We went for late lunch today, just after 1pm. It's a good time to go if you like to enjoy a meal without a lot a noise. My wife and I often split an order as this is usually more than enough for us both. Service was very polite and timely even though we were splitting a single order. Had a club with fries. There were enough fries on this single order for at least 3. They are also very good fries. Good selection of beer on tap. I had a porter which I enjoyed. Coffee was good. Also check into Yelp as soon as you arrive. They offer free chips for using YELP. Good interior to the pub. It's worth a visit if you haven't been here before.
Mediocre food at fairly high prices. Ok bar. I had the chicken pot pie. Nothing fancy. Not bad but tiny.
(2)
Julie L.
This is our go to spot for dinner. We love the piedmont burgers and they have a great beer sleection. They have a good mix of food on the kids menu. The staff is usually pretty friendly and service fast.
(4)
Patsy R.
We received a gift certificate to Gus's so tonight we came for dinner. We were greeted as we arrived and were seated within five minutes in a cozy nook just with in view of the guitar player. This is a happening place. I used my ck. in from YELP and got free homemade chips and dip. Not a skimpy basket I might add. Our beverages came quickly. Alyssa our waitress was attentive but not annoying. I ordered the brisket which was to die for. The generous amount fire roasted vegs were tender and piping hot. My husband got the Irish trinity with the wonderful hose potatoes. Jeremy the manager came to our table and ask how our meals were and if we needed anything else. All n all between the service, the music and dinner we had a wickedly good evening. We will be back soon.
(5)
Sara B.
I went here for a few appetizers and drinks with my man and good gravy was it packed! The wait was 50 minutes for a table, so we opted to stalk the bar area for free for all seating. With well applied ninja skills we soon had a seat at the bar and were able to yell our drink orders at the bar tender. The staff was friendly enough, especially considering how busy they were, and our smoked salmon and dunkel chip appetizers came out quickly. The smoked salmon plate was good, and I liked the horseradish sauce and fixings that came with it. The chips were nice and crispy and not overly salty, and the sauce for those was also pretty good. My biggest complaints were the noise, lack of seating, and our bar tender messing up our check by not applying the coupon we used through the yelp check in. I'll probably try and go back when it's less hectic to try and rate it again.
(3)
Maria A.
My first visit and the place was packed (first good sign). Food was good and decently priced. Loved that they had a decently beer list too. I will be stopping by again.
(4)
Rachel O.
Bar height high chairs. Enough said. I really like the food here. They had a very large beer selection. Including the local craft brews. the Ruben is one of the best in the area. They had some really good choices for Irish traditional food. The prices are higher. I didn't expect to spend as much as we did for lunch there. But we did enjoy our visit, our food and our beer. So it was worth it.
(4)
Kristen C.
We always have excellent food and service at this restaurant. For the first time ever, we sat outside the other day. It was hot but our server was friendly and attentive. It took a little while to get my beer but only because they were tapping a brand new keg.. Umm yeah that's always okay. I love a good Hefeweizen and will drive for it lol. Keep up the good work.
(5)
Pete M.
I had the chicken pot pie it was nothing special nor was it horrible. The place is small, loud and service was a wee bit slow for a midday meal. My drinks were good and the price was a bit on the high side. I would come here again to hear a band on a Friday or Saturday night but I would probably eat somewhere else either before of after I came here.
(3)
Chrissy S.
First time here on a Saturday night during the Fire and Ice Festival. Wait time for a table for 3 was an hour. But so was every other restaurant on main street so we can't really hold that against them. Service was impressive considering the place was packed shoulder to shoulder with people. Our food came fast and was very good. The menu has lots of traditional Irish grub along with classic pub/bar food. We ordered the homemade chips and onion dip for an appetizer. Wickedly delicious. Did I mention how good the service was? I tried to make my way to the restroom (located at the back of the restaurant) and was amazed the servers could get through the crowd. One final note, you have to order the bread pudding off their dessert menu. You'll thank me!
(5)
Jake V.
Food here is Amazing! I love the smoked wings! The atmosphere of the place is really nice at lunch time and the architecture of the building inside is very pleasing. The drinks are good at a fair price. With that being said on busy Friday or Saturday nights it can take a long time for a bar tender to acknowledge you and the crowds of people just standing at the bar talking are sometimes rude, mainly because they are young and don't understand once you have your drink step back so others can get up to the rail. I personally will not go in this place when they have a live band just because it is a pretty small place inside and with the brick walls it is obnoxiously loud, to the point where you can't talk with the people that you are out with.
(4)
Kate A.
I like this place because it's really the only pub in Rochester. But their menu is getting less and less Irish every time I go in. (Nachos and wings are not pub food!) The service is good and they usually have good love music. However, the last time we were there the waitress asked me if fries were ok with my fish and chips! I don't know what else she thought I would expect to get with fish and chips.
(3)
K T.
Went there for dinner with friends. Called ahead for dinner and promised for 5:30. Finally seated at 6:00. Took a long time to get our drink order. We ordered our food at same time because we had plans at 7:00. At 6:45 I asked waitress to check on order. I had to call her over to do this. She appeared to be avoiding us. Manager came by and apologized and offered a free round. Still waiting for food at 7:00. At 7:10 food arrived , two Reuben's too hot to pick up and two Piedemonte burgers ice cold . We missed our plans for the evening. We have been here many times and normally everything is fine; however, it wasn't this time.
(2)
Jason M.
My wife and I went here for lunch following Arts and Apples. It was a pleasant surprise that upon checking in through the Yelp app, we received an offer for free chips and dip. While the service and ambiance were solid, the food was just so-so. I got the Chicken Tender Salad and the lettuce tasted very... cold as if kept in a cold refrigerator. I'd have liked something fresher. It was decent. My wife also got a salad and was similarly ho-hum. Perhaps other menu options would be superior so I'll give this a moderate 3 stars for now.
Craft beer list and desserts were excellent. Food was okay. Not the greatest.Yorkshire pudding was burnt to a crisp.
(3)
MW R.
Menu is limited as with many pubs, however the food was good. Atmosphere also is cool, I liked the place.
(4)
Peter S.
I visited O'Connors and was very pleased with the service. The bartender Libby made an amazing cocktail and was extremely friendly. I will most definitely be coming back!
(5)
Shoshanah A.
Cool atmosphere, they have a neat little private room that seats 6 or so. Decent beer selection. Bar bites are good. Friendly staff.
(4)
Holly G.
I was only here for drinks, so take that as you will. Anyway, we ended up here after we were across the street and Kruse & Muer for dinner. There was a duo playing guitars/singing in the main bar area and I found it was kind of annoying. The restaurant is not that big, and these guys were so loud that it was almost like being at a club. I was sitting right next to my boyfriend and couldn't hear a word he was saying. I can imagine how the people that came here for like, actual dinner were feeling. Anyway, aside from that this place is pretty decent. 3 stars means A-OK and that's how I felt. They have a really good selection of beers, my boyfriend had one of the pumpkin offerings and claimed it to be delicious. I stuck with mixed drinks so I can't really have an opinion on the beer one way or the other. Drinks were pretty reasonably priced, so that's always a plus. Service was good, nothing to complain about. I've been to worse bars, so this place wasn't too bad.
(3)
Nick M.
I only drank beers here, so there's your disclaimer. The service is good and there are good craft beer choices to choose from. It's got a nice feel inside ...pretty cozy and a good spot to throw some back with friends. It feels like a nicer Irish pub, and it has a good amount of tables and bar seating.
(3)
Rebecca C.
Just decided to try something new tonight...so glad we did! Great little place, great live music and amazing food! The Irish dip with handcut fries was the best I've ever had! We will definitely make this place a new favorite!
(5)
Shannon S.
I quite liked my dining experience here last night, despite a few oddities.... I'll explain. Last night was not my first time ever at O'Connor's, just the first time actually sitting down to a dinner. I had mentioned this place to a friend before, so he took me last night. I was a tad bummed that I wasn't hungrier because I had been wanting to delve into something truly Irish...see, I've been eyeing the menu, and wanting a scotch egg, boxty, or some Shepherds pie. Wouldn't it figure I had Shepherds pie (twice!*) earlier this week, homemade, courtesy of my sister! Rats! That was out, but my friend had it and he said it was really good. I ended up with the grilled chicken salad and it was divine! There were a lot of little extras inside this salad, providing such a great mix of flavors that salad dressing would've killed it...I just love that by the way! The ambience was cool and casual...no drunken frat boys like I've seen in the past. There was a band setting up right next to our table, we got asked to scoot, which was seriously not a problem, and they were unnecessarily apologetic for. Our server was top notch. Friendly, on top of things, and all around great! Weirdness was the food runner, or whatever he was...he would bring things to our table and look at us oddly...huhh...he brought out my salad sans chicken telling me...your chicken will be right out.. ?? It wasn't busy or anything, don't know why he rushed out our food that wasn't quite complete...no worries though...everything else made up for his slight weirdness. Yelp gave us a check in offer too, for a free Donegal chips. Pretty good! I say, stop in if you're in tge area, they're worth a shot, I'll bet you'll be pleasantly satisfied!
(4)
Andrew M.
I really do like this place, but today's visit was quite sub-par. I had the guinness stew, which was super tasty, and they always have a decent beer selection, but the rest of the meal was rather disappointing. My wife's crab cakes and soup weren't terribly good. The worst part was the plethora of fruit flies that decided to swarm our table, most likely because they left the doors open. That pretty much ruined the meal for me.
Great food and amazing draft beer selection. We had the Donegal potato chips and the fish tacos. Very good. Service was excellent. What's not to like ?
(4)
Michael S.
Went here for dinner and had a nice time but the food just was not that good.The atmosphere was nice; thankfully, the guy they had playing guitar was at a reasonable volume such that we could still talk to each other. The food, however, was very mediocre. I had a burger and fries and the burger was dry and the fries were tasteless. My friends had fish and chips and sandwiches and they agreed their food was mediocre as well. I was not satisfied with the food also due to the price; $12 for a burger and fries is higher than average and my $11 cocktail reminded me of my time spent in New York City last summer. Overall, I think you can do better in Downtown Rochester.
(2)
FRED N.
No wait and the food was delicious! The only way we could have had a better experience was if our server Nick had Riverdanced it all to our table! Thanks Nick - we'll be back!
(5)
Matt S.
I received a message from their manager and they invited me back for another meal at Gus's. This time it was great and I enjoyed my time. Gus's is back in action!!
(5)
Jeff B.
Bar food on steroids! Delicious! My wife and I visited O'Connor's on 10-5-2013. Both of us were 100% happy with our meal and service. I ordered what I thought was a typical bar burger. I have no idea what type of sauce they use but it was delicious! My wife was also extremely satisfied with her meal as well. This place comes highly recommended!
(5)
William C.
A revisit today on a cold rainy late May afternoon. It's easy to forget that this place is a superb kitchen along with a cool bar. This Texas boy gave this Irish pub's Chili two huge enthusiastic thumbs up. The fish and chips were also great. That fish was flaky and cooked absolutely perfectly. The food here could definately hold it's own with any restaurant, especially with any restaurant in the Roch. it was my fist time experiencing this place without a pint in my hand, but alas, there were work responsibilities to follow lunch so it was a diet coke. having sampled most of the bars in downtown Rochester Hills, there really isn't a reason I can see to eat and booze it up anywhere else than here. my only negatives for Gus's is that it's a tad expensive but again, the quality of the food and drink are worth it IMO. sure, there are cheaper booze and food options but not better options
(5)
Christine R.
LOUD! Oh, my goodness. It was so loud my husband and I gave up trying to hold a conversation and it was a Sunday, not a busy Friday night. We watched the tables around us get served before us even though we had ordered before they sat down. The food was ok, nothing amazing but on the pricey side. For what we spent on dinner and drinks, we could've gone to Kruse and Muir across the street. Oh well.
