The Old Pequliar
1722 NW Market St, Seattle, WA, 98107
The Old Pequliar Menu
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Address :
1722 NW Market St
Seattle, WA, 98107 - Phone (206) 782-8886
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : 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 : Average
Music : Juke Box
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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Josh A.
Decent beer prices and great selection. Friendly bartenders and always open until 2. Only miss was the food was a bit pricey for the portions, but that will not stop me from throwing back beer after beer here. Went three times while on vacation. Hung out with several random groups of people and had great conversation.
(4)Brian C.
College bar atmosphere... without all the youthful optimism and learning. I have lived less than three blocks from the OP for almost three years. I wanted it to be my pub around the corner. I really did. But the beer selection sucks, The staff is rude, and the atmosphere screams "come here if you don't care how your night ends!" You could throw a rock in this neighborhood and hit many other places more worthy of your nightlife dollar.
(1)kim h.
I started going back here... I refuse to go anymore when that douche Andrew is working! He is so rude to everyone including regulars. He makes feel so uncomfortable when he is working. He is a loud piece of shit who does shots behind the bar and acts like a college aged bro. I only gave this place a second star because Murphy is amazing! She is a great bartender and is extremely cordial to everyone. Does Andrew not realize that he's in the service industry?!?! His service is horrible, his attitude is awful, and he is completely obnoxious. Why in this city full of bartenders is he still employed?! I will bring my business anywhere else in Ballard when I see his miserable face there!
(2)Jordan M.
Decent pub overall. Kinda surly service at times but the good food makes up for it. Wouldn't be my first place since Market St. Is lined with awesome bars...
(3)Karri G.
Decent food, good drinks, and a laid-back atmosphere to catch some college football on Saturdays. But the real reason I'll keep going back is the very friendly and super helpful Abby!
(5)A M.
Very rude staff and incredibly poor quality service.
(1)Torrey H.
I've been a regular here for several years but I have to leave a one star review based on management's recent decision to take away the late night happy hour from 10-12. My friends and I tried many bars in Ballard before we settled on the Old Pequliar. Their happy hour was perfect. Reasonably priced drinks and a late night food menu kept us coming back week after week. All of a sudden it's gone. Why? We love the relaxed atmosphere and our friendly bartender but we will likely go somewhere else from now on.
(1)Teresita C.
You strange little thing, you. You've been a constant in Seattle's pub culture for many years. I haven't been in a few, and felt the need to visit as the last stop on our self-guided beer tour. Nothing has changed, same stools, fireplace and super-friendly, inviting bartenders and employees, and same kooky mix of patrons. Loud music from the jukebox and hollering from game players at the end of the bar, a wee update might be in order, but only if you can retain the quirkiness that makes the Old P what it is, a respite from the posher, hyper-stylized playground that the rest of Ballard is quickly becoming.
(4)Brian L.
Great Irish pub! The food is just as you would hope after a few pints of Guinness. Rustic pub grub! No frills no thrills interior. No douchebaggery, few hipsters, seemed like locals. Some TV screens that were playing MLB when I was there but I imagine plays a lot of soccer most of the time. Glad to have this neighborhood jaunt. I'll be back. [UPDATE] Andrew, you are sorely missed! (no, he didn't died)
(4)R M.
I'm giving this place 4 stars because Saturday night we hung out there are not sure if it was the juke box or pandora but they had the best music of the 90s Unpopular Pearl Jam, STP, Sound Garden, Nirvana. The list goes on. Typical pub, yes. I did have lamb sliders and they we're remarkable. He had burger & waffle fries to accompany his Guinness and enjoyed them all. He was quite impressed that the bartender knew how to make a red-headed slut. Always a plus for him.
(4)Frank R.
Friendly staff and a tasty Happy Hour selection of Irish-type bar fair foods. Convenient Ballard location. Fish and Chips contain waffle fries. Pork Sliders were quite tasty.
(4)Cosmo D.
Good food. Had the Shepard's pie, friends had fish and chips and chicken strips. All were tasty and well cooked (Crispy fries for the win!) However, drinks were really overpriced. $6.25 for a Stella or Magners cider on tap. Special cocktails on menu weren't any better. $7.50 for some lemonade concoction that was 80% ice. Good ambiance. Nice casual place to hang out and relax, but too expensive to justify going back.
(3)Harin G.
I'm a fan because it's perfectly chill bar atmosphere whether to get a drink after work or for football games. Everyone hanging out is doing exactly that, hanging out. Whether it's busy or slow, the bartenders are efficient and don't keep you thirsty for long. I can't say I've tried the food. I've been plenty warned by neighbors that this establishment is for drinking....and that they don't really specialize in the eating part. Good to know, right?
(4)Alex C.
Service was sub par and slow, my food order wasn't put in and then took an hour to come out, and everything is overpriced. I liked the vibe and crowd though. Then trivia took 3 hours! What!? I believe the other reviews that management is poorly run because they were wayyy understaffed- which would account for all those issues. It's a shame because I'm sure this place could be great on a good night.
(3)Jason T.
Also known as "The Old Go F@ck Yourself". If you like drinking a false bottom Pabst for $6 a pint and having your server ignore you while he talks sh*t about his coworkers and customers behind the bar, then this is the place for you!
(1)Paul R.
I used to go here a lot more often. I've seen many changes happen along the way with this place. I have met many friends an new acquaintances in the years I've been going to the OP and upon my return I am often times met with the same old faces at the bar or on the patio. It's always good to come back, which I will. Although I'd love to see some more people discover this Ballard Gem for the first time.
(4)Andrea H.
