Ireland’s Four Courts
2051 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22201
Ireland’s Four Courts Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2051 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA, 22201 - Phone (703) 525-3600
- Website https://www.irelandsfourcourts.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
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 : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Alisa M.
This place is nasty. The inside smells like the inside of an enclosed ash tray box that has never been emptied..... for fifty years. I stopped in there once for five minutes, it was really five minutes too long. I did have breakfast there on a previous occassion an it was ok. We did not go inside, just sat on the front porch under the umbrellas. I had an omlette and orange juice, food was ok. Just ok. I could have made better at home and i do not claim to be a chef. I'll probably never go there again, it just doesnt seem sanitary. Save your money or go to georgetown bagel next door. For drinking this place is probably okay. Alot of people seem to like it. I would just advise, drink on the patio and sit outside. If you have to go inside, just don't touch anything and you will be okay.
(1)Sean T.
Ireland's Four Courts was the fourth stop of our Third Quarter Irish Pub Crawl, and the place was pretty packed by the time we made it here (thankfully, it's fairly spacious inside). The place has standard pub décor with a great back bar. They had good live music the night we were in, and the crowd was definitely into it - singing along and shouting requests. Our bar service was fantastic, but we did have a local Irish barman join our merry band along the way, so we may have received preferential treatment. I'll definitely visit the Four Corners again.
(4)Tyler A.
This place is solid, they have setanta sports showing key rugby/football matches, a good crowd during big games and the guiness is good. It's got lots of nooks and crannies, some days have better vibes than others - I hate it when people think that open space in the back is a dance floor, seriously? It's an irish pub, sit and drink a guiness! Food is not the best, so don't eat here, drink here. Once had a fish and chips that was basically in corn dog batter. Seriously, I hope it's improved since, but again, beer is plenty good.
(3)Brianne C.
Let's start Round 4, the Celebrity Lesbians round. Ooooh, this is what you came for, isn't it? Yeah, that's a nice category. This was the blaring announcement that served as my introduction to trivia night at Ireland's Four Courts. Unfortunately, things did not improve much. The questions were not challenging, the announcer was crass and annoying, the drinks were watered down, and the music between rounds was too loud. However, our server was great, and our burgers (which were fine but nothing special) came in a flash, as the kitchen rush had passed. Teams are limited to four people, which lends some parity to the challenge. And, we managed to snag a table even though we arrived late. But, we're still looking for the perfect trivia night fit. Yikes!
(2)Liam O.
This place is a solid three stars. I work right next door and so there are often lots of occasions to go here for happy hour, or celebratory lunches, or other similar situations. The food is always "pretty good," not great, but it's standard fare pub food. I've never gotten anything that wasn't at least moderately enjoyable. And the prices mirror that, so it's a pretty solid choice. I've never actually been here on a weekend or late at night, so I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy the music or see the crowds everyone else has mentioned. As a lunch/happy hour place though, it's always a safe bet.
(3)Dorrie M.
This is perhaps one of the most standard Irish bars (pub, I suppose) you could find-- that is part of what makes it fabulous. Trapped in the heart of the otherwise bleak Courthouse area of Arlington (Guarapo's is only good for happy hour), it is a gem. If you are looking for gourmet food, finely finished floors, and white table cloths, you should not go to an Irish bar. The beer is good and cheap, the service and hospitality is great, and the food is just good enough. Happy hour is always a good bet with nightly food specials and deeply discounted drinks. Finally, and perhaps most important, it lasts fairly late. Sunday brunch is always a good deal too, but avoid the Bloody Mary's at all costs. Also, this is a great place to watch sports. I actually first went here during the last World Cup because Sommer's was overflowing (and disgusting). After venturing across the street, I found a sizeable-enough crowd to make for a fun atmosphere, but not too large that I couldn't see the TV.
(4)Darren G.
After a ridiculous ordeal at a nearby bar I stumbled upon Four Courts and found its chill vibe, fireplace, and friendly staff most inviting. I had a Guiness and a Shpeherd's Pie at the bar: food was great, beer was cold and fresh, and even the other patrons were amusing. ...besides that the Caps hockey game was on a big screen TV right there at the bar so what more could I ask for?
(3)Tommy M.
We had a very pleasant brunch and our server was just the nicest person.
(3)Galen W.
Came here today to watch the Man Utd vs Arsenal game. Pretty good place to catch a soccer match. Fans were into it, although a few too many Gooners for my liking. Normal selection of Irish beers on tap. Prices could be a little lower, but nothing outrageous. Service was good. I didn't eat anything, but the brunch type food they were serving to others at least looked pretty tasty. Definitely would go back there to catch another game. Also, bonus points for being a Red Sox bar.
(4)Steve C.
Went in and ordered a Shepard's Pie to go. This was all I ordered. My lunch cost me $15 after tip (I'm not too too generous.) Getting to my desk, for some reason I got less than I would have gotten in a bowl. At least, it seemed like a lot less. Let me take that back, it's not that I got less, it's that I'm absolutely appalled at the amount of food that $15 just bought me. I feel like I would have gotten more food for $15 at a five star restaurant. I won't be visiting there any time soon. update: post-$15-shepard's pie... still quite hungry. unbelievable. Update 2: Spoke with a manager over there. He suggested that next time I ask for extra bread or order the Chicken Pot Pie... it's larger. Considering I didn't get any bread, perhaps this is why I am still hungry... heh. Still leaves me with little desire to return.
(1)Dylan G.
Four Courts is a great place to watch a game or match or what-have-you. Besides the delicious Irish food (hello, bangers and mash), the beer selection on tap is awesome. If you've never had a Magners or a Smithwick's before, you need to make visiting Four Courts a priority on your to-do list. So it's Rugby World Cup season and that, of course, means I'm going to be spending a lot of time at Four Courts to watch the matches. My father (an old rugger himself) was in town last Friday and Four Courts happened to be playing the Ireland-Wales match live at 1am. Of course we attended. I'm not sure if there is anything better than watching the IRFC play a match at 1 am while drinking a pint and having a banger-dog (my name, it's a sausage w/ traditional brown onion gravy on a pretzel roll with sweet potato fries, and it's incredible). And did I mention the crowd? We might have been the only Americans in the back room at this point, so if you're looking for authentic it's pretty hard to beat being surrounded by 20 Irishmen (and women) singing Ireland's Call arm-in-arm with the start of the match. Oh, and there were some Welshmen there too, but they were obnoxious of course. Anyways, Four Courts is pretty solid. As far as Irish Pubs go, I've got a new favorite in the city. Unfortunately i live all the way over on the Hill, but I suppose the good thing is that, after 6 or 7 pints, I can hop on the Orange and Blue and not have to worry about transfering during my merry stumble home.
(4)Tien L.
Service here is super! Wed. wings are decent for the price. $.25 It's your cheap typical hot wings. No breading or special sauce. The 4 court fries are the best item on the menu. Garlic, cheese, and bacon bits on top of the fries. ...did I mention the bar tenders are excellent? This bar is spacious but cozy. It's not your typical Clarendon young yuppies crowd. It's not too loud to have a conversation. Thurs - Sat. they usually have a live musician which is great. I highly recommend this bar if you just want a drink with some friends to catch up or catch a futbol match.
(3)Sally M.
Nice little pub with plenty of seating and live music on a Friday night. It was good to be back in Virginia to get me some Yuengling! ;)
(3)Jon B.
The happy hour specials run from 4-8 I believe and include beer specials as well as half off appetizers. Not a bad place to go if you are looking to get a few drinks and some beer after work. I would avoid the calamari as it wasn't very good at all, but everything else i've had there is pretty enjoyable. Note if you get the 5 layer dip you get way to many chips, but if you order the crab dip you get little bread...so order both at the happy hour and you'll be all set! My tip to the yelpers out there! They have Sam Adams on tap and with the arrival of Oktoberfest I'm sure i'll be making an appearance in the near future to down a few pints. Some nights they have live music which can be hit or miss. Don't know his name but one guy who plays guitar there is pretty good...might not know all the words but he knows a lot of songs.
(3)Regan T.
This bar is dangerously close to my house, but that's not the only reason I frequent it so often. My buddies and I regularly meet here on Wednesday night for the $0.45 wings and $3 Miller/Yuengling happy hour. They have live music a lot of nights which is hit or miss. I don't eat much of the food; usually only come here for the drinks. But the wings I mentioned are tasty and the Guinness stew (the Thursday special) is delicious. The main bar can get pretty smoky, but the back bar is non-smoking, which is good for those of us who don't smoke. For whatever reason, weeknights seem to be more crowded here than weekends; I've been here before on Saturday when the place is almost dead. Most of the staff are very friendly, and I appreciate that after only a few visits, several of the of the bartenders remember my face and name. Rest assured, I'll be coming back here as a regular.
(4)Chich S.
I've only been here during happy hour, but it's a very good bar! good drinks, good food, and a good happy hour ambiance! I love how the bartenders have irish accents too, it's pretty awesome!
(4)Jason P.
Another neighborhood bar in Courthouse that I would frequent when I lived a couple of blocks away, and one of my favorites. Four Courts has a good beer selection with all of your pub favorites, including Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, etc. They have a solid menu as well, including traditional Irish fare: fish and chips, shepherds pie, corned beef and cabbage, and Irish lamb stew. Good stuff and very filling, especially on a cold winter day. I like that they put a shot menu on the table. Often times we would stop by planning on just relaxing and having a couple of pints, but some evil liquid concoction would catch our eye. It's always fun to buy a shot for you buddy that involves tequila, bourbon, scotch, and whiskey. There is also usually good live music at Four Courts. They frequently feature performers that play fun Irish/English drinking songs that are fun to get involved with. Another plus is that the way the pub is split up into two sections. If you don't want to have to yell over the music in order to chat with friends, you can just go to the other side where there is a second bar and the music is much quieter. The only place I've found Four Courts to be lacking is that the service can be hit or miss. The bar tenders have nearly always been excellent. Friendly, quick, and pouring strong drinks and tall pints. The wait staff is usually good as well although there have been a few times where service has been a bit slow. Where I've actually run into the most problems is with the host/hostess staff. There have been several occasions where they have been obnoxious and rude and acted indignant when we've made such outrageous requests as to sit on the non smoking side or that four of us sit together and not be forced to split into two groups of two. Other then the snotty hosts and hostess, Four Courts is a great time.
(4)Jess R.
Pros: the food isn't that bad - avoid the appetizers and desserts though. I've only ordered the Guinness stew and the cheeseburgers. Plus the ambiance is OK and it's right by the courthouse metro stop. Cons: The service has always been awful - all 6 times I've been here - and 4 of those times have not been crowded at all. Extremely slow and mixing up orders. Horrible. The staff looks like their miserable (you don't have to be happy as chipmunks but please...a smile would be sort of nice.) The price is definitely NOT worth what you get. I've only been here once for drinks on a Saturday night, and there's no where to sit unless you're ordering food at table. Definitely wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. UPDATE 4/28/08 - worst food poisoning ever. Head on down to Four Courts if you want to worship the porecelain gods. :(
(1)Todd K.
One of my favorite lunch spots. Good beer selection, good food, nice atmosphere and no complaints about service. Try the Reuben!
(4)Bro H.
No idea why this place has so many good ratings. It's your average, boring, overpriced Arlington vaguely Irish themed bar. It's not even worth writing any more about. If you like average, boring, overpriced Arlington vaguely Irish themed bars, you'll like this place. If you don't, you won't.
(2)Hannah B.
Great place for happy hour drinks and apps. If you love fish n chips, then go for dinner too. It is a great neighborhood spot.
(3)Martha B.
If you are interested in the following then this is the place for you: -Watching the World Cup final on a TV that's smaller than most computer monitors - Channel surfing in the middle of the World Cup final I understand 4 courts promoting itself as a music/karaoke bar as it does have live acts often and is a karaoke spot. What I don't understand is how 4 courts promotes sporting events. This is straight up false advertising- Milli Vanilli style..... So if you want to listen to folky music or people that didn't make American Idol for obvious reasons- by all means hang out at 4 courts. If you want to watch major sporting events I suggest the following: - Stay far away from the 4 courts overcrowded, overheated, hobbit TVs - Suck it up and head to a real sports bar (eg Mister Days, Baileys, or even Union Jacks) p.s. the kitchen fire has resulted in a mini menu consisting of nothings from a larger yet equally as lame menu.
(1)Mark B.
I have a small place in my heart reserved for 4C's as this is where I learned to appreciate Guinness. My immature taste buds coming out of college required plenty of nights of drinking to hone and differentiate the complex flavors that comes with a properly poured pint of what I like to call Irish elixir. I can't tell you much about the food since i revert back to a liquid diet at this place but who needs food right?
(4)Ryan S.
Like many others, if given the opportunity to give half stars, it would be a 3.5. Others seem to be rounding down, but I'm rounding up because this is one of my regular local bars. My rating is based on the bar alone, I'd have to give it a two or three for food. The good: Decent crowd most nights, but particularly weekends. Low turnover amongst the bar staff, so if you go with any regularity, they will get to know you and you'll get pretty good service even when crowded. It feels pretty much like a real Irish pub as far as decor goes, and much of the staff are Irish ex-pats. The bad: Can be smoky, especially since the smoking ban in DC took effect, the die hard district bar smokers seem to like Four Courts. On nights they have live music, it can be loud, and annoying. They occasionally have decent talent, but more often it is a one man cover act slaughtering the classics. Head to the back bar on those nights!
(4)rosa b.
Another Irish Pub, but an expensive one. The food is fine. The service want's personable but there. It's not a bad place overall. It's just that it has been done too often. It's not a great restaurant. It's not a bad restaurant. It' is high priced. It is like a lot of other Irish pubs.
(3)Jaye V.
My, how Four Courts has grown over the years. When I first moved to DC, it was half the size it is now. It was my neighborhood Irish bar and is a good time with good drinks and often live music. But the reason why I'm writing this review is because of their Irish pub fare. It's actually really good! Probably a million calories, but the pot pie was delicious, comforting, buttery, flaky, and yum. I've had a few other items off the Irish menu that were just as good.
(4)Jeffrey S.
"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows your name." A fine establishment, indeed and my favorite happy hour spot! Drop in on Thursday or Friday and chances are you'll see me at the bar. I might even be drinking out of my own pewter cup. Yes, I am a regular here and for all the reasons why; great staff (look for Mairead, James, Arlene), great drinks, great food, great service!
(5)Chloe F.
I go to this bar about once per year. Not because I try to avoid it, but as a Virginia bar, I just don't make it out there often. The four courts is a good friend's neighborhood bar, so on his birthday, I will journey out, even transferring on the metro, to knock back a couple drinks and enjoy life. So, this past time, we ended up closing down the bar and we all had a great time. The patrons, those who were not with our party, all seem to be pretty nice. The bartenders are super friendly, too. They have no problem pouring us shots of Jim Beam (drink of champions!) and laughing at us, too. I haven't had the food, so can only comment on the bar. I see why people enjoy this place!
(4)christian b.
The pub quiz is the star at ireland's Four Courts. Is this place even open Tuesday thru Sunday? Seriously, the bar is pretty good. The bartenders are friendly and professional, they've got a decent beer selection, and they usually have a good sports game on the tube. The food is atrocious, but if you're going to Ireland's Four Courts for the food . . . I don't know what to say. It's not cheap at all, it's not good at all, and the servers are pretty awful. Go on a Monday night with a handful of friends, order a Smithwicks, and enjoy the pub quiz. Or, go any other night of the week for a beer at the bar. If you're in Clarendon, there are at least 20 better places to eat, so really, why are you eating at Ireland's Four Courts? Oh, and if you're in the pub quiz, don't cheat. You have to be a real loser to cheat at a pub quiz.
(4)Kathleen M.
I've been to Four Courts a couple of times, and I've got nothing to complain about! (which is a big deal, for me, for a bar in...... VIRGINIA.) So, aside from the unfortunate geographic location of the place, I would definitely make it a regular watering hole if I lived around here. The average Saturday night is great, sometimes they have an Irish band which is always a lot of fun. I've met some random people here who've all been "good stock." The food is good, service is typical of that of an Irish bar (a little bit surly but altogether efficient and accurate). Trivia night was a lot of fun, although much less raucous than other trivia nights I've experienced (all in Atlanta, though, so perhaps no basis for comparison?). Annnnnnnd they've got both Smithwick's and Blue Moon on tap, so both sides of my bi-polar beer drinking self can be happy.
(4)Craig R.
I was really surprised at how welcoming everyone was in this pub. If you're by yourself (or waiting for a group), they make no hesitation to come up and speak to you and make you feel welcome. Four Courts really creates a comfortable and welcoming mood. For you soccer fans, they have plasma TVs so you can watch the match(es) of the night. They have a lot of beer on tap as well as bottles. This is one of the only places I've been to where the draught beers are more expensive than the bottled beers. Their happy hour special is only a dollar off all beers. I met up with some other Yelpers on Monday nights to partake in the pub's $5.95 burger and Pub Trivia night. The burger was great (cooked the way you want it) and it came out on a ciabatta roll. Moreover, the fries were killer. I don't remember restaurant fries being this good. If you're a fan of crispy fries, then this is the place to go. They're not overly crispy and they have a nice slight pepper kick to them when they come out on the plate. The only problem was that it's $0.95 to add cheese to your burger. I mean, a dollar for a cheese slice? Come on.
(4)Sugar B.
Since moving to Arlington a year and a half ago 4 Courts has been our Go To for drinks and hang out after work. Our friends behind the bar are fantastic; taking the time to meet us, know my favorite drink and help find my jacket when it goes 'missing'. Going to other bars in Arlington is difficult as 4 Courts has everything we want. The live music Friday evenings is great as well!!
(5)A V.
Food barely mediocre
(1)Richard C.
Monday night is Trivia Night at the Four Courts, and also $5.95 burger night, so what more could you ask for? By 7pm, this place is busy, with the trivia folks trying to snag a good table early on, and people wandering in for a quiet Guinness about to realize that there's nothing quiet about Trivia Night. Despite the craziness, the staff are very courteous and attentive, and go about their business in a very efficient manner. Through the whole evening, nobody's drink was empty before the waitress wandered by asking us if we wanted another. The menu looked fairly comprehensive, although I didn't pay too much attention as I was aiming for the burger anyway. So a burger with cheddar and bacon and... in case you don't know me, I have a thing for wanting a fried egg on my burger - there are a couple of places in the city that have this on the menu, but if they don't, it is something that I ask for - every place in DC has so far refused. In true form though, I ask here too, and to my surprise, "Yes, I think that's something we've done before, no problem" - there was much jubilation and dancing on the tables and renditions of Danny Boy... OK, maybe not, but there was definite happiness. The burger arrived, and I have to say this (and not purely because there was an egg on it), but the burger was up there in the top 3 burgers I've had in bars/restaurants. It was served on a ciabatta roll, which I love burgers to be served on, the egg was over-medium, which is the perfect way to cook an egg for a burger if you haven't been told how to cook it (over-easy for me - that bad boy should be dripping down your fingers!), the burger was juicily delicious, and there was just the right amount of cheese and bacon - bravo Four Courts! With burger in stomach, and the Guinness flowing, it made for a fun trivia night, with team-names like "Touched By An Uncle" and "Harry Potter Spoiler - Harry Gets Syphilis", you can tell the sort of crowd that it attracts. So, Sir Richard, this seems like a 5-star review, why only 4? Very good question, whoever that was. As the burger came out, I commented that just for letting me have the egg, how could I give the place anything but 5-stars. The check... Yep, the check can often ruin a good night, and it can also lose you a nice big red Yelp-star. The check arrives, my burger is $5.95, the extra toppings of cheese and bacon are $0.95 each, and the egg is... $2.95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the exclamations, but I would have used BIG font if it would let me. 3 bucks for a freakin' egg - are you kidding me??? Did the chef have to lay the damn thing himself??? I was dumbfounded - and in fact, this morning, I'm still dumbfounded - so much so that I went to the fridge just now, and I think I'm going to sell my eggs on Ebay so I can afford a nice overseas trip, or a new car... Well Four Courts, thanks for being the first place in DC that has taken me up on the burger-egg challenge, but the shock at how much you charge for cooking one egg means that I sadly won't be returning for a repeat performance... (and I won't be trying brunch too soon either, as I'm guessing I'll have to remortgage my home first...) ***UPDATE*** We returned for another Quiz Night, and I decided to try the burger routine again - straight up, burger, cheese bacon and egg - the waitress didn't even flinch, and neither did the check - no fried egg to be seen. So this now means my egg is averaging at $1.47 over the two trips - one more good trip, and I might find where I put that star.
(4)Jon P.
It had been years since the last time I ponied up to the bar for a pint but it hadn't changed a bit. During college, I spent a summer in DC and my buddy and I would cruise over from our lodging arrangement for pints of Caffrey's, a little SportsCenter and good times. Caffrey's is no longer flowing from its taps but everything else is just as I remember. $20 still gets you a solid meal and a couple pints to finish off an evening.
(4)Ali L.
Here's the thing, this place seems nice enough if you ever want to hang out in a bar in Virginia. The layout is kind of cool and really spacious, though with all that space they still manage to have fairly small tables and booths.... If you can ignore the band/people/whoever it was ruining Tainted Love it seems like it would be a cool place to hang out if you live in VA. It definitely had the vibe of a place the locals would frequent. So what's the downside? The service. The bouncer lets people without IDs in and then instructs the waitress that people in the party are "underage," when in fact they are of age but simply did not have their IDs at the time. One of the ID-less patrons allowed in by the bouncer knowing very well they had no ID, drinks what was literally just cranberry juice and for some reason water is accused by an angry and hostile waitress of drinking "underage" and is forced to leave. When the owner is approached about the situation he is unsure of what to say or do stating that VA law makes it illegal for him to serve alcohol to someone "underage" (no duh) but misses the point entirely about the bouncer at his bar allowing ID-less patrons in to begin with as well as the fact that the hostility, anger, and rudeness of the waitress was completely inappropriate, uncalled for, and nonconstructive.
(2)Dwight S.
half price appetizers, blue moon. Tuesday is fish and chips night, love it.
(5)Justin L.
Nice place. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Quintessential American-Irish pub, down to the gritty interior and selection of beers. I've only ever sat outside as indoors looks a bit gloomy. The food is surprisingly good. Service always attentive and friendly. They have live music and soccer games televised inside apparently, although I can't comment on that personally. A great, casual place to eat or have some beers.
(4)Sean C.
I went here on the Sunday evening after the DC St. Patrick's Day parade expecting the typical St. Pat's revelry, but was a little disappointed that they seemed to be planning on that for Monday and the Sunday evening was just a regular Sunday evening. They did have live music, which started off a little rough, but got better as the evening went on. They do pour a proper pint and they serve Powers Irish Whiskey. I do wish there was no smoking though. I have grown accustomed to avoiding the smoke smell on the clothes and all and really like it that way. Still a very good Irish bar.
(4)Sharmili E.
I wish we could give half star ratings, as I would definitely give Four Courts a four and a half stars out of five, but I had to round up. I love this place. It is, without a doubt, my neighborhood bar. I often joke that I moved to the neighborhood so I could go to Four Courts. However, there is a half kernel of truth to that. I have been coming to Four Courts since probably 2003 or 2004, when I lived in Foggy Bottom. I have been going to trivia, on Monday nights, since then. I am by no means an old timer in comparison to many of the others who are regulars. So, I love this place - the servers are friendly, the bartenders are great, and the management is very conscientious. There are very few things on the menu that I would never eat, and those items are solely because I don't actually eat a certain ingredient in them, and not because the dish is bad. The sliders are awesome, as are the burgers (I am a big fan of the ciabatta bun, but it only works at Four Courts for some reason). The Irish chili nachos are amazing - I can't begin to describe them, except to say this appetizer could also double as dinner for two people. During the snowstorms, Four Courts put their staff up in nearby locations and was able to stay open. I may have spent far too much money and time, but it truly is a neighborhood bar. I met so many neighbors and got to know the staff even better, and the quality of the food did not diminish, even while they tried to maintain a menu with what remained in their diminishing stocks, as we ate and drank everything and deliveries struggled to get in. I threw my husband's 30th birthday party at Four Court's. They went out of their way to make everything special, including a surprise round of birthday shots. Also, their catering menu has these mashed potato and corned beef balls that are AMAZING. I can't begin to describe how much I love this place and its focus on encouraging a relationship with the neighborhood.
(5)Shawn H.
On a Friday evening, with any decent weather, the Four Courts is overrun with the type of people who, if the bar ran out of Michelob Ultra and was forced to serve nothing but Guinness, would not notice if the Guinness was poured incorrectly. This is not always a bad thing, but I'd suggest those of you who prefer an atmosphere a little less riotous than a Wal-Mart on Black Friday avoid the bar during the after-work happy hour rush. During the week, Four Courts is a great place to drop by with a handful of friends and have dinner or a drink. The food is pretty standard American-Irish pub fare, with solid fish & chips and a shepherd's pie that's served at just the right temperature. If you're a fan of soccer, Irish rules football, rugby, or pretty much any Euro sport, you can probably find it playing here on the weekends, although I'm hard pressed to suggest you come here rather than Summer's if your goal is to catch the game.
(4)C. W.
What's not to like? Good location, lots of room, a couple of bars in the place. Solid traditional irish and american bar food. Laid back atmosphere and good decor. Very welcoming and friendly staff. It's the kind of place you could bring your parents to during the day and then get sloppy at later in the night. I really like multi-fuctional restaurants/bars like this. I've never been to Ireland but Four Courts fits my mental image of the pub experience pretty darn well.
(4)Donald P.
Came here for happy hour to catch up with an old colleague and talk a little business. We ordered a few beers and some appetizers to share. It took forever for the appetizers came out because our waitress ended her shift and another waiter picked up our table, but I guess they forgot to convey our orders. It was rather annoying that it took more than half an hour, but once I got my fries I was quite happy. Also really impressed to see a poster in the bathroom for a hire a designated driver service. Excellent idea that I thought only existed in Korea. I really wish that sort of thing was more common. Love the fireplace and atmosphere.
(4)Fuk A.
I am giving this one star because I went there last night. Everything was fine but I woke up this morning to find an 8.80 charge on my card after I had left. I can't belive they just ripped me off like that. If you go there keep an eye on your card they will make up a charge. It looks like they charged my card at 11:20pm. I was home in bed at that time. Bunch of thieves. Okay what the hell is going on? I've been there once and I have three charges on my card. Two good amount of charges. How many more times can they rip me off. I is for over 50 dollars and another for over 30 dollars. I just had wings and a few beers. What a scam. How many people have you ripped off this way? I've gotten an email from two different people, both said something different. Here is the breakdown. If they don't like your tip or didn't see you tip they will wait until after 1am to runt the final bill. They will add 20% tip. I left after 8pm, I got my last beer at 7:34PM. They waited until after 1am to run the final bill. Keep an eye on you account. The best part was they automatically added the 20% which went through. I guess that wasn't good enough so they took out another 20% because they can. They have you card on file. It's either a poor bartender or really poor training.the more I hear the more I feel they rip people off. The more I deal with them the more I worry that they just throw receipts away if they don't like your tip. Just watch them and keep track of the tip. Email me if you question your bill.
(1)Teresa Z.
Out of the 7 of us in the party, 4 of us enjoyed our meals. The other 3, who ordered fish and chips, found the fish WAY too greasy to eat. I should have returned it.
(3)John B.
Went here for many years, several times a month. Simply put, this is as good as a pub gets. The staff is fantastic (especially Maraid), live music, trivia, lots of sports, several TVs, awesome decor and atmosphere, great regulars, good food. The management team is ALL OVER IT when it comes to running a great, friendly, welcoming, fun Pub. I cannot recommend this place enough for a fun night out or great day watching soccer/football/other sports.
(5)Andrew L.
This review is for the bar and not the food. This is everything you want an Irish pub to be. Decent beer selection, but I was ordering bourbon that night. They make a good old-fashioned, though some will wince at their use of both orange and cherries as garnish (I guess some don't like their whiskey drinks to look like fruit salad). However, it tasted excellent, and wasn't watered down too much like most old-fashioned's I order around DC. The Manhattan I ordered was also excellent. I'm not sure if the bartender thought it was still happy hour (which it clearly wasn't) or if this place is bizarrely cheap for cocktails, but my drinks averaged $5 each. Its also a great place to watch a game. I went for the Olympics, and my only complaint is there's no sound or subtitles but that's understandable. I'm a Red Sox fan, so this place being an official Red Sox Nation bar is a plus in my book. There are 4 or 5 large TVs, all very visible from the bar. The food sure looked great, but all I got was the Four Courts Fries. They were cheese fries with bacon. They also had Pub Nachos, which I would recommend over these fries since they seemed lacking something like sour cream of something to balance the cheesiness. I'm sad to be moving into DC soon or else I'd probably stop by regularly. They have cups on the wall I assume for regulars. I'd love to my own cup on the wall of this place.
(4)Andy M.
Pretty decent Irish pub. Good food and good environment. Definitely worth a visit
(4)Ruth C.
Now I get Cliff's obsession with Four Courts. Hits the spot, and the brunch buffet looked like a good alternative. Fair amount of street parking in the area. A couple tellies at the bar. My traditional Irish breakfast was portioned just right to make me full before noon. Small tub of tangy-sweet beans, boldly toasted triangles with the options of fruit jam or butter pats. O'brien potatoes were scarce on the onion/pepper dice, but evenly fried. My two sunny-sides were fried nicely with crisped edges the way I like them. Irish sausages were pretty basic, and the rashers gently seared. The highlights of the plate for me were the black & white pudding, especially the former; mm-mm congealed blood. I'll certainly be back before long to have another go at brunch.
(4)Diana B.
Still love this bar and wanted to raise my rating to five stars. The service is great, the prices are fair, and the clientele are generally good for bar people. This is a really great spot with wonderful management.
(5)Valerie F.
Great place to watch a soccer game! It has a great atmosphere with wood paneling, fireplaces, stone and lots of tv's! Brunch is delicious as well. Food is priced well and tastes good.
(4)John S.
Went there over the weekend and was disappointed. Food was uninspiring and serviced was lacking. Go somewhere else.
(1)Joshua W.
After seeing a few adverts for family night and endless St Patty's day fanfare we decided it was time for Irish food at Four Courts. The atmosphere and service was really great but "mooshada" is the best description I could put together for the food. Whether mooshada translates to 'very tired' or just 'mush' the corned beef was definitely the former. The fish and chips were both. Not fresh, not crisp, not inspired: neither of us finished even half of our dishes. I ended up peeling off most of the soggy breading to reveal an almost laughably small amount of fish hidden deep within, The wife cleared off the mashed potatoes but the corned beef was just not worth the effort. Still hungry I confirmed the Corned Beef was nearly inedible. On the lighter side our server was quite possibly the nicest person to have waited on us ever, and the fireplace next to our table added a nice warm feeling to the room. We wanted to stay for dessert and coffee in the comfortable open dining room, but after the food and a glance at the dessert menu we were eager to move along. I visited for a Guiness a few nights later and the bartender poured us some proper imperial pints and the price was definitely fair. Based on the service, atmosphere, and drinks, we might give the food a try again. Maybe the cook just wasn't feeling al-dente!
(2)Kyle N.
Irish Breakfast, Brunch, Soccer. That's what you get, if you crave it, IFC delivers.
(4)Kassie C.
I've had the occasion to go to Ireland's Four Courts for several different events - a friend's surprise going away party, a gathering of a dozen of me and my friends, or just a couple of us grabbing a drink or two. Regardless of the occasion, I have been able to have a great time, eat good food, and drink good beer. Service is always adequate to great (it really depends on the night and how busy the staff are). Which speaking of, get there early if you have a large group because this place FILLS UP on the weekends! They also feature some live music - last time I was there the two guys playing guitar were taking us back through the late 90s/early 2k era which of course every 20- and 30-something in the bar LOVED. A best kept secret for this place is that it does have a back room that can be reserved FOR FREE! Did you hear that correctly - there is a restaurant in DC that hosts events for free, with no minimum, and they are AWESOME about hooking you up with anything you need for prep. Long story short, this is a pretty awesome place you shouldn't miss checking out.
(4)Roger D.
Great Irish bar that has been a neighborhood institution for at least ten years (that I know of). Good service, decent pour of Guinness and live music.
(4)Ericka C.
I don't know much about Irish Pubs. Either I like them or I don't. This one is ok in my book. Reasonably priced drinks and good atmosphere. Live music too!
(4)Jacquelyn W.
I've come here a couple times with groups of varying sizes. Most recently it was just me and a friend grabbing a quick bite before a movie, but I've also been to a friend's surprise party and also just hanging out in a Saturday night. They have daily happy hour specials that are well worth checking out & their food is solid. On the most recent trip here, we ordered chili cheese tots and buffalo wings. I've never met a tater tot I didn't like, so it was gonna take serious effort for me not to love their tater tots. I really liked their buffalo wings. Not too saucy, yet very flavorful. As I said before, I came here for a friend's party and they were really great with accommodating. We planned it out, so they were able to give us a private room that we were able to decorate a little bit. Perfect for our group and our friend was very surprised. It's really a great place for a party, weekend out, or just a quick drink!
(4)Monica K.
My classmates and I came here as a last stop in our evening of barhopping. We chose it because it was open late (open til 2am every day) and had a pretty good selection of beer and late night food options since we were developing the drunk munchies. There were 6 of us and we picked a cozy corner table near the bar area which was far enough away from the noise of the bar that we didn't need to be yelling at each other across the table. The ambiance is super sporty, irish, and divey and the lighting was dim. Definitely gave you that classic pub feel complete with sloshing drunk burly men arm wrestling in the corner. There might have been a dance floor or more tables in the other room, but we didn't explore that area. I had a few Blue Moons served perfectly with a fresh cut orange slice and finished the night off with a smooth Guinness. The beers were decently priced, and the bartender was super attentive and helpful. We also ordered a ton of food, which came out fast and hot! We shared a plate of wings (half double fried and half pineapple chili), loaded fries heavily covered with cheese and bacon, and chicken strips. The wings came with blue cheese dipping sauce, which was so good if you're into blue cheese, and the pineapple chili was not spicy but still flavorful if you're worried about spice. I would definitely come here again to hang out with friends late at night. The drinks, atmosphere, and food were perfect and not overpriced at all.
