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Pogue Mahone Irish Pub
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for Pogue Mahone Irish Pub
25 reviews in English
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Review from Cindy H.
Toronto, ON
10/28/2011
Met a friend for happy hour at Pogue's and service seemed to be a bit chaotic. As soon as we sat down, a waitress dropped off a glass of wine for us and when we told her we hadn't ordered, she muttered something in frustration.
It's not the best place to go if you're looking to have a quiet conversation. We were lucky in getting a booth, as we arrived around 5:00pm. By the time we left, the place was full of corporate groups.
We didn't try the food but pints will run anywhere between $6-$10, depending on the beer.
Like the others have said, it's not terrible, but also nothing special really stands out about Pogue's. -
Review from Simika K.
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
The service? Really good.We were seated right away, around 5:30 pm, and luckily we got a booth. The waitress was friendly and efficient, and came by often but never hurried us. Appreciate that. So 4 stars for service.
The food, however, was ho-hum. The sauce on the wings had a bit of a vinegary taste ( wasn't my cup of tea - we ordered the mild). I ordered the cottage pie, and it was nothing spectacular. My friend thought her dish - the chicken pot pie - had a bit of a freezer burn effect on it. So altogether, the meal was just barely shy of satisfactory.
Would I go back? Maybe - if it was for drinks, after work hang out.The vibe was loud but not crazy. And the place was quite busy. But I'd make plans for dinner elsewhere. -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
10/27/2011
Skip this one if you're looking for value. There is typical pub fare done mediocre style at best. Nothing really stands out on the menu and nothing stands out in flavour. Patio is good and the beer selection is good too.
Burgers, Pot pie, sandwiches, soup, you know the drill.
Location is good, but even still, there are other Pubs that are better and close by.
Nothing more to say. Disappointed.... -
Review from Elaine K.
10/9/2011 2 photos
Pretty good atmosphere, great beers, terrible food.
We dropped in to watch the leaf game and get some beer and pub food into our bellies. The place was packed full of hockey fans and the sound from the TVs was BLARING. It we had to yell to talk to each other across the 2 foot bar table. Ugh.
I was happy that they served Innis & Gunn and treated myself to one. The Hubster was happy they had Rolling Rock on tap. The service was friendly, if a bit slow, but they were totally packed.
The Hubster ordered a Santa Fe chicken wrap which he described as "absolutely tasteless". He suggested that they may have boiled the chicken in water. I had the Irish Stew, which was full of flavour, but not in a good way. It was as if they had simmered it uncovered for hours and hours, turning it into an incredibly concentrated stew that was sort of sour and very heavy on the Worcestershire. It was unpleasant, but I managed to eat most of it. The veggies were in giant clumps, almost too big to eat without cutting, and I had to dig around to find the morsels of beef and lamb. I immediately regretted not ordering the burger.
All in all, the place seems like a decent, comfy pub to hang out in, and their beer selection was decent, but take a pass on the food.Listed in: Yelp 30-Day Challenge
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Review from Shasta K.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2011
Had a very disappointing lunch at Pogue's today. I've been going to Pogue's over the last 3 years. Sadly, the place is going downhill it seems.
I've noticed that the menu is smaller and that the prices have gone up. I ordered an italian pannini and side strawberry spinach salad - the meal came with a scoop of coleslaw and a pickle. When the plate arrived, I immediately noticed a weird odour - the coleslaw was really warm and smelled rotten...yuck! Next up, the strawberrry spinach salad (which for some reason had pieces of canned mango in it???) Anyhow, I ended up throwing half of the spinach out because it was mushy and rotten. Two strikes! The saving grace? The sandwich, oddly enough, was OK - I enjoyed the basil in it.
Overall, not worth the 15 bucks plus tax at all! Food was junk, service was mediocre. I could have went to a much better restaurant for that price for lunch... Definitely no repeats anytime soon and definitely not until the restaurant implements some quality controls measures - the cole slaw and spinach salad I received should have never gone out...pathetic and disguting! -
Review from Kent P.
8/17/2011
If someone suggests you go here: delete them from your life.
Tacky, expensive, franchise-y, touristy, bad food, full of nerds. -
Review from Chris P.
8/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for wing night. Overall things were good. The wings were good, the service was good, the patio was good, the atmosphere was good, the beer was good, it was all good. But nothing puts this place past good. Nothing here makes me jump out of my seat and say "Let's all go to Pogue Mahone because..."
If you're looking for your average pub that's right downtown then this is a good choice, just don't expect anything to wow you. -
Review from Laura T.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2011
For slightly better than average pub fare, this is an appropriate place to go. For bad service, also an appropriate place to go.
The menu has some good additions that are worth checking out - strawberry summer salad (small or large option, $8-$11), a coffee/brown sugar rub prime rib burger ($12), cottage pie (mashed potatoes, beef & veggies), an oyster special on Friday as well as some good daily specials.
