and karaeokee. My favorite part is sitting on their large patio people watching. Oh, did I mention it's right next to The Seville?? Just sayin....
(5)Marc R.
Taatey suds right next to Target Arena
(4)Logan A.
This place clearly survives on unsuspecting suburbanites and visitors heading to an event at the Target Center or other entertainment nearby, because their food and service won't have me coming back soon -- if ever. Saturday afternoon, a few coworkers and I finished up our staff work at a convention nearby and decided to hit this place for happy hour, where the beers and wells are $4. My drink wasn't worth half that. After about an hour, we decided we needed some nosh, and ordered the onion rings and curry fries for $3-$4 each. A while passed before we realized the food was well overdue. Looked for the waitress, and couldn't find her. She finally brought it and was friendly, and said the ticket had been misplaced. Barely an apology was offered. No discount or make-good was offered. No manager visit. And she pivoted and left so fast I couldn't even ask for some tartar sauce for the rings. Oh, they were cold -- not cooling off but COLD -- and congealed, too. It seems like a nice enough place, so I won't protest if we pick this place again, but I'll make sure I order quickly and keep tabs on how long it takes.
(2)Kevin B.
Fish and chips were bomb after seeing vanilla ice play the halftime show of the t-wolves / celtics game. And whiskey list goes on an on
(5)AJ T.
Walked in to check out the bar and stayed for two hours. Very inviting atmosphere with comfy booths/tables for big and small groups. Tons of beers on tap and they had live music that was really fun. The only issue we had was a really bad server which was disappointing but I left her out of my rating because I liked the bar so much.
(4)Ted B.
I went here on the night of the '13 Packers-Vikings wild card game. I had tickets for a Twolves game (O'Donovan's is maybe a 90-second walk from Target Center), but dipped in the third quarter to find food and (more) beer. Because the Vikings were in their first major playoff game in three-four years, I figured every bar near downtown would be slammed. Oddly, O'Donovan's was basically empty, aside from maybe 2-3 clusters of fans throughout. I pounded a couple of beers -- they have good options, including two New Belgium brews (Fat Tire and Ranger IPA) -- and ordered two appetizers. I have no idea why I spent this much money, as an aside. The food was average -- it's about what you'd expect from a bar, and maybe a little bit less. I had the chicken fingers and while I was a little buzzed when I had 'em, I recall them being sub-par. The base burgers and stuff are pretty good, though. Beer selection is good. You can usually get a seat, there's good TV coverage, and it's right near Target Center. I think it's a really good spot for a pre-concert/game drink and appetizer. As for anchoring an evening there, that I have no idea.
(3)Andy G.
This is my usual stop before a concert and the other day was no different. I got there after happy hour but their HH deals looked fantastic. 4 dollar pints of anything and 4 dollar sheppards pie when its listed at 13 bucks on the dinner menu. Not too shabby. Anyway, got there after HH so pints of Guiness were 6. I also enjoy a pretty good burger. Unfortunately to add cheese and onions and shrooms it was an extra three bucks. Kind of a butthole pricing scheme but what can I do. Sidenote: My buddy and I stopped at First Ave first to get our tickets when the doors opened and then came to ODonovans. Shortly before we went back to see the show a guy at the bar threw down two tickets and said we could have them! Suck City!!!
(4)Dan S.
This place doesn't really fit in its area, its more of a bar, as opposed to the clubs nearby. They have Irish music on most nights. It usually involves a fiddle and can be mildly annoying if you are sober, excruciating when you are drunk and the room is spinning, but pretty fun if you have a good buzz going and make the ill-advised decision to try to do that creepy Irish dance where only your legs move.
(4)Nikki B.