I met some friends here for drinks one weekday evening. They really like the place because it is one of the few establishments where you can sit on the back patio and smoke while enjoying your food and drinks. Not being a smoker myself, I didn't care one way or the other. We did eventually move inside once the sun went down and the temperature dropped. The bartender was the only one waiting on everyone whether you were inside or out. Fortunately, I asked before meeting my friends outside, so I knew to get my drink from the bar and bring it out with me. The bartender did check on us outside as well as inside. My friends ordered wings while we were outside and nachos later on while we were inside. The bartender was on top of both orders and the food was good. The place has televised games playing inside. There is also a jukebox. We were talking over the music and actually had a patron tell us we were too loud. He and his friend left without finishing their drinks or food. I felt badly for them, but this is a pub. If you can't get rowdy here, where can you? Later in the night we had a few drunk patrons come over to our table with a pitcher of beer. We declined as we were getting ready to leave. They then tried bringing a glass of water, which we also thanked them for, but declined. Based on my experience here, I probably would not come back. Although the food was good and the bartender was attentive, I wasn't too impressed with the other patrons we dealt with throughout the evening.
(3)John L.
Solid pub with two happy hour periods. One of the few places in Ballard where you can get a fish and chips and a Harp or Guinness without breaking the bank. Dark, ample seating, friendly bartenders, and music at just the right volume.
(3)Kristan L.
It is what it is. Nothing to write home to mom about. They do allow dogs on the patio. But there is a girl that used to work there or maybe she does, but she has really long hair and kept touching it and then put olives in my drink. Just kinda gross. Other than that, decent watering hole.
(3)Paul H.
Walked in and immediately felt at home with the crowd as we all cheered some random sportball game. The bartender was a handsome stallion of a man with a rebellious nature and calloused chest from his pen clicking. Andrew is a fox who will let you rip the buttons off his shirt if you're a cute blonde. The cook is an adorable young man no doubt making a lucky young lady very happy when he's not at work making his on point hot wings. Overall this place is aces and I highly recommend you tell the staff how handsome they are. They have amazing smiles. (As a side note: this review was written by a female drinking buddy. Though I still agree with every word of this review).
(5)Noah N.
A friend and I walked into this bar last night to try it out. It's a nice quaint little bar, but bartender service was just not good at all. There was maybe like 3 tables at the time when we walked in and they were casually being served by some guy. We waited for about 15 minutes after watching other people be served and walked up to the bar to order. We got our drinks and then sat down. The bartender guy was more interested in these 2 girls who were flirting with him to get free drinks (the girls told us they had already been successful with him). It really just rubbed me the wrong up. Don't think I'll come back.
(3)P J.
This review is for the Trivia only. When I first moved to Seattle, even though I lived in the U district, I came to the trivia night at the Old Pequliar every week. It was a tradition and I didn't even try other bars for trivia. After two years of being a regular I decided to go try other places and never felt the need to come back until I tried it on a whim in late November. The Old P suffers from several problems. One of the big ones is that they rotate through hosts so you suffer from a lack of consistency in the questions and a lack of microphone charisma. Second, the winning team had about 60% - 65% of the questions right, that is pretty low if you are looking for general fun (we were in the top 1/3 of the scores so it isn't sour grapes) Third, you have 8 rounds of at least 10 questions! With a minimum of 80 questions, not including bonus questions, the time to correct rounds, etc... that is just too much to pack into a two hour period and still have time to actually have a social interaction with your teammates. Lastly, and this is probably the most subjective, the Old P trivia has always felt very clique-ish They gain a star because the wait staff is nice and they make good drinks and decent pub food (although I did see one of the bartenders taking a hit off of a vapor cigarette while working behind the bar, kind of gross) If you are the type of person that doesn't want to talk to your friends and only want to answer some pretty difficult trivia questions as quickly as possible, this is the place for you. If you want to have a social evening with your friends and want trivia to be the excuse, don't come here.
(2)Kristine H.
I have driven by the Old Peculiar for years and never stopped in for a pint. Then recently, a good friend was in the area and relentlessly texted for me to join her for some late night drinks. I left the warm confines of my home and joined her with a few other straggling patrons at the bar. As the night continued, she stuck with her pints and I went with whiskey. We sat tucked into the corner facing Market and tried to have a conversation. Key word there is tried... the music was simply too effing loud. So despite the chill, we moved outside to the patio seating where we could chat easily and enjoy our drinks. The bartender was quite friendly, checking on us a couple of times and his hand was heavy when he poured my drinks. There was a late night HH too and they have a weekly trivia night on Tuesdays. They have a parking lot, a rarity in Ballard. There's also street parking available if the lot is full. There's a LOT of places to drink in Ballard but I think I now have a soft spot for the "Old P" now. I'll keep it in mind if I'm in the mood for a pint with friends.
(4)Josh S.
Walked in on a Friday afternoon and it was not too busy which was awesome. Ordered myself the "backyard tea" a specialty drink with rum, iced tea, and lemonade. A spiced up Arnold Palmer. Very good. Not sweet at all which was to my liking. Ordered the tater to Irish Nachos with Pork and I was very pleased, good pork, enough cheese, though I wish it was a cheese saucer rather than melted cheese. Very attentive and awesome staff. Definitely coming back!
(4)Gretchen M.
I am re rating and re reviewing the Old Pequliar. They have obviously done some house cleaning. Some friends invited me to meet them there for football and cocktails and I decided to go. I was pleasantly greeted by a young woman behind the bar as I walked in and immediately served with a smile by the staff. I went in one more time recently with a friend and the male bartender not only served me with a smile but actually spoke to me and did a little bartender flirting with the both of us. I was very happy with my last 2 experiences and will be returning. I have a friend who says he liked the old staff and I told him my experiences with them and he actually agreed that they were a little snobby and cliquish. But he was in the 'in' crowd so he never really experienced what I had. I will be back and I will also refer people there now.
(4)Opal D.
I was dragged here for St. Patty's Day. $10 cover to get in a crappy dive bar? $1 for a bottle of water, and nope - water from the gun/sink wasn't an option. Ridiculous. Someone was eating (WHY?!?!??!) the food there and it smelled absolutely terrible. The doorman was also terribly rude. Only two stalls in the bathrooms, had a huge line, and were incredibly dirty. No amount of liquor could have given me "beer goggles" for The Old Pequliar...
(2)Wouter A.