(2)
David P.
It's a stereotypical pseudo Irish bar. Lots of wood, Celtic knots, rails on the bar, solid place overall. The secret is to get the private booth surrounded by walls that's attached to the bar. If you score that, you're solid all night long. If you can't...well, it's still a decent place, but the private booth really makes this place a lot more enjoyable, especially if you're there with a crowd of people with whom you want to actually hold a conversation. Over several visits there, I've had the reuben (awesome), the shepherd's pie (also awesome) and several of the appetizers (solid). The beer...it's an Irish pub for crying out loud, how can you not like the beer? In fact, if you DON'T like the beer, you're in the wrong friggin' place and should be ashamed of yourself.
(4)
Joshua M.
Nice place. Good beer selection. This place is SUPER packed, and the "bodyguard staff" (Why do they need bodyguards?) are pushy. They push standing patrons out of the way when waitresses come by. I'm sorry, guys, but this is Rochester. It's a safe neighborhood, a safe street, and your waitresses can do what every other waitress in every other bar in the world does and push their way past the crowds. I didn't try the food. There was no way we could have gotten a table. It looked good, though.
(3)
Billy Z.
Great food for a bar, decent beer list. Had the "Brawler" and the brisket was a bit dry but otherwise amazing, wife said her fish and chips were the best she ever had. 2nd visit we had shepherds pie and a reuban, sandwich was good but the shepherds pie tasted like dinty Moore stew from a can, gross.
(4)
Jeb S.
This review only pertains to the brunch menu at Gus O'Connor's. We had brunch here recently, and the experience caused me to formulate a new dining out rule: Never go to an Irish pub for brunch. GOC seems like it would be a great place to have dinner or a drink with your friends, but if you're considering it for brunch, you'd be better off passing. Here's why: First, the brunch menu is very limited - they've got about four options, including a strawberry waffle, an Irish-style eggs benedict, and just a few other choices. Second, the choices aren't very good. The Irish-style eggs benedict was served with browned corned beef, cut into bite-size pieces, instead of the traditional Canadian bacon. I appreciate the effort to Irishize the dish, but it fails completely, both because corned beef doesn't go well with the other flavors in the dish, as well as because it's execution was severly flawed: the pieces of corned beef were too hard and crispy, likely due to overcooking. Third, the kids meals choices are pathetic: they're severely limited, expensive, not nutritionally balanced, and substituting milk for the included free soft drink costs an extra $1 - eek! For example, they charge $5.99 for a bowl of buttered noodles, which is a total rip-off! That should cost $2.99 at most, given the ingredients. And charging people extra to substitute a healthier drink option is shameful - c'mon GOC, you can do better - don't penalize people for making healthy choices for their children! In conclusion, if you're considering Gus O'Connor's for brunch, go elsewhere!
(1)
Cory D.
Don't know how it would get any better than this for me for this type of restaurant.
(5)
Laura J.
I didn't expect to love this place as much as I did: reasonable prices, a relaxed atmosphere, great service and excellent food. We had a Rubin, fish and chips and homemade potato chips. I would recommend all three. These are things that are on a lot of menus and all have the potential to be heavy and greasy, instead they were delicious, crispy and the perfect temperature. The Rubin was one of the best that I've ever had. The corned beef was perfect and all of the components were perfectly balanced. We inhaled the homemade potato chips with onion dip and I don't even usually like potato chips that much. We don't get out to Rochester that much, but I plan to go back to O'Connors.
(5)
Brian O.
So not like the original in Doolin, Ireland! Food is just ok, beer selection and atmosphere is great!
(3)
Sydney A.
I love this place and go here all the time. Most of the menu is comfort food! I'm not a big drinker (beer makes me nauseous) but their Bloody Marys are fab. FOOD I LOVE Celtic Reuben Irish Dip (ask for extra Au Jous if you actually want dip for the entire sandwich, though -- it's a big sandwich!) Actually, anything featuring their corned beef or beef brisket should not be missed! Fish and Chips Boxties (they're all good!) Any of the soups FOOD I LIKE Guinness Stew Shepherd's Pie Burgers Cheese Plate Crab Cakes FOOD I AVOID Mac and Cheese w/ Lobster (tastes like Velveeta, lobster doesn't add anything) Artichoke Dip (flavorless) Irish Nachos (concept of potato chips as nachos is interesting, but toppings were sparse plus I hate green olives) Chicken Pot Pie (not sure what fresh herb is used but I think it gives it an odd taste. Maybe I could get them to not add it?) Cabbage (I cook my cabbage in the corned beef brine/broth. O'Conner's doesn't. As a result I find their cabbage lacks flavor. It's not you, Gus, it's me. Let's be friends, okay?) Notes: Good for lunch and early dinner, less good at night on the weekends if you're not a fan of massive crowds. Wait staff is almost always friendly and efficient. You can substitute either veggies or fruit salad for fries if you want. Actually, they're really good with substitutions and special orders generally -- just ask! Look, I don't care how "authentic" or "inauthentic" this place is in its Irishness. The food is consistently excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the occasional live bands are fun. If it's a bit on the pricy side, the portions are good and the prices are still on par with what you'll be paying anywhere else in downtown.
(5)
Ulli H.
Absolutely love this place! Great food and even better drinks. Best drinks in town imho. *cheers*
(5)
Erin Q.
We met up with some friends here when we were in town for a wedding. I like that there is public parking behind the building as well as street parking. Our hostess was pleasant and let us know the bar was seat yourself. We checked in and got free house made chips and dip-very tasty and went over well at our table. I ended up ordering the angus sliders and a cup of the potato leek soup. The sliders were great, but the soup lacked pretty much everything. I have been to Ireland and this soup did not live up to what I expected it to. They had a good selection of beer on tap and my Guinness was served with a little shamrock in the foam.. nice touch!
(3)
Alanna M.
My family visited O'Connor's on New Years Even 2013; it was our first visit to the restaurant. The table was ready for us upon our arrival and the service was friendly and efficient. We ordered the following and here is what we thought: Appetizers: Bangers and Mash - Excellent! Only complaint was that we wanted more. Irish skins - Excellent! Only complaint was that there were only 3 and there were 4 of us. Dinner: Steak and mash - Awesome - the accompanying sauce may be have been the best part of the dish Piedmontese burger - ordered with cheese and bacon - very, very good - there needs to be more special sauce - next time I'd ask for extra sauce Reuben - excellent French dip - excellent Fries with the dinners - they were some of the best seasoned fries we've had Dessert: Black and white brownie - very good but almost too rich for this sweet tooth. I think it would have been better with vanilla ice cream instead of the chocolate ice cream it was served with. Apple crisp - by far the best part of the meal. My husband said "this may be better than Franklin Cider Mills apple pie." My family actually wanted to order another one to take home! Excellent restaurant with affordable prices. If you go, make sure you arrive early because parking can be challenging. There is free parking behind the restaurant but the lots fill up. You may have to part in the lot on the block north of the restaurant. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for somewhere to dine in downtown Rochester!
(4)
Eric P.
Great service from Scott, the bartender/manager while in the private confessional table. Chips,good. Beer,great. Food,great. Highly recommend because of great beer selection and atmosphere.
(5)
Claire V.
SWEET Yelp deal! Free chips and onion dip which is normally $7 or so. That has to be the best Yelp deal I've seen to date, and it must be working for them, because that's how I ended up here. I needed a late night place in Rochester, so I searched Yelp, saw the deal and the photos from fellow Yelpers and I was sold! Yelp wouldn't let me check in on the spot, it seemed to think I was somewhere else, but O'Connor's didn't care and still honored the deal! This place was very crowded on a Saturday night (but that's a good sign) full of college kids. Some girls next to me kept squeeling at eardrum-piercing frequencies and volumes, but oh well, I was only at the bar for ten minutes to get take-out anyway. I got a drink while I was waiting, something with strawberries and it was GREAT! I would've ordered a second, but I still had to drive back to my hotel and my food arrived soon after anyway. Food: Chips and onion dip - Delicious home fried chips, still warm. Thick, crunchy, kettle-style! The dip packs a real punch. Seemed garlicky, or maybe it's just a lot of fresh, sharp onion? Bangers and Mash - Fantastic. I was skeptical the sausages didn't look entirely like real bangers, but the flavor was there, really delicious. The mashed potato was garlicky and thick, with real potato skins. Could've been more creamy, but I enjoyed it this way too. I just wish I could get a larger dish of this, it's under appetizers and it's not a huge amount, but the price is low too. I'd definitely get a full size though! The only weird thing was that I found one rotini pasta in my mashed potatoes. Hmmm... also found a fry in my chips. They may want to be a little more meticulous about separating food items in the kitchen. Overall great place though! I'd definitely go back for the cocktails and the food!
(4)
Mark M.
Very cool authentic Irish pub atmosphere. Excellent selection of Draft beers, including some very tasty local Michigan brews. The Brawler Burger is absolutely fantastic! I chose it because of the award it won, and I was not disappointed. The Turkey Reuben was also very good. Will definitely make this a regular stop every time we visit the area.
(4)
Michelle D.
Best service in town! Best Irish food around! Nice to sit outside but at this time of the year the bees kind of take over. No great loss though. Inside is just as fun :)
(4)
Bob A.
I'm not going to review the food because I'm not a fan of this type of food, so I wouldn't know good from bad. I've been going here on and off for a few years, and always found the service (especially the bartenders) to be top notch. But the problem with Gus' is the layout. The main bar area is long and narrow, and on a busy weekend night, it's an absolute pain to exist in this place. Then they have other small seating areas here and there, and the area that the band plays is much too small. They really need to rework the interior, which I'm sure will never happen. I think it's far too difficult to socialize in this joint, which is what a meat market is for, right?
(3)
J F.
I went on NYE. The service was very slow, yet everyone around us (who were older) got their drinks much quicker. Our bill was close to $150 for just a couple of hours, I expected better service. Our bottle of champagne was flat, or bottle of wine looked and tasted like water. Our food was mediocre (nachos, artichoke dip, scotch eggs--worst I've had). Our cocktails were small, a couple of sips, for close to $10 a piece. I understand this place is in Rochester, but you can go to any fine dining restaurant in Grosse Pointe and get real drinks, for the same price. This should not be acceptable to overcharge people for disgusting drinks and mediocre food. I won't be going here again.
(2)
Kristopher S.
Fish and chips were fantastic (only one better is Irish Tavern in Waterford). The fish IS better at IT, but they don't have sweet potato fries and this place does. And O'Connor's has Sander's Hot Fudge Cream Puffs on the menu. Service was phenomenal. A bit pricey but well worth it.
(4)
Michelle H.
Last Thursday night I went to O'Connors, with my husband, and sat at the bar. We had friendly service and a great selection of beers and craft cocktails. They also have live music that starts early in the evening and was very good! We had the salmon appetizer which was generous and delicious! Fun experience, and we ended up meeting several other patrons who were friendly and interesting!
(5)
Rick M.
