O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub

A friendly pub atmosphere with generous portions of comfort food. On Tuesdays and Sundays enjoy live music performed by Highland Way. We loved the music so much we purchased two of their CDs.

Visited for Sunday Brunch 06/​12/​2016
This review is for what Jan and I tried this one visit.
This pub has quite a large menu for a Irish Pub in San Diego County.
Many Irish favorite’s to try. On this day the wife and I started with Mimosa’s. The server suggested that we get the $ 10.00 bottle of Champagne deal. I got pineapple juice and Jan got orange juice.
Pour your own. We liked it that way. The breakfasts we tried we’re hit and mess. Very large in size.
The full Irish breakfast I had was quite good. The Rasher & Cheese Boxty Jan had was a bit dry and didn’t have the white butter sauce as stated on the menu. Flavor was good though.
Service was great and very friendly. That Decore the bar really nice. It wasn’t very busy this day and we had a very Pleasant breakfast.
Our server was super friendly and helpful. He told us he was from Ireland and very proud of this place. The bartender was a very nice young lady also.
There is a small patio out front so you can sit and watch the cars go by. There is also a nice patio with perhaps six tables in the back. Both patios are dog friendly and the bartender even brought out a bowl of water for a Young man’s dog when he got there.
We are looking forward to returning sometime to sample some more of the menu like the shepherds pie or perhaps fish & chips.
Ambience. 4 Stars.
Service. 4 ½ Stars.
Food. 3 to 4 Stars
Overall experience. 4 Stars.
Till Next Time.

Staff is friendly and consistent. Drinks are cold and well mixed. Food is out of this world amazing! This is not my first time here but it is my first review on them. Absolutely incredible little place, easily my favorite bar in the San Diego area. Highly recommended for brunch (on Sunday), lunch, dinner, a date, a night out, etc. Go here, you won’t be disappointed.

The service staff is completely rude. I’ll never come back here ever again. Worst service ever!

What a fun place to hang out at. We were staying in Escondido at the Welks Resort and decided to leave resort for dinner. We caught a über and asked them to just take us to a Main Street that had lots of restaurants and bars. That is how we stumbled into this great Irish Pub. The food was good cocktails even better and just an overall great atmosphere. We had a blast‼ I would definitely go back there again.

I went last night with my girlfriend, her cousin, and his girlfriend. Very chill atmosphere. Waitress was very nice, and food/​drinks came out at reasonable times. I ordered an oatmeal cookie shot, which was very sweet (pun intended). For dinner, I went with an Egg N Burger, which was basically a breakfast burger (bacon and eggs make anything better). It was very good.
Place is small, but not a rowdy place. They had a live band playing and while they were loud, it wasn’t so loud you couldn’t hear the people next to you. Plus, the band played bluesy rock, so while it’s not exactly going with a Celtic vibe, it still fit the bar setting.
I’d definitely go again.

I’ve visited this bar one night while barhopping in Escondido. A friend brought me here and I must say it is your typical Irish bar with all the vanity and decorative items on the wall to go with it. They also had a great band the night of the visit. I’m not sure of the name but it was well worth a listen. Great selection of beers straight from Ireland standard plus American domestic and import. Just a fun bar to spend a few hours drinking with friends. They were really busy and probably should’ve hired more stuff for the night. As a result I did have to wait 5 to 10 minutes for a drink each time.

This is the second location… or is the first? Don’t know. I got to know O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub at their Carlsbad Village location where I really fell in love with this place.
The Escondido service, food, music is just as great as the Carlsbad location. the actual facility, not so much. It’s a store front. They took a lot of care in making it work and I don’t know how you can make it better but in comparison, there is none.
Having said this, if this was the only location… it would be just outstanding. Peeps, how can you compete with yourselves?
I highly recommend this place regardless of the above utterances.

The location was good, and the company was really great, but the service was pretty lousy. After asking if they had peated scotch, the waiter just directed us to look at the menu — same response to a question on beers. Then an expensive glass of whiskey was poured on my soon with barely an apology (and, yes, I was charged for the full whiskey). Perhaps it was just the waiter, so I would be interested in trying it again in the future, but, at this point — meh.

