Stopped by here on a Tuesday afternoon to meet family and friends for a drink. It was easy to park around back and then the walk wasn't bad to the pub. We all had a drink or 2 and some had the cheese quesadillas as an appetizer, which were amazing with the guacamole. I heard it gets pretty crazy on weekend nights, but I liked that it was a bit quiet the day we went. I'd come back here again if visiting.
Review Source:Spent a cloudy afternoon walking around Downtown Ventura. Â Out of all the restaurants, this was the one that stood out so my boyfriend and I decided to try it.
Unassuming from the outside, inside is Irish pub decor. The waitresses were all friendly and helpful. Best and friendliest service I've had in a long time.
We came for food, didn't get any beers, but it looks like there is a cool sampler deal during Happy Hour, try 3 beers for $5. :-)
I avoid dairy and gluten as much as possible, so I went with traditional corned beef and cabbage (also comes with a mountain of mashed potatoes). My boyfriend got the Rueben.
The corned beef was pretty good, cabbage was great. Huge portion sizes for very reasonable prices. We left very full and satisfied. :-)
If I lived in Ventura, I would become a regular here.
Seems like a great place to meet up with a friend for lunch or dinner.
This is a great place just to go and hang out. A Casual Atmosphere. They have great service and good food. Recently, I was there on a Sunday and they had this wonderful Irish band. It was a perfect afternoon. Â I only go on week nights.....it is a bit too loud and crowded on weekends. But, it's great for those who want that wildness and fun.
Review Source:We've been here countless times and LOVE it. The atmosphere is great, the food is so delicious (hellooo mashed potatoes) and I can't resist a Boddington's on tap, which is always hard for me to find.
If you're in the area, always stop by. The waiters and waitresses are always pleasant, attentive to your drinks, and willing to deal with the drunk person in your group (not me, I swear!).
So...here's the best story I can give anyone regarding Dargans. Â On May 29th 2008 I met my wife there for our 1st date. We met online, and were supposed to meet across the street at Starbucks but I got to Main St early and decided to pop in for a Guinness...so I changed the meet up naturally to Dargans so I could enjoy my pint until she got downtown. Â It was love at 1st sight. The rest, as they say is "history" and we actually went back there for our 2nd date as well. Â Today, nearing our 5 year anniversary of our 1st date (now married for a year & a half, and expecting our 1st child)....we had lunch there and it was excellent as always. Â (Buffalo Chicken Salad & a Guinness = A+). Â Dargans is our "lucky spot" and my wife and I will always treasure this place...it's where our lives changed forever. Â Can't say that everyday about a Restaraunt.
Review Source:I've been to Dargan's many a times, and I really have never been disappointed. Â The atmosphere is fun and vibrant and their food, in particular their Irish Fare (bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, chicken pot pie, and my favorite the Irish Breakfast) are exceptional. Â The staff is friendly and attentive.
The ONLY downside of Dargan's in my mind is that on Fri/Sat nights it gets so crowded that you can't get a drink at the bar without throwing elbows and likely spilling someone's beverage but that is a most minor inconvenience.
Keep up the good work folks and we'll be seeing you soon!!
came here before the Band of Horses show at the Ventura theater.
it was definitely jumping in here! the female bartender was on here game and even though she had a full bar in front of her, she made sure to let us know she'd take care of us. on that note, a suggestion to all bartenders out there- just acknowledge me and let me know that you'll get to me. i dont mind waiting when i see that youre busy, but at least let me know you see me.
we had some beers and cocktails and went on our merry way.
we're planning on catching another show up there so we'll definitely stop in here.
they pour a good guinness, and the corned beef/cabbage is delicious
HOWEVER
if you are selling "irish pub" to your customers, you can't willy-nilly play 90's hip hop to attract the BRO crowd. sadly, dargans loves its BRO crowd. its great for a weekend afternoon pint while you watch the game, but get the fuck out before 6, or as soon as you hear "this is how we do it" or "you can do it put your ass into it"
let me introduce the dargans/brendans false advertising prevention law - drinking establishments masquerading as "irish pubs" may no longer serve the following:
bud light
coors light
mikes hard lemonade
shocktop
pabsts
dos equis
jagermiester
jose cuervo
serving these in bottles will result in fines, wasting tap space will result in liquor license revocation. customers inquiring about any of these "drinks" will result in immediate deportation to the sans souci cocktail lounge.
