Restaurant Review: O'Reilly's Pub in New York City

Located just blocks from Times Square and the Empire State Building, O'Reilly's Pub is a great place to dine or grab a beer with friends. This cozy Irish bar and grill is situated on 31^st Street in Manhattan, a short walk from Madison Square Garden and several nearby subway stops. With a full bar, several beers and a full menu this is a great find for anyone looking to eat or to watch the current sporting event.

This friendly Irish pub has two main areas, one for bar patrons with televisions and a jukebox and another for people looking to dine. With several Irish and American beers on draft this is a great gathering place for locals coming in for a cocktail after work or to watch the game. Although I did visit as a wide-eyed tourist, I felt welcome here. The authentic Irish accent of the employees was an added touch to my great meal. Besides their accent, the staff was very attentive, polite and friendly.

O'Reilly's Pub offers fine dining, with cloth tablecloths and excellent entrée presentation, while the prices are reasonable. Burgers, sandwiches and bar munchies, such as buffalo wings, stuffed mushrooms and mozzarella sticks start at around $5 each. Entrees, with many choices from steak, pasta, chicken and fish, range from $10-22. They also offer daily specials like veal parmigiana and their homemade lentil soup at discounted prices. An extensive catering menu is also available for special events.

I sampled two entrees, each were very tasty and provided generous portions. Each was enough to fill your belly and give a late night snack to take home. The presentation of the food was also great and showed the pub's commitment to keeping customers satisfied. Two types of rolls with butter were offered when we arrived and a choice of soup or a dinner salad soon followed, before our entrees.

The fettuccini alfredo was classic in taste and accented with peas and four huge shrimp. The garlicky butter cream sauce was perfect in taste and proportion, providing enough sauce to give a great flavor without drowning the noodles.

The chicken marsala was also excellent. Two lightly sautéed chicken breasts covered in mushrooms and a light wine sauce were served with choice of mashed potatoes, rice or french fries. I chose the potatoes, which were perfect in taste and consistency and complimented the flavorful chicken very nicely.

O'Reilly's Pub is a true asset to Manhattan, combining fine dining with a sports bar without all the trendy gimmicks or crowds of tourists. With a great atmosphere and delicious food this is a great find whether you are in a business suit, hockey jersey or toting a subway map and a camera.

O'Reilly's Pub

56 W 31ST St
New York, NY 10001-3410
(212) 684-4244