They also have a good appetizer list and include all the main classics - turkey club, spinach dip, casear salad, wings, fish & chips, steak frites & cobb salad. Whew.... so yes, a semi-impressive menu for a pub.
The patio is large, but receives zero sunlight. Kind of a bummer when it's a bright, sunny day and you're sitting in the shade. The worst part of our dining experience was the service. We had a VERY cranky server that we barely saw. Food came out quickly, but we left with a less than desirable taste in our mouths.
Pun intended.
Also no debit. Boo urns. -
Review from Grainne M.
Toronto, ON
3/6/2011
The only real passion that Pogue Mahone's inspired in us was a passionate debate on the nature of a real "Irish pub". This was probably inevitable considering there were six Irish people squashed into a snug in a Toronto pub. We couldn't really decide in the end, but the most genuine Irish pubs seemed to be the ones you wouldn't really want to go into without some hand sanitiser-outside toilets featured for many.
Pogue Mahones, on the other hand, was clean and comfortable. Service was at our table and friendly. They had a pretty good range of drinks and even obliged with a basket of fries when people got a bit peckish (although if it was an Irish pub they'd be called chips). It was cosy in the snug and there were nice fireplaces to sit beside in the main bar.
Why the 3 stars? Well, it's definitely not an Irish pub for a number of reasons:
-It was pretty dead on a Saturday night. A few people were scattered around but it was definitely quiet.
-It's nice and sociable in a snug but the rest of it is a bit soulless.
-You rarely get table service in an Irish pub. Trying to catch the barman's eye by bouncing up and down at the bar is how you burn off those alcohol calories
-Most damning of all-they celebrate things like Burns night. That would be Scottish. The least Irish thing you can possibly do is to think Ireland/Scotland/England; they're all the same aren't they? Call it some kind of Celtic pub if you like, but it's most certainly not Irish. -
Review from Jeremiah M.
Toronto, ON
5/2/2011
Why does this place have such a low rating? It kicks ass.
Excellent pub food. It's exactly what you'd want. Great nachos, chicken wings, beer. And if you come here on a Friday night there's a great live guitarist playing for the crowd. Solid way to start a night. -
Review from Nicole H.
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decent patio. Spacious inside. Nothing to write home about or plan a visit to but if in the area, I'd go again.
Listed in: In the City!
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Review from Missy K.
Toronto, ON
3/15/2011
Only decent place in the immediate area for a quick pint. I'd say the food is above par for pub standards.
Cozy enough, clean, friendly... very busy with the lunch and after work crowd but otherwise you can always find a chair or stool.
It ain't Temple Bar, but that's probably a good thing! -
Review from Renata R.
10/21/2010
It's an OK place with OK food, OK drinks and OK ambiance. It's kind of pricey (located at Bay & College, it's not surprising) for what you get, but it's not usually packed.
I've been there like two or three times, was not impressed, but came back because it was open late and the service was OK (you see... OK is the perfect word to describe this place). Expect OK things and you won't be disappointed. You'll be OK.Listed in: Party Time
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Review from Teena D.
2/27/2011 7 photos
My husband, my sister and I went to Pogue Mahone this afternoon.
I'm not crazy about Foggy Dew or the Brazenhead, which are part of this family of pubs. They are pricy, the food isn't great and the service isn't great either.
The attraction for us this afternoon was that Sandy MacIntyre and Steeped in Tradition were playing there ... they started playing on Sunday afternoons five weeks ago. Otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to go.
Sandy MacIntyre (Cape Breton fiddle) is one of today's most prominent players and teachers of Cape Breton fiddling. He has also composed well over a hundred tunes, many of which have become classics of the Cape Breton style.
I've seen this band quite a few times and really enjoy them. They play mostly fiddle jigs and reels (which I love) with the occasional old twangy country song.
There was a good-sized crowd made up apparently of regulars.
We had supper there. Gord and I both had fish 'n chips which was delicious. Sister Sarah doesn't eat meat and had nachos ... it was a huge meal!
There were Highland dancers. Like a true kitchen ceilidh, others jumped in to entertain .... some singers and some fiddlers to give Sandy and the others a break.
A fun thing to check out on Sunday afternoons! -
Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
10/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
It's big. It's impersonal. It's kinda pricey. It's Pogue Mahone.
It does what a pub should do: serve drinks and greasy food. Since the service was good enough, I can't really say anything bad about it except that it seriously lacks personality.
If you're close by, it won't hurt to stop and have a beer with your friends. Just bear in mind there are better, less expensive and more interesting pubs if you walk around a few blocks. -
Review from Michael N.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2010
I really enjoy Pogue's - while their beers are a tad pricy (compared to Annex pubs, for example), they have a really good selection, and their drinks menu is pretty good. Their food is surprisingly good - not their appetizers, but their dinner menu; I'd definitely recommend that you give it a go.
