4 Ps is a great local Falls Church bar. It's only a couple blocks from my house so it's pretty much my go-to recommendation when friends want to meet at a bar. The bartenders are awesome and laid back in a good way (and some staff are actually Irish!).
Wednesday nights they have trivia which I used to attend a couple years ago, though I'm sure it's still fun now. It's the type of trivia where they give you a sheet of questions and you and your group write down the answers while someone walks around giving hints (as opposed to answering each question individually). So it's more of a laid back trivia experience.
The food is meh...it's bar food which is always satisfying when you're drunk. They have traditional Irish dishes as well as your typical staples. On Sundays they have a brunch buffet which I've only tried once. I'm not a big binge eater so buffets generally aren't my thing. From what I recall it was so-so.
Overall, I love this place but I don't come here for the food. The service and atmosphere are what keeps you coming back.
No complaints here. Â Husband (who used to frequent this place) and I swung in for a last minute drink after a late-night movie. Â Seriously, we got there at 0125, but the bartender didn't bat an eye. Â He smiled, was friendly, and poured our drinks. Â We ran into a friend there randomly, and the bartender even touched base with the guys to see if they wanted one more shot at 0130 before he had to stop selling. Â We stood out on the patio to finish our beers and never felt rushed at all.
I've no desire to come here when it's crowded (as I've noticed it often gets) and will likely continue to frequent Spacebar when in the area, but this will be an excellent back-up plan for when SB is closed.
About five years ago my friends and I were in Vegas and made one of the most regrettable decisions of our lives. Â No, we didn't steal Mike Tyson's tiger, gamble away a grand, or contract an STD (well, I can only speak for myself on that one), but rather, we foolishly had brunch at The Sahara. Â Their brunch was truly one of the most unpalatable collections of foods I'd ever tasted. Â A paltry offering of stale pastries, boxed pastas, and meat which looked less sanitary than a Route 66 Waffle House. Â The only thing that I would even deem as edible was their cardboard pizza, which made Cici's look like a Michelin 3 star restaurant. Â I preface all this because two weeks ago my friends and I made an equally egregious mistake as on that fateful 2008 afternoon...we, "ate" brunch at Four P's. Â The only real difference between the two is that I paid 7 dollars more at Four Provinces. Â And there was nothing even half as good as The Sahara's cardboard pizza. Â Yeah. Â It was that bad.
As soon as we walked into the establishment, I knew we were in trouble. Â I was so disgusted by the, "food" which I saw that I honestly contemplated not eating at all. Â However, it was mid-afternoon, we had eaten nothing all day, I still had a vexing drive back to Charlotte ahead of me, and I didn't want to be a dick and not eat while all my friends did. Â I should have been a dick. Â Anyone who reads my reviews knows full well that I'm a voracious eater and not a very picky one at that. Â So for me to be so repugnated by the food and to honestly struggle to scrounge for anything I might possibly put on my plate to consume is truly saying something. Â The, "food" at Four P's is all on a single long table/line extending across the slop hall. Â There are no discernible stations, but rather a hodgepodge of metallic bins housing cold, pre-packaged food. Â The layout reminded me of a soup kitchen I used to volunteer at. Â If only the food were half as good. Â At the start of the line was the teeny, tiniest of, "carving stations" with a stringy, bloody meat, which gave off a malodorous stench. Â The sign read, "Prime Rib." Â There was nothing prime about it. Â I reluctantly sampled a bite and nearly gagged. Â McDonald's serves higher quality meat than this sliced raccoon carcass. Â Another bite and I might be reviewing a local D.C. hospital right now...or worse...my friends might be reviewing a D.C. mortician. Â Beside the raccoon carcass was an omelette skillet which even the greenest of Cub Scouts would scoff at. Â Other unappetizing options included microwavable chicken fingers, instant powdered eggs, dry waffles, soggy microwaved bacon & sausage, an unauthentic, "Shepherd's Pie" that would have Michael Collins rolling over in his Irish grave, and my personal favorite, the universe's worst ever Mac & Cheese. Â HOW DO YOU F*&K UP MAC & CHEESE!? Â I have no idea...ask Four P's. Â Simple Kraft Mac & Cheese would have been a million times more esculent than this somehow vinegar drenched, rancid excuse of the world's no longer idiot proof pasta tasted. Â In a situation like this, you really hope that one could at least laugh it off in the future as a funny anecdote and say, "Well...at least the service was good." Â You'd hope so, wouldn't you...