(5)Rustin F.
Four Courts is a traditional Irish pub in both decor and menu, with lots of wood, low lighting, and Harp and bangers and mash on the menu. I've done both brunch and drinks here, and one time I did karaoke. The brunch buffet is pretty good: a diverse spread of food and reasonably-priced brunch drinks. Late night food has been good, too, though nothing incredible. The staff is generally friendly and attentive without being annoying, and they were very accommodating as my nine friends slowly rolled into the place for our brunch reservation. Four Courts is also a good place if you're an first-time karaoke-er and are looking for a smaller, friendlier crowd to get your bearings. They do trivia, too, but they get packed for that. The main reason to come here, though, is to pull up to the bar and get a proper pint of Guinness, and on that count, they deliver well, though are a little pricey. The bartenders are affable and keep track of when you need a refill without hounding you to get one immediately, and the other customers at the fairly long bar are generally there for the same reason: to kick back with a beer.
(3)Nina R.
I've been coming to Four Courts for years. The staff is friendly, efficient, and helpful. I've been here for Pacer's post-race events, St. Patty's Day celebrations, trivia, met friends for happy hour, dinner, you name it. Excellent for groups. Very cozy, warm, pub feel. I will return.
(5)Michael S.
This place is a gem! Great brunch at a great price. So good you have to try it. Everything you can think of including the Benedict! Oj included in the brunch!
(5)Doug G.
Love a good Irish bar! Me and coworker came for a few drinks and bellied up to the bar. Shortly after, a live act came on the stage and began to play. Was a great acoustic act, played mostly 90's, which was perfect! In addition to the great live music, the bar staff was friendly, efficient and knew how to pour a great cocktail. I cannot vouch for the place outside of cocktails on a Friday night, but I definitely will return when I am back in the area!
(4)Jacquelyn K.
I find myself here for happy hour all the time. They have different beer specials each night--I'm partial to Irish night, where you can get Harp for $4. Not bad. I threw someone a birthday party here and they were extremely accommodating. We had a large section of a back room on a Friday night--for free. Can't beat that.
(4)Samantha G.
The server was friendly and they serve a nice pint. We only had an appetizer however it was a very large plate of fries on the four courts fries. Plenty to share with 2+ people. Only complaint was a broken paper towels dispenser in the ladies room. If I was in the area I would stop back for a drink.
(5)Jeff N.
Loud, I mean really loud, with that Irish look and very mediocre pub food. Eat elsewhere.
(2)Hall W.
I really want to like this place because its so convenient location wise and they do have a great menu... and it just has a nice English pubby feel (as if it really was in the UK). The problem is that: A: the service is slow B: too often I get the wrong food item C: too often the food seems to be sub par... This I think is once again an example of how a place is a victim of its own success and the place is under staffed. ALSO... don't ever go to trivia here. They have the most unfun trivia I have ever been to. It is rapid fire (AKA: lots of questions at a time, instead of one by one, so you don't ever have time to chat in between).
(3)Jenifer S.
I tend to stay away from Irish-styled pubs and restaurants and once again I was reminded why. The service was off-hand and the food was not very good quality although the prices were definitely not low. The potato soup was bland and I could taste the corn starch thickener, ordered a reisling and got a chardonnary and the nacho cheese dish with chili was just not very spicy or original. We ate and had a meal but doubt we'll be back as it's just average, nothing hopelessly bad or to-die-for good. We only went here because it was near the movie theater and we found parking nearby.
(2)Tracey L.
First time here and met friends for brunch. It was excellent. All the buffet items were fresh and cooked well. Great selection of Irish fare as well as more traditional brunch fare. We will be back!
(4)Robert T.
Four Courts has a cozy feel and a nice décor that make it look like an authentic Irish pub. My favorite thing about this place is that it's less crazy on a Friday/Saturday night than places in Clarendon i.e. you do not have to lose your voice by 11PM screaming at a person sitting right next to you. Good wing specials and good wings! Like most Irish pubs the place has a rather basic menu but that's to be expected. Price and service prevent it from being a five star place. I know you have to pay the bills in Arlington but some of the simple items carry a rather large price tag.
(4)Michelle K.
Came here for HH with a few other girls. We shared 4 appetizers among us and all got our own drinks. HH runs till 8 pm, which is amazing. HH draft choices for the day I was there were Miller Light ($3) and Blue Moon ($4). Food quality is not that great, but they have a lot of things that you'd want to munch on while having a beer (read: fried foods, greasy foods, potato foods). I really liked their potato skins, but wasn't really a fan of their nachos and fried pickles.
(3)Grant S.
Sunday brunch. Brilliant. Ambience. Brilliant. Beer. Brilliant. This place is brilliant.
(5)Olukemi A.
I went for a happy hour. It was a for a friends birthday. I ordered a Pinot Grigio which tasted like it was mixed with dish soap. If you go just stick to beer - it is what they're known for. But I decided to order something else, despite my better judgment. I ventured out and got a crab and spinach dip and it was rancid! Stick to what they're known for -sliders, chicken wings or burgers. Those are good.
(2)Bobby M.
I've been here a few times during happy hour. They have different drink and food specials depending on the day. I normally just get an order of their potato skins but they are great! These are some of the best skins I've had. They also have trivia night on Monday's. Give this Irish pub a try for happy hour next time you're in the area!
(3)William B.
Had a great time there last Friday with Krista at the back bar. She's sassy and hilarious. Great Irish pub to check out in courthouse!
(5)Bryan S.
Closest thing to an authentic Irish bar in Courthouse. A block away from the Courthouse metro. I had the Beef and Guinness Stew, which was great...very hearty. They also had live music, which was very good, and also not too loud so people were able to still carry on a conversation at the bar. Great spot.
(4)Eric K.
GREAT place for football (soccer). They open early for a lot of matches on Saturday and Sunday, as early as 7a. We came on a Sunday morning at 10a. A few matches were on, but it definitely wasn't crowded yet. The hostess asked what match we were here to watch, and did a good job seating us in a section where we'd be able to see. Coffee is really good, my wife is kind of a coffee snob, and she was impressed. For food, they have a brunch on Sundays for $14.95. Solid value for the kind of food provided. Eggs Benedict, corned beef hash, legit bacon and sausage, waffles, a full omelet station and more. Mimosas were only $2.50 too. One of the most impressive things was watching the owner/manager. She was definitely Irish, could tell as soon as she spoke, but she was going non-stop. Running around making sure everything was taken care of, that people were happy, just working her tail off, essentially. A rarity nowadays it seems...so I really appreciated that.
(5)Greg R.
Here for work from Alaska. Came by for a beer and meal. Cozy place with fireplaces and good pub fare food. I wish they had more local brews (they just had one). Overall great service and good food. Two thumbs up.
(4)Maggie O.
My fiance and I recently held our engagement party in the James Joyce room, and we couldn't have had a better experience! We scoped out several venues in DC and Arlington, and Four Courts was hands down the best choice. Tim, the catering manager, was so laid back and flexible. There was no room fee, and they worked with us and our budget to plan a great party. We've actually been going to Four Courts as bar patrons for years (shout out to Mairead, one of the best bartenders around!!) since they have a great atmosphere, reasonably prices drinks and above average bar food. I highly recommend Four Courts if you're planning a private event or just looking for a great, low-key night!
(5)Nicole W.
Great live music on the weekends, and just like real Ireland they'll serve you a Guinness with black currant if you ask ;)
(4)Sydney K.
Ireland's Four Courts is an Irish pub conveniently located across from the Courthouse Metro station in Arlington. I've only been on Monday evenings for trivia, so my review will be slightly skewed. The decor and ambiance is pretty standard, no complaints on my end. The music is kept at a nice volume as well, which is appreciated since loud restaurants are just unpleasant. I can sometimes feel a bit dimly lit, but that hasn't caused any problems. The review is 3 stars mainly because the staff has been hit-or-miss and the experience overall feels average to me. The happy hour specials are decent, as is the $7.95 burger on Monday's (up $2 from its previous price), and there's really nothing I've encountered here that I would say sets it apart. The staff I've encountered have been cordial but usually are swamped on trivia nights, so forgotten items have been an issue. Overall, it's fine, the trivia is fun and well-organized, and prices are decent.
(3)Alex Q.
It's hard for me not to compare this pub with 'Ri Ra' , since that particular (and excellent) chain of Irish pubs has two locations in the DC area (one of which is quite near to Four Courts). Ri Ra, this is not. The food is your typical bar stuff (burgers, wings, sliders, fish & chips), with an irish twist. It's nothing you can't get a number of other places, much, much better. I have had several dishes in the past that were barely edible. You kind of roll the dice when you eat at Four Courts. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's terrible, but mostly it's just 'passible'. Bland, cheap bar food. Service is similarly inconsistent. There are one or two quite good servers and an equal number who disappear unexpectedly, forget to bring you water, and generally don't give a shit about ... y'know... serving. The drink options at least in terms of beer are quite underwhelming as well. Most of it is just your standard garbage (Sam Adams, Harp, etc) Which is fine from time to time, but they don't really make any effort at stocking craft or imported high gravity beers. With 'Fireworks' Pizza so close by offering a MASSIVE selection of great beer (including growlers to take away), I can't see any reason you would want to come here for the beer. Well, that's about it. It's a mostly crappy Irish pub. It's not the worst, and it's not the best. Probably decent during St. Patty's day, but otherwise I'd recommend avoiding it.
(2)Morgan B.
Unfortunately I really felt that I am different. Irish place is for white and for "white". I had a beer, I was so tired, that's why I was sitting still, sometimes asleep. And the bartenders tried to kick me of, instead of asking am I all right.
(1)Kelly M.
It can take years, or at least months to identify a good Pub. And it takes much longer to build a meaningful relationship. That is UNLESS you walk into Ireland's Four Courts. I'm on my first visit and I'm officially in a committed relationship with this place. My Publican, Ken has won me over. Within 3 minutes of arriving at the bar he smiled, stuck out his hand and introduced himself then proceeded to hand over control of the TV across the bar. After finishing my delightful Shepherd's Pie Ken reappeared as if on queue to offer the "Newcomer's orientation" explaining all the daily specials both food and drink. As if I were not already sold, he continued even further to make me feel welcome despite being alone behind the bar and being plenty busy. Great bartender, great Pub. I'm in!
(5)Phoenix Simone W.
I'm a big fan of Irish bars, and this is one of the better ones. it's so close to the Court house metro, and has great ambiance inside, as well as a good amount of outdoor seating. This place is pretty big, anf has a lot of different rooms, but it can get pretty crowded for happy hour and brunch, so I'd recommend getting there early. Most of the bartenders are actually Irish which is great, they have a great beer selection, and the food is awesome. Definitely recommend!
(5)Vanessa L.
I've been here three times. Food is ok. The Asian guy that performed was really good. The crowd here is weird. Thankfully I'm not single but for you single men and women, don't expect to go here for eye candy.
(3)Kyle N.
Great food. Surprisingly good especially for a bar/restaurant. Beer selection could be more diverse, no sours and no aged, but the bartenders are great so it's a trade off.
(5)Bader J.
A great place to watch soccer ( probably other sports too ) but i only go there for soccer matches. The bartenders are super friendly and the food is good. The fact that they have a Champions League menu is just amazing.
(4)Kendal Ann M.
Ireland's Four Courts After a day's work, I met up with a friend to enjoy a little conversation and libation. With it being both of our first time's visiting Ireland's For Courts we were in for a surprise. For a Tuesday at 6PM this place is packed. After managing to get a table at the bar, we were brought a menu...but no one came back to take our order. Note to self, if you see people going to the bar, there's probably not a waiter coming to your table either. That was the only glitch in the plan. The drinks are strong, and the staff is actually from Ireland! Note that the music is low enough for you to have a conversation with the person next to you. Just for stopping in, I was surprised by this place and will be making my way back for a little Happy Hour action!
(4)Ozge T.
My friends and I went a few times. Burger was my fave. My friend enjoyed the Reuben. We all liked the wings and the crab&spinach dip were so good. Half price appetizers during happy hour. I liked their tequila sunrise though it could've been stronger. They had this amazing grapefruit vodka that was deliciousssss. Will go back for sure
(5)Ryan E.
I normally love this place, and have been coming literally since the 1990s. But the breakdown in basic common sense and customer service this Sunday was too egregious to go unremarked upon. As many know, there is normally a Sunday brunch buffet every week here. Like Jerry's girlfriend, the buffet is real, and it's fantastic. Apparently, they don't do the brunch buffet on long holiday weekend Sundays. No one thought to post a sign at the door saying "No brunch Labor Day Sunday." Strike one. The hostess who saw three adults and three kids roll in with Mass clothes at 1PM also didn't think to say, "I wanted to make sure you were aware that we don't have a brunch today." Strike two. We were then seated. The kids got settled in coloring, and little baby Kate was in her high chair. We're obviously settled in for the long haul. Then, and only then, does our server come over, again saying nothing. I told him we were all getting the brunch buffet. He says, "I'm sorry, we don't have it today. I know that's a game changer for some people." Well, yeah. But what the heck are we going to do about it now? The kids are both starving AND settled in. Strike three. Strike to the very three. Look, I don't mind not having a big spread on a holiday weekend when they don't think the traffic will be there. But would it have killed you to tell us BEFORE my kids were immutably committed to getting food from your restaurant? We never would have eaten here had we known. I feel duped, disrespected, and hornswaggled. You wound me, Four Courts. UPDATE: the management has sent me a message admitting this is not the way it should have gone down, and have offered a complimentary brunch as compensation. very classy, and very appreciated.
(1)Val V.
I have become (somewhat depressingly) a regular at four courts as I often go to trivia night (Monday) with friends and live nearby so hit it up occasionally otherwise. I would say the food is nothing special but is dependably good for pub fare. They never overcook a burger which is something I really appreciate. Most of their appetizers are decent to go with a nice selection of beer on tap at happy hour. Surprisingly enough I also find the desserts to be pretty good! The ambience on non-trivia nights is laid back and easygoing. this isn't a place people go to see and be seen. They have a ton of TVs and show lots if sports games, especially soccer and football, if that's your jam. The staff are friendly and helpful and the bartenders generous. I've been here solo and with a party of two, but also been with groups of 8-12 and they are kind and accommodating. All in all, nothing extraordinary but not a bad neighborhood haunt.
(4)Dia D.
If I were rating just the food, I would give this place 4 stars. However, it was very loud. If you want to listen to live music or you are part of a large party, it would be a fun place. I had the fish tacos and they were very good. They had a dill slaw, roasted corn salsa, and chipotle ranch on them. More flavorful than your run-of-the-mill fish tacos. Three beers and three sandwiches/tacos/wraps were $55 before tip. Check out their great website.
(3)Mimi T.
Smells like teen spirit... or the local Irish pub. Decent place, packed during St. Patty's. I can't say anything about the food but the beers are cold and there's lots of foot traffic to ppl watch. If you're looking to get a lil Irish in ya, this is a good place to stop off.
(3)Bobbie S.
Double-fried buffalo wings!!! I can't even believe how amazing they are! I'm not normally a spicy person but these are so addicting. I was see sawing between "OMG these are so good" and "OMG my lips are burning" until I looked down and they were all gone lol and my first thought was I need to order more! The wait staff was extremely helpful, patient and cute!
(5)Todd H.
Wow, we're really happy with Ireland's Four Courts! Before we flew in from CA to host our son's rehearsal dinner, Danielle and Tim were very helpful over email setting up the dinner. The staff, specifically Krista and Liam, went above and beyond to make the night a huge success. Krista moved tables for us, kept the food warm, and was a pleasure to work with throughout the evening. Liam was an excellent bartender with a great attitude and solid skills. Many of the attendees raved to us about the food, the atmosphere, and the service well after the night had passed. They even stayed under budget! Thanks to the staff of Ireland's Four Courts for an outstanding and memorable evening!
(5)Ian W.
After an all day work meeting in the area, my boss and I met up at Ireland's Four Courts for drinks and pub food. We were both hungry and needed a good unwinding session from the long day. It was also Monday night, which meant it was TRIVIA NIGHT! My boss is also a big trivia buff and decided to enter us into the trivia competition. He got here early and snagged a booth in the back of the restaurant. Also it was Burger Night ($7.95 burgers) and Happy Hour (4PM-8PM) with half price appetizers and $5 Guinness pints. After I arrived, I ordered a pint of Guinness as my boss was filling out the paper trivia sheet and I helped him answer some of the questions. For dinner, I stuck with the half price appetizers including the Beef Sliders ($8.95/2), Fried Calamari ($9.95/2), and Fried Pickles ($6.50/2). The 3 Beef Sliders were served on a rectangular plate, which were thick and juicy, topped with American cheese & 1000 Island dressing on soft buns and served with pickle chips, tomato, and lettuce on the side. The Fried Calamari consisted of soft rings with light greasy crispy breading (not completely coated), served with a dipping side of marinara sauce in the center. The Fried Pickles (10 half long slices) were coated in a thick and greasy ale-batter and deep fried golden (fish & chips batter) and served with creamy horseradish sauce. My boss ordered the Four Courts Burger (9.95--$7.95 special), which was a thick Angus beef burger topped with Dubliner cheddar cheese, crispy jumbo onion ring, lettuce, and tomato on a Kaiser bun. Served with crispy golden fries pickle spear and creamy cole slaw. This burger plate was good and filling The greasy pub fare with the pints of Guinness went down good, while we played and answered several rounds of trivia filling in the paper sheets. There were plenty of random questions including music, sports, movies, and events. We actually did pretty well at trivia and came in second place overall for the evening. The last round (double points) helped us big time and we received a $25 gift card for our next visit to Ireland's Four Courts. In all, it was a fun and chillaxing night. My boss had such a jolly good time that he signaled the MC of the trivia contest to take our picture afterwards. We will definitely be back in here again on our next trip to Arlington.
(4)Samantha G.
We came here for the karaoke. We got early enough to be able to get a seat at the bar. The whole place quickly filled up with a large throng of young people. And we became smashed between the throng of people and the bar. But it wasn't horrible. And the karaoke was great. The beer list was meh. The food we had was typical, average, and over-priced. So not a bad place for karaoke. But not a good place for food. And be prepared for the crushing, beer-spilling crowd.
(3)Kim H.
We had a going away lunch for my boss with about 45 folks and the service was outstanding. The team at Ireland's Four Courts did such a great job and I will use them again. They had everything set up, food came out quickly and was really tasty. The waitresses were fantastic- did what I asked quickly which was exactly the right thing. Catering worked with me to make the event super easy. I was very impressed!
(5)Jamie B.
Stopped in here on a snowy, cold winters night while visiting family in DC. It was in walking distance of our Hotel. So we thought we would give it a whirl. The place was quite busy. As it was trivia night. My Husband and I ordered a they daily special. Wings for him. soup for me. Food was just so so. Soup was cold as were the wings. And I didn't care for the onion rings..just a different batter than what I'm use to on onion rings. Judging by the crowd I'm sure this place is pretty good..but on the night wecwete there it was mediorce at best. The Kabob place down the street may have been a better bet...gonna try it next time I visit
(3)David R.
This used to be the go to place in the neighborhood for lunch, Over the last few years though it appears more and more empty at lunchtime. Today I had corn beef and cabbage which should be easy for an Irish restaurant to handle, however the corn beef was like leather as it was well overcooked and clearly microwaved. The waitress made only one appearance, at the end of the meal to collect he plates and clearly could not be bothered when I told her the lunch was terrible and explained why. I guess now I remember why I stopped going here for food or drinks.
(1)Jaclyn H.
The atmosphere is the best part of this place. I love the ambiance and fireplace seating. We attend the trivia nights on Monday which is so much fun. They have some specials at night but their bar specials could be better. Their bar drinks are overpriced and the regular food menu varies on pricing but is high for the type of food- this is the reason for the 3. It's not the best Irish food but they almost make up for it in nightly events. The lengthy happy hour with $5 apps is my favorite here, great price for a quick bite close to home.
(3)Chris S.
Ireland's Four Courts is your standard Irish pub. Nothing incredibly special but will suffice if you're looking for decent bar food and a drink. Came in with a group on a Saturday night and they had a live one man guitar playing musician performing. He was good but great, played a few sets of different songs. Food was decent, standard bar grub, I tried the chicken tenders and chilli cheese fries, also good but not great. Drinks were good, several beers on tap and in the bottle. What I do like about Four Courts is they have a variety of shots on the menu for you to try. All affordable. Service was decent, one thing that annoyed me is the waitress pulled that move that I hate, her shift ended while my group was still enjoying our evening and she asked us to close out our check so she could leave, I get it you need to leave but it is highly annoying to have to pay a check when you aren't ready to leave and then have to start a new check with a different waiter. Not horrible but slightly annoying. Decent bar worth a visit to drink and socialize and watch a game but not a must go to.
(3)Amanda M.
I used to live just a few blocks from 4 Courts and I miss being able to walk there. I've been here more times than I can count for dinner or post race beer (if you want a fun 4 mile race, check out the 4 Courts 4) but my most recent visit was for a post-hike brunch. A group of 9 of us ended up here after another nearby restaurant wouldn't let us push two tables together to accommodate our group. Our waitress was incredibly friendly. She brought us several pitchers of water and kept the coffee topped off. I was the only one out of our group of nine to not order the buffet. I did check it out, however, and it is really quite impressive. Essentially everything that is on the menu is available on the buffet so if you have a big appetite, the buffet is a good choice. I simply went with two eggs, which are served with a choice of meat and Irish potatoes. yelp.com/biz_photos/DHyT… I ordered my eggs poached and was pleased to receive eggs that had creamy, runny yolks. My bloody mary was good but lacked spice. yelp.com/biz_photos/DHyT… I was honestly surprised at how good the brunch was at 4 Courts but it will most certainly be on my list of brunch suggestions from now on.
(3)Marjorie M.
After a night of drinking, the Brunch Buffet option hit the spot! For $14.95, you can choose from a selection of Irish and American breakfast items, including fresh fruit, biscuits, sausage, bacon, salmon, sheperds's pie, omelet bar, carving station, fresh bagels and a selection of breads and pastries (taken from the online menu). The omelet bar was one of my favorites. I loved the shepherd's pie as well and thought there must not be many places where you can get a delicious breakfast and your favorite irish meal options all at the same place. I wish I had a place like this somewhere in MD because I think I would have to be there every weekend!
(4)Laura S.
My favorite Irish pub in Arlington! They show all the Barclay's Premier League games (and even send emails out for the schedule of weekend games) and all the US Men's National team games. There's two TVs at the bar, one up front and a few more scattered throughout the restaurant. Wish there were a couple more but they're always showing what I'm looking for so it works. I was also here for a Chelsea in America (CIA) meetup before the Chelsea vs Roma game that was in DC this past summer and it was almost as packed at St Pattys Day. Nice turnout! Trivia is popular but one of the most difficult ones that I've done. I think they still do half price burgers that same night... Always a great place for St Patty's Day! I've been a couple years in a row now. They open up the back section and have a tent and a band. On my most recent visit I was meeting some friends for a Below the Belt Cancer fundraiser but when I arrived before my friends and asked the hosts about the special events that evening there were two events and both were for cancer and we couldn't figure out which one. I went outside to call my friend and the host figured it out and waited with me outside while I was still one the phone. He was so nice to do that and walk me back in to the correct fundraiser. What a nice guy!!
(4)Jeff H.
Just moved here from out of town and have to say these guys made me feel like I was right at home. Great crowd and the food is amazing. If you're looking for a place to relax after a long day of work and share a beer and some laughs with new friends this is the place to go. The Reuben is my personal favorite so far.
(5)Ning Z.
The BF loves this place for breakfast, so it's not surprising that last Saturday I finally went there with him. It was pretty quiet for Saturday brunch, so it was surprising that it took a while for a waitress to appear at our table. It also didn't help my patience that we had street parking so our time was limited. However, once the waitress came, everything went smoothly from there. I got the Steak & Eggs and my BF got the Irish breakfast. They were both huge portions and came with fries and beans. I was surprised at how good the steak was, because you wouldn't think this is a steak place. It's probably because I grew up in a culture where we cook all our meat thoroughly, but I hate any kind of steak that still has blood/juice coming out of it, so I'm usually the medium-well kind of gal. This steak, probably because it's pretty thin, had only small parts of red in it. It wasn't super flavorful so I had to put some salt and pepper on it, but otherwise it was perfect for me. Since we live near this area I can see myself coming back often and I'd like to try out some other food from them.
(4)Becky C.
Went for Brunch on a Saturday. Portions were large and food was decent. Nothing amazing, but it wasn't bad. French Toast was a little soggy but the biscuits and gravy were perfect
(3)Mary Kate M.
Clearly I came on an off night with Samantha G. and James O. if comparing it to my friends' reviews. Here was my encounter with Ireland's Four Courts.... We came here for karaoke. Samantha and James arrived earlier than I did and secured us seats at the bar. This is where we ended up sitting for the next 3.5 hours hanging out when it was just a few folks to until we left where there were hoards of drunk college kids. The karaoke was great. We had a lot of fun with a lot of great music option.. That was about as good as it got with Four Courts. I was not thrilled with the food. In fact, it tasted like crap. James took a bit and his face didn't disagree with me. I had to send back my mac and cheese, switched it for their potato soup only to find something really flavorless and overpriced. So I went from crap flavor to no flavor at all. Lose/lose situation. To make matters worse, a lot of kids were hovering over Samantha and I. They would put their beers on the bar between us where my almost full beer got swiped by mistake. It took me asking the manager to replace it for the bartender to give me a new one. Originally he refused since it wasn't his problem. Oh that made me really hot. Did I mention that I had beer spilled on me 3 times? Yeah.... Just a really horrible experience that makes me not want to return. I don't think I will return either. I've got better Irish bars to check out than here.
(2)Beach G.
Great wait staff good food wonderful music. A local favorite. The wait staff and bartenders are very professional. Always like their live music too. Back bar is a gem a tad more quiet. Nice clean bathroom
(5)Rob P.
Meh. There's no compelling reason to come to Ireland's Four Courts. There's also no compelling reason to avoid it. It's fine, just nothing special. In fact, the last time I came during happy hour and the specials were hardly special - drank three beers and ate no food and still wound up paying $20 with tip.
(3)Aaron B.
Great meal and wonderful service. The guinness knife and fork burger was great and the guinness and beef stew even better.
(5)Christine H.
Wow, what a let down. Came in with a bunch of friends for a couple drinks and dinner on a Friday night. We got there when music was just starting, which was ok.. We had a terrible waiter and the food was mediocre. I don't know if he was having an off night, but he just wasn't around, and it wasn't that busy in the dining area. I think it was the manager had to come out and help with drinks, but it took us over an hour to get our food, which like i mentioned was mediocre, but better than the service. We ordered a burger, wings, fish and chips, pot pie, and nothing based on friends' responses tasted good. bad food plus terrible service=never again.
(1)Lauren R.
I've been here at night, on weekends, during the week, and for brunch. Everything has been great. The bartenders are super friendly (and cute), the drinks are good, the vibe is happy and fun, and the brunch is delicious and cheap. You can't beat $2.50 mimosas- basically bottomless. Would definitely recommend!
(5)Stephen K.
Four Courts is a good neighborhood bar. It's also a great Irish bar, where you'll find all the classics: bangers & mash, fish & chips, multiple Irish stouts and a decent scotch selection, and most importantly, friendly bartenders. Their food is better than your average bar food; the Aron Island Salmon and Guinness stew are favorites of mine, and they serve a solid Irish breakfast. But the real reason to come here is because you enjoy a local bar where the bartenders remember your name, and you can sing along to the live music. They don't have a great craft beer lineup, but they make up for it with personality, and that's good enough to keep me coming back.
(4)Philip L.
Half off happy our appetizers are always a good deal. Try the nachos or chicken tenders. My favs. Also, great Irish beer on tap and chill atmosphere
(5)Kelleigh M.
Located in Arlington, this Irish neighborhood bar was perfect-walking distance from where we were staying, cheap beers, live music and a cool vibe. After a fantastic meal in DC, we headed back to Arlington and finished the evening here at 4 Courts. The bartender was friendly, the patrons were a great mix of the local crowd and the live music played a lot of covers. A perfect way to round off our evening.
(4)Kabir K.
Great food and atmosphere at this traditional Irish Pub.
(4)Susan Y.
This is a comment on my experience of holding a private party for about 20 people. I opted to have my husband's birthday gathering at Ireland's Four Courts both for their location (by Clarendon Metro) and cost (very reasonable). I admit that I didn't expect much, but was glad to have an event at a nice Irish Pub that is centrally located for my friends in the metro area. Let me tell you, the attention we received was outstanding and far exceeded my expectations. We had two bartenders that evening (probably because it was slow that evening) who were friendly, professional (yet fun) and efficient. Krista and Aiden constantly anticipated our need and definitely wanted to make sure we were all happy and having a good time. We couldn't be more pleased with the experience!
(5)Jennifer H.
Great place to watch the World Cup games! Better get there early because there are limited high tops and no tables and chairs/stools.
(3)Matt M.
At this stage, I think I'm a bit of an expert on Irish bars. I have the background (having lived their most of my life) and I've been to many in the US in the 3 years I've lived here. Four Courts is my favourite Irish bar, hands down. The majority of the bartenders are are off-the-boat Irish, great selection of drinks, they show all the football (soccer) and the live music is consistently great. On the football (soccer) note... if there are, for example, 10 games being showing on a given Saturday, Four Courts will dedicate a TV to each game so you can see your team. Supporters of all teams are welcome and there is a great atmosphere. They open for the early games (7am I think). Also, I love the mug club. Buy a mug ($75 sounds expensive but wait...) and then you get discount on beers and on Thursday evenings they have mug club offers where you get various beers for $4/$5. If you become a regular, you'll make your money back in no time. Just look at the number of mugs hanging on the walls behind the bar to see how many call this bar their local/regular! Great place, couldn't speak more highly of it! Finding it and befriending the bar staff has really helped us to settle into the area!
(5)Tim A.
Best restaurant in Arlington Excellent service Chow is superb Beer is fresh and cold
(5)Kat F.
I've been here two times - once on the weekend for drinks and live music, and once for dinner. I had Guinness beef stew on a cold day and it was delicious. The waiter was friendly, if a little slow on the water refills (but in fairness, we were in the second room out of sight by the fireplace). All in all, it was a solid dining and drinking experience.
(4)Joanna M.
Ireland's Four Courts is your traditional Irish Pub in the heart of Courthouse. Above the bar, you'll notice mugs for "regulars" who drink their way to the wall. I've gone a few times to grab some beers with friends. They have pretty good drink specials, food menu (brunch is pretty popular), nice bartenders, and even host karaoke on some nights if you're into that sort of thing. Just proceed with caution if those karaoke afficionados' singing makes you want to pierce your eardrums out.
(3)Brandee S.
Guess what...this is an Irish Bar. Irish Bar. Irish BAR (this will all make sense in a little while...follow me). My friends and I went to this place to celebrate our friends birthday. We got there a little early and decided to have dinner. They have a good happy with cheap beers and half price off the apps. We got chicken fingers and the guacamole 5 layer dip. Both items were just...ok...just run of the mill bar food. The dip needed a lot of flavor to me and the chicken fingers were just kinda regular and made us a little sick and bloated feeling (sorry TMI). I don't think I would eat the food again. But who goes to an Irish Bar for the food. You go for the drinks and the loud irratic behavior...or so we thought. One neat thing this bar has (why they got the extra star from me) is a " Quiet Area". Like if you don't want to be around the loud Irish or the people who go here or the loud band, you can go in a quiet room and whisper. However, I had the misfortune to be seated by someone who wanted to control the volume of everyone in the BAR area. What a douche! He actually, while me and my friend were just eating our blah food told us to "keep it down". I was like...huh...are you joking? We hadn't even finished our beer so I'm completely aware of our volume and you are telling us to quiet down. Like who tells someone to quiet down at a BAR and seriously...and Irish Bar? Can you get any louder? One of the songs everyone sang "Who the F' (bad word) is Alex" and I'm laughing too loud. Of course I went slam off on this ____(insert bad word here) and he left promptly but it did put a bit of a damper on our night...that is until the rest of the group got there and we started our Jameson shots! All in all, I say this place is ok. The band or singer was cool and more importantly our friends love it and have their own mugs. They should have some way to weed out the ____(insert really bad word here). I don't think I'd go back otherwise.
(2)Paul S.
As beers go, you can't go wrong with Four Courts. This is a great hangout for spending time with your friends. The beers are moderately priced and they nightly musicians provide ambiance to your stay. This is a good place to unwind; no muss, no fuss.
(3)Robert S.
I go to four courts mainly during a soccer match. I've been multiple time on a Saturday morning to watch Arsenal and I'm always impressed with the great service and how accommodating the restaurant is to soccer fans. I went yesterday to watch the England World Cup match and it was completely packed yet our server was hustling big time. We didn't have to wait any longer than normal for food or drinks.
(5)Marie B.
The atmosphere is great being seated outside. However the food is average. We got the corned beef eggs Benedict & steak and eggs, both were very bland.
(3)Katharine G.
I was here as part of a family gathering. We had a private room. Service was great, food was so-so. Liked the onion rings, calamari, didn't care for the nachos or the 5-layer dip although the tortilla chips were colorful and festive. I liked my burger, someone liked the shepherd's pie, another thought her Guinness stew too salty. Don't know how the other family members liked their food. What I did like was the way they itemized the bill. For me and my husband, they charged us for our entrees and beer and had a split charge for the appetizers. They also added a service charge so payment was simple--just pay the amount shown. I've had better food, but the service and the ease of organizing a private party where everybody pays their share couldn't be easier.
