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- Nearest Transit:
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Clarendon Metrorail Station (Orange)
Virginia Square Metro Station (Orange)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 3 pm - 2 am
Wed-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
66 reviews for O'Sullivan's Irish Pub
Review Highlights
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"Great fish and chips special on trivia night." In 10 reviews -
"...when they have 1/2 price fish & chips, and $2 Bud Lite." In 3 reviews -
"There was live music (some dude with a guitar) and he was..." In 4 reviews
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66 reviews in English
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Review from Katie K.
Alexandria, VA
5/15/2012
I tend to rate places on the memories I've made at a particular place and I've only had great experiences and made wonderful memories at O'Sullivan's.
First, I love that you go up to the bar and are served by an ACTUAL Irish bartender. It just makes the night start off well. And it's defiantly the kind of place that if you nice and polite to the bartenders, they remember you and serve you quickly and don't water down your drinks. (because lets face it - you can be as nice as you want to some bartenders and they're still asses).
I also love that it's people in their mid/late 20s and 30s. You don't tend to see college kids getting wasted and causing scenes in here. It's mellow and relaxed. A place to show up in jeans, (not having to worry about making a big to-do over getting ready to go out), and stand around have a few drinks with friends. There are a few people that wind up dancing on the weekends when there is a singer/band playing, but it's not freaky-club-grinding you'd find in DC. Also, the place does get quite packed as it gets later in the night and it will eventually become difficult to maneuver, but again, people tend to be friendly and don't mind moving around.
Drinks are decent prices, nothing outrageous.
Also, if you come during the winter, and come wearing a coat, there IS a secret place to store your coat so you're not carrying it around all night. Just ask the bartender and they'll tell you.
It's a great place to enjoy a few casual drinks when you don't want to want to go to a loud bar or a place with over-priced drinks. -
Review from Rachel S.
4/16/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Went here every single night, except one, on my business trip during the first week of April. It ebbs and flows with patrons, mainly because they have no cover and my local friends LOVE this place. (WHY would girls pay a cover to get into a place, is beyond me... and I live in Las Vegas, the land of cover charges.)
I don't know the price of the drinks here, because I wasn't the one paying, but I'm pretty sure by the way people were drinking, they're moderately priced. I had my first ever shot of Jäger here.
Karaoke is really popular and I did that for the first time while I was here. Word to the wise, David Banner and Chris Brown's, "Get Like Me" was probably not the best choice.
Anyway, this place is fun and FULL of people, and the bathrooms are decent!Listed in: Virginia & D.C. - where my…
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Review from Tim W.
Arlington, VA
3/15/2012
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub has the most energetic atmosphere in all of Clarendon. This place is fun! The down side is that is does get PACKED in a hurry, but I can manage.
Trivia Wednesday's (8 out of 10):
- The Host of Trivia is hilarious and entertaining
- The bartender(s) do a great job accommodating the Trivia Teams
- Perfect way to breakup your work week
- The questions are a mixed-bag of General knowledge, history, geography, music and movie quotes
- Good way to see how intelligent your date/girlfriend is... or isn't
All in all, O'Sullivan's gets 5-Stars from me due to their awesome staff, overall pub atmosphere, quality food selection and outstanding location.
Have a pint for me when you stop in. Thanks.Listed in: Casual Date (Drinks & Maybe...…
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Review from Dominique F.
Arlington, VA
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for New Year's and fully appreciated the fact that there was no cover to get in. The people who were here were thankfully all in their late 20s/early 30s so even if they got drunk it wasn't the crazy: "I am puking in the middle of the room" kinda deal that you'd prolly see elsewhere if an open bar existed.
I would definitely give the place another shot; I heard trivia nights are supposed to be fun!Listed in: Eating out in Arlington
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Review from Tony P.
2/22/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Came here for 6 Nations Rugby game viewing. The taps has all the standard Irish beers and cider selections and the menu offers decent pub fares. I had their Irish breakfast and the eggs chesapeake and both were good. A solid pub and good divey-ish hangout for the locals.
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Review from Anna S.
10/13/2011 7 Check-ins Here
My new favorite weeknight drink spot in Arlington. Great drink specials, solid and large menu, friendly but not overbearing staff. Shout-outs especially to Kelly the waitress and Patrick the pub quiz guy, who made me and my friends feel like regulars the first time we came (and we've been back!). I announced that I deserved a free drink for being the duchess--and they agreed! Yay!
This is by no means a gastronomic wonderland--the food is of the quality you'd expect from a neighborhood bar--but somehow, the fact that my nachos came with marinara sauce rather than salsa last night just further endeared me to the place. I think O'Sullivan's is the best in NoVA at what it tries to be--a friendly, casual, unpretentious neighborhood pub. -
Review from Francis K.
Fairfax, VA
11/9/2011
With all the microbreweries, beer bars, brew pubs, and whatnot that have been cropping up in this area the last decade or so sometimes you just feel like having a well-poured pint of Guinness. The bartenders here do just that, pour you a proper pint in a proper glass in the proper amount of time (no rushing). That's the main reason I come to this establishment.
