Can't believe this place is still in business. Â We went to the Harkin's Theater for an evening movie and decided to have a later evening dinner after, reverse of our norm. Â Upon leaving the theater we quickly realized that we would have to walk somewhere to eat dinner since the roads in the vicinity were in gridlock, the Peoria Stadium had just finished up their 4th of July festivities. Â We were quite happy to see Johnny Fox's Public House on the end of the parking lot. Â The outside of the building looked inviting so we decided to try it. Â We were greeted by a very nice blonde hostess who quickly brought us to a cozy booth in the bar area. Â As she sat us, she handed us 3 regular menus, and 3 "late night" menus (it was 10:05pm). Â I excused myself and went to the restroom (which was far from clean). Â On the back of the stall door and by the sinks I noticed posted signs that discussed their happy hour and times, 10pm being "Reverse HH". Â Right after I sat back down at the table, the hostess began picking presentation signs up off of all the table. Â I noticed it was the HH signs. Â Hmmm. Â About that time, the server came back to our table and said "Sorry, the kitchen has taken down their line for the regular menu, we only have the late night menu", and he removed the menus from our table. Â I then asked about the HH. Â He said that they didn't do HH on holidays (not stated on the flyers, table menu or even their website that I looked at later). Â Since we needed time to look at the alternate menu, we asked for a few minutes to decide. Â I looked around and other tables that were just being sat were still being given the standard menu, even though by this time it was well after 10. Â We asked to speak to the manager. Â A dark haired man in a cheesy royal blue jacket came to our table side. Â When I told him our concerns and said we would not be ordering anything else and would like to pay our check (my husband had ordered a drink), he just said, "I'm sorry you feel that way, Â would you like me to take care of that for you" (meaning our bill). Â I figured he would at least give us HH price on the 1 beer, but no, instead he ran our credit card for the full amount and brought it back. I have to say, we go out to eat about 3-4 times a week and with all of the wonderful restaurants to choose from in the Phoenix are, we will not make the mistake of going to Johnny Fox's Public House ever again.
Review Source:This barley got 2 stars. Took my family there for Mothers Day Brunch and although some of the breakfast items were tasty the rest was less than desirable. The table was filthy with gum under the chairs that you had to scoot in. The bathrooms were just disgusting. It was 100 outside and 85 inside. The server we had was sweet and attentive but the serving staff at the buffet were rude and presentation was not important to them at all. By the way assorted desserts really means some dry coffee cakes and nothing to write home about. Also they charged us for my nephew who should have been free and even Ice tea was not included in the brunch price. We will not being going back there. We did mention this to the Manager on our way out very politely and we just were looked at like we were crazy.. you win some and you loose some they just lost 5 customers :(
Review Source:Great food choices with many different items you will not find everywhere. The fish and chips were very good and they give you the option of Cod or Seabass. I had the Seabass and enjoyed it very much. Service was a bit rushed but good. Many restaurants ask if you want dessert before you are finished with your dinner and I do not like that. I want to go back and try the Lamb stew. Worth a visit. Three bars in a large multi room restaurant so seating is quick at rush time if you are willing to sit at the bar. Give it a try!
Review Source:This is nothing like the previous Lis Doon Varna (which was arguably one of the best Irish restaurants in this corner of the valley) - only the building is the same. Very slow service, and the food was super greasy. One of the few pluses are the deserts and small portion options.
My daughter and I came in for lunch after an offsite school function. After getting an initial drink order in, it took quite some time for our server to return to take our main order.
We ordered Curry Chips as an appetizer. Comparing to our local Irish Wolfhound, the curry had good flavor, but was far too thin to adequately coat the fries.
I ordered a lunch portion Guinness and Beef Cobbler. It was bland and greasy. The Guinness flavor was there, but was overpowered by the amount of oil in the sauce. The puff pastry seemed like it had been prepared hours prior and wasn't all that warm.
My daughter ordered the Chicken and Leek pie. It appeared to be topped with a very hard biscuit. The pie contents were oily and bland (needed salt).
For both of our plates, the vegetable side had good flavor (sauteed with onions), but was also quite oily.
Once we had finished our meal (or were ready to box the remains), it took some time to get our server's attention for both refills and to order desert.