Another jewel on Main Street. Every time we come here for a beer we leave with a smile on our face. Sure, the beer has something to do with that; but, for the most part, it has to do with the people who serve there. Whether we are at the bar or at a table, we've always been met with a friendly person. The last time we visited, our server was the best. Wish we could remember her name to ask for her section specifically, but we can't. Too many pints. The focus of this review is to talk about an appetizer, which we do remember. Mussels in a bowl of delicious, buttery heaven. I know. It's just and appetizer, but wow. What follows is a description of what we will do next time. Find great server. Sit in her area. Order beer. Stash complimentary bread in her purse. Order mussels. Ask for more bread. Stash that. Get more beer. Have mussels delivered. Order more bread. Pull out stashed bread. Eat mussels quickly. Arrange 3 loaves on table and dip each piece in bowl of buttery mussel sauce until literally stuffed and happy. I would advise you to try it as well.
Review Source:Came here for dinner and had a long drive home so I wasn't drinking but here's a review of the food. I was not very impressed. The fish and chips were so oily my daughter had to scrape off the batter, if you've ever had shrimp toast you know how oily that can be that's what the batter reminded me of. My son got the bangers and mash. The bangers were good but the mash was instant potatoes, not very good dry and pasty. My wife got the seafood pot pie. It was good but nothing special, thick seafood chowder with a pastry topping. Nothing to make it memorable. Â My other daughter ordered steak and Guinness pie. She did like that a lot. Overall I was disappointed with meal and probably won't go back again.
Review Source:My friend and I came here for their green beer on St. Patrick's Day. Too bad I learned tonight from my microbiology class that binge green beer drinking with food coloring dyes can be toxic (and just plain old binge drinking alcohol lol). OH WELL!
I had my first green beer here on Saturday and the place was packed after the St. Patrick's Day parade. People were bringing in their babies in their baby strollers and much older folks were filling the place. I prefer the night life here but it was really weird drinking at 11:30am hahah
I remember there was one cute bartender that day and gave him my number with a heart drawn next to it on the signed credit card receipt but as of now, I haven't heard anything since LOL First time for everything :)
I cant help but love this place. My husband and I live in channel islands harbor and we don't make it out to Ventura as often as we would like, but when we do, we make it a point to stop by Dargans for some delicious food and a couple beers. I have many favorites, but the reuben sandwich is seriously the best I have ever had anywhere....the corned beef couldn't be better, topped with sour kraut, the perfect amount of 1000 island and rye bread....MmmMmmmMmmm! I love it with the sweet potato fries and extra mustard on the side :) I've tried other things on their menu and I honestly have never been disappointed. Â I also really enjoy the shepards pie. Its great with this yummy sauce my server offered with it, HP sauce. My Husband loves the seafood pot pie which is ridiculously good-creamy, flavorful, tons of real seafood and a great pastry crust on top...you just cant go wrong! They have a bunch of beers on tap, I couldn't see them all but I know they definitely have Guinness (which the bartender actually did a nice job of not messing up the pour) and Smithwicks-I tried it here for the first time ever when we first started coming here years ago. It's an irish ale and it is great!...those are our two favorites, but maybe someday we'll venture out and try some of their other ones.
The last time we were there, they had a happy hour going on....One dollar off draft beers and half off all of their appetizers! We usually just go straight for the main course because the portions are so big, but half off-C'mon, you just have to partake! We had the shrimp which was large shrimp on a bed of mashed potatoes and covered in this delicious, spicy, buttery sauce-too good!
The service is always friendly. We choose to sit in the bar area opposed to the dining room. Sometimes when we visit it is very busy and sometimes it is slower, but it's always cute girls serving very good food and cold beers.
The food is good, the staff is friendly, but it isn't a pub. Â It's an Irish themed restaurant/bar. Â A bit too expensive for pub food as well.
Also, I have been there multiple times, and I have never been there when the tables weren't sticky. Â I don't know if it's the cleaner they use or what. Â
I don't have much else to say. Â It's meh.
