The Old Pequliar

Ray: Last Thursday, Josh and I were tossing around a few ideas of where to eat our weekly dinner together. He had a few places in mind, so we headed off toward Ballard. As we were traveling, Josh noticed this place called The Old Pequliar, boasting to be an Irish pub. We went around the block and found a nice parking spot just down the street.
Inside, it was seat-​yourself. We picked out a nice table against one of the walls. The interior of The Old Peculair is quite comfortable, warmly decorated, playing background music that was the perfect volume to enjoy either the music or conversation. I did both…
I ordered a Manny’s Ale as I carefully looked over the menu. There was really only one entre that I wanted to go with and that was the Sheppard’s Pie. Now, this pie had lamb and beef, so technically that would be a Sheppard’s/Cottage Pie, but who’s really being that technical? Not me…
The Pie came with a salad in a very reasonable time. It was nicely plated in a ceramic bowl, fresh from the oven. The flavors were really great. The gaminess of the lamb was the perfect flavor along with the veggies, beef and potatoes. There was a nice crusty cheese layer as well. Being what I classify as comfort food, I really liked it.
The pub was quite nice inside and out with very friendly, attentive service and wonderful food. I award The Old Pequliar four stars! Definitely on my list as a do-​over down the road.
Josh: Last Thursday we ventured back into Ballard, that land fertile with dining options. One could never truly exhaust all the Ballard food options. We found ourselves at The Old Pequliar, highly recognizable from the street with it’s dark (black?) front. I think they used to have it painted red, but I don’t properly remember…
We walked in and found a seat. This place looks pretty cool inside, kinda like a place you might find in some back neighborhood in Ireland, though the comparison is made strictly out of ignorance having never been there myself. They have a cool curved bar, a neat cobble stone fireplace, I found the atmosphere to be pretty warm.
After taking a look at the menu, I went with the Shepherds Pie. They didn’t seem to have a very large selection if actual Irish fair, the shepherds pie and a reuben sandwich seemed to be the only authentic options. Luckily I am a huge shepherds pie fan, so I went with that.
Just a note: When I look up the menu online I’m seeing a few other authentic Irish dishes, perhaps it was on a side of the menu I didn’t check?
The food arrived and looked pretty good. Not the best shepherds pie I’ve ever had, but probably in the top 5. I scarfed it down post haste and would happily order it again given another chance.
It took a little bit longer then expected to get the empty plates removed, and to get the check. The service was actually kinda slow for the evening, especially considering the place wasn’t super busy or anything. Because of this, I can’t go with 5 stars, but everything else was pretty much on-​point. 4 easy stars for the Old Pequliar.

Stay away from this crap hole as best you can. The place has an eerily uninviting vibe from the second you walk in and it probably is a direct reflection of the unstable, jack ass owner. He frequently gets drunk at his bar and makes an already unfriendly place more hostile. It’s just weird. You know that feeling, where you walk in somewhere, and the needle scratches across the record, the music stops, everyone sizes you up, then the music starts and everything resumes again? It’s like that. I’m also pretty sure there is a whole lot of drug use going on in the bathroom and blatant drug dealing inside the bar. It’s just shady and gross!

This looked like an interesting place, so my bf and I dropped in at 4 for a late lunch. But… The cook was late, by about an hour. We ended up leaving without food, but the bartender was very nice to us.
Since she was so nice, we decided to come back that night. We had picked out menu items from the online menu… Which is severely outdated in both availability and prices. The server didn’t know that they didn’t deserve one of the dishes anymore, though.
The food itself was pretty meh, and super slow in coming. The bartender was still awesome. I’d recommend for drinks, but would recommend eating elsewhere. I probably won’t be back, since I’m not a big drinker, but they do have geek events.

Came here to watch the Cougs take down UCLA. Didn’t have any of the food because apparently the kitchen closes at 10pm… now I know.

Have been going for years after work because the kitchen was open until 12 now they close it at 11 a lot of us are very disappointed.

Decent food, good drinks, and a laid-​back atmosphere to catch some college football on Saturdays. But the real reason I’ll keep going back is the very friendly and super helpful Abby!

College bar atmosphere… without all the youthful optimism and learning.
I have lived less than three blocks from the OP for almost three years. I wanted it to be my pub around the corner. I really did. But the beer selection sucks, The staff is rude, and the atmosphere screams «come here if you don’t care how your night ends!»
You could throw a rock in this neighborhood and hit many other places more worthy of your nightlife dollar.

Very rude staff and incredibly poor quality service.

Decent beer prices and great selection. Friendly bartenders and always open until 2. Only miss was the food was a bit pricey for the portions, but that will not stop me from throwing back beer after beer here. Went three times while on vacation. Hung out with several random groups of people and had great conversation.