Stopped in for Rochester restaurant week (everyone is having one now it seems) and had a very good experience. Is it an authentic Irish Pub? Actually I have no idea but it's what I imagine one to be from my many years of watching movies. It's cozy and kinda dark with a Tigers game on. Just like in Ireland! They had the largest menu selection of any restaurant week participant I've been to yet. The appetizer was really hard to nail down. I ended up getting a scotch egg (first time I had one anywhere beside the renaissance festival) and my wife ordered the chips with spinach and artichoke dip. Both were really good. There were several other apps that's sounded really good too, so I'm sure we will be going back to give those a try. The entrees were pretty big. Again they offered so many that it was hard to choose. I thought about chicken pot pie or the shepherds pie but ended up with the brisket. It was cooked well and the portions were generous. The mashed potatos were good as well and it came with a strange looking muffin. Maybe that's an Irish thing or a pub thing but it was weird looking and big. But it was also very good. Can't wait to try some other things from the menu. The wife had fish & chips and she told me they were quite good. Knowing that we still had dessert coming we had to get a couple boxes to take some home (yay I gotta good lunch tomorrow!). Again both desserts were fantastic. She got the apple crumble and I went with the black and tan brownie with guiness ice cream. The beer selection was decent enough. I had a couple Oberon drafts. They also have Final Absolution on tap and some other local beers. Overall a great dinner and they did an awesome job with their restaurant week menu. And if the point of a RW is to get people to come and then come back again I would say they succeeded. At least with me. **update: strange looking muffin = Yorkshire pudding. Who knew?
(4)
Robb B.
Have been coming here for about 4 years now. Bar a couple occurrences, haven't had a bad meal here yet. The Friday and Saturday Prime Rib special is probably the best I've ever had for the money. The Brawler Burger is exceptional as is the Shepherds Pie (although some have complained of it being too 'soupy' at times). Why I didn't give O'Conners a five star rating is because they dropped mine and my wife's favorite sandwich! Bring back the BBQ Chicken Bap!!!
(4)
Jessica C.
I've always had good food here. I highly recommend trying a boxty. They even have a vegetarian boxty with a blue cheese sauce that is divine. The only problem I had was my waitress talked me out of the drink I wanted to order and had the bartender make me some terrible concoction. I couldn't even drink it, but the waitress didn't even offer to get me a new drink. Oh well. I learned my lesson.
(4)
Daniel B.
Celeste our waitress was awesome. The Reuben and corned beef sandwich was delicious and ample. Their homemade chips are delicious, French onion dip was alright. Our friend claimed the fish and chips was good as well. The lobster Mac "n " cheese did not seem to be worth the money; up for debate.
(4)
Penny R.
Was mildly disappointed when the bar was advertised to stay open till 2 am and we were asked to cash out a little after 1 am. The service was pretty good and the food was tasty, just was disappointed that we were rushed out the door.
(3)
Joni J.
I have never been treated so horribly in my life!! My husband and I came in for dinner and after dinner we were enjoying the band and having drinks. I was on my second drink and was planning on having another; (I had a D.D.) while I was nursing my drink, the server came over and asked me if I would like another, I said not yet, check back later. When I was talking to a friend she came and removed my glass. I didn't notice when she did that and I questioned her about this, she said my glass was empty. It was not, it had plenty of ice in it. I asked for a manager, her name was Stephanie and when she came up to our table she told me my glass was empty also. She then proceeded to tell me I was not going to get a free drink and if I wanted to suck on ice cubes she would go get me some. Just a little background: I am in my 50s and I can certainly afford to have as many drinks as I care to have, I was just being responsible, we had not even been there an hour. We paid our bill and left. Where do people get off by talking to people like that? We will NEVER be back as long as Gus O'Connor's keeps staff as rude as that server and manager were.
(1)
Maggie H.
So, again, blame it on my bias, but here we go. My family is Irish (my name is Dempsey for pete's sake) and I have spent time in Ireland. I am so sick of places calling themselves "Irish" because they have an Irish name on the front door and Guinness on tap. FYI...Irish Pub does not equal Irish! I love O'Connor's for sticking to its Irish roots. Irish is not cuisine, never has been and never will be. Real Irish food is stew, mashes potatoes, colcannon, soda bread, or Boxty (Irish potato pancakes)...not fancy. O'Connor's has Guinness stew with mashed potatoes, shepherds pie, bacon and cabbage, and different kinds of boxty! If you are looking for traditional Irish food this is one of very few places in the metro area that serves it up. It is not cuisine and it is not supposed to be, this is the kind of food you get in real Irish Pubs, in Ireland. Enjoy yourself and enjoy an ethnic food you cannot get in many places! For my heritage and for O'Connor's sticking to their Irish roots I have to give it 5 stars!
(5)
Pamela H.
Heather was the best!!!! Great service, thanks.
(4)
Mike L.
The big bald fella concocts a mean meatloaf! Ask for it.
(5)
juston m.
uggh. this place is like douche on steroids. i'm sure its much different during the day, but if you're going out on saturday watch out. the clientele is horrible (minus my friend meredith). the beers are expensive. the atmosphere doesn't exist unless you think standing around and looking at fake tits is atmosphere. i thought this was supposed to be an irish pub? why is there no place to congregate? why is the seating so awkward? the nacho was really f'ing good though. and somehow we got the one waitress that gave a shit in the whole place. also the only one that seemed nice. so the 2 stars are all on her. love, juston
(2)
Christine S.
I hated this bar. The people were douchy and I felt super uncomfortable the entire time I was there. The band was horrible, the place was crowed, and there was nowhere to sit without being in someone's way. The only good thing that came out of it was the nachos. Now those, were delicious! I would definitely get those again...but, to go. Peace out!
(2)
Phillip B.
Glad to say y'all earned 1 star back. Went in with gf and her friend and had great service and great food. Keep it up
(3)
Steven M.
Pleasant surprise, especially for a parent. I saw on Yelp that this place is not good for kids, that's BS. They have a nice menu for kids and be smart and order a 1/2 order of the adult mac and cheese and you'll be set. The staff was abundant and nice, we never felt like we were being ignored by the wait or bar staff at all. Ordered a half and half and it was poured to perfection, no questions, no weird looks, they knew what it was just like any pub should. It was a busy night but we got in pretty quickly and were able to sit as promised within 30 minutes. Food was prompt with people at my table getting Irish fair like bangers and mash, fish and chips and shepherds pie. The vote was that the fish and chips were good, so were the bangers and mash but the shepherds pie was a bit average. Nothing that needed to go back and they nailed it with my wife's mac and cheese with lobster. The fish and chips came out in a great beer batter that was more of a brown than a golden color - this is what I expect from an English/Irish experience, score O'Connors. Is it a GREAT Irish pub? Not exactly, but it has charm and feel. I'd say it's better than most because the decor and woodwork feels more like a pub than some place painted all green and called 'pub'. It's very loud in the bar area, but dining is not nearly as bad. I would easily go back again and take friends for a pint and something to eat any day. The food was good, people were very attentive which always is a big plus to me. We were there when there wasn't any music playing so I don't know how it changes the vibe.
(4)
Pete D.
I love a this place even more in the summer a great palace for bikers to hang and share good times with you buds. The girls are quick to bring you a cold drinks and a warm smile. Just good fun with good food.
(4)
Tyler D.
Pros: very good service, nice decor, interesting menu Cons: everything is expensive, too crowded (prepare to get bumped often)
(3)
Audra M.
We went for a drink while waiting on our ride on a Saturday afternoon. Best. Waitress. Eva. They had a nice selection of beer including some local ones and a seasonal mixed drink. I always try the local and the seasonal stuff and I was not disappointed. We all shared the cheese plate which was the best I've had in a long time including a super-fancy (pricey) nearby hotel restaurant! The atmosphere was *****SPOILER ALERT***** like an Irish pub: lots of wood, celtic knots, fireplace, long bar and lots of stools. I'll go back when I visit the area again.
(4)
Tom G.
I've got to admit I'm in love with this place. The beer list is simply outstanding. We've been here several times and never had a bad meal. As far as price, it's on par with everything else in downtown Rochester and we've never once had bad service. The one downside to O'Conner's would be the noise level, when its busy, it gets loud, sometimes too loud in the main bar area to hold a conversation.
(4)
jim t.
Friendly staff, nice ambiance, great mixers. Try the perfect Manhattan. New to town and all the bartenders have been making moving during the holidays not such a bad thing!
(5)
Christina L.
Good food, good atmosphere, pet friendly patio. They have some really creative drink specials (think bacon-infused whiskey), and a lot of menu options. My parents and I always meet here (halfway point btwn our towns) and we get great deals during happy hour and good service. As far as Irish bars go, this one's my favorite.
(4)
Kristin G.
Painfully average. It's just another bar that claims to be Irish. It's not so hard to find a place if you have a hankerin' for a Guinness these days...so the "draw" of the Irish pub in that sense has dwindled for me. What's worse, is that all of these so called Irish pubs have some poorly done Guinness flavored soup or some Shepard's pie, thinking that validates them as Irish. Ok, I dig the Irish pub style, it's cool with all it's celtic knot work, dark wood and pictures of places in Ireland...but let's be frank here, its a SPORTS BAR. The ambiance is nice, but that's about as far as I'll go for compliments here. The food is nothing but typical bar food. Burgers, fries...in my case I made the mistake of asking for "seasoned" fries...which to Gus's cooks apparently means that you dump a load of seasoned salt on top plain fries sitting under a heating lamp. Just sad and super SALT heavy fries. Stick with the plain ones, trust me! If I want a cheap pint of crappy domestic tap beer & some big flatscreens with the sports game of the moment, I'll be back...but I don't see that desire coming over me any time soon. I learned my lesson about the "food."
(2)
Carolyn H.
I had heard so much about this place that I decided to give Gus O' Conner's a try with my boyfriend for lunch about 4 months ago. I was not impressed at all. Service was below par. It took them about 15 minutes to see if we had been helped at all. Another 15 minutes to take our drink order. Then there was some sort of confusion over who was to serve us so we had to wait another 10 minutes or so. It was one of the few times I received such poor, slow service (I don't understand why it was slow because only 2 other tables were filled when we were there). The food was mediocre as well. It was nothing extraordinary. Maybe it was just one of those days, but from the experience I had I will not be venturing there anytime soon.
(2)
Michael C.
Good place to have a pint with friends and family. I have been going here since they opened, and after a visit on December 29th of 2010, I am convinced the restaurant side of the business has gone down-hill. Food service was slow and lacking, food presentation, flavor and taste was off and my fish was soggy in oil, not crisp. I would still go back here for drinks, but no longer would I visit for food items, other than the pub chips.
(2)
Dustin T.
Finally decided to venture out to Rochester and I pre-determined that some Irish fare was in order. Party of two got seated within 30 seconds even on a busy Friday night at about 730 pm. I guess we showed up at just the right time. We sat and enjoyed a Sam Adams cherry wheat and a Boddingtons pub ale while perusing the menu. I figure that if a restaurant wants to be Irish then I should go ahead and order some Irish food, but then the Guinness stew sounds good, and the Shepherd's pie must be good, so what to do? Some brilliant menu planner came up with the solution. Put them both on one plate, then throw in a serving of chicken pot pie, a bowl of mashed potatoes, and a mini loaf of brown bread with honey butter, yummo! All three dishes have some strong rich flavors, so I don't know if I could plow through a full serving of one of them, but having three small servings made for great variety. Spoon full of potatoes plus Guinness stew, piece of bread and shepherds pie, beer and chicken pot pie, endless mix and match possibilities! Unless you are a math major, then you could tell me exactly how many combinations are possible with a six item set. A complaint I often have with restaurants is over salting and these dishes were tolerable on the salt level but I think they could be desalinated a bit. They were, however, much better then the "so salty it was inedible" shepherd's pie I had at O'Maras in Berkley. Thanks Gus for an overall successful dinner!
(3)
Erik M.
I first came here on the week that Gus' opened, and I was not impressed. Plus, the waiter hit on my friend. 5 years later, this place has gotten better, and my friends are not as attractive as I am. I came here on a Saturday to celebrate a birthday of a friend who likes to think he's Irish. The pub was actually open enough to walk around in, which is nice for a Rochester bar on a Saturday night. The staff set us up at a big table and had no problem when we ordered the birthday boy a Cement Mixer. The beer is cheap, and they have a good selection. The food is ample and authentic. I think I read that they actually import Irish people to work here. Kind of like how Chuck E. Cheese employs actual vermin (just kidding). They had a a band playing in the dining room, I could not hear them, but they sounded like George Clinton mixed with Enya. I suppose that's a good thing. All in all, when you're looking for a brew in downtown Rochester, certainly give this place a try. It seems to take a little more pride in itself than other bars in Rochester.
