This past winter I was excited to find out we were getting an Irish pub. Living in cities for 15 years prior to moving to Cape, I found the “little neighborhood pub” was a staple of urban living. It was where you went to celebrate moments big and small, see your friends, gossip, talk sports, laugh, cry and just be part of the community. So opening night of Katy O’Ferrell’s, I was totally there!

Now I wouldn't say I’m a connoisseur of Irish pubs. I, however, have been to quite a few.  I’ve visited Irish pubs in Chicago, New Jersey, Dallas, Pittsburg, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Seattle, Birmingham (that’s England, not AL), Dublin (yep, as in Ireland) and many other places in between. So how does Katy O’s stack up? Pretty well, I do have to say.

The Food

One quirky thing about an Irish pub is that there is no requirement to serve Irish cuisine. Even in the pubs I’ve been to in Ireland and Great Britain, it is common to find curries, bangers and mash, burgers, etc on the menu. Katy O’Ferrell’s is no different. It's menu touts Irish favorites like boxty and shepherd’s pie alongside a burger, steaks and seafood. (BTW, the Irish dishes are even better than the ones my old Irish Granny used to make!) My favorite is the Reuben with a side of butters carrots. Yeah, I know it’s not Irish, but it still doesn’t make it any less tasty.

The Bar

The success of an Irish pub is its bar, or more appropriately its bar staff. Katy O’s warm and cheerful barkeepers provide excellent service with a smile. From pouring stouts to mixing a mean dirty martini, their drinks are always consistently delicious and served with pride.

Décor and Atmosphere

Let’s face it, Irish pubs in America look a certain way - lowly lit with a massive carved bar, with a random mix of 19th century art and quirky Irish memorabilia. Katy O’Ferrell’s hit a homerun in this department when it chose the old Petit New Orleans as its location. The outside just finished getting a new look with dark olive green and black paint.

Hopefully this little article will convenience you to come downtown and share in the Irish-American tradition of the public house. See you at Katy O's soon!