I started going back here… I refuse to go anymore when that douche Andrew is working! He is so rude to everyone including regulars. He makes feel so uncomfortable when he is working. He is a loud piece of shit who does shots behind the bar and acts like a college aged bro.
I only gave this place a second star because Murphy is amazing! She is a great bartender and is extremely cordial to everyone.
Does Andrew not realize that he’s in the service industry!!! His service is horrible, his attitude is awful, and he is completely obnoxious. Why in this city full of bartenders is he still employed?! I will bring my business anywhere else in Ballard when I see his miserable face there!

Friendly staff and a tasty Happy Hour selection of Irish-​type bar fair foods. Convenient Ballard location. Fish and Chips contain waffle fries. Pork Sliders were quite tasty.

Decent pub overall. Kinda surly service at times but the good food makes up for it.
Wouldn’t be my first place since Market St. Is lined with awesome bars…

Good food. Had the Shepard’s pie, friends had fish and chips and chicken strips. All were tasty and well cooked (Crispy fries for the win!)
However, drinks were really overpriced. $ 6.25 for a Stella or Magners cider on tap. Special cocktails on menu weren’t any better. $ 7.50 for some lemonade concoction that was 80% ice.
Good ambiance. Nice casual place to hang out and relax, but too expensive to justify going back.

Service was sub par and slow, my food order wasn’t put in and then took an hour to come out, and everything is overpriced. I liked the vibe and crowd though. Then trivia took 3 hours! What?! I believe the other reviews that management is poorly run because they were wayyy understaffed– which would account for all those issues. It’s a shame because I’m sure this place could be great on a good night.

I’ve been a regular here for several years but I have to leave a one star review based on management’s recent decision to take away the late night happy hour from 10 – 12.
My friends and I tried many bars in Ballard before we settled on the Old Pequliar. Their happy hour was perfect. Reasonably priced drinks and a late night food menu kept us coming back week after week. All of a sudden it’s gone. Why? We love the relaxed atmosphere and our friendly bartender but we will likely go somewhere else from now on.

Also known as «The Old Go F@ck Yourself». If you like drinking a false bottom Pabst for $ 6 a pint and having your server ignore you while he talks sh*t about his coworkers and customers behind the bar, then this is the place for you!

Solid pub with two happy hour periods. One of the few places in Ballard where you can get a fish and chips and a Harp or Guinness without breaking the bank. Dark, ample seating, friendly bartenders, and music at just the right volume.

I’m giving this place 4 stars because Saturday night we hung out there are not sure if it was the juke box or pandora but they had the best music of the 90s
Unpopular Pearl Jam, STP, Sound Garden, Nirvana. The list goes on.
Typical pub, yes.
I did have lamb sliders and they we’re remarkable. He had burger & waffle fries to accompany his Guinness and enjoyed them all.
He was quite impressed that the bartender knew how to make a red-​headed slut.
Always a plus for him.

I used to go here a lot more often.
I’ve seen many changes happen along the way with this place. I have met many friends an new acquaintances in the years I’ve been going to the OP and upon my return I am often times met with the same old faces at the bar or on the patio.
It’s always good to come back, which I will. Although I’d love to see some more people discover this Ballard Gem for the first time.

Great Irish pub! The food is just as you would hope after a few pints of Guinness. Rustic pub grub! No frills no thrills interior. No douchebaggery, few hipsters, seemed like locals. Some TV screens that were playing MLB when I was there but I imagine plays a lot of soccer most of the time.
Glad to have this neighborhood jaunt. I’ll be back.
[UPDATE] Andrew, you are sorely missed! (no, he didn’t died)

You strange little thing, you.
You’ve been a constant in Seattle’s pub culture for many years. I haven’t been in a few, and felt the need to visit as the last stop on our self-​guided beer tour.
Nothing has changed, same stools, fireplace and super-​friendly, inviting bartenders and employees, and same kooky mix of patrons.
Loud music from the jukebox and hollering from game players at the end of the bar, a wee update might be in order, but only if you can retain the quirkiness that makes the Old P what it is, a respite from the posher, hyper-​stylized playground that the rest of Ballard is quickly becoming.

I met some friends here for drinks one weekday evening. They really like the place because it is one of the few establishments where you can sit on the back patio and smoke while enjoying your food and drinks. Not being a smoker myself, I didn’t care one way or the other. We did eventually move inside once the sun went down and the temperature dropped. The bartender was the only one waiting on everyone whether you were inside or out. Fortunately, I asked before meeting my friends outside, so I knew to get my drink from the bar and bring it out with me. The bartender did check on us outside as well as inside. My friends ordered wings while we were outside and nachos later on while we were inside. The bartender was on top of both orders and the food was good.
The place has televised games playing inside. There is also a jukebox. We were talking over the music and actually had a patron tell us we were too loud. He and his friend left without finishing their drinks or food. I felt badly for them, but this is a pub. If you can’t get rowdy here, where can you? Later in the night we had a few drunk patrons come over to our table with a pitcher of beer. We declined as we were getting ready to leave. They then tried bringing a glass of water, which we also thanked them for, but declined. Based on my experience here, I probably would not come back. Although the food was good and the bartender was attentive, I wasn’t too impressed with the other patrons we dealt with throughout the evening.