(4)Kimberly S.
Do you know what is even more nerve-wrecking than going to a high school reunion? Being somebody's date to their high school reunion. Arlington's Four Courts was the host of this very awkward night. While my gregrious boyfriend slashie fiance was busy high fiving his childhood friends and rehashing the glory days, I propped myself at the bar where the knowing bartenders poured curiously strong drinks and ignored the "one free drink per person" rule. For this, I thank you! Catering included a few trays of the sorriest looking sandwiches I have ever seen and surprisingly good buffalo chicken bites which were especially welcome towards the ends of the night. The reunion was held in a private room but I did take a few minutes to observe the other going ons on the other side of the restaurant and saw a bunch of people in brown flip flops grooving to the likes of Del Amitri and John Mayer. Not super Irish but who doesn't dig "Roll to Me"? Overall, an okay place to spend an awkward Saturday night!
(3)G S.
I would not recommend this place. Service was nice but they messed up on the order. Spoke with the Manager who acted like it didn't matter that they messed up on our order since they had closed the kitchen it was our problem. Instead of being concerned the manager caught an attitude acted like it was our fault and sent us to Wendy's for our food. Yikes!
(1)Cliff W.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. When it comes to getting a cheap quality brunch in Arlington Four Courts has the lock on it. I've been here a few times with some other Yelpers and we've always come back. Aside from the Steak and Eggs, all of the entree items are 10.95 or less, and the buffet on Sunday for $14.95 is a pretty good deal it's a pretty solid spread. This past Saturday I went with the Hogan's Breakfast Sandwich.. "A gooey ham and Dubliner cheddar sandwich topped with béchamel and a fried egg. Served with O'Brien potatoes." It was freaking delicious and I actually wished I was really hungover from the night before as it would have been the cure all. However, I was not, so clearly I need to go out and get silly one evening on the weekend and go back. The service is also pretty solid too, our server was quick and on the ball, had no problems splitting up the check, and there was always Guinness in my glass. When I showed up a bit early when meeting my friends I also had a cup of a coffee at the bar while reading a book, which I was able to do in peace. For cheap, quick, and friendly, Four Courts is the spot to go.
(5)Allison N.
Really great Irish and hearty food and lots to choose from on the menu. Decent selection of beer as well and good service. Can have a good time with some friends, on a date, with a relative etc. like all Irish bars, versatile. Nothing special though!
(4)Kristin S.
While visiting Arlington we found this pub and spent one evening here. We lucked out and went on trivia night so we joined in and had a great time ( even though we took lat place! ). We were made to feel like regulars and would be if we lived nearby. We had some appetizers while there-the sliders were fantastic, onion rings are also delicious, tator tot nachos were just OK. But we would definitely go back.
(3)Sara R.
Reminds me of O'sullivans before the new look. Seems like a solid spot to get a seat at the bar and a bartender that knows your usual. I enjoyed the bluegrass band too. Not sure about the food, but overall great friendly neighborhood Irish pub.
(4)Kacey C.
Four Courts is one of those places I could review, could not review, doesn't make a difference. A few of my friends live right around the corner and love it love it love it. They also love that it shows all the soccer games. Do I care about soccer? No. Do i care about having a half way decent time while they care about the soccer on tv? Yes. Sometimes I go and wait for the game to be over, and if it is a Friday night the older guy to start playing his guitar. Man is good. He can play (and sing) a mix of traditional Irish songs and more typical bar songs. The food is pretty decent, above average bar food with enough options for everyone. I haven't been for any meal other than dinner but I've heard brunch is good. Overall, it is a pretty low-key bar and the service reflects that, not to say they aren't all friendly because I'm yet to run into an unfriendly staff person. Between RiRa the Irish pub in Clarendon and here, I'd go with Four Courts (unless you like an Irish pub that becomes a crammed dance floor playing nothing but the hits tehe).
(3)Nick J.
Great place to drink, take shots and be greeted with "hello love." The only downside is the food, typical bar stuff. If you must, order the wings..they also have live music sometimes so that's awesome too.
(4)Adam J.
Definitely 3 here. Decent location, average food, average prices, average decor, average wait staff, average drinks. It's a safe bet bar. No surprises. It wont ever blow you off your feet, but you'll probably never have a bad experience.
(3)William D.
Solid local bar. Review is for outdoor seating. Had very pleasant and attentive service on a mid-afternoon visits. Nachos use pump cheese if that's your thing. Wouldn't recommend. Happy hour specials are very decent. Check it out if you're looking to get a few beers with friends.
(4)Brigid M.
The Weekend brunch is great! Went Saturday and it was tasty. I Haven't tried the Sunday brunch buffet but I'm looking forward to doing so. Fun atmosphere as well.
(4)Chris S.
Lots of good things to say about this place, but my favorite part, by far, are Mairéad and Shane behind the bar. They are my absolute favorite bartenders in DC.
(5)Joe S.
One the better Irish bars in the DC area. Best in Arlington. Food is fine, but nothing to write home about. Then again, who goes to an Irish bar for the food?
(4)Jugga S.
Solid bar for drinking and bar scene, and they play soccer games (particularly EPL) on the weekends too if you're into that. Don't expect it to be cheap but it's not really too bad cost-wise. Half-off appetizers before 8 are tempting. Some of them are good though nothing is spectacular. Stay away from the sliders though, those really aren't good.
(4)Monica H.
I love this place! I consider it my neighborhood bar. Good drink specials and selection. Good wings (not *great,* but good enough to satisfy my craving for them, and better than a lot of other competitors). Staff is friendly and attentive. Best of all: no room reservation fee! I've hosted a few events here and will keep coming back. These people are the best.
(5)Jack S.
As soon as I sat down at the bar I was asked if I would like a drink. Yes please! I ordered a Newcastle on draft and settled in to read the menu. I ordered the pickle appetizer and the lamb stew. The pickle appetizer was so good! I think they are fried pickle slices encased in a spicy cheese and breading. Whatever it is it was wonderful! The lamb stew included a good 5-6 chunks of baah-baah bleating goodness. The chunks were tender and flavorful. The soup also had potatoes and perhaps onions. Soup was served with a single slice of bread which was maybe Irish Soda Bread. Deliciously moist and dark.
(5)Ben M.
Bean dip was cold and small... Fork and knife burger was essentially a burger on mashed potatoes.
(3)Tim M.
Not a steak place but had the best steak I've had in a while! Great and warm service.
(5)Morgan F.
First off, this pub has great customer service. Laine and John really work hard and are great at their jobs. Tonight my girlfriend and I headed to the customer appreciation holiday party, which was great! They offered a great buffet spread and had many bar specials. This place really cares about its customers and they do a great job at pleasing the crowd. Give respect to get respect. We've been coming here for the past 6 months or so, and we find it to be very genuine and traditional Irish with workers from the green country. This is our favorite spot in the Clarendon/Courthouse area. This place does a great job!
(5)Chris P.
I have very mixed emotions when it comes to this place. I have been here for brunch, dinner, and simply drinks. The first thing I have noticed each time was how poor the waiter service is here. It is just awful and I have no idea why since their set up is equivalent to that of similar places who seem to lack service issues. The waiters have rarely been friendly or attentive and the time between order and food on the table is bad. There must be a logistical issue. One plus is that the food is always great (taking in mind the place it is) and when it does come its hot or cold depending on what you ordered meaning even though it took forever the food wasn't sitting around. Outside of the poor table service, going there for nightly libations is recommended.
(3)Daniel B.
This is my Irish pub. I was here when they first opened and to this day it is the closest Irish pub to me (since the best part of a classic pub is that it is walking distance to your domicile). My biggest complaint is that sometimes they are too crowded for my taste. They are well connected in the neighborhood (like co-sponsoring a 4 miler for St. Patrick's Day), have all the requisite daily specials and all the right beers on tap. Really I cannot ask for much more.
(5)Erin K.
We stopped in to Ireland's Four Courts on a weekday evening on a recent trip to Arlington/DC for drinks and an appetizer before dinner. Since it was such a nice evening, we sat outside. We had a couple of beers that were part of the happy hour special and the five layer dip (all apps were half price during happy hour). The five layer dip was as you would expect, nothing spectacular, but pretty good. The service was quick and attentive, despite it being very busy. A good place to have a couple of drinks.
(4)Aaien T.
Our friend got a rude comment from the manager Tim when we complained about a drink issue. The comment questioned my friends honesty and was very snarky passive aggressive. The owners of this business would be disappointed to know how rude you were to a paying customer. I am very disappointed in Tim's customer service. The food was greasy pub food but I wasn't expecting caviar, so it wasn't a big deal- our waiter was friendly, live music was fun and our table was clean.
(1)Nat L.
went there for an event last night. the beer selection was fine, but mostly i was impressed by the service. right away the bartenders were acting like i was an old friend, and they were giving me really fast/solid service.
(4)Chris M.
A nice place for a pint, saw some live open-mike night music, overall a solid Irish Pub. Service was friendly,my bartender was from Ireland, which gives the place an authentic touch. Pushing 4 stars but not quite there.
(3)Mattie C.
One of my favorite Irish bars. They have live Irish music every once in a while, making for a fun festive atmosphere, and hold trivia nights as well. Trivia here is not as good as at Rock Bottom but it isn't terrlble either. The place is bigger than it looks on the outside and gets pretty packed. This is also the best place to go and watch a soccer game. I have watched games here at the past two world cups and it is always a good time. The place attracts real soccer fans who are there to actually watch the game and get really into it. Two World Cups ago, I metroed in all the way from Capitol Hill so I could watch the final game here. Just a really fun place. The food is kind of forgettable, but I think they have some Irish specialities on the menu. They seem to have a lot of events there where they put out special menus or drinks. The fries are good, I usually just like to get a plate of fries with my beers. I can't think of an Irish bar I like better than this. Highly recommended, especialyl for soccer games!
(4)David H.
Great Irish bar with real Irish bartenders and good happy hour specials. It's got a great atmosphere and you're not packed in like a sardine with 1,000 annoying interns like at some of Dupont/Adams Morgan bars on a Saturday night. They have live music so you can complain to your friends and heckle the guitar player when he claims not to know "Free Bird". Really? Anyway, a fun place and I'll go back here.
(4)Anna D.
One of the finest Sunday morning brunches I have had! Not too crowded at that time of day, awesomely delicious salmon eggs benedict (which I have been cravin' and not findin' anywheres until here!), a brunch buffet for those with a mind for it, friendly staff, lots of solid wood furniture, and lots of live sports broadcasts! I don't know how it holds up in the nice department come, say, Saturday night, but BOY OH BOY does it make me happy as a hen to go there on a Sunday mornin'!!! I added a pic of the salmon benedict, SO good, and with a honkin' big piece of steamed broccoli too! YUM! OH. And.....NOT to be forgotten or overlooked: some of the BEST damn home fries around. The potatoes are never undercooked, always soft inside and crispy outside, flavored just right--no need for ketchup here, and cooked with green peppers and onions--but not too much, just a touch. I LOVE ME SOME GOOD TATERS, and my dear people, THESE are some good taters!!!!
(5)Indy A.
Good food, great bartenders and at its best on Thursdays and Fridays. Worth visiting if you like Irish pubs
(5)Aaron C.
I had their fish and chips and it was not very good. A good Irish pub should be able to at least get THAT right. All bread and no depth to it. Staff was friendly but took a long time to get our appetizer out. I guess nachos is pretty labor intensive. In their defense, it's an Irish pub and I ordered nachos.
(2)Tom G.
When I walked in the door I was shocked to hear Morrissey pumping from the speakers, as though the good people at Four Courts had been expecting me. But, then I remembered I always request to hear melodramatic Britpop when I make an Open Table reservation. Came for brunch last Sunday, and had no choice but to order the traditional full Irish breakfast, and see if it could compare with the legendary heart attacks I have consumed up and down the west coast of Erin. It did not disappoint. A generous helping of slightly gooey scrambled eggs piled atop potatoes, a rasher, two link sausages that definitely had that British isles, not US, flavor, lil' cup o'beans, a tomato, and most importantly the black and white puddings. These puddings did a commendable job of combining the congealed pig's blood with bits of oats and other mystery ingredients. If you've never had Black Pudding, or as I like to call it, blood pudding, you should give it a try. Everything was washed down with a 20 oz Guinness the waitress forgot to charged me for ( and yes, I am a very bad man, and did not report her error). The only drawback was the interior temperature. Had I sat on the patio all would have been lovely. But, at the time of my meal it was about 70 degrees outside, and inside they had at least 20 ceiling fans pumping. My son was actually shivering in June. Beers available lean to the traditional. It doesn't get any edgier than Fat Tire, but I still think it's a fine place to drink on a Sunday morning with the children.
(4)Edward R.
Best Irish Pub in the area hands down. Not only does Four Courts have one of the best night time vibes in the area, great drinks, great music, great people, but the food is good, and the service GREAT! Very friendly barmen, good live music. Granted, right now the kitchen is down due to a kitchen fire some time back and the interim food is not so good. They still have a great Sunday buffet, with great omelets. I believe the kitchen should be back up soon, and prior to their kitchen shutting down they always had great food. I know they have an area to reserve for parties, etc, though I've never used it. The only down side is it can get a bit crowded, but the crowd is a friendly one. For frequent customers, one can purchase their own mug (something I've done and recommend for anyone else who intends to frequent this pub). One other great plus is if you're into soccer, they've always got the games on, often even playing back recordings at night of matches that took place earlier in the day.
(5)Allison A.
Corned beef and cabbage. Irish lamb stew. Fish and chips. Oh my.... I come here every winter to get my nice warm stew on. This is the place to be! And live bands! Come hear Edie Pasa play some nights. He's a guitarist who takes requests!
(4)Sandi W.
Love this place! It's right around the corner from our project's office for those OMG I need a drink NOW! moments, and close enough to walk to and from where we are staying. It does get v. crowded on Friday and Saturdays, but we always manage to get a seat. Outside is wonderful when the weather is nice. The food is decent, but not why I go there. Good for laughs, drinks, and talking with friends. Plus, Mairead and Shane are the best bartenders and keep us laughing the entire time.
(4)Josephine M.
I would give this place a 3.5 star rating although YELP doesn't have those. My mom and I decided to take my dad here for Fathers Day brunch. We made reservations for 10am. We got there a little early and they were able to seat us, which was nice. We had the option of sitting outside or inside. We opted for the inside. They have a brunch buffet on Sundays for $15. Good quality of foods and the price is one of the best I've seen in the Nova area. Juice also comes with the brunch with no extra fee (orange and cranberry) If you are into the whole 'Sunday Funday' trend they have Happy Hour from 10AM to 8pm on Sunday..I think it was 3 dollar miller lites and 4 dollar Peronis. After awhile of sitting inside it got very chilly, they have all the fans on in the building so if you're coming on a Sunday I would say bring a light jacket. The only downside was that the buffet wasn't 100% ready at 10, it was around 10:10 am that everything was laid out. Which isn't the end of the world. I also had some black 'things' floating in my water which was strange. If I lived in the Arlington area I would come here more often, I just don't see myself driving or taking the metro all the time to come here.
(3)Michael G.
Great atmosphere to catch American or European football game. And the Irish bar menu had a great fish and chips.
(4)Miss C.
True to my prediction, GM Dave contacted me to apologize for the disappointing customer service experienced. He offered very kindly to make amends. I in turn offered this to my friend who was slighted. Thank you, Dave for being what management is supposed to be and making sure your customers are treated respectfully.
(3)Claudia V.
I've been to Ireland's Four Courts a number of times and it never disappoints -- great local business with consistently high quality food and service. I also see their name frequently as a contributor to the community -- and that matters.
(5)Michael F.
Lamb stew is good! Recommend sitting outside and having a few Guinness with friends.
(4)Liz C.
I had the buffet on a Sunday a couple weekends ago and found it to be really average. There was a good amount of people, so I guess it's popular but I'm guessing it's because the price was decent for a buffet. My favorite things were the potato hash and smoked salmon. Lots of people were getting waffles, but I didn't have a chance to try that, so maybe that's really worth it!
(3)Cwot W.
This place is totally over rated and not Irish. No one wants to fight like an Irishman in here and the only thing reminiscent of Irish Bar in this place is the lights are dim to mask the dirty floors. You'll know because everytime you touch something in the bar you would think you dunked your hand in maple syrup - sticky.
(3)Jeffery W.
This is a nice, traditional Irish pub. The decor is very nice, and the food and beer are worth the visit. The service was great.
(4)Melissa B.
Dave, the general manager at Ireland's Four Courts, contacted me and asked us to give his establishment another go. So, my husband and I headed down to the restaurant last night (Thursday 8/11/11). We were promptly seated inside (the outside was packed!) and our server was courteous, friendly, and genuinely nice. We ordered the following: 1- Onion Ring Tower (a little dry but very, very crunchy!) BBQ sauce (was sweet and your standard BBQ fare) and guinness mustard (yummy with a little tang at the end) 2-Chicken Pot Pie (the crust was delicious and the pot pie was pippin' hot! the filling had peas & carrots and, of course, chicken. the cream sauce was on the salty side and, yes, my rings didn't fit later on). 3-Beef and Guinness Stew (came with a nice scoop of mashed potatoes in the middle, carrots, peas, beef, and 2 rolls - my husband practically licked the plate, which means he thorougly enjoyed it). 4-Apple Pie & Vanilla Ice Cream (very, very sweet but a nice blend between the warm pie and the cold icea cream. it had a kick of apple cider, which was a creative touch). 6-Bailey's coffee (hot and not too sweet) Our soiled plates didn't linger on the table for too long. Our drinks were promptly refilled. Dave came over to chat for a bit and he was genuinely interested in making us feel comfortable and making sure that we knew how sorry he was about our dinner the first time we came to his establishment. I appreciated his honesty - he admitted that the kitchen wasn't up to par after the fire. I appreciated the fact that he read the reviews and really listened. My husband plans to go back to watch soccer. I might check out the happy hour but I'm more of a cosmo girl myself. All in all: good Irish pub with homemade flavor (even if it's a little salty).
(4)Johnny S.
Aly, my bartender this evening was so chipper and happy that, she brightened a day that had been filled with car repair woes. David, who wasn't even my waiter was also, very cool. Had a grand night. Cheers!
(4)Justin G.
I don't know if I'm getting older or if the place is going down hill but it's not my favorite place anymore. The brews aren't anything special anymore and think there selection is terrible. It's close to home so I'll swing by every now and then.
(3)Charles Neil R.
A quiet Sunday evening, and some nice mellow live music. I was on my own - which usually means less than average service (if they only knew i was a pretty good tipper). The service was worse than average. I was stuck in a corner, even though lots of space - god forbid they waste a good table on a guy alone. Rest of service stayed at same level. Nice atmosphere. They made this place a nice place to hang out with a group friends or just a couple. Food was just okay. Got the Mcivoy chicken burger (a basic BBQ burger with herb cheese). a good idea badly executed. The chicken was overcooked, sauce was skimpy, bun was bland, and even the bacon looked like the cheap stuff at Safeway. Fries okay. Beer was good. I even had a Shandy (glad they knew what it was). Atmosphere better than Ri-Ra down the road. The service and food worse. Drinks about the same.
(2)Marianne L.
Spent the last 2 Monday nights here for trivia. Overall a very positive experience. I will say, being here on a packed trivia night may or may not be the norm as far as service and food goes. I've only been here a few other times many years ago and don't really remember what it was like. ATMOSPHERE Being non-smoking bar gets huge thumbs up from me. I can breathe YAY!!!! The atmosphere has ATMOSPHERE. Feels like a cleaned up version of the British pubs I frequented when living in London. Lots of well worn, wooden tables and chairs packed in - but not so that you feel you are sitting in someone's lap (unless of course you want to be). 2 weeks ago - the din of the crowd before trivia was nearly deafening; this week much more manageable and I would suppose its fine on a normal night. The pub is divided into 2 sections - big bar and a lot of smaller tables to the right (immediately inside the door) and smaller bar with more tables to the left in a section more suited for eating. Fair # of tvs dot the ceiling for the sports inclined. FOOD (tried over the last 2 visits) Appetizers (1/2 price apps on Mondays) Chicken quesadilla - ok this is a bit odd for an Irish pub, but perfectly acceptable bar fare; was ok - not wowzers but fit the bill when hungry and waiting for trivia; nice proportion of chicken to cheese and other ingredients; served with guac and salsa (tasting of the jarred variety) - both acceptable but not fantastic. 5-Layer Dip with tortilla chips - dip is served in an strange "martini" type glass and is completely cold; this is fine for some of the layers but the refried bean layer on the bottom was a bit dense; chips were meh - kind of bland, ok with the dip; over all was ok but probably wouldn't be my first choice again. Cheese fries with scallions & bacon (served with ramekin of ranch dressing and an optional - at cost - one of curry) - I LOVE THE FRIES HERE (with and without the cheese - as served with the sandwiches); the fries are the right amount of crispy outside and soft tender inside; spend the extra get the curry dipping sauce its good on the fries and even nice if it mixes on your plate a bit with the ranch dressing Chicken Tenders - these were breaded and not battered; I wasn't much of a fan - 3 very large tenders were served so the 4 of us cut them into more bite sized pieces to share; if you got a fatter piece it was ok and the chicken was juicy - but if you got a thinner piece, the chicken was a tad tough and over cooked Main Dishes Fish & Chips - I had 3 pieces about the size of a deck of cards; a bit too long in the fryer (batter was a tad dark) but it wasn't greasy and the cod pieces were uniformly thick so they cooked evenly and were tender; served with fries (more on the fries here below) and small ramekins of tartar sauce (a bit more mayo-y than I would like) and cole slaw - I'm very picky about cole slaw and usually this is an abandoned item on my plate, but I liked this enough to snag the uneaten ramekin from a friends plate tonight - nice peppery flavor that isn't overpowering and cabbage is lightly dressed without being swimming in sauce. One of my friends opted for the 1/2 price burger special they have on Mondays (served with fries) and the other the Guinness stew. Both seemed to enjoy their dishes, in fact opting for the burger again the 2nd week. Chicken club sandwich (served with fries - YAY more fries and malt vinegar for me) - I'm not a big eater and found this sandwich quite large (which was good for the $10.50 cost I guess); the chicken on it isn't sliced breast meat or anything - its actual chicken breast with bacon, lettuce, tomato and hard boiled egg; was tasty - I'd probably either end up taking 1/2 home if I had again or opt to try something different SERVICE Having only been here for trivia night, I can only comment on the service under those conditions. Wait staff is pretty attentive and the food comes out from the kitchen rather quick. Tonight our "waiter" happened to also be the bartender for the small bar - and still managed to take care of our table (plus he was cute, had an accent - swoon- and very nice). Only issue might be that the busers are a bit over zealous (if you aren't done - but look like you might be - you might have to defend your plate) but I suppose they have to be with such a large crowd or the kitchen will get swamped with dishes to wash. TRIVIA Last week we finished in a 3-way tie for 1st (finishing 3rd however due to tie breakers). This week for the 2008 finale we managed 7th (of about 50 or so teams - about 42 teams last week). The game is a mixed bag of very easy trivia, hard trivia and I guess what I would classify as "dumb luck trivia" (guess and pray). Sound system is good so its easy to hear the questions - 5 rounds are fill-in (either general knowledge or on a topic), 1 round of picture trivia, and 1 round of match the items from 2 columns Basically a great place to come, relax and have a good time with friends.
(3)Alex A.
Pros: the service is always wonderful here. Bartenders and servers are always upbeat, knowledgeable and on the spot to the point where they manage to take care of your needs and never make you feel overwhelmed with constant interruptions and checks on your table. Happy hour and daily specials are also great, highlight on the 60 cent wings, which are surprisingly good for an Irish pub. It's also a very large space, so it rarely feels overly crowded (except I would assume St Patrick's Day, obviously). If one section is loud and overly boisterous, there always seems to be another section with space and relative peace. Therefore, it's a good place to meet up with friends in this neighborhood. Cons: the rest of the food is just OK. The true test of an Irish pub in my eyes is the Shepherd's Pie. It should be large, hearty, rich and flavorful. IFC's Shepherd's Pie is small, and much less rich and hearty than I've had at other Irish pubs in the region. But still, it is good enough to fill a craving in a pinch, being the only Irish pub in this neighborhood. Another con here is the price of Guinness. $7 is really pushing it for a pint, and makes it less enjoyable, and that goes for any pub. That said, the pros do tend to outweigh the cons at a place like this. I always appreciate good service, and it's convenient to meet up with friends here. Someone can always find something decent at an Irish pub to eat and drink. I'll just have to order one fewer pint that I normally would due to the cost.
(3)Pat G.
We really liked Krista and Liam and Harry from Ireland. They made our visit so welcome. We loved this bar. Good drinks and good food in a welcome and relaxing atmosphere. From Seattle to FourCorners. Go see them. You will like it!
(5)Casey C.
Any place that you can get your own mug on the wall is my kind of joint. Very cool bar, great service and the food was awesome. I couldn't stop stuffing my pie-hole with the cheese fries. Met up with some buddies for drinks and brought the kiddo. I would say not a kid-friendly joint, this is more of a drinks after work place based on the crowd. We were definitely the only ones with a kid there. Parking sucks - whatever is available on the street.
(4)Juliet K.
decent brunch with standard items. omelet, waffles, biscuits and gravy, potatoes, breakfast pastries and a decent price. but nothing WOWed me. i think whitlows brunch has more options and for about the same price.
(3)Miriam W.
$5.95 is a steal for the juicy burger available (at a discount) at Ireland's Four Courts on Monday nights. This meaty treat comes on a fresh ciabatta bun and despite being great value Ireland's Four Courts doesn't skimp a bit when it comes to its quality. Even on busy quiz nights (Mondays), service is steady and attentive though the staff, thankfully, never hovers.
(4)Derek H.
I love Four Courts and don't know what people be sayin'. This is a bar and bars get crowded. The thing I've always found about Four Courts is that it is a manageable level of crowd; somehow, it always feels 'busy' but not 'shoulder to shoulder I want to rip my head off and throw it in the trash can' crowded. Every time I've been here the bartenders have been awesome at taking care of me; spend a few hours and I got offered a free round and a shot from the cool Irish dude behind the counter. That's nice. I wouldn't say go here on a Saturday Night where you're really trying to blow the hinges off. But if you want a good night of drinking where the place is busy, this is an ideal spot. I like friday where a lot of the Happy Hour courthouse crowd bleeds into the normal people looking for a less mainstream (e.g., not a Clarendon or Georgetown bar) place to get a few drinks. You get a nice mix of that guy in the suit who has been out two hours too late and the people eager to get in the mix and catch up. The live music is a plus.
(4)Joe G.
This is a very cozy Irish Bar. The food is not very irish. They try but it just falls short. Grab a drink and some bar nosh.
(2)Scott C.
I've been to Ireland's Four Courts more than I'd like to admit and always try to stop by for at least a beer when I'm in the DC area. Great ambiance and staff that treat customers well at all times. The prime spot is to snag the tables near the fireplace in the autumn and winter! The beer selection is great and they pour Guiness at the correct temperature. The food is typically good pub food that is a bit overpriced but not outlandish for the location. The live music is great - they typically have some very talented musicians as well as Irish folk singers in house. Just plan around the loud music if you are stopping by to talk.
(4)Rahul J.
I never know how to review Irish pubs, but here's a shot: lively place old guy plays live music sometimes plenty beer and the food is crap. Four courts does a superb job of all of the above. Great outdoor area on a very uneven sidewalk, and exceptional service if the weather is good.
(3)Michelle B.
I went to Four Courts with a bunch of my classmates and really enjoyed myself. I ordered the fish and chips and had some buffalo wings to start. Everybody enjoyed their food from sliders, potato and leek soup, and salads to sandwiches. Our waiter was actually from Ireland which was pretty cool. They also have daily specials during the week. I'm definitely going back for happy hour.
(4)A W.
I was very impressed with Ireland's Four Courts when I recently held a private dinner there. Erinne and her team went above and beyond my expectations (especially for a pub!). When we arrived, the area for our dinner had been sectioned off with curtains so it was more private. There were flowers on the tables, and they even received a delivery of favors and set them at each place setting. Custom menus had been created for our dinner too. Erinne was very easy to work with via email and was always on top of being organized! The food was great, especially the corned beef and cabbage!
(5)Chuck W.
This review is for brunch only. My own damn fault for not making reservations for Liberty Tavern on time. If LT is like the Four Seasons of brunch in the Courthouse/Clarendon area, then Four Courts is like the Super 8 Hotel. In that it exists, there is food, it is edible, but it's certainly not anything special, and it may even cater to, let's put this nicely, a different clientele. The only reason I was in this jam was because of a larger group than expected, and because I had no other last minute options. The buffet was even similarly priced to LT, but the items were not. No scrambled eggs! Come on! A staple of any buffet breakfast. They did have omelets made to order, and some top round and fried fish that had clearly been sitting out for a while, and a decent shepherd's pie as well as free orange juice (which might have been the highlight of the whole experience), but most of the items were simply lukewarm both in terms of heat and quality. Plus I'd like to thank whoever took all of the fresh fruit on the platter. Thanks a bunch.
(2)Jason T.
This is my go to place when I just want to watch some guy with a guitar belt out songs we probably wouldn't enjoy unless we are drinking pints of Guiness to point of almost alcohol poisoning. Though, I do keep going back (Black Velvets are my weakness) to enjoy it though. I've never eaten there and I rarely order anything other than Guiness, Black Velvet or Cider. Yet, there is something about the place with it's atmosphere, tiny stage and generic interior that I find comforting when I just want to sit with friends or get drunk by myself.
(4)Andy M.
I can't really say anything bad about this place. But i also cant be like GO HERE YOULL love it. I mean...its neat..they have outdoor sidewalk seating. And the burger was pretty good..but overall I wish i went to the kabob place next door :/ Typical Irish pub feel..nothing standing out. I feel like this is a harsh review for what was a decent experience. 3.5 stars ;)
(3)Kate A.
I've only eaten dinner here once, and the food was okay. But I've never been there just to grab drinks with friends, so that could be a completely different experience. I know that the restaurants hosts a party after the "Four Courts 4 Miler" race, which is pretty cool. And the general manager is an awesome guy!
(3)Jeff D.
I was in Arlington for a wedding and we stopped here for brunch on Sunday morning on the way out of town. We were pleasantly surprised to find that they were the Arlington home of Red Sox Nation. Brunch was good, especially the omelette station. Drink service was quick (we stuck to coffee and juices) and the place looked clean and well maintained. Next time we are in VA we'll stop by for a pint of Guinness.
(4)Sonja J.
great fish n chips on a Tuesday afternoon and the lager couldn't be better.
(4)Josh S.
My roommate and I stepped in here on an extremely cold Winter day - hoping for some good Irish stews and pies. I know there are 2-3 other Irish pubs nearby but decided to check this out because this was the closest to our place. It was a Sunday night, probably around 7PM. There were absolutely nobody in the house. Well, okay maybe 5-6 people. Now, granted, it was a very cold night so people probably didn't want to come out for drinks and football. But still.... I expected more than 6 people. The happy hour was still on and we quickly ordered $.45/wing. I got the Beef Pot Pie and my friend got the traditional Shepherd's pie. Both were below-average and the portions were TINY. My roommate is 6"2 and 250 lbs - he needed at least two of these and maybe some more. $12 for a small pie is too much for him. TO get him full, he needed to spend at least $30 on his plates alone - and that's without drinks. The staff were prompt but then there were nobody to really take care of but us and few others. It would have been terrible if we didn't get great service. I need to give this place another try - maybe in the morning during EPL soccer match to get real feel of what this pub has to offer. But until then, I'll remain at 3 star.
(3)Danielle W.
RaRa Irish! I've only been here twice - first time on St. Patrick's Day - you can only imagine and then for happy hour this wee. This place is great for what it is - an Irish pub. The bartenders are very good (and Irish). The food wasn't bad either - I had the Guiness burger (big) and my friend had the quesadilla - not quite so Irish, but still good. I like that they have half price apps for happy hour during the week and $5 Guiness. I think the other drink specials rotate - on Tuesdays it was $3.50 Blue Moons. They also have Kilkenny on draft, which is pretty sweet. The place wasn't super packed either, which was a good thing.
(4)Sean H.
I went here for happy hour, decided on a whim to grab some food and was really happy I did. Our table got the fish and chips and Irish nachos, which were both pretty tasty. The happy hour specials weren't amazing ($4 Flying Dog IPA and Peroni, $5 Guinness pints), but it was a Friday, so great deals weren't to be expected. Appetizers are $6 during happy hour every day I believe, so the price evens out. Also, I really wish I were there when the live music was going on, but we had to leave before it started. I think I saw something that said they have live music 5 times a week, which is pretty awesome. I'll come back for the food. It's good.
(4)Lou V.
Been checking out their Karaoke night for several weeks now. It's well run by Glenn--one of the friendliest DJs you'll meet and the drinks are made just right by bartenders Layne and John. Waiter service was sub par and the cheesesteak is laughable, but overall, a solid experience.
(4)Allison K.
Four Courts is a great place to catch soccer matches on weekend mornings (they show all EPL matches). It's the home of the Beltway Blues (DC's Chelsea supporters club) and also gets a lot of Liverpool fans. It also gets packed during major international tournaments (Euro, World Cup, etc.). I've hosted a few events at Four Courts and they are great to work with. No room rental fee and they have a lot of different options if you want to add catered food or what not. My work also hosts receptions there occasionally. In general, they have a good beer selection and the menu is vastly improved since they got a new chef a year or two ago. The staff is top notch and very friendly. For brunch items I recommend the french toast with the berry compote. They also do a good brunch buffet on Sundays. There are decent happy hour specials every day, my favorite being $4 Fat Tire on Friday and mug nights on Wednesday (you can buy a pewter mug for $75 that they hang on the wall then you get a cheaper price on beer every time you use it).