I used to go here a lot, but the service has declined and the prices have risen. It used to have a good vibe, but now it's stale and worn. Â I know it's an "Irish bar", but they need a better selection of beers, such as good westcoast IPAs. Â The only remotely close westcoast style is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but that too is getting old and worn. Â The place is as stale as Winchesters, another old haunt from my past. Â
And the food was always blah. Â Nothing to write home about, just very average "Irish" bar food. Â
This ain't nowhere close to a good Temple Bar pub in Dublin. Â (They pour the Guinness WAY too fast for any self-respecting Irishman..CRINGE!)
I love the Alpine burger with blue cheese. Â It is very rich so my husband and I often share the burger and a salad. Â They have a nice menu and it is located right in the middle of downtown Ventura. Â They have Kilkenney on tap, so it is one of my husband's favorite pubs. Â There is a very nice vibe in the bar.
Review Source:I actually don't remember what I ordered - was here probably 6 months ago. Â Anyway, I do remember having a great time with my girlfriend. Â I ordered one of their beers and my girlfriend ordered some cocktail. Â All I can say is I'm definitely going back when we're in town again. Â Can't wait.
Review Source:The Night Life - Everytime I would go here, I wouldn't know what to do because it was so packed. It is practicly impossble to get to the bar that when you get your drink you are faced with the task of trying to find some decent standing space.
The only way to describe it is to say they are having a Black Friday Sale on drinks and people have been camped out there for days, it is that kind of crowded.
I must have forgotten to write a review when we were in Ventura six months ago, when we went to Dargans four times. Â We were back this weekend, and this is a must for us to have lunch whenever we're staying in Ventura or passing through.
I always have the Irish breakfast: Â eggs, rasher bacon, tomato slices, sliced mushrooms, sausage and potato croquettes. Â Amazing! Â My wife likes the authentic Irish stew - made with lamb.
I think this makes six trips in three visits.
Irish pub in Ventura? Â Â I mean its the beach man~ Â its in the mid-high 70s and sunny outside (most of the time). Â Shouldn't one eat fish tacos and insert lime wedges in their beer bottles? Â Not really... Â Not all the time. Â For some reason, the flip-flop beach casual of Ventura seem to go well with this Irish pub. Â Maybe its all the natural light coming through the large windows (well lit pub?) Â or the prompt attentive service of the servers, Â But it works. Â Now keep in mind that this is not an "authentic" Irish Pub, but it has all the bells and whistles of one.
We ordered Fish and Chips & Corn beef and cabbage. Â
Fish and Chips - Steak fries and beer battered cod. Â I wouldn't say the most authentic tasting but it is cooked well and the portions were generous. Â - Best fish and chips in Ventura.
Corn Beef and Cabbage - Cooked well, very clean tasting for such a rustic dish. Â Again portion size was generous. Â Tasty.
Beer selection - Good. Â Had all the major English and Irish ales along with some local and domestic beers on tap. Â Don't go there thinking you'll find that rare Irish Red you had when you were backpacking through Ireland a billion years ago. Â Don't go looking for your favorite micro brew from some obscure brewery located in some town that no one has ever heard of.
Service - Excellent. Â The servers were prompt, the runners were quick, and all very friendly. Â The owner (manger?) was roaming the place looking to help and fill in. Â They have service down.
All in all was a great eating experience. Â
Happy eating - R
I haven't been here in years, came here for the first time in a long time a couple weekends ago and had a great time!
I had the quesadilla, late night "snack," it was delish! And that was definitely more than an appetizer size, easily shared. I can't seem to remember the other dishes I have had over the years. But I do remember the service being good and the staff being helpful.
This place gets pretty packed during the evenings. Chill place to just come with some friends, grab a bite to eat and hangout.
Natalie and I were wandering by, with hunger rumbling in our tummies and what do I see? Â An Irish pub! Â My fish and chips were perfectly seasoned, and the batter was balanced perfectly between crisp and just the right amount of fluff. Â Natalie thoroughly enjoyed her burger too. Â If we lived closer to Ventura I'd be going here quite a bit. Â
P.S. Don't tell Natalie, but the servers aren't hard on the eyes either. Â Wait ... she's looking over my shoulder now isn't she ....