There was some redemption for desert. I ordered some bread pudding (to take home to my wife.). I took a few bites before packaging it up. The sauce was sweet and pungent of the whiskey used to make it. My daughter ordered something chocolaty that she claimed was heaven.
I suppose if they had some sort of live event where I was only eating desert and beer, I'd be compelled to return, but I wouldn't recommend this place for any sort of solid Irish fare for a main meal.
Very impressed with this fun place at Arrowhead! Food was yum, service was pretty good! We were initially seated inside but it was such a nice night that we asked to be moved outside to the patio--NO PROBLEM! We got in a corner booth and it was perfect.
The only thing that keeps me from giving this 5 stars is that for those of us not imbibing in alcohol...we had to BEG for refills. And those were sparse at best. Hate that. :(
But, the food was quite yum. We had Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie, and Bangers and Mash. We also had the Corned Beef Nachos as a starter. All dishes were piping hot and very well seasoned without being over powering. I had the small portion of the Shepherd's Pie and it was just the right size. The side of veg on all of our dishes was sparse at best and very oily...and kind of an after thought but so be it. We also enjoyed the bread pudding, red velvet cake, and apple cake for dessert. The apple dessert really needed ice cream but was otherwise pretty good. The bread pudding was wonderful--not overly mushy. I'm not a red velvet fan but this one was moist and the frosting was super YUM!
All in all a good visit and I look forward to going back soon!
Went here for the first time and I loved it.  The décor was nice and the service was great. I had the fettuccine with lamb meatballs and the serving was huge. 4 enormous meatballs and plenty of pasta. My daughter had the BBQ chicken sandwich and it was delicious. There were plenty of beers on tap to choice from. The server mentioned that they offer half off all food Mon-Thurs from 3pm to 6pm. Will definitely be back.
Review Source:I used to really love coming here for beers after work when I lived closer. The bartenders then were really nice, friendly, remembered names, etc. The Irish fare is impressive and the vibe was really old-timer-y and communal.
Try:
-fish and chips (get it with sea bass), very fresh
-bangers and mash (super tasty)
-pork shoulder or something of another... I think it was slow-roasted? Fall-apart quality
The last few times I've been, my gripes have been:
-unclassy patrons (a man stepping into the ladies room stall next to me, gross)
-horrible service (place is open until 2 am and the waitress was rude, unattentive, upset apparently that she had to close)
-silent bartenders
What happened, Johnny Fox's?
Three of us went to JF on the Saturday before St Patties to have an early dinner. There was a sign outside stating 2 for 18$ prime rib, potato, and soup. So they sat us at a table in the bar area. The tables are narrow and the seats didn't move so we all had to scoot forward which isn't so comfortable.
The young waiter came to the table and did not welcome us or greet us, he just asked what we wanted to drink and left. So we ordered the prime rib, the funny thing is he asked how we wanted it cooked. Â To my knowledge, prime rib is always rare??? Then he asked what we wanted on the potato, one of us stated fully loaded in which he stated, that's a two dollar upcharge. Then, I ordered a Caesar salad, which I never received...
So the young man, with blonde hair told us how tired he was since he bought a jeep last night and went out in the dunes drinking...no excuse for poor service though.
The meal was good, nothing special though. Â Oddly enough, we never got our soup which was stated on the sign outside...maybe the guy who got my salad got our soup?
I eat out everyday, and in Peoria its very competitive for your dollar. JF is in a building that another pub failed in...nuff said.
I would email JF, but their website is under construction.
click on the picture to see the sign...never got the soup never got the salad
johnnys  please respond to me
My hubby and I were just there for a happy hour dinner. Â Unbelievable!! Â I had the best sea bass I've ever eaten, served with ginger rice and sauteed veggies (mostly yellow and green summer squash and onions). Â The fish rested on a sauce that was delish, something with corn and slightly sweet. Â I also enjoyed two glasses of the house chard which was nice. Â My hubby had a huge plate of corn beef and cabbage with little red potatoes and carrotts. Â And he enjoyed two glasses of Harp. Â The bill was $37 total (without tip). Â
The trick is to go during Happy Hour (M through F from 3PM to 6PM). Â All the food on the menu is 1/2 price and the food is wonderful. Â There are also great prices on drinks during that time. Â Our waiter was friendly and checked back frequently to make sure we were OK. Â Nice Nice Nice. Â I am looking forward to our next trip back. Â Only trouble is now I don't think I'll order anything other than the sea bass!!