(5)Daniel A.
To start, this review is focused on watching European Soccer on the weekends mornings over a wonderful brunch. In terms of brunch in Courthouse and soccer, it doesn't get any better. The brunch is good, especially for an Irish Bar. There are always matches Saturday and Sunday mornings even if brunch hasn't officially started (they will just server a simple English breakfast). It is never packed and it doesn't carry the same atmosphere as some other soccer bars but for a easy brunch along with soccer, you can't beat it. The wait staff, bartenders, and customers seem friendlier than across the street at Summers, which is another big soccer car.
(3)C D.
So, we went back to the Four Courts for Quiz night upon invitation from one of the managers. I was informed that the 4 C's would be using my previous comments to implement changes and make improvements. We immediately noticed a difference from our previous visit. This time we were seated in the front bar where we were able to hear the questions better. The quiz master made several announcements regarding team size and the use of cell phones during the quiz. We both ordered salads on this visit. Both salads were pretty good. The service was top notch. I drank several happy hour beers which were served ice cold. It wasn't raining this night so smoking outside was a much more pleasant experience. I was informed that they are working on building a better awning in the rear for smokers. I appreciate the effort that the 4 C's made to make these improvements. Its not often that managers of any business care enough to communicate with their customers and implement changes based on customer critiques. Well done 4 C's! We look forward to visiting again very soon.
(4)Iffat B.
I really, really love trivia so my friends and I went to play some Monday night trivia. BIG MISTAKE! This place had the WORST trivia night I've ever been to and I've been to many in my day. The questions were either too difficult and/or irrelevant. They had a whole category on HORSES?!?! Who cares about the real name of the horse that played Mr. Ed? I really think they can come up with challenging questions, while also making it fun for the players. I'll never go back for trivia night. One good thing about this place is that from 4-8 PM Monday - Friday they have 1/2 price appetizers and drink specials. I paid $4 for my hummus platter! P.S. Don't get the bread pudding. It's not very good.
(2)Graham C.
At the risk of writing a 4-star review which apparently makes me like 67% of other yelpers, I submit my thoughts of 4 Courts. And more specifically the trivia evening. Another Yelper suggested that trivia would be a good time and so I trekked over after work to the other side of the river. My first thought was that they pour a decent Guinness for $5 and my second was that it was fairly smoky. About 10 minutes later, I noticed they had a non-smoking side, because I, Graham, am a dumbass. Several Guinness later and trivia was ready to begin. The team had myself, Kendall and Mike T. We were down one person, but I felt confident that with Mike there, this wouldn't be a problem, for Mike is like the Yoda of trivia. Schneider is to 70's TV handymen what Mike is to Arlington County Monday Night trivia. He taught me things last night. * The pros don't shout answers. They write them down. * You can throw out "bogies" by yelling out obviously incorrect answers. For example when they asked for the name of a good band, I yelled out Nickelback * Mike showed me why he eats the chicken tenders. The wings and the trivia forms are not a good combination. * He made me appreciate ragtime, again. * There's a difference between "Sounds Cool" and "I'm In," and last night I learned when I should make those important decisions. * And lastly, he showed me how to love. All in all it was a good time. Kendall had some clutch answers and also showed me that she can write backwards, which was quite cool. I just drank and enjoyed the evening. Next time I think we should do on the District side. Somewhere crawling distance from my house, preferably.
(4)Danny m.
What's happy hour without a good Irish joint in the neighborhood. After a visit to Piola's on Wilson, I set out to see what else the street had to offer. Wasn't disapointed. Came across Ireland's Four Courts, so stopped in for a pint. All your irish favorites on tap: Guiness, Smitchwicks, Harp. A great selection of UK grub: Bangers & Mash, fish & Chips, Meat pies. I had a plate of potato skins, and they were as good as any I'd had anywhere else. The ambiance is dark and Irishy. Nice happy hour hang out in Arlington.
(4)Rod R.
It was decent. A little bland. I had the chicken pot pie which was tiny for a big guy. The wings were decent. The kabob was chewy, burnt, and just not very much food for the money...the waitress made it ok but she was so overworked she was almost running from one end to the other while others wandered aimlessly about...disappointing after reading reviews.
(2)Swetha G.
I must be the only weirdo to drink wine at an Irish bar but nonetheless that's what I ordered when I recently went to Ireland's Four Courts for a university alumni event. Btw, the place was excellent for large groups (LOTS of room!). As for the wine, it was a house red, not sure if it was cab, pinot or something else, but whatever they gave me, was very good. I also sampled some bar food and everything was delicious. The staff is super nice and the venue is conveniently located only a block away from the Courthouse metro. Great spot for HH or a dinner straight from work, fun atmosphere!
(4)Rachel B.
Will always be one of my favorite bars. Having spent time in Ireland, feels very authentic. Atmosphere is busy, lively, and loud almost ball the time. Young, urban, locals, regulars. Buy a mug to get deals on beer, enjoy live music, and open mic, altho karaoke on sundays can get painful. The bar food is above par- try the hummus. Always have a variety of sports on the tvs, & a much better place to catch a soccer game than summers across the street.
(5)Ben T.
One of my Arlington favorites! They have a great brunch, great staff, great drinks and a great atmosphere. You can catch me here pretty regularly. Generally, four courts is not over crowded (except st. patty's day). Their food is alright with the exception on brunch when its delicious, and their drinks are always fantastic coming from their awesome bar staff. Go, have fun at Four Court's!
(5)Billgrolic G.
The place for a good pint and watching premier league. Only Sunday buffet I know that has shepherds pie, and it's good.
(4)Lisa B.
There are few true neighborhood pubs in the DC/NOVA area where the food tastes home-cooked (and is reasonably priced!), the atmosphere is welcoming, and the servers are spunky and fun while providing consistently excellent service. Ireland's Four Courts does all of this. Amazingly, it also seems to wear many different hats and wear them well -- You can sit by the cozy fireplace on a cold night for a great date night location (musical performers start at 9), or watch international sporting events with exuberant (ok, completely raucus) fans at the bar, or meet a group of friends after work for Happy Hour from 4-8 for half price appetizers and drink specials. The pub food menu items are totally worth the calories and taste real rather than like processed food "fresh" off the Sysco food truck (the mainstay of restaurant chains these days), the Buffalo wings are THE BEST YOU WILL EVER TASTE (hint: ask for sauce on the side if you don't like them too spicy), and the Irish dishes (Corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, Shepherd's Pie) are hearty and flavorful. If you want to save your calories for the beer, there is a nice selection of salads that are big enough to share. Although my hubby and I enjoy trying new bars and restaurants, Four Courts is the only place we consistently return to. It is what a neighborhood pub should be.
(5)Chris H.
Pretty much my default when I'm looking to grab a beverage with friends and want things quiet enough to chat but loud enough for privacy. The nooks and crannies created by the back bar and the tight channel of a front bar are as distinctly Irish as most of the amazing bartenders here. Food is generally pretty tasty (I'm partial to the Shepherd's Pie) and the happy hour special includes half price apps and $3 Peronis, which is trouble. Also, a fabulous place to catch a soccer game especially for Liverpool fans. If chowing Irish breakfast with "You'll Never Walk Alone" over the loudspeaker and a Guinness in hand on weekend mornings sounds like a good time, I'd make your way to Four Courts.
(4)Ash S.
Good old Irish bar. Nothing special, but service was great at the bar, and free wifi was a nice touch.
(4)Lauren V.
Right off the metro! Very awesome. My friends and I went to Ireland Four Courts to meet up with a friend/brother. Inside there is a long bar and across from the bar another counter with stools. Behind that there are tables and chairs set up for some game-watching. There wasn't a game to watch while we were there so we mostly sat and chatted the bartender and manager. Very nice folks. As we sat, chatted and tossed back rounds of shots and beers we got the idea to sit outside. Unfortunately, you have to be sat (by a hostess) AND eating. Kinda messed with our liquid diet lunch plans and so we trooped back inside. (This was only slightly annoying as there were plenty of empty tables and I am pretty sure our tab would have equaled if not exceeded any parties' that paid for food. But whatever.) Is it bad to give an extra star for the Red Sox representation on the wall? Does anyone in DC even root for the Nationals? (I am sorry, Natinals.) I don't know, but the banner was appreciated anyways. IFC seems like a great place to hit on a lazy afternoon, not sure how it would rank as a destination bar. Four solid stars.
(4)Krissy W.
After a miserable experience at a nearby bar last night, I called IFC to see if we could get seated there instead. Keep in mind, it was a birthday party of ~15 people and 10 p.m. on a Saturday night. Not only were they happy to accommodate our party, we had awesome seats waiting for us right by the singer. Our waitress was told of the birthday ahead of time by the hostess, and greeted the birthday girl, which was really sweet. Service was great, very friendly, and the music was a plus. Highly recommend! :)
(5)Truthful Y.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon for their wings special and had great customer service and good wings. I had the double fried wings and sweet chili and both were tasty. The waiter was very courteous and my friend got the Malbec which was pretty good for an Irish pub.
(3)Dennis M.
The food is always great. I've had the lamb stew, chicken pot pie and the fish and chips on different occasions. All very tasty and the service is very friendly. Go on a Monday night for trivia. But it is highly recommended to have three or four people to a team. The questions can be varied and more heads are better.
(4)Chip B.
Decent food and hit or miss on service. I only go when all my friends go in a big group. Never been a huge fan of the Clarendon scene, and especially since Dr. Dremo closed.
(3)Suzanne M.
I very much enjoy going to Four Courts. I have gone for drinks, food and just a good time. The first time I went was for my Birthday on Dec 19th when we had the huge snow storm because it was the only place open near my apartment and was so impressed. The food was great, the service was wonderful--and who wanted to work during a huge snow. Have gone back a couple times and had a birthday party for a friend here. Wonderful service, good food and drinks.
(5)Koko O.
I love Four Courts so much, I wanna have like 10,000 of its babies. It's always great to go to an Irish bar where a lot of the employees have Irish accents. I mean, it's not mandatory but it makes me feel better. Four Courts is my neighborhood bar. I come and go at inconsitent intervals (every thursday and some saturdays for a month, then nothing for 2 months, etc). The employees here may not remember your name everytime, but they always remember your face (which is helpful when the bar is crowded). They treat their regulars with familial love and it's always appreciated. "What kin-a gitcha, love?" it reminds me of me own mum sometimes. I held my bday HH here last year, I puked on the floor in the front bar and no one hassled me. God, I love this bar so hard! I'm a Guiness lover--it's our family beer--but Four Courts turned me on to cider beer, Magners. Ask them and they'll tell you that it has a higher alcohol content than American beers, so in your face! One thing that makes Four Courts so unique is that hey have the smoking and non smoking bars...both are equally awesome and people can smoke inside in the winter or find a safe haven from the second hand smoke. Finally, Four Courts is a soccer/futbol bar that doesn't charge covers for games, unlike that OTHER bar across the street, I'll just call it "Winters."
(5)Robert H.
Four Courts is a bar that has really good food. Unlike most bars that serve food, I would eat here even if I wasn't drinking. All of their appetizers are pretty good, and I am particularly fond of the cheese fries (which are called the Four Courts fries or Courts fries or something, and are the perfect artery clogging combination of cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing). Their burgers and pies (chicken and shepherds) are also standout. When you come to Four Courts, you have two options. You can either sit at their large bar area, or you can sit in the restaurant area. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. In the bar area, the service is great (their bartenders are top notch) and the area is comfortable. However, the bar tends to be crowded and full of an insular group of unwelcoming regulars. In the restaurant area, you are much more likely to be able to eat and stretch your legs. However, they frequently do not have enough waitstaff manning the tables, so the service can be slow (I was once seated and did not see a waiter for 15 minutes before I walked out). What really has set this place apart for me, though, is the lengths to which the management is willing to go to make a customers' experience a good one. The place has been setting about to identify itself as a New England sports place (Patriots and Red Sox), and I frequently come ensconced in a Pats jersey or Sox hat. The manager has always made a point of helping me get seated in an area that has a good view of the game I sought to watch. I am by no means a Four Courts top customer (they have a ton of regulars), so I don't think this VIP treatment is because I am some kind of big spender there. I would highly recommend this bar to anybody, but since it's frequently crowded it gets four stars.
(4)Cadence R.
Four Courts was on my bad side before I even arrived. I had received a frantic text from Alicia C. when she arrived because they were telling her that reservations were required. Seriously NoVa? What's with your ridiculous reservation requirements? I told her just to plead and usually that works. I guess it did because when I arrived a few minutes later we had a table and managed to snag ourselves another one. I had some sort of unremarkable and definitely unmemorable burger and the place was too crowded for my tastes. Over 50 teams and only a few speakers made it difficult to hear (not helped by the super loud people sitting next to us) and the rounds were all just general knowledge. I enjoy when they have specific themes because then you can kind of know who might be the go to person for that round. We all have our areas and mine definitely doesn't involve just general knowledge. Presidential history and current events are more up my alley! Anyway, back to Four Courts. It just was a huge meh experience. Too many teams led to no score updates, took too long in general and there were a lot of cutthroat teams that would do anything to win. I'm more about just having fun, so I guess this wasn't really my scene.
(2)Michelle P.
2.5 stars I have been to Ireland's Four Courts numerous times and the #1 thing i can say is that there are far too many people here! Every time i'm here the place is packed and loud and crowded. Not my cup of tea! The only time i enjoyed myself here was an afternoon lunch at 11 on a Sunday when were were the only people in the bar. Other than that, its just too loud Trivia is chaotic and stressful. Some of the rounds are absolutely impossible and it takes the fun out of it. With fifty some teams, seven rounds of trivia takes 2.5 hours! Its a little nuts. The place is noisy, its often hard to hear the waitress and apparantly reservations are required. Just to answer some questions? The food i've had here is pretty limited to the hummus, which is grainy and spicy. Not how i like it. And comes with like two carrots, a cucumber slice and a couple slices of ok pita bread. It definitely must be eaten with a spoon by the end. I will say the server we had was really friendly and worked really hard to make sure that our glasses were never empty. I think i'm just too old and its too crazy for me to go here on a regular or even semi regular basis
(2)Alicia C.
2.5 stars Came here for the trivia night with yelpers. Little did we know, the night we chose to come was their trivia finals (complete with trophies and everything). When greeted at the door, the hostess asked if we had a reservation. (Reservation? for trivia? seriously?) Well... we didn't have one... but luckily Kevin and I were able to grab a 4-top while waiting for others to get there. Eventually we were also able to snag another table when the guy sitting next to us finished his meal. But the place was ridiculously packed... with somewhere along the lines of 40+ teams! Needless to say it was a long night (I was just glad they didn't do score updates after every round!). The food was meh... got the burger (part of their Monday night specials)... I've had worse, but I've also definitely had better. Bonus points to our waitress who did a pretty good job with keeping everyone happy and drinks full all night. But the place was loud making it hard to hear the questions. Won't be adding this to my list of fav trivia nights.
(3)Jeff W.
2.5 stars Judging on two trivia experiences, IFC is not at the top of my list of places to go. They give away some great prizes, but it's far too crowded and loud to get much enjoyment out of it. I prefer smaller, more intimate trivia settings, but this one just feels like a giant Bingo hall in the shape of a fake irish pub/restaurant. Plus, some of the rounds are absolutely ridiculous and if one team happens to know a lot about musicians stage names vs. real names, then you're pretty much screwed and have very little chance of coming back. And not to judge a place strictly on trivia alone, the food isn't anything special, and I could get the same drinks anywhere, and definitely cheaper. Hummus is really bizarre, and is more like a generic "Mediterranean" flavored salad dressing...with salsa on top. What the heck? The burgers looked decent, but the fries are ho-hum frozen bagged fries. The waitstaff that I've had has always been very fast and efficient, but that's not enough to really boost my opinion of Four Court's. It's just a very average place to me, but I dock it a half star for being so unjustifiably crowded and cramped. Doubt I'll be returning.
(2)Amir A.
As you know, I am a fan of Fish and Chips and I had my lunch today there, it was so cool place and crowded with Football fans, and I loved the place, because I was talking loudly and nobody say anything to me .. lol ... Everyone was busy watching the Football ! Beside the Fish and Chips, were not at the same as Fresh Grill in Bethesda and the later still the Best till now ! Indeed this one of Four Courts, the type of fish were crispy and juicy from inside and the problem is, it needs little of salt and some certain seasoning, the Tartar sauce was really the reason of giving 4 stars instead of 5, and I usually give 5 stars or more (if you have Mr.Yelp) ! The Fries were regular too, not creative fries like Fresh Grill in Bethesda, even it is not like McDonalds, just normal Fries ! The waitress was really respectful and she was a hard worker, she made sure that we are enjoying the meal ! One star is for her ... Let us count the Stars ... One for enjoying the place, two for the fish and chips, one for the waitress ! I would love to give more guys ! But I think because I had Fish and Chips only, I didn't try other stuff ! I am sorry but I will change my mind next time if I visit ... Promise you ... Thanks a lot for the great hospitality ! love the place ..
(4)Tony P.
A good pub/restaurant with high ceilings and iconic decor. There's a lot of room and it seems to get packed even on a weeknight. They pour a good black and tan and the service was attentive. I came here with the yelp trivia crew and we had a good time. The noise level can be pretty high so it may not be the best spot for intimate outings.
(3)Diana W.
I met up with a long lost facebook friend while I was on the annual DC business trip. This wasn't supposed to be dinner, so we just ordered drinks and appetizers. The potato skins with corned beef were SO AWESOME! Five layer dip was really good too. I got some sort of froofy rum drink, which was fine, and the beer pour was perfect. Our service was a little slow, but it was pretty busy. I went up to the bar to get change and I was completely ignored, though some dude with an expensive suit and a blackberry did try to hit on me while I was standing there.
(4)Erin W.
I hosted my fiancé's birthday party here in the private room and would highly recommend Four Courts to anyone looking for a private party location in the Courthouse area. Our guests had a great time, and Erinn and her staff really went above and beyond in taking care of us and making sure that everything went smoothly. The food and drinks were great, we had our own bar area and always had prompt service, and the cost was very reasonable. I could not have asked for a better location for the party, and all of the staff members were accommodating in every way. If you're looking for a place with good service, food and drinks as well as a location where you can relax, sit down, and actually hear your friends talking to you, definitely go for Four Courts.
(5)Jennifer G.
A couple of weeks ago, actually quite a few weeks ago we stopped by Summers on a Saturday morning for some soccer. It was to be the start of an alcohol and sports oriented day. Soccer in the morning and baseball at night. The game in question was the Rays and the Red Sox, with the Red Sox on the brink of elimination. The winner of the game would go on to face the Phillies in the World Series. I'm a Phillies fan and definitely wanted to see this game to see what we would be up against. We hadn't decided on a spot to watch the baseball game at but it was decided for us when we looked across the street from Summers and noticed a Red Sox sign at Ireland's Four Courts. It would be a perfect place to watch the game! We returned to Arlington that evening and walked into Ireland's Four Courts. I liked it. It was big and felt like a cool place, it just gave me a good vibe. We looked to our right and there were a bunch of folks from the UK watching soccer and I figured it was only a matter of moments before I lost R for the night. We approached the bar which was full but folks were nice enough to lean to the side to allow you to get the bartender's attention and get your drinks. I believe I drank Harp. It must have been good, otherwise I'd remember it better. We waited in close proximity of the area where the soccer was being replayed until a table opened. It was perfect! We had good beer, in a good bar and R got to watch some more soccer. As game time for the baseball approached the place got a little frenzied! It was loaded with Sox fans! There was a bit of a hiccup with the game starting on time so we missed a bit of the first inning but once it was on it was a good time in the bar. Sadly, it wasn't a good result for the Sox fans but they took it in stride. R and I ordered dinner which for me consisted of fish and chips and a shepherds pie for him. My fish and chips were alright, I've had better elsewhere. R's shepherd's pie was delicious though. It took a good hour to be cool enough to consume without getting 2nd degree burns in your mouth (but he loves his food hot!) but it was a very good dish. I see this place as probably being a rip roaring good time on St. Patty's Day. I don't think I'd come back for the food (although I am willing to give it another try) I would come back for the bar. Fun crowd, good beer, nice spot!
(4)Dan S.
When Dremo's closed shop, Four Courts became my "default" neighborhood bar but it soured on me pretty quickly. The bar setup sucks, the front bar has a half-wall a few feet behind the bar, which is nice when it is semi-busy and you can stick your drink there. Problem is, the place is always packed and getting to the bar or the restroom requires coming into physical contact with no less than 35 people, half of whom will be smoking. There is very very little room to stand near the bar as most of the space is taken up by tables. The food is average at best and is expensive. Beer on tap includes the usual and boring Guinness/Bass/Smithwicks/Yuengling. And it's expensive. Service is always slow. They have live music some nights, it's always been a dude and an acoustic guitar, either doing typical cover stuff or folksy Irish tunes. I've never been impressed and judging by the crowd most nights, neither have they. They have trivia Monday nights, which can be fun, but be prepared to be there for 2+ hours if you want to do the whole thing, they go unbelievable slow due to the huge number of teams. And don't think your winning anything, there are a few teams of regulars that put up ridiculous scores. They only saving grace of this bar is when you can secure some space in the back room (non-smoking), away from the packed front bar, but this area is reserved much of the time. Oh, and if you like watching UK soccer, you will probably like this bar a lot more than I do.
(2)AN D.
I am addicted to their seven layer dip. SO GOOD. Trivia night is also very fun. Be sure to check their website for events before you go, cause if there is something going on, it can get a little difficult to hear your friends. I really like this place. Nice atmosphere, food, drinks, and I feel very at home :). Definitely recommend.
(4)Jay P.
I am writing in regards to my recent service at the four courts bar in Rosslyn (Arlington) today for St. Patricks Day. This was my 1st time there and I was looking forward to having a great day out with some friends and co-workers. My first few hours there was a fantastic time...got there around 2:30pm. Friendly staff, and bartenders just bringing out the beers as fast as they could with amazing attitude. I had a bar tab at the front bar (when you first walk in it's the bar to your immediate right) and there was a wonderful lady who was serving us for the first few hours. We ventured out to the rear of the bar and eventually ended up outside where the porta pottys were and we had a blast just talking among ourselves and enjoying the amazing weather out. Unfortunately, this is when I had the most horrific experience I have ever had in terms of bartender service. Around 5-6pm I went to the front bar (the same bar that I was talking about when you first walk in) and there was a different guy there serving drinks. He was a middle aged man (around 35-45 yrs old), had short dirty blonde hair (or light brown), and seemed to be a gentlemen. I went up to the bar once there was a free space and stood with my friend there waiting for service. I waited for about 5 minutes, while he served 3-4 people around me. 10 minutes went by and he served the guy to the immediate left of me, then the guy to the immediate right of me, and then the guys to the way far end of the bar. 15 minutes went by and he had served a total of probably 15 people that were around us. it was about that time that I pulled my wallet out and had it open on the bar (I was still smiling by the way) waiting for him to acknowledge me. He glanced at me....which is when I knew that he KNEW I was standing right there waiting for his attention. I was excited when this had happened because I knew he knew that he had forgotten about me and that he would serve me. However, this wasn't the case. He continuously decided to not serve me and served the guy to the immediate left of me (for the 3rd time), to the guy to the immediate right of me (for X amount of times), and the guys to the far side of the tables again. It came to the point that anyone would walk up to the bar and they would get their order in while I stood there with my wallet in hand. It was at that moment where I started to get annoyed. I had waved to the bartender after 25 minutes of waiting and had told him "Excuse me Sir, I have waited for almost a half an hour for service here and I believe that you have forgotten me". He responded with "If you haven't noticed, we have been pretty busy". So I said "Sir you have noticed me here for quite some time and I'm not sure what the problem is". This is when he responded with "#@!$ YOU!!!". I went outside to greet my friends with no beer in hand and they said I should complain to the manager. Around 6-7pm right before we left I went to the bar to close out my tab. I brought a friend with me so he could close it out for me (knowing that if I were to try to close it myself....the bartender would pay me no attention so that I couldn't close it...which in turn I would pay 20% in tip fees because of their policy). So my friend pretended to be me and closed out my tab. This other bartender (a lady) came up to us and closed it out...and my friend gave me my bar tab to put a tip on it. I put a big fat $0.00 on there and wrote on the back of it (a paragraph) the kind of service I received. I personally gave the bar tab to the bartender and said I would appreciate it if she gave it to the manager. I saw her run to the other bartender that I originally had a problem with to show him what I had wrote, and that's when I left the bar with my friends. Whether or not she had given the manager the note? I have no clue. Now I'm not sure what to think of this as, but this is easily the worst experience I have ever had at a bar, P.E.R.I.O.D. I really want to say that race has nothing to do with it (I am an Asian American), but it's hard not to put that on the plate considering I was the only Asian American there at the bar at that given time. I have been going to bars in the Arlington area for over 6 years now, and this has easily been the worst experience I have ever had in any country and I can't stress this enough. Most of the time I would let things go since I'm a really easy going person. However, this has really annoyed me to the point to where I'm sitting at home after our St. Patrick's party complaining about this horrible experience. I never take the time to express my disgust for a place, but this has gone way too far and even after 3 hours after the experience am I still annoyed at the whole situation. Other than the poor service that I received late in the afternoon, I had a great time. It is a very lively, friendly, and overall an amazing place to hold any kind of get together. VR, Jay P
(2)Kim F.
This is my favorite place to eat and drink in all of the Washington, DC area. That said, I reduce them a star, because the music is always way too loud. I swear while I'm having a religious moment, with the Magners and Guinness Irish Stew, I am also getting irreversible hearing damage. Because I love this place so much, I often take friends and family there. Trying to have a conversation is absolutely impossible. They have wired a loud ass speaker above every single table. At least Virginia took away smoking. It used to be loud AND smoky. Regardless, I love the food and cider!
(4)Cameron H.
Fun Irish pub. Decent beer selection. Trivia and Karaoke nights are pretty funny. Bar tenders have Irish accent, which is cool. Food is average, standard bar food. Good to meet friends for drinks.
(4)Mike b.
I was actually googling to double check what time happy hour started and I noticed negative reviews which is why I'm writing this. There are a lot of things I like about this bar which is why I favor it more than the other stuff along Wilson/Clarendon. 1) Its big 2) The outdoor seating area is big 3) The food is reasonably priced, especially during happy hour 4) You can always get a drink here even when the bar is super crowded since the bartenders are quality 5) They have more than 1 game on so you can always find the tv with your game somewhere. The only reason its not a five is because of beer prices. I usually run up a good tab here which is why I try not to go more than once a week or two. I love the food here though especially the burgers or sliders. They even have Reuben sliders, i mean come on how awesome is that.
(4)Audra K.
Noisy, when there's a soccer game on TV! Good brunch (they'll customize their abbreviated menu, if you ask). Great fresh salsa! Solid food, in general. Spicy Bloody Mary's. Beer (duh)! Convenient location across from Court House METRO on the Orange line. Good meeting place... but hard to follow a group conversation. Not bad!
(3)Johnny Gal M.
This is our neighborhood pub and we love it. Food is so-so but by no means bad. Live music is nice background noise and never too loud. Waitstaff is good. I love the outside tables and bring my pup when it's warm. We had my husband's birthday party in the James Joyce room and had a great experience there. They let us have half the room for no charge or room fee and our party did separate checks. (The room has its own bar). We ordered wings, sliders, hummus, and chocolate cake -- all the prices were reasonable. The sliders were yummy.
(4)JT H.
Awesome Food. The chicken club is to die for and they serve a great Guinness. The Irish ex-pat bartenders are also a big treat. Management is great as well, as they are sure to stop out and greet patrons whenever possible. One star is deducted for the one miserable bar tender who could moonlight as a serial killer. Could also use some more females there. Two thumbs up from the Chicken Connoisseur.
(4)Jennifer S.
3.5 stars really, but who's counting? Let me preface this by saying, I am NOT a fan of Irish bars and the accompanying Irish folk songs (live music Tues - Sun) that inevitably get sung by the crowd, but if I had to choose in the DC area, this one would be in my top three. When I first started going there (drinks only, please - and only when outnumbered) it was this tiny little Irish place that really packed them in. They were fortunate enough to be able to purchase the hardware store next to them and expand the space significantly. I feel like the space is somewhat disjointed now, but it makes life much more pleasant when you aren't having the air squeezed out of your lungs regularly from those trying to get by. They serve all the typical Irish fare you would expect, as well as some specials, but I steer clear. The patio out front is always packed, especially during lunch and Sunday brunch. And it is VERY close to the orange line stop in Courthouse.
(4)J L.
So this review is just based on drinks and atmosphere... I went here about 2 weeks back to meet up with a couple friends for drinks. It was friday night and the place was somewhat busy but not suffocating. As you walk in, you will see a traditional bar. Smokey, dark hardwoods, dim lights. It is something that has long been forgotten. We initially opted for a table as several members of our party were planning on eating. Even though that did not happen, the wait staff were very attentive and the manager even came over to ask if we were having a good time. We moved into the bar section about the same time a singer was about to start. The guy sang just about anything except one fans cries for free bird. This was actually met with a middle finger and get the hell out of here. He was good, covering most bar songs and favorites that you could sing along too. The drinks were probably the best part of the night. Since I have yet to get back, I don't know if the bartenders were just being nice or if the Guinness there was actually $5.50 but regardless my tab at the end of the night was a thing of beauty. About the only drawback is the limited bar area. It is long and narrow, only providing some standing room. 4.0 stars - Definitely worth checking out
(4)Kenneth L.
This is a great neighborhood bar that happens to have an Irish theme. It brings a little bit of Ireland along to town and it's genuine Irish. Food is good, tender steak and fresh vegetables. Smoking is allowed here so there's always mist surrounding the pub.
(3)Derrick L.
A kind of cookie-cutter Irish pub, but I like it. I've had better Irish/English food, but it's reliable. I watch football matches here or at Kitty O'Shea's down the street... a little on the quieter side, but that's fine with me.
(4)Jeremy A.
A great neighborhood place- super happy hour deals. I go in the evenings with my family (5 year old), sit on the patio, and enjoy Guinness and 1/2 price appetizers. Great price and great atmosphere!
(4)Ryan S.
The food here was excellent and they had a great selection of beer. However, the service was absolutely horrible especially for a Tuesday night. It took them forever to bring our check. And for me, service outweighs the food or beer any day so I doubt I will be revisiting.
(2)Carolyn B.
I had fun at Four Courts for New Years and trivia, but I just had brunch here over the weekend and was very disappointed. Overpriced, small selection. Go here to drink at night, not to eat during the day.
(2)Kyle B.
Been here a couple times and I have enjoyed it everytime. However, last night was the first time I ate there. Avoid the hummus at all costs. They put salsa on top of it! I don't know what I was thinking ordering hummus at an Irish-American bar.
(3)Salty S.
I'll try and keep this short and useful. They should stop serving food and stick to being just a bar. Bartenders were great and hilarious (always a bonus). Really, that's the reason for one star. Beyond that - the food is just terrible. Fish and Chips (a good benchmark) was low quality and soggy. For the love of god - at least learn how to fry something crispy! A friend indicated that the shepherd pie was delicious, but alas she (yes a 100lb woman) had to order additional food b/c the portion was so small. I won't be returning unless I'm thirsty and not hungry!
(1)Jane B.
We are Californians and last October we reserved Ireland Four Courts dining rooms for a rehearsal and out of towners' dinner the night before our son's wedding. When news of the April kitchen fire reached us, we were wondering what we would do. The worry was not ours, as David Cahill and his staff put on an amazing dinner buffet, enhanced by white table cloths and fresh flowers on the tables.Our eighty guests loved the place, the food, and the great Irish ambiance. Ireland Four Courts set the mood for a joyful wedding weekend, and we will return on our next visit.
(5)Rebecca S.
Mellow atmosphere, great Friday night crowd and excellent music. The bartenders are very attentive and friendly. An aunthentic Irish bar with Irish songs and irish employees. The potato soup is delicious and you can purchase your own mug to refill and keep at the bar. Overall a real good time.
(4)Ken C.
I was surprise that it wasn't that crowd before 10pm. We saw few groups of single ladies that was sitting around for happy hour/dinner, food is OK, but not the greatest food. Definitely will go back because didn't get the chance to listen to the live band and talk to any ladies...
(3)Jeremy D.
You got to love the Four Courts! Great Guinness Stew. Good corned beef and cabbage. Live Irish music. Two big rooms. Mug club. Play soccer matches on their flat screen TVs. Lots of comfy places to sit and chat with friends. Good deals for happy hour. Across the street from the Courthouse metro stop. Great time.
(4)Paul S.
I don't think I've ever eaten food at an Irish place and thought "that hit the spot". Four Courts doesn't buck that trend but atleast the menu doesn't break your bank. I'd give the food a 2 and the bar a 3.5.
(3)may f. r.
Wow, the WORST hamburgers and fries I've ever had. how do you screw up a burger, and it stinks in there. nothing but a bunch of smelly drunk guys scratching themselves and watching sports.
(1)Andrew K.
fun, big, lively place - good live 90's cover band on a thursday night - stellar key lime pie - service was nonchalant, and overall, quite middling.
(3)Eva C.
Always a great time to be had there..never made it on trivia night, but did for the live music. I was never disappointed. I love the place.
(4)Todd F.
Another quality local Arlington institution. I left town before they finished construction on the space next door they bought to expand the place. This was so necessary since my only real beef with the place was how crowded the bar area was. There were only a few spots you could camp out where you wouldn't get bumped and elbowed by people trying to gain passage all night. Kind of reminiscent of a gauntlet.
(4)esther o.
The food and service are fine, but what keeps me coming back is the atmosphere--always lots of people around just there to hang out and have a good time.
(3)Ed L.
Lots of atmosphere and some great medium priced meals.
(4)Emily W.
I was very disappointed at first because i wanted an omelet and they do not have any on the menu. So I ordered the hummus platter, which was by far the best hummus I have ever had. Also the service was great, friendly and accommodating.