(4)
Heather W.
After Coming here several times I thought I'd read what yelp had to say about them and was surprised. I personally love their food and have never had a bad meal. I wouldn't know about their beer cause I'm not a drinker but I'll keep coming back for the food.
(5)
Trevor G.
Stopped in here for a few drinks on a Sunday afternoon. Wife had a Bloody Mary and wow was that good! Lots of beer on tap to choose from. Staff was curtious but the table we were sat at was quite tacky/sticky. We weren't hungry so just a few drinks for us. Have to try out the food next time.
(4)
James C.
the burgers were great, and the sheperds pie looked delicious. I didn't have a chance to have any brews but they look like they had a good selection. The ambiance was typical of an Irish Bar.
(3)
Michael C.
Look at the pictures and tell me the outside of this place doesn't make you want to run at it like a child to candy! In fact, that's exactly what I did. It hasn't been open very long, and by the merits of the decor alone it has my full respect as an Irish pub experience. As I was just reminded: "This would be an awesome place to puke!" And the oddity of the name is one thing that most certainly helps in that: "public house"... which would've later in history be shortened to a more simple "pub." Yay for etymology! They have a wide selection of beers, which is the centerpiece to any authentic Irish experience (and as any Irishman has told me, along with loud songs and the occasional headlock. But that's a story for another time.). Gus's has fair prices all around. If you can't find something on the drink menu you like, then try a Murphy's; it's never let me down yet! *I just did a little digging. Apparently Gus's yanked some of the floorboards from the Guinness warehouse in Dublin and are a couple hundred years old? That...is...AWESOME. Honestly I've never been in a place that paid so much attention to making it an authentic Irish pub experience. This place is bound to make me think "Where's the Old Shillelagh again?" by the end of summer!
(5)
Amya S.
After seeing all the great reviews of this place, I think I might just have ordered wrong the two times I was here. I ordered the sliders which were not at all what I had hoped. I am a girl who loves a good slider. And good sliders these were not. They need more onion and more grease! I had one bite and gave them to my dining partner. The second time I opted for a veggie sandwich. It was a grilled cheese with veggies thrown on it. Nothing melded, nothing really stuck out. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't ground breaking either. I might go one more time to try one of their more authentic meals... but no promises.
(2)
Tim T.
Came here after leaving Rochester Mills for terrible service. Luckily, made it in time to watch the rest of the hockey game, eat some dinner, and have a few beers. The service was great. The food was good. The beer list was impressive. I am their newest customer. No complaints.
(4)
Bruce C.
Had their monster burger. What evil genius tops a burger with meat? Awesome. A good beer list too. Definitely a must visit if you are looking for excellent bar food.
(5)
Nicole N.
Bartenders are very attentive, appetizers we got were great!! Would definitely go back
(4)
Lauren W.
O'Connor's is my (and my entire group of friends) go-to place for drinks and fun in Rochester. I'll keep this short and sweet: huge beer selection (many local, many imported from Europe and hard-to-find), good prices, quick and friendly staff, great parties, good live music (and frequent), and fantastic food. My favorite is the grilled chicken salad. I know many people don't expect much from bar food, but O'Connor's food is top notch. This salad, for example, actually had hot, freshly grilled chicken on top, green lettuces (no iceberg here), and yummy toppings. They also have a Sunday brunch every week that is a little pricey, but totally worth the money. Oh and by the way, it's about as authentic as an Irish pub in America can get.
(5)
Adam W.
Gus O'Connor's is the type of place my mother would really dig on... because it goes so over the top to prove its Irish heritage that it's almost slightly annoying. Then again, it really isn't all THAT bad - it's not like it's trying to be Bennigan's. What really makes this place is the atmosphere, which wasn't really there when I was visiting, but I can tell it has its nights where that must be a really fun spot to chill out at. The wood floors, walls, and stained glass really add a nice touch that brings you out of a normal bar experience and make it into something different. Although there are a lot more elaborately decorated places around, Gus O'Connor's does a nice job of balancing the duty of creating a feeling without pushing it to the limit. The menu here is nothing special. At all. To its own credit, this is only a pub... but for the prices they're charging, I don't think I'm out of line expecting a little bit more. I ordered a chicken wrap which came with a fruit bowl - a nice touch I might add. $10 for a wrap with a fruit bowl seemed a little pricey to me, however. The wrap was well prepared but nothing much different that what you might pick up from Subway, in my opinion. Near the end of my wrap the chicken started to have a somewhat weird taste to it as well... I don't know what that was, but it could just be a fluke. The fruit was fresh but a lot of melon stuff and they kind of ripped me off on everything else. Oh well. Drink prices are fair (my Bacardi and Coke was $3.75 and EXTREMELY strong while my dining partner's 20 oz. beer was somewhere around the same mark, I believe). We happened to strike it lucky and also arrive for half priced appetizers. I'm a big fan of Scotch Eggs, which they have here, so I ordered some and was slightly disappointed that only one came out. To make matters worse, I ordered my appetizer after my meal and this was apparently after the half off thing was over... so I had to pay a full price of $5-something for a single Scotch Egg. Totally not worth it. The paying full price thing is admittedly my own fault, however. I think Gus O'Connor's would be an exceptional place to stop in with a large group and order a few drinks, act like idiots, and then go wreak havoc on the unsuspecting community of Rochester. For dining options, however, I'd take my money elsewhere and get something that seemed to be a little more worthwhile - or at least fitting to the prices being asked. The drinks are WELL worth it and make this place a worthwhile stop on that merit alone.
(3)
Rachel E.
Such a great place to come and have a drink on the weekend! Feels like a true Irish Pub inside and always has my favorite Strongbow on tap. The bands on the weekend are usually pretty good, but are always REALLY loud. The appetizers are okay too.
(4)
Melissa M.
O'Connors is a super fun place almost any day of the week. A great place to watch a game with a group, grab a beer with a friend, or even sit at the bar by yourself. It gets super crazy on Friday/Saturday nights, so watch out, since those Irish can get roudy :)
(4)
George K.
A Monday night visit was just 2.5 stars A-OK We both worked 12 hour days and were not in the mood to cook. A friend at work had mentioned a few days earlier that he had been here for a quick bite and I though why not, give it a try. We have lived in the area for several years and off we went. The place was 1/3 full which is what I would expect for a very cold Monday night. The service was good and she brought our NA drinks quickly. The beer and wine listed look very good, but this was a food visit only. Started off with the potato skins , good but could have used a little more bacon, and the Irish Sliders. Also good, the corned beef was sliced thin with swiss cheese and pickles. For the entrees she had the chicken pot pie. The waitress was very good in letting us know that it was "not like you get in the store" It was served as more of a stew with a puff pastry in the center of a large flat bowl. It was very good. I ordered the fish and chips and was very disappointed . The fries were served warm at best, too much time under the warming light. The battered cod was served very hot, a good thing, on a bed of lettuce, not a good thing, it was a wilted mess that I had to pick off of each piece I ate. The fish was large flaky pieces under the coating. Unfortunately it was way way over salted. I say IT, because I think it was the batter, not the fish. The last piece and a half I picked the batter off and the fish its self was not to bad. All in all a A-OK meal for $45 plus tip. Maybe on a warm summer evening we will try again.
(3)
Kit S.
I like the Celtic Rubin at Gus O'Connor's, but the other food on the menu is a pricey for what you get. It is very noisy when it gets busy because the floors are all hardwood, and the sound seems amplified. It has the ambiance of a Sports Bar -- Not a place for a relaxing meal.
(2)
Joseph G.
Good bar for drinks and a fine spot to get burgers or fried food but I wouldn't recommend anything beyond that. I got the fish dinner and it was very fishy and sub-par. Drinks and apps were good and a number of TVs for watching sports. The kitchen doesn't seem ready to deliver their menu items beyond burgers and fries though.
(2)
Greg K.
Went in with a buddy of mine to watch sports and sit at the bar. The bartenders were great and very friendly. The Gus O'Nachos is enough to feed two hungry guys. I also had the fish taco's. The taco's were very average, the shells just weren't crunchy and the dish lacked flavor. Over-all not a bad stop. I would go back to watch sports and enjoy the beers, and try a few other menu items.
(3)
Katie R.
eh, not terrible. always run into someone from high school.
(3)
David B.
Sat at the bar with three of us around 8 o'clock on a Saturday night. Only had drinks, no food. The bartenders were attentive and served us well as a team. Great beer selection here...I also ordered an Old Fashioned which goes against the Beer/Irish Food grain a bit. Most restaurants (even high end steakhouses) usually make it really bad. Well, the drink was awesome! Special LARGE ice cubes. Hand muddled fruit and the bartender followed the "original" recipe perfectly. As simple as it was, this OVERALL bar experience warranted a 5 star rating. Thx guys.
(5)
Julio L.
Authentic Irish, from the floors to the pours. The menu is hearty, and has lots of Irish traditional food, the main difference is that it's better flavour ( they don't season their food across the Pond )! I'v eeaten here dozens of times and never ever had a bad meal. I go for the piedmontese beef cheesburger, the chili, the irish stew and the shepherds pie. Also , they are one of the only places in Michigan who can pull a good pint of Guinness. Trust me, somebody brings you your Guinness after 10 seconds, they are doing it wrong. Their Guinness is perfect, just as Arthur Intended it. Actually I thought it was better than the Guinness I had in the little bar at the Guinness factory. atmosphere is nice. Good mix of folks. Best time to get there is early afternoon. they have newspapers on the bar and you can have a quiet pint and read the paper, and watch the footie on tele The beers are a bit pricey, is my only complaint but you pay for quality
(5)
Atom G.
Great Burgers and the Gus "O" Nacho is great with your group of friends. Fun place to drink spirits and celebrate Saint Patricks Day. Was voted best bar food in 2006 and not much has changed. Let's get drunk like the Irish here.
(5)
Megan B.
Despite Arts, Beats, & Eats going on this weekend, O'Connor's was pretty full on a Saturday night. In fact, it was the only bar in downtown Rochester Hills that was. This is your typical Irish bar. Long bar, lots of beers on tap. Service was really good. Multiple bartenders checked on us, and our first bartender, Jessica was especially nice. It was my birthday and she gave me a lovely free blow job shot. Restrooms were super clean, which I always find amazing for a busy bar on a weekend. They also have lots of drink specials during Detroit sports games.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Arnmd P.
We went for late lunch today, just after 1pm. It's a good time to go if you like to enjoy a meal without a lot a noise. My wife and I often split an order as this is usually more than enough for us both. Service was very polite and timely even though we were splitting a single order. Had a club with fries. There were enough fries on this single order for at least 3. They are also very good fries. Good selection of beer on tap. I had a porter which I enjoyed. Coffee was good. Also check into Yelp as soon as you arrive. They offer free chips for using YELP. Good interior to the pub. It's worth a visit if you haven't been here before.
(4)Tara B.
We were here before heading over to Rochester Mills Beer Co. I had a Not Your Fathers Hard Root Beer. Delicious but filling. We had homemade potato chips for an appetizer. Wonderful! They come with only what I can describe as homemade French onion dip. Delicious! Our waitress was great! She was very knowledgeable about the drinks and food. I had a blackened chicken dish with a bleu cheese zip sauce, homemade mashed potatoes that had an amazing mix of sautéed onions and mushrooms and steamed broccoli. It was a great meal! Krishna has fish tacos that he liked. Our friends had Mac and cheese and fish and chips. They both really liked their meals as well! We sat on the deck which was nice. I will definitely be back and perhaps sit inside next time.