I really go back and forth on if I like this place or not. Its pretty much your typical divey take on an Irish Pub. The atmosphere isn’t as fun as I would like it to be but maybe I have only been here during boring times. I have never had their food but I can say that the beer selection is very weak. I know this isn’t a craft beer bar or anything but come on, you need to step the beer game up! The service was also very slow and not very friendly. I would not frequent this bar even if I lived close by but its an ok stop if you are on a bar hop.

O… M…G!
Finally an Irish Pub that delivers on the food that makes me want to come back. Still need to visit a few more that are local to me before offering any reviews but hey, I’d drive a half hour to be at O’Sullivan’s in Escondido any time!
Went for lunch with the missus today, rolled in around 12:30. She had the Rasher & Cheese Boxty for $ 11.75, made with imported Irish bacon with Irish cheddar cheese and topped with a white wine butter sauce. The meat came wrapped in a potato pancake with steamed veggies on the side. I got to sample it and the Irish bacon reminded my of Candian bacon or ham. Really good!
I had the Bangers and Mash for $ 13.75. The menu says «two gourmet Irish pork banger sausages» and they are deeelishous !! Mashed potatoes were home made and the Heinz beans were baked beans in a tomato sauce. They are also imported so in UK style that means they are not sickeningly sweet like American baked beans in a can. Sorry for all you sweet baked bean fans, I’m not one of you, so I actually liked these.
We had great service, were both very glad we came here even if it was just to eat. At midday on a Tues. it seemed like the clientele were mostly older.
The truly «happy-​making» part of this visit was when another server/​bartender came around to the table with a bottle of Knob Creek bourbon that she said was broken and had to be thrown out anyway so she asked if I wanted a shot. Yes, Please! It’s been a long time since I have felt so well taken care of in a bar.

Ok the food was great but having a 6 person party we would of had a lot more to drink and eat if george was actually around to serve us. We had to open a tap at the bar to get drinks, well we will just get drinks some where else.

Great little bar/​restaurant atmosphere was great I guess Sundays at 6 they have a Irish band that comes and plays, it was nice just two things the inside was very small because they had a lot of tables inside for the restaurant aspect and the food was a bit on the expensive side but all in all a good little spot, I will be back oh yeah the Irish Nachos were bomb

Quaint and cozy. We sat ourselves and weren’t given a lot of time to pick our drinks. Server was very nice, though. We both had hardly eaten most of the day and were real hungry. So we got the Irish breakfast plate. Ended up being more like a platter. A heaping portion of food that came in a decent amount of time. Made it worth the cost. Their prices may be moderate to a bit pricey, but it’s worth it. I managed to finish all of mine, however my buddy needed a box. Next time we go here I plan to try one of the «boxty» dishes. Apparently it’s a bunch of stuff wrapped in a potato pancake.
Now as for the drinks, it was a mixed bag. My Irish Bastard cocktail was superb, but overpriced. I could’ve easily gulped it down. The diameter of the top part of the martini glass was barely as big as the palm of my hand. Too small. I expected something bigger for nearly $ 10. My buddy had a Manhattan, which was cheaper, but incorrectly made. He said the bartender used dry vermouth instead of sweet, put too many bitters in it, and shook it when it should’ve been stirred. It also took a little longer than it should have to get them. Being a Monday afternoon it wasn’t even real busy.
Food gets an A, but drinks get an F. Won’t keep us away, though. Next time we’ll just stick to iced tea.

Love this place. The food is always good and plenty of it. My wife and I typically split dishes.
Always take out of towers there because I can always depend on the service, food and cocktails.
If you haven’t had one of their Moscow Mules you don’t know what your missing.
The prices are reasonable as well.

This Irish pub is a lot smaller than the one I go to in Carlsbad BUT that doesn’t take away from Sean, the super hilarious bartender & the cool vibes! Nice when just going in for a quick beer or to stay there for a while. Try it out!