I've been to this place a couple of times late night. It's the closest bar to our apartment building and it's on the way home from everything else in Ballard. These two things are also the only reasons I come in every once in a while. The bartenders are friendly, they've got some nice beers, but that's about it. I've tried some appetizers but I can't say I was impressed or that I'd order them again. Then again, it was late at night on a weekday so check out some other reviews about the food to get a better idea. I haven't gotten a chance to hang out on the patio on a sunny afternoon but when I've walked passed it it always seems to have a nice crowd. I'm ready for the summer to arrive and when it's here I'll check out the patio some time :)
(3)Wesley Dale R.
The Old Pequliar is okay, at best. Never seems full or overly busy. Owner needs to pay wait staff more to attract better staff. Just is not warm and cozy, if that is what you are looking for ..
(2)Kira T.
Not sure why the negativity lately. I am still a big fan of the Old P. Yes, there's been a lot of staff turnover recently, and yes, they are actually charging for the drinks (staff in the past had been known to COMP a LOT of drinks, and over-pour), but it's still a great local place for a pint. The owner is super cool, but he is also a business man who is trying to provide a great experience to patrons while making a living. We're here just about every weekend for a relaxing adult beverage and pleasant conversation with other locals and the bar staff. It's a very, very nice place. As close to "down the pub" in England as you get here in the U.S. of A.
(5)Collin C.
They have a friendly staff and pour a nice pint of the dark stuff. It's a friendly place that could potentially graduate into a 5 star establishment.
(4)Tom B.
A hustling and bustling institution in a neighborhood where the watering holes have changed flavors an awful lot over the last 25 years. The OP has weathered the changes without appearing to have significantly modified its approach during that time. There's a big wide bar, and there lots of casually scattered tables. There's a huge bar back with a diverse array of elixirs. There are a dozen tap handles staring you in the face right across from the stools. There's a big darts and parlor shenanigans lounge a couple steps up in back. There are bathrooms. Your needs have been met. You may doff your coat and stay a while. The beer lines were clean, and there were plenty of solid craft beers on offer--even a couple seasonal delights. The beer glasses were frosted, but they warmed up soon enough, so that's nothing against them. There were a handful of single malt whiskys. The prices were fair. Best of all, there's a fireplace. This is an all-around great little corner place to bend an elbow.
(4)J.J. B.
This bar is a great Ballard option because it's far enough away from Ballard Ave to be clear from the chaos on a weekend night. You can actually find parking near the OP. I like how open this bar is for being on the small side. They have a big open space for the bar back and it feels less stressful trying to get a drink when the bartenders actually have room to groove back there, even when it's busy. The patio area is covered and has plenty of seating. Always have good beers on tap and they have multiple dart boards. Only 1 pool table, but it always seems to be open somehow.
(4)Seattleveggieburgers D.
The Old Pequliar is a place you'd visit for socializing or other such pub activities, but not for their kitchen. Thus the review is short because the burger didn't leave much to remember it by. The unoriginally named burger came out rather limp and soggy, assisted by extra oiliness from the thick melted cheese. The aioli lent a nice kick to the mix though; the roasted peppers added a complimentary sweetness and was piled on thick. The bun was alright enough: relatively fresh, very lightly toasted, didn't crumble apart or lose much of its innards. Overall though, it was a mediocre burger at best... an establishment worth skipping if a satisfying meal is your goal. Reposted in part from a review on seattleveggieburgers.com
(2)Emily T.
"OP, how can I explain it I'll take you frame by frame it" Using Naughty by Nature's method, let me break the Old Pequliar down frame by frame. 1. Happy Hour is daily from 4-6. 2. Trivia every Tuesday night at 8, but if you want a table get here before 7:00. Rotating hosts. $5 for a team of 5 and $7 for a team of six. Two hot dogs for 2 bucks on this night. 3. Free wi-fi. 4. Food, they have it. Nachos (full serving is about the size of a large pizza), burgers, sandwiches, hummus. Breakfast is served on the weekends. Pretty standard bar food- filling, but not crave worthy. 5. Pool table (free on Sundays) and some video games in the back room. 6. Friendly service. 7. It's an Irish pub, so you will get pinched if you don't wear green here on St. Patty's day. "You down with OP (yeah you know me)! Who's down with OP (every last homie)!"
(4)Ben B.
Above average beer selections. The patio was okay the tables where dirty cheap patio furniture likely from wal mart... Service was below average at best, and the food was TERRIBLE. I ordered the pretzel with there "special mustard" that was nothing special, the frozen costco pretzel was so salty I could barley choke it down. A friend at my table orderd the Nachos, they where clearly overcooked in the microwave worst looking nachos I have seen in a restaurant. The Burger I ordered was so over cooked and dried out it complimented the sawdust bun nicely. The sweet potato fries where OK. My wife had the fish and chips and they where nothing special either. This was the first and last time I will go to this place.
(1)Phil M.
Buffalo style chicken wings were very tasty. Coming from Buffalo it's often hard to find good "buffalo style wings" across the country. While the Olde Pequliar isn't serving true blue Buffalo wings their wings are very, very good. Cooked perfectly with a nice breaded crust that wasn't too 'bready' and a great hot sauce the wings are accompanied by celery and carrots. Guinness on tap combined with an observant, friendly and attentive staff make this place a thumbs up option.
(4)Rick M.
You know you are in foodie paradise when even the dive bars have things on their menu like lamb sliders. It is a great local place to drop in and have a bite and a beer. They have a pretty good beer selection and I absolutely recommend the waffle fries and any of the sliders. The service has been pretty spotty in the past but it has picked up in my last few visits.
(4)Alison D.
Oh how I love you!!!! The Old P is one of my favs in Ballard. Everyone there is beyond friendly. The drinks are stiff and cheap...Just what us Ballardian's like.
(5)Kristen G.
COME HERE AND WALK INTO YOUR NEW FAVORITE PLACE! Not only do they have amazing bartenders and cheap pool tables-they also have deck seating available and plenty of selections on the juke box! This place is one of my favorites simply because you never know what type of folk are going to be present. Yet EVERYONE has a ball here :)
(5)Ingrid G.
