McNellie’s The Abner Ale House

Probably the best beer selection in Norman. Lots of stuff on tap, even more in bottles.
Has a homey, «locals”-but-not-only-locals vibe to it.
I hear they have cheap burgers one day a week.
Bartender was friendly despite my being from north of the wall!

Burger night here is very good, I’m pretty sure that they have made their burgers bigger recently. All of the food is great, apart from the mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are dry and terrible. They taste like they were made from instant mix. Everything else is great. The beers are good.

So we had planned on going to one to the local breweries when we found this place in the middle of down town Norman. The beer list here is amazing and provides those that are serious about tasting different beers a true haven. They offer two flights if you are interested in sampling. I started with the Oklahoma flight which consisted of small craft brews from around the state. I then moved onto the Belgian flight that featured some very unique beers that had been imported from Belgium. Mean while the wife was enjoying some of the seasonal selections that were on special.
The food was also very good. I had the German sausage planner which was very good. Two nice size German sausages were well prepared and served with sauerkraut and brown mustard. This went great with the beer.
The seating here is also unique, and we were located in the loft where there are a total of 4 tables. Our poor waiter got his exercise that night, the young man really needed a fit bit so that he could break records on the number of stair flights climbed on a single shift.
We are going to keep this place booked mark for any future trips to Norman.

My first visit to McNellie’s (in Norman) was for a beer tasting a buddy of mine won in a silent auction at a charity event. It was very cool, a manager tasted about 15 – 20 beers with us, talking about the origins and flavors of each beer. I think they offer them for groups, but I’m not sure of the price. Very cool experience though, recommended.
My next time at McNellie’s was for dinner with a buddy on a Thursday. We were there from 7 – 9 and while the place wasn’t crowded, it was doing a steady business. McNellie’s has a decent sized bar, a few LARGE booths (could sit 8 adults pretty comfortably, and more if you want to get cozy) in addition to several 4 top tables. There are TVs scattered throughout the joint in various corners. We went with a table since there was only 2 of us. They’re not huge, and are actually a little rickety. But, I like that, I prefer bar furniture with a little character.
On the table sits the beer list. As other Unilocalers note, it’s a MASSIVE beer list. Easily the largest in town. The problem was they were out of more than a couple of the beers we requested. So, of the incredible amount of bottles and cans (bottles and cans, just clap your hands) listed, I have no idea what percentage was actually available to purchase. As I recall, they didn’t have at least 4 that we requested. So, while we had some great beer, the list is deceiving.
To eat, we shared chips with queso and salsa and the fried pickles. Be advised that salsa is not free, even if you order queso. I found this annoying, I say just raise the price of the chips/​queso appetizer a buck and give people salsa. But, we wanted it, so we paid for it. The chips/​queso/​salsa was pretty standard. I’ve had better, but I’ve also had much worse. I would re-​order.
The pickles were very good. They are fried pickle chips, and the breading is a little thicker than I usually like on pickles. But, it is seasoned VERY well. I even got a hit of spice. It’s not hot, but it certainly has a spice to it. The ranch you’re given to dip them in is standard, but the pickles were very good.
For my entrée, I went with the patty melt and added bacon and jalapenos, because those things are good. The server recommended tots over fries, so I took his advice. The tater tots were good, very crispy but not greasy. They appeared to be frozen tots fried on premises, not homemade, but they were better than a lot of tots I’ve had. I liked them better than the fries, I tried one of my buddy’s. So, tots it is for future visits to McNellie’s.
The burger was good, but overcooked. It was well past medium and didn’t have much juiciness left to it. The bread was nice and crunchy, but it was too big for the patty. i ended up just taking some bread off, otherwise I would have just had bites of bread. The onions and jalapenos needed more time on the griddle, but they were good and plentiful. Just too close to raw rather than sauteed.
We had a good night, service was very good. Never had to ask for a water refill and he was very quick with our beers and the check. I’ll return.