My other half and I really enjoy this place, but let me preface my review with a couple of things. First, my review is based on the fact that when I do go to O’Sullivan’s, it is always during the day or late afternoon; I have no idea how the nightlife is there (I’m getting old, what can I say). Also, my partner and I only go if there is room on the front patio because, let’s face it, Grand Avenue affords some excellent people-​watching.
With that said…
Basically, O’Sullivan’s is very laid back and low-​key, but our service is always on point. When we take our seats outside, we are welcomed by servers who have been assisting us for years (we go about twice a month). They are always friendly with a smile, and it makes us feel special when they remember our drink order every time. Yes, we have become regulars, but I have faith the servers would be equally nice and friendly to newcomers as well, without doubt.
O’Sullivan’s has a great selection of beers on tap and in the bottle. A huge selection of spirits as well. I’ll take any red ale they have, but I usually lean toward Smithwick’s. My other half gets Stone Arrogant Bastard. Both are always cold and always delicious.
If you decide to go to O’Sullivan’s, it is imperative that you purchase the Irish Nachos. My god. Instead of nacho chips, they use fried potato chips. Instead of seasoned ground beef, they use shredded corned beef. With everything else — sour cream, jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, etc. — it’s a giant mound of food perfect for two people (get a half order if it’s just you). It’s very much worth the $ 9. The corned beef quesadillas are fantastic, and the Reuben is wonderful (melty cheese, hot corned beef, tangy spread of thousand island, on toasted rye). Their basics are just as satisfying: burgers, fries, cole slaw, you name it.
I grew up in Escondido. For years Grand Avenue has had its ups and downs (mostly downs). Again and again the city has tried to revitalize downtown without success. The past couple of years, though, it seems to be on the rise. Places like O’Sullivan’s, Kettle Coffee, Plan 9, Burger Bench, and others, have really helped.

This place has nice food, a wonderful ambiance, and absolutely GREAT service! The staff is awesome and always makes you feel at home.
There’s nothing more I can say, except that TINY is the best!

The staff is rude, inconsiderate, and the owners don’t care. I guess they don’t need to care, since they are one of the few pubs in Escondido.
This restaurant/​bar used to be my go to place, since it’s near where I live, but no longer is that the case. Recently, my wife and I finally were able to get a babysitter and have a date night out together. Both of us hardly get to spend any time together since we’re always working and looking after our son. After we had dinner, we specifically chose O’Sullivans because we like the atmosphere and there was a local band playing that we wanted to see. Around 9:00. we opened a tab and ordered drinks and appetizers and sat at the bar enjoying the band. Around 11:00PM, the restaurant significantly emptied out and almost all the tables became available. We decided to sit down at one of these open tables so we would have a better view of the band and the TV’s. At this point, we were just drinking ice water, so, we decided to close out our tab and just enjoy the music. Shortly after I closed out my tab, the bar started getting busy again as people started wandering in and tables started filling up. Right around this time, the security guard came over to our table and politely asked us to leave. When I asked him why we were being asked to leave, he said that we were «falling asleep», which was untrue. I walked up to the bartender to further inquire about this, and he said, «Yeah, we had to send people over there a couple times to wake you up», which was COMPLETELY untrue! Not once, did any bartender or security guard walk over to our table to «wake us up», moreover, a waiter never even came over to ask us if we wanted anything else while we were sitting there. The bartender said he saw my wife «sleeping on my shoulder», which was NOT the case. My wife laid her head on my shoulder as a romantic gesture. Although we were mistreated, we left peacefully, without making a scene. Since this happened on Saturday night, my wife and I have individually made several attempts to contact the owner/​manager of this place. We’ve left numerous messages and voice mails, but they refuse to call us back. The only logical reason I can think they asked us to leave is because we closed our tab and weren’t ordering anymore drinks and they wanted to reserve the tables for people coming in. I’m 35 years old, and not once in my life have I been kicked out of any restaurant or bar, or have felt treated as scum, especially at a said «Family owned place». I could never imagine me getting kicked out of a bar, but if I ever was, I would never imagine being kicked out for «sleeping», which didn’t even happen. We were both having a nice relaxing time, not loud, not rowdy, not belligerent or falling over drunk, and yet, we were kicked out. I guess we were too laid back to be in this «family bar». Date night, ruined! Until I get a call back from the owner with an apology, I will never set foot in there again and will continue to tell friends and family to never go here.

Gotta love this cute little pub. They usually have bands performing, and the styles of music range. The overall vibe is chill and the employees are nice. It’s cozy and an awesome place to relax and enjoy a beer with friends.