Hubby and I stopped by here for a quick bite to eat after a Twins game and were lucky to get in before it got super busy. Big place. I'm sure it is a great place to hang out with a group or after work for happy hour. Food wasn't the best but wasn't bad either. Mediocre. I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie and it was pretty bland. Huge portion, definately could share with someone else:) Hubby ordered a burger - nothing special. I will say compared to other reviewers complaints about food being cold ours came out piping hot! Would I stop by again? No, unless someone requested it. Nothing bad about the place but there was nothing special about it either. Ok I will say it was located in a nice convenient spot - Close to Twins Stadium, First Ave and Target Center if you need to grab food or drink quick:)
(3)Jordan H.
This is a fun Irish pub that seems to be a bit more low key than the Local or Brits. They often have live Irish music and I think all of the bartender are Irish. It's a bit more authentic than your average Irish pub.
(4)Emily U.
Out of all the Irish pubs in Minneapolis, O'Donovan's is one of my favorites. The pub is located right downtown, across from the Target Center and First Avenue, so a perfect place to grab a drink before or after the festivities. The decor is neat but it's not overpowering--you can tell they don't try super hard in trying to make it a super "genuine" Irish pub. It's actually a decent sized pub for being right downtown. The servers are very nice and the cute Irish bartenders are great with the drinks. I'd say drink prices are average, and they do have a happy hour (20 oz. pints are $4.) The food is good-your usual Irish fare. One Saturdays in the fall, they broadcast the Notre Dame football games which is kind of fun--where else would you go to watch an ND football game (besides the actual stadium?) I'm not sure why I like this bar so much. I think it's just the general ambience (fun and chill) and the friendly servers. It's a nice breath of fresh air amongst the clubs and crazy bars downtown.
(4)Catherine C.
I've been to O'Donovan's a few times now, it's really a place I keep coming back to because I know that I like it there. Finding comfort in the familiar and all that...But I have to say they make very good drinks, the bartenders are always nice and friendly (if you sit up at the bar and have a drink) or if you choose to sit at one of their cozy little tables near the fire (like we did on New Year's Eve 2009) you will find that the waitstaff are very attentive and quick to hand out menus and get your drinks for you. We got some fish and chips there for dinner on New Year's Eve, it was about -4 degrees outside, so we limited our time spent walking from bar to bar. Staying indoors was a much better idea! They had a live band playing, and the fire was going, the drinks kept coming, so it was a really great, relaxing way to spend a special night. I've always had a good time at this place. Also fun to sit out on the patio during the summer, nice way to spend an afternoon, having a drink or 2 and just watching people go by. No complaints!
(5)jenny A.
I came in with low expectations. I just wanted a place near First Ave. to meet my friend, have a drink and eat a snack. Turns out it wa HH and we got $4 pints of Guinness. I also had lamb chops which were actually really, really good. I never expected decent food here. My friend got fish and chips which were average. (When will they understand the fries are not supposed to be crispy!) It's OK there are so few places who don't screw this up I'm not going to judge too much. Decent staff, but then I sat at the bar, so that usually means you get served first. Decor is fake Irish, but they obviously have put a lot of money into looking like a run down pub in Ireland. With a smoking ban, sunshine outside, and a continuous soundtrack of Pogues, they fail utterly, but so what. Good food, cheap (for downtown) Guinness and I'm happy.
(4)David B.
Good beer, decent food. One messed up appetizer came after the main course. Pre twins crowd is fun.
(3)Adam T.
Walked in kind of by mistake to plan on where we wanted to go that night. We ended up staying for a couple hours! Seating was comfortable and the restaurant/bar could hold a variety of sizes for groups. A solid variety of beer on tap, but I would have liked to see some more local beers. LIve music was awesome...the band was a modern Irish band, it seemed like everyone played a couple instruments. The atmosphere was fun, laid back, probably a great spot for a solid pub meal and a brew. We did have a bad server, but hoping she was just having a rough day. It was disappointing, but all of the bartenders were incredibly nice and I will not judge the establishment by "one bad apple."
(4)Alex X.
Came here a few nights before a friend left for Australia. After some whiskey shots, we got up on stage and sang Karaoke night and convinced everyone that our friend was an Australian basketball player. Seemed like a good place. Quieter since it was a Monday night, I think.
