O’Leary’s Ale House

I’ve sat at the bar on two separate occasions, both times Mackenzie was my server/​bartender. I didn’t read prior Unilocal reviews, rather just went here as it was across the street from The House Café where I was attending a concert.
Both times the bar was dead as college was not in session, however I still received great service. Draft beers were cold and poured into the right glassware when available. Today I ordered food and really enjoyed it. I had the chicken fingers which use a tempura batter that I thought was fantastic.
Overall, I see no reason to not come back here my next time in town!

For an Irish bar not very many Irish options on menu, drink or food. More a pub with an Irish name. That said it was not very good in my opinion. Place was dead, took almost 35 minutes to get drinks.

Maybe someone read my first review, or maybe it’s just a giant coincidence, but either way – things have been getting consistently better. The new hostess (or at least the one there on Wednesday nights) is great. The waitstaff have also been much faster. They recently made some changes to the menu and I actually think the food has been better since then.
Whatever they’ve changed seems to be working, so it only seemed fair to update my review! (Also: try the Monterey chicken wrap. It’s delicious.)

Atmosphere was great. Waitress Bree was very attentive, and courteous. Food was ok. Not that impressed. Beer wasn’t as cold as I like. Great downtown location. Parking not so great. When I left noticed I was in a no parking lot, glad I didn’t get towed. Didn’t see any designated parking for restaurant.

I’ve been in DeKalb for 2 years now, but have never eaten here. I’ve been here once for some beers and a Blackhawks game and it just didn’t have much energy. This is not so much a college place, as the average age of diners is 50 or greater. Fatty’s was packed so O’Leary’s it was. I’ve heard good things about this place and tonight was the time to try it. I ordered a draft beer, the Allagash White. It came to the table warm, in a slightly chilled glass. It was very disappointing. I ordered the Prime Rib Dipper. I was with two other people, one ordered a burger and the other french onion soup. Not even 10 minutes after we ordered, we received our food. I like the fast service, but was this just thrown in the microwave? My sandwich was room temperature, but the au jus was boiling hot. There was more bread to the sandwich than there was meat. The place is classy, but falls far from its looks. I’d choose O’Leary’s again if Fatty’s or another establishment was packed, otherwise, it’s not something I’d make a point to stop at.

Diverse menu and great prices. Recommend the Chicken salads, Macaroni burger and the nachos with chicken. The atmosphere after an NIU football game is a lot of fun and the place fills up pretty quick. The staff are very nice and have not steered me wrong yet. Casual attire and not rushed out the door for a great time.

really do not like this place. the food is alright but when I went with friends at 8 oclock on a Friday night for beers, they were out of ALL THREE BEERS that we asked for… how can you be out of beers on a Friday night? The ambiance is cute for a bar; it is dimly lit and has a huge bar but NO BEER.

Super friendly staff and great homemade food! Huge beer selection too!!! They always have a three floyds beer on draft unlike any other bars in the area!!!

If it wasn’t for the swing dancing upstairs, I would not come here. I have tried the food several times and was very unimpressed. This last time I ordered the Buffalo chicken grilled cheese and it was not good. The bread wasn’t even grilled, just soaked with butter.

My wife and I have been here multiple times and have had just an ok experience. Unfortunately the bartender has steered us away. She was more concerned with chatting up her friends than the handful of patrons at the bar. If we want a beer and a quick bite to eat we will be going elsewhere. However, the food is actually delicious. Overall above average bar food. With that being said we may choose this place if we want to dine in with the family. The guests seated away from the bar seemed to be getting just the right amount of attention. I saw the waiter running around from table to table checking in on the guests.

The food is good. Irish egg rolls are a win. Pork tacos are best in town. Service is slow even on slow nights. Bartenders cannot put thier cell phone down in case that all important text comes in.

So far I have been to O’Leary’s twice in my almost 4 years at NIU. My first experience I went with friends and had a nice dinner. Food was good but the service was not so great. Our waitress was kind of rude, didn’t offer refills, and seemed annoyed that we were there.
The second time I was there, I took my parents in when they were up for a visit. After ordering our sodas, the waitress became really rude to us, it seemed that she was mad that we didn’t order any alcohol. I understand that it’s a pub, but you should be happy with any service that walks in the door.
The most recent time I visited, the food was amazing, the drinks were great and every member of the staff was willing and ready to help. Please try the wings as an appetizer!

Portions were huge. The beer battered cod was good although the batter was quite salty. Cole slaw was too sweet. Large beer selection with over beers, but 9 of them were sweet and fruity. The wine list is poor, it was graduation weekend, we ordered a wine off the list and they didn’t have it. The table behind us ordered wine and they were out of that. Now if you know it’s going to be a busy weekend wouldn’t you stock up? Loads of families in town this weekend from around the country with money, you missed a golden opportunity.