Cute little pub. We went to watch the football playoffs on Sunday night. We were able to see the 2^nd half of the Broncos/​Patriots game, but the Panthers/​Cardinals game was turned off a couple minutes into the game for a local band to play. About half of the place got up and left, scrambling for a new place to watch the game. Would have been nice for a little warning — our waitress know we were there to watch the games. Really surprising since the waitress was very attentive otherwise.

Great drink selection but the service is definitely a little slower than it should be. We were waiting around for at least 7 minutes without a greeting and it took another 10 or so to actually receive our drinks. It gets crowded pretty quickly and there isn’t much space inside. I wouldn’t mind hanging around outside in the back section, but there aren’t any heaters so it takes away from extra potential usable space (at least during cold nights).
Overall it’s a cozy place with live music that sets the pub to never be dull. The best of the few bars in Esco.

As a person who visited Ireland in 2012, I feel qualified to say that this place is pretty authentic. Their Guinness tasted like the Guinness I drank in Dublin. My husband and I ordered the Irish stew, corned beef burger, beers, and shooters. We really enjoyed everything, the food was really well done! We look forward to going back.

love the food, love the staff. You can’t go wrong if your looking for a real Irish pub. they always have events, music and something to keep the vibe fun and different.

Love this place. Everyone who works here is awesome (even the security). Love the beer, food, and the music. Keep it up ladies and gents.

Sympa, ça fait plaisir un bon petit pub pendant ce trip aux US :)
Pas mal de choix pour la bière, qui est bien servie d’ailleurs. Le personnel est sympa, même quand on s’emmêle les pinceaux en anglais.
En fait, rien de particulier ici si ce n’est que l’atmosphère est chaleureuse, ce qui est remarquable aux Etats-​Unis. :)

Good place to stop in for a beer and some corned beef quesadillas. Nice to know that dogs are welcome on the patio after an afternoon at Daley Ranch.

I really love this place. Cozy, clean, interesting young and old people and great food. I always have something different and have never been dissapointed, huge porportions too. Tonight we came in, parking spot right by the front door (happy dance) got our choice seating and then we got the worst server imaginable (I won’t name her) I understand if she was having an off day but holy cow GNARLY weird.
Potato soup and quesadilla for my daughter and Stilton Blue burger for me with cooked carrots instead of fries. Quesadilla came out, burger came out but no soup, (no biggie, it happens) ask for the soup and silverware… soup comes cold. I got up and asked a guy at the bar for his salt and pepper like 4 minutes after our food (very nice) then I went over to this condiment bar and grabbed ketchup (no big deal, but weird) not even half way through my burger and she brings the check. We’re talking like less than 10 minutes and we/​I, mostly I really wanted the dessert. I just finish my burger and she says, Ohh I’ll take this up for you… I haven’t even gone into my purse to get my Visa, I just funished eating. EXTREMLY rushed and we are in no hurry. So I ask to see the menu for desserts? she rambles off the 3 deserts, now I’m a little annoyed and say noo nevermind, thank you and she says, there’s a great Gelato place down the street? MIND BLOWN Sooo weird. Not rude but strange, fully robotic and just plain lame.
The food is always good, service like tonight I’ve never seen in here before.
Ohh then another couple came in and their waitress explained that football condiment bar, $ 2 brats, our waitress never said a word.
Will be back but not ever with that server

O’Sullivans, located on Grand in downtown Esco is an option when thirsty and looking for a spot for some local sips.
I dropped by here last weekend for some drinks. They had a live band which was entertaining and it was pretty packed, but luckily me and my friend posted up and found a spot to sit. The band was good as I always appreciate and love live music.
The worker there didn’t give a good impression he fumbled on my drink order and had me repeat it a few times when I asked as he didn’t the know what French liqueur I was asking for and he said he would check. He disappeared and brought my friend’s beer and he still didn’t find out if they had what I was looking for. He asked again what it was called (odd I just told him a few times the name a little bit ago) and later he came by and updated me that they had it. I want to say my friend had her beer delivered while I was drink-​less for 20 minutes, and I even went the the restroom and saw my drink just sitting at the bar waiting to be delivered to me. At least when I came out it was finally at the table. But yikes even the people sitting next to me noticed the guy screwing up my order and noticed how slow he was and how long it took. Maybe he was just spacey or a newbie, I have no idea.