(3)Matt P.
small pub, very nice pints. go already.
(5)Andrew H.
Pretty good whiskey selection, good food, went here before a twins game and was pleasantly surprised.
(4)Jay G.
Was told twice they'd "make it right". That was over a month ago now. Haven't heard anything. Again. Ridiculous.
(1)Alex K.
It's fine. More of a 3.5, but rounding down. Hungry before a baseball game, I not-so-willingly was ushered into O'Donovan's. It's a fairly typical pub-near-a-sporting-arena sort of place. The prices are a little higher than they probably should be, and the food is mostly just "solid." The sandwich I got came with a good portion of meat, but there was basically nothing else to it. A stack of meat with a little bit of mustard on toasted and turned-soggy white bread. The fries tasted alright, but they certainly tasted like they were straight out of a freezer bag. Well, not literally, I mean... they were put in the fryer first... you know what I mean. It's not as bad as some other pub-near-a-sporting-arena places I've gone to, but it's just passable -- slightly over-priced, average-at-best food.
(3)Chris J.
Great place. Clean bathrooms!!! Super clean bathrooms, friendly great atmosphere!!! Outside patio is great. Love it
(5)Brian F.
I've been to this place multiple times over the years and find the food to be about average at the very best. It's more of a place to simply drink. The aesthetic is nice as just an old pub but I'm not that big of a drinker so I look for food quality. They used to have amazing hand battered onion rings but today I was told that they had done away with them. With all of the bars with food in this part of town the only appeal is location before or after a sporting event. I strive to go in there someday and have a great above average meal, dare to dream.
(3)Jess B.
This place has the location covered, no question about that. We were headed to a show at First Ave and decided to stop in to O'Donovans because we didn't feel like trudging down to the 508. We figured we could just quickly cross the street for the show since we wanted to catch all the bands. I hadn't been back to O'Donovans since moving back from Boston four years ago and now I remember why...it is remarkably mediocre. The beer selection has absolutely nothing out of the ordinary and the inside is just like any other Irish pub. My husband got a Guinness and I decided to order a whiskey ginger. This is where the experience really started to go down hill: the bartender seriously made it seem like one of the biggest inconveniences to set down the beer glass he had already picked up and make a mixed drink in a different glass. I literally got an eye roll. I am pretty forgiving toward restaurant staff after working in restaurants for years but this was ridiculous. We each had a couple of drinks and split some fries. The fries were fine but really greasy. When we tried to pay the tab, it took us over 10 minutes to get the bartender to run the card even though the bar stools were not full, he did not seem especially busy, and the card and bill were in plain sight. When he finally did run it, he slammed the card receipts without even a thank you. I am still thinking about this poor service several days later. We will not make the mistake of going here again for a pre show drink and we will walk the few blocks to the 508 where they have way better beers and much friendlier staff.
(2)Patrick T.
I was a little disappointed with O'Donovan's went here for a late afternoon beer and appetizer before the All Star game! Loved the outdoor seating, and we waited about 15 minutes and got a table! Pretty busy for 3 in the afternoon! Was happy to see a YELP Check in offer for 4 dollar import pints! We both ordered imports and showed the waitress our check in offer from YELP! She said oh, those do not work this weekend? First off it was a TUESDAY not the weekend, and why not! She gave no good reason. I guess because they were busy! Oh well we would have saved a total of 5 dollars on our pints! Then our food was pretty un extaordinary, I got the chips (fries) and Ashley ordered Chicken strips, which were a little cold in places! Which was also a bummer for 29 bucks we got 2 pints, and a not good food experience, but the weather was beautiful and we had better places to be! So chalk this one up as a 2 star hour!
(2)Gabriel D.
Came here after a conference, Its the usual fare, with an Irish pub, Loud, beer, drunkeness however the location and surrounding places to make it every attractive to stop by, Just bring some ear plugs and your credit card and you should be fine.
(3)Daniel H.
poor service, improper pouring of guinness. I only go here now when flogging molly is here.