(4)Oliver S.
Mediocre food at fairly high prices. Ok bar. I had the chicken pot pie. Nothing fancy. Not bad but tiny.
(2)Julie L.
This is our go to spot for dinner. We love the piedmont burgers and they have a great beer sleection. They have a good mix of food on the kids menu. The staff is usually pretty friendly and service fast.
(4)Patsy R.
We received a gift certificate to Gus's so tonight we came for dinner. We were greeted as we arrived and were seated within five minutes in a cozy nook just with in view of the guitar player. This is a happening place. I used my ck. in from YELP and got free homemade chips and dip. Not a skimpy basket I might add. Our beverages came quickly. Alyssa our waitress was attentive but not annoying. I ordered the brisket which was to die for. The generous amount fire roasted vegs were tender and piping hot. My husband got the Irish trinity with the wonderful hose potatoes. Jeremy the manager came to our table and ask how our meals were and if we needed anything else. All n all between the service, the music and dinner we had a wickedly good evening. We will be back soon.
(5)Sara B.
I went here for a few appetizers and drinks with my man and good gravy was it packed! The wait was 50 minutes for a table, so we opted to stalk the bar area for free for all seating. With well applied ninja skills we soon had a seat at the bar and were able to yell our drink orders at the bar tender. The staff was friendly enough, especially considering how busy they were, and our smoked salmon and dunkel chip appetizers came out quickly. The smoked salmon plate was good, and I liked the horseradish sauce and fixings that came with it. The chips were nice and crispy and not overly salty, and the sauce for those was also pretty good. My biggest complaints were the noise, lack of seating, and our bar tender messing up our check by not applying the coupon we used through the yelp check in. I'll probably try and go back when it's less hectic to try and rate it again.
(3)Maria A.
My first visit and the place was packed (first good sign). Food was good and decently priced. Loved that they had a decently beer list too. I will be stopping by again.
(4)Rachel O.
Bar height high chairs. Enough said. I really like the food here. They had a very large beer selection. Including the local craft brews. the Ruben is one of the best in the area. They had some really good choices for Irish traditional food. The prices are higher. I didn't expect to spend as much as we did for lunch there. But we did enjoy our visit, our food and our beer. So it was worth it.
(4)Kristen C.
We always have excellent food and service at this restaurant. For the first time ever, we sat outside the other day. It was hot but our server was friendly and attentive. It took a little while to get my beer but only because they were tapping a brand new keg.. Umm yeah that's always okay. I love a good Hefeweizen and will drive for it lol. Keep up the good work.
(5)Pete M.
I had the chicken pot pie it was nothing special nor was it horrible. The place is small, loud and service was a wee bit slow for a midday meal. My drinks were good and the price was a bit on the high side. I would come here again to hear a band on a Friday or Saturday night but I would probably eat somewhere else either before of after I came here.
(3)Chrissy S.
First time here on a Saturday night during the Fire and Ice Festival. Wait time for a table for 3 was an hour. But so was every other restaurant on main street so we can't really hold that against them. Service was impressive considering the place was packed shoulder to shoulder with people. Our food came fast and was very good. The menu has lots of traditional Irish grub along with classic pub/bar food. We ordered the homemade chips and onion dip for an appetizer. Wickedly delicious. Did I mention how good the service was? I tried to make my way to the restroom (located at the back of the restaurant) and was amazed the servers could get through the crowd. One final note, you have to order the bread pudding off their dessert menu. You'll thank me!
(5)Jake V.
Food here is Amazing! I love the smoked wings! The atmosphere of the place is really nice at lunch time and the architecture of the building inside is very pleasing. The drinks are good at a fair price. With that being said on busy Friday or Saturday nights it can take a long time for a bar tender to acknowledge you and the crowds of people just standing at the bar talking are sometimes rude, mainly because they are young and don't understand once you have your drink step back so others can get up to the rail. I personally will not go in this place when they have a live band just because it is a pretty small place inside and with the brick walls it is obnoxiously loud, to the point where you can't talk with the people that you are out with.
(4)Kate A.
I like this place because it's really the only pub in Rochester. But their menu is getting less and less Irish every time I go in. (Nachos and wings are not pub food!) The service is good and they usually have good love music. However, the last time we were there the waitress asked me if fries were ok with my fish and chips! I don't know what else she thought I would expect to get with fish and chips.
(3)K T.
Went there for dinner with friends. Called ahead for dinner and promised for 5:30. Finally seated at 6:00. Took a long time to get our drink order. We ordered our food at same time because we had plans at 7:00. At 6:45 I asked waitress to check on order. I had to call her over to do this. She appeared to be avoiding us. Manager came by and apologized and offered a free round. Still waiting for food at 7:00. At 7:10 food arrived , two Reuben's too hot to pick up and two Piedemonte burgers ice cold . We missed our plans for the evening. We have been here many times and normally everything is fine; however, it wasn't this time.
(2)Jason M.
My wife and I went here for lunch following Arts and Apples. It was a pleasant surprise that upon checking in through the Yelp app, we received an offer for free chips and dip. While the service and ambiance were solid, the food was just so-so. I got the Chicken Tender Salad and the lettuce tasted very... cold as if kept in a cold refrigerator. I'd have liked something fresher. It was decent. My wife also got a salad and was similarly ho-hum. Perhaps other menu options would be superior so I'll give this a moderate 3 stars for now.
(3)Amy B.
I came here tonight to try this place out on a whim, and I'm glad I did. I was greeted by the staff when I entered, and seated right away. The place is cute, mostly bar-ish, but has a nice décor to it. They have plenty of seating here, weather it's at the bar, high tables, or 4 tops scattered throughout the place. Definitely spacey! I went with the Piedmont burger (I know I spelled it wrong, sorry!) and it was good! I also got the yelp check in offer for the chips as well. I was surprised at how much I liked them! They come with a really cool dipping sauce as well that I really enjoyed. My server was awesome and took good care of me. Made sure I had water, checked in, and didn't seem stressed at all. They also have a great beer selection as well, but I didn't try any. Maybe next time? Prices were fair, place was fun and I would gladly return again in the future.
(4)Benjamin W.
Craft beer list and desserts were excellent. Food was okay. Not the greatest.Yorkshire pudding was burnt to a crisp.
(3)MW R.
Menu is limited as with many pubs, however the food was good. Atmosphere also is cool, I liked the place.
(4)Peter S.
I visited O'Connors and was very pleased with the service. The bartender Libby made an amazing cocktail and was extremely friendly. I will most definitely be coming back!
(5)Shoshanah A.
Cool atmosphere, they have a neat little private room that seats 6 or so. Decent beer selection. Bar bites are good. Friendly staff.
(4)Holly G.
I was only here for drinks, so take that as you will. Anyway, we ended up here after we were across the street and Kruse & Muer for dinner. There was a duo playing guitars/singing in the main bar area and I found it was kind of annoying. The restaurant is not that big, and these guys were so loud that it was almost like being at a club. I was sitting right next to my boyfriend and couldn't hear a word he was saying. I can imagine how the people that came here for like, actual dinner were feeling. Anyway, aside from that this place is pretty decent. 3 stars means A-OK and that's how I felt. They have a really good selection of beers, my boyfriend had one of the pumpkin offerings and claimed it to be delicious. I stuck with mixed drinks so I can't really have an opinion on the beer one way or the other. Drinks were pretty reasonably priced, so that's always a plus. Service was good, nothing to complain about. I've been to worse bars, so this place wasn't too bad.
(3)Nick M.
I only drank beers here, so there's your disclaimer. The service is good and there are good craft beer choices to choose from. It's got a nice feel inside ...pretty cozy and a good spot to throw some back with friends. It feels like a nicer Irish pub, and it has a good amount of tables and bar seating.
(3)Rebecca C.
Just decided to try something new tonight...so glad we did! Great little place, great live music and amazing food! The Irish dip with handcut fries was the best I've ever had! We will definitely make this place a new favorite!
(5)Shannon S.
I quite liked my dining experience here last night, despite a few oddities.... I'll explain. Last night was not my first time ever at O'Connor's, just the first time actually sitting down to a dinner. I had mentioned this place to a friend before, so he took me last night. I was a tad bummed that I wasn't hungrier because I had been wanting to delve into something truly Irish...see, I've been eyeing the menu, and wanting a scotch egg, boxty, or some Shepherds pie. Wouldn't it figure I had Shepherds pie (twice!*) earlier this week, homemade, courtesy of my sister! Rats! That was out, but my friend had it and he said it was really good. I ended up with the grilled chicken salad and it was divine! There were a lot of little extras inside this salad, providing such a great mix of flavors that salad dressing would've killed it...I just love that by the way! The ambience was cool and casual...no drunken frat boys like I've seen in the past. There was a band setting up right next to our table, we got asked to scoot, which was seriously not a problem, and they were unnecessarily apologetic for. Our server was top notch. Friendly, on top of things, and all around great! Weirdness was the food runner, or whatever he was...he would bring things to our table and look at us oddly...huhh...he brought out my salad sans chicken telling me...your chicken will be right out.. ?? It wasn't busy or anything, don't know why he rushed out our food that wasn't quite complete...no worries though...everything else made up for his slight weirdness. Yelp gave us a check in offer too, for a free Donegal chips. Pretty good! I say, stop in if you're in tge area, they're worth a shot, I'll bet you'll be pleasantly satisfied!
(4)Andrew M.
I really do like this place, but today's visit was quite sub-par. I had the guinness stew, which was super tasty, and they always have a decent beer selection, but the rest of the meal was rather disappointing. My wife's crab cakes and soup weren't terribly good. The worst part was the plethora of fruit flies that decided to swarm our table, most likely because they left the doors open. That pretty much ruined the meal for me.
(2)Kitty C.
Love this place! My husband & I visited for the 1st time today (Tuesday) around 5PM. We had the Corned Beef & Swiss Sliders appetizer, which were good. For an entrée, hubby had the Brazen Head Beef Brisket and was really impressed. The Yorkshire pudding that comes with it was good too. I had the Grilled Whitefish Sandwich which was tasty, and requested sweet potato fries (which aren't on the menu) and were done just right. For dessert, he had the Irish Bread Pudding and I had the cheesecake which comes from a neighboring business a few doors down, today it was chocolate :D The crowd was a bit noisy with the FIFA World Cup on TV, but no worries or complaints! Despite being fairly busy, the service was very friendly & attentive. Without a doubt will return again soon.
(5)Dano R.
Great food and amazing draft beer selection. We had the Donegal potato chips and the fish tacos. Very good. Service was excellent. What's not to like ?
(4)Michael S.
Went here for dinner and had a nice time but the food just was not that good.The atmosphere was nice; thankfully, the guy they had playing guitar was at a reasonable volume such that we could still talk to each other. The food, however, was very mediocre. I had a burger and fries and the burger was dry and the fries were tasteless. My friends had fish and chips and sandwiches and they agreed their food was mediocre as well. I was not satisfied with the food also due to the price; $12 for a burger and fries is higher than average and my $11 cocktail reminded me of my time spent in New York City last summer. Overall, I think you can do better in Downtown Rochester.
(2)FRED N.
No wait and the food was delicious! The only way we could have had a better experience was if our server Nick had Riverdanced it all to our table! Thanks Nick - we'll be back!
(5)Matt S.
I received a message from their manager and they invited me back for another meal at Gus's. This time it was great and I enjoyed my time. Gus's is back in action!!
(5)Jeff B.