My husband and I visited O’Sullivan’s for brunch on Sunday and were quite impressed. We were immediately greeted and made to feel welcome. Our drinks were great, but the food knocked our socks off. HUGE portions of traditional Irish dishes. My boxtie was filled with an abundance of flavorful bacon — my husband’s corned beef hash was tender and savory. We were both full and happy when we left, energized for a long day of walking at the Safari Park.
We got lucky with street parking — there isn’t an overabundance. The ladies bathroom was clean and neatly decorated (passing the kitchen to get there made my mouth water from the smells emanating!). We had a fun time chatting with the regulars and servers.
A great experience, great food, and lots of monitors for sportsgames.

Stopped in here for lunch the other day and realized I have never reviewed this place despite all the times I’ve been here so this review is long overdue. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as the majority of my other experiences here.
It’s a small Irish pub located in the heart of Escondido on the famed «Grand Ave». Rarely have I not been able to get a parking space right on the street but if there isn’t street parking, there is a free parking lot out back. They have an indoor dining area as well as a few seats out front on the side walk and and outside patio out back that is covered. There are several flat screens and they are always televising some sporting event and several days a week they have live music. You better like Irish music because that’s all they play when there isn’t live music. I like the music; it certainly is appropriate for the place.
They have the typical food you would expect in a bar and the foods you would expect in an Irish pub. The indoor dining you can either sit at the bar or take a table. It’s quite comfortable and the noise level is average so you can carry on a decent conversation with someone. It’s also clearly a place where a lot of locals frequent.
Today I had the Wedge Salad and Stilton Bleu Burger with Potato Salad and to drink I had an iced tea. The tea was freshly brewed and quite good. It wasn’t long before the wedge salad was brought out. It’s quite a large wedge and could almost be half a head of lettuce! It’s covered in bacon bits and crumbled bleu cheese. The blue cheese dressing comes on the side and what they give really isn’t adequate for the amount of lettuce but they will absolutely bring more if you ask. The salad is quite good but wish they used a better blue cheese dressing. The salad is big enough to share with someone.
The burger came out a couple of minutes after the wedge salad came out so I didn’t get a chance to finish the salad. The burger is quite large and the patty is cooked to order perfectly. There is plenty of blue cheese melted atop and the bun is a soft fresh sesame seed bun. The burger comes with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and red onion. There is nothing on the burger so you can dress it with your favorite toppings like mayo, ketchup, mustard or anything else. But I will tell you this burger is perfect by itself! I’ve had their fries before and highly recommend the steak fries but today I had the potato salad which was the best I’ve ever had!
For other menu items, I will say they make the BEST grilled fish tacos of any place in all of San Diego County. I’ve never had better grilled fish tacos. Their fish n chips is also exceptional and better than any Iris pub or any fish place anywhere. Their Reuben, Club Sandwich, and Shepherd’s Pie are also amazing. My friends rave about their Caesar Salad.
The only bad part about today’s was the bartender. I’ve heard of surly bartenders, but this one really fits that description and she has a pony tail. It started when I asked for an iced tea. She rolled her eyes and gave a deep sigh as she left to get my drink. I can’t say how annoying it is when bartenders get all bent out of shape because you don’t order a beer or alcohol. It’s midday and I’m taking my lunch break. Sorry I can’t drink while on the job like many of their other customers. I tried to dismiss thinking maybe I read her expression wrong but when she brought out my burger almost immediately after getting the salad, it was clear she was trying to get rid of me. Who does this? I’ve been going to this restaurant for about 10 years and have known some of the bartenders and servers well and they always have treated me and my guests well. I don’t know what is wrong with the lady with the pony tail, but she needs an attitude change. You might want to treat your customers a bit nicer.
Overall, the food here is amazing and the atmosphere is fun minus the bartender with the ponytail. So if you see her, maybe take a table instead of sitting at the bar. But if you do eat here, you are going to have an amazing meal! And one of the best places in San Diego County for a burger and fish tacos!