(1)Riley C.
Great location right across the target centre. Went after a game and it was surprisingly dead. Took a little while for the server to get to us and she really had no clue about what was on the menu. Drinks were ok but didn't stay after our first ones.
(2)Morgan J.
Very disappointed. A $19 corned beef and cabbage dinner was overpriced with meager portions. Service was spotty. We will not be returning.
(1)AJ J.
Went to the Depot before a Wolves game but didn't get served. So we left and went to O'Donovan's. GREAT decision! I asked for just a simple grilled chicken sandwich (not on the menu) and the waiter didn't hesitate to say yes. The chicken was good, moist, simply seasoned, etc. The best part was the bun! Omg, it was the best damn bun I've ever eaten in my life. I almost asked for a second one! The fries were good too. The food prices were reasonable, I'd definitely go back here.
(4)Mike O.
Big, loud and sudsy. But it's right next to Target Field, so if you can flag down a bartender, go for it. Came here during a rain delay, and actually got a seat at the bar. It took forever to get the second drink, however, because there was only one bartender and the downstairs bar is I-shaped (with serifs), and the guy was at the other end for forever. The music was loud, but it was the kind of music that Minnesotans like, so it was actually pretty good.
(3)Sue S.
Well, if there's anything going for this joint, it's got location. Right across from First Ave and down the street from Target Center, it is a very convenient place to stop by before or after an event. It's a pretty typical Irish pub. It's much larger than it looks from the front and has nice hard wood and a relaxed vibe. Food-wise, it's pretty standard. We ordered the mozzarella sticks, which was a shockingly generously sized app. We had a table of five and I think we each got two. It seemed that what folks got was decent enough. The fries were really excellent. A couple of gripes: The service was just OK. Our waitress brought four menus for five of us, which I thought was odd. I got one water refill and did not get another. But overall it was fine. Not sure we'd be hankering to go back, but if we're downtown for a show or something else, it would definitely be a suitable place to stop for a drink and quick bite.
(3)Hannah G.
Visited the cities to see cirque du Soleil, and this place was conveniently across the street. Ordered a burger, (the menu was not large at all), and a side of kettle chips. The bun on the burger was so horribly dry that I needed to drink water in order to swallow it. The place was terribly loud for being 6 PM, people were shouting and singing which is acceptable for the atmosphere, yet not while it was still dinner time and they were obviously disturbing multiple people. Wait staff was not overly friendly and seemed to be in a hurry, will not be back
(2)Jon S.
A barfood menu. The fish and chips were filling. Burgers looked pretty big. If you're going to O'Donovan's before the Twins game get there early. They seemed a little short staffed for a big rush. However you can't beat the short walk over to Target Field. The tap beers were three dollars for a pint. A fairly festive atmosphere. And they also have outside seating so you can watch Twins fans on the way to target Field.
(3)Jessica A.
Pleasantly surprised! Actually, very pleasantly surprised... We had some family in town for the weekend, and they were staying downtown with a group of friends. They had all already started drinking without us a few hours earlier... so knowing that this pub was right across from the Target Center, I was very afraid it would be too touristy and not necessarily great quality. BUT... I'm glad that I was proven wrong. A few Jameson Gingers later.... :) Both my husband and I ordered the Fish & Chips, and it was very good! The fish was cooked well and tasted great, not greasy or slimy like other fish & chips. The smaller portion was perfect for me.. well, actually there were more fries than I needed. But it was a good size. My sister-in-law ordered the chicken strips - and they were amazing! Especially with their zesty honey-mustard sauce. Our server was great! Very attentive to us and accommodating, no matter how obnoxious our group was getting. Cozy atmosphere...I think I even saw a fireplace en route to the ladies room. I would definitely go back here again, even just if for food.
(4)Nicole M.
