You have to be impressed with a pub that manages to combine inner city formality with a relaxed feel that makes everyone feel like they belong. That’s what PJ O’Reilly’s in the City manages to do with ease – provide a comfortable space where Tradies stand next to Suits and often engage in the same conversations.
It’s a fine art, and one few venues have managed to pull off so well… and for so long. Ever since emerging from the Irish pub craze of the late 1990s, PJ O’Reilly’s has gone on to establish itself as a warm and friendly venue that maintains a professional level of service matched with a welcoming smile.
Looking over the menu, the same easy-feel is present. With the same meals available for lunch and dinner, there is little to do but choose from the many appealing options. Keep an eye out, too for the lunch specials, bringing a main course and a soft drink for under $11.00.
With a simple starter like Edamame Beans or Crispy Skin Chicken Wings, you’re immediately on the right track when matched with a wine or a beer. Lunches are catered for through a selection of salads and wraps, ensuring a healthy option while you ignore what’s in the glass by your side.
The Grilled Atlantic Salmon makes for one of the lighter choices across the Mains menu. It’s served with a colourful and fresh garden salad and a rice pilaf, but it’s the creamy mustard sauce that really takes it beyond the realm of simple pub food.
The same could be said for the Beef and Guinness Pie. This is undoubtedly a pub classic, and this pub does it particularly well. With delicate, stewed meat, peas and soft cubes of potato, the thick Guinness sauce plays off the flavours of the beef beautifully.
One of the surprises on the menu is the Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs. Standing out among the Bangers & Mash (delicious, by the way) and the Chicken Schnitzel, the ribs are a whole lot of finger-licking goodness that leaves you with a greasy smile, thanks to the tangy BBQ sauce that you’d better wipe away before heading back to the bar.
In true pub fashion, the servings at PJ O’Reilly’s are more than generous, with healthy servings of chips and/or salad to complete the impressive plates.
There are plenty of dinner specials though the menu, offering extra value on every night of the week. Be it pizza, salmon or steak, you can pickup a great deal as you try your hand at trivia or impress the room with your karaoke skills.
There are plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free potions available, and if you need any other dietary requirements attended to, just let the bar staff know. PJ O’Reilly’s kitchen is open from 12.00pm until 2.30pm for lunch, dinner from 6.00pm every night and even a special Saturday Brunch which is available (brilliantly!) from midday until 5.00pm.