The other reasons? Well, during the early part of the week you can find an assortment of folks you might actually want to have a conversation with right off the bat. None of the usual Clarendon folks seem to frequent this place except in the Thursday through Saturday period, so the rest of the week you can sit back, relax, have a good conversation with an old or new friend, and enjoy that wonderfully poured pint. -
Review from Taylor R.
Vienna, VA
9/22/2011
This is one of my favorite spots in all of Arlington.
I usually hit this place for Wednesday nights trivia night. As a matter of fact I usually take women I'm dating to trivia night so I can find out if the girl I'm potentially dating is going to be fun in this type of environment and has a brain or not.
The host on Wednesdays is always in a great mood and drink prices are very fair at $10 pitchers and $2.50 Miller lite bottles.
They also do $5 burgers on Wednesday which is a great deal because they really know how to cook a burger.
This place has a very easy going / cheers atmosphere and it's also one of the few places you can get cider in Arlington. Give it a chance! It's a great spot! -
Review from Simon B.
5 stars for the atmosphere, service and prices (all of which others have heavily commented on), -1 star for Canada Day's poutine.
If you don't know, poutine is the quintessential Canadian dish. This furious mix fries, squeeky-salty curds and gravy is to Quebec/Canada what the hotdog is to Americans. It's serious business. So it's only normal that on a special Canada Day event at O'Sullivan they offer poutine. The place was fully packed with Canadians.
I was surprised to see that so few ordered it. I got my answer when I got my order. Large plate of fries, tons of gravy. 5, yes only 5, little curds. It was more of a "frite sauce" than a poutine. They probably had a limited supply of the curds (unpasteurized dairy is hard to find in the US)... but $8.50 for that large plate of fries and gravy I just felt ripped off.Listed in: Best Poutines.
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Review from Samantha L.
Morristown, NJ
3/6/2012
I went there on a Saturday night, and they had a live band playing. They were pretty great and played all night. I think a draft was 4 dollars. The bartenders were really nice and welcoming, and the bathrooms and area were very clean.
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Review from Sean T.
12/20/2010 4 Check-ins Here
O'Sullivan's is exactly what I look for in a great neighborhood Irish pub - great Guinness, excellent staff and service, and a good pub atmosphere. This pub was the first stop on our Third Quarter Irish Pub Crawl held on December 17th (because I like to celebrate St Pat's four times a year), and they got us started properly: a couple pints of the black supplemented with an order of Dingle Balls (amazing) and chicken pot pie (also damn good). I was in a few nights earlier and had the burger, which was also solid.
Donagh and Paddy took good care of us both nights. There appear to be a ton of regulars that come in, and the barmen seem to know them all and seemed to enjoy chatting with the customers. I caught the end of the trivia session on Wednesday, and the place was packed with a lively crowd. There are several LCD TVs for watching games, and the pub music is great.
I wish we could have stayed at O'Sullivan's a bit longer, but then it wouldn't have been much of a "pub crawl." -
Review from Holly B.
Arlington, VA
12/13/2011
Being from the lovely dive bar capital, St. Pete, FL, moving to DC (Northern VA in particular) has been quite an adjustment. Pardon my French, but the area is filled with douche bag bars. Finding O'Sullivans has been a breath of friendly fresh air to the many elitist, arrogant bars I have come across in the DC area. Maybe its the good economy, big government entitlement mentality rubbing off on local industry, I am not sure. In FL the State industry is by and large hospitality so we can't afford to have an attitude. In any case, Patrick and Donough (Spelling?) both picked up on my name, my drink of choice, and despite being busy took the time to smile and have a quick chat. The most warm and friendly place around. If you are far from home, O'Sullivan's will probably make you feel a little bit closer to it.
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Review from Dottsy Z.
9/14/2010
I visited O'Sullivan's twice during my stay in VA. The first time I went there, it was for some pre-dinner drinks. The bar was newly opened, but it seemed to have some regulars in the bar. We received service. It was neither friendly, or rude, it was just service. I had a great black and tan and even complimented the bartender on a nice pour. He seemed to loosen up after that.
The second time was for post-dinner drinks. I was challenged to some darts and was surprised that I didn't get kicked out for hitting everything BUT the dartboard. Again, we received ok service and the drinks were good.
I did not try O'Sullivan's food, so I can't comment, but for the bar was a-ok! -
Review from Jasmine N.
Arlington, VA
8/1/2011
If you want a true pub without the frills, good prices, and laid back, friendly people (which is almost impossible to find in this area), come here. It's not trendy. It's just comfortable.
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Review from Johnny U.