Dargans Breakdown:
-The Food: Pretty good. Â Nothing extraordinary. Â However, way more greasy than most places.
-The Value: Average. Â Food prices ranged from ~ $12-$20
-The Experience: Pretty good service.
Nothing special. Â I'm new to Ventura. Â So, I might stop by again if I don't discover any better places to eat in the downtown area.
Yes, the staff is really great, the server's attractive, the barkeep pours a good beer and prepares a solid gin martini, the bus staff is always johnny-on-the-spot to clear away dirty dishes, but it always comes back to the food for us.
Deb's favorites include the Buffalo Chicken Salad and the Lamb Stew.
Jack's favorites include the above, plus the Reuben sandwich, Steak & Guinness Pie, Shepherds Pie, Chicken Pot Pie, Corned Beef & Cabbage, as well as lamb shank, hamburgers, & steaks when offered on the specials board.
If I would give advice to any new (or existing) restaurants in Ventura, it would be to focus on serving up consistently good food. All too many places aren't consistent in their food preparation, so it's hard to be loyal in an era of limited dining out budgets.
Dargans Irish Pub delivers every time.
On the way to So cal from SF Bay Area, we just drove thur Main St. and decided to try some Irish Pub food. Pub had a good looking & inviting location and inside was nicely decorated with Irish theme items. Sunday brunch time family crowds with many locals and tourist mixed make this a fun place.
Very good selection of classic entrees like fish n chips, shepherd pie, stew, etc. I opt for the grilled ahi sandwich on a sourdough roll with wasibi and a side of greens with blue cheese. The sandwich was stuffed full of ahi and was nicely grilled lightly leaving it still pinkish in the middle, the way I enjoy my ahi.
I brought my friends who've never been to Ventura here because I wanted them to try the steak and pot pies. They were not disappointed. The chicken pot pie is rich and creamy and even the crust is delicious. The steaks were good but the sauces were what made the dishes excellent. The waitress was really helpful and was attentive to our needs. However, when she brought out the dishes one of my friends wasn't brought her food. She received her food when I was half done with my steak. The waitress did apologize but she did it after the food was brought to her. The time my friend was waiting the waitress didn't acknowledge us (maybe she felt bad that the food was taking longer).
After we ate we knew it was time to go as the place was getting packed with Friday night regulars. I knew it was a bad sign when there were close to 7 security guards who look like they're WWE characters. So we booked it for the door.
During the day this place is really cozy and quaint but when the sun is going down Ventura's nightlife start their evening at Dargans. It's good if you like a packed bar but when you're trying to have a nice meal with your friends a packed bar usually disrupts the vibe.
I definitely recommend Dargans if you want a nice Irish meal and a beer.
Been here twice in the last three weeks. Once for drinks and once for dinner/drinks. The first night was a Wednesday. A bit crowded, which was actually quite nice and entertaining, esp. when the bach-let party showed up. Drinks were served quickly, though, no waiting. Their tap selection is very nice, aside from the fact that one of my best friend's is still hurt that they removed Murphy's a month ago or so. We split a piece of chocolate cake that I would call actual heaven. Seriously it was divine. Moist, rich, grreat icing - which I am super picky about.
The second night was in celebration of my cousin's moving onto UCSC - whoohoo!! I was recommended the chicken pot-pie. It is HUGE and ohhh sooo good. And it wasn't sooo hot that you had to wait 15 minutes to start eating. Â Monday there was almost no one in the place. And unfortunately we had to wait quite awhile for our server to come back and ask for our food order after she brought us our beers. I don't know how much time she thought we needed but we were almost done with our first beers by the time she remembered we were ordering dinner. Aside from the wait great atmosphere. A group knocked over a full beer and the poor person who had to clean it up made a bit of a joke over the whole event - excellent. Good for Dargans too b/c the person ended up purchasing another beer.
I have also had their Brie and Pear salad - YUM!!
I frequent this place in the afternoon. They have a fully stocked bar, and a respectable draught selection. Always real friendly service from all the staff there. And I'm so glad they updated their TVs to this century.