When we first entered Four P's, there was no hostess. Â We eventually made our way toward the patio, since the fumes from the biohazard they called food was making me lightheaded. Â As we walked outside, the man who I presume was the manager (or perhaps the owner...if so, he should be tried at the Hague) asked us how we're doing. Â We told him we were going to sit outside and he said he'd send a waitress by to take our drink orders. Â 15 minutes later we went back inside to start serving ourselves. Â The manager was in the identical spot as when we first went outside. Â He said he'll bring us some waters. Â Yeah, that might be a good idea...did it just now dawn on you? Â I should have asked for some cyanide and tums while I was at it. Â Once we went back outside with our dog food, we were never checked on again until the end of our meal when a girl who apparently was supposed to be our waitress brought our checks. Â She had the sheer, unmitigated gall to still fish for a tip by confessing her ineptitude, stating, "I was your waitress...but I got swamped inside...here's your bill." Â First of all, how were you swamped? Â It's a buffet...who were you serving!? Â Secondly, that's supposed to make it okay? Â Unreal.
Adding salt (or vinegar Mac & Cheese) to the wound is the fact that this squalid filth was $17! At least The Sahara KNEW it sucked. Â Four P's doesn't have a clue. Â Or worse yet, they do but they just don't care. Â Based on the atrocious service and laziness of the manager and staff, this could very well be the case. Â The only way I could ever recommend eating brunch at Four P's is if you're looking for a public place to commit suicide, or you're looking for a non-suspicious ricin replacement to mail to a government official.
Love this place. Customer service is always great, managers always make sure people are taken care of. Irish menu is great, any time of steak is always well-cooked.
It's cozy and can get a little noisy, but that's probably what you should expect from this sort of place. And I love the bar, the bartenders are fun and there's plenty of seating.
Went here for their Sunday brunch -- less than $20 per person, and you get a seemingly endless array of brunch/lunch options! I honestly don't even know where to begin with listing them all out (and I'm sure I'll be missing a ton).
There was an omelette station, a roast beef carving station, pastries, waffles, bacon, sausage, eggs, various potato and pasta salads, regular salads, chicken tenders, mac 'n' cheese, mashed potatoes, shepherd's pie, bread pudding, fresh orange juice, a bloody mary bar (I assume the alcohol for the bloody mary bar is extra, but I didn't partake so I'm actually not sure), smoked salmon, french toast... the list goes on and on. I had to roll out of there Violete Beauregard style because I was so full.
My one friend said that he found the french toast unappetizing and "weird," but I didn't hear any other complaints, and didn't have any of my own (I didn't try the french toast). It's not gourmet fare by any means, and it's a true family restaurant, so expect kids to be present, especially during brunch hours. I think that the 4 P's offers a GREAT brunch value, with tons and tons of options.
My husband and i stopped in here for a bite to eat before heading back to the metro. We were looking to soak up the alcohol we had ingested down the street at Mad Fox. But that didn't stop me from still enjoying Smithwicks on draft! :)
I enjoyed the fish and chips and enjoyed the smaller portion compared to other pubs I have been too. I still was very full when I left. My husband enjoyed the classic Ruben and said it was a 3/5.
The place didn't stick out but it does have a nice patio area in the summer and great location in Falls church.
My friend George and I came here for a visit the other day. It was during the restaurant week so we opted for that menu. One thing I didn't fully get from the pre fixe menu is why would you offer a non Irish dish as one of the main promoted restaurant week items? It seems like the thing to do if you run an Irish establishment. When we inquired about it when talking to the GM, he said the chef decides all the food which makes sense. Advice to the chef -- offer Irish items to promote the authenticity, not a mango something chicken or what ever it was.
George and I both the potato and beef dish entree which I realize is vague, but the name escapes me at the moment. Either way it was one of the two pre fixe menu items. For the appetizer we got potato and leek soup a piece and bread pudding to finish it off. George ate most of his bread pudding whereas I couldn't touch mine so I had them to-go box it. I was stuffed. Decent food with 3 courses for $25.