Arlington, VA
5/4/2011
Great neighborhood Irish bar with real live Irish people working there. Back when I worked night shifts, this was a great place to go on my off days to get a beer and meal at 2pm without people looking at you like you made terrible life choices. The crowd ranges from early 20s all the way up, but expect the 20s-30s on weekend nights. A younger crowd than Liberty Tavern. D-bags are seldom seen.
Food is relatively cheap and always good. I recommend the curry fries if you need munchies to compliment the booze. If you want a meal, go for the Guinness burger and be prepared to spend a couple hours at the gym the next day to work it off. The staff are all great and quick to refill your glass. It can be difficult on crowded nights because wait staff is limited and size of the bar makes it tough for them to get around.
The best night is Wednesday trivia starting at 830. Paddy, the triviamaster and bartender, is amazing at his job. There is a lot of interaction with the crowd, whether witty/drunken Irish banter or shaming those attempting to cheat. Worth going to hear him belt out the music round in lounge lizard fashion. Fantastic. And the good songs often lead to a full bar drunken sing along
Only a couple negatives for full disclosure. The bathrooms are one seaters so expect a line for guys and gals when it gets crowded. Also limited seating which means lots of people standing around on trivia night without a chair. Live music nights do get loud, but it's live music and it's supposed to be loud. -
Review from Conor Q.
Arlington, VA
9/23/2010
1. relatively inexpensive food for the area (main dish, fries, coleslaw ~ $10)
2. above average waitstaff
3. actually owned and operated by Irish ppl, not common
4. good atmosphere, usually not too crowded at night
5. best Guinness in Arlington
6. mostly decent bands playing on Fri and Sat
7. Wednesday trivia night is pretty good
8. not full of assholes like a lot of other bars, good place if you want to relax with some locals and have a beer without some BRAH spilling his drink on you and skeezing out your girlfriend -
Review from Kevin L.
1/14/2009
Welcome back to Virginia...
This might have been the first thing that came out the boy's mouth when I dropped by the AMSA office after trivia here: "Hm. Smoky." Yeah. That pretty much sums up O'Sullivan's. I could smell the reek of it all over myself for the next couple hours while we both kept working. Gross.
Okay, so outside of the fact that it smells like ew in there, the food was pretty spectacularly disappointing. With a capital D. How do you screw up fish 'n' chips?! Seriously. Purchase edible white fish. Bread fish. Fry fish. Serve. Not rocket science, right? I don't know what horrors went on in the kitchen, but the order that Alicia and I shared was startlingly bad.
If I hadn't been trained by my parental units to always finish the food on my plate, I would have given up after two bites. Instead, I think I killed my piece of fish. The crust was -soggy-! Soggy! And it didn't stick to the fish at all... in fact, part way through using the side of my fork to chunk apart the... food item, the fish slipped entirely out of the breading pocket. Hell. Oh. And the cole slaw was bland and boring. With... again... soggy cabbage. No crunch? Bleeeehhh. The upside? It was the deal of the day, so it ran something like $5 or so.
I don't know what possessed us to try something else after that awful experience. Oh wait. That's right. Alicia was still hungry because she consumed even -less- of her fish. So we got the nachos. Again, hard to jack up - right? Purchase chips, put melted cheese, meat, and dips on top, then serve. Right?
Remember how I raved about the nachos at Tryst, and how there was -just- the right combination of chips-to-toppings? Yeah. None of that here. There may have been two whole jalapenos sliced up for our plate of chips. The toppings... -only- on the top layer of chips... went along with that top layer. Leaving a mound of toppings-less chips left. Sad.
Oh. Oh! And I haven't even -touched- on the trivia yet. Or how ridiculously challenging it is to flag down a server and get them to stick around for more than five seconds to take an order. Y'know what? I'm not even going to bother.
Veto.Listed in: Anti-Sushi Fish!, DC Trivia
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Review from Alicia G.
1/12/2009
If you take the trivia from O'Sullivan's and mix it with the food from Ventnor Sports Cafe, you'll have a cute trivia night baby. Not perfect, just cute.
Kevin and I arrived just as they were getting to the 2nd or 3rd question. The Yelp group was lucky enough to score a long table by the front window and we squeezed in on the end. The trivia didn't seem to be too bad but when we ordered food - that's where it all tanked.
$5.50 for fish 'N chips (for you, Jeff) was the special as well as $2 Bud Lights. Kevin and I decided to split the fish and each ordered a water. The waiter returned with 2 Bud Lights and 1 water. Uhh perhaps we stuttered. Okay. Try again. "2 waters, please." And then we got 2 Blue Moons. Sigh. This should have been our first sign to give up.
The fish 'N chips arrived pretty quickly. Served with a wedge of lemon, some sauce in a cup and cole slaw. I was really hungry as I had just come from the gym so I dove in. "Chips" were meh but passable. The fish was not so great. It was overly battered and soggy! Soggy fish 'N chips...wtf? I ended up just eating the fish and left the breading. Sadness...I was expecting hot, crispy fish that the others at the table had experienced. The slaw was also disappointing. VETO!