Here's the lowdown....
Decor: I do love that there is a lot of light in this place. Windows all round makes it quite cheery in the daytime. To me it does seem like the decorations above need a good dusting, but that might be intentional on their part. They have some interesting sayings painted on the walls above. I'm sure I've said a couple after a good amount of drinks there before. Three TVs, all in a good viewpoint. Clean restaurant, clean bathrooms.
Service: I've always had really friendly and wonderful service here from everyone that works there, time and time again. That's unusual these days, but refreshing.
Food: Everything I've eaten here is always better than what I anticipated. If you want to be indulgent get the potato croquettes, it's an appetizer. Its mashed potatoes mixed with Irish cheese, breaded and fried, but not greasy at all. I also recommend the spicy chicken skewers, with the peanut dipping sauce. Leek and potato soup is legit. But above all the best thing here is the chicken pot pie. I don't even like chicken pot pie, but what I love about this one, is that the crust is only on top. It's like a flakey crescent dough that's just pulled over the top of the dish. In the pie is cubed chicken and vegetables. I always split it with my husband, and we usually burn our mouths cause we are too impatient to let it cool. Seriously yummy.
Drinks: Great draught selection. And a fully stocked bar. All the bartenders there have a very generous pour. Sarah makes the best bloody mary in VC for sure. And Dave is the best bartender last couple years in the VC Reporter.
Dargans during the day, is very different than the Dargans at night. At night it is packed, and can be filled with really rude drunk people. So I recommend this place during the day, it's very delightful. Dargans is consistently consistent, and always better than expected... during the day that is.
Kiss the blarney stone, I say!!! Â ;0) Â Dargan's---how much more Irish can you get? Â This is a great little Irish Pub, really---it truly is. Â They have great food, great service and the ambiance is perfect for any day of the year! Â
Of course, every St. Patrick's Day they kick off a pretty nice event and entertain into the wee hours of the night--complete with green beer, corned beef and cabbage, guinness pie and onion soup. Â It's a pretty entertaining night, one of those nights where who rarely see sunlight actually venture out because of the ounce of Irish heritage they recall having after a long conversation with a distant relative at a family reunion years back. Â =0) Â Yes, you know who you are. Â Well, these people are fun--and I'm here to say that it's not really necessary to come up with a story line claiming that you're Irish---it's okay...come on out and play with us. Â The more people the merrier. Â =0)
On a side note---I love the curry that they serve on a bed of rice, it's absolutely delicious. Â I'm not so sure how Irish that is--but it is awesome!
So, don't worry about turning into a leprechaun at the stroke of midnight because they are opened til 2am. Â Give it a try---I'm sure you will be entertained.
Yvette L. Brownstone from Ventura, CA
If you watch Jersey Shore, you are familiar with the term "grenade." Â It seems that this place is channeling Jersey Shore with all the thick thighs and short skirts and butter faces abound. Â These gals are either extremely confident or totally oblivious about the thigh bumps we had to witness. Â That aside, this place is pretty awesome.
A few friends and I came here for dinner and it is a very cool looking pub atmosphere. Â The menu contains pub classics such as Chicken Curry, Shepherd's Pie, Fish and Chips, and a traditional Irish Breakfast. Â It also has modern favorites too. Â
We started off with a round of Irish Car Bombs, then ordered potato skins for an appetizer (tasty), and more beers. Â I ordered a Blackbean Burger, which was AMAZING. Â Nice blackbean patty with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and thousand island dressing. Â The bun was spongy, white bread goodness. Â The other members in my group ordered a Buffalo Chicken Salad, Chicken Skewers with peanut sauce (from the appetizer menu), and a Shepherd's Pie. Â Everyone ate up most of their meals and there were no complaints.
Our server meant well, but he was a bit hit-or-miss as it got later into the night. Â It's okay...by the time he started forgetting us, we had already eaten.
This place comes alive around 9:30 - 10:00 p.m., so it makes me think it is one of the more hipper places in Ventura. Â Maybe a pre-bar kind of place, since there is no dancing here. Â Just steer clear of the grenades and you are guaranteed to have a great time!!!