Where my frustrations lies... They do not have Magner's Cider. This is my fix when I go out to an Irish pub, and the fact they did not have it at first disappointed me. However, not to fret, they do have another cider which I think is more seasonal called Kelly's cider. I never had Kelly's before, and might I be so daring to say I think I liked it better than Magner's. It is more of a drink for the warmer months because it is so light and refreshing whereas Magner's has more of a lingering after taste and a bit more depth to it. I lived in Dublin and never knew it existed. It is good stuff.
Service was good and the GM who is also from Ireland himself were extremely attentive. He stopped by our table to see how things were going which clearly they were going well!! I really like this place and on my next visit plan to come for Sunday brunch.
I heard of this place through the recommendation of my girl friend's (now wife of 5 years) family. Being Irish, her family had been going here for years. Because I am also Irish they thought I'd enjoy it as well.
There is plenty of parking in a free garage directly behind the building and the restaurant is easily accessible through the front or rear entrance. Â The building has a very clean brick facade and is very clean inside and out with no foul odors inside or out.
The restaurant has very pleasant hosts and hostesses and at times the manager seats you himself. The wait is rarely longer than 15 minutes with the exception of Sunday when the church crowd comes in for brunch.
The menu is full of the usual pub fair including hamburgers, french fries and all of the typical Irish foods including but not limited too shepard's pie, fish and chips, beef and cabbage, etc. My personal favorite is the Sunday brunch from 11am until 2:30pm. The cost is moderate at 16.95 for adults, 8.95 for children under 10 and children under 3 eat for free. The brunch buffet is quite extensive including bacon, eggs (scrambled, poached and omelets), corned beef hash, eggs Benedict, toast, waffles, shepard's pie, fruit, pastries, rum raisin cake, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, roast beef, salmon and much more. They have great beers and wines, my favorite being Guinness on tap.
The atmosphere is typical of a real Irish pub and feels very family friendly. Many people on the staff are Irish, all are friendly and attentive. I have yet to deal with an unpleasant staff member. The manager walks the floor asking how your doing and if you are pleased with the food.
They frequently have live music during week nights and corn hole once a week. Many other activities take place here.
I have been coming here for years, I will continue to go here for the Sunday buffet if for no other reason. This is by far my favorite Irish joint in northern Virginia if not my favorite Irish restaurant. PERIOD
Highly recommended.
An excellent spot for dinner - wish we had gone here years ago. Â Their Kinsale Seafood Stew was pure heavenly bliss. Â Plenty of fresh seafood and shellfish, and the sauce ... OMG the sauce...I almost picked the bowl up and licked it clean.
The BF ordered the prime rib and claimed it one of the best he's had.
Will definitely be back again.
My wife and I had fond memories of this place as we had a small reception there 5 years ago when we first married. We recently were in the area and stopped in. The atmosphere is very inviting and comfortably broken in--it feels like a nice neighborhood bar. The bartender was so great, I wish I could remember her name--a blonde girl with a Russian or Polish accent. The beer selection was decent. But the food... oh no, the food.
I had one of the day's specials, my thinking being that a daily special was guaranteed to be fresh. And the scallops were fresh... they were just coated in a disgusting sauce that tasted like orange flavored cream of mushroom soup with capers inexplicably tossed in. The vegetables were microwaved and slightly freezer burned. The rice was Uncle Ben's instant wild rice, possibly the worst instant rice known to man. I asked to switch it for fries and was accommodated immediately. The fries were not bad.
My wife had the Steak "Mac & Cheese." The quotes should have been a tip off. Actually, the quotes should have included the word steak. Without belaboring how bad it was, we ended up feeding the meat--all but 3 bites--to our dog. Â The first bite was hers, the second was mine to confirm how awful it was. The third bite was to make sure my tongue wasn't lying to me.
All in all, the 4 P's has some things really working for it--just not the menu.