Still hungry, we somehow managed to get a menu to check out their fare. We put in an order for nachos with chicken - thinking this would fill the void that the fish did not. Hah! Ordering them proved to be difficult as Kevin found himself waving and practically shouting to the server to come back so we could place the order. When they came out, they were served with sides of guac and sour cream and were covered in sliced jalapenos, fresh tomatoes (+), chicken and melted cheese. It all seemed so promising until we ate the top layer and found it just to be a huge pile of chips. Awesome.
The trivia was alright but not the greatest. It got to the point where some of us (my end of the table) were more entertained by guessing what our server would bring us next or if we could somehow get a photo of the guy standing behind us wearing a striped jacket with suede elbow patches and bbm message it to Kathleen. The singing round wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. I only knew one of the songs and I was pretty proud of that.
All in all, not the worst trivia but the service and food options are deplorable. You can cross O'Sullivan's off your weekly trivia rotation. No thanks.Listed in: A List for my Fellow Yellow,…, An Ode to Jeff W, My Swirl List
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Review from Jeff W.
1/9/2009
While O'Sullivans does seem to be a step up from the typical fake irish pub, it still could use some improvements. The menu has a variety of irish fare, and a lot of it sounds great. I'd love to come back at an off hour and try some of their irish specialities. I got to try the fish and chips, which was decent, but a bit too bready. Fries were of the typical frozen bag variety. Others, however, were not so lucky with their fish. Another order that came out was soggy and lukewarm. Nowhere near the hot, crispy fish that I had. Nachos were also kinda of a waste with a ton of chips topped with the lightest sprinkling of cheese and chicken I've seen. I also didn't understand why they had Bud Light on special, but at least it was cheap.
Service was also horrendous. Our waiter was so bad it started to become a joke as to what he would bring out. A simple order of "fish and chips and 2 waters" was mistranslated once as "one water" and another time as "2 Blue Moons". Also, we practically had to throw one of our empty plates at him so we could make room for trivia.
Trivia wasn't particularly scintillating either. The host was personable, and efficient, though the time between questions started to drag on. The singing round wasn't that bad, but if you know a melody better than the lyrics (like me) it will be a bit of a challenge. The questions were also kind of dull, with most apparently focusing on history. Not at the top of my list for trivia needs.
I'd consider returning to O'Sullivan's to try some more of their unique Irish specialties. Probably won't be returning for trivia any time soon, and would certainly steer clear on a busy night. -
Review from Michelle P.
Fairfax, VA
1/8/2009 ROTD 10/13/2009
I think the best team name from trivia night sums this place up pretty well "Bud Light's are a special at an Irish Bar?" For an irish bar, it sure didn't feel that way.
While the only thing i consumed were a couple fries (gross but the dipping sauce was ok) from Jeff's fish and chips, two diet cokes and a water, i was able to make keen observations about the food. Fish and chips, while cheap, looked completely unappetizing. Pretty big pieces but looked heavily battered, fried and just plain gross. Plus someones looked like it was still swimming in the water! I also sampled some nachos which were like a pile of corn chips a sprinkling of cheese and a whole crap ton of jalapenos. Not a fan
Trivia was allright. I did like the singing of the music rounds, but the rest kinda sucked. Not ONE science/math/technology question so i was virtually useless. And the movie quotes were so freaking obscure. It was just not fun. It took FOREVER between questions and rounds and the place was loud and crowded
It was also really smokey. Even my underwear smelled like smoke!
But i will give it one extra star because the bathrooms not only had the irish words for women but also said "Ladies" underneath. There is nothing that annoys me more than restaurants that try to be cool by using the "native words" and a confusing picture. One of my biggest fears in life is that i will walk into the wrong bathroom so thatnk you for helping me with that.Listed in: I love my iPod touch, Last Call for Know it Alls
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Review from Alicia C.
Bethesda, MD
1/13/2009
I managed to get here early enough on trivia night to secure team Yelp a decent sized space... early arrival is a must if you're thinking about trivia because the place is small and definitely got packed (think standing room only) over the course of the night. The one advantage to arriving early, is you get a shot at decent service (because all chances of that were lost once the masses piled in). The fish I got was decent, hot, crisp, and for $5.50 I wasn't complaining... Unfortunately the fish dinner seems hit or miss because some others in the group didn't have quite the same experience with theirs. For drink specials, $2 Bud... tempting, right? But hey, at least the price is right.
Service, as mentioned, started out well. But as Alicia G mentioned, as the night wore on, it did become a guessing game as to what the waiter would bring next. More than once he went to each person at the table asking if the item he had was for them to no avail, since no one had actually ordered anything. But he did remain friendly throughout, which is more that I could have probably done, so he gets points for that.