It's a big place, so the atmosphere is great for 1-2 people (good amount of privacy) or large groups - I brought a group of 20 people there, and as I gave them a day's notice, they had 2 servers just for us the whole time. Even an impromptu gathering of 10 people they handled really well. In general, the service is great, though a bit impersonal if they don't know you. That said, if you start to go regularly, they remember you really quickly, and will remember your drink order, your name, etc. -
Review from Andie S.
Toronto, ON
8/5/2011
I went here with a bunch of people and I have to say the waitress was extremely patient with us. We had some indecisive people in our ranks and she had to come back at least a dozen times and didn't look the least bit annoyed. The pub is clean, does a brisk business and the waitstaff is patient and friendly. I do not recommend the lamb stew however. It was a little too "Irish peasant chic" for my tastes. They even included some almost stale bread for that extra bit of authenticity. I don't know ...it just seemed like something that would be fed to someone in a debtors' prison. The meals my friends picked were higher quality though so I can't judge the whole place based on my chewy brown stew.
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Review from Karl R.
11/4/2009 4 photos
This place reminds me of the Tipsy Mcstagger's concept from The Simpsons. Tipsy's was a franchise that distilled all the elements of what worked in other pubs and then built a pub around them.
Anyway, nothing really unique here but then nothing really wrong. There's a decent enough selection of local beers and imported beers on tap. It's nice to have something like this at College & Bay in the final analysis. The place is quite large, featuring a mix of tables and booths.
I ordered the lamb burger and found the lamb really dry. Fries, slaw, and a pickle came as sides and they were pretty good. Over all you get a nice serving size for the price ($12).
My friend had the steak and kidney pie, which engendered an interesting conversation. The waitress noted the menu items was a pie. My friend retorted "I did see it said pie." She commented "lots of people read it as 'steak' and 'kidney pie'. They think they're getting steak with a kidney pie on the side."
Oh dear. I appreciated the waitress was being careful, not obtuse. -
Review from Todd V.
Toronto, ON
10/3/2008 ROTD 4/5/2009
Question: How do you make your franchise Irish-style pub stand out?
Answer: Name it after an obscure Celtic curse.
Both the Irish-styled bands The Pogues and The Mahones take their name from this phrase which means "Kiss My Arse". Pogue Mahone is another in the line of short-schoolgirl-kilt pubs of the Foggy Dew (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...), the Pour House (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...), and that ilk. It's as good but no better than any other in the franchise. It's got a goodly sized patio and can frequently be choked with police. Don't worry, they're not breaking up fights or anything. The city's police headquarters are found across the street, so you'd be wise to think twice about drinking and driving your way home.
The menu is similar to that which you find elsewhere in the city and the beer list is decent as well. It's just not independent, exciting, or a stand-out from any other in the city. Vive la meme. At least you can giggle about the name. -
Review from Paul R.
Toronto, ON
2/22/2010
I always enjoy my time here. It's obvious it's a franchise operation so it lacks any type of unique charm, but it fits the bill on many occasions for after work drinks. Prices are reasonable and service is generally reliable.
You'll find plenty of civil servants blowing off steam here after work due to its proximity to all the Government offices and QP.
An all around A-OK place, what else can I say? -
Review from Eleni D.
Toronto, ON
12/29/2010
Not bad for a casual after-work drinks - the patio makes it fun in the summer months, but in winter, the crowd disappears most nights. On Mondays, take advantage of the $5.00 appetizer items; the fried calamari was a good deal in that respect, but don't expect spectacular quality.
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Review from Heather B.
Scarborough, ON
1/1/2010
Your classic Irish pub at Yonge & College
I like it here with their horseshoe booths and little booths around the windows. It's a nice pub to go for a night out of drinks but lately when I've been there it's been DEAD! Maybe it's alittle slow right now.
The menu is quite good with the traditional Irish meals...Guiness Steak Pies, Liver and Onions, Curries, and Share plates like Nachos and finger foods.
My only peeve here is when I order a RED WINE at the place it's always cold....Red wine should be ROOM temperature!
I think they stick it in the fridge :S
Other than that though I like the food and the staff are always friendly. -
Review from Kyle Y.
North York, ON
7/13/2009
A nice Irish pub just off Bay Street. You get a mix of young professionals finishing work and college students out on a typical evening.. but it doesnt feel like a work bar or college bar, more like a neighbourhood place.
This place is nothing spectacular, with a standard pub fare menu and the standard set of beers found at any Irish pub. There is a lovely patio facing College St and I have wasted too many nights sitting there with a beer in hand... and there will be many more. -
Review from Joanne W.
4/11/2010
My co-workers keep winning this Pogue Mahone VIP thing - so we tend to go there for farewell parties. Service is always great. The waitress would always come by with a friendly smile and ready to take our orders. The free appetizers (due to the VIP thing) are great. The sandwiches, pizza and this amazing nacho-dish (minus the nachoes and replace them with baked chips) are amazing!
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Review from MC J.
Toronto, ON
3/24/2011
I've been here three times and every time I've left disappointed. I found the food too greasy and overall plain. The only dish I found ok was the nachos. Service is just fine and there isn't a real vibe.