This place is great. Â To me, there is absolutely nothing bad about 4P's. Â I have been stopping by 4P's about once per week for the past year. Â Parking is easy, the food is great and affordable and the service is the greatest I've ever experienced. Â
The best part about this place is the people. Â The staff, managers and customers are friendly, interesting people. They make 4P's feel like home.
We just moved to Falls Church and we love Irish Pubs so we decided to give this a shot. Â With three hornery kids at lunch, I didn't think it would go well. Â I was really impressed however, with how kind and attentive the staff was. Â This made things much easier. Â Then the food put it over the top - all top notch. Â I had the reuben and my wife had the turkey reuben. Â Mind you, I don't normally like reubens and/or rye bread. Â The sandwich knocked my socks off. Â Absolutely excellent. Â The waitress continued to be attentive but never overbearing. Â I would happily take my family there or a business luncheon as well; very versatile. Â We're going back for sure.
Review Source:I really dig this place, there's plenty of parking, their outside area is phenomenal come the Spring and Fall times of the year. Â And who doesn't love people watching while drinking? Â It needs to be a full on past time. Â The basics are definitely good, servers and bartenders are always on point. Â Plus there is ample parking and it's got a great overall location.
Probably one of the best Reuben sandwiches around as well, as that's typically all I order. Â
Their beer selection is "Meh" at best, only because if you order anything sans a Guinness at an Irish spot, you're bound to get bludgeoned with empty Guinness kegs.
A great Irish pub in the area - the best part? Â Not having to fight traffic and parking issues. Â Garage in the back makes parking easy. Â During good weather, imbibing/dining is available outside - my buddy and I prefer to imbibe and dine at the bar. Â They have both the bar section and restaurant section - a good indicator is that older folks go to the restaurant and the crowd at the bar are regulars. Â Johnny, the bartender is genial and quick to refresh your drinks - ask for a pint, and Guinness is poured perfectly all the time.
My buddy and I have visited twice already - the first time, I had the corned beef and cabbage, my buddy the fish and chips. Â The second visit, we both had the Irish lamb stew - all were tasty. Â We visit on Sunday afternoons so enjoy the ambiance...
Great Guinness (and Bushmill), food, atmosphere...definitely a great place to visit.
We were looking for a place to eat before a Pink Floyd Tribute show at the theatre (1 block away), we came across this awesome treat!!!
BEST prime rib of my life!!!! Â I even overheard the people sitting next to me talking about the prime rib and how it's the best they've ever had as well. Â $19.00 got me a tender peice of meat cooked to perfection, a huge baked potatoe and steamed veggies. FABULOUS!!!
Also, I'm not typically a beer drinker but felt the need to do so at this cool little Irish pub/restaurant. Â Thoroughly enjoyed every drop while listening to traditional Irish/Celtic music in the background.
Will be reutrning for sure!!!
Well, for starters...what Irish Pub doesn't have Harp on tap?
Guinness...Bud Light...Shock Top...and Blue Moon. Wow..really? The only Irish beer on tap is Guinness?
1. I asked the waitress what beers they had. She didn't mention anything in bottles so I can only assume they only have the four beers I mentioned above on draft.
2. My wife ordered the "Fry" which according to her was pretty good, though she did ask for the eggs to be not runny and the eggs were pretty undercooked in the middle. I ordered the Cobb Salad and while the grilled chicken was actually pretty tasty and well seasoned, the rest of the salad was pretty bad. The "bacon" on the salad was obviously bacon bits, the tomatoes were mushy, and to top it all off the lettuce was wilted. Let me just inform everyone that in the write up for the dish on the menu the word "crispy" is used to describe the veggies...yea, right.
3. I guess we must have come on a trivia night or something, which normally I would think is pretty cool, but I've never felt more hurried to leave before. Between patrons coming up to our table and taking chairs away from our table so they could have them at their table and bus boys coming up and taking other chairs from our table and telling the table next to us (who was a group of 6 or 7 folks playing trivia) that my wife and I would be gone in a few minutes and they could have our table to pull over to theirs.
...wow, really? Talk about unprofessional.
4. To top all of this off, the waitress was obviously more interested in her friends that were sitting at the table next to us as they got their drinks before us and their food before us even though we had gotten there first.