Trivia was interesting... mix of easy, hard, random, answers written on plain index cards... throw in the host singing the 'guess the song' round... definitely entertaining. Not the best, not the worst, but I think it could have moved at a little faster pace. Probably won't be making the trek out here regularly for trivia, but it was fun for a night. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Atlanta, GA
10/4/2007
The minute I walked in to O'Sullivan's for trivia I realized I had been there before. It was obviously a pretty forgettable experience. I also noted that this place used to be Molly Malone's, which my sister and I have always pronounced with a Spanish accent because they forgot to put the apostrophe on the sign. It's probably funnier when I explain it in person. I swear.
The bar is pretty small, just one room, but they manage to make it work. There are a couple of TV's spread throughout but they don't overwhelm the place, which I like. Trivia didn't start till 8:30 but the place really started to fill up around 7, so be sure to get there early if you've got a big group (thanks Craig!). On Wednesdays they were offering $2 Bud Lights and 1/2 price fish and chips. I got a chicken club sandwich that was HUGE and could easily feed 2 (in fact, it did).
The service was okay at the start. A little snippy, but nothing too bad. It got progressively worse as the night wore on. There was one server for the entire bar, which was ridiculous. I felt bad for him, but at the same time he was super slow and didn't write anything down. The Bud Lights got progressively warmer, which is when I was "forced" to switch to Smithwick's. Rough.
Trivia was also okay, but not great. The announcer was nice and Irish (yay!) and the questions were good, if not a bit too easy. It wasn't as much of a challenge as past trivia nights have been. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie quotes round, but the music round was awful. He sang the lyrics. He was not a singer. He could not carry a tune. This is when you plug in your iPod, dude!
All in all it was an okay experience, but not great. Will I ever be back? Ehhhh... I hope I don't find myself in that part of the world too soon, as with the metro delays and stupid busses it took me nearly 2 hours to get there from Georgetown. Ick.Listed in: Our drinking team has a trivia…
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Review from Matt W.
Arlington, VA
9/1/2010
O'Sullys is, to me, simply THE best bar in Arlington.
Unpretentious, friendly and the best staff in the world (I'm looking at you, Paddy, Jeff, Donough and Megan!) who actually know how to and take pride in pouring a proper pint of Guinness. You ever go to a bar and spend 10 minutes trying to get the bartender's attention as he looks at the floor and anywhere but at the thirsty customers!? Well, there's never a struggle to get a bartender's attention here. They keep their eyes up!! They are enthusiastic and work fast and hard, and will even keep the bottom of your glass from ever getting dry if you are sitting at the bar and ask nicely.Trust me, take the time to get to know the bar staff and they will truly take the time to get to know you.Good luck finding THAT in most of the Arlington bars.
The clientele (other than on Friday nights when the exurb crowd overflows in from the Ballroom et. al.) is far less 'Clarendouchy' than the 'hipper' places down the street and that's worth quite a lot in my book. This is not a meat market scene; it's a proper pub for having a few pints and maybe meeting some 'real' people from time to time.
The food is exactly what you would expect at a decent Irish pub, although I am partial to their wings (dryer than many).
Icing on the cake: the Wednesday pub quiz is the best in the area and the live music (again, other than Fridays) is unobtrusive and usually pleasant enough.
It may not be for everyone. I have friends who complain that it is 'too dark' or 'too boring,' but not me. I've become a regular, and though I hate to think that this post might encourage crowding at the bar, I still can't help but sing the place's praises. -
Review from Craig R.
Saint Louis, MO
10/11/2007
I was disappointed in O'Sullivan's. The bar atmosphere was great. The people who frequented the bar were really nice. Someone even bought me a whiskey shot and I had only been talking to him for about five minutes. Who does that? I really enjoyed the small bar feel, but it didn't really meet our groups needs for trivia.
Trying to save seats for ten in here is almost impossible. When trying to save seats for ten, you're actually reserving a fifth of the place. If you're going with a group, make sure you're going early. The second worst thing about O'Sullivan's is that they only have one toilet in the men's room. One toilet? You have got to be kidding me. This is the only place I have ever been where there was a line for the men's room.
They have some awesome specials for trivia night. Half priced fish and chips was definitely worth it and two dollar Bud Lights were great as well. The trivia itself was severely disappointing. The questions were easier than most places we've been to so far. The announcer was decent, but if you're going to have a music round don't sing the songs yourself. To top it all off, they don't give any prizes (or swag). No prizes? What was the point? Bragging rights? Pfffffft. Very cool trivia guy, horrible game.
This is a cool local bar, but don't go for trivia. Time waster.Listed in: Pubs with Trivia
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Review from Cadence R.
Washington, DC
1/15/2009
We came here last night for trivia and I thought it was generally well run. It wasn't supposed to start until 8:30 which in the past has meant 9, so I was pleasantly surprised when it started at 8:32. I was also surprised that the entire answer sheet situation mostly because all it consisted of was four 5" by 7" note cards. Usually it's a bit more complicated and involved than that, but it worked for them. I also was happy that there were only 4 rounds. I'm an old lady - if you start trivia that late please don't make it over 5 rounds. It's past my bedtime.