First visit, was St. Patrick’s Day 2016! I Über’d past the other overcrowded nearby pub, best choice ever! Delicious Reuben sandwich and Black & Tan’s. Enjoyable evening, all I can say. Best of luck in the future!

This place is so awesome! Visiting UO from out of state and was trying to find a place with some good local craft beer. This is by far the place! They have 30 beers on draft and over 100 in bottles.
They also have a downstairs dining style bar and an upstairs smoking and live music bar. Made a really nice place to sit when I was all alone cause everyone was so friendly and helpful. Badtender even talked to me about some of the different beers for a while!

I’d give a negative star, if I could. Horrible service and food is below average. I’ve tried the place three different times, thinking it wasn’t the norm. Today was my third and final time, I’ll ever eat there.
Well, after being contacted, because of my review, I thought, wow. what customer service! I replied, with the necessary information. Since the initial e-​mail correspondence… crickets.

Looking for a not too crazy Norman join tot meet friends– everyone recommended McNellies. Spacious, with huge booths and tons of beers on tap. Friendly wait staff. The best fried pickles and fish and chips I have probably ever eaten. Lots of cider options. Will probably use this as a meeting spot next time I am in town.

So I’ve heard this is the place to get good beer in Norman, OK. Of course, not being a particularly avid connoisseur myself, the relief at finally finding such a place in this little college town (which can usually get away with having cheap, «meh» beers because they know college kids can’t afford to spend $$$) was somewhat lost on me. However, I will say that I was charmed by the pub atmosphere (insert the yearning to be recognized as a local like in «How I Met Your Mother»).
I split the Hosty Black Bean Burger with avocado and a side of sweet potato fries with a friend. As a vegetarian, I’m constantly trying to see who can make the tastiest black bean patty, and McNellie’s definitely surprised me with a rad burger. It was firm and didn’t fall apart, with just the right amount of seasoning so you didn’t feel like you were eating mushy cardboard. The portion was decent sized, but I was only semi-​hungry, so you might want to opt for the whole burger if you’re feeling pretty peckish.
The waitress was extremely helpful while navigating the extensive beer selection. I got the Strawberry Magic Cider by Ciderboys. Yes, I’m one of those fruity beer people, so I can’t really help you if you’re looking for something with a little more body. The cider was a bit acerbic (which I find refreshing) and is on the sweet side for those who actually enjoy beer. They have a bunch of flights, beer mixes, and events, which a few of my friends tried and were very satisfied with (these are the beer people I’m talking about).
Overall, good service, cozy atmosphere, and great selection of beers.
As a side note, if you’re the type that likes beer and challenges:
«CENTENNIAL CLUB
Can’t get too much variety in you beer? Then come be a part of Abner’s history. Our Centennial Club celebrates our patrons who drink 100 different beers.
100 beers gets you a club t-​shirt.
Drink 200 and you receive a plaque in the pub and a $ 100 happy hour.
Note: only 3 new beers are recorded per visit and must be signed off by your server or bartender. Happy drinking!»
–McNellie’s Menu

Grabbed lunch before the game last Saturday. I was really excited to order a Texas Honey Cider. I don’t know a ton of places that carry it in Dallas and I was sure Norman wouldn’t have a thing with the word Texas scrawled across it, but there it was. It’s delish and the waiter did a perfect pour into my chilled glass.
The food was okay. I had the Brat plate with Tabbouleh on the side. I know it’s an odd combo but I was looking for something not potato or kraut based. The Tabbouleh was really bad. It was all vinegar and no mint at all. The Brat was good. There was some kraut underneath it, but mostly for show.
We also had some loaded tots with pulled pork and cheese. They were good but we didn’t get any little plates until the entrees arrived. Service was okay at best save the pour.

One of my favorite places to hang out in Norman. I’m here a lot of Wednesday nights for burger night for $ 4 burgers. The burger comes with a side, so this is a pretty good deal for a quality burger (most times). Usually if you go during a busy time on burger night (6:30−8ish), there can be quite a wait. They’ve got a plentiful beer selection (well, it is an ale house), and this place has a great atmosphere. There’s lots of students here as well as adults. The wooden everything makes this place feel like home, and even when it holds a lot of people, it doesn’t ever feel really crowded at all. It’s a great place for drinks with friends or if you wanna watch the game although it’s not really a full blown sports bar. Anyway, love this place. Definitely miss it when I’m not in Norman.