We went back last month - our seventh visit for our anniversary (this is the bar where we met). The service was its usual amazingness. Last year's weirdness was a total aberration. There was a huge Seahawks game going on and the place was packed, warm, and jolly. Food was delish and prompt- we had lamb sliders and fish/chips.
(5)Katie A.
Strongbow on ice. Thrice. Nice.
(3)Sonya L.
I have much love for this place. Been in a few times before, but only very briefly...and I never actually ordered anything. However...last night's visit involved good, solid fish & chips, WAFFLE FRIES (!), a super strong rum & coke, and some crazy neck-and-neck games of darts - real darts, thank you. Super fast service, an awesome waiter/bartender, and fairly decent food also helped make this visit pretty much a total success. I will note that food is a little bit pricey, but happy hour deals are awesome. Drinks are decently priced, in my opinion. I wish this place wasn't such a long walk from my apartment. If it were closer to the locks, I'd be here quite often!
(4)Allison F.
When I asked the bartender if they served Old Peculiar beer and the response I received was a blank stare, I knew we were off to a rocky start. The joint was oddly noisy for being only half full (with Nickelback or some other annoying rock band blaring loudly from the joke box in the corner). The drink I ended up having was only ok, and overall I left feeling a bit disappointed.
(2)Pat T.
This bar is awesome, great selection of beers on tap, unbelievable happy hour, good wings and burgers, friendly bartenders, games room in the back , large outdoor patio, great mix of characters, what more do you want, seriously..........what are you waiting for?
(4)Amy C.
I was so hungry (and a little hungover) driving through Ballard. I'm not from Seattle, and have only visited a couple times. All I wanted was some greasy food (preferably from the nacho family) and seventeen glasses of diet coke. The online menu said that there were nachos. So I made my husband stop. When we got in, we found out that there were no nachos - it was a brunch only menu, but the waitress promised that I was about to experience the best breakfast sandwich I'd ever eaten. She was very friendly & very attentive. The food took FOREVER to arrive, and I was about to pass out from lack of sustenance + hangover by the time it arrived (I guess we'd gotten in right after a large to go order). It looked so good. And it smelled so good. And it tasted NOT so good. It was actually bad. I nibbled on it (the accompanying potatoes were edible) and then asked for a to-go box, because I didn't want to hurt the (very nice) waitress's feelings. I immediately tossed the boxed sandwich at the next garbage can. It was such a promising place (great name!), but overall a disappointing experience.
(2)Scott K.
I want to love you Pequliar, I really do... but It's time for a overhaul! Instead of moving toward "Seattle Institution" the Pequliar is lurching toward a lingering, hacking death! It's not too late though... all you have to do Mr. Pequliar, is care! Bang out some kick ass food! Fix that Jukebox and put your heart into it! People will notice!
(2)Edwin P.
What can I say about this place that hasn't already been said by plenty of other people? This is one my favorite pubs to head to after work. The drinks are plenty, the space is vast, there is decent happy hour food for a good price, as well as games and a jukebox that you can listen to some of your favorite songs from(for a price). There is a pool table, three dart boards, as well as a golf video game setup. All of the staff is very nice and friendly. I usually see some of them come into my place of work before they head over to the bar. They try to greet you by name if they remember who you are, which I think is great.. or maybe it just means that I go way too often....(Nah that can't be it..) On tap they have my favorite beers. Gotta love me some Redhook, Mac & Jack, and on occasion Guinness. They have a vast selection of liquor if thats what you enjoy. Food is always delivered rather fast even when the place is rather busy. The prices here are fair, even when its not happy hour. The whole atmosphere I believe is great. There is always good people with good drinks and good food. Some nights its good to sit by the gas fireplace and just take in all the heat.
(4)Grümpi V.
Great dive bar. Worse drinks ever - stick to the draft beers.
(2)Katharine D.
I used to love this place for casual week night beers. Unfortunately, I went with a group of about 18 people for my friend's 26th birthday on a Saturday. It was our first stop - no one was drunk and we ordered drinks and food. There was plenty of space for us and other open tables were still available. After our first round, both bartenders completely cut off our group. I went up to the bar to order and was ignored for over 20 minutes. The waitress eventually told my friend that perhaps our party should go to Ozzie's in lower Queen Anne. All the service staff seemed genuinely annoyed to have patrons. We left and went over to Urban Family Brewing and loved it. I'll never go back to the Old Pequliar.
(1)Jon B.
I have to say that one of the biggest reasons for moving into our current apartment was because it was within crawling distance to the OP. I love this place. Good atmosphere, cheap drinks, and a great happy hour that will make you wonder why the inventor of nachos didn't think to put crosscut French fries in nachos instead of chips (trust me, normal nachos will be dissappointing after OP's Irish Nachos). One thing I will say though, which I have noticed at many many bars during our current economic menstrual cycle, is that serving sizes and food quality are the first things to take a hit at bars, and the OP is no exception. But the food is still a great deal during happy hour ($4) so don't let that stop you. (UPDATE: Irish Nacho serving sizes may be on the rebound) Lastly, I'm sure their Tuesday night trivia is fantastic because you have to get there at least an hour early to find a seat. Great place, make it a regular stop, especially if you live in Ballard. Shout out to the old lady with HUGE glasses who is there absolutely every day.
(5)Raina D.
We come here pretty regularly for trivia night on Tuesdays. Now, I would probably never come if it wasn't for the trivia, but they do have darts and there is never a wait to play on tuesdays! Need to know for trivia: GET THERE EARLY, like no later than 6pm. The tables fill up fast and it sucks without one. The french fries are good, but the entrees I've tried (veggie burger, mac and cheese, and grilled cheese) have really not been worth it. Just give me a basket of fries!
(3)Sam M.
If you have no designs on eating the food, you can bump this review up a star. I'll get to that. Longtime Tuesday night trivia player here. Within 2 weeks of attending trivia, my waitress knew my name and grew friendly and warm immediately. Since we're regulars, we tend to see her every Tuesday night, which is good, because other OP waiters range from attentive to downright oblivious. If you wind up with a bad waiter/waitress here, just move to a different seat; the other ones are awesome, swear. Tuesday night trivia here is my favorite around town, mainly because of its braininess. That's not to say it's unnecessarily difficult like the George & Dragon; these trivia writers go for a nice mix of current events, school smarts and pop culture, without many "how the hell would I know that" kinds of brain-reachers. (Full disclosure: I have hosted on a verrrrrrrrry rare occasion.) Pours are pretty generous; the beer selection is solid for a dive bar; roughly 6 HDTVs make it easy to catch up on your favorite game if that's your deal; plenty of comfortable, varied seating options, from big tables to fireplace couches. If you need a good bar in stumbling distance and a crowd that doesn't reek of Belltown douchebaggery, the OP's a good call. Just prepare for an overly loud jukebox... and food that might make you sick. Three times now, I've ordered food at the OP that has made me all kinds of stomach-sick. No more. A burger did it once, and the "Irish" nachos did it most recently. Clean up your kitchen, OP. I'm bringing a sack lunch for trivia from here on out.
(3)John T.
I;m so sorry to see this place have an "Up Time", followed by a "Dismal One" over and over, from reading recent reviews. Can't this place hit an "Happy Medium"? What's the deal? Do they have a sober guy on ONE week, and then, his drunken cousin on the next? Bets me...But, it seems a cryin' shame, as I think they have good concept!
(3)Paul B.
Went here on a random day because we were craving Irish food. Unfortunately, this Irish pub has no Irish-Irish food minus the shepherd's pie - which was moderate. The food was typical bar fare and the quality was subpar. Don't go here to eat, rather come here to mingle and drink because the pub itself was pretty accomodating. Bartenders were friendly and the place was big enough to cater to big groups. The best part was the big windows in the front of the bar so you're able to people watch and talk shit from your booth.
(3)Richard B.
Can't beat Old Pequliar for beers in the afternoon. My experiences are from sitting at the bar, so let me tell you what it looks like from that seat: the bartenders are on point, they keep the booze flowing, they handle prick customers okay with an occasional 86, and the jukebox works. Another reviewer already nailed it, "The peen to vag ratio here is quite skewed." Get past that part and it's a comfortable place. Unless they run out of dark beer or clowns show up, which are normal signs that you know you're going to die, then you should come by.
(4)Riss J.
I would like less Old, and more Peculiar. Service was slow. I've had (and did later in the night) much faster service in much busier bars. Overall not awful, and the fact that they have a little parking lot right there (and in the ensuing evening of crawling, nothing happened to my car) is cool. Still, I wanted more Pequliar. I'd have even settled for just "slightly left of normal".
(2)Michael C.
As this was our last stop of our night in Ballard I don't really remember that much... I did have a brew or two here, and the group I was with seemed to like it just fine. I do recall it being kind of divey and old school - not a fancy place.
(3)Ryan H.
It's a pub, and they serve beer. Beers good, pub is a great location for 15th. The pub clock is set 15mins fast so happy hour always starts early. Trivia nights are on Tuesdays and I *think* wednesday nights are free pool nights. There is a pool table out the back. They have an outdoor seating area where you can drink and smoke which is great for your buddies who smoke.
(4)Carrie L.
I really like the Old Pequliar because it's a very straightforward kind of place. These kind of places are disappearing, unfortunately, so I hope it sticks around to fulfill my need for a late night cocktail or beer and a couple of good games of darts without any pretension or particularly annoying hipster clientele. They pour good stiff drinks here. No frills, which is how I prefer it. I never break the bank and I never feel uncomfortable at the OP. I do try to avoid it on weekends, but then again I feel like avoiding almost everywhere on weekends these days. However - I still almost always get a seat or a game of darts in even during their busiest hours, and I am really appreciative of that. I have never had bad service here. In fact, I've had friendly service. I find that if I go about my business without causing any trouble, am polite, and efficient when ordering drinks I tend to not experience any service issues almost anywhere. The OP is a down to earth kind of place. You know exactly what you're getting when you walk in the door. It's just a regular old pub, and I think it's great that way. Don't change a thing.
(4)Tillotson G.
Upon walking in - I was a bit shocked that my friend Jay asked to meet me here. Eek - not the kind of bar you walk into alone (or so I thought). I felt somewhat out of place, I was expecting something much more up scale. I am always in search of a good Bloody Maria.. I asked the bartender - he did the best he could do with what they had, and it was good! What I liked most was his smile and sweet demure. Got the Hummus plate - good as well, pita bread was hot and yummy! Next time I go - I will be dressed down... and know what to expect. Its chill, 'good vibrations'... and as long as I get a smile from the bartender Chris again... I'm a happy girl!
(4)Bebe B.
I came here last night for the first time with my boyfriend, it was about eleven on Friday night and although there was a good amount of people there, there was also a pretty good selection of open seats at the bar. We headed up to the bar and were in time for happy hour for all of our drinks and food (late happy hour is 10-midnight). The bartender made me a really great well I'd never had before and was friendly. They have my boyfriend's fav, Mac N Jack. We ordered a thing of Halibut and fries (fish and chips) and there was just enough for us to split it and it and was really good! It was only $4, too. We were there for only an hour or two, the service was friendly and quick for us (the guy with the black hair in a bun is nice)...and the prices were great to boot! I enjoyed the music too (great selection from Queen, to Elton, to Tegan and Sara) I am definitely coming back.
(4)Lily S.
All I have to say is this place scares me a bit. It smells like dank smoke & beer & their drinks are...umm...not that great. Normally I'm a fan of dive bars, but this one? I could do w/o going there ever again.
(2)Bryan K.