Those are pretty much the main positives I can think of. Everything else wasn't that great. I didn't get food, but from what I saw on others plates, the meals seemed inconsistent. Some enjoyed and some hated. Trivia man was nice, but his movie quote round was ridiculous. The server showed up rarely and when he was around, he usually brought things no one ordered. The smoke was overwhelming and my roommate looked at me with disgust when I got home saying, "Right, you went to a place in Virginia." Gross.
Best thing about O'Sullivan's was that I only spent $3! (Simple trick: Order something you don't enjoy at all which is very very cheap, say a Bud Light, and then you will barely touch it all night! It'll last a long time!) -
Review from Laura V.
Alexandria, VA
3/14/2008
This is my kind of bar. Not pretentious, plenty of room to move (that might not apply on St. Paddy's day), good choice of beer on tap, friendly servers.
This was my first time at O'Sullivan's and I was pleasantly surprised with what I encountered. Long ago, in a land far far away, I had "my bar." It was where I used to go on a regular basis, to get consistent service, chat with the bartenders, and have a few beers. I think O'Sullivan's might just fit this bill and fill a void that's been open for far too long.
Now, this place certainly isn't fancy, and it's just beer, but there's something about the atmosphere that makes O'Sullivans a much better option than Ri-Ra, or even Liberty Tavern around the corner. It's just a neighborhood bar.
I like it that way. O'Sullivan's (I think I will henceforth call you O'Sully's - it's shorter and I like nick names), you and I will become good friends. I can feel it. -
Review from Jason C.
Arlington, VA
7/12/2007
I've heard people refer to the Clarendon area as "Little Saigon," but honestly, calling Clarendon "Little Dublin" would be a far better appellation. I mean, how many Irish bars can actually occupy the same stretch of road?!?
Four or five, actually. And truth be told, I haven't been to any one of them. Mostly 'cause my impression of Irish bars is that they're, well, "gimmicky." Like if any one of them ever did a television advertisement, you'd see an animated leprechaun saying "Aye, get along wit ya now to Patrick McShaughnessey's Public House, where there be so much charm, tis only proper we cram fun up yer FOOKIN ARSE," and then the camera focuses on the bar, where four or five gents in Donegal tweeds start dancing a jig. Kind of like a Pollo Campero ad, only Irish, and not hawking chicken.
At any rate, I decided that I'll try one of these establishments every week or so to see if there's any "best of class," or for that matter, any difference among them. First up, O'Sullivan's.
O'Sullivan's occupies a weird stretch of Wilson Boulevard. If you're heading towards the city, it's at a funny angle perpendicular to the street. If you're heading west on Wilson, you'll very likely not even notice it. Specifically, if you're walking towards the Clarendon Ballroom, you'll see the Liberty Tavern, and from that vantage point, think you've reached the last bar on the block. Which explains why I was only the second person there when I arrived a little after 5pm.
It's a much smaller establishment on the inside than the exterior lets on, and they don't go crazy with the interior decorating. It has more of a homey feel than other places which OD on the Irish charm. Two barmaids with an Irish brogue invited me to have a seat and promptly took my order (fish and chips and a pint of Miller Lite).
While it's really hard to have a "best in show" competition for something as simple as fish and chips, they werent' bad, and I've had far worse. An order of food (Wednesdays the fish and chips are half off) and two beers set me back $13. Not bad at all. Service was polite and efficient. The barmaids made their rounds every so often to make sure everyone was okay, but didn't hover over you.
It's funny. Usually I can't stand going out to places where you're standing up against someone else's armpit, but I think the extreme is equally uncomfortable. While waiting for my order, I kept sending up silent prayers that someone, anyone would stop in. I need at least a little vibe goin' on. Granted, 5:20 on a Wednesday isn't the busiest day of the week, but I couldn't help feeling that their location was also responsible for some of the emptiness. I think that's why I handed the barmaid a $20 and told her to keep it.
The verdict: not a bad place, and certainly nice enough to stop in for a pint or two when you've got some free time. The food selection is limited, but the prices will make Irish eyes a'smilin'. I'll probably try to stop back later on when there's a bit more of a crowd. If the proprietor is reading this: Buddy, invest in some advertising, pronto. There are several other Irish bars in walking distance, and they all have the benefit of being in more visible locations. Your bar has a certain charm, and I'd hate to see it disappear for lack of customers.
Oh, and bonus points for keeping a rack of Tayto-brand crisps behind the bar. It's a potato chip straight from Ireland. -
Review from Clara L.
Updated - 1/13/2009
Just 3 stars now... My friends and I came here for our weekly happy hour on wednesday and to check out the trivia. I actually had to leave for a soccer game before trivia began, but I heard that it was only so-so. But I can't vouch for that personally.
However as for the happy hour experience it was pretty meh. The only beers on specials were bud and bud light-- wait, did I miss something? Isn't this an IRISH pub? We got there around 7pm and the few tables were already taken, so we grabbed the nook in front of the restroom entrance which had bar stools and a small surface to use as a table.