Bar food on steroids! Delicious! My wife and I visited O'Connor's on 10-5-2013. Both of us were 100% happy with our meal and service. I ordered what I thought was a typical bar burger. I have no idea what type of sauce they use but it was delicious! My wife was also extremely satisfied with her meal as well. This place comes highly recommended!
(5)William C.
A revisit today on a cold rainy late May afternoon. It's easy to forget that this place is a superb kitchen along with a cool bar. This Texas boy gave this Irish pub's Chili two huge enthusiastic thumbs up. The fish and chips were also great. That fish was flaky and cooked absolutely perfectly. The food here could definately hold it's own with any restaurant, especially with any restaurant in the Roch. it was my fist time experiencing this place without a pint in my hand, but alas, there were work responsibilities to follow lunch so it was a diet coke. having sampled most of the bars in downtown Rochester Hills, there really isn't a reason I can see to eat and booze it up anywhere else than here. my only negatives for Gus's is that it's a tad expensive but again, the quality of the food and drink are worth it IMO. sure, there are cheaper booze and food options but not better options
(5)Christine R.
LOUD! Oh, my goodness. It was so loud my husband and I gave up trying to hold a conversation and it was a Sunday, not a busy Friday night. We watched the tables around us get served before us even though we had ordered before they sat down. The food was ok, nothing amazing but on the pricey side. For what we spent on dinner and drinks, we could've gone to Kruse and Muir across the street. Oh well.
(2)David P.
It's a stereotypical pseudo Irish bar. Lots of wood, Celtic knots, rails on the bar, solid place overall. The secret is to get the private booth surrounded by walls that's attached to the bar. If you score that, you're solid all night long. If you can't...well, it's still a decent place, but the private booth really makes this place a lot more enjoyable, especially if you're there with a crowd of people with whom you want to actually hold a conversation. Over several visits there, I've had the reuben (awesome), the shepherd's pie (also awesome) and several of the appetizers (solid). The beer...it's an Irish pub for crying out loud, how can you not like the beer? In fact, if you DON'T like the beer, you're in the wrong friggin' place and should be ashamed of yourself.
(4)Joshua M.
Nice place. Good beer selection. This place is SUPER packed, and the "bodyguard staff" (Why do they need bodyguards?) are pushy. They push standing patrons out of the way when waitresses come by. I'm sorry, guys, but this is Rochester. It's a safe neighborhood, a safe street, and your waitresses can do what every other waitress in every other bar in the world does and push their way past the crowds. I didn't try the food. There was no way we could have gotten a table. It looked good, though.
(3)Billy Z.
Great food for a bar, decent beer list. Had the "Brawler" and the brisket was a bit dry but otherwise amazing, wife said her fish and chips were the best she ever had. 2nd visit we had shepherds pie and a reuban, sandwich was good but the shepherds pie tasted like dinty Moore stew from a can, gross.
(4)Jeb S.
This review only pertains to the brunch menu at Gus O'Connor's. We had brunch here recently, and the experience caused me to formulate a new dining out rule: Never go to an Irish pub for brunch. GOC seems like it would be a great place to have dinner or a drink with your friends, but if you're considering it for brunch, you'd be better off passing. Here's why: First, the brunch menu is very limited - they've got about four options, including a strawberry waffle, an Irish-style eggs benedict, and just a few other choices. Second, the choices aren't very good. The Irish-style eggs benedict was served with browned corned beef, cut into bite-size pieces, instead of the traditional Canadian bacon. I appreciate the effort to Irishize the dish, but it fails completely, both because corned beef doesn't go well with the other flavors in the dish, as well as because it's execution was severly flawed: the pieces of corned beef were too hard and crispy, likely due to overcooking. Third, the kids meals choices are pathetic: they're severely limited, expensive, not nutritionally balanced, and substituting milk for the included free soft drink costs an extra $1 - eek! For example, they charge $5.99 for a bowl of buttered noodles, which is a total rip-off! That should cost $2.99 at most, given the ingredients. And charging people extra to substitute a healthier drink option is shameful - c'mon GOC, you can do better - don't penalize people for making healthy choices for their children! In conclusion, if you're considering Gus O'Connor's for brunch, go elsewhere!
(1)Cory D.
Don't know how it would get any better than this for me for this type of restaurant.
(5)Laura J.
I didn't expect to love this place as much as I did: reasonable prices, a relaxed atmosphere, great service and excellent food. We had a Rubin, fish and chips and homemade potato chips. I would recommend all three. These are things that are on a lot of menus and all have the potential to be heavy and greasy, instead they were delicious, crispy and the perfect temperature. The Rubin was one of the best that I've ever had. The corned beef was perfect and all of the components were perfectly balanced. We inhaled the homemade potato chips with onion dip and I don't even usually like potato chips that much. We don't get out to Rochester that much, but I plan to go back to O'Connors.
(5)Brian O.
So not like the original in Doolin, Ireland! Food is just ok, beer selection and atmosphere is great!
(3)Sydney A.
I love this place and go here all the time. Most of the menu is comfort food! I'm not a big drinker (beer makes me nauseous) but their Bloody Marys are fab. FOOD I LOVE Celtic Reuben Irish Dip (ask for extra Au Jous if you actually want dip for the entire sandwich, though -- it's a big sandwich!) Actually, anything featuring their corned beef or beef brisket should not be missed! Fish and Chips Boxties (they're all good!) Any of the soups FOOD I LIKE Guinness Stew Shepherd's Pie Burgers Cheese Plate Crab Cakes FOOD I AVOID Mac and Cheese w/ Lobster (tastes like Velveeta, lobster doesn't add anything) Artichoke Dip (flavorless) Irish Nachos (concept of potato chips as nachos is interesting, but toppings were sparse plus I hate green olives) Chicken Pot Pie (not sure what fresh herb is used but I think it gives it an odd taste. Maybe I could get them to not add it?) Cabbage (I cook my cabbage in the corned beef brine/broth. O'Conner's doesn't. As a result I find their cabbage lacks flavor. It's not you, Gus, it's me. Let's be friends, okay?) Notes: Good for lunch and early dinner, less good at night on the weekends if you're not a fan of massive crowds. Wait staff is almost always friendly and efficient. You can substitute either veggies or fruit salad for fries if you want. Actually, they're really good with substitutions and special orders generally -- just ask! Look, I don't care how "authentic" or "inauthentic" this place is in its Irishness. The food is consistently excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the occasional live bands are fun. If it's a bit on the pricy side, the portions are good and the prices are still on par with what you'll be paying anywhere else in downtown.
(5)Ulli H.
Absolutely love this place! Great food and even better drinks. Best drinks in town imho. *cheers*
(5)Erin Q.
We met up with some friends here when we were in town for a wedding. I like that there is public parking behind the building as well as street parking. Our hostess was pleasant and let us know the bar was seat yourself. We checked in and got free house made chips and dip-very tasty and went over well at our table. I ended up ordering the angus sliders and a cup of the potato leek soup. The sliders were great, but the soup lacked pretty much everything. I have been to Ireland and this soup did not live up to what I expected it to. They had a good selection of beer on tap and my Guinness was served with a little shamrock in the foam.. nice touch!
(3)Alanna M.
My family visited O'Connor's on New Years Even 2013; it was our first visit to the restaurant. The table was ready for us upon our arrival and the service was friendly and efficient. We ordered the following and here is what we thought: Appetizers: Bangers and Mash - Excellent! Only complaint was that we wanted more. Irish skins - Excellent! Only complaint was that there were only 3 and there were 4 of us. Dinner: Steak and mash - Awesome - the accompanying sauce may be have been the best part of the dish Piedmontese burger - ordered with cheese and bacon - very, very good - there needs to be more special sauce - next time I'd ask for extra sauce Reuben - excellent French dip - excellent Fries with the dinners - they were some of the best seasoned fries we've had Dessert: Black and white brownie - very good but almost too rich for this sweet tooth. I think it would have been better with vanilla ice cream instead of the chocolate ice cream it was served with. Apple crisp - by far the best part of the meal. My husband said "this may be better than Franklin Cider Mills apple pie." My family actually wanted to order another one to take home! Excellent restaurant with affordable prices. If you go, make sure you arrive early because parking can be challenging. There is free parking behind the restaurant but the lots fill up. You may have to part in the lot on the block north of the restaurant. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for somewhere to dine in downtown Rochester!
(4)Eric P.
Great service from Scott, the bartender/manager while in the private confessional table. Chips,good. Beer,great. Food,great. Highly recommend because of great beer selection and atmosphere.
(5)Claire V.
SWEET Yelp deal! Free chips and onion dip which is normally $7 or so. That has to be the best Yelp deal I've seen to date, and it must be working for them, because that's how I ended up here. I needed a late night place in Rochester, so I searched Yelp, saw the deal and the photos from fellow Yelpers and I was sold! Yelp wouldn't let me check in on the spot, it seemed to think I was somewhere else, but O'Connor's didn't care and still honored the deal! This place was very crowded on a Saturday night (but that's a good sign) full of college kids. Some girls next to me kept squeeling at eardrum-piercing frequencies and volumes, but oh well, I was only at the bar for ten minutes to get take-out anyway. I got a drink while I was waiting, something with strawberries and it was GREAT! I would've ordered a second, but I still had to drive back to my hotel and my food arrived soon after anyway. Food: Chips and onion dip - Delicious home fried chips, still warm. Thick, crunchy, kettle-style! The dip packs a real punch. Seemed garlicky, or maybe it's just a lot of fresh, sharp onion? Bangers and Mash - Fantastic. I was skeptical the sausages didn't look entirely like real bangers, but the flavor was there, really delicious. The mashed potato was garlicky and thick, with real potato skins. Could've been more creamy, but I enjoyed it this way too. I just wish I could get a larger dish of this, it's under appetizers and it's not a huge amount, but the price is low too. I'd definitely get a full size though! The only weird thing was that I found one rotini pasta in my mashed potatoes. Hmmm... also found a fry in my chips. They may want to be a little more meticulous about separating food items in the kitchen. Overall great place though! I'd definitely go back for the cocktails and the food!
(4)Mark M.
Very cool authentic Irish pub atmosphere. Excellent selection of Draft beers, including some very tasty local Michigan brews. The Brawler Burger is absolutely fantastic! I chose it because of the award it won, and I was not disappointed. The Turkey Reuben was also very good. Will definitely make this a regular stop every time we visit the area.
(4)Michelle D.
Best service in town! Best Irish food around! Nice to sit outside but at this time of the year the bees kind of take over. No great loss though. Inside is just as fun :)
(4)Bob A.
I'm not going to review the food because I'm not a fan of this type of food, so I wouldn't know good from bad. I've been going here on and off for a few years, and always found the service (especially the bartenders) to be top notch. But the problem with Gus' is the layout. The main bar area is long and narrow, and on a busy weekend night, it's an absolute pain to exist in this place. Then they have other small seating areas here and there, and the area that the band plays is much too small. They really need to rework the interior, which I'm sure will never happen. I think it's far too difficult to socialize in this joint, which is what a meat market is for, right?
(3)J F.
I went on NYE. The service was very slow, yet everyone around us (who were older) got their drinks much quicker. Our bill was close to $150 for just a couple of hours, I expected better service. Our bottle of champagne was flat, or bottle of wine looked and tasted like water. Our food was mediocre (nachos, artichoke dip, scotch eggs--worst I've had). Our cocktails were small, a couple of sips, for close to $10 a piece. I understand this place is in Rochester, but you can go to any fine dining restaurant in Grosse Pointe and get real drinks, for the same price. This should not be acceptable to overcharge people for disgusting drinks and mediocre food. I won't be going here again.
(2)Kristopher S.
Fish and chips were fantastic (only one better is Irish Tavern in Waterford). The fish IS better at IT, but they don't have sweet potato fries and this place does. And O'Connor's has Sander's Hot Fudge Cream Puffs on the menu. Service was phenomenal. A bit pricey but well worth it.