(5)Nina R.
I've been coming to Four Courts for years. The staff is friendly, efficient, and helpful. I've been here for Pacer's post-race events, St. Patty's Day celebrations, trivia, met friends for happy hour, dinner, you name it. Excellent for groups. Very cozy, warm, pub feel. I will return.
(5)Michael S.
This place is a gem! Great brunch at a great price. So good you have to try it. Everything you can think of including the Benedict! Oj included in the brunch!
(5)Jacquelyn W.
I've come here a couple times with groups of varying sizes. Most recently it was just me and a friend grabbing a quick bite before a movie, but I've also been to a friend's surprise party and also just hanging out in a Saturday night. They have daily happy hour specials that are well worth checking out & their food is solid. On the most recent trip here, we ordered chili cheese tots and buffalo wings. I've never met a tater tot I didn't like, so it was gonna take serious effort for me not to love their tater tots. I really liked their buffalo wings. Not too saucy, yet very flavorful. As I said before, I came here for a friend's party and they were really great with accommodating. We planned it out, so they were able to give us a private room that we were able to decorate a little bit. Perfect for our group and our friend was very surprised. It's really a great place for a party, weekend out, or just a quick drink!
(4)Monica K.
My classmates and I came here as a last stop in our evening of barhopping. We chose it because it was open late (open til 2am every day) and had a pretty good selection of beer and late night food options since we were developing the drunk munchies. There were 6 of us and we picked a cozy corner table near the bar area which was far enough away from the noise of the bar that we didn't need to be yelling at each other across the table. The ambiance is super sporty, irish, and divey and the lighting was dim. Definitely gave you that classic pub feel complete with sloshing drunk burly men arm wrestling in the corner. There might have been a dance floor or more tables in the other room, but we didn't explore that area. I had a few Blue Moons served perfectly with a fresh cut orange slice and finished the night off with a smooth Guinness. The beers were decently priced, and the bartender was super attentive and helpful. We also ordered a ton of food, which came out fast and hot! We shared a plate of wings (half double fried and half pineapple chili), loaded fries heavily covered with cheese and bacon, and chicken strips. The wings came with blue cheese dipping sauce, which was so good if you're into blue cheese, and the pineapple chili was not spicy but still flavorful if you're worried about spice. I would definitely come here again to hang out with friends late at night. The drinks, atmosphere, and food were perfect and not overpriced at all.
(5)Rustin F.
Four Courts is a traditional Irish pub in both decor and menu, with lots of wood, low lighting, and Harp and bangers and mash on the menu. I've done both brunch and drinks here, and one time I did karaoke. The brunch buffet is pretty good: a diverse spread of food and reasonably-priced brunch drinks. Late night food has been good, too, though nothing incredible. The staff is generally friendly and attentive without being annoying, and they were very accommodating as my nine friends slowly rolled into the place for our brunch reservation. Four Courts is also a good place if you're an first-time karaoke-er and are looking for a smaller, friendlier crowd to get your bearings. They do trivia, too, but they get packed for that. The main reason to come here, though, is to pull up to the bar and get a proper pint of Guinness, and on that count, they deliver well, though are a little pricey. The bartenders are affable and keep track of when you need a refill without hounding you to get one immediately, and the other customers at the fairly long bar are generally there for the same reason: to kick back with a beer.
(3)Doug G.
Love a good Irish bar! Me and coworker came for a few drinks and bellied up to the bar. Shortly after, a live act came on the stage and began to play. Was a great acoustic act, played mostly 90's, which was perfect! In addition to the great live music, the bar staff was friendly, efficient and knew how to pour a great cocktail. I cannot vouch for the place outside of cocktails on a Friday night, but I definitely will return when I am back in the area!
(4)Jacquelyn K.
I find myself here for happy hour all the time. They have different beer specials each night--I'm partial to Irish night, where you can get Harp for $4. Not bad. I threw someone a birthday party here and they were extremely accommodating. We had a large section of a back room on a Friday night--for free. Can't beat that.
(4)Samantha G.
The server was friendly and they serve a nice pint. We only had an appetizer however it was a very large plate of fries on the four courts fries. Plenty to share with 2+ people. Only complaint was a broken paper towels dispenser in the ladies room. If I was in the area I would stop back for a drink.
(5)Jeff N.
Loud, I mean really loud, with that Irish look and very mediocre pub food. Eat elsewhere.
(2)Hall W.
I really want to like this place because its so convenient location wise and they do have a great menu... and it just has a nice English pubby feel (as if it really was in the UK). The problem is that: A: the service is slow B: too often I get the wrong food item C: too often the food seems to be sub par... This I think is once again an example of how a place is a victim of its own success and the place is under staffed. ALSO... don't ever go to trivia here. They have the most unfun trivia I have ever been to. It is rapid fire (AKA: lots of questions at a time, instead of one by one, so you don't ever have time to chat in between).
(3)Jenifer S.
I tend to stay away from Irish-styled pubs and restaurants and once again I was reminded why. The service was off-hand and the food was not very good quality although the prices were definitely not low. The potato soup was bland and I could taste the corn starch thickener, ordered a reisling and got a chardonnary and the nacho cheese dish with chili was just not very spicy or original. We ate and had a meal but doubt we'll be back as it's just average, nothing hopelessly bad or to-die-for good. We only went here because it was near the movie theater and we found parking nearby.
(2)Tracey L.
First time here and met friends for brunch. It was excellent. All the buffet items were fresh and cooked well. Great selection of Irish fare as well as more traditional brunch fare. We will be back!
(4)Robert T.
Four Courts has a cozy feel and a nice décor that make it look like an authentic Irish pub. My favorite thing about this place is that it's less crazy on a Friday/Saturday night than places in Clarendon i.e. you do not have to lose your voice by 11PM screaming at a person sitting right next to you. Good wing specials and good wings! Like most Irish pubs the place has a rather basic menu but that's to be expected. Price and service prevent it from being a five star place. I know you have to pay the bills in Arlington but some of the simple items carry a rather large price tag.
(4)Michelle K.
Came here for HH with a few other girls. We shared 4 appetizers among us and all got our own drinks. HH runs till 8 pm, which is amazing. HH draft choices for the day I was there were Miller Light ($3) and Blue Moon ($4). Food quality is not that great, but they have a lot of things that you'd want to munch on while having a beer (read: fried foods, greasy foods, potato foods). I really liked their potato skins, but wasn't really a fan of their nachos and fried pickles.
(3)Grant S.
Sunday brunch. Brilliant. Ambience. Brilliant. Beer. Brilliant. This place is brilliant.
(5)Olukemi A.
I went for a happy hour. It was a for a friends birthday. I ordered a Pinot Grigio which tasted like it was mixed with dish soap. If you go just stick to beer - it is what they're known for. But I decided to order something else, despite my better judgment. I ventured out and got a crab and spinach dip and it was rancid! Stick to what they're known for -sliders, chicken wings or burgers. Those are good.
(2)Bobby M.
I've been here a few times during happy hour. They have different drink and food specials depending on the day. I normally just get an order of their potato skins but they are great! These are some of the best skins I've had. They also have trivia night on Monday's. Give this Irish pub a try for happy hour next time you're in the area!
(3)William B.
Had a great time there last Friday with Krista at the back bar. She's sassy and hilarious. Great Irish pub to check out in courthouse!
(5)Bryan S.
Closest thing to an authentic Irish bar in Courthouse. A block away from the Courthouse metro. I had the Beef and Guinness Stew, which was great...very hearty. They also had live music, which was very good, and also not too loud so people were able to still carry on a conversation at the bar. Great spot.
(4)Kabir K.
Great food and atmosphere at this traditional Irish Pub.
(4)Eric K.
GREAT place for football (soccer). They open early for a lot of matches on Saturday and Sunday, as early as 7a. We came on a Sunday morning at 10a. A few matches were on, but it definitely wasn't crowded yet. The hostess asked what match we were here to watch, and did a good job seating us in a section where we'd be able to see. Coffee is really good, my wife is kind of a coffee snob, and she was impressed. For food, they have a brunch on Sundays for $14.95. Solid value for the kind of food provided. Eggs Benedict, corned beef hash, legit bacon and sausage, waffles, a full omelet station and more. Mimosas were only $2.50 too. One of the most impressive things was watching the owner/manager. She was definitely Irish, could tell as soon as she spoke, but she was going non-stop. Running around making sure everything was taken care of, that people were happy, just working her tail off, essentially. A rarity nowadays it seems...so I really appreciated that.
(5)Greg R.
Here for work from Alaska. Came by for a beer and meal. Cozy place with fireplaces and good pub fare food. I wish they had more local brews (they just had one). Overall great service and good food. Two thumbs up.
(4)Maggie O.
My fiance and I recently held our engagement party in the James Joyce room, and we couldn't have had a better experience! We scoped out several venues in DC and Arlington, and Four Courts was hands down the best choice. Tim, the catering manager, was so laid back and flexible. There was no room fee, and they worked with us and our budget to plan a great party. We've actually been going to Four Courts as bar patrons for years (shout out to Mairead, one of the best bartenders around!!) since they have a great atmosphere, reasonably prices drinks and above average bar food. I highly recommend Four Courts if you're planning a private event or just looking for a great, low-key night!
(5)Nicole W.
Great live music on the weekends, and just like real Ireland they'll serve you a Guinness with black currant if you ask ;)
(4)Sydney K.
Ireland's Four Courts is an Irish pub conveniently located across from the Courthouse Metro station in Arlington. I've only been on Monday evenings for trivia, so my review will be slightly skewed. The decor and ambiance is pretty standard, no complaints on my end. The music is kept at a nice volume as well, which is appreciated since loud restaurants are just unpleasant. I can sometimes feel a bit dimly lit, but that hasn't caused any problems. The review is 3 stars mainly because the staff has been hit-or-miss and the experience overall feels average to me. The happy hour specials are decent, as is the $7.95 burger on Monday's (up $2 from its previous price), and there's really nothing I've encountered here that I would say sets it apart. The staff I've encountered have been cordial but usually are swamped on trivia nights, so forgotten items have been an issue. Overall, it's fine, the trivia is fun and well-organized, and prices are decent.
(3)Alex Q.
It's hard for me not to compare this pub with 'Ri Ra' , since that particular (and excellent) chain of Irish pubs has two locations in the DC area (one of which is quite near to Four Courts). Ri Ra, this is not. The food is your typical bar stuff (burgers, wings, sliders, fish & chips), with an irish twist. It's nothing you can't get a number of other places, much, much better. I have had several dishes in the past that were barely edible. You kind of roll the dice when you eat at Four Courts. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's terrible, but mostly it's just 'passible'. Bland, cheap bar food. Service is similarly inconsistent. There are one or two quite good servers and an equal number who disappear unexpectedly, forget to bring you water, and generally don't give a shit about ... y'know... serving. The drink options at least in terms of beer are quite underwhelming as well. Most of it is just your standard garbage (Sam Adams, Harp, etc) Which is fine from time to time, but they don't really make any effort at stocking craft or imported high gravity beers. With 'Fireworks' Pizza so close by offering a MASSIVE selection of great beer (including growlers to take away), I can't see any reason you would want to come here for the beer. Well, that's about it. It's a mostly crappy Irish pub. It's not the worst, and it's not the best. Probably decent during St. Patty's day, but otherwise I'd recommend avoiding it.
(2)Morgan B.
Unfortunately I really felt that I am different. Irish place is for white and for "white". I had a beer, I was so tired, that's why I was sitting still, sometimes asleep. And the bartenders tried to kick me of, instead of asking am I all right.
(1)Kelly M.
It can take years, or at least months to identify a good Pub. And it takes much longer to build a meaningful relationship. That is UNLESS you walk into Ireland's Four Courts. I'm on my first visit and I'm officially in a committed relationship with this place. My Publican, Ken has won me over. Within 3 minutes of arriving at the bar he smiled, stuck out his hand and introduced himself then proceeded to hand over control of the TV across the bar. After finishing my delightful Shepherd's Pie Ken reappeared as if on queue to offer the "Newcomer's orientation" explaining all the daily specials both food and drink. As if I were not already sold, he continued even further to make me feel welcome despite being alone behind the bar and being plenty busy. Great bartender, great Pub. I'm in!
(5)Phoenix Simone W.
I'm a big fan of Irish bars, and this is one of the better ones. it's so close to the Court house metro, and has great ambiance inside, as well as a good amount of outdoor seating. This place is pretty big, anf has a lot of different rooms, but it can get pretty crowded for happy hour and brunch, so I'd recommend getting there early. Most of the bartenders are actually Irish which is great, they have a great beer selection, and the food is awesome. Definitely recommend!
(5)Vanessa L.
I've been here three times. Food is ok. The Asian guy that performed was really good. The crowd here is weird. Thankfully I'm not single but for you single men and women, don't expect to go here for eye candy.
(3)Kyle N.
Great food. Surprisingly good especially for a bar/restaurant. Beer selection could be more diverse, no sours and no aged, but the bartenders are great so it's a trade off.
(5)Bader J.
A great place to watch soccer ( probably other sports too ) but i only go there for soccer matches. The bartenders are super friendly and the food is good. The fact that they have a Champions League menu is just amazing.
(4)Kendal Ann M.
Ireland's Four Courts After a day's work, I met up with a friend to enjoy a little conversation and libation. With it being both of our first time's visiting Ireland's For Courts we were in for a surprise. For a Tuesday at 6PM this place is packed. After managing to get a table at the bar, we were brought a menu...but no one came back to take our order. Note to self, if you see people going to the bar, there's probably not a waiter coming to your table either. That was the only glitch in the plan. The drinks are strong, and the staff is actually from Ireland! Note that the music is low enough for you to have a conversation with the person next to you. Just for stopping in, I was surprised by this place and will be making my way back for a little Happy Hour action!
(4)Ozge T.
My friends and I went a few times. Burger was my fave. My friend enjoyed the Reuben. We all liked the wings and the crab&spinach dip were so good. Half price appetizers during happy hour. I liked their tequila sunrise though it could've been stronger. They had this amazing grapefruit vodka that was deliciousssss. Will go back for sure
(5)Ryan E.
I normally love this place, and have been coming literally since the 1990s. But the breakdown in basic common sense and customer service this Sunday was too egregious to go unremarked upon. As many know, there is normally a Sunday brunch buffet every week here. Like Jerry's girlfriend, the buffet is real, and it's fantastic. Apparently, they don't do the brunch buffet on long holiday weekend Sundays. No one thought to post a sign at the door saying "No brunch Labor Day Sunday." Strike one. The hostess who saw three adults and three kids roll in with Mass clothes at 1PM also didn't think to say, "I wanted to make sure you were aware that we don't have a brunch today." Strike two. We were then seated. The kids got settled in coloring, and little baby Kate was in her high chair. We're obviously settled in for the long haul. Then, and only then, does our server come over, again saying nothing. I told him we were all getting the brunch buffet. He says, "I'm sorry, we don't have it today. I know that's a game changer for some people." Well, yeah. But what the heck are we going to do about it now? The kids are both starving AND settled in. Strike three. Strike to the very three. Look, I don't mind not having a big spread on a holiday weekend when they don't think the traffic will be there. But would it have killed you to tell us BEFORE my kids were immutably committed to getting food from your restaurant? We never would have eaten here had we known. I feel duped, disrespected, and hornswaggled. You wound me, Four Courts. UPDATE: the management has sent me a message admitting this is not the way it should have gone down, and have offered a complimentary brunch as compensation. very classy, and very appreciated.
(1)Val V.
I have become (somewhat depressingly) a regular at four courts as I often go to trivia night (Monday) with friends and live nearby so hit it up occasionally otherwise. I would say the food is nothing special but is dependably good for pub fare. They never overcook a burger which is something I really appreciate. Most of their appetizers are decent to go with a nice selection of beer on tap at happy hour. Surprisingly enough I also find the desserts to be pretty good! The ambience on non-trivia nights is laid back and easygoing. this isn't a place people go to see and be seen. They have a ton of TVs and show lots if sports games, especially soccer and football, if that's your jam. The staff are friendly and helpful and the bartenders generous. I've been here solo and with a party of two, but also been with groups of 8-12 and they are kind and accommodating. All in all, nothing extraordinary but not a bad neighborhood haunt.
(4)Dia D.
If I were rating just the food, I would give this place 4 stars. However, it was very loud. If you want to listen to live music or you are part of a large party, it would be a fun place. I had the fish tacos and they were very good. They had a dill slaw, roasted corn salsa, and chipotle ranch on them. More flavorful than your run-of-the-mill fish tacos. Three beers and three sandwiches/tacos/wraps were $55 before tip. Check out their great website.
(3)Mimi T.
Smells like teen spirit... or the local Irish pub. Decent place, packed during St. Patty's. I can't say anything about the food but the beers are cold and there's lots of foot traffic to ppl watch. If you're looking to get a lil Irish in ya, this is a good place to stop off.
(3)Bobbie S.
Double-fried buffalo wings!!! I can't even believe how amazing they are! I'm not normally a spicy person but these are so addicting. I was see sawing between "OMG these are so good" and "OMG my lips are burning" until I looked down and they were all gone lol and my first thought was I need to order more! The wait staff was extremely helpful, patient and cute!
(5)Todd H.
Wow, we're really happy with Ireland's Four Courts! Before we flew in from CA to host our son's rehearsal dinner, Danielle and Tim were very helpful over email setting up the dinner. The staff, specifically Krista and Liam, went above and beyond to make the night a huge success. Krista moved tables for us, kept the food warm, and was a pleasure to work with throughout the evening. Liam was an excellent bartender with a great attitude and solid skills. Many of the attendees raved to us about the food, the atmosphere, and the service well after the night had passed. They even stayed under budget! Thanks to the staff of Ireland's Four Courts for an outstanding and memorable evening!
(5)Ian W.
After an all day work meeting in the area, my boss and I met up at Ireland's Four Courts for drinks and pub food. We were both hungry and needed a good unwinding session from the long day. It was also Monday night, which meant it was TRIVIA NIGHT! My boss is also a big trivia buff and decided to enter us into the trivia competition. He got here early and snagged a booth in the back of the restaurant. Also it was Burger Night ($7.95 burgers) and Happy Hour (4PM-8PM) with half price appetizers and $5 Guinness pints. After I arrived, I ordered a pint of Guinness as my boss was filling out the paper trivia sheet and I helped him answer some of the questions. For dinner, I stuck with the half price appetizers including the Beef Sliders ($8.95/2), Fried Calamari ($9.95/2), and Fried Pickles ($6.50/2). The 3 Beef Sliders were served on a rectangular plate, which were thick and juicy, topped with American cheese & 1000 Island dressing on soft buns and served with pickle chips, tomato, and lettuce on the side. The Fried Calamari consisted of soft rings with light greasy crispy breading (not completely coated), served with a dipping side of marinara sauce in the center. The Fried Pickles (10 half long slices) were coated in a thick and greasy ale-batter and deep fried golden (fish & chips batter) and served with creamy horseradish sauce. My boss ordered the Four Courts Burger (9.95--$7.95 special), which was a thick Angus beef burger topped with Dubliner cheddar cheese, crispy jumbo onion ring, lettuce, and tomato on a Kaiser bun. Served with crispy golden fries pickle spear and creamy cole slaw. This burger plate was good and filling The greasy pub fare with the pints of Guinness went down good, while we played and answered several rounds of trivia filling in the paper sheets. There were plenty of random questions including music, sports, movies, and events. We actually did pretty well at trivia and came in second place overall for the evening. The last round (double points) helped us big time and we received a $25 gift card for our next visit to Ireland's Four Courts. In all, it was a fun and chillaxing night. My boss had such a jolly good time that he signaled the MC of the trivia contest to take our picture afterwards. We will definitely be back in here again on our next trip to Arlington.
(4)Samantha G.
We came here for the karaoke. We got early enough to be able to get a seat at the bar. The whole place quickly filled up with a large throng of young people. And we became smashed between the throng of people and the bar. But it wasn't horrible. And the karaoke was great. The beer list was meh. The food we had was typical, average, and over-priced. So not a bad place for karaoke. But not a good place for food. And be prepared for the crushing, beer-spilling crowd.
(3)Kim H.
We had a going away lunch for my boss with about 45 folks and the service was outstanding. The team at Ireland's Four Courts did such a great job and I will use them again. They had everything set up, food came out quickly and was really tasty. The waitresses were fantastic- did what I asked quickly which was exactly the right thing. Catering worked with me to make the event super easy. I was very impressed!
(5)Jamie B.
Stopped in here on a snowy, cold winters night while visiting family in DC. It was in walking distance of our Hotel. So we thought we would give it a whirl. The place was quite busy. As it was trivia night. My Husband and I ordered a they daily special. Wings for him. soup for me. Food was just so so. Soup was cold as were the wings. And I didn't care for the onion rings..just a different batter than what I'm use to on onion rings. Judging by the crowd I'm sure this place is pretty good..but on the night wecwete there it was mediorce at best. The Kabob place down the street may have been a better bet...gonna try it next time I visit
(3)David R.
This used to be the go to place in the neighborhood for lunch, Over the last few years though it appears more and more empty at lunchtime. Today I had corn beef and cabbage which should be easy for an Irish restaurant to handle, however the corn beef was like leather as it was well overcooked and clearly microwaved. The waitress made only one appearance, at the end of the meal to collect he plates and clearly could not be bothered when I told her the lunch was terrible and explained why. I guess now I remember why I stopped going here for food or drinks.
(1)Jaclyn H.
The atmosphere is the best part of this place. I love the ambiance and fireplace seating. We attend the trivia nights on Monday which is so much fun. They have some specials at night but their bar specials could be better. Their bar drinks are overpriced and the regular food menu varies on pricing but is high for the type of food- this is the reason for the 3. It's not the best Irish food but they almost make up for it in nightly events. The lengthy happy hour with $5 apps is my favorite here, great price for a quick bite close to home.
(3)Chris S.
Ireland's Four Courts is your standard Irish pub. Nothing incredibly special but will suffice if you're looking for decent bar food and a drink. Came in with a group on a Saturday night and they had a live one man guitar playing musician performing. He was good but great, played a few sets of different songs. Food was decent, standard bar grub, I tried the chicken tenders and chilli cheese fries, also good but not great. Drinks were good, several beers on tap and in the bottle. What I do like about Four Courts is they have a variety of shots on the menu for you to try. All affordable. Service was decent, one thing that annoyed me is the waitress pulled that move that I hate, her shift ended while my group was still enjoying our evening and she asked us to close out our check so she could leave, I get it you need to leave but it is highly annoying to have to pay a check when you aren't ready to leave and then have to start a new check with a different waiter. Not horrible but slightly annoying. Decent bar worth a visit to drink and socialize and watch a game but not a must go to.
(3)Amanda M.
I used to live just a few blocks from 4 Courts and I miss being able to walk there. I've been here more times than I can count for dinner or post race beer (if you want a fun 4 mile race, check out the 4 Courts 4) but my most recent visit was for a post-hike brunch. A group of 9 of us ended up here after another nearby restaurant wouldn't let us push two tables together to accommodate our group. Our waitress was incredibly friendly. She brought us several pitchers of water and kept the coffee topped off. I was the only one out of our group of nine to not order the buffet. I did check it out, however, and it is really quite impressive. Essentially everything that is on the menu is available on the buffet so if you have a big appetite, the buffet is a good choice. I simply went with two eggs, which are served with a choice of meat and Irish potatoes. yelp.com/biz_photos/DHyT… I ordered my eggs poached and was pleased to receive eggs that had creamy, runny yolks. My bloody mary was good but lacked spice. yelp.com/biz_photos/DHyT… I was honestly surprised at how good the brunch was at 4 Courts but it will most certainly be on my list of brunch suggestions from now on.
(3)Marjorie M.
After a night of drinking, the Brunch Buffet option hit the spot! For $14.95, you can choose from a selection of Irish and American breakfast items, including fresh fruit, biscuits, sausage, bacon, salmon, sheperds's pie, omelet bar, carving station, fresh bagels and a selection of breads and pastries (taken from the online menu). The omelet bar was one of my favorites. I loved the shepherd's pie as well and thought there must not be many places where you can get a delicious breakfast and your favorite irish meal options all at the same place. I wish I had a place like this somewhere in MD because I think I would have to be there every weekend!
(4)Laura S.
My favorite Irish pub in Arlington! They show all the Barclay's Premier League games (and even send emails out for the schedule of weekend games) and all the US Men's National team games. There's two TVs at the bar, one up front and a few more scattered throughout the restaurant. Wish there were a couple more but they're always showing what I'm looking for so it works. I was also here for a Chelsea in America (CIA) meetup before the Chelsea vs Roma game that was in DC this past summer and it was almost as packed at St Pattys Day. Nice turnout! Trivia is popular but one of the most difficult ones that I've done. I think they still do half price burgers that same night... Always a great place for St Patty's Day! I've been a couple years in a row now. They open up the back section and have a tent and a band. On my most recent visit I was meeting some friends for a Below the Belt Cancer fundraiser but when I arrived before my friends and asked the hosts about the special events that evening there were two events and both were for cancer and we couldn't figure out which one. I went outside to call my friend and the host figured it out and waited with me outside while I was still one the phone. He was so nice to do that and walk me back in to the correct fundraiser. What a nice guy!!
(4)Jeff H.
Just moved here from out of town and have to say these guys made me feel like I was right at home. Great crowd and the food is amazing. If you're looking for a place to relax after a long day of work and share a beer and some laughs with new friends this is the place to go. The Reuben is my personal favorite so far.
(5)Ning Z.
The BF loves this place for breakfast, so it's not surprising that last Saturday I finally went there with him. It was pretty quiet for Saturday brunch, so it was surprising that it took a while for a waitress to appear at our table. It also didn't help my patience that we had street parking so our time was limited. However, once the waitress came, everything went smoothly from there. I got the Steak & Eggs and my BF got the Irish breakfast. They were both huge portions and came with fries and beans. I was surprised at how good the steak was, because you wouldn't think this is a steak place. It's probably because I grew up in a culture where we cook all our meat thoroughly, but I hate any kind of steak that still has blood/juice coming out of it, so I'm usually the medium-well kind of gal. This steak, probably because it's pretty thin, had only small parts of red in it. It wasn't super flavorful so I had to put some salt and pepper on it, but otherwise it was perfect for me. Since we live near this area I can see myself coming back often and I'd like to try out some other food from them.
(4)Becky C.
Went for Brunch on a Saturday. Portions were large and food was decent. Nothing amazing, but it wasn't bad. French Toast was a little soggy but the biscuits and gravy were perfect
(3)Mary Kate M.
Clearly I came on an off night with Samantha G. and James O. if comparing it to my friends' reviews. Here was my encounter with Ireland's Four Courts.... We came here for karaoke. Samantha and James arrived earlier than I did and secured us seats at the bar. This is where we ended up sitting for the next 3.5 hours hanging out when it was just a few folks to until we left where there were hoards of drunk college kids. The karaoke was great. We had a lot of fun with a lot of great music option.. That was about as good as it got with Four Courts. I was not thrilled with the food. In fact, it tasted like crap. James took a bit and his face didn't disagree with me. I had to send back my mac and cheese, switched it for their potato soup only to find something really flavorless and overpriced. So I went from crap flavor to no flavor at all. Lose/lose situation. To make matters worse, a lot of kids were hovering over Samantha and I. They would put their beers on the bar between us where my almost full beer got swiped by mistake. It took me asking the manager to replace it for the bartender to give me a new one. Originally he refused since it wasn't his problem. Oh that made me really hot. Did I mention that I had beer spilled on me 3 times? Yeah.... Just a really horrible experience that makes me not want to return. I don't think I will return either. I've got better Irish bars to check out than here.
(2)Beach G.
Great wait staff good food wonderful music. A local favorite. The wait staff and bartenders are very professional. Always like their live music too. Back bar is a gem a tad more quiet. Nice clean bathroom
(5)Rob P.
Meh. There's no compelling reason to come to Ireland's Four Courts. There's also no compelling reason to avoid it. It's fine, just nothing special. In fact, the last time I came during happy hour and the specials were hardly special - drank three beers and ate no food and still wound up paying $20 with tip.
(3)Aaron B.
Great meal and wonderful service. The guinness knife and fork burger was great and the guinness and beef stew even better.
(5)Christine H.
Wow, what a let down. Came in with a bunch of friends for a couple drinks and dinner on a Friday night. We got there when music was just starting, which was ok.. We had a terrible waiter and the food was mediocre. I don't know if he was having an off night, but he just wasn't around, and it wasn't that busy in the dining area. I think it was the manager had to come out and help with drinks, but it took us over an hour to get our food, which like i mentioned was mediocre, but better than the service. We ordered a burger, wings, fish and chips, pot pie, and nothing based on friends' responses tasted good. bad food plus terrible service=never again.
(1)Lauren R.
I've been here at night, on weekends, during the week, and for brunch. Everything has been great. The bartenders are super friendly (and cute), the drinks are good, the vibe is happy and fun, and the brunch is delicious and cheap. You can't beat $2.50 mimosas- basically bottomless. Would definitely recommend!
(5)Stephen K.
Four Courts is a good neighborhood bar. It's also a great Irish bar, where you'll find all the classics: bangers & mash, fish & chips, multiple Irish stouts and a decent scotch selection, and most importantly, friendly bartenders. Their food is better than your average bar food; the Aron Island Salmon and Guinness stew are favorites of mine, and they serve a solid Irish breakfast. But the real reason to come here is because you enjoy a local bar where the bartenders remember your name, and you can sing along to the live music. They don't have a great craft beer lineup, but they make up for it with personality, and that's good enough to keep me coming back.
(4)Philip L.
Half off happy our appetizers are always a good deal. Try the nachos or chicken tenders. My favs. Also, great Irish beer on tap and chill atmosphere
(5)Kelleigh M.
Located in Arlington, this Irish neighborhood bar was perfect-walking distance from where we were staying, cheap beers, live music and a cool vibe. After a fantastic meal in DC, we headed back to Arlington and finished the evening here at 4 Courts. The bartender was friendly, the patrons were a great mix of the local crowd and the live music played a lot of covers. A perfect way to round off our evening.
(4)Allison N.
Really great Irish and hearty food and lots to choose from on the menu. Decent selection of beer as well and good service. Can have a good time with some friends, on a date, with a relative etc. like all Irish bars, versatile. Nothing special though!
(4)Susan Y.
This is a comment on my experience of holding a private party for about 20 people. I opted to have my husband's birthday gathering at Ireland's Four Courts both for their location (by Clarendon Metro) and cost (very reasonable). I admit that I didn't expect much, but was glad to have an event at a nice Irish Pub that is centrally located for my friends in the metro area. Let me tell you, the attention we received was outstanding and far exceeded my expectations. We had two bartenders that evening (probably because it was slow that evening) who were friendly, professional (yet fun) and efficient. Krista and Aiden constantly anticipated our need and definitely wanted to make sure we were all happy and having a good time. We couldn't be more pleased with the experience!
(5)Jennifer H.
Great place to watch the World Cup games! Better get there early because there are limited high tops and no tables and chairs/stools.
(3)Matt M.
At this stage, I think I'm a bit of an expert on Irish bars. I have the background (having lived their most of my life) and I've been to many in the US in the 3 years I've lived here. Four Courts is my favourite Irish bar, hands down. The majority of the bartenders are are off-the-boat Irish, great selection of drinks, they show all the football (soccer) and the live music is consistently great. On the football (soccer) note... if there are, for example, 10 games being showing on a given Saturday, Four Courts will dedicate a TV to each game so you can see your team. Supporters of all teams are welcome and there is a great atmosphere. They open for the early games (7am I think). Also, I love the mug club. Buy a mug ($75 sounds expensive but wait...) and then you get discount on beers and on Thursday evenings they have mug club offers where you get various beers for $4/$5. If you become a regular, you'll make your money back in no time. Just look at the number of mugs hanging on the walls behind the bar to see how many call this bar their local/regular! Great place, couldn't speak more highly of it! Finding it and befriending the bar staff has really helped us to settle into the area!
(5)Tim A.
Best restaurant in Arlington Excellent service Chow is superb Beer is fresh and cold
(5)Kat F.
I've been here two times - once on the weekend for drinks and live music, and once for dinner. I had Guinness beef stew on a cold day and it was delicious. The waiter was friendly, if a little slow on the water refills (but in fairness, we were in the second room out of sight by the fireplace). All in all, it was a solid dining and drinking experience.
(4)Joanna M.
Ireland's Four Courts is your traditional Irish Pub in the heart of Courthouse. Above the bar, you'll notice mugs for "regulars" who drink their way to the wall. I've gone a few times to grab some beers with friends. They have pretty good drink specials, food menu (brunch is pretty popular), nice bartenders, and even host karaoke on some nights if you're into that sort of thing. Just proceed with caution if those karaoke afficionados' singing makes you want to pierce your eardrums out.
(3)Brandee S.
Guess what...this is an Irish Bar. Irish Bar. Irish BAR (this will all make sense in a little while...follow me). My friends and I went to this place to celebrate our friends birthday. We got there a little early and decided to have dinner. They have a good happy with cheap beers and half price off the apps. We got chicken fingers and the guacamole 5 layer dip. Both items were just...ok...just run of the mill bar food. The dip needed a lot of flavor to me and the chicken fingers were just kinda regular and made us a little sick and bloated feeling (sorry TMI). I don't think I would eat the food again. But who goes to an Irish Bar for the food. You go for the drinks and the loud irratic behavior...or so we thought. One neat thing this bar has (why they got the extra star from me) is a " Quiet Area". Like if you don't want to be around the loud Irish or the people who go here or the loud band, you can go in a quiet room and whisper. However, I had the misfortune to be seated by someone who wanted to control the volume of everyone in the BAR area. What a douche! He actually, while me and my friend were just eating our blah food told us to "keep it down". I was like...huh...are you joking? We hadn't even finished our beer so I'm completely aware of our volume and you are telling us to quiet down. Like who tells someone to quiet down at a BAR and seriously...and Irish Bar? Can you get any louder? One of the songs everyone sang "Who the F' (bad word) is Alex" and I'm laughing too loud. Of course I went slam off on this ____(insert bad word here) and he left promptly but it did put a bit of a damper on our night...that is until the rest of the group got there and we started our Jameson shots! All in all, I say this place is ok. The band or singer was cool and more importantly our friends love it and have their own mugs. They should have some way to weed out the ____(insert really bad word here). I don't think I'd go back otherwise.