This is the type of local place that I love. That is speaking in general terms because this place is just not very good. We stopped in Saturday looking for a sandwich and a drink. That was our second choice, because Fatty’s had a 45 min wait for a table.
The good news is that there was no wait here, unfortunately that is because this place is just not very good. It is a nice bar, and maybe if you are just going to have a drink or two it would be fine.
I’ve been here a couple of times and the food has never been great, but it’s has not gotten better with time. Having had a couple of blah meals here before, I picked a burger. How tough is it to make a good bar hamburger. Well based on the one I was served, it must be akin to rocket science.
I had the smokehouse burger, (burger, bacon, BBQ sauce) not something that should be difficult. Well the burger tasted like a food service patty (think cafeteria) that had been pre-​cooked and re warmed. Well mostly re-​warmed. I can’t be sure if the burger was cold, or the sauce was, but either way it was at best luke warm, The bacon a limp, and thin piece of flab that looked like bacon, but had no noticeable taste. It had the taste of that left over burger that you take for lunch the next day.
My GF had a chicken flat bread, and in her words, the toppings were good. The problem is that the crust had the texture of cardboard. I did taste it and I’m glad I had the burger.
If you are looking to be underwhelmed, by warned over institutional food, stop here. If you are looking for a good bar and grill go to Fatty’s, the Twin Taps, or the Courthouse. If you are just looking for something to eat, get a hot dog off the roller thingy at a gas station, either way you will get a better meal.

I’m not sure how best to start this, the service is horrendous. I’ve been there when they are busy, when they are slow, it doesn’t matter food takes forever to come out. If and when you do get your food, it may or may not be hot. I’ve come in for just a drink, there was a moderate crowd but still had to yell at the bar tender to get his attention. I would understand if the place was packed but he was more interested in the female clientele than serving. I only mention this because this is not unusual for the bar. I have serious questions how they stay in business, the only reason I keep thinking they realize they have a problem and have addressed it. It is sad because it in a great location and has a really nice atmosphere to it.

I’ve eaten at O’Leary’s before and it was pretty good. I suggested it to my cousin as we were visiting DeKalb. We both got different meals. She got the Baja Chicken Sandwich and I got the Jameson Irish Pot Roast. Our meals came out almost suspiciously quick and wasn’t as hot as it should be if it was cooked that quickly. The food did taste good, though. The main reason why I’m giving this review 1 star is that we both immediately got sick after eating there. We don’t know if it was from the food, where the food was stored, the water we drank, an employee, etc., but something was definitely off. Needless to say, we will never be eating here again.

This place has great potential, but every time I have dined here the food and the service has seemed very low quality.

So one week later I am finally not so angry that I can write what I hope is in a fashion that depicts what I would call one of the very most terrible examples of customer service that I have ever seen in my 35 years of in the food service industry.
It all started when my best friends son decided to get married on the 4^th of July. (There was a family emergency that brought the family together. So the kids figured why not?) The brides mom started making calls when the decision was made. And OLeary’s said NO PROBLEM we will take care of you. How many will you have? The brides mom said I am not sure… Just give us a ball park figure. She then told them 18 to 20.
When we started arriving we were crammed into the far back of the restaurant behind the bar. there were place settings for 21. However our total ended up being 28 with no way to expand. The young lady (I use this term loosely) informed us that we would either have to sit at the bar in order to be close to the family Or we could choose to sit away from the family up in he booths. THAT’S ALL I CAN DO! What about your party room upstairs??? Its being renovated. Then why the sign as you enter that says ask about our party room. SHEESH!
The bride was in the corner with two others trying to put up her dress. Same Girl says, You need to move this is a thorough fare you are in the way? I’m sorry can anyone say rude? How about excuse me can I get through?
Next:
My friends daughter orders two Jr root beer floats for her two small children.
Same girl again says: We don’t have those!
Friends daughter says OK what are your floats like?
Same Girl: They are three scoops of vanilla ice cream in a tall glass topped with root beer.
Friends daughter: Oh that is way to much. Can I get a scoop of ice cream in a small glass with the root beer over it?
Same Girl: I have to charge you the same price!
Friends daughter: Never Mind We’ll all have water.
So she gave up a transaction when all she had to say is you know what I will put a scoop of ice cream in two smaller glasses and pour the root beer over it. Hows that? Customer happy and a sale made!!!
Same Girl then turns to me and says have you decided on your drinks yet?
I say No not yet. Can you come back in a few minutes? (I was waiting for my husband to arrive)
Same Girl: Actually I can not once we start bring food out it will be to difficult to get drinks.
I said: That’s it I have had enough I got up said my good byes and left.
However as a foot note to all this. As we were all trying to get this girl our orders, the original people that got to the restaurant 20 minutes before we had arrived, were just getting their drinks. And my friends sister finally got up and got her own coffee. As we were leaving My 15 year old son said mom the server is in the bar talking about you to that guy. I had to laugh Silly Girl, you shouldn’t point. This is not the high school cafeteria! It is a place of business and you just lost a $ 50+ transaction.
This is not the first time I had bad experience at this restaurant. It will however be the last! Go to The Junction!!! Service is better and food pricing is much more reasonable!!!
I wish I could give less then a one star. I would!!!

An OK place to hang out with friends and have a drink. Service is usually good, but I would say the food is only average and definitely NOT healthy. Every seafood item they have here is deep-​fried, even the fish tacos, which traditionally use grilled fish.

Just stopped in here for drinks…
Great Bacardi and Diets… Adam was easy on the eyes… some obnoxious people hanging out at the bar, but thats not the bars fault :)
If Im ever in the area again, I will stop back in!