(4)Michelle H.
Last Thursday night I went to O'Connors, with my husband, and sat at the bar. We had friendly service and a great selection of beers and craft cocktails. They also have live music that starts early in the evening and was very good! We had the salmon appetizer which was generous and delicious! Fun experience, and we ended up meeting several other patrons who were friendly and interesting!
(5)Rick M.
Stopped in for Rochester restaurant week (everyone is having one now it seems) and had a very good experience. Is it an authentic Irish Pub? Actually I have no idea but it's what I imagine one to be from my many years of watching movies. It's cozy and kinda dark with a Tigers game on. Just like in Ireland! They had the largest menu selection of any restaurant week participant I've been to yet. The appetizer was really hard to nail down. I ended up getting a scotch egg (first time I had one anywhere beside the renaissance festival) and my wife ordered the chips with spinach and artichoke dip. Both were really good. There were several other apps that's sounded really good too, so I'm sure we will be going back to give those a try. The entrees were pretty big. Again they offered so many that it was hard to choose. I thought about chicken pot pie or the shepherds pie but ended up with the brisket. It was cooked well and the portions were generous. The mashed potatos were good as well and it came with a strange looking muffin. Maybe that's an Irish thing or a pub thing but it was weird looking and big. But it was also very good. Can't wait to try some other things from the menu. The wife had fish & chips and she told me they were quite good. Knowing that we still had dessert coming we had to get a couple boxes to take some home (yay I gotta good lunch tomorrow!). Again both desserts were fantastic. She got the apple crumble and I went with the black and tan brownie with guiness ice cream. The beer selection was decent enough. I had a couple Oberon drafts. They also have Final Absolution on tap and some other local beers. Overall a great dinner and they did an awesome job with their restaurant week menu. And if the point of a RW is to get people to come and then come back again I would say they succeeded. At least with me. **update: strange looking muffin = Yorkshire pudding. Who knew?
(4)Robb B.
Have been coming here for about 4 years now. Bar a couple occurrences, haven't had a bad meal here yet. The Friday and Saturday Prime Rib special is probably the best I've ever had for the money. The Brawler Burger is exceptional as is the Shepherds Pie (although some have complained of it being too 'soupy' at times). Why I didn't give O'Conners a five star rating is because they dropped mine and my wife's favorite sandwich! Bring back the BBQ Chicken Bap!!!
(4)Jessica C.
I've always had good food here. I highly recommend trying a boxty. They even have a vegetarian boxty with a blue cheese sauce that is divine. The only problem I had was my waitress talked me out of the drink I wanted to order and had the bartender make me some terrible concoction. I couldn't even drink it, but the waitress didn't even offer to get me a new drink. Oh well. I learned my lesson.
(4)Daniel B.
Celeste our waitress was awesome. The Reuben and corned beef sandwich was delicious and ample. Their homemade chips are delicious, French onion dip was alright. Our friend claimed the fish and chips was good as well. The lobster Mac "n " cheese did not seem to be worth the money; up for debate.
(4)Penny R.
Was mildly disappointed when the bar was advertised to stay open till 2 am and we were asked to cash out a little after 1 am. The service was pretty good and the food was tasty, just was disappointed that we were rushed out the door.
(3)Joni J.
I have never been treated so horribly in my life!! My husband and I came in for dinner and after dinner we were enjoying the band and having drinks. I was on my second drink and was planning on having another; (I had a D.D.) while I was nursing my drink, the server came over and asked me if I would like another, I said not yet, check back later. When I was talking to a friend she came and removed my glass. I didn't notice when she did that and I questioned her about this, she said my glass was empty. It was not, it had plenty of ice in it. I asked for a manager, her name was Stephanie and when she came up to our table she told me my glass was empty also. She then proceeded to tell me I was not going to get a free drink and if I wanted to suck on ice cubes she would go get me some. Just a little background: I am in my 50s and I can certainly afford to have as many drinks as I care to have, I was just being responsible, we had not even been there an hour. We paid our bill and left. Where do people get off by talking to people like that? We will NEVER be back as long as Gus O'Connor's keeps staff as rude as that server and manager were.
(1)Maggie H.
So, again, blame it on my bias, but here we go. My family is Irish (my name is Dempsey for pete's sake) and I have spent time in Ireland. I am so sick of places calling themselves "Irish" because they have an Irish name on the front door and Guinness on tap. FYI...Irish Pub does not equal Irish! I love O'Connor's for sticking to its Irish roots. Irish is not cuisine, never has been and never will be. Real Irish food is stew, mashes potatoes, colcannon, soda bread, or Boxty (Irish potato pancakes)...not fancy. O'Connor's has Guinness stew with mashed potatoes, shepherds pie, bacon and cabbage, and different kinds of boxty! If you are looking for traditional Irish food this is one of very few places in the metro area that serves it up. It is not cuisine and it is not supposed to be, this is the kind of food you get in real Irish Pubs, in Ireland. Enjoy yourself and enjoy an ethnic food you cannot get in many places! For my heritage and for O'Connor's sticking to their Irish roots I have to give it 5 stars!
(5)Pamela H.
Heather was the best!!!! Great service, thanks.
(4)Mike L.
The big bald fella concocts a mean meatloaf! Ask for it.
(5)juston m.
uggh. this place is like douche on steroids. i'm sure its much different during the day, but if you're going out on saturday watch out. the clientele is horrible (minus my friend meredith). the beers are expensive. the atmosphere doesn't exist unless you think standing around and looking at fake tits is atmosphere. i thought this was supposed to be an irish pub? why is there no place to congregate? why is the seating so awkward? the nacho was really f'ing good though. and somehow we got the one waitress that gave a shit in the whole place. also the only one that seemed nice. so the 2 stars are all on her. love, juston
(2)Christine S.
I hated this bar. The people were douchy and I felt super uncomfortable the entire time I was there. The band was horrible, the place was crowed, and there was nowhere to sit without being in someone's way. The only good thing that came out of it was the nachos. Now those, were delicious! I would definitely get those again...but, to go. Peace out!
(2)Phillip B.
Glad to say y'all earned 1 star back. Went in with gf and her friend and had great service and great food. Keep it up
(3)Steven M.
Pleasant surprise, especially for a parent. I saw on Yelp that this place is not good for kids, that's BS. They have a nice menu for kids and be smart and order a 1/2 order of the adult mac and cheese and you'll be set. The staff was abundant and nice, we never felt like we were being ignored by the wait or bar staff at all. Ordered a half and half and it was poured to perfection, no questions, no weird looks, they knew what it was just like any pub should. It was a busy night but we got in pretty quickly and were able to sit as promised within 30 minutes. Food was prompt with people at my table getting Irish fair like bangers and mash, fish and chips and shepherds pie. The vote was that the fish and chips were good, so were the bangers and mash but the shepherds pie was a bit average. Nothing that needed to go back and they nailed it with my wife's mac and cheese with lobster. The fish and chips came out in a great beer batter that was more of a brown than a golden color - this is what I expect from an English/Irish experience, score O'Connors. Is it a GREAT Irish pub? Not exactly, but it has charm and feel. I'd say it's better than most because the decor and woodwork feels more like a pub than some place painted all green and called 'pub'. It's very loud in the bar area, but dining is not nearly as bad. I would easily go back again and take friends for a pint and something to eat any day. The food was good, people were very attentive which always is a big plus to me. We were there when there wasn't any music playing so I don't know how it changes the vibe.
(4)Pete D.
I love a this place even more in the summer a great palace for bikers to hang and share good times with you buds. The girls are quick to bring you a cold drinks and a warm smile. Just good fun with good food.
(4)Tyler D.
Pros: very good service, nice decor, interesting menu Cons: everything is expensive, too crowded (prepare to get bumped often)
(3)Audra M.
We went for a drink while waiting on our ride on a Saturday afternoon. Best. Waitress. Eva. They had a nice selection of beer including some local ones and a seasonal mixed drink. I always try the local and the seasonal stuff and I was not disappointed. We all shared the cheese plate which was the best I've had in a long time including a super-fancy (pricey) nearby hotel restaurant! The atmosphere was *****SPOILER ALERT***** like an Irish pub: lots of wood, celtic knots, fireplace, long bar and lots of stools. I'll go back when I visit the area again.
(4)Tom G.
I've got to admit I'm in love with this place. The beer list is simply outstanding. We've been here several times and never had a bad meal. As far as price, it's on par with everything else in downtown Rochester and we've never once had bad service. The one downside to O'Conner's would be the noise level, when its busy, it gets loud, sometimes too loud in the main bar area to hold a conversation.
(4)jim t.
Friendly staff, nice ambiance, great mixers. Try the perfect Manhattan. New to town and all the bartenders have been making moving during the holidays not such a bad thing!
(5)Christina L.
Good food, good atmosphere, pet friendly patio. They have some really creative drink specials (think bacon-infused whiskey), and a lot of menu options. My parents and I always meet here (halfway point btwn our towns) and we get great deals during happy hour and good service. As far as Irish bars go, this one's my favorite.
(4)Kristin G.
Painfully average. It's just another bar that claims to be Irish. It's not so hard to find a place if you have a hankerin' for a Guinness these days...so the "draw" of the Irish pub in that sense has dwindled for me. What's worse, is that all of these so called Irish pubs have some poorly done Guinness flavored soup or some Shepard's pie, thinking that validates them as Irish. Ok, I dig the Irish pub style, it's cool with all it's celtic knot work, dark wood and pictures of places in Ireland...but let's be frank here, its a SPORTS BAR. The ambiance is nice, but that's about as far as I'll go for compliments here. The food is nothing but typical bar food. Burgers, fries...in my case I made the mistake of asking for "seasoned" fries...which to Gus's cooks apparently means that you dump a load of seasoned salt on top plain fries sitting under a heating lamp. Just sad and super SALT heavy fries. Stick with the plain ones, trust me! If I want a cheap pint of crappy domestic tap beer & some big flatscreens with the sports game of the moment, I'll be back...but I don't see that desire coming over me any time soon. I learned my lesson about the "food."
(2)Carolyn H.
I had heard so much about this place that I decided to give Gus O' Conner's a try with my boyfriend for lunch about 4 months ago. I was not impressed at all. Service was below par. It took them about 15 minutes to see if we had been helped at all. Another 15 minutes to take our drink order. Then there was some sort of confusion over who was to serve us so we had to wait another 10 minutes or so. It was one of the few times I received such poor, slow service (I don't understand why it was slow because only 2 other tables were filled when we were there). The food was mediocre as well. It was nothing extraordinary. Maybe it was just one of those days, but from the experience I had I will not be venturing there anytime soon.
(2)Michael C.
Good place to have a pint with friends and family. I have been going here since they opened, and after a visit on December 29th of 2010, I am convinced the restaurant side of the business has gone down-hill. Food service was slow and lacking, food presentation, flavor and taste was off and my fish was soggy in oil, not crisp. I would still go back here for drinks, but no longer would I visit for food items, other than the pub chips.
(2)Dustin T.
Finally decided to venture out to Rochester and I pre-determined that some Irish fare was in order. Party of two got seated within 30 seconds even on a busy Friday night at about 730 pm. I guess we showed up at just the right time. We sat and enjoyed a Sam Adams cherry wheat and a Boddingtons pub ale while perusing the menu. I figure that if a restaurant wants to be Irish then I should go ahead and order some Irish food, but then the Guinness stew sounds good, and the Shepherd's pie must be good, so what to do? Some brilliant menu planner came up with the solution. Put them both on one plate, then throw in a serving of chicken pot pie, a bowl of mashed potatoes, and a mini loaf of brown bread with honey butter, yummo! All three dishes have some strong rich flavors, so I don't know if I could plow through a full serving of one of them, but having three small servings made for great variety. Spoon full of potatoes plus Guinness stew, piece of bread and shepherds pie, beer and chicken pot pie, endless mix and match possibilities! Unless you are a math major, then you could tell me exactly how many combinations are possible with a six item set. A complaint I often have with restaurants is over salting and these dishes were tolerable on the salt level but I think they could be desalinated a bit. They were, however, much better then the "so salty it was inedible" shepherd's pie I had at O'Maras in Berkley. Thanks Gus for an overall successful dinner!