Very good food and great beer. The waitress was awesome and on point.
Recommend this place for a good time out

It’s a pretty good neighborhood bar. I’m glad we have it here in Escondido. The interior does feel a little bit divey, with the darkish lighting and the older wood décor, but I don’t know what else I would expect from an Irish pub: P
I like that they have whiskey, and they have a pretty full drink selection (as they should). I haven’t had much of the food, but they stuff that I have had has been OK. I don’t think I would ever make a point to come eat food here (plenty of dining establishments nearby), but I would definitely swing by here afterwards to carry the conversations into the night!
The have a decent space out back for small parties, and it’s a great hangout for friends or to grab a couple drinks. We love it! :)

First Impressions — this place is a happy mix between trendy bar and dive bar. I came here on a night when they had a live band. the atmosphere of it and the people in the service was friendly as I entered and found my party.
Eats and Drinks — I thought the food was kind of overpriced but it was good. I thought the drinks were more reasonably priced and were also good. I was there for a bachelorette party and we made a special request with our bartender to bring our bride something phallic shaped. he was more than happy to oblige and had a great sense of humor about it. we all appreciated him being so accommodating to our special request.
Tips — I personally think sitting outside on the patio is best. I prefer being in an atmosphere where you’re able to talk and I don’t think that would have been possible inside.
Overall — overall I had a good experience. The food was good and the drinks were good the service was fun and friendly. I don’t think I’d necessarily go out of my way to go to go back, but I certainly wouldn’t mind being there. good experience thank you O’ Sullivans

I’m a big fan of this inland Irish pub and of Sean. The lone Irishman that works there! I’ve taken over the back patio a few times with large groups lately and they’ve excellent and accommodating. I’ve also had the chance to slide up to the bar for a Jameson and Ginger (with lime of course!) on my own and really enjoy the indoor layout too.
Saturday nights are pretty hopping, so make sure you’ve got a reservation if a table is what you’d like. Live music occasionally and it has all the feels of a traditional Irish experience. Having visited Ireland a few month ago I felt myself drawn in and getting nostalgic. It ain’t the same of course, but close enough!
Try the Irish Nachos with Corned Beef and the Scotch Eggs. Yum-​o.

3 stars, A-​ok, but I am totally biased against pretty much any Irish restaurant. I am not a vegetarian, however I do not eat beef, pork, chicken, lamb, duck, or anything that lives on the land. To top it off Potatoes don’t float my boat.
A group of us came in for appetizers and ordered all of the appetizers on the menu, which is not vegetarian friendly. I tried some fish sticks, they were large and pretty greasy (which is how they were advertised), I would love a more healthy option. The plates were large, smothered with meats, cheeses, and potatoes. I recommend eating here if you like Irish food, if you are veggie then check the menu first.
The server was really friendly and efficient and the wine was decent too. I really liked the ambiance and patio area and is seems like a hopping place to go out on the weekends too.

I came here with a group of Unilocalers before CMYE and it was surprisingly good! You know the locals love this place when it is packed and people are waiting to be seated on a Sunday night! My fiancée and I ordered the chicken tenders which was panko-​crusted and came with delicious fries. Our table also had the nachos and the chips were real potato chips! I highly recommend it! Our server, Ramon, was friendly and fast at getting all our checks out to us (props to him)!
We sat on the patio and it was rustic and super cute. The patio also has its own restroom. On a Sunday night, we had plenty of parking to choose from so parking was not an issue (I’m not really sure about the weekdays or a Friday/​Saturday night). I highly recommend anyone who is in the area to try this place!

how can you not enjoy good old Irish food? Maybe the next time I go I’ll order an actual meal, but this last time we focused on appetizers.
Located in the heart of Escondido, O’sullivans features live music (which happens with any irish person and booze), pub food, and full meals.
Our server Ramon was dealing with the back patio which had room for 2 large parties. We ordered about 4 appetizers to share and drinks. Understandably so, running our cards took awhile since we were all paying separately, but the service did seem excessively so. When our nachos arrived, they weren’t mixed. The cheese seemed to be baked first, and toppings were added later. I’m not sure why this is a big pet peeve of mine, but when sharing with other folks, it’s just a lot more convenient to have it pre-​mixed.
Everything tasted like standard pub food. The fries were that large kind with a side of curry sauce. I didn’t get a chance to try the quesadilla. Overall, standard pub fare, nothing spectacular, and definitely standard pub service. I wouldn’t seek O’Sullivan’s out beyond St. Patrick’s Day or if a friend suggested it.