The bar seating area was about half full and I realized that there was alot of standing room. I think that is a great thing for weekend nights, but on a weekday night, it makes the place look pretty empty, since not too many people are just standing around in the middle of this open space.
Oh well, I'll probably still stop by here on a weekend night, but will go elsewhere with better beer specials during the week.Listed in: Happy Hour Spots in Clarendon…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/12/2008
***3.5 stars***
Liberty Tavern was PACKED. Ballroom had a $10 cover plus a long line out the door. I… Read more »
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Review from Jim B.
Washington, DC
10/22/2007
I was lucky enough to walk through the door of O'Sullivan's, grab the waiter's attention and be diving into a plate of 1/2 price fish and chips and a Guinness within 5 minutes. Some people I was with weren't so lucky and had to wait considerably longer to get service from the only waiter in the whole place.
I was starving, but the fish and chips were still very good and the Guinness... well, I'd have burnt the place to the ground if they screwed up a Guinness at an Irish pub.
The trivia questions were ridiculously easy and there were absolutely no prizes for the winners, turning this into the pub quiz equivalent of making out with your sister. Sure, it feels good to score at first, but when all is said and done you're left unsatisfied and wondering why you even bothered. -
Review from Jaime L.
Tucson, AZ
10/6/2008
The bartenders always seem friendly. I've met the owners through a meetup group and they are very nice (I've hosted a few meetups at this place because they are so accommodating. Even the kitche is with substituting food items to make them veggie friendly).
I like their Happy Hour specials. My favorite day to go is on Wednesday when they have 1/2 price fish & chips, and $2 Bud Lite. But, don't worry they have a lot of good beers too (I just don't mind cheaper ones). Sometimes, I'm surprised to find myself still there for trivia on Wednesday night...
This bar can get crowded on the weekends, and during the week when karaoke (Tues) & trivia (Wed) starts, but since I usually go during Happy Hour [and stick around] I can get a seat.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Dawn T.
Washington, DC
1/25/2009
So- a group of us go to O'Sullivan's every Wednesday night for trivia and we have never had anything other than a wonderful time. Does it smell like smoke? Yes, but it is a bar in VA.... so get over it!!!
The service is great! The food is standard Pub Grub! What else can you expect from an Irish Bar!! Great fish and chips special on trivia night! Everyone is super friendly and accomadating!
Patrick (trivia guy) is wonderful! He is always open to suggestions as to what catagories should be better on trivia night and which ones were ridiculously difficult.
All in all, as long as you are not looking for an up-scale Georgetown experience, O'Sullivan's is a great choice. It has become our Cheers- where everyone knows our name!!! -
Review from Jennifer S.
Arlington, VA
10/3/2006
What was once Molly Malone's (named after a fish monger) is now O'Sullivans (named after the owner). Tiresome. I had such high hopes long ago when I saw this horrible corner on Washington Blvd building what was clearly going to be a restaurant of some sort. Something new and different? NO. Another Irish pub. Yahoo. When Molly Malone's sign was down one day, my hopes soared again....could we possibly be getting a non-Irish establishment in our already Irish saturated area? NO. O'Sullivan's took root as of Sept 15 and it is EXACTLY the same. The black-and-white exterior with the red door is still intact, as is the teeny tiny interior with its faux cobblestone flooring and poor acoustics. As far as I can see, the only addition is maybe a new app or two to the menu (like the dringlee dots - fried potato skin balls). Otherwise there are no surprises. The specials are even still the same:
Monday - 1/2 price burgers
Tuesday - 1/2 price shepherds pie or chicken pot pie
Wednesday - 1/2 price fish n chips
Thursday - $8 guinness burger or guinness stew
Friday - 1/2 price apps at the bar
Sunday - 1/2 price wings -
Review from Geoff P.
Arlington, VA
1/26/2009
I'm more a substance over style kind of person, and having said that OSullivans fits me perfectly. Great for locals during the week and late at night. If you make any effort to get to know the bar tenders they will take the time to talk to you and remember you the next time you come in.
The bar is mostly chill during the week, but weekends are pretty well filled up and Wednesdays are excellent for trivia. If you are new to the bar I would recommend trying it out on a Wednesday or the weekend. The trivia is fun and usually pretty challenging and Patrick (the MC) is always very interactive with the crowd. He especially likes you commenting on his singing and asking for more movie quotes. Singing and movie quotes are the best two rounds. The first two focus on general knowledge. I've never won, but that doesn't stop me from having a good time.
I have had only positive experiences with the food, but I usually am there pretty early with little competition. I imagine when things get busy on Wednesday's that the later you order, the more sketch things could become. Service is limited, there is usually only 1 person taking food/drink orders at any one time, so he can get busy but I usually get around this by planning well in advance of when I'll actually need a drink or I just go directly to the bar. The cleanup of empty bottles and plates is almost immediate so there is never much clutter where you're sitting.