So, I'm strolling downtown at 11am on a Wednesday, and I'm getting the sinking feeling that most of the restaurants don't open until 11:30. By 11:15, my stomach decides, screw those snooty places, there's Dargans.
Though it's simply not as cool as the one in Santa Barbara, the Main St. Dargan invites with its laid-back airiness and the friendly waitstaff. Draughts of Stella Artois and Boddington (not together in the same glass) flowed nicely with the beer battered fish that taste great doused in malt vinegar and dipped into their homemade tarter sauce. Being somewhat of a tarter sauce afficionado, I was pleased to apply the good goo to the massive mound of fries that accompanied the fish. And to gild the carb-acious lily, we also enjoyed thick slabs of fried potato skins ensconced in heavy blankets of cheddar, bacon, and scallion. Today I learned that it's possible to become potato drunk--I almost crawled under the pub table to take a power nap.
* Â guy with cracked skull outside first visit
* Â typical Ventura Crowd (locals thinking they live in Manhatten Beach)
* Â too many late 20's wearing Volcom and flat billed hats
* Â I think I actually got pinched by someone's meth syringe
but...
*restroom was clean...until someone vomited all over the sink(10:30pm)
I'm not too fond of this place nor impressed. Â My friend and I went here on a Saturday evening for dinner. Â It was quite busy and the wait was a lot longer than the 20 minutes we were told. Â A lot of people come here to hang out, drink, and talk.
It is split in half with dinner tables to the left and bar tables to the right. I don't feel like it has enough dining area to accommodate. Â I ordered the grilled salmon with brown rice and vegetables. Â It wasn't anything special. Â The salmon was salty on the edges and the vegetables were drowned in butter. Â Food is priced average. Â It's an Irish pub, so they're popular for their beer; which just isn't my particular taste.
There was entertainment while we ate. Â It just so happened that we went during St. Patrick's weekend (so that may be the reason?). Â So we had some river dance girls perform and a bag piper play as well.; which was cool.
I rate it a 2 star because I just wasn't impressed with the place. I probably won't come back here again.
Dargan's depresses me. Â It has so much potential. Â But it always fails to live up to it, and I think next time I'm in Ventura I'm going to fall back on trusty Winchester's or Cafe Fiore for my after-dinner drinks.
We went last Sunday and it took 10 minutes to get me a vanilla vodka and Diet, and my friend 30 minutes to get a straight Diet Coke. Â The second drink I ordered? Â It never came. Â And the thing was, it wasn't even crowded. Â Everyone there had a seat. Â
There really is no reason to go to Dargan's given other establishments along Main Street try way harder to earn your dollar. Â The only reasons I gave Dargan's two stars: the hardwood floors, Smithwick's on tap, and the jukebox.
Note to "Irish" pubs:
Just because you serve Guinness, corned beef and cabbage and have a few shamrocks laying about, does NOT mean you are an Irish pub.
People - you have NO idea how much this pisses me off. I go to Ireland every chance I get, that's where the old family is from. This place and places like it are an insult to Irish folks like me. How DARE you call yourslf an Irish pub serving a sandwich called the "O'Philly Steak Sandwich", and Irish Potato skins with DANISH CHEESE??!! Â Ireland is known for their incredible dairy products, at least use some IRISH CHEESE for fecks sake. Â Oh and you spelled Guinness wrong on your menu. (hmmmmph)
Ok, so I resign myself to the fact that this is NOT an Irish pub or restaurant, maybe I'll just enjoy the time I'm here, I'll give it a shot.
No such luck.
Crowd was a bit skanky - this place is more like a pick up joint. Not that I have anything against pick up joints, but real PUBS are not that kind of place. They are a place to relax, have a few pints, play darts, etc.. Â Not a place to wear your "I'm gonna get some tonight" outfit and get drunk. Â Trust me on this. Â I don't even mind a skanky crowd now and again, sometimes I even like it :) - but not when I'm in a pub.
I guess this might be a fun place if you're young, looking for a place to spend a ton of money to get wasted & see drunk chicks in short skirts. If that's the case, I'd have given it 5 stars (but I'm not into drunk chicks in short skirts, so ...)
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