We stopped in after seeing Muse at the Target Center, our group was quite dehydrated after being front and center at this show. Our waitress, Tracy, was very attentive about keeping our water glasses full, and service in general was good and prompt. I got a small fish and chips, the fish was absolutely perfect. Others in the group got salads, sausages and soup, and all seemed happy with their orders. Some could not finish their huge portion of fries, but no worries, our waitress was quick to bring boxes too, and my kid got to finish them off later. She was also able to deal with 6 different forms of payment on the bill quickly and easily! As the driver , I did not drink, saw some beers on tap I would have liked, a little surprised there were not more. We also thought the computer menus were a little gimmicky, but I suppose that's easier to update.
(4)Tim K.
Stuck at the Graves Hotel for 4 nights, made my stay worth while. Full menu serves until 1:30 AM!!! Smart business decision. Loved my new bartender buddy Kevin. Super cool guy, super friendly, with a good memory. Also very attentive. Decent food and certainly not a bad value for the money. Way more down to Earth and easy-going than the bar in my hotel. There is always something happening at O'Donovans, whether it is really bad karaoke or the bar tender chasing drunk minors out the side door. Love it!!!
(4)Kurt M.
This review is based on my dining experience. O'Donovans is probably a fun place to hang with friends, hoist an Irish brew and listen to live music. As far as the food, it does little to distinguish itself from the numerous other Irish pubs blanketing the metro. The group I was with ordered fish & chips X3, Guiness Stew, lamb chops, a burger, Pub Salad and corned beef & cabbage. Portions were generous and prices not exhorbitant for the location. But the plates had a rote quality that didn't generate a lot of enthusiasm. I'm not suggesting that anything was poorly prepared or substandard in any way. It just felt formulaic and generic. We started with a basket of Shannon Gold Chips (touted as their trademark salt 'n malt chips) served with Mary Rose sauce. They turned out to be perfectly acceptable fries but nothing extraordinary. The traditional sauce (made with mayo, ketchup and maybe a hint of horseradish?) was OK. Service was pleasantly competent. If you're in the area for a game or other event, there are worse choices to be made for dinner before or after. But overall, I have to say Erin go Blah.
(2)Marie P.
My husband and I used to go to O'Donovan's fairly frequently, and always loved it. It's been a while, and we were looking for something a big different for a celebratory dinner last night, so went back. I don't know if they've changed management lately or something, but it was awful. First off, the menu isn't as good. I loved their cheese platter with the amazing pickled onions... gone. Boo. Also, we loved the atmosphere before... an Irish pub, with appropriate music. Last night, they played generic sports bar type rock. Those are relatively minor issues, though. We showed up shortly after 4pm. My husband got off work a bit early so we could beat rush hour traffic, and could take advantage of their happy hour. According to their website, they still had one. Upon arriving, the waitress told us that she "didn't know" if they were doing happy hour that night, when my husband asked for details on their happy hour beers. Apparently there was a Twins game happening later that night, and they don't run happy hour on game nights. (Something NOT mentioned on the website or any signage that we saw). She grudgingly let him order a beer at happy hour pricing, and we googled - the game wasn't even til 7pm. The place was almost completely empty... which made this next part completely bizarre... She got really obnoxious with us when we mentioned that the website said nothing about the happy hours NOT happening on game nights (like we'd even know when game nights are, ugh!). She told us that "You can't blame the business owners for taking advantage of the crowds here for the games". Well, for one.. yeah, we can. That's bait-and-switch. Also, it left a really bad taste in our mouths to be straight out told we were being "taken advantage of". This was a full 3 hours before the game, happy hour ends 1 hour before the game. There was no crowd to "take advantage of". The food was ok. My fish and chips had a single piece of fish that was about the size of those weird little triangular formed fish cake patties you buy at the grocery store, the fries were a bit undercooked, but edible. My husband's salad was HUGE, but the beets were watery and not very good, and there were a ton of them. (He left most of them on the plate). The service was extremely curt, and at time outright rude. We'd never had that waitress before - the service used to be warm, friendly, and generally awesome - but this time, we were basically treated like we were a bother to even be there. Very disappointing experience. As much as we used to love the place.. we won't be back.
