Liz O’Reilly got a pleasant surprise on trying the new menu at McGettigan’s Irish Pub.

When you think of McGettigan’s, you probably imagine good times, great music and fun, party vibes. With the best will in the world, the food is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But, take it from me, it should be!

I visited on a mid-week lunchtime to check out some of the signature ‘Irish’ dishes on the new menu, which launched at the beginning of October. And to say I was impressed would be something of an understatement.

There are a few things to note about McGettigan’s – firstly, it is comfortable with squishy seating and good music, afternoons feature an ‘80s and ‘90s mix which is perfect for those of us of a certain vintage. And secondly, no matter what you order from the new menu, the portions are huge – so generous in fact that you should probably consider them sharing dishes.

First to arrive at the table was the Full Irish Breakfast. Much like a full English but with the addition of black and white puddings. Though the plate was teeming with an assortment of sausages, eggs, bacon, beans, hash browns and more, the white pudding was the first thing I went for. A particularly Irish and Scottish delicacy, it’s a dead giveaway of a good Irish kitchen and it didn’t disappoint with a light spiciness and firm texture. The sausages and bacon come directly from Ireland, as do many of the other ingredients in the kitchen, and the quality was obvious in the lack of fattiness and good flavour.

A Caesar Salad came bursting with all sorts of goodness from soft-boiled eggs to lightly herbed chicken slices and crispy bacon bits. Definitely a meal in itself or perfect to share alongside the dishes that were still to come.

Spare ribs were coated in a sweet, sticky barbecue sauce and served on a delicious bed of fried potatoes, peppers and onions. The meat was just about falling off the bones and the sauce was sweet without being overly cloying, the perfect accompaniment to a glass of hops.

Bangers and mash came with Colcannon potatoes, or what we, as kids, would have called Champ – creamy mash with butter and onions, all accompanied by a tasty gravy. This is something I regularly make at home and it’s one of the few dishes I can actually accomplish well, so, to impress me, it had to be good and it was. The same, yummy, meaty sausages as in the breakfast but tempered with the sweetness of onions and a really tasty gravy.

Beef & Onion Tacos were a somewhat less than traditionally Irish addition to our table but they were certainly good with soft tacos bursting with high-quality strips of sirloin, red, green and yellow peppers and a healthy kick of chilli. The beef mix made another appearance later as a meaty chilli dish accompanied by hot crispy fries and a delicious three-cheese dipping sauce – cheddar, parmesan and mozzarella making it almost impossible to leave the fries alone.

A stand-out for me was the steak sandwich served on sourdough bread with a healthy coating of chimichurri. A really simple option but the pure quality of the sirloin lent this dish something extra as did the addition of McGettigan’s signature mayo, rocket, a flat Portobello mushroom and crispy onions. I should confess that I actually took one of these home and it tasted even better several hours later!

Another top-notch dish was the Beef and Ale Pie with its 24-hour slow-cooked meat. The pie crust was crispy perfection and the warm, comforting interior with big, tasty chunks of meat, tender veggies and an amazing gravy created from the meat juices, was something I could probably eat every day without growing bored. For the non-meat eaters, a plate of fish and chips will prove just the thing when you’re out for an afternoon or evening. Supercrispy batter is served piping hot with chunky chips and a homemade tartare sauce. If this does not make you happy, you have no taste buds! But, if you’re fully vegetarian or vegan, there are still plenty of options to suit you on the menu.

I also tried loaded potato skins – delicious with more of that yummy chilli beef and a healthy topping of sour cream and cheese. And fish cakes with a delicious Asian-inspired salad – a perfect lighter bite, great if you’re watching your diet but don’t want to miss out on a flavourful treat.

Absolutely everything we tried from the McGettigan’s kitchen was super fresh and I really enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere which will only improve with the opening of the outside area this month. There are big screens at the bar if you want to watch sports and a great array of drinks to choose from as well as that world-renowned Irish hospitality. So, if you want good-time vibes but don’t want to sacrifice good food, this could just be the place for you. ✤

GO: CALL 1700 0415 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION.