4070 Marshall Road
Price of a Guinness: $7.00 | 9.25
Harrigan's has been pouring pints for the lovely folks of Kettering for over 50 years and there's a reason as to why people have been bending their elbows here for so long. The Pub has a great base of regulars and boy do they deliver on the holiday parties. We're not talking just St. Paddy's Day either, we're talking Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the whole kit & kaboodle. The people throughout southern Dayton swarm this place for the big moments and quite frankly it's a lot of fun.
They open their doors at 5:30am on St. Paddy's Day and they even coordinate with a couple other Pubs such as The Dublin Pub and shuttle people to each of them for free throughout the day. Most people in Southern Ohio have no idea how great St. Paddy's Day actually is in the Dayton area.
They might have the best wall decor of any Pub throughout the entire state of Ohio, we're not kidding. It's as if an antique store, a sports memorabilia store, and an old Irish lady's attic got together and popped out a lassie. The dark green walls, brass railings and stained wood add to the perfect mix, giving the Pub quite the sexy eye appeal. (It reminds us of The Drunken Mallard if we're going to be honest)
They provide a large horseshoe style bar that holds probably 25 to 35 people at a time, giving the patrons easy access for fun conversations. There's a popcorn machine for the snackers, a full food menu for the hungries, plastic darts and Golden Tee for the athletes, and a Jukebox as well as live music for the foot tappers. Their food is priced incredibly well; like incredibly well. The food won't compare to what Mom makes at the house but if you're on a budget; Harrigan's provides.
They'll charge you $7 for a pour of Guinness and you can expect a terrific pour about 85% of the time, depending on who's bartending. A few of the bartenders have been here for years and know the craft well, while occasionally you'll come across a novice who won't give you the best of pours. We've never received a below average pour here though if that says anything.
They offer an immense number of dining tables and booths for larger and intimate gatherings. There are plenty of TVs for gamedays and the music is typically pretty decent while the sun is still shining. As for most Pubs, we can't say the same about the music and total vibe once the sun goes down. It's anyone's guess at times how things will go during the nightfall.
If we were to note any blemishes then the very few that come to mind are that the bathrooms are quite grungy, the barstools have no backrests, the backbar can get a little cluttered, you won't find any brogues, there are no steel tip darts, and you probably won't be listening to any Irish music unless it's the month of March.
All in all, if you're visiting the Kettering area then you should make it a point to stop in for a pint or three. If you're a local who has never stepped foot inside Harrigan's then you have certainly dropped the ball. The demos of the place are a great mix of blue collar conversationalists and middle class folks who most definitely know how to kill an afternoon in terrific fashion. Their whiskey selections will tickle most people's fancies, they offer all the local beers you could want, and the bartenders know how to keep the tabs rolling. A worthy Irish Pub for all Craic addicts alike.
Slainte!
Who is Moe and what exactly does he want?