(2)Paul S.
As beers go, you can't go wrong with Four Courts. This is a great hangout for spending time with your friends. The beers are moderately priced and they nightly musicians provide ambiance to your stay. This is a good place to unwind; no muss, no fuss.
(3)Robert S.
I go to four courts mainly during a soccer match. I've been multiple time on a Saturday morning to watch Arsenal and I'm always impressed with the great service and how accommodating the restaurant is to soccer fans. I went yesterday to watch the England World Cup match and it was completely packed yet our server was hustling big time. We didn't have to wait any longer than normal for food or drinks.
(5)Marie B.
The atmosphere is great being seated outside. However the food is average. We got the corned beef eggs Benedict & steak and eggs, both were very bland.
(3)Katharine G.
I was here as part of a family gathering. We had a private room. Service was great, food was so-so. Liked the onion rings, calamari, didn't care for the nachos or the 5-layer dip although the tortilla chips were colorful and festive. I liked my burger, someone liked the shepherd's pie, another thought her Guinness stew too salty. Don't know how the other family members liked their food. What I did like was the way they itemized the bill. For me and my husband, they charged us for our entrees and beer and had a split charge for the appetizers. They also added a service charge so payment was simple--just pay the amount shown. I've had better food, but the service and the ease of organizing a private party where everybody pays their share couldn't be easier.
(4)Kimberly S.
Do you know what is even more nerve-wrecking than going to a high school reunion? Being somebody's date to their high school reunion. Arlington's Four Courts was the host of this very awkward night. While my gregrious boyfriend slashie fiance was busy high fiving his childhood friends and rehashing the glory days, I propped myself at the bar where the knowing bartenders poured curiously strong drinks and ignored the "one free drink per person" rule. For this, I thank you! Catering included a few trays of the sorriest looking sandwiches I have ever seen and surprisingly good buffalo chicken bites which were especially welcome towards the ends of the night. The reunion was held in a private room but I did take a few minutes to observe the other going ons on the other side of the restaurant and saw a bunch of people in brown flip flops grooving to the likes of Del Amitri and John Mayer. Not super Irish but who doesn't dig "Roll to Me"? Overall, an okay place to spend an awkward Saturday night!
(3)G S.
I would not recommend this place. Service was nice but they messed up on the order. Spoke with the Manager who acted like it didn't matter that they messed up on our order since they had closed the kitchen it was our problem. Instead of being concerned the manager caught an attitude acted like it was our fault and sent us to Wendy's for our food. Yikes!
(1)Cliff W.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. When it comes to getting a cheap quality brunch in Arlington Four Courts has the lock on it. I've been here a few times with some other Yelpers and we've always come back. Aside from the Steak and Eggs, all of the entree items are 10.95 or less, and the buffet on Sunday for $14.95 is a pretty good deal it's a pretty solid spread. This past Saturday I went with the Hogan's Breakfast Sandwich.. "A gooey ham and Dubliner cheddar sandwich topped with béchamel and a fried egg. Served with O'Brien potatoes." It was freaking delicious and I actually wished I was really hungover from the night before as it would have been the cure all. However, I was not, so clearly I need to go out and get silly one evening on the weekend and go back. The service is also pretty solid too, our server was quick and on the ball, had no problems splitting up the check, and there was always Guinness in my glass. When I showed up a bit early when meeting my friends I also had a cup of a coffee at the bar while reading a book, which I was able to do in peace. For cheap, quick, and friendly, Four Courts is the spot to go.
(5)Kristin S.
While visiting Arlington we found this pub and spent one evening here. We lucked out and went on trivia night so we joined in and had a great time ( even though we took lat place! ). We were made to feel like regulars and would be if we lived nearby. We had some appetizers while there-the sliders were fantastic, onion rings are also delicious, tator tot nachos were just OK. But we would definitely go back.
(3)Sara R.
Reminds me of O'sullivans before the new look. Seems like a solid spot to get a seat at the bar and a bartender that knows your usual. I enjoyed the bluegrass band too. Not sure about the food, but overall great friendly neighborhood Irish pub.
(4)Kacey C.
Four Courts is one of those places I could review, could not review, doesn't make a difference. A few of my friends live right around the corner and love it love it love it. They also love that it shows all the soccer games. Do I care about soccer? No. Do i care about having a half way decent time while they care about the soccer on tv? Yes. Sometimes I go and wait for the game to be over, and if it is a Friday night the older guy to start playing his guitar. Man is good. He can play (and sing) a mix of traditional Irish songs and more typical bar songs. The food is pretty decent, above average bar food with enough options for everyone. I haven't been for any meal other than dinner but I've heard brunch is good. Overall, it is a pretty low-key bar and the service reflects that, not to say they aren't all friendly because I'm yet to run into an unfriendly staff person. Between RiRa the Irish pub in Clarendon and here, I'd go with Four Courts (unless you like an Irish pub that becomes a crammed dance floor playing nothing but the hits tehe).
(3)Nick J.
Great place to drink, take shots and be greeted with "hello love." The only downside is the food, typical bar stuff. If you must, order the wings..they also have live music sometimes so that's awesome too.
(4)Adam J.
Definitely 3 here. Decent location, average food, average prices, average decor, average wait staff, average drinks. It's a safe bet bar. No surprises. It wont ever blow you off your feet, but you'll probably never have a bad experience.
(3)William D.
Solid local bar. Review is for outdoor seating. Had very pleasant and attentive service on a mid-afternoon visits. Nachos use pump cheese if that's your thing. Wouldn't recommend. Happy hour specials are very decent. Check it out if you're looking to get a few beers with friends.
(4)Donald P.
Came here for happy hour to catch up with an old colleague and talk a little business. We ordered a few beers and some appetizers to share. It took forever for the appetizers came out because our waitress ended her shift and another waiter picked up our table, but I guess they forgot to convey our orders. It was rather annoying that it took more than half an hour, but once I got my fries I was quite happy. Also really impressed to see a poster in the bathroom for a hire a designated driver service. Excellent idea that I thought only existed in Korea. I really wish that sort of thing was more common. Love the fireplace and atmosphere.
(4)Fuk A.
I am giving this one star because I went there last night. Everything was fine but I woke up this morning to find an 8.80 charge on my card after I had left. I can't belive they just ripped me off like that. If you go there keep an eye on your card they will make up a charge. It looks like they charged my card at 11:20pm. I was home in bed at that time. Bunch of thieves. Okay what the hell is going on? I've been there once and I have three charges on my card. Two good amount of charges. How many more times can they rip me off. I is for over 50 dollars and another for over 30 dollars. I just had wings and a few beers. What a scam. How many people have you ripped off this way? I've gotten an email from two different people, both said something different. Here is the breakdown. If they don't like your tip or didn't see you tip they will wait until after 1am to runt the final bill. They will add 20% tip. I left after 8pm, I got my last beer at 7:34PM. They waited until after 1am to run the final bill. Keep an eye on you account. The best part was they automatically added the 20% which went through. I guess that wasn't good enough so they took out another 20% because they can. They have you card on file. It's either a poor bartender or really poor training.the more I hear the more I feel they rip people off. The more I deal with them the more I worry that they just throw receipts away if they don't like your tip. Just watch them and keep track of the tip. Email me if you question your bill.
(1)Teresa Z.
Out of the 7 of us in the party, 4 of us enjoyed our meals. The other 3, who ordered fish and chips, found the fish WAY too greasy to eat. I should have returned it.
(3)John B.
Went here for many years, several times a month. Simply put, this is as good as a pub gets. The staff is fantastic (especially Maraid), live music, trivia, lots of sports, several TVs, awesome decor and atmosphere, great regulars, good food. The management team is ALL OVER IT when it comes to running a great, friendly, welcoming, fun Pub. I cannot recommend this place enough for a fun night out or great day watching soccer/football/other sports.
(5)Andrew L.
This review is for the bar and not the food. This is everything you want an Irish pub to be. Decent beer selection, but I was ordering bourbon that night. They make a good old-fashioned, though some will wince at their use of both orange and cherries as garnish (I guess some don't like their whiskey drinks to look like fruit salad). However, it tasted excellent, and wasn't watered down too much like most old-fashioned's I order around DC. The Manhattan I ordered was also excellent. I'm not sure if the bartender thought it was still happy hour (which it clearly wasn't) or if this place is bizarrely cheap for cocktails, but my drinks averaged $5 each. Its also a great place to watch a game. I went for the Olympics, and my only complaint is there's no sound or subtitles but that's understandable. I'm a Red Sox fan, so this place being an official Red Sox Nation bar is a plus in my book. There are 4 or 5 large TVs, all very visible from the bar. The food sure looked great, but all I got was the Four Courts Fries. They were cheese fries with bacon. They also had Pub Nachos, which I would recommend over these fries since they seemed lacking something like sour cream of something to balance the cheesiness. I'm sad to be moving into DC soon or else I'd probably stop by regularly. They have cups on the wall I assume for regulars. I'd love to my own cup on the wall of this place.
(4)Andy M.
Pretty decent Irish pub. Good food and good environment. Definitely worth a visit
(4)Ruth C.
Now I get Cliff's obsession with Four Courts. Hits the spot, and the brunch buffet looked like a good alternative. Fair amount of street parking in the area. A couple tellies at the bar. My traditional Irish breakfast was portioned just right to make me full before noon. Small tub of tangy-sweet beans, boldly toasted triangles with the options of fruit jam or butter pats. O'brien potatoes were scarce on the onion/pepper dice, but evenly fried. My two sunny-sides were fried nicely with crisped edges the way I like them. Irish sausages were pretty basic, and the rashers gently seared. The highlights of the plate for me were the black & white pudding, especially the former; mm-mm congealed blood. I'll certainly be back before long to have another go at brunch.
(4)Diana B.
Still love this bar and wanted to raise my rating to five stars. The service is great, the prices are fair, and the clientele are generally good for bar people. This is a really great spot with wonderful management.
(5)Valerie F.
Great place to watch a soccer game! It has a great atmosphere with wood paneling, fireplaces, stone and lots of tv's! Brunch is delicious as well. Food is priced well and tastes good.
(4)John S.
Went there over the weekend and was disappointed. Food was uninspiring and serviced was lacking. Go somewhere else.
(1)Joshua W.
After seeing a few adverts for family night and endless St Patty's day fanfare we decided it was time for Irish food at Four Courts. The atmosphere and service was really great but "mooshada" is the best description I could put together for the food. Whether mooshada translates to 'very tired' or just 'mush' the corned beef was definitely the former. The fish and chips were both. Not fresh, not crisp, not inspired: neither of us finished even half of our dishes. I ended up peeling off most of the soggy breading to reveal an almost laughably small amount of fish hidden deep within, The wife cleared off the mashed potatoes but the corned beef was just not worth the effort. Still hungry I confirmed the Corned Beef was nearly inedible. On the lighter side our server was quite possibly the nicest person to have waited on us ever, and the fireplace next to our table added a nice warm feeling to the room. We wanted to stay for dessert and coffee in the comfortable open dining room, but after the food and a glance at the dessert menu we were eager to move along. I visited for a Guiness a few nights later and the bartender poured us some proper imperial pints and the price was definitely fair. Based on the service, atmosphere, and drinks, we might give the food a try again. Maybe the cook just wasn't feeling al-dente!
(2)Kyle N.
Irish Breakfast, Brunch, Soccer. That's what you get, if you crave it, IFC delivers.
(4)Kassie C.
I've had the occasion to go to Ireland's Four Courts for several different events - a friend's surprise going away party, a gathering of a dozen of me and my friends, or just a couple of us grabbing a drink or two. Regardless of the occasion, I have been able to have a great time, eat good food, and drink good beer. Service is always adequate to great (it really depends on the night and how busy the staff are). Which speaking of, get there early if you have a large group because this place FILLS UP on the weekends! They also feature some live music - last time I was there the two guys playing guitar were taking us back through the late 90s/early 2k era which of course every 20- and 30-something in the bar LOVED. A best kept secret for this place is that it does have a back room that can be reserved FOR FREE! Did you hear that correctly - there is a restaurant in DC that hosts events for free, with no minimum, and they are AWESOME about hooking you up with anything you need for prep. Long story short, this is a pretty awesome place you shouldn't miss checking out.
(4)Roger D.
Great Irish bar that has been a neighborhood institution for at least ten years (that I know of). Good service, decent pour of Guinness and live music.
(4)Ericka C.
I don't know much about Irish Pubs. Either I like them or I don't. This one is ok in my book. Reasonably priced drinks and good atmosphere. Live music too!
(4)Brigid M.
The Weekend brunch is great! Went Saturday and it was tasty. I Haven't tried the Sunday brunch buffet but I'm looking forward to doing so. Fun atmosphere as well.
(4)Chris S.
Lots of good things to say about this place, but my favorite part, by far, are Mairéad and Shane behind the bar. They are my absolute favorite bartenders in DC.
(5)Joe S.
One the better Irish bars in the DC area. Best in Arlington. Food is fine, but nothing to write home about. Then again, who goes to an Irish bar for the food?
(4)Jugga S.
Solid bar for drinking and bar scene, and they play soccer games (particularly EPL) on the weekends too if you're into that. Don't expect it to be cheap but it's not really too bad cost-wise. Half-off appetizers before 8 are tempting. Some of them are good though nothing is spectacular. Stay away from the sliders though, those really aren't good.
(4)Monica H.
I love this place! I consider it my neighborhood bar. Good drink specials and selection. Good wings (not *great,* but good enough to satisfy my craving for them, and better than a lot of other competitors). Staff is friendly and attentive. Best of all: no room reservation fee! I've hosted a few events here and will keep coming back. These people are the best.
(5)Jack S.
As soon as I sat down at the bar I was asked if I would like a drink. Yes please! I ordered a Newcastle on draft and settled in to read the menu. I ordered the pickle appetizer and the lamb stew. The pickle appetizer was so good! I think they are fried pickle slices encased in a spicy cheese and breading. Whatever it is it was wonderful! The lamb stew included a good 5-6 chunks of baah-baah bleating goodness. The chunks were tender and flavorful. The soup also had potatoes and perhaps onions. Soup was served with a single slice of bread which was maybe Irish Soda Bread. Deliciously moist and dark.
(5)Ben M.
Bean dip was cold and small... Fork and knife burger was essentially a burger on mashed potatoes.
(3)Tim M.
Not a steak place but had the best steak I've had in a while! Great and warm service.
(5)Morgan F.
First off, this pub has great customer service. Laine and John really work hard and are great at their jobs. Tonight my girlfriend and I headed to the customer appreciation holiday party, which was great! They offered a great buffet spread and had many bar specials. This place really cares about its customers and they do a great job at pleasing the crowd. Give respect to get respect. We've been coming here for the past 6 months or so, and we find it to be very genuine and traditional Irish with workers from the green country. This is our favorite spot in the Clarendon/Courthouse area. This place does a great job!
(5)Chris P.
I have very mixed emotions when it comes to this place. I have been here for brunch, dinner, and simply drinks. The first thing I have noticed each time was how poor the waiter service is here. It is just awful and I have no idea why since their set up is equivalent to that of similar places who seem to lack service issues. The waiters have rarely been friendly or attentive and the time between order and food on the table is bad. There must be a logistical issue. One plus is that the food is always great (taking in mind the place it is) and when it does come its hot or cold depending on what you ordered meaning even though it took forever the food wasn't sitting around. Outside of the poor table service, going there for nightly libations is recommended.
(3)Daniel B.
This is my Irish pub. I was here when they first opened and to this day it is the closest Irish pub to me (since the best part of a classic pub is that it is walking distance to your domicile). My biggest complaint is that sometimes they are too crowded for my taste. They are well connected in the neighborhood (like co-sponsoring a 4 miler for St. Patrick's Day), have all the requisite daily specials and all the right beers on tap. Really I cannot ask for much more.
(5)Erin K.
We stopped in to Ireland's Four Courts on a weekday evening on a recent trip to Arlington/DC for drinks and an appetizer before dinner. Since it was such a nice evening, we sat outside. We had a couple of beers that were part of the happy hour special and the five layer dip (all apps were half price during happy hour). The five layer dip was as you would expect, nothing spectacular, but pretty good. The service was quick and attentive, despite it being very busy. A good place to have a couple of drinks.
(4)Aaien T.
Our friend got a rude comment from the manager Tim when we complained about a drink issue. The comment questioned my friends honesty and was very snarky passive aggressive. The owners of this business would be disappointed to know how rude you were to a paying customer. I am very disappointed in Tim's customer service. The food was greasy pub food but I wasn't expecting caviar, so it wasn't a big deal- our waiter was friendly, live music was fun and our table was clean.
(1)Nat L.
went there for an event last night. the beer selection was fine, but mostly i was impressed by the service. right away the bartenders were acting like i was an old friend, and they were giving me really fast/solid service.
(4)Allison A.
Corned beef and cabbage. Irish lamb stew. Fish and chips. Oh my.... I come here every winter to get my nice warm stew on. This is the place to be! And live bands! Come hear Edie Pasa play some nights. He's a guitarist who takes requests!
(4)Mattie C.
One of my favorite Irish bars. They have live Irish music every once in a while, making for a fun festive atmosphere, and hold trivia nights as well. Trivia here is not as good as at Rock Bottom but it isn't terrlble either. The place is bigger than it looks on the outside and gets pretty packed. This is also the best place to go and watch a soccer game. I have watched games here at the past two world cups and it is always a good time. The place attracts real soccer fans who are there to actually watch the game and get really into it. Two World Cups ago, I metroed in all the way from Capitol Hill so I could watch the final game here. Just a really fun place. The food is kind of forgettable, but I think they have some Irish specialities on the menu. They seem to have a lot of events there where they put out special menus or drinks. The fries are good, I usually just like to get a plate of fries with my beers. I can't think of an Irish bar I like better than this. Highly recommended, especialyl for soccer games!
(4)David H.
Great Irish bar with real Irish bartenders and good happy hour specials. It's got a great atmosphere and you're not packed in like a sardine with 1,000 annoying interns like at some of Dupont/Adams Morgan bars on a Saturday night. They have live music so you can complain to your friends and heckle the guitar player when he claims not to know "Free Bird". Really? Anyway, a fun place and I'll go back here.
(4)Anna D.
One of the finest Sunday morning brunches I have had! Not too crowded at that time of day, awesomely delicious salmon eggs benedict (which I have been cravin' and not findin' anywheres until here!), a brunch buffet for those with a mind for it, friendly staff, lots of solid wood furniture, and lots of live sports broadcasts! I don't know how it holds up in the nice department come, say, Saturday night, but BOY OH BOY does it make me happy as a hen to go there on a Sunday mornin'!!! I added a pic of the salmon benedict, SO good, and with a honkin' big piece of steamed broccoli too! YUM! OH. And.....NOT to be forgotten or overlooked: some of the BEST damn home fries around. The potatoes are never undercooked, always soft inside and crispy outside, flavored just right--no need for ketchup here, and cooked with green peppers and onions--but not too much, just a touch. I LOVE ME SOME GOOD TATERS, and my dear people, THESE are some good taters!!!!
(5)Indy A.
Good food, great bartenders and at its best on Thursdays and Fridays. Worth visiting if you like Irish pubs
(5)Aaron C.
I had their fish and chips and it was not very good. A good Irish pub should be able to at least get THAT right. All bread and no depth to it. Staff was friendly but took a long time to get our appetizer out. I guess nachos is pretty labor intensive. In their defense, it's an Irish pub and I ordered nachos.
(2)Tom G.
When I walked in the door I was shocked to hear Morrissey pumping from the speakers, as though the good people at Four Courts had been expecting me. But, then I remembered I always request to hear melodramatic Britpop when I make an Open Table reservation. Came for brunch last Sunday, and had no choice but to order the traditional full Irish breakfast, and see if it could compare with the legendary heart attacks I have consumed up and down the west coast of Erin. It did not disappoint. A generous helping of slightly gooey scrambled eggs piled atop potatoes, a rasher, two link sausages that definitely had that British isles, not US, flavor, lil' cup o'beans, a tomato, and most importantly the black and white puddings. These puddings did a commendable job of combining the congealed pig's blood with bits of oats and other mystery ingredients. If you've never had Black Pudding, or as I like to call it, blood pudding, you should give it a try. Everything was washed down with a 20 oz Guinness the waitress forgot to charged me for ( and yes, I am a very bad man, and did not report her error). The only drawback was the interior temperature. Had I sat on the patio all would have been lovely. But, at the time of my meal it was about 70 degrees outside, and inside they had at least 20 ceiling fans pumping. My son was actually shivering in June. Beers available lean to the traditional. It doesn't get any edgier than Fat Tire, but I still think it's a fine place to drink on a Sunday morning with the children.
(4)Edward R.
Best Irish Pub in the area hands down. Not only does Four Courts have one of the best night time vibes in the area, great drinks, great music, great people, but the food is good, and the service GREAT! Very friendly barmen, good live music. Granted, right now the kitchen is down due to a kitchen fire some time back and the interim food is not so good. They still have a great Sunday buffet, with great omelets. I believe the kitchen should be back up soon, and prior to their kitchen shutting down they always had great food. I know they have an area to reserve for parties, etc, though I've never used it. The only down side is it can get a bit crowded, but the crowd is a friendly one. For frequent customers, one can purchase their own mug (something I've done and recommend for anyone else who intends to frequent this pub). One other great plus is if you're into soccer, they've always got the games on, often even playing back recordings at night of matches that took place earlier in the day.
(5)Kim F.
This is my favorite place to eat and drink in all of the Washington, DC area. That said, I reduce them a star, because the music is always way too loud. I swear while I'm having a religious moment, with the Magners and Guinness Irish Stew, I am also getting irreversible hearing damage. Because I love this place so much, I often take friends and family there. Trying to have a conversation is absolutely impossible. They have wired a loud ass speaker above every single table. At least Virginia took away smoking. It used to be loud AND smoky. Regardless, I love the food and cider!
(4)Cameron H.
Fun Irish pub. Decent beer selection. Trivia and Karaoke nights are pretty funny. Bar tenders have Irish accent, which is cool. Food is average, standard bar food. Good to meet friends for drinks.
(4)Josephine M.
I would give this place a 3.5 star rating although YELP doesn't have those. My mom and I decided to take my dad here for Fathers Day brunch. We made reservations for 10am. We got there a little early and they were able to seat us, which was nice. We had the option of sitting outside or inside. We opted for the inside. They have a brunch buffet on Sundays for $15. Good quality of foods and the price is one of the best I've seen in the Nova area. Juice also comes with the brunch with no extra fee (orange and cranberry) If you are into the whole 'Sunday Funday' trend they have Happy Hour from 10AM to 8pm on Sunday..I think it was 3 dollar miller lites and 4 dollar Peronis. After awhile of sitting inside it got very chilly, they have all the fans on in the building so if you're coming on a Sunday I would say bring a light jacket. The only downside was that the buffet wasn't 100% ready at 10, it was around 10:10 am that everything was laid out. Which isn't the end of the world. I also had some black 'things' floating in my water which was strange. If I lived in the Arlington area I would come here more often, I just don't see myself driving or taking the metro all the time to come here.
(3)Michael G.
Great atmosphere to catch American or European football game. And the Irish bar menu had a great fish and chips.
(4)Miss C.
True to my prediction, GM Dave contacted me to apologize for the disappointing customer service experienced. He offered very kindly to make amends. I in turn offered this to my friend who was slighted. Thank you, Dave for being what management is supposed to be and making sure your customers are treated respectfully.
(3)Claudia V.
I've been to Ireland's Four Courts a number of times and it never disappoints -- great local business with consistently high quality food and service. I also see their name frequently as a contributor to the community -- and that matters.
(5)Michael F.
Lamb stew is good! Recommend sitting outside and having a few Guinness with friends.
(4)Liz C.
I had the buffet on a Sunday a couple weekends ago and found it to be really average. There was a good amount of people, so I guess it's popular but I'm guessing it's because the price was decent for a buffet. My favorite things were the potato hash and smoked salmon. Lots of people were getting waffles, but I didn't have a chance to try that, so maybe that's really worth it!
(3)Cwot W.
This place is totally over rated and not Irish. No one wants to fight like an Irishman in here and the only thing reminiscent of Irish Bar in this place is the lights are dim to mask the dirty floors. You'll know because everytime you touch something in the bar you would think you dunked your hand in maple syrup - sticky.
(3)Jeffery W.
This is a nice, traditional Irish pub. The decor is very nice, and the food and beer are worth the visit. The service was great.
(4)Melissa B.
Dave, the general manager at Ireland's Four Courts, contacted me and asked us to give his establishment another go. So, my husband and I headed down to the restaurant last night (Thursday 8/11/11). We were promptly seated inside (the outside was packed!) and our server was courteous, friendly, and genuinely nice. We ordered the following: 1- Onion Ring Tower (a little dry but very, very crunchy!) BBQ sauce (was sweet and your standard BBQ fare) and guinness mustard (yummy with a little tang at the end) 2-Chicken Pot Pie (the crust was delicious and the pot pie was pippin' hot! the filling had peas & carrots and, of course, chicken. the cream sauce was on the salty side and, yes, my rings didn't fit later on). 3-Beef and Guinness Stew (came with a nice scoop of mashed potatoes in the middle, carrots, peas, beef, and 2 rolls - my husband practically licked the plate, which means he thorougly enjoyed it). 4-Apple Pie & Vanilla Ice Cream (very, very sweet but a nice blend between the warm pie and the cold icea cream. it had a kick of apple cider, which was a creative touch). 6-Bailey's coffee (hot and not too sweet) Our soiled plates didn't linger on the table for too long. Our drinks were promptly refilled. Dave came over to chat for a bit and he was genuinely interested in making us feel comfortable and making sure that we knew how sorry he was about our dinner the first time we came to his establishment. I appreciated his honesty - he admitted that the kitchen wasn't up to par after the fire. I appreciated the fact that he read the reviews and really listened. My husband plans to go back to watch soccer. I might check out the happy hour but I'm more of a cosmo girl myself. All in all: good Irish pub with homemade flavor (even if it's a little salty).
(4)Johnny S.
Aly, my bartender this evening was so chipper and happy that, she brightened a day that had been filled with car repair woes. David, who wasn't even my waiter was also, very cool. Had a grand night. Cheers!
(4)Justin G.
I don't know if I'm getting older or if the place is going down hill but it's not my favorite place anymore. The brews aren't anything special anymore and think there selection is terrible. It's close to home so I'll swing by every now and then.
(3)Charles Neil R.
A quiet Sunday evening, and some nice mellow live music. I was on my own - which usually means less than average service (if they only knew i was a pretty good tipper). The service was worse than average. I was stuck in a corner, even though lots of space - god forbid they waste a good table on a guy alone. Rest of service stayed at same level. Nice atmosphere. They made this place a nice place to hang out with a group friends or just a couple. Food was just okay. Got the Mcivoy chicken burger (a basic BBQ burger with herb cheese). a good idea badly executed. The chicken was overcooked, sauce was skimpy, bun was bland, and even the bacon looked like the cheap stuff at Safeway. Fries okay. Beer was good. I even had a Shandy (glad they knew what it was). Atmosphere better than Ri-Ra down the road. The service and food worse. Drinks about the same.
(2)Marianne L.
Spent the last 2 Monday nights here for trivia. Overall a very positive experience. I will say, being here on a packed trivia night may or may not be the norm as far as service and food goes. I've only been here a few other times many years ago and don't really remember what it was like. ATMOSPHERE Being non-smoking bar gets huge thumbs up from me. I can breathe YAY!!!! The atmosphere has ATMOSPHERE. Feels like a cleaned up version of the British pubs I frequented when living in London. Lots of well worn, wooden tables and chairs packed in - but not so that you feel you are sitting in someone's lap (unless of course you want to be). 2 weeks ago - the din of the crowd before trivia was nearly deafening; this week much more manageable and I would suppose its fine on a normal night. The pub is divided into 2 sections - big bar and a lot of smaller tables to the right (immediately inside the door) and smaller bar with more tables to the left in a section more suited for eating. Fair # of tvs dot the ceiling for the sports inclined. FOOD (tried over the last 2 visits) Appetizers (1/2 price apps on Mondays) Chicken quesadilla - ok this is a bit odd for an Irish pub, but perfectly acceptable bar fare; was ok - not wowzers but fit the bill when hungry and waiting for trivia; nice proportion of chicken to cheese and other ingredients; served with guac and salsa (tasting of the jarred variety) - both acceptable but not fantastic. 5-Layer Dip with tortilla chips - dip is served in an strange "martini" type glass and is completely cold; this is fine for some of the layers but the refried bean layer on the bottom was a bit dense; chips were meh - kind of bland, ok with the dip; over all was ok but probably wouldn't be my first choice again. Cheese fries with scallions & bacon (served with ramekin of ranch dressing and an optional - at cost - one of curry) - I LOVE THE FRIES HERE (with and without the cheese - as served with the sandwiches); the fries are the right amount of crispy outside and soft tender inside; spend the extra get the curry dipping sauce its good on the fries and even nice if it mixes on your plate a bit with the ranch dressing Chicken Tenders - these were breaded and not battered; I wasn't much of a fan - 3 very large tenders were served so the 4 of us cut them into more bite sized pieces to share; if you got a fatter piece it was ok and the chicken was juicy - but if you got a thinner piece, the chicken was a tad tough and over cooked Main Dishes Fish & Chips - I had 3 pieces about the size of a deck of cards; a bit too long in the fryer (batter was a tad dark) but it wasn't greasy and the cod pieces were uniformly thick so they cooked evenly and were tender; served with fries (more on the fries here below) and small ramekins of tartar sauce (a bit more mayo-y than I would like) and cole slaw - I'm very picky about cole slaw and usually this is an abandoned item on my plate, but I liked this enough to snag the uneaten ramekin from a friends plate tonight - nice peppery flavor that isn't overpowering and cabbage is lightly dressed without being swimming in sauce. One of my friends opted for the 1/2 price burger special they have on Mondays (served with fries) and the other the Guinness stew. Both seemed to enjoy their dishes, in fact opting for the burger again the 2nd week. Chicken club sandwich (served with fries - YAY more fries and malt vinegar for me) - I'm not a big eater and found this sandwich quite large (which was good for the $10.50 cost I guess); the chicken on it isn't sliced breast meat or anything - its actual chicken breast with bacon, lettuce, tomato and hard boiled egg; was tasty - I'd probably either end up taking 1/2 home if I had again or opt to try something different SERVICE Having only been here for trivia night, I can only comment on the service under those conditions. Wait staff is pretty attentive and the food comes out from the kitchen rather quick. Tonight our "waiter" happened to also be the bartender for the small bar - and still managed to take care of our table (plus he was cute, had an accent - swoon- and very nice). Only issue might be that the busers are a bit over zealous (if you aren't done - but look like you might be - you might have to defend your plate) but I suppose they have to be with such a large crowd or the kitchen will get swamped with dishes to wash. TRIVIA Last week we finished in a 3-way tie for 1st (finishing 3rd however due to tie breakers). This week for the 2008 finale we managed 7th (of about 50 or so teams - about 42 teams last week). The game is a mixed bag of very easy trivia, hard trivia and I guess what I would classify as "dumb luck trivia" (guess and pray). Sound system is good so its easy to hear the questions - 5 rounds are fill-in (either general knowledge or on a topic), 1 round of picture trivia, and 1 round of match the items from 2 columns Basically a great place to come, relax and have a good time with friends.
(3)Alex A.
Pros: the service is always wonderful here. Bartenders and servers are always upbeat, knowledgeable and on the spot to the point where they manage to take care of your needs and never make you feel overwhelmed with constant interruptions and checks on your table. Happy hour and daily specials are also great, highlight on the 60 cent wings, which are surprisingly good for an Irish pub. It's also a very large space, so it rarely feels overly crowded (except I would assume St Patrick's Day, obviously). If one section is loud and overly boisterous, there always seems to be another section with space and relative peace. Therefore, it's a good place to meet up with friends in this neighborhood. Cons: the rest of the food is just OK. The true test of an Irish pub in my eyes is the Shepherd's Pie. It should be large, hearty, rich and flavorful. IFC's Shepherd's Pie is small, and much less rich and hearty than I've had at other Irish pubs in the region. But still, it is good enough to fill a craving in a pinch, being the only Irish pub in this neighborhood. Another con here is the price of Guinness. $7 is really pushing it for a pint, and makes it less enjoyable, and that goes for any pub. That said, the pros do tend to outweigh the cons at a place like this. I always appreciate good service, and it's convenient to meet up with friends here. Someone can always find something decent at an Irish pub to eat and drink. I'll just have to order one fewer pint that I normally would due to the cost.
(3)Pat G.
We really liked Krista and Liam and Harry from Ireland. They made our visit so welcome. We loved this bar. Good drinks and good food in a welcome and relaxing atmosphere. From Seattle to FourCorners. Go see them. You will like it!
(5)Casey C.
Any place that you can get your own mug on the wall is my kind of joint. Very cool bar, great service and the food was awesome. I couldn't stop stuffing my pie-hole with the cheese fries. Met up with some buddies for drinks and brought the kiddo. I would say not a kid-friendly joint, this is more of a drinks after work place based on the crowd. We were definitely the only ones with a kid there. Parking sucks - whatever is available on the street.
(4)Juliet K.
decent brunch with standard items. omelet, waffles, biscuits and gravy, potatoes, breakfast pastries and a decent price. but nothing WOWed me. i think whitlows brunch has more options and for about the same price.