(1)Sarah M.
This place is a great dining experience. Go into the pub, on a cold winter night, bundled to the max. Cozy up at an old wooden table near the fire, bring a friend, and a cribbage board. Stay all evening. I love the vibe of this place! Its very authentic and cozy. The food is excellent as well. I enjoy the small sized fish and chips, priced at $8.95 and is plenty of food for anyone. One of the catches of this place, because of its location, is that you never know if it will be busy or empty. I secretly enjoy it most when its almost empty. They have some good happy hour options, with half priced apps and some drinks specials too.
(4)Justin S.
Expect high drink prices on this one.
(3)David H.
Four stars for the food, two stars for the beer prices!! Service was great, with our server continuously checking back, even though it was crazy busy. The small fish & chips that I had was absolutely wonderful. The cod had good flavor and the batter what super crispy and flavorful as well. My buddy had the corned beef sandwich and said it was wonderful as well. I would certainly go back.
(3)Anthony M.
11:30pm...just finished working and I can not find a place that is serving food...until I called here. Food available till 1:30am...now we are talking!!! There is a nice $4 Yelp Check-in for a happy hour beer but that doesn't help me at midnight. Beer of the month is Kilkenny...4 buck pints...I think Tarentino named that Beer! It is not bad...has a nice creamy taste to it. I ordered the MacCaffery's Potato soup...I can hardly wait. It says it's rich and creamy with chunks of potato, carrots, ham and bacon! It just arrived let's taste it. It is really amazing. I wish the potatoes were cut a little smaller but the ham, bacon and cream taste out of this world. I wish I could order it as a shake. The only sad part is I ordered a bowl and the bartender gave me a cup. He told me he would get me more and I think I'm going to take him up on that. It is that good! I just asked him and he is bringing me some more. I am very happy now. I also ordered the chicken wings...they are okay. They were very small...not a lot of meat on them. The best part was the Frank's Red Hot Sauce. The blue cheese dressing was also good. (the one rotten celery stick was a little gross) Another cup arrived of the soup...this is so good. Thanks to Tony the bartender for making this happen. (I did want a bowl to start with though). I may want to go into the kitchen and drink the whole pot. Great location. Late night food. And across the street from First Avenue...Prince stopping by now would make the night complete!!!
(4)Elizabeth S.
Bars don't have much to offer me anymore. My eating habits preclude most carbs and reserve alcohol for rare occasions. I don't eat anything breaded, which means most bar food is out. I accompanied a friend to O'Donovan's for a late night bite. I chose an order of lamb chops. These were the highlight of my chicken-steak-duck-salmon-lamb eating binge that day (low carb for the win!). They were juicy and flavorful with just the right amount of char. Our bartender made a good effort to accommodate several semi-weird requests. I'm going to be a bad reviewer and not try another dish. STAND BY YOUR LAMB, doo-doo-DOO...
(4)Richard K.
On our way to Target Field we stopped here for food and drinks. Great beer selection on tap. We ordered the sausage bacon wraps for an appetizer, solid 4 stars. We both ordered steaks for dinner and they were cooked exactly how we asked. The other person ordered a burger Medium and it came Medium Rare but no worries when u have a few beers in ya is what I was told. 'aint that the truth. We sat oudside in a huge outdoor dining area and it was a solid time. Good music, Good people and Good Beer and Good Food, what else can u ask for?? I'd go back.
(4)Hether S.
I have never "gone" to O'Donovan's...I have just "ended up" there. It's location (across the street from the best music venue in MN) makes this place uber-convenient. It's an easy place to stop by on the way to or from a show at First Avenue. It's a pretty big place - so showing up with a group of people is no problem, they have a good enough beer (and cider) selection, the food is pretty good, and the clientele is usually pretty entertaining. On the weekends they have live music... My only issue with O'Donovan's is the service. The servers + bartenders are less than friendly, and on more than one occasion they have actually been pretty rude. I'll be back, most likely, out of convenience - and I'm okay with that :)
(3)Matt E.