Just not great tonight. Wouldn’t let me sit at one of several empty 4-​person tables so I could do some work while I ate dinner because it was trivia night… but trivia night wasn’t due to start for over an hour. So I sat at a small rickety table, and couldn’t work. The FB page advertised a certain beer, which they did have, but the waitress had no clue what I was talking about. The beer, which should have been served in a tulip, was served in a pint glass… well, that’s another negative, it was a «pint» shaker glass that held only 12oz. Food took a long time, BUT to be fair, the food was actually really decent tonight. (Blackened chicken sandwich.)
These guys just don’t care about training. Improper glassware, servers don’t know the beers. Regular problem here. Pub W has displaced Abner’s as the best beer bar in Norman, even if Abner’s has «more» beer.

If only I lived in Oklahoma…
I visited this place this past Sunday 7/26,2015 with a group of friends around 1pm and the moment I step foot in this place, I felt right at home. For a while I have been looking for a pub where I can bring friends and enjoy each other’s company. Kind of like… the tv show How I Met Your Mother. Kind of like that. A pub where you can just go where you get off work, get a few beers, and some grub. Also I loved the fact that it wasn’t too crowded at all! It had the right amount of people and the atmosphere was great!
For my group of about 10 people… let me just say we were quite obnoxious. We were just there to hangout. Thank goodness there weren’t a lot of people because we were playing games. Even some of the guys who worked there were intrigued by our mind games that were quite frustrating to some people. haha But anyways we didn’t really order entrees per say. Instead we ordered appetizers. Let me just say, for appetizers that are served from pubs, aren’t really all that great. EXCEPT, for some reason, food was pretty darn good. We ordered a bunch of fries, tots, spinach dip, soup, salad. Pretty much tapas. For things as simple as those, they were good. Fries were crispy on the outside and nice and potatoe-​y on the inside, tots with bleu cheese and bacon were great. They use real bleu cheese! Basically food was good! Too bad we all already had a late breakfast that we weren’t that hungry. Darn!
Service was fantastic! We were served by this one guy, wish I got his name, but he was very patient, accommodating, and was always checking up on us.
They also do this little program where if you sign up to commit to drinking about 100 beers, they keep a folder of your progress and once you complete, you get a prize. I think a plaque or something. Not sure. Some places are different.
My experience was pretty solid. Loved it.
I’m jealous. I would come back if I were to visit Oklahoma again.

Great food and really fun atmosphere. They have a great variety of beers and cider beer. I ordered the pulled pork and it was excellent. The food came out really quickly and the wait staff was great.

My favorite kind of pub is a quaint one. One that feels homey and small without being unbearably crowded with dudebros (sorry, dudebros, we just don’t click). This McNellies hits it pretty well.
I went there around 5:30 in the evening or so and it wasn’t very crowded at all. It was a pleasant steady flow of patrons that created a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. The barkeep was a nice gal who was good service and conversation, as well as being rather knowledgable about many of the beers we talked about.
The few beers I had were good, of course. The raspberry cream beer mix was solid. Framboise is my jam, okay. I also partook of an obligatory Snakebite.
As far as food goes, I’d give it a ⁴⁄₅. The potato and leek soup is super affordable and filling, but I also ate a small order of their sweet potato fries with honey mustard. Jeff ordered their chicken strips and those were real tasty, too.

I love this place! Best beer menu in Norman, for decent prices. Full bar too. Food is good… basic burgers/​wraps with some Irish staples. Beer battered fries are delicious!
Pint Night on Mondays after 5pm, I have a bunch of glasses :) Trivia is fun on Tuesdays. Burger Night on Wednesdays is a great deal, but everyone thinks so… usually a good wait. Upstairs has darts and smoking.
If you think you’ll go a lot, get one of their beer sheets… fill in 100 different beers and you’ll get a shirt. They can keep it in the file cabinet for you. Helps you keep track of what you’ve tried too!

