If you’re like me, the Irish Pol is a bar that you’ve walked past on your way somewhere else.  Maybe the clever sign outside caught your eye, but you kept on walking anyway.  Next time you’re in Old City, I’m here to tell you it will be worth your while to stop in.  Your wallet will thank you, too - especially during happy hour.

The bar is dark and unassuming, something you may not expect from an Old City bar.  There are some tables up front, a few tables off to the side, and the wood bar takes up a good portion of the room.  While it reminds me of a place where college students would likely hang out, I was pleasantly surprised during a recent visit when I shared the space with just a few older gentlemen.  A conversation with the bartender confirmed it’s slower during the summer months when college students are away.

The food is the standard fare you’d expect to find in a pub: fries; tater tots; pierogies; mozzarella sticks; wings.  There’s also the Stoner Platter, which is a nice mixture of several food offerings.  During games, hot dogs are just a buck.  The Irish Pol also has different events throughout the week, although it’s best to check and see what’s happening, as some of the events listed on their web site seem to be on hiatus.

At this point you may be thinking: “This sounds like many other bars I could visit in the city. Why should I go here?” 

The answer?  They have 40 beers on tap.

40 beers! On tap!

But that’s not even the best part. The happy hour, which they offer every day (yes, including weekends) is from 5 to 7 p.m.  During this time most draft beers are $3, and straight shots are only $3 as well.  Some of the higher-octane beers are not discounted, but still reasonable at $4 or $5.

There’s a nice selection from local breweries, including Yards, Dogfish Head and Victory, and some hard-to-find beers as well.  I had a Ballast Point Big Eye IPA - which I’ve spent as much as $6 or $ 7 on at other establishments - and it was only $4.  The bartender, Jim, was also extremely knowledgeable and able to thoroughly answer any questions when asked what the different beers were like.

So don’t keep walking by.  Next time you’re near, stop, go in, grab a seat, and prepare to be delighted.

09.24.10