(3)Erik M.
I first came here on the week that Gus' opened, and I was not impressed. Plus, the waiter hit on my friend. 5 years later, this place has gotten better, and my friends are not as attractive as I am. I came here on a Saturday to celebrate a birthday of a friend who likes to think he's Irish. The pub was actually open enough to walk around in, which is nice for a Rochester bar on a Saturday night. The staff set us up at a big table and had no problem when we ordered the birthday boy a Cement Mixer. The beer is cheap, and they have a good selection. The food is ample and authentic. I think I read that they actually import Irish people to work here. Kind of like how Chuck E. Cheese employs actual vermin (just kidding). They had a a band playing in the dining room, I could not hear them, but they sounded like George Clinton mixed with Enya. I suppose that's a good thing. All in all, when you're looking for a brew in downtown Rochester, certainly give this place a try. It seems to take a little more pride in itself than other bars in Rochester.
(4)Heather W.
After Coming here several times I thought I'd read what yelp had to say about them and was surprised. I personally love their food and have never had a bad meal. I wouldn't know about their beer cause I'm not a drinker but I'll keep coming back for the food.
(5)Trevor G.
Stopped in here for a few drinks on a Sunday afternoon. Wife had a Bloody Mary and wow was that good! Lots of beer on tap to choose from. Staff was curtious but the table we were sat at was quite tacky/sticky. We weren't hungry so just a few drinks for us. Have to try out the food next time.
(4)James C.
the burgers were great, and the sheperds pie looked delicious. I didn't have a chance to have any brews but they look like they had a good selection. The ambiance was typical of an Irish Bar.
(3)Michael C.
Look at the pictures and tell me the outside of this place doesn't make you want to run at it like a child to candy! In fact, that's exactly what I did. It hasn't been open very long, and by the merits of the decor alone it has my full respect as an Irish pub experience. As I was just reminded: "This would be an awesome place to puke!" And the oddity of the name is one thing that most certainly helps in that: "public house"... which would've later in history be shortened to a more simple "pub." Yay for etymology! They have a wide selection of beers, which is the centerpiece to any authentic Irish experience (and as any Irishman has told me, along with loud songs and the occasional headlock. But that's a story for another time.). Gus's has fair prices all around. If you can't find something on the drink menu you like, then try a Murphy's; it's never let me down yet! *I just did a little digging. Apparently Gus's yanked some of the floorboards from the Guinness warehouse in Dublin and are a couple hundred years old? That...is...AWESOME. Honestly I've never been in a place that paid so much attention to making it an authentic Irish pub experience. This place is bound to make me think "Where's the Old Shillelagh again?" by the end of summer!
(5)Amya S.
After seeing all the great reviews of this place, I think I might just have ordered wrong the two times I was here. I ordered the sliders which were not at all what I had hoped. I am a girl who loves a good slider. And good sliders these were not. They need more onion and more grease! I had one bite and gave them to my dining partner. The second time I opted for a veggie sandwich. It was a grilled cheese with veggies thrown on it. Nothing melded, nothing really stuck out. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't ground breaking either. I might go one more time to try one of their more authentic meals... but no promises.
(2)Tim T.
Came here after leaving Rochester Mills for terrible service. Luckily, made it in time to watch the rest of the hockey game, eat some dinner, and have a few beers. The service was great. The food was good. The beer list was impressive. I am their newest customer. No complaints.
(4)Bruce C.
Had their monster burger. What evil genius tops a burger with meat? Awesome. A good beer list too. Definitely a must visit if you are looking for excellent bar food.
(5)Nicole N.
Bartenders are very attentive, appetizers we got were great!! Would definitely go back
(4)Lauren W.
O'Connor's is my (and my entire group of friends) go-to place for drinks and fun in Rochester. I'll keep this short and sweet: huge beer selection (many local, many imported from Europe and hard-to-find), good prices, quick and friendly staff, great parties, good live music (and frequent), and fantastic food. My favorite is the grilled chicken salad. I know many people don't expect much from bar food, but O'Connor's food is top notch. This salad, for example, actually had hot, freshly grilled chicken on top, green lettuces (no iceberg here), and yummy toppings. They also have a Sunday brunch every week that is a little pricey, but totally worth the money. Oh and by the way, it's about as authentic as an Irish pub in America can get.
(5)Adam W.
Gus O'Connor's is the type of place my mother would really dig on... because it goes so over the top to prove its Irish heritage that it's almost slightly annoying. Then again, it really isn't all THAT bad - it's not like it's trying to be Bennigan's. What really makes this place is the atmosphere, which wasn't really there when I was visiting, but I can tell it has its nights where that must be a really fun spot to chill out at. The wood floors, walls, and stained glass really add a nice touch that brings you out of a normal bar experience and make it into something different. Although there are a lot more elaborately decorated places around, Gus O'Connor's does a nice job of balancing the duty of creating a feeling without pushing it to the limit. The menu here is nothing special. At all. To its own credit, this is only a pub... but for the prices they're charging, I don't think I'm out of line expecting a little bit more. I ordered a chicken wrap which came with a fruit bowl - a nice touch I might add. $10 for a wrap with a fruit bowl seemed a little pricey to me, however. The wrap was well prepared but nothing much different that what you might pick up from Subway, in my opinion. Near the end of my wrap the chicken started to have a somewhat weird taste to it as well... I don't know what that was, but it could just be a fluke. The fruit was fresh but a lot of melon stuff and they kind of ripped me off on everything else. Oh well. Drink prices are fair (my Bacardi and Coke was $3.75 and EXTREMELY strong while my dining partner's 20 oz. beer was somewhere around the same mark, I believe). We happened to strike it lucky and also arrive for half priced appetizers. I'm a big fan of Scotch Eggs, which they have here, so I ordered some and was slightly disappointed that only one came out. To make matters worse, I ordered my appetizer after my meal and this was apparently after the half off thing was over... so I had to pay a full price of $5-something for a single Scotch Egg. Totally not worth it. The paying full price thing is admittedly my own fault, however. I think Gus O'Connor's would be an exceptional place to stop in with a large group and order a few drinks, act like idiots, and then go wreak havoc on the unsuspecting community of Rochester. For dining options, however, I'd take my money elsewhere and get something that seemed to be a little more worthwhile - or at least fitting to the prices being asked. The drinks are WELL worth it and make this place a worthwhile stop on that merit alone.
(3)Rachel E.
Such a great place to come and have a drink on the weekend! Feels like a true Irish Pub inside and always has my favorite Strongbow on tap. The bands on the weekend are usually pretty good, but are always REALLY loud. The appetizers are okay too.
(4)Melissa M.
O'Connors is a super fun place almost any day of the week. A great place to watch a game with a group, grab a beer with a friend, or even sit at the bar by yourself. It gets super crazy on Friday/Saturday nights, so watch out, since those Irish can get roudy :)
(4)George K.
A Monday night visit was just 2.5 stars A-OK We both worked 12 hour days and were not in the mood to cook. A friend at work had mentioned a few days earlier that he had been here for a quick bite and I though why not, give it a try. We have lived in the area for several years and off we went. The place was 1/3 full which is what I would expect for a very cold Monday night. The service was good and she brought our NA drinks quickly. The beer and wine listed look very good, but this was a food visit only. Started off with the potato skins , good but could have used a little more bacon, and the Irish Sliders. Also good, the corned beef was sliced thin with swiss cheese and pickles. For the entrees she had the chicken pot pie. The waitress was very good in letting us know that it was "not like you get in the store" It was served as more of a stew with a puff pastry in the center of a large flat bowl. It was very good. I ordered the fish and chips and was very disappointed . The fries were served warm at best, too much time under the warming light. The battered cod was served very hot, a good thing, on a bed of lettuce, not a good thing, it was a wilted mess that I had to pick off of each piece I ate. The fish was large flaky pieces under the coating. Unfortunately it was way way over salted. I say IT, because I think it was the batter, not the fish. The last piece and a half I picked the batter off and the fish its self was not to bad. All in all a A-OK meal for $45 plus tip. Maybe on a warm summer evening we will try again.
(3)Kit S.
I like the Celtic Rubin at Gus O'Connor's, but the other food on the menu is a pricey for what you get. It is very noisy when it gets busy because the floors are all hardwood, and the sound seems amplified. It has the ambiance of a Sports Bar -- Not a place for a relaxing meal.
(2)Joseph G.
Good bar for drinks and a fine spot to get burgers or fried food but I wouldn't recommend anything beyond that. I got the fish dinner and it was very fishy and sub-par. Drinks and apps were good and a number of TVs for watching sports. The kitchen doesn't seem ready to deliver their menu items beyond burgers and fries though.
(2)Greg K.
Went in with a buddy of mine to watch sports and sit at the bar. The bartenders were great and very friendly. The Gus O'Nachos is enough to feed two hungry guys. I also had the fish taco's. The taco's were very average, the shells just weren't crunchy and the dish lacked flavor. Over-all not a bad stop. I would go back to watch sports and enjoy the beers, and try a few other menu items.
(3)Katie R.
eh, not terrible. always run into someone from high school.
(3)David B.
Sat at the bar with three of us around 8 o'clock on a Saturday night. Only had drinks, no food. The bartenders were attentive and served us well as a team. Great beer selection here...I also ordered an Old Fashioned which goes against the Beer/Irish Food grain a bit. Most restaurants (even high end steakhouses) usually make it really bad. Well, the drink was awesome! Special LARGE ice cubes. Hand muddled fruit and the bartender followed the "original" recipe perfectly. As simple as it was, this OVERALL bar experience warranted a 5 star rating. Thx guys.
(5)Julio L.
Authentic Irish, from the floors to the pours. The menu is hearty, and has lots of Irish traditional food, the main difference is that it's better flavour ( they don't season their food across the Pond )! I'v eeaten here dozens of times and never ever had a bad meal. I go for the piedmontese beef cheesburger, the chili, the irish stew and the shepherds pie. Also , they are one of the only places in Michigan who can pull a good pint of Guinness. Trust me, somebody brings you your Guinness after 10 seconds, they are doing it wrong. Their Guinness is perfect, just as Arthur Intended it. Actually I thought it was better than the Guinness I had in the little bar at the Guinness factory. atmosphere is nice. Good mix of folks. Best time to get there is early afternoon. they have newspapers on the bar and you can have a quiet pint and read the paper, and watch the footie on tele The beers are a bit pricey, is my only complaint but you pay for quality
(5)Atom G.
Great Burgers and the Gus "O" Nacho is great with your group of friends. Fun place to drink spirits and celebrate Saint Patricks Day. Was voted best bar food in 2006 and not much has changed. Let's get drunk like the Irish here.
(5)Megan B.
Despite Arts, Beats, & Eats going on this weekend, O'Connor's was pretty full on a Saturday night. In fact, it was the only bar in downtown Rochester Hills that was. This is your typical Irish bar. Long bar, lots of beers on tap. Service was really good. Multiple bartenders checked on us, and our first bartender, Jessica was especially nice. It was my birthday and she gave me a lovely free blow job shot. Restrooms were super clean, which I always find amazing for a busy bar on a weekend. They also have lots of drink specials during Detroit sports games.
(5)