5. Finally, I guess their dish room must be opposite of the kitchen or something because every few minutes dishwashers would wheel through the dining area a big stack of glass racks full of glasses and they made sure to bump everyone's chair - including mine - on their way out of the dining area. I'm not really sure what that was about.
The entire establishment was very unprofessional, in my opinion, and I doubt I'll be back anytime soon for anything more than a beer...and I doubt I'll even be back for that.
Having a lot of trouble rating the 4P's this low, but it's been consistently mediocre.
First some context: having had relatives grow up here, I've heard about the 4P's as the stuff of legends my whole life. Â Needless to say I had some pretty high expectations.
Except that the balloon has been completely burst. The food here is mediocre at best, the prices are high, the service is sub-par, and their St. Patrick's Day party had a cover and then was disappointing. Â First experience came in here with basketball jersey's on looking for a bar to watch the game at, and it sounded like the needle screeched off the record. Â Second experience was ok. Third was on St. Pat's, where they charged a $10 cover, had no drink specials, had a limited menu, no block party (just a small, smoky tent out front), and forget about eating in the restaurant - if you were a party of 2 they try to seat you in between the empty seats of a large party, and then they have both start and stop times for reservations to kick you out. Â
4P's I've really tried to love you, but I'm not sure it's working out.
Great place if you are 100% Irish.
IF  YOU  ARE  ANY  OTHER  WHITE  OR  GOD  FORBID, RACE,  you  are  NOT  welcome!
Endured appalling rude remarks & treatment -- not only from the management, but actually from the OWNER -- to the extent our large party left because we felt so uncomfortable. Â They made it clear they did not want business from such an "eclectic" group. Â I seriously thought their heads were going to explode when they found out my colleague they had assumed was black, was actually an islander from Haiti. Â
This experience made me feel as though I was sent in a time capsule back to the 60's. Â This establishment needs to acknowledge that, as much as they WISH they were in Ireland, they are in AMERICA. Â And we have a little law called the Civil Rights Acts. Â Ignorance MUST be bliss!
P.S. Food was bland (but maybe it's because I'm a "foreigner" who prefers some spice & seasoning) and my mom has a better soda bread recipe.
I love this place. I have been coming here on and off for 2 years now and it is a great place to relax in the evening and have a few drinks. The outside seating is great during the warmer months and its location in Falls Church is perfect.
Food:
Irish/pub fare is great: fish and chips, good, Beef and Guiness stew, AMAZING, shepards pie, Good.
I have never been to the pub quiz, but i support anywhere that has it.
The bar staff are great and so are the normal wait staff.
They also have one of the better selections of pub fare in the area.
Where do I start? Â Tommy and Johnny are fantastic bar-tenders! Â They are quick to remember you and one barely waits too long for a drink! Â Overall, the entire staff is really great, most of them authentically Irish. Â
The food is pretty darn good, especially their Sunday brunch! Â For $15, they have fresh fruits (strawberries and creme!), vegetables, a salad bar, a vast array of pastries and breads, potato leek soup, bread pudding, macaroni and cheese, eggs, bacon, sausage, eggs benedict with hollandaise, shepherd's pie, roast beef, omelet bar, mashed potatoes, home fries with veggies, and so much more. Â If visiting, this is a MUST do. Â
For dinner, you get two types of soda bread with every meal, it's actually flavorful and somewhat moist. Â Personally, I'm in love with their Cobb salad, potato leek soup, macaroni and cheese, and any seafood dish.
The atmosphere is what always brings me back. Â The outdoor patio is wonderful and so is the inside of the restaurant. Â Oh, did I mention they have pub quizzes on Wednesdays along with live music weekly? Â They also deck out for holidays. Â What's not to love?
A basic Irish Pub. Â They have bartenders with the real deal Irish accents, which I must admit is pretty hot. Â They've got a great beer selection and a really nice full bar. Â The food is okay, but it's nothing special. Â The servers are wonderful -- once you've been there a few times, they remember you and what you like to drink, and if you've been there as many times as I have, they even remember what you usually order to eat.
They have Pub Trivia on Wednesday nights and that's always a good time. Â On the weekends they have Irish bands. Â Not my thing, but I do think it's pretty cool.