This is a great local bar with great people who work at it. -
Review from Kat R.
Alexandria, VA
9/12/2008
Nice bartender....she washed her hands just based on this I give the place four stars. She also did not let empty glasses stay around, received orders and laid out silverware without being asked.
Did not order food just beer..........and bring your own friends.
Very organized, good service...cold beer....laid back, in the cut type of place........
Pluses the bar has Karaoke. -
Review from Mike F.
Arlington, VA
11/7/2007
Like everything else, it all depends on what you want. This is an excellent place to meet up with old friends over a Guinness and meal or to unwind from the craziness. The bartenders are extremely nice and eager to converse. As others have mentioned, the food's tasty and well-priced. Occasionally, I've been here on the weekend, when they've had live acoustic music, which was quite enjoyable. However, if you're looking for a big, crowded bar with lots of drunken sloppiness, this is definitely not the place...
Would recommend this for a laid back venue to rekindle old friendships, or as a reliable redoubt from a dark, cold winter night after work. Cheers -
Review from Mikkela T.
3/25/2008
Well, you know what they say... the pub was filled with good blond bobs, blue jeans with waistlines just below "mom-jeans" and discussions of bear stearns... suburbanites who drove in to grab a beer with old colleagues and friends = so middle aged! BUT, then I realized that most of these folks -- hairline receding men who would do well on http://match.com and VPL ladies, were MY AGE! That's when I ordered the Tanq and Tonic.
It was a Saturday night and actually, it wasn't so bad to have a pub of the old school (this place is only a couple of years old), where some young guy sings out his heart, drunk blond bobs beebop to the music, men in matching waist-out shirts sway to the music, and the odd looking under-age Irish-ites drink Guinness furtively in a corner.
That said, the waiter wore black tie, black beard, black belt and ferried black beer back and forth. In today's Clarendon, the diversity in this pub was a tattooed lady and a few cuff-link wearing Asians. Wow, it really was like being in Ireland! Hahaha! -
Review from Kara H.
Washington, DC
7/22/2011
LOVE these guys!! The bartenders totally make the place!! They have hot accents, chatty and make four leaf clovers in your beer froth. What more could you possibly want? We go every Thursday to unwind and while it isn't packed, there is usually a small crowd of chill people. I enjoy that it is the only bar in Clarendon that isn't filled with the "boat shoe douchbaggery" crowd. They have a great selection on tap and also have fantastic fries with curry sauce!
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Review from Chris R.
Arlington, VA
6/17/2011
With the courage to be a dive bar in Disney-like Clarendon, this place has some real appeal. I've been quite a few times, most for happy hour but once for a friend's birthday in the late evening and have always felt comfortable. Most importantly, you can HEAR other people talking to you (unlike Liberty Tavern), which as I geez is getting more and more important to me. It makes for a great after work (I work a couple blocks away) gathering place. Why 3 stars instead of 4? I am price sensitive and enjoy a large selection of local ales, so I am going to be drawn to the Lyon Hall happy hour most every time. You can also hear yourself think in there, the seating is just as comfortable, and I pay a dollar less or so for great beers. I'll always accept an invitation to happy hour at O'Sullivan's but will always feel a bit better drinking and paying my check down the street.
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Review from Jackie A.
Arlington, VA
4/25/2010
O'Sullivan's wasn't too crowded for a Saturday night. We were able to get a table in the back which was probably key. There was live music (some dude with a guitar) and he was happy to take requests. To be fair, his voice wasn't bad and he could play decent acoustic guitar. The only problem I have with small venues and live music is that it makes it almost impossible to have any kind of conversation with the people you are with. You have to limit your discussions to shouting a few words across the table and then someone inevitably responding with, "What?" Then, because you don't feel like repeating yourself, you just wave them off and forget it. More alcohol please.
I was already drunk when I came in to O'Sullivans so, I think any place would have seemed somewhat decent. Its your typical Irish pub-style place. Wood tables, wood benches, wood chairs, wood bar, dim lighting, drunks. The waitress was friendly enough. We ordered some nachos and fries which were 'eh.' Granted I had already had a big dinner so I wasn't hungry and I didn't really eat anything, save for one or two fries and one or two nachos. One thing I found weird was that the fries came with a curry dipping sauce. I like fries and I like curry, but I must say, I'm not a big fan of the two mixed together. Its just an odd accoutrement to a french fry. What's wrong with ketchup? Or barbecue sauce if ketchup is too passe for your establishment?
I give O'Sullivans the 'nothing special' rating. -
Review from David R.
Reston, VA
7/27/2009
Ugh. The worst of the four Irish pubs in Clarendon/Court House.
I went there last winter and there were two girls making out near the back. Maybe they thought they were in the Clarendon Ballroom. The place smells - literally. Do yourself a favor and keep walking, to Ri Ra or Kitty O'Sheas. How this place can stay open is beyond me.