It's called the Old Pequliar, but really it's not all that old and frankly, not all too peculiar. It's sort of an Irish pub with many flat screen televisions (good for sporting events) and an upstairs game room. Though the deceiving title of this establishment, it's worth a try for several reasons. It's just off the main vain of Ballard's bar scene so it can get pretty lively but rarely over crowded, meaning a table isn't too hard to come by, which I like. Though, in the rare case that a mass crowd of people decide to invade this space, it's large enough to handle an influx of drunken patrons. One thing I have to say though, the music playing on the night I was here was awful. Now, I appreciate the vast world of music and all it's genres, but when it comes to death metal, I can't seem to wrap my head around why people find this noise appealing. As if the low roar of a bar full of drunken people wasn't already making it hard enough to hear my fellow companions, the blaring death metal coming from the sound system sealed the deal. Fix your jukebox and this could easily be a 4-star establishment.
(3)Chris B.
On Sunday morning and my friend and I wanted to avoid the market area, have breakfast and watch the Hawks game. So we decided to go to the Old Pequilar knowing that we could get all three. It is a bar first, with food, second. With that being said it was a pretty good breakfast. I had the breakfast sandwich with potatoes. The sandwich had a fried egg, bacon and cheese with a chipotle mayo on it, tasty. The potatoes are like season fries which aren't bad if you like that type of thing.
(4)Rowena M.
I don't do bars, but my friend had a hankering for an Irish pub this particular evening. We grabbed a couple of stools and were promptly serviced by the bartender. Nice selection of beers, but I can't help but think the bartender screwed me by giving me something other than the Mack and Jack's I ordered. Still, I didn't want to say anything because he was kind enough to indulge us in an opinion poll about whether or not a guy will consider seriously dating a girl who puts out on the first date. I love how bars inspire the most fantastic conversations. Nice atmosphere, interesting clientele, so-so playlist. Still, I like.
(3)JC D.
Ye Old Pequliar. Nothing peculiar about this, I thought, but I love the peculiar warm feel I got from here. This was our 2nd stop in out quick bar-hop tour of Ballard. My friend and I felt like we were at our old hometown drinking hole. Our first bartender was a bit rude, but our second bartender was aight. We didn't make on time for HH, but the beers were decently priced at 4.25. The place was pretty dead for a Thursday night, but maybe that's not one of their big nights. I did like that the second floor has arcade and billiards. There's also outdoor seating for your smoking delight. Meh, I'll give it another chance sometime soon.
(4)Adair D.
Great food Great staff...having tried most the menu and the saturday brunch ... the drinks are poured well and priced well.. especialy on happy hour. love the pool table upstairs, the smoking deck, but getting warm by the fire place... if its not on the staff will turn it on if you need to warm your bones. the regulars are frendly! love going there for bingo the first thursday of the month! wait thats today!
(5)Lydia P.
I am very fond of this place. Back when I lived in Ballard, we used to stagger home from the OP on a regular basis. Ahh, the sweet drunken memories... Like that New Year's when my friend Marcel and I let the guys at the next table buy us shots of tequila all night, and I subsequently felt inspired to dance (I thought I had mad skills that night, but am fairly certain that is false). All sorts of drunken debauchery ensued.. good times! Or the time my generally well behaved sister was visiting from California, and I got her drunk, and she wound up making out with a highly suspect fella with what my friend Sarah describes as "prison tattoos" on his knuckles. Heee heeeee!!! I don't come here as often now that I live in Capitol Hill... but whenever I make it back, something entertaining usually happens. I like coming here when Dorothy is bar tending. She starts pulling a pint as soon as she sees me come in, and always has another at the ready without me having to ask. Yay!
(4)Chris H.
I stop by here after work from time to time to enjoy a beer or a strongbow before heading home. Service is usually pretty friendly, place is usually dead or very few patrons, so getting a drink is quick and easy. Unfortunately for all the times I have been here I have never ordered any food and come to think of it, I have never seen anybody else there eating either. I will have to try what judging by the menu appears to be some pretty good pub fare on one of my visits to come. Look for future reviews.
(3)Kanani K.
Tuesday nights they have trivia at 8pm. It was my first encounter with Pub Trivia, and it was a fairly good experience. Good food, good company, good trivia. My only negative remark is there was a specific waitress who was pretty nasty for no obvious reason.
(3)Amanda h.
Cheap Happy Hour, outside deck, real dartboards and awesome staff. This place is wizard.
(4)James L.
UGH..... The ONLY thing that got them a 2-star is the fact that they....or she the daytime bartender can pour a proper pint of loveliness..err GUINNESS The ambiance sucks arse.... The night staff suck ass... Food is shite.... Nothing really good about this place...... Except for the day staff, even then she is quite a rude B*$@H
(2)Nicoletta G.
Fun friendly atmosphere. Pool table, Darts, and big TV's for sporting events. Good service, Good greasy food!
(4)Michael B.
If a friend asked me to go here, I would, but it isn't a place I'd ever suggest. It's just kind of meh...you have better options in Ballard.
(3)Hunter O.
I have been here many times over the years.. This place is always a good time.. the people here seem to be pretty chill.. the deck on the side is great i was able to sit and smoke a cigar and vist with friends. the only thing i find weird about this place is it can be a bit hard to get a drink at times even when not to busy. but they are all about picking up empty glass quickly..so either they have a cup shortage or they just dont realy care for there customers...
(4)T M.
Four stars, you ask? Yuppers. This place rocks. Any place that remodeled post smoking ban gets high marks from me, and though the food could be better, they have a rockin late night happy hour that fits my budget. I have a group that meets here once a week (in Nov anyway) and they've tolerated us and our occasional climbing up to plug in our power strip with good cheer. I did have to practically beg to be carded (but hey, I'm pathetic in my need to pretend I'm still young) but it was all done in fun. The friends seem to enjoy the brew, and I enjoy my girlie appletinis and there ya go. Steer clear of the irish nachos, which frighten me...the very idea... I do wish the smokers would move away from the door...
(4)David H.
Yeah, this is not a dive bar. A bar. Spacious, woody, badass lady bartenders. GREAT dirty martini (Angela's, not mine). Decent bar food. My Reuben was disappointing. Good beers on tap, nothing out of the ordinary.