Everyone has their favorite McNellie’s. In Tulsa they are the papa bear, the Mall of America of Irish pubs, while McNellie’s in OKC is like the mama bear, the warehouse of beer. But I am a quaint Irish pub kind of gal and Abner’s is the baby bear in Norman that is just right.
Even without my bizarre analogies, the authentic charm of Abner’s is inescapable. With its beautiful dark wood and stony corners, you won’t be disappointed with your spot (although the bench seating is my favorite, it always feel like you are plotting a revolution). Head upstairs if you need a smoke or just a change of scenery. The vibe changes from pub to speakeasy and I love it.
With nooks and crannies to eat their delicious pub fare (salads, soups, and $ 4 burger night every Wednesday — packed, but worth it) and the best beer menu in Norman, make sure McNellie’s Abner is a stop on your next pub crawl, planned or impromptu.

I found this place because of Unilocal.I started by ordering a Ciderboys Peach Cider at the suggestion of the waiter, and he was spot on! I typically drink hard ciders, but he suggested something different, and he was right. I should also note the waiter was perfect — didn’t bother me too much or too little, made appropriate small talk, etc. Good job!
I ordered a small caesar salad, potato leek soup, and cottage pie. The salad was fresh, and the soup was extremely delicious! My only complaint (and reason for 3 stars) is the cottage pie. When I imagine cottage pie, I think of this thick layer of mashed potatoes with gravy on top and ground meat with veggies underneath this warming layer. I then like to mix everything together and watch the potatoes and gravy ooze within the meat.
This is not the case with the cottage pie at this establishment. Sadly, you will have two dry circles of mashed potatoes on top of your meat. This means your meat gets cold because the mashed potatoes don’t cover the meat (and therefore, there’s no way to trap the heat). The meat itself had no flavor. I was utterly disappointed.
My total was $ 22.28 for three food items and a cider (including tax). The ambience is great — it’s a friendly, low-​key, clean, homey place. The pub’s easy to find, there’s free WiFi, and free street parking’s not too bad. Just don’t get the cottage pie!

Meh. That’s what I think of the McNellie’s Norman location. Is it terrible? Absolutely not. However, if 2 stars means that I’ve experienced better, than I have… because I’ve been to the McNellie’s in Oh Kay See.
The beer menu was big, but not nearly as expansive as the OKC location. However, they had some brews I haven’t seen at the OKC location, which was a nice change. The food was McNellie’s food. If you’ve eaten there, you already know how it taste, so I think we can just skip over that.
The service was also just meh. There were long periods of time between seeing our server. On one ocassion, I made eye contact with the server, who then looked down and saw my empty glass, and then kept walking. I know everybody has a bad day from time to time and I wasn’t upset… it was just… well, it was meh. I’m just spoiled by the servers at the OKC location, I suppose.
I’ll love every McNellie’s, but this one just doesn’t live up to the awesomeness that is the OKC location.

I like this place first and foremost for the casual atmosphere. It’s on Main Street in Norman which is quite a bit different than Campus Corner (and frankly more refreshing… and mature…). The tables and chairs are all kind of mismatched and there is lots of homey wood décor everywhere. The service is normally adequate, nothing special but also very casual in this respect too. Servers are always in street clothes which for some reason makes a difference to me in feeling out the setting.
The beer list is extensive and if you are unsure, the servers are always fully trained in giving advice for something new to try or something that may not be listed on the menu. The food is good… giving it 4 starts mostly for the lunch portions. You can get a whole bowl of Potato Leek Soup with grilled bread and here’s the kicker… a 12 oz Guiness for only $ 6! I’d do this every day. They could get 5 stars on their beer-​battered fries alone. Try making their housemade ranch with the hard cider BBQ sauce. So so so good… and so good to pair with beer!