I've been here several times, all for dinner, and it's a great neighborhood restaurant. I'd say an important goal for a restaurant like this is to have food that is consistently good, rather than extraordinary or hit-and-miss. The 4Ps delivers consistently good food. Rubens, Guinness steak, fish and chips, curry fries, shepherd's pie, are all good.
What makes the 4Ps an extraordinary restaurant isn't the food though, it's the community feeling.They take the effort to hire Irish students to wait tables. Regulars attend Pub Quiz. Some nights they have live irish music, where dancing is encouraged. I think I can best summarize that community feeling by telling you a story about my two friends.
Last weekend my friends were getting married when a forecast of rain for Saturday, (and a crappy hotel management) meant their outdoor wedding plans went bust. They managed to find another ceremony site, but still struggled to find a place for a 40 person reception. They are 4P's regulars, and on Friday evening, they called the 4P's and asked for a 40 person reservation. "Sure, no problem, not for you guys!"
This was the best wedding, best party, heck, even one of the best nights EVER. It was all because of the 4Ps and the crazy irish band playing that night. Even though our party was huge service was spot on.
4Ps has a special place in my heart.
IFP is your typical Irish bar/restaurants, but they do have a nice outdoor patio area, even if it doesn't overlook glorious rt 7. Â Beer selection is about what you might expect to find with the usual american brews, as well Smithwick's and Guiness. Â One highlight though was that they offered a microbrew, but didn't say who brewed it. Â I think it's called Irish Red or something to that effect. Â It was pretty good. Â The food was all decent, but portions seemed small. Â $13 for fish 'n chips which barely even filled me.
If you work in the area, then IFP would make for an acceptable happy hour spot. Â I wouldn't really go out of my way, but wouldn't be upset if someone wanted to come here.
Thought the Sunday brunch buffet for $15 was good. The variety was alright...with lots of breads and pastries...and the important stuff like, smoked salmon, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, shepherds pie, etc.
It seemed the feeling here was home-style cooking, with the small-town mom-and-pops family shop atmosphere, warming greeting regulars by name. Waiter was friendly and attentive.
I thought the food was pretty good and left happy...although my one suggestion would be to label the foods. Will be looking forward to coming back here again.
With Jim Norton doing a comedy show at the State Theater down the road, we needed to find a bar that we could imbibe at as well as eat a meal that would be a good base for a long night of drinking. Â We spotted Ireland's Four Provinces on Route 7. Â Upon entering, it seemed to be a standard Irish pub. Â Something about it felt more neighborly than the pubs I'm used to in Arlington. Â Probably something to do with there not being 8 billion 24 year old Arlingtonians talking about how sweet their congressional liaison job is. Â It definitely skewed to an older crowd, as would be expected in Falls Church.
We were seated and we all ordered burgers. Â This was only because 2 items that we ordered were out already. Â Yes 2. Â At 6:30 PM. Â On a Friday night. Â Great kitchen planning. Â We settled for the burger. Â It came out overdone and unseasoned. Â It might have been the most mediocre burger I've ever had. Â Clearly a frozen patty and cheap grocery store brand American cheese. Â The fries were OK, but not impressive. Â The Guinness I ordered was not allowed to settle and did not arrive to the table the way a Guinness should. Â Let's just say Four Provinces won't be winning any Guinness Perfect Pour awards from the brewery. Â
Overall, Four Provinces is fine if you are in the area and need a place to go. Â I would never recommend traveling any distance to come here. Â Four Courts is far better, and a more authentic experience.
As a place to grab a few drinks with friends in Falls Church, I think this is a good spot to do it. Â The atmosphere is casual, and at the time I was there (after work/start of dinner), I was able to have a conversation with my friend without having to shout over loud music. Â The waiter never pressured us into leaving the booth or having to order food from the menu.
Brunch is another story. Â For $15 (which I thought was a bit pricy for what you get), you receive an all you can eat buffet, virgin bloody mary mixing station, and orange juice - if you wanted to turn your drinks into a real bloody mary or mimosa the alcohol was extra. Â The food was okay - I felt it was more of an upscale version of the Best Western's continental breakfast with an omelet station.