I have only attended this place for their Sunday brunch but that is what keeps bringing my family back. You are always greeted with smiles and the wait staff is fast and talkative. We enjoy the fact that the brunch is loaded with food and for my husband meat choices. My daughter loves being able to eat all the fresh fruit she can and have a bunch of olives to go with it! My only compliant is that the buffet needs more room, it is often hard to navigate around other people or food.
Review Source:So this place looked like it had the potential of relying on novelty without the quality to back it up, like so many other places in Phoenix that try their hand at originality. It turned out to be not so bad. It wasn't the greatest place I've been, it wasn't nearly the greatest Irish pub I've been, but it was ok. Not three stars A-OK, but just ok.
I'm not a huge fan of Irish pubs to begin with, just because there are so many of them in the Valley and it's hard to find one that has the deep character and history to make it a good pub. Most of them just rely on the novelty of being an Irish pub and fail to hold up. And it's always an Irish pub. It's like it's state law or something that if you open a pub around here it has to be an Irish one. However, this is one of very few places in the Peoria area that isn't a chain restaurant. Nobody does chains like the greater Phoenix area! So I wanted to try it.
On the outside, they did a great job making it look like an old Irish cottage type house. Very inviting compared to the strip malls around here. The inside was pretty cool. It had a lot of character. Plenty of books stacked in corners and in bookcases on the history and social aspects of Ireland. There was an entire wall of photos of JFK. So, in case you didn't realize that you walked into an Irish pub from the looks of the outside, there was no mistaking you were in one now. Aesthetic qualities.
Where this place failed, and one of the only reasons I didn't give it more stars, were the prices. Definitely priced too high for the type of place it is. I even went during happy hour, and the prices were still too high for a pint, and even for the food. It was quite disappointing since the website clearly states "Half off entire menu!" and that was not the case at all.
Go to this address: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjohnnyfoxspublichouse.com%2F&s=9528153976791957585536350ea098645bed23fb842a155471ed327eaba7f528" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://johnnyfoxspublich…</a>
Look under the tab Events, and under the happy hour times you'll see it. Half off entire menu.
No, they had a very small menu with select choices from the main menu that were almost half off, but the entrees were also half sized. I hate it when they do that.
The beer was only a dollar off the regular price, but $3 well drinks. I got my staple, whiskey sour, which was a little on the sweet side. And they downsized my second one. Seriously. They brought it out in a smaller glass. Almost unnoticeable if you weren't paying attention. Maybe try that when I'm three or four drinks in. Not when I'm just starting. So I cut off the drinking at that point.
The only really impressive part to this visit was the bangers and mash dish I ordered from the happy hour menu at $8. It was smashing.
I can't see myself going back to this place, and that's mainly because of the prices. Too high for what it is. And also because of the false advertisement on the website. That was just irritating.
This place is ok, but we probably wouldn't go back. Â The good part is the nice selection of draft beers, and good friendly service. Â However neither of us were impressed with our meals. Â I had a house burger, which was rather thin, dry, and overcooked (ordered medium rare, they say they cook to order). Â Not terrible but just a rather generic burger. Â My wife ordered a spinach and cheese dip that had extremely little cheese.
Review Source:Last night my husband and I decided to try a new restaurant, so we went to Johnny Fox's Public House in Peoria. The hostess gave us a nice greeting at the door and we were seated in a booth. The initial greeting by the waitress was friendly and she provided some suggestions from the menu. When asking about the drink menu, she wasn't really able to provide any ideas, so my husband spoke with a bartender in regards to a good drink.  The guy was really cool and suggested an awesome blueberry drink.  He immediately made the drink and sat it on the  pick up area. Our waitress failed to return for quite some time and another waitress after passing us for a third time asked if we were waiting for the drinks. We replied, "Yes" so she was the one who ended up serving the drinks to us.