Rudest bartender I have ever experienced Friday night. Refused to bring us any water. Place itself is nice enough, though.
(1)Ben D.
How ironic, an Irishman (ginger) that loves going to an Irish Pub! The food here is AMAZING!!! I don't typically enjoy Irish food to be honest.. it's not that it's bad, it's just that the majority of places that attempt to serve it do NOT cook it in a traditional way. And as soon as you Americanize something like Corned Beef and Cabbage... well it doesn't taste as good! I'm also ALL over the Salt n' Malt chips (fries) they serve! They are SOOOOOO good! But they are tossed in malt vinegar so they get soggy quickly if you let them sit. The happy hour prices mean you can sit and have a couple beers for a good clip, and a nice two pull beer made with Guinness :-) I can rave on and on, so I'll make it short. This place will NOT be for everyone. This is not FINE dining, it's FUN dining. It's for the most part authentic. And it's quality for the price. It's also a prime location to jump off and go enjoy an event downtown!! I will SO be back.
(5)Stacy C.
On the recent trip to Minneapolis, we were excited to try the Irish pub's right next to our hotel. About 9:00 pm on Friday, we walked over here during the Twins game and ordered (what else) a Guinness. The place was cool; I like how it opens up the farther you walk in. The bartenders were nice and the right amount of chatty. We ordered the Balsamic Lamb Chop appetizer to split and I ordered a salad (gotta get my veg). Both were good. Since the game was on, there were not a lot of people in the bar, I'm guessing most were at the game. However, we had a feeling it was going to get pretty busy after the game. There were a few others in the bar that looked like they had been there a little too long, if you get what I'm saying. I saw the bartender not-serve two different people and offer them water instead. I think that is responsible bartending and earns O'Donovan's and extra star. Someone has to look out for the drunks when they are too drunk to do it themselves! Keep up the good work, O'Donovan's!!
(4)David C.
Very divey. Serve lots of fried bar foods which taste rather average. Wide selection of brews on tap. Great happy hour prices. Can get pretty elbow to elbow during some hours. Service is particularly hit or miss.
(3)Alex L.
Our club was there last night celebrating having won a tournament the weekend before. The menu selections offered a big variety of Irish and American fare. The lamb chops and fish-and-chips were fantastic. Our server's attitude was great, despite us quickly growing from 6 to about 26 in number. She took very good care of us! O'Donovan's is close to Target Field and convenient parking. They have live music, and I plan to go back soon to watch the Euro Soccer final. I have to say I'm surprised it took me this long to make it over there, but this definitely will NOT be the last time.
(5)Brent R.
We visited this authentic Irish pub for the first time before a concert at a nearby venue. We met friends here just before happy hour ended and as a result ended up stuffing our faces with some of the best fish and chips we've had outside of the UK for far less than they were worth. We can't wait to go back again!
(5)David L.
I started a Yelp account just to write this review, I had such a great time over the weekend I felt the need to let anyone and everyone know about it. A fantastic pub downtown and a great place for before a game or concert around target field and Target center. The food is delicious, atmosphere is fun but also laid back on non-event day. The staff are extremely friendly and go out of their way to accommodate you! The bartenders, managers, servers and anyone else associated with the pub are all just very friendly and inviting. The happy hour is also very good for a busy downtown area. Having visited a lot of Irish pubs this place really feels like it is a carbon copy of a pub from Ireland. I have brought friends and family here in the past and it has never disappointed. If you are catching a game be sure to stop in for a few drinks beforehand, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Jon G.
I can really only review the two things I get here whenever I stop by which is BEER and the Corned beef sandwich! The Corned beef sandwich is soooo good i can't even begin to describe it. THICK CUT Corned beef, tender and moist! SO big that can never finish the whole thing. Good Beer selection, pretty typical for an irish joint. Service is usually hit or miss but I am never in a rush when i'm there. Right across from 1st avenue so it's a great location to chill before a concert!
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