Since the restaurant we originally planned to go to didn't open til 5:30pm, we walked down the street to the Four P's (I still owe you, CM). Â
I don't know how I've never written a review for this place, since I've been countless times in the past. Â The Four Ps has never disappointed me; it's one of those places where you can get some very good comfort food, along with some great service. Â
I foolishly ordered fries with curry sauce as an appetizer (note to self: Â NO Â MORE FRIES!!!). Â The fries were soooooo good...nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Â My main course was the Guinness Stew, which was served over a small mound of mashed potatoes. Â I've always loved both the stew and the Shepherd's Pie; both dishes are hearty and filling.
If you're in the neighborhood, stop on in. Â I don't think you'll be disappointed!
After months of heat and humidity, a storm front broke through the Metro DC area - cooling the air and covering the skies with a grey pall of darkness and drizzle. Â And since the weather showed its first detour from the relentless summer heat, I celebrated the rainy day as only an Irishman can - by walking into a local tavern for warm, hearty comfort food.
The first thing I noticed was a lively bar and a restaurant from another decade. Â The booths, seating layout and traditional interior seemed like a reminder of the 1970s. Â I liked it. Â It felt like putting on a favorite sweatshirt or catching up with an old friend.
The hostess accommodated a special request for a booth by the window, and a reasonably friendly server provided menus and helpfully provided entree suggestions. Â This all under the watchful eye of the 4P's Irish manager who helped to clear tables, and talked to each patron to check on their enjoyment of food and service.
I ordered a cup of the Potato and Leek Soup, in addition to the Whiskey Chicken Tullamore. Â The soup's creamy and buttery potato flavor hit the spot, although I would have preferred a stronger leek/onion flavor.
The Whiskey Chicken Tullamore was a well-prepared chicken breast sauteed in a Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey cream sauce. Â The sauce was delicious, and would have tasted great over my mashed potatoes, too - but the kitchen was a bit stingy with it.
3.5 to 4 stars - I thought the food was quite good, and I loved the atmosphere sitting by the window, overlooking the busy square on a rainy day. Â My meal was about $20, which may be slightly on the high side for comfort food, but it's not unreasonable. Â 4Ps sits in a great location, and has lots of outdoor seating for milder weather. Â I would recommend it for casual, lazy dinners, eating out when the folks or grandparents are in town, enjoying a few pints at the bar or comfortable solo dining. Â Enjoy!
I had an unexpected fun time at the 4P's. Â My group hadn't intended on eating there, but we showed up early for a concert at State theater and stumbled across it just down the block.
The hostess who seated us, and who I think may have been one of the owners, was very friendly and had the real-deal Irish brogue.
It's a typical suburban crowd - a mix of ages from a few people in their 20's to patrons your grandparent's age.  It definitely tilted towards the gray haired crowd though  There seemed to be a lot of regulars and a good crowd hanging out at the bar.  The food was decent, and unlike some other reviewers my table enjoyed the live Irish/folk music (and we're all in our late 20's and early 30's).
I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a chill place to hang in Falls Church where you can actually enjoy a beer AND a conversation without too much din or you want to take your parents or family for a night out that everyone can enjoy.
The 4P's, as this place is more commonly known, is great for a casual get together [say you're meeting up with old friends] but I wouldn't recommend it for too much else.
That being said, get the right group of people together and the 4P's has just the right atmosphere to make for a really fantastic night. They play music [come on the right night and you might get to see a live set, which ranges in quality like most live sets do] but it's not TOO LOUD. And this is coming from someone who frequently likes to blast her music to a disturbing level in the car. Loud music doesn't bother me. Unless, that is, it's in a restaurant where I'm trying to talk to people without making myself hoarse.
Like I believe most people do, I don't go to the 4P's for the food, or even the service. It's not that the food is bad. It isn't. But it's nothing to write home about either. [Good beer, though, if you're into beer. If you like wine or the fancy bar drinks, then I might ask what you're doing in an Irish establishment.] The same goes for the service. Depending on who you get it can range from pretty good to pretty bad, but the servers have personality and are relatively friendly. [Most are local college and high school students.]