From the dinner menu, my husband ordered the lamb meatball sliders and  I ordered the Fish n Chip meal which I upgraded to the more expensive seabass. The food arrived just shortly after getting our drinks, and my husband enjoyed the sliders.  I began eating my fish.  Initially it tasted good, but as I worked my way through the fish it became harder and harder to cut apart.  I kept eating around the outer edges of fish as this was the only part that I could manage to cut of with my fork. Although I questioned the toughness, the lighting was dark in our booth area and I did not notice the fish was raw.  As I got back to the middle of the fish strip, I kept struggling with cutting it apart so I decided not to finish it. At this point, my husband grabbed the other strip and went to cut into it and immediately stated, "This fish is completely raw."
Then, I came to the scary realization that I had been eating raw fish! Since the booth area was so dark I didn't recognize that this was the problem with my fish and now I'm left with the fear of contracting some sort of bacterial bug from eating raw fish! In fact, I've had a headache all day, and I'm wondering if it is from the undercooked fish.
We pointed out the problem when the waitress returned and she stated she would get a replacement. She returned with ONE strip of fish which was definitely the cod (cheaper fish on the menu) rather than the seabass. In addition, it was fried to a very dark brown, overcooked. Therefore, making us question the attitude/motive of the cook, "Was this done deliberately?" Â Â When the waitress returned, my husband questioned about the type of fish that was served as the replacement. She stated it was the seabass, but appeared annoyed with the question.
She left and returned with my refill drink AND the check as I was looking at the dessert menu. She did not ask if we were interested in a dessert nor did she offer to comp something from our ticket for the raw fish mishap. Instead, she proceeded to stand guard near our table in an attempt to pressure us out of the restaurant.
I was incredibly disappointed in the lack of concern from their mistake of serving completely raw fish. If the waitress would have offered another comp (such as a free drink or dessert) after we pointed out the replacement was cod versus what we paid for on the tab then we would have felt the management had a genuine loyalty to its customers. Â OR Even if the manager would have paid us a visit after the error was brought to the waitress's attention, it would have demonstrated their genuine commitment to their customer satisfaction and excellent service.
Honestly, this has been the worst experience I've EVER had in a restaurant. I have NEVER written a review, but this careless food preparation and lack of concern for the customer has prompted me to take the time to write one. Although I do not ever plan to return to this establishment, my hope is the restaurant will be more careful in their food preparation, so someone does not get sick from raw meat. Â Particularly me!
My husband and I finally had a chance for a date night. We wanted to do dinner and movie. After looking at reviews and show times, I saw that we could hit their happy hour and then catch the flick. The happy hour is advertised as 3-6 M-F where everything is half off. So we planned our Friday date around that.
So husband got off work early so we could hit the happy hour. It was packed!. We got there around 525 and there was already a wait. The place was packed! Fortunately, the bar was available so we sat down there. Well, we were in for disappointment because we found out that they no longer do that amazing happy hour on Fridays. You just have some drink specials and a smaller menu. We were very sad. We picked ourselves up by the bootstraps and carried on though, and ordered from the happy hour menu.
I ordered the shrimp poppers and he got the fish fry. The fish fry is all you can eat. Anyways, we enjoyed our drinks and waited for our food.
The food came and my husbands fish were chicken tenders. They also ran out of cocktail and tartar sauce.
Now I know you are thinking? Well, why are they ranking this place 4 stars? Sometimes it is not about the experience, but how they handle it and fix things. People are busy and are going to make mistakes. Johnny Foxes recognized that they messed up, and they gave us a big discount on the meal. That is true customer service and we appreciated that.
So would I go there again? Yes I would. They offered excellent customer service and I appreciated that.
PS they have groupons a lot so keep you eye out
Wasn't a bad experience. Went there tonight with some friends. My friends salad came out quick but the rest of the meal seemed to come out a little slow. I ordered some apps, friend a sandwich and the other just ordered soup. I got the irish sausage with grilled shallots in puff pastry with spicy brown mustard and a cup of french onion soup. I enjoyed the puff pastry. The sausage was fine, I would of enjoyed more of the caramelized shallots, but the mustard was great and the puff pastry was crispy. I wasn't thrