A standout in a sea of chains
O'Brien's Irish Pub and Grill
701 W Lumsden Road, Brandon; (813) 661-9688, www.obriensflorida.com
George Orwell wrote an essay about his fantasy pub, one where people congregate outside and it's pleasant and safe enough for children to sit alongside their parents. Such a place exists in O'Brien's, the ultimate Brandon neighborhood bar. There you see all walks of life: youngsters, oldsters, yuppies and blue-collar folks. It truly lives up to its motto, Cead Mile Failte, Gaelic for "a thousand welcomes."
At O'Brien's, the best of American and Irish bar worlds collide into unobnoxious revelry. It's where a digital jukebox plays a Cure song followed by a traditional folk ditty from the Emerald Isle. Retired cops hoist pints with Blockbuster video clerks and soccer moms.
Things are rapidly changing at O'Brien's as we write this. The large restaurant will be separated from the bar to accommodate more of a family crowd. Owners have invited customers to offer suggestions for a new name and are awarding a limousine ride and free dinner for two for the winner.
It's no wonder they're splitting the place up. The kitchen serves much more than Irish grub, items as far-flung as schnitzel, gyros, grouper and bangers and mash. On Friday and Saturday nights, a fiddler plays for dining room customers. Dinners are served until midnight, and limited appetizers can be ordered until 3 a.m. -Julie Garisto jgaristo@tampabay.com