(3)Delilah R.
Average. This place is OK at best. They have a live band at times that scrunches into a small corner of the bar where the main window is, the bartenders are slow, sort of rude, and will flat out ignore you. This is based on more than a handful of sessions during happy hour, or even a Fri. or sat. night. A clean setting with a dark wood interior keep it from being a dive bar but there is something missing here. I keep coming here due to a friend living only a few blocks down but most of the time if it's the Old P for starting the night off, I insist we just prefunk at the pad and catch a cab into old town Ballard.
(3)Carrie H.
Close to my house, which always helps make a great review. Because I know you care about that type of thing, don't you?! I've been here a few times, and I love it here... usually. Sometimes some dumbass puts on death metal on the jukebox for a few songs and I want to scratch my eyes out. But not really the OP's fault. Tonight I was a bit hungry so I got the artichoke and spinach dip, with warm pita bread and carrots. Hubby got a half order of nachos (regular kind, apparently they also have nachos that use fries instead of chips, how delicious and greasy does that sound?). Mine was perfect, the only thing to gripe about is the dip was a bit on the runny side, i.e., I could not really "scoop" with the pita bread and have something stick. It was more of a consistancy of french onion soup, and thus, makes it hard to scoop. Hubby's half order of nachos were pretty good, I think they kinda skimped on the cheese, but there was lots of beef, jalepenos and sour cream to make up for it. Great happy hour available here, on Sundays the pool table is free all day. They also have a few dart boards in the back that rock. They have a heavy hand on the drinks, that are not too pricey. Now we just need to get rid of the death metal, and we'll be in bidness.
(4)Amanda M.
I came here for the New Years thing in 2004 and there was a shooting outside....that sort of sucked. I can't see how this is the fault of the bar though. I've always had a great time here (previous listed experience excluded). The live music is always great, and the Guinness is friggin delicious.
(4)Scott J.
Maybe it's because we would frequent on Sunday afternoon/evenings...and really, if you are a bar tender/server and a group of five or six walk in and want food and drink...on Sunday's you can just ignore them right? The service we experienced over and over again was awful. The place was practically empty and whenever one from our party would approach the bar to order, they got attitude - we were interrupting their gossip time. We made our mistake again and again, hoping things would improve....but we are not going back.
(1)Betsey S.
Every time I drive past this delightful dive, I have a Homer-Simpson-esque reaction.... "mmm, Guinnessandfishandchips....." I really enjoy the Old Pequliar. The first time I came here was with my mom when we were worn out from making my brother's wedding invitations and were in sore need of Guinness and fish and chips (my entire family's go-to comfort foods... yes, Guinness can be considered a food. Meal in a cup, hello). Anyway, we consider ourselves connoisseurs of the fish and chip, and the Old Pequliar's meet with our enthusiastic approval! Their Guinness pints hit the spot so soundly that day (perfectly poured) that I have not ever ordered anything different there since. There were a good mix of people on that Sunday, and have continued to be on my return trips. I did once do something dumb here, and as promised, I shall disclose it. We came to see a band one Saturday night, and I (in my Guinness soaked exuberance) might or might not have said the word 'Freebird!' somewhat loudly in between songs. The band was not pleased and proceeded to tell the crowd that the only way to permanently end this audience reflex would be to actually play it every time it was mentioned. Luckily, they didn't, and it all turned out to be pretty funny. And I, to my credit, have not uttered that word since, whether in the presence of a band or not.
(5)Rebecca E.
Really great happy hour and super nice staff. It can get a bit crazy on the weekends, but enjoyable none the less
(5)Ian S.
My name is Ian, and I've been a faithful regular of the OP for over 15 years now. Actually, the best part about the OP is its customer base. Don't kid yourself--there are lots of places we can buy beer and food, or listen to music, or otherwise spend our paychecks. Oh, and in my experience, the rude treatment customers keep reporting is charming, endearing, and pretty much funny as hell--that is, as long as it's happening to someone else.
(5)Randi S.
I used to hang out here several years ago (still live in Ballard), but for some reason I haven't frequented in awhile. Probably because I got hit on by douchebags and old dudes here (even when I am obviously with my boyfriend). The peen to vag ratio here is quite skewed. Also, one night I had accidentally knocked down a rod with a decorative curtain on it by the front window, and flying ants came at me everywhere. One even managed to find its way down my shirt, into my bra, got disgruntled and BIT ME ON THE NIPPLE. Bad memories folks.
(2)Big S.
Been here a few times during the week. I'm not exactly a party animal so tend to avoid Friday and Saturday nights when it can get pretty busy. Drinks are cold, they have Strongbow which is the one drink I have a hard time saying 'no' to. Food is typical bar fare. Don't expect anything too fancy, deep fried and salty, perfect match for a pint. Staff can be aloof. Meh, it is what it is and I appreciate it. I used to be one of the insiders at a joint back east where they were considered rude too but I loved it and love this place for it. (and for the record, I'm not an insider so if you're new, I'm probably the guy next to you that's getting the same treatment) Atmosphere isn't trendy. It's genuine. Don't like it, get the hell out. Hmmmm.... Think I'm a little thirsty right now....
(4)Angie C.
Great pub! LOVE it. Guiness, Newcastle, and Boddingtons on tap! I haven't been for a couple years (I moved away from WA), but the burgers were always great. So were the other sandwiches and the shepard's pie. If jeremy's still bartending there, he's a good guy. The bar trivia is AWESOME there. I used to live in Bothell, and I drove all the way out just for the beer, food and trivia. It was very worth the trip out to Ballard.
(5)Becci C.
The Old Pequliar is one of the best bars in Ballard. The food: fantastic. The drinks: awesome. The staff: super friendly. It's an excellent place to go get some drinks (especially in the summer and you can sit out in the outdoor seating...especially nice for smokers), play some pool or darts and hang out. It gets pretty loud on Friday nights but that's expected.
(5)Glen B.
I have never been blown away by this place. I have been somewhat disappointed on occasion. But I've usually been happy enough upon leaving. Best thing about this place is the trivia, which is done in the best over-all engineering of any trivia I've been to in Seattle. I love the look and vibe to the place, but my problems come in when it becomes a sports bar for the game (and never the interesting game like soccer or Olympics), or drunkard house on the random night. The tap selection here could be more interesting, and could be shook up on occasion, and the servers could be more friendly... but they are generous, so it makes up for a lot. I also love that patio of theirs. Great especially in the fall when most Seattlites are afraid of the somewhat cooler temps and falling leaves (they have deciduous trees on the property).
(3)Nicole P.
this was the most memorable service i have had in... well... as long as i can remember. here's the low down... i was haveing little "so-sorry-i-missed-your-birthday" dinner with a close friend. we went to dinner (wown't say where), i asked if they could do something for his blated birthday. they said yes. nothing happened... so... we moved on. when we got to the old pequlair, i asked my server if he could help me out as soon as my buddy turned his back. my wonderful, awesome, AMAZING server told me that he didn't have anything that he could use... but he would see what he could do. i figured that would mean... well, nothing. again. but i was wrong. 10 min later, my friend has a freaking cup cake from down the street with a candle in it sitting in front of him... that's right. he had no dessert items in the house, so my server left, went down the street, and brought me back a cup cake from another establishment. awesome. i work in a restaurant, and this was inspiring to me. i will be back again and again. thank you for making my, and my friends, night.
(5)Laural B.
The most amazing Shepard's Pie I've had. Nice neighborhood joint, decent jukebox. I invite friends there for drinks all the time.
(4)Matt P.
If you want to appreciate a true melting pot, look no further than the Old Pequliar. People of all walks of life spend time over a pint or two here. The Tuesday night trivia is not trivial; you definitely need a degree in Trivial Pursuit to cut it here. The food is decent bar food, but nothing special. The Old Pequliar is truly a quintessential neighborhood watering hole/ pub/ place-you-can-call-your-own; appreciate it for what it is!
(4)Mac J.
they have real darts...and it's really hard to get kicked out of.
(3)Julie H.
i love this place. the deck/patio area is great on a nice day. good, stiff drinks. they have an early happy hour and a late happy hour. food is standard pub fair, but really good. love the irish nachos, basically all your nacho toppings on waffle fries. terrible for you, but you're usually too drunk to care.
(4)L S.
We were here with a bunch of friends on a Wednesday night. There was tons of space and tables large enough for our large party. The plan was to be here for Happy Hour, but we got there a little after 6pm, so we missed that. Darn. Although it's nice to save money, the regular price for beer wasn't too much more than the HH price ($3). Micros were $4.25. Very good selection of beer on draft. I was drinking Stella and Erik was drinking Harp's. I am bummed that I missed out on the HH appetizers though. I have really been craving chicken wings lately and I saw them on the menu and right away I was like "I need some wings, ASAP". The HH price for wings is $4 and regular price is $8. But they were SO good. Seriously. And the bleu cheese was chunky and very yummy. The wait staff and bartenders were really nice and attentive. They have a patio. They have an upstairs. They have some arcade games, including my favourite, Ms Pac Man. I thought it was rad that they had a "Yelp Loves Us" sticker displayed on the front window. I'm definitely looking forward to another after-work Happy Hour gathering here.
(4)Christine S.
Good drinks, great onion rings, lots of interesting people but their jukebox thing doesn't have Bruce Springsteen. I'm sorry but how can it NOT have the Boss?!!
(4)Zachary P.
i have been here twice this month. its right down the road from stone gardens which makes it a good place to stop and grab a drink after climbing. happy hour prices are pretty good and the pequliar irish nachos are awesome! the full order is so hugh there is no way one person could eat them as anything but a meal. the three dartboards are nice but the pool table could use a little work. they really dont have the room for it upstairs as its too close to one wall, but i guess its free on sundays so thats a nice perk. the crowd definitely changes later in the evening, personally i prefer the older crowd. leave the college/lets hook up drama at the campus bars... you know the ones i wouldnt be caught dead in.... i recommend stopping in on a saturday or sunday afternoon for a good bar experience.
(4)Chloe H.
A great middlebrow Ballard bar with terrific musical acts most nights. A perfect place to spend a winter evening.
(4)Reginald C.
A nice working-class neighborhood joint, a contemporary take on the old Irish publican, with only the Internet-Jukebox seeming out of place. There's a fireplace on one wall with a circle of chairs and couches around it for hanging out on blustery fall nights, and little nooks in the corners for intimate conversation. The pool room is just behind the bar, and a game is almost always in progress. Usually alive but rarely overcrowded, the O.P. is a popular after-work watering hole for both blue-collar Ballard residents and the younger class of neighborhood invaders.
(4)mary c.
full disclosure, i'm a good friend of Kirk and think Dorothy is the best bartender in this city so if those names mean anything to you, you'll know where this review is coming from. the old peculiar is a stellar bar.it's not a dive... in fact, AFTER the smoking ban, they remodled/refurbed the inside so it doesn't smell like stale smoke (like most bars do these days)... all that and they do still have an outside patio so, until 10ish or so, smokers can drink and talk outside as they used to (something i don't mind and i've never smoked). the bartenders are all professional. they're polite when need be but also clever and not afraid of having words with someone who may need it. most importantly, the bartenders are human. they may not be having the best of days on occassion but you'd never know because you'll get your drink just as you like it on any day of the week. as for the clientelle, the locals are lovely... they actually do things like have meals and other events outside the pub on occassion... they remember birthdays, ask how you're *really* doing and don't mind even the more boring sports being on TV... oh, and then there's the summertime bbq cycle (not to be missed). i was once a local but "just can't drink whiskey like i used-ta-could"... so now i'm an occassional who visits and delivers cupcakes to regulars and bartenders there. the OP is well worth your visit. and if you happen in on a day when Dorothy's tending bar, tell her she's appreciated. trust me.
(5)Steve S.
your typical ballard dive bar, but this place has a nice fireplace and decent burgers to boot.
(4)