(3)Sandi W.
Love this place! It's right around the corner from our project's office for those OMG I need a drink NOW! moments, and close enough to walk to and from where we are staying. It does get v. crowded on Friday and Saturdays, but we always manage to get a seat. Outside is wonderful when the weather is nice. The food is decent, but not why I go there. Good for laughs, drinks, and talking with friends. Plus, Mairead and Shane are the best bartenders and keep us laughing the entire time.
(4)Derek H.
I love Four Courts and don't know what people be sayin'. This is a bar and bars get crowded. The thing I've always found about Four Courts is that it is a manageable level of crowd; somehow, it always feels 'busy' but not 'shoulder to shoulder I want to rip my head off and throw it in the trash can' crowded. Every time I've been here the bartenders have been awesome at taking care of me; spend a few hours and I got offered a free round and a shot from the cool Irish dude behind the counter. That's nice. I wouldn't say go here on a Saturday Night where you're really trying to blow the hinges off. But if you want a good night of drinking where the place is busy, this is an ideal spot. I like friday where a lot of the Happy Hour courthouse crowd bleeds into the normal people looking for a less mainstream (e.g., not a Clarendon or Georgetown bar) place to get a few drinks. You get a nice mix of that guy in the suit who has been out two hours too late and the people eager to get in the mix and catch up. The live music is a plus.
(4)Joe G.
This is a very cozy Irish Bar. The food is not very irish. They try but it just falls short. Grab a drink and some bar nosh.
(2)Scott C.
I've been to Ireland's Four Courts more than I'd like to admit and always try to stop by for at least a beer when I'm in the DC area. Great ambiance and staff that treat customers well at all times. The prime spot is to snag the tables near the fireplace in the autumn and winter! The beer selection is great and they pour Guiness at the correct temperature. The food is typically good pub food that is a bit overpriced but not outlandish for the location. The live music is great - they typically have some very talented musicians as well as Irish folk singers in house. Just plan around the loud music if you are stopping by to talk.
(4)Rahul J.
I never know how to review Irish pubs, but here's a shot: lively place old guy plays live music sometimes plenty beer and the food is crap. Four courts does a superb job of all of the above. Great outdoor area on a very uneven sidewalk, and exceptional service if the weather is good.
(3)Michelle B.
I went to Four Courts with a bunch of my classmates and really enjoyed myself. I ordered the fish and chips and had some buffalo wings to start. Everybody enjoyed their food from sliders, potato and leek soup, and salads to sandwiches. Our waiter was actually from Ireland which was pretty cool. They also have daily specials during the week. I'm definitely going back for happy hour.
(4)Justin L.
Nice place. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Quintessential American-Irish pub, down to the gritty interior and selection of beers. I've only ever sat outside as indoors looks a bit gloomy. The food is surprisingly good. Service always attentive and friendly. They have live music and soccer games televised inside apparently, although I can't comment on that personally. A great, casual place to eat or have some beers.
(4)Chuck W.
This review is for brunch only. My own damn fault for not making reservations for Liberty Tavern on time. If LT is like the Four Seasons of brunch in the Courthouse/Clarendon area, then Four Courts is like the Super 8 Hotel. In that it exists, there is food, it is edible, but it's certainly not anything special, and it may even cater to, let's put this nicely, a different clientele. The only reason I was in this jam was because of a larger group than expected, and because I had no other last minute options. The buffet was even similarly priced to LT, but the items were not. No scrambled eggs! Come on! A staple of any buffet breakfast. They did have omelets made to order, and some top round and fried fish that had clearly been sitting out for a while, and a decent shepherd's pie as well as free orange juice (which might have been the highlight of the whole experience), but most of the items were simply lukewarm both in terms of heat and quality. Plus I'd like to thank whoever took all of the fresh fruit on the platter. Thanks a bunch.
(2)Jason T.
This is my go to place when I just want to watch some guy with a guitar belt out songs we probably wouldn't enjoy unless we are drinking pints of Guiness to point of almost alcohol poisoning. Though, I do keep going back (Black Velvets are my weakness) to enjoy it though. I've never eaten there and I rarely order anything other than Guiness, Black Velvet or Cider. Yet, there is something about the place with it's atmosphere, tiny stage and generic interior that I find comforting when I just want to sit with friends or get drunk by myself.
(4)Andy M.
I can't really say anything bad about this place. But i also cant be like GO HERE YOULL love it. I mean...its neat..they have outdoor sidewalk seating. And the burger was pretty good..but overall I wish i went to the kabob place next door :/ Typical Irish pub feel..nothing standing out. I feel like this is a harsh review for what was a decent experience. 3.5 stars ;)
(3)Kate A.
I've only eaten dinner here once, and the food was okay. But I've never been there just to grab drinks with friends, so that could be a completely different experience. I know that the restaurants hosts a party after the "Four Courts 4 Miler" race, which is pretty cool. And the general manager is an awesome guy!
(3)Jeff D.
I was in Arlington for a wedding and we stopped here for brunch on Sunday morning on the way out of town. We were pleasantly surprised to find that they were the Arlington home of Red Sox Nation. Brunch was good, especially the omelette station. Drink service was quick (we stuck to coffee and juices) and the place looked clean and well maintained. Next time we are in VA we'll stop by for a pint of Guinness.
(4)Sonja J.
great fish n chips on a Tuesday afternoon and the lager couldn't be better.
(4)Josh S.
My roommate and I stepped in here on an extremely cold Winter day - hoping for some good Irish stews and pies. I know there are 2-3 other Irish pubs nearby but decided to check this out because this was the closest to our place. It was a Sunday night, probably around 7PM. There were absolutely nobody in the house. Well, okay maybe 5-6 people. Now, granted, it was a very cold night so people probably didn't want to come out for drinks and football. But still.... I expected more than 6 people. The happy hour was still on and we quickly ordered $.45/wing. I got the Beef Pot Pie and my friend got the traditional Shepherd's pie. Both were below-average and the portions were TINY. My roommate is 6"2 and 250 lbs - he needed at least two of these and maybe some more. $12 for a small pie is too much for him. TO get him full, he needed to spend at least $30 on his plates alone - and that's without drinks. The staff were prompt but then there were nobody to really take care of but us and few others. It would have been terrible if we didn't get great service. I need to give this place another try - maybe in the morning during EPL soccer match to get real feel of what this pub has to offer. But until then, I'll remain at 3 star.
(3)Danielle W.
RaRa Irish! I've only been here twice - first time on St. Patrick's Day - you can only imagine and then for happy hour this wee. This place is great for what it is - an Irish pub. The bartenders are very good (and Irish). The food wasn't bad either - I had the Guiness burger (big) and my friend had the quesadilla - not quite so Irish, but still good. I like that they have half price apps for happy hour during the week and $5 Guiness. I think the other drink specials rotate - on Tuesdays it was $3.50 Blue Moons. They also have Kilkenny on draft, which is pretty sweet. The place wasn't super packed either, which was a good thing.
(4)Sean H.
I went here for happy hour, decided on a whim to grab some food and was really happy I did. Our table got the fish and chips and Irish nachos, which were both pretty tasty. The happy hour specials weren't amazing ($4 Flying Dog IPA and Peroni, $5 Guinness pints), but it was a Friday, so great deals weren't to be expected. Appetizers are $6 during happy hour every day I believe, so the price evens out. Also, I really wish I were there when the live music was going on, but we had to leave before it started. I think I saw something that said they have live music 5 times a week, which is pretty awesome. I'll come back for the food. It's good.
(4)Lou V.
Been checking out their Karaoke night for several weeks now. It's well run by Glenn--one of the friendliest DJs you'll meet and the drinks are made just right by bartenders Layne and John. Waiter service was sub par and the cheesesteak is laughable, but overall, a solid experience.
(4)Allison K.
Four Courts is a great place to catch soccer matches on weekend mornings (they show all EPL matches). It's the home of the Beltway Blues (DC's Chelsea supporters club) and also gets a lot of Liverpool fans. It also gets packed during major international tournaments (Euro, World Cup, etc.). I've hosted a few events at Four Courts and they are great to work with. No room rental fee and they have a lot of different options if you want to add catered food or what not. My work also hosts receptions there occasionally. In general, they have a good beer selection and the menu is vastly improved since they got a new chef a year or two ago. The staff is top notch and very friendly. For brunch items I recommend the french toast with the berry compote. They also do a good brunch buffet on Sundays. There are decent happy hour specials every day, my favorite being $4 Fat Tire on Friday and mug nights on Wednesday (you can buy a pewter mug for $75 that they hang on the wall then you get a cheaper price on beer every time you use it).
(5)Daniel A.
To start, this review is focused on watching European Soccer on the weekends mornings over a wonderful brunch. In terms of brunch in Courthouse and soccer, it doesn't get any better. The brunch is good, especially for an Irish Bar. There are always matches Saturday and Sunday mornings even if brunch hasn't officially started (they will just server a simple English breakfast). It is never packed and it doesn't carry the same atmosphere as some other soccer bars but for a easy brunch along with soccer, you can't beat it. The wait staff, bartenders, and customers seem friendlier than across the street at Summers, which is another big soccer car.
(3)C D.
So, we went back to the Four Courts for Quiz night upon invitation from one of the managers. I was informed that the 4 C's would be using my previous comments to implement changes and make improvements. We immediately noticed a difference from our previous visit. This time we were seated in the front bar where we were able to hear the questions better. The quiz master made several announcements regarding team size and the use of cell phones during the quiz. We both ordered salads on this visit. Both salads were pretty good. The service was top notch. I drank several happy hour beers which were served ice cold. It wasn't raining this night so smoking outside was a much more pleasant experience. I was informed that they are working on building a better awning in the rear for smokers. I appreciate the effort that the 4 C's made to make these improvements. Its not often that managers of any business care enough to communicate with their customers and implement changes based on customer critiques. Well done 4 C's! We look forward to visiting again very soon.
(4)Iffat B.
I really, really love trivia so my friends and I went to play some Monday night trivia. BIG MISTAKE! This place had the WORST trivia night I've ever been to and I've been to many in my day. The questions were either too difficult and/or irrelevant. They had a whole category on HORSES?!?! Who cares about the real name of the horse that played Mr. Ed? I really think they can come up with challenging questions, while also making it fun for the players. I'll never go back for trivia night. One good thing about this place is that from 4-8 PM Monday - Friday they have 1/2 price appetizers and drink specials. I paid $4 for my hummus platter! P.S. Don't get the bread pudding. It's not very good.
(2)Graham C.
At the risk of writing a 4-star review which apparently makes me like 67% of other yelpers, I submit my thoughts of 4 Courts. And more specifically the trivia evening. Another Yelper suggested that trivia would be a good time and so I trekked over after work to the other side of the river. My first thought was that they pour a decent Guinness for $5 and my second was that it was fairly smoky. About 10 minutes later, I noticed they had a non-smoking side, because I, Graham, am a dumbass. Several Guinness later and trivia was ready to begin. The team had myself, Kendall and Mike T. We were down one person, but I felt confident that with Mike there, this wouldn't be a problem, for Mike is like the Yoda of trivia. Schneider is to 70's TV handymen what Mike is to Arlington County Monday Night trivia. He taught me things last night. * The pros don't shout answers. They write them down. * You can throw out "bogies" by yelling out obviously incorrect answers. For example when they asked for the name of a good band, I yelled out Nickelback * Mike showed me why he eats the chicken tenders. The wings and the trivia forms are not a good combination. * He made me appreciate ragtime, again. * There's a difference between "Sounds Cool" and "I'm In," and last night I learned when I should make those important decisions. * And lastly, he showed me how to love. All in all it was a good time. Kendall had some clutch answers and also showed me that she can write backwards, which was quite cool. I just drank and enjoyed the evening. Next time I think we should do on the District side. Somewhere crawling distance from my house, preferably.
(4)Danny m.
What's happy hour without a good Irish joint in the neighborhood. After a visit to Piola's on Wilson, I set out to see what else the street had to offer. Wasn't disapointed. Came across Ireland's Four Courts, so stopped in for a pint. All your irish favorites on tap: Guiness, Smitchwicks, Harp. A great selection of UK grub: Bangers & Mash, fish & Chips, Meat pies. I had a plate of potato skins, and they were as good as any I'd had anywhere else. The ambiance is dark and Irishy. Nice happy hour hang out in Arlington.
(4)Suzanne M.
I very much enjoy going to Four Courts. I have gone for drinks, food and just a good time. The first time I went was for my Birthday on Dec 19th when we had the huge snow storm because it was the only place open near my apartment and was so impressed. The food was great, the service was wonderful--and who wanted to work during a huge snow. Have gone back a couple times and had a birthday party for a friend here. Wonderful service, good food and drinks.
(5)Jon P.
It had been years since the last time I ponied up to the bar for a pint but it hadn't changed a bit. During college, I spent a summer in DC and my buddy and I would cruise over from our lodging arrangement for pints of Caffrey's, a little SportsCenter and good times. Caffrey's is no longer flowing from its taps but everything else is just as I remember. $20 still gets you a solid meal and a couple pints to finish off an evening.
(4)Regan T.
This bar is dangerously close to my house, but that's not the only reason I frequent it so often. My buddies and I regularly meet here on Wednesday night for the $0.45 wings and $3 Miller/Yuengling happy hour. They have live music a lot of nights which is hit or miss. I don't eat much of the food; usually only come here for the drinks. But the wings I mentioned are tasty and the Guinness stew (the Thursday special) is delicious. The main bar can get pretty smoky, but the back bar is non-smoking, which is good for those of us who don't smoke. For whatever reason, weeknights seem to be more crowded here than weekends; I've been here before on Saturday when the place is almost dead. Most of the staff are very friendly, and I appreciate that after only a few visits, several of the of the bartenders remember my face and name. Rest assured, I'll be coming back here as a regular.
(4)Chich S.
I've only been here during happy hour, but it's a very good bar! good drinks, good food, and a good happy hour ambiance! I love how the bartenders have irish accents too, it's pretty awesome!
(4)Jason P.
Another neighborhood bar in Courthouse that I would frequent when I lived a couple of blocks away, and one of my favorites. Four Courts has a good beer selection with all of your pub favorites, including Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, etc. They have a solid menu as well, including traditional Irish fare: fish and chips, shepherds pie, corned beef and cabbage, and Irish lamb stew. Good stuff and very filling, especially on a cold winter day. I like that they put a shot menu on the table. Often times we would stop by planning on just relaxing and having a couple of pints, but some evil liquid concoction would catch our eye. It's always fun to buy a shot for you buddy that involves tequila, bourbon, scotch, and whiskey. There is also usually good live music at Four Courts. They frequently feature performers that play fun Irish/English drinking songs that are fun to get involved with. Another plus is that the way the pub is split up into two sections. If you don't want to have to yell over the music in order to chat with friends, you can just go to the other side where there is a second bar and the music is much quieter. The only place I've found Four Courts to be lacking is that the service can be hit or miss. The bar tenders have nearly always been excellent. Friendly, quick, and pouring strong drinks and tall pints. The wait staff is usually good as well although there have been a few times where service has been a bit slow. Where I've actually run into the most problems is with the host/hostess staff. There have been several occasions where they have been obnoxious and rude and acted indignant when we've made such outrageous requests as to sit on the non smoking side or that four of us sit together and not be forced to split into two groups of two. Other then the snotty hosts and hostess, Four Courts is a great time.
(4)Jess R.
Pros: the food isn't that bad - avoid the appetizers and desserts though. I've only ordered the Guinness stew and the cheeseburgers. Plus the ambiance is OK and it's right by the courthouse metro stop. Cons: The service has always been awful - all 6 times I've been here - and 4 of those times have not been crowded at all. Extremely slow and mixing up orders. Horrible. The staff looks like their miserable (you don't have to be happy as chipmunks but please...a smile would be sort of nice.) The price is definitely NOT worth what you get. I've only been here once for drinks on a Saturday night, and there's no where to sit unless you're ordering food at table. Definitely wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. UPDATE 4/28/08 - worst food poisoning ever. Head on down to Four Courts if you want to worship the porecelain gods. :(
(1)Todd K.
One of my favorite lunch spots. Good beer selection, good food, nice atmosphere and no complaints about service. Try the Reuben!
(4)Bro H.
No idea why this place has so many good ratings. It's your average, boring, overpriced Arlington vaguely Irish themed bar. It's not even worth writing any more about. If you like average, boring, overpriced Arlington vaguely Irish themed bars, you'll like this place. If you don't, you won't.
(2)Hannah B.
Great place for happy hour drinks and apps. If you love fish n chips, then go for dinner too. It is a great neighborhood spot.
(3)Martha B.
If you are interested in the following then this is the place for you: -Watching the World Cup final on a TV that's smaller than most computer monitors - Channel surfing in the middle of the World Cup final I understand 4 courts promoting itself as a music/karaoke bar as it does have live acts often and is a karaoke spot. What I don't understand is how 4 courts promotes sporting events. This is straight up false advertising- Milli Vanilli style..... So if you want to listen to folky music or people that didn't make American Idol for obvious reasons- by all means hang out at 4 courts. If you want to watch major sporting events I suggest the following: - Stay far away from the 4 courts overcrowded, overheated, hobbit TVs - Suck it up and head to a real sports bar (eg Mister Days, Baileys, or even Union Jacks) p.s. the kitchen fire has resulted in a mini menu consisting of nothings from a larger yet equally as lame menu.
(1)Mark B.
I have a small place in my heart reserved for 4C's as this is where I learned to appreciate Guinness. My immature taste buds coming out of college required plenty of nights of drinking to hone and differentiate the complex flavors that comes with a properly poured pint of what I like to call Irish elixir. I can't tell you much about the food since i revert back to a liquid diet at this place but who needs food right?
(4)Ryan S.
Like many others, if given the opportunity to give half stars, it would be a 3.5. Others seem to be rounding down, but I'm rounding up because this is one of my regular local bars. My rating is based on the bar alone, I'd have to give it a two or three for food. The good: Decent crowd most nights, but particularly weekends. Low turnover amongst the bar staff, so if you go with any regularity, they will get to know you and you'll get pretty good service even when crowded. It feels pretty much like a real Irish pub as far as decor goes, and much of the staff are Irish ex-pats. The bad: Can be smoky, especially since the smoking ban in DC took effect, the die hard district bar smokers seem to like Four Courts. On nights they have live music, it can be loud, and annoying. They occasionally have decent talent, but more often it is a one man cover act slaughtering the classics. Head to the back bar on those nights!
(4)rosa b.
Another Irish Pub, but an expensive one. The food is fine. The service want's personable but there. It's not a bad place overall. It's just that it has been done too often. It's not a great restaurant. It's not a bad restaurant. It' is high priced. It is like a lot of other Irish pubs.
(3)Jaye V.
My, how Four Courts has grown over the years. When I first moved to DC, it was half the size it is now. It was my neighborhood Irish bar and is a good time with good drinks and often live music. But the reason why I'm writing this review is because of their Irish pub fare. It's actually really good! Probably a million calories, but the pot pie was delicious, comforting, buttery, flaky, and yum. I've had a few other items off the Irish menu that were just as good.
(4)Jeffrey S.
"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows your name." A fine establishment, indeed and my favorite happy hour spot! Drop in on Thursday or Friday and chances are you'll see me at the bar. I might even be drinking out of my own pewter cup. Yes, I am a regular here and for all the reasons why; great staff (look for Mairead, James, Arlene), great drinks, great food, great service!
(5)Chloe F.
I go to this bar about once per year. Not because I try to avoid it, but as a Virginia bar, I just don't make it out there often. The four courts is a good friend's neighborhood bar, so on his birthday, I will journey out, even transferring on the metro, to knock back a couple drinks and enjoy life. So, this past time, we ended up closing down the bar and we all had a great time. The patrons, those who were not with our party, all seem to be pretty nice. The bartenders are super friendly, too. They have no problem pouring us shots of Jim Beam (drink of champions!) and laughing at us, too. I haven't had the food, so can only comment on the bar. I see why people enjoy this place!
(4)christian b.
The pub quiz is the star at ireland's Four Courts. Is this place even open Tuesday thru Sunday? Seriously, the bar is pretty good. The bartenders are friendly and professional, they've got a decent beer selection, and they usually have a good sports game on the tube. The food is atrocious, but if you're going to Ireland's Four Courts for the food . . . I don't know what to say. It's not cheap at all, it's not good at all, and the servers are pretty awful. Go on a Monday night with a handful of friends, order a Smithwicks, and enjoy the pub quiz. Or, go any other night of the week for a beer at the bar. If you're in Clarendon, there are at least 20 better places to eat, so really, why are you eating at Ireland's Four Courts? Oh, and if you're in the pub quiz, don't cheat. You have to be a real loser to cheat at a pub quiz.
(4)Kathleen M.
I've been to Four Courts a couple of times, and I've got nothing to complain about! (which is a big deal, for me, for a bar in...... VIRGINIA.) So, aside from the unfortunate geographic location of the place, I would definitely make it a regular watering hole if I lived around here. The average Saturday night is great, sometimes they have an Irish band which is always a lot of fun. I've met some random people here who've all been "good stock." The food is good, service is typical of that of an Irish bar (a little bit surly but altogether efficient and accurate). Trivia night was a lot of fun, although much less raucous than other trivia nights I've experienced (all in Atlanta, though, so perhaps no basis for comparison?). Annnnnnnd they've got both Smithwick's and Blue Moon on tap, so both sides of my bi-polar beer drinking self can be happy.
(4)Craig R.
I was really surprised at how welcoming everyone was in this pub. If you're by yourself (or waiting for a group), they make no hesitation to come up and speak to you and make you feel welcome. Four Courts really creates a comfortable and welcoming mood. For you soccer fans, they have plasma TVs so you can watch the match(es) of the night. They have a lot of beer on tap as well as bottles. This is one of the only places I've been to where the draught beers are more expensive than the bottled beers. Their happy hour special is only a dollar off all beers. I met up with some other Yelpers on Monday nights to partake in the pub's $5.95 burger and Pub Trivia night. The burger was great (cooked the way you want it) and it came out on a ciabatta roll. Moreover, the fries were killer. I don't remember restaurant fries being this good. If you're a fan of crispy fries, then this is the place to go. They're not overly crispy and they have a nice slight pepper kick to them when they come out on the plate. The only problem was that it's $0.95 to add cheese to your burger. I mean, a dollar for a cheese slice? Come on.
(4)Sugar B.
Since moving to Arlington a year and a half ago 4 Courts has been our Go To for drinks and hang out after work. Our friends behind the bar are fantastic; taking the time to meet us, know my favorite drink and help find my jacket when it goes 'missing'. Going to other bars in Arlington is difficult as 4 Courts has everything we want. The live music Friday evenings is great as well!!
(5)A V.
Food barely mediocre
(1)Richard C.
Monday night is Trivia Night at the Four Courts, and also $5.95 burger night, so what more could you ask for? By 7pm, this place is busy, with the trivia folks trying to snag a good table early on, and people wandering in for a quiet Guinness about to realize that there's nothing quiet about Trivia Night. Despite the craziness, the staff are very courteous and attentive, and go about their business in a very efficient manner. Through the whole evening, nobody's drink was empty before the waitress wandered by asking us if we wanted another. The menu looked fairly comprehensive, although I didn't pay too much attention as I was aiming for the burger anyway. So a burger with cheddar and bacon and... in case you don't know me, I have a thing for wanting a fried egg on my burger - there are a couple of places in the city that have this on the menu, but if they don't, it is something that I ask for - every place in DC has so far refused. In true form though, I ask here too, and to my surprise, "Yes, I think that's something we've done before, no problem" - there was much jubilation and dancing on the tables and renditions of Danny Boy... OK, maybe not, but there was definite happiness. The burger arrived, and I have to say this (and not purely because there was an egg on it), but the burger was up there in the top 3 burgers I've had in bars/restaurants. It was served on a ciabatta roll, which I love burgers to be served on, the egg was over-medium, which is the perfect way to cook an egg for a burger if you haven't been told how to cook it (over-easy for me - that bad boy should be dripping down your fingers!), the burger was juicily delicious, and there was just the right amount of cheese and bacon - bravo Four Courts! With burger in stomach, and the Guinness flowing, it made for a fun trivia night, with team-names like "Touched By An Uncle" and "Harry Potter Spoiler - Harry Gets Syphilis", you can tell the sort of crowd that it attracts. So, Sir Richard, this seems like a 5-star review, why only 4? Very good question, whoever that was. As the burger came out, I commented that just for letting me have the egg, how could I give the place anything but 5-stars. The check... Yep, the check can often ruin a good night, and it can also lose you a nice big red Yelp-star. The check arrives, my burger is $5.95, the extra toppings of cheese and bacon are $0.95 each, and the egg is... $2.95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the exclamations, but I would have used BIG font if it would let me. 3 bucks for a freakin' egg - are you kidding me??? Did the chef have to lay the damn thing himself??? I was dumbfounded - and in fact, this morning, I'm still dumbfounded - so much so that I went to the fridge just now, and I think I'm going to sell my eggs on Ebay so I can afford a nice overseas trip, or a new car... Well Four Courts, thanks for being the first place in DC that has taken me up on the burger-egg challenge, but the shock at how much you charge for cooking one egg means that I sadly won't be returning for a repeat performance... (and I won't be trying brunch too soon either, as I'm guessing I'll have to remortgage my home first...) ***UPDATE*** We returned for another Quiz Night, and I decided to try the burger routine again - straight up, burger, cheese bacon and egg - the waitress didn't even flinch, and neither did the check - no fried egg to be seen. So this now means my egg is averaging at $1.47 over the two trips - one more good trip, and I might find where I put that star.
(4)Ali L.
Here's the thing, this place seems nice enough if you ever want to hang out in a bar in Virginia. The layout is kind of cool and really spacious, though with all that space they still manage to have fairly small tables and booths.... If you can ignore the band/people/whoever it was ruining Tainted Love it seems like it would be a cool place to hang out if you live in VA. It definitely had the vibe of a place the locals would frequent. So what's the downside? The service. The bouncer lets people without IDs in and then instructs the waitress that people in the party are "underage," when in fact they are of age but simply did not have their IDs at the time. One of the ID-less patrons allowed in by the bouncer knowing very well they had no ID, drinks what was literally just cranberry juice and for some reason water is accused by an angry and hostile waitress of drinking "underage" and is forced to leave. When the owner is approached about the situation he is unsure of what to say or do stating that VA law makes it illegal for him to serve alcohol to someone "underage" (no duh) but misses the point entirely about the bouncer at his bar allowing ID-less patrons in to begin with as well as the fact that the hostility, anger, and rudeness of the waitress was completely inappropriate, uncalled for, and nonconstructive.
(2)Dwight S.
half price appetizers, blue moon. Tuesday is fish and chips night, love it.
(5)Sharmili E.
I wish we could give half star ratings, as I would definitely give Four Courts a four and a half stars out of five, but I had to round up. I love this place. It is, without a doubt, my neighborhood bar. I often joke that I moved to the neighborhood so I could go to Four Courts. However, there is a half kernel of truth to that. I have been coming to Four Courts since probably 2003 or 2004, when I lived in Foggy Bottom. I have been going to trivia, on Monday nights, since then. I am by no means an old timer in comparison to many of the others who are regulars. So, I love this place - the servers are friendly, the bartenders are great, and the management is very conscientious. There are very few things on the menu that I would never eat, and those items are solely because I don't actually eat a certain ingredient in them, and not because the dish is bad. The sliders are awesome, as are the burgers (I am a big fan of the ciabatta bun, but it only works at Four Courts for some reason). The Irish chili nachos are amazing - I can't begin to describe them, except to say this appetizer could also double as dinner for two people. During the snowstorms, Four Courts put their staff up in nearby locations and was able to stay open. I may have spent far too much money and time, but it truly is a neighborhood bar. I met so many neighbors and got to know the staff even better, and the quality of the food did not diminish, even while they tried to maintain a menu with what remained in their diminishing stocks, as we ate and drank everything and deliveries struggled to get in. I threw my husband's 30th birthday party at Four Court's. They went out of their way to make everything special, including a surprise round of birthday shots. Also, their catering menu has these mashed potato and corned beef balls that are AMAZING. I can't begin to describe how much I love this place and its focus on encouraging a relationship with the neighborhood.
(5)Shawn H.
On a Friday evening, with any decent weather, the Four Courts is overrun with the type of people who, if the bar ran out of Michelob Ultra and was forced to serve nothing but Guinness, would not notice if the Guinness was poured incorrectly. This is not always a bad thing, but I'd suggest those of you who prefer an atmosphere a little less riotous than a Wal-Mart on Black Friday avoid the bar during the after-work happy hour rush. During the week, Four Courts is a great place to drop by with a handful of friends and have dinner or a drink. The food is pretty standard American-Irish pub fare, with solid fish & chips and a shepherd's pie that's served at just the right temperature. If you're a fan of soccer, Irish rules football, rugby, or pretty much any Euro sport, you can probably find it playing here on the weekends, although I'm hard pressed to suggest you come here rather than Summer's if your goal is to catch the game.
(4)Dan S.
When Dremo's closed shop, Four Courts became my "default" neighborhood bar but it soured on me pretty quickly. The bar setup sucks, the front bar has a half-wall a few feet behind the bar, which is nice when it is semi-busy and you can stick your drink there. Problem is, the place is always packed and getting to the bar or the restroom requires coming into physical contact with no less than 35 people, half of whom will be smoking. There is very very little room to stand near the bar as most of the space is taken up by tables. The food is average at best and is expensive. Beer on tap includes the usual and boring Guinness/Bass/Smithwicks/Yuengling. And it's expensive. Service is always slow. They have live music some nights, it's always been a dude and an acoustic guitar, either doing typical cover stuff or folksy Irish tunes. I've never been impressed and judging by the crowd most nights, neither have they. They have trivia Monday nights, which can be fun, but be prepared to be there for 2+ hours if you want to do the whole thing, they go unbelievable slow due to the huge number of teams. And don't think your winning anything, there are a few teams of regulars that put up ridiculous scores. They only saving grace of this bar is when you can secure some space in the back room (non-smoking), away from the packed front bar, but this area is reserved much of the time. Oh, and if you like watching UK soccer, you will probably like this bar a lot more than I do.
(2)AN D.
I am addicted to their seven layer dip. SO GOOD. Trivia night is also very fun. Be sure to check their website for events before you go, cause if there is something going on, it can get a little difficult to hear your friends. I really like this place. Nice atmosphere, food, drinks, and I feel very at home :). Definitely recommend.
(4)Jay P.
I am writing in regards to my recent service at the four courts bar in Rosslyn (Arlington) today for St. Patricks Day. This was my 1st time there and I was looking forward to having a great day out with some friends and co-workers. My first few hours there was a fantastic time...got there around 2:30pm. Friendly staff, and bartenders just bringing out the beers as fast as they could with amazing attitude. I had a bar tab at the front bar (when you first walk in it's the bar to your immediate right) and there was a wonderful lady who was serving us for the first few hours. We ventured out to the rear of the bar and eventually ended up outside where the porta pottys were and we had a blast just talking among ourselves and enjoying the amazing weather out. Unfortunately, this is when I had the most horrific experience I have ever had in terms of bartender service. Around 5-6pm I went to the front bar (the same bar that I was talking about when you first walk in) and there was a different guy there serving drinks. He was a middle aged man (around 35-45 yrs old), had short dirty blonde hair (or light brown), and seemed to be a gentlemen. I went up to the bar once there was a free space and stood with my friend there waiting for service. I waited for about 5 minutes, while he served 3-4 people around me. 10 minutes went by and he served the guy to the immediate left of me, then the guy to the immediate right of me, and then the guys to the way far end of the bar. 15 minutes went by and he had served a total of probably 15 people that were around us. it was about that time that I pulled my wallet out and had it open on the bar (I was still smiling by the way) waiting for him to acknowledge me. He glanced at me....which is when I knew that he KNEW I was standing right there waiting for his attention. I was excited when this had happened because I knew he knew that he had forgotten about me and that he would serve me. However, this wasn't the case. He continuously decided to not serve me and served the guy to the immediate left of me (for the 3rd time), to the guy to the immediate right of me (for X amount of times), and the guys to the far side of the tables again. It came to the point that anyone would walk up to the bar and they would get their order in while I stood there with my wallet in hand. It was at that moment where I started to get annoyed. I had waved to the bartender after 25 minutes of waiting and had told him "Excuse me Sir, I have waited for almost a half an hour for service here and I believe that you have forgotten me". He responded with "If you haven't noticed, we have been pretty busy". So I said "Sir you have noticed me here for quite some time and I'm not sure what the problem is". This is when he responded with "#@!$ YOU!!!". I went outside to greet my friends with no beer in hand and they said I should complain to the manager. Around 6-7pm right before we left I went to the bar to close out my tab. I brought a friend with me so he could close it out for me (knowing that if I were to try to close it myself....the bartender would pay me no attention so that I couldn't close it...which in turn I would pay 20% in tip fees because of their policy). So my friend pretended to be me and closed out my tab. This other bartender (a lady) came up to us and closed it out...and my friend gave me my bar tab to put a tip on it. I put a big fat $0.00 on there and wrote on the back of it (a paragraph) the kind of service I received. I personally gave the bar tab to the bartender and said I would appreciate it if she gave it to the manager. I saw her run to the other bartender that I originally had a problem with to show him what I had wrote, and that's when I left the bar with my friends. Whether or not she had given the manager the note? I have no clue. Now I'm not sure what to think of this as, but this is easily the worst experience I have ever had at a bar, P.E.R.I.O.D. I really want to say that race has nothing to do with it (I am an Asian American), but it's hard not to put that on the plate considering I was the only Asian American there at the bar at that given time. I have been going to bars in the Arlington area for over 6 years now, and this has easily been the worst experience I have ever had in any country and I can't stress this enough. Most of the time I would let things go since I'm a really easy going person. However, this has really annoyed me to the point to where I'm sitting at home after our St. Patrick's party complaining about this horrible experience. I never take the time to express my disgust for a place, but this has gone way too far and even after 3 hours after the experience am I still annoyed at the whole situation. Other than the poor service that I received late in the afternoon, I had a great time. It is a very lively, friendly, and overall an amazing place to hold any kind of get together. VR, Jay P
(2)Mike b.