No, the 4P's is somewhere you go for the experience. We used to go for the Wednesday night trivia tournament [which has since grown in popularity to the point that you pretty much HAVE to get people there earlier to scout a good table lest you be left standing]. Go in a group of two to five people on Wednesday and they'll give you a sheet of twenty questions [you can bring more but you'll have to split yourselves up in the honor of fairness]. Pick a team name and off you go! [But you can't take Yorgus Blackbeard, that's ours. Long story, don't ask.] Amy, the quizmaster will give you a hint on one of the questions if you're stuck for an answer [if you're reeeally charming she might give you more].
On nice nights, you can take a seat outside. The place can get really packed, but they do take call-aheads if you're thinking in advance [generally better if you have a particularly large group]. While nothing spectacular, the 4P's does offer a lot in personality [if they're wrestling with the PA system you're in for a treat], and sometimes that's all that you want.
Not bad. Â Pretty much the only game in town if you want something other than fast food or Thai. Â I find the food to be OK and the service to be friendly and iffy. Â Good people, no organization. Â Every time I have eaten there, they are talking about how they are short staffed. Still, if you accept that things are going to take time, it is a great place to relax.
If you get the Irish stuff, it is alright. I find the specials to be good. Especially, the fish.
I had hoped that 4Ps would be a good place to hang out. It's close to home, and I love an Irish Pub. I went with my roommate on a Friday night and found that it was nowhere near full, and the crowd was not what I've come to expect based on other Irish Pubs in the area. There were a lot of families with young children, as well as older couples - and the live music was far from stellar.
As far as the food was concerned, I don't generally expect much from Irish food, but everything that we had was exceptionally bland. I don't know how you can go wrong with fish and chips, but 4Ps did.
Overall, bland food, bland atmosphere, average service. Nothing really makes this one stand out.
Okie, I'm of Scottish decent - so while this place is Irish, it's still a close Gaelic cousin. The Guinness is properly pulled, (not drafted!) and the pints are well established with the right size head and consistancy. If you've ever expereinced a bruised Guinness, and know what I'm talking about - then this is the place to come to scratch that itch. Bass is similarly served, and properly done so.
The large bar has the rugby matches or the soccer games on, and as Gayle said - Tuesdays and Saturdays live Irish or folk music bands provide some lively fare.
I'd normally recommend the fish and chips, but the chips aren't real chips - so I can't. But the Sheppard's pie is outstanding, and something you should try if you're looking for a comfort meal. Outside eating is fine, but the traffic from the street can make hearing things a bit dodgey at times. But, personally - I like the decorations on the interior better - and the music when it's being played is usually a nice addition to the evening.
Go for BRUNCH! This is a great brunch spot. So good that it is worth the drive from DC into Falls Church!
Smoked salmon, fresh pineapple, strawberries with real whipped cream, blueberry bread made into french toast, rice pudding, cinnamon rolls, eggs, great bacon, shepard's pie, eggs benedict, scones, pastries, omelet bar.... and I couldn't fit anymore on my plate, so I stopped paying attention to the rest.
Make your own Bloody Mary's and Freshly Squeezed OJ for screwdrivers. We had a group of 8 and walked out with a $160 bill, after many a drinks and full bellies. It was a lot of fun and the best brunch buffet I've had since Mother's Day in some fancy restaurant a long time ago.
Meh.
You want this place to be good. Â In the spring you want to sit on the patio and have drinks and food and fun in the nice weather.
The service anywhere but at the bar is sub-par. Â The food is not good. Â The drinks are too expensive when you have to work so hard to get them. Â
The big projection screen in the bar area is great to watch games. Â I've really enjoyed a couple bartenders there. Â I wish the management would pick it up a notch because this would be a good addition to the area.
You are not imagining it. There used to be another Four Provinces on Connecticut Avenue in D.C. For some reason the owner of both of these spots changed the name of his D.C. restaurant to something else. Anyway, this place great for dinner or a night out if you are looking for a quiet hang during the week.
The crowd here skews older (not that there is anything wrong with that). The waiters and bartenders are friendly. There's live music Tuesday through Saturday night. that is either really good or "eh." The beers here include Guinness and Bass.
Foodwise I recommend the fish and chips or the "Kerry Gold" sandwich (turkey reuben) .
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