I was actually googling to double check what time happy hour started and I noticed negative reviews which is why I'm writing this. There are a lot of things I like about this bar which is why I favor it more than the other stuff along Wilson/Clarendon. 1) Its big 2) The outdoor seating area is big 3) The food is reasonably priced, especially during happy hour 4) You can always get a drink here even when the bar is super crowded since the bartenders are quality 5) They have more than 1 game on so you can always find the tv with your game somewhere. The only reason its not a five is because of beer prices. I usually run up a good tab here which is why I try not to go more than once a week or two. I love the food here though especially the burgers or sliders. They even have Reuben sliders, i mean come on how awesome is that.
(4)Audra K.
Noisy, when there's a soccer game on TV! Good brunch (they'll customize their abbreviated menu, if you ask). Great fresh salsa! Solid food, in general. Spicy Bloody Mary's. Beer (duh)! Convenient location across from Court House METRO on the Orange line. Good meeting place... but hard to follow a group conversation. Not bad!
(3)Johnny Gal M.
This is our neighborhood pub and we love it. Food is so-so but by no means bad. Live music is nice background noise and never too loud. Waitstaff is good. I love the outside tables and bring my pup when it's warm. We had my husband's birthday party in the James Joyce room and had a great experience there. They let us have half the room for no charge or room fee and our party did separate checks. (The room has its own bar). We ordered wings, sliders, hummus, and chocolate cake -- all the prices were reasonable. The sliders were yummy.
(4)JT H.
Awesome Food. The chicken club is to die for and they serve a great Guinness. The Irish ex-pat bartenders are also a big treat. Management is great as well, as they are sure to stop out and greet patrons whenever possible. One star is deducted for the one miserable bar tender who could moonlight as a serial killer. Could also use some more females there. Two thumbs up from the Chicken Connoisseur.
(4)Jennifer S.
3.5 stars really, but who's counting? Let me preface this by saying, I am NOT a fan of Irish bars and the accompanying Irish folk songs (live music Tues - Sun) that inevitably get sung by the crowd, but if I had to choose in the DC area, this one would be in my top three. When I first started going there (drinks only, please - and only when outnumbered) it was this tiny little Irish place that really packed them in. They were fortunate enough to be able to purchase the hardware store next to them and expand the space significantly. I feel like the space is somewhat disjointed now, but it makes life much more pleasant when you aren't having the air squeezed out of your lungs regularly from those trying to get by. They serve all the typical Irish fare you would expect, as well as some specials, but I steer clear. The patio out front is always packed, especially during lunch and Sunday brunch. And it is VERY close to the orange line stop in Courthouse.
(4)J L.
So this review is just based on drinks and atmosphere... I went here about 2 weeks back to meet up with a couple friends for drinks. It was friday night and the place was somewhat busy but not suffocating. As you walk in, you will see a traditional bar. Smokey, dark hardwoods, dim lights. It is something that has long been forgotten. We initially opted for a table as several members of our party were planning on eating. Even though that did not happen, the wait staff were very attentive and the manager even came over to ask if we were having a good time. We moved into the bar section about the same time a singer was about to start. The guy sang just about anything except one fans cries for free bird. This was actually met with a middle finger and get the hell out of here. He was good, covering most bar songs and favorites that you could sing along too. The drinks were probably the best part of the night. Since I have yet to get back, I don't know if the bartenders were just being nice or if the Guinness there was actually $5.50 but regardless my tab at the end of the night was a thing of beauty. About the only drawback is the limited bar area. It is long and narrow, only providing some standing room. 4.0 stars - Definitely worth checking out
(4)Kenneth L.
This is a great neighborhood bar that happens to have an Irish theme. It brings a little bit of Ireland along to town and it's genuine Irish. Food is good, tender steak and fresh vegetables. Smoking is allowed here so there's always mist surrounding the pub.
(3)Derrick L.
A kind of cookie-cutter Irish pub, but I like it. I've had better Irish/English food, but it's reliable. I watch football matches here or at Kitty O'Shea's down the street... a little on the quieter side, but that's fine with me.
(4)Jeremy A.
A great neighborhood place- super happy hour deals. I go in the evenings with my family (5 year old), sit on the patio, and enjoy Guinness and 1/2 price appetizers. Great price and great atmosphere!
(4)Ryan S.
The food here was excellent and they had a great selection of beer. However, the service was absolutely horrible especially for a Tuesday night. It took them forever to bring our check. And for me, service outweighs the food or beer any day so I doubt I will be revisiting.
(2)Carolyn B.
I had fun at Four Courts for New Years and trivia, but I just had brunch here over the weekend and was very disappointed. Overpriced, small selection. Go here to drink at night, not to eat during the day.
(2)Kyle B.
Been here a couple times and I have enjoyed it everytime. However, last night was the first time I ate there. Avoid the hummus at all costs. They put salsa on top of it! I don't know what I was thinking ordering hummus at an Irish-American bar.
(3)Sean C.
I went here on the Sunday evening after the DC St. Patrick's Day parade expecting the typical St. Pat's revelry, but was a little disappointed that they seemed to be planning on that for Monday and the Sunday evening was just a regular Sunday evening. They did have live music, which started off a little rough, but got better as the evening went on. They do pour a proper pint and they serve Powers Irish Whiskey. I do wish there was no smoking though. I have grown accustomed to avoiding the smoke smell on the clothes and all and really like it that way. Still a very good Irish bar.
(4)C. W.
What's not to like? Good location, lots of room, a couple of bars in the place. Solid traditional irish and american bar food. Laid back atmosphere and good decor. Very welcoming and friendly staff. It's the kind of place you could bring your parents to during the day and then get sloppy at later in the night. I really like multi-fuctional restaurants/bars like this. I've never been to Ireland but Four Courts fits my mental image of the pub experience pretty darn well.
(4)Salty S.
I'll try and keep this short and useful. They should stop serving food and stick to being just a bar. Bartenders were great and hilarious (always a bonus). Really, that's the reason for one star. Beyond that - the food is just terrible. Fish and Chips (a good benchmark) was low quality and soggy. For the love of god - at least learn how to fry something crispy! A friend indicated that the shepherd pie was delicious, but alas she (yes a 100lb woman) had to order additional food b/c the portion was so small. I won't be returning unless I'm thirsty and not hungry!
(1)Jane B.
We are Californians and last October we reserved Ireland Four Courts dining rooms for a rehearsal and out of towners' dinner the night before our son's wedding. When news of the April kitchen fire reached us, we were wondering what we would do. The worry was not ours, as David Cahill and his staff put on an amazing dinner buffet, enhanced by white table cloths and fresh flowers on the tables.Our eighty guests loved the place, the food, and the great Irish ambiance. Ireland Four Courts set the mood for a joyful wedding weekend, and we will return on our next visit.
(5)Rebecca S.
Mellow atmosphere, great Friday night crowd and excellent music. The bartenders are very attentive and friendly. An aunthentic Irish bar with Irish songs and irish employees. The potato soup is delicious and you can purchase your own mug to refill and keep at the bar. Overall a real good time.
(4)Ken C.
I was surprise that it wasn't that crowd before 10pm. We saw few groups of single ladies that was sitting around for happy hour/dinner, food is OK, but not the greatest food. Definitely will go back because didn't get the chance to listen to the live band and talk to any ladies...
(3)Jeremy D.
You got to love the Four Courts! Great Guinness Stew. Good corned beef and cabbage. Live Irish music. Two big rooms. Mug club. Play soccer matches on their flat screen TVs. Lots of comfy places to sit and chat with friends. Good deals for happy hour. Across the street from the Courthouse metro stop. Great time.
(4)Paul S.
I don't think I've ever eaten food at an Irish place and thought "that hit the spot". Four Courts doesn't buck that trend but atleast the menu doesn't break your bank. I'd give the food a 2 and the bar a 3.5.
(3)may f. r.
Wow, the WORST hamburgers and fries I've ever had. how do you screw up a burger, and it stinks in there. nothing but a bunch of smelly drunk guys scratching themselves and watching sports.
(1)Andrew K.
fun, big, lively place - good live 90's cover band on a thursday night - stellar key lime pie - service was nonchalant, and overall, quite middling.
(3)Eva C.
Always a great time to be had there..never made it on trivia night, but did for the live music. I was never disappointed. I love the place.
(4)Todd F.
Another quality local Arlington institution. I left town before they finished construction on the space next door they bought to expand the place. This was so necessary since my only real beef with the place was how crowded the bar area was. There were only a few spots you could camp out where you wouldn't get bumped and elbowed by people trying to gain passage all night. Kind of reminiscent of a gauntlet.
(4)esther o.
The food and service are fine, but what keeps me coming back is the atmosphere--always lots of people around just there to hang out and have a good time.
(3)Ed L.
Lots of atmosphere and some great medium priced meals.
(4)Emily W.
I was very disappointed at first because i wanted an omelet and they do not have any on the menu. So I ordered the hummus platter, which was by far the best hummus I have ever had. Also the service was great, friendly and accommodating.
(5)Rod R.
It was decent. A little bland. I had the chicken pot pie which was tiny for a big guy. The wings were decent. The kabob was chewy, burnt, and just not very much food for the money...the waitress made it ok but she was so overworked she was almost running from one end to the other while others wandered aimlessly about...disappointing after reading reviews.
(2)Swetha G.
I must be the only weirdo to drink wine at an Irish bar but nonetheless that's what I ordered when I recently went to Ireland's Four Courts for a university alumni event. Btw, the place was excellent for large groups (LOTS of room!). As for the wine, it was a house red, not sure if it was cab, pinot or something else, but whatever they gave me, was very good. I also sampled some bar food and everything was delicious. The staff is super nice and the venue is conveniently located only a block away from the Courthouse metro. Great spot for HH or a dinner straight from work, fun atmosphere!
(4)Miriam W.
$5.95 is a steal for the juicy burger available (at a discount) at Ireland's Four Courts on Monday nights. This meaty treat comes on a fresh ciabatta bun and despite being great value Ireland's Four Courts doesn't skimp a bit when it comes to its quality. Even on busy quiz nights (Mondays), service is steady and attentive though the staff, thankfully, never hovers.
(4)A W.
I was very impressed with Ireland's Four Courts when I recently held a private dinner there. Erinne and her team went above and beyond my expectations (especially for a pub!). When we arrived, the area for our dinner had been sectioned off with curtains so it was more private. There were flowers on the tables, and they even received a delivery of favors and set them at each place setting. Custom menus had been created for our dinner too. Erinne was very easy to work with via email and was always on top of being organized! The food was great, especially the corned beef and cabbage!
(5)Chris M.
A nice place for a pint, saw some live open-mike night music, overall a solid Irish Pub. Service was friendly,my bartender was from Ireland, which gives the place an authentic touch. Pushing 4 stars but not quite there.
(3)Rachel B.
Will always be one of my favorite bars. Having spent time in Ireland, feels very authentic. Atmosphere is busy, lively, and loud almost ball the time. Young, urban, locals, regulars. Buy a mug to get deals on beer, enjoy live music, and open mic, altho karaoke on sundays can get painful. The bar food is above par- try the hummus. Always have a variety of sports on the tvs, & a much better place to catch a soccer game than summers across the street.
(5)Ben T.
One of my Arlington favorites! They have a great brunch, great staff, great drinks and a great atmosphere. You can catch me here pretty regularly. Generally, four courts is not over crowded (except st. patty's day). Their food is alright with the exception on brunch when its delicious, and their drinks are always fantastic coming from their awesome bar staff. Go, have fun at Four Court's!
(5)Billgrolic G.
The place for a good pint and watching premier league. Only Sunday buffet I know that has shepherds pie, and it's good.
(4)Lisa B.
There are few true neighborhood pubs in the DC/NOVA area where the food tastes home-cooked (and is reasonably priced!), the atmosphere is welcoming, and the servers are spunky and fun while providing consistently excellent service. Ireland's Four Courts does all of this. Amazingly, it also seems to wear many different hats and wear them well -- You can sit by the cozy fireplace on a cold night for a great date night location (musical performers start at 9), or watch international sporting events with exuberant (ok, completely raucus) fans at the bar, or meet a group of friends after work for Happy Hour from 4-8 for half price appetizers and drink specials. The pub food menu items are totally worth the calories and taste real rather than like processed food "fresh" off the Sysco food truck (the mainstay of restaurant chains these days), the Buffalo wings are THE BEST YOU WILL EVER TASTE (hint: ask for sauce on the side if you don't like them too spicy), and the Irish dishes (Corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, Shepherd's Pie) are hearty and flavorful. If you want to save your calories for the beer, there is a nice selection of salads that are big enough to share. Although my hubby and I enjoy trying new bars and restaurants, Four Courts is the only place we consistently return to. It is what a neighborhood pub should be.
(5)Chris H.
Pretty much my default when I'm looking to grab a beverage with friends and want things quiet enough to chat but loud enough for privacy. The nooks and crannies created by the back bar and the tight channel of a front bar are as distinctly Irish as most of the amazing bartenders here. Food is generally pretty tasty (I'm partial to the Shepherd's Pie) and the happy hour special includes half price apps and $3 Peronis, which is trouble. Also, a fabulous place to catch a soccer game especially for Liverpool fans. If chowing Irish breakfast with "You'll Never Walk Alone" over the loudspeaker and a Guinness in hand on weekend mornings sounds like a good time, I'd make your way to Four Courts.
(4)Ash S.
Good old Irish bar. Nothing special, but service was great at the bar, and free wifi was a nice touch.
(4)Lauren V.
Right off the metro! Very awesome. My friends and I went to Ireland Four Courts to meet up with a friend/brother. Inside there is a long bar and across from the bar another counter with stools. Behind that there are tables and chairs set up for some game-watching. There wasn't a game to watch while we were there so we mostly sat and chatted the bartender and manager. Very nice folks. As we sat, chatted and tossed back rounds of shots and beers we got the idea to sit outside. Unfortunately, you have to be sat (by a hostess) AND eating. Kinda messed with our liquid diet lunch plans and so we trooped back inside. (This was only slightly annoying as there were plenty of empty tables and I am pretty sure our tab would have equaled if not exceeded any parties' that paid for food. But whatever.) Is it bad to give an extra star for the Red Sox representation on the wall? Does anyone in DC even root for the Nationals? (I am sorry, Natinals.) I don't know, but the banner was appreciated anyways. IFC seems like a great place to hit on a lazy afternoon, not sure how it would rank as a destination bar. Four solid stars.
(4)Krissy W.
After a miserable experience at a nearby bar last night, I called IFC to see if we could get seated there instead. Keep in mind, it was a birthday party of ~15 people and 10 p.m. on a Saturday night. Not only were they happy to accommodate our party, we had awesome seats waiting for us right by the singer. Our waitress was told of the birthday ahead of time by the hostess, and greeted the birthday girl, which was really sweet. Service was great, very friendly, and the music was a plus. Highly recommend! :)
(5)Truthful Y.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon for their wings special and had great customer service and good wings. I had the double fried wings and sweet chili and both were tasty. The waiter was very courteous and my friend got the Malbec which was pretty good for an Irish pub.
(3)Dennis M.
The food is always great. I've had the lamb stew, chicken pot pie and the fish and chips on different occasions. All very tasty and the service is very friendly. Go on a Monday night for trivia. But it is highly recommended to have three or four people to a team. The questions can be varied and more heads are better.
(4)Koko O.
I love Four Courts so much, I wanna have like 10,000 of its babies. It's always great to go to an Irish bar where a lot of the employees have Irish accents. I mean, it's not mandatory but it makes me feel better. Four Courts is my neighborhood bar. I come and go at inconsitent intervals (every thursday and some saturdays for a month, then nothing for 2 months, etc). The employees here may not remember your name everytime, but they always remember your face (which is helpful when the bar is crowded). They treat their regulars with familial love and it's always appreciated. "What kin-a gitcha, love?" it reminds me of me own mum sometimes. I held my bday HH here last year, I puked on the floor in the front bar and no one hassled me. God, I love this bar so hard! I'm a Guiness lover--it's our family beer--but Four Courts turned me on to cider beer, Magners. Ask them and they'll tell you that it has a higher alcohol content than American beers, so in your face! One thing that makes Four Courts so unique is that hey have the smoking and non smoking bars...both are equally awesome and people can smoke inside in the winter or find a safe haven from the second hand smoke. Finally, Four Courts is a soccer/futbol bar that doesn't charge covers for games, unlike that OTHER bar across the street, I'll just call it "Winters."
(5)Robert H.
Four Courts is a bar that has really good food. Unlike most bars that serve food, I would eat here even if I wasn't drinking. All of their appetizers are pretty good, and I am particularly fond of the cheese fries (which are called the Four Courts fries or Courts fries or something, and are the perfect artery clogging combination of cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing). Their burgers and pies (chicken and shepherds) are also standout. When you come to Four Courts, you have two options. You can either sit at their large bar area, or you can sit in the restaurant area. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. In the bar area, the service is great (their bartenders are top notch) and the area is comfortable. However, the bar tends to be crowded and full of an insular group of unwelcoming regulars. In the restaurant area, you are much more likely to be able to eat and stretch your legs. However, they frequently do not have enough waitstaff manning the tables, so the service can be slow (I was once seated and did not see a waiter for 15 minutes before I walked out). What really has set this place apart for me, though, is the lengths to which the management is willing to go to make a customers' experience a good one. The place has been setting about to identify itself as a New England sports place (Patriots and Red Sox), and I frequently come ensconced in a Pats jersey or Sox hat. The manager has always made a point of helping me get seated in an area that has a good view of the game I sought to watch. I am by no means a Four Courts top customer (they have a ton of regulars), so I don't think this VIP treatment is because I am some kind of big spender there. I would highly recommend this bar to anybody, but since it's frequently crowded it gets four stars.
(4)Cadence R.
Four Courts was on my bad side before I even arrived. I had received a frantic text from Alicia C. when she arrived because they were telling her that reservations were required. Seriously NoVa? What's with your ridiculous reservation requirements? I told her just to plead and usually that works. I guess it did because when I arrived a few minutes later we had a table and managed to snag ourselves another one. I had some sort of unremarkable and definitely unmemorable burger and the place was too crowded for my tastes. Over 50 teams and only a few speakers made it difficult to hear (not helped by the super loud people sitting next to us) and the rounds were all just general knowledge. I enjoy when they have specific themes because then you can kind of know who might be the go to person for that round. We all have our areas and mine definitely doesn't involve just general knowledge. Presidential history and current events are more up my alley! Anyway, back to Four Courts. It just was a huge meh experience. Too many teams led to no score updates, took too long in general and there were a lot of cutthroat teams that would do anything to win. I'm more about just having fun, so I guess this wasn't really my scene.
(2)Michelle P.
2.5 stars I have been to Ireland's Four Courts numerous times and the #1 thing i can say is that there are far too many people here! Every time i'm here the place is packed and loud and crowded. Not my cup of tea! The only time i enjoyed myself here was an afternoon lunch at 11 on a Sunday when were were the only people in the bar. Other than that, its just too loud Trivia is chaotic and stressful. Some of the rounds are absolutely impossible and it takes the fun out of it. With fifty some teams, seven rounds of trivia takes 2.5 hours! Its a little nuts. The place is noisy, its often hard to hear the waitress and apparantly reservations are required. Just to answer some questions? The food i've had here is pretty limited to the hummus, which is grainy and spicy. Not how i like it. And comes with like two carrots, a cucumber slice and a couple slices of ok pita bread. It definitely must be eaten with a spoon by the end. I will say the server we had was really friendly and worked really hard to make sure that our glasses were never empty. I think i'm just too old and its too crazy for me to go here on a regular or even semi regular basis
(2)Alicia C.
2.5 stars Came here for the trivia night with yelpers. Little did we know, the night we chose to come was their trivia finals (complete with trophies and everything). When greeted at the door, the hostess asked if we had a reservation. (Reservation? for trivia? seriously?) Well... we didn't have one... but luckily Kevin and I were able to grab a 4-top while waiting for others to get there. Eventually we were also able to snag another table when the guy sitting next to us finished his meal. But the place was ridiculously packed... with somewhere along the lines of 40+ teams! Needless to say it was a long night (I was just glad they didn't do score updates after every round!). The food was meh... got the burger (part of their Monday night specials)... I've had worse, but I've also definitely had better. Bonus points to our waitress who did a pretty good job with keeping everyone happy and drinks full all night. But the place was loud making it hard to hear the questions. Won't be adding this to my list of fav trivia nights.
(3)Chip B.
Decent food and hit or miss on service. I only go when all my friends go in a big group. Never been a huge fan of the Clarendon scene, and especially since Dr. Dremo closed.
(3)Jeff W.
2.5 stars Judging on two trivia experiences, IFC is not at the top of my list of places to go. They give away some great prizes, but it's far too crowded and loud to get much enjoyment out of it. I prefer smaller, more intimate trivia settings, but this one just feels like a giant Bingo hall in the shape of a fake irish pub/restaurant. Plus, some of the rounds are absolutely ridiculous and if one team happens to know a lot about musicians stage names vs. real names, then you're pretty much screwed and have very little chance of coming back. And not to judge a place strictly on trivia alone, the food isn't anything special, and I could get the same drinks anywhere, and definitely cheaper. Hummus is really bizarre, and is more like a generic "Mediterranean" flavored salad dressing...with salsa on top. What the heck? The burgers looked decent, but the fries are ho-hum frozen bagged fries. The waitstaff that I've had has always been very fast and efficient, but that's not enough to really boost my opinion of Four Court's. It's just a very average place to me, but I dock it a half star for being so unjustifiably crowded and cramped. Doubt I'll be returning.
(2)Amir A.
As you know, I am a fan of Fish and Chips and I had my lunch today there, it was so cool place and crowded with Football fans, and I loved the place, because I was talking loudly and nobody say anything to me .. lol ... Everyone was busy watching the Football ! Beside the Fish and Chips, were not at the same as Fresh Grill in Bethesda and the later still the Best till now ! Indeed this one of Four Courts, the type of fish were crispy and juicy from inside and the problem is, it needs little of salt and some certain seasoning, the Tartar sauce was really the reason of giving 4 stars instead of 5, and I usually give 5 stars or more (if you have Mr.Yelp) ! The Fries were regular too, not creative fries like Fresh Grill in Bethesda, even it is not like McDonalds, just normal Fries ! The waitress was really respectful and she was a hard worker, she made sure that we are enjoying the meal ! One star is for her ... Let us count the Stars ... One for enjoying the place, two for the fish and chips, one for the waitress ! I would love to give more guys ! But I think because I had Fish and Chips only, I didn't try other stuff ! I am sorry but I will change my mind next time if I visit ... Promise you ... Thanks a lot for the great hospitality ! love the place ..
(4)Tony P.
A good pub/restaurant with high ceilings and iconic decor. There's a lot of room and it seems to get packed even on a weeknight. They pour a good black and tan and the service was attentive. I came here with the yelp trivia crew and we had a good time. The noise level can be pretty high so it may not be the best spot for intimate outings.
(3)Diana W.
I met up with a long lost facebook friend while I was on the annual DC business trip. This wasn't supposed to be dinner, so we just ordered drinks and appetizers. The potato skins with corned beef were SO AWESOME! Five layer dip was really good too. I got some sort of froofy rum drink, which was fine, and the beer pour was perfect. Our service was a little slow, but it was pretty busy. I went up to the bar to get change and I was completely ignored, though some dude with an expensive suit and a blackberry did try to hit on me while I was standing there.
(4)Erin W.
I hosted my fiancé's birthday party here in the private room and would highly recommend Four Courts to anyone looking for a private party location in the Courthouse area. Our guests had a great time, and Erinn and her staff really went above and beyond in taking care of us and making sure that everything went smoothly. The food and drinks were great, we had our own bar area and always had prompt service, and the cost was very reasonable. I could not have asked for a better location for the party, and all of the staff members were accommodating in every way. If you're looking for a place with good service, food and drinks as well as a location where you can relax, sit down, and actually hear your friends talking to you, definitely go for Four Courts.
(5)Jennifer G.
A couple of weeks ago, actually quite a few weeks ago we stopped by Summers on a Saturday morning for some soccer. It was to be the start of an alcohol and sports oriented day. Soccer in the morning and baseball at night. The game in question was the Rays and the Red Sox, with the Red Sox on the brink of elimination. The winner of the game would go on to face the Phillies in the World Series. I'm a Phillies fan and definitely wanted to see this game to see what we would be up against. We hadn't decided on a spot to watch the baseball game at but it was decided for us when we looked across the street from Summers and noticed a Red Sox sign at Ireland's Four Courts. It would be a perfect place to watch the game! We returned to Arlington that evening and walked into Ireland's Four Courts. I liked it. It was big and felt like a cool place, it just gave me a good vibe. We looked to our right and there were a bunch of folks from the UK watching soccer and I figured it was only a matter of moments before I lost R for the night. We approached the bar which was full but folks were nice enough to lean to the side to allow you to get the bartender's attention and get your drinks. I believe I drank Harp. It must have been good, otherwise I'd remember it better. We waited in close proximity of the area where the soccer was being replayed until a table opened. It was perfect! We had good beer, in a good bar and R got to watch some more soccer. As game time for the baseball approached the place got a little frenzied! It was loaded with Sox fans! There was a bit of a hiccup with the game starting on time so we missed a bit of the first inning but once it was on it was a good time in the bar. Sadly, it wasn't a good result for the Sox fans but they took it in stride. R and I ordered dinner which for me consisted of fish and chips and a shepherds pie for him. My fish and chips were alright, I've had better elsewhere. R's shepherd's pie was delicious though. It took a good hour to be cool enough to consume without getting 2nd degree burns in your mouth (but he loves his food hot!) but it was a very good dish. I see this place as probably being a rip roaring good time on St. Patty's Day. I don't think I'd come back for the food (although I am willing to give it another try) I would come back for the bar. Fun crowd, good beer, nice spot!
(4)Alisa M.
This place is nasty. The inside smells like the inside of an enclosed ash tray box that has never been emptied..... for fifty years. I stopped in there once for five minutes, it was really five minutes too long. I did have breakfast there on a previous occassion an it was ok. We did not go inside, just sat on the front porch under the umbrellas. I had an omlette and orange juice, food was ok. Just ok. I could have made better at home and i do not claim to be a chef. I'll probably never go there again, it just doesnt seem sanitary. Save your money or go to georgetown bagel next door. For drinking this place is probably okay. Alot of people seem to like it. I would just advise, drink on the patio and sit outside. If you have to go inside, just don't touch anything and you will be okay.
(1)Sean T.
Ireland's Four Courts was the fourth stop of our Third Quarter Irish Pub Crawl, and the place was pretty packed by the time we made it here (thankfully, it's fairly spacious inside). The place has standard pub décor with a great back bar. They had good live music the night we were in, and the crowd was definitely into it - singing along and shouting requests. Our bar service was fantastic, but we did have a local Irish barman join our merry band along the way, so we may have received preferential treatment. I'll definitely visit the Four Corners again.
(4)Tyler A.
This place is solid, they have setanta sports showing key rugby/football matches, a good crowd during big games and the guiness is good. It's got lots of nooks and crannies, some days have better vibes than others - I hate it when people think that open space in the back is a dance floor, seriously? It's an irish pub, sit and drink a guiness! Food is not the best, so don't eat here, drink here. Once had a fish and chips that was basically in corn dog batter. Seriously, I hope it's improved since, but again, beer is plenty good.
(3)Brianne C.
Let's start Round 4, the Celebrity Lesbians round. Ooooh, this is what you came for, isn't it? Yeah, that's a nice category. This was the blaring announcement that served as my introduction to trivia night at Ireland's Four Courts. Unfortunately, things did not improve much. The questions were not challenging, the announcer was crass and annoying, the drinks were watered down, and the music between rounds was too loud. However, our server was great, and our burgers (which were fine but nothing special) came in a flash, as the kitchen rush had passed. Teams are limited to four people, which lends some parity to the challenge. And, we managed to snag a table even though we arrived late. But, we're still looking for the perfect trivia night fit. Yikes!
(2)Liam O.
This place is a solid three stars. I work right next door and so there are often lots of occasions to go here for happy hour, or celebratory lunches, or other similar situations. The food is always "pretty good," not great, but it's standard fare pub food. I've never gotten anything that wasn't at least moderately enjoyable. And the prices mirror that, so it's a pretty solid choice. I've never actually been here on a weekend or late at night, so I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy the music or see the crowds everyone else has mentioned. As a lunch/happy hour place though, it's always a safe bet.
(3)Dorrie M.
This is perhaps one of the most standard Irish bars (pub, I suppose) you could find-- that is part of what makes it fabulous. Trapped in the heart of the otherwise bleak Courthouse area of Arlington (Guarapo's is only good for happy hour), it is a gem. If you are looking for gourmet food, finely finished floors, and white table cloths, you should not go to an Irish bar. The beer is good and cheap, the service and hospitality is great, and the food is just good enough. Happy hour is always a good bet with nightly food specials and deeply discounted drinks. Finally, and perhaps most important, it lasts fairly late. Sunday brunch is always a good deal too, but avoid the Bloody Mary's at all costs. Also, this is a great place to watch sports. I actually first went here during the last World Cup because Sommer's was overflowing (and disgusting). After venturing across the street, I found a sizeable-enough crowd to make for a fun atmosphere, but not too large that I couldn't see the TV.
(4)Darren G.
After a ridiculous ordeal at a nearby bar I stumbled upon Four Courts and found its chill vibe, fireplace, and friendly staff most inviting. I had a Guiness and a Shpeherd's Pie at the bar: food was great, beer was cold and fresh, and even the other patrons were amusing. ...besides that the Caps hockey game was on a big screen TV right there at the bar so what more could I ask for?
(3)Tommy M.
We had a very pleasant brunch and our server was just the nicest person.
(3)Galen W.
Came here today to watch the Man Utd vs Arsenal game. Pretty good place to catch a soccer match. Fans were into it, although a few too many Gooners for my liking. Normal selection of Irish beers on tap. Prices could be a little lower, but nothing outrageous. Service was good. I didn't eat anything, but the brunch type food they were serving to others at least looked pretty tasty. Definitely would go back there to catch another game. Also, bonus points for being a Red Sox bar.
(4)Steve C.
Went in and ordered a Shepard's Pie to go. This was all I ordered. My lunch cost me $15 after tip (I'm not too too generous.) Getting to my desk, for some reason I got less than I would have gotten in a bowl. At least, it seemed like a lot less. Let me take that back, it's not that I got less, it's that I'm absolutely appalled at the amount of food that $15 just bought me. I feel like I would have gotten more food for $15 at a five star restaurant. I won't be visiting there any time soon. update: post-$15-shepard's pie... still quite hungry. unbelievable. Update 2: Spoke with a manager over there. He suggested that next time I ask for extra bread or order the Chicken Pot Pie... it's larger. Considering I didn't get any bread, perhaps this is why I am still hungry... heh. Still leaves me with little desire to return.
(1)Dylan G.
Four Courts is a great place to watch a game or match or what-have-you. Besides the delicious Irish food (hello, bangers and mash), the beer selection on tap is awesome. If you've never had a Magners or a Smithwick's before, you need to make visiting Four Courts a priority on your to-do list. So it's Rugby World Cup season and that, of course, means I'm going to be spending a lot of time at Four Courts to watch the matches. My father (an old rugger himself) was in town last Friday and Four Courts happened to be playing the Ireland-Wales match live at 1am. Of course we attended. I'm not sure if there is anything better than watching the IRFC play a match at 1 am while drinking a pint and having a banger-dog (my name, it's a sausage w/ traditional brown onion gravy on a pretzel roll with sweet potato fries, and it's incredible). And did I mention the crowd? We might have been the only Americans in the back room at this point, so if you're looking for authentic it's pretty hard to beat being surrounded by 20 Irishmen (and women) singing Ireland's Call arm-in-arm with the start of the match. Oh, and there were some Welshmen there too, but they were obnoxious of course. Anyways, Four Courts is pretty solid. As far as Irish Pubs go, I've got a new favorite in the city. Unfortunately i live all the way over on the Hill, but I suppose the good thing is that, after 6 or 7 pints, I can hop on the Orange and Blue and not have to worry about transfering during my merry stumble home.
(4)Tien L.
Service here is super! Wed. wings are decent for the price. $.25 It's your cheap typical hot wings. No breading or special sauce. The 4 court fries are the best item on the menu. Garlic, cheese, and bacon bits on top of the fries. ...did I mention the bar tenders are excellent? This bar is spacious but cozy. It's not your typical Clarendon young yuppies crowd. It's not too loud to have a conversation. Thurs - Sat. they usually have a live musician which is great. I highly recommend this bar if you just want a drink with some friends to catch up or catch a futbol match.
(3)Sally M.
Nice little pub with plenty of seating and live music on a Friday night. It was good to be back in Virginia to get me some Yuengling! ;)
(3)Jon B.
The happy hour specials run from 4-8 I believe and include beer specials as well as half off appetizers. Not a bad place to go if you are looking to get a few drinks and some beer after work. I would avoid the calamari as it wasn't very good at all, but everything else i've had there is pretty enjoyable. Note if you get the 5 layer dip you get way to many chips, but if you order the crab dip you get little bread...so order both at the happy hour and you'll be all set! My tip to the yelpers out there! They have Sam Adams on tap and with the arrival of Oktoberfest I'm sure i'll be making an appearance in the near future to down a few pints. Some nights they have live music which can be hit or miss. Don't know his name but one guy who plays guitar there is pretty good...might not know all the words but he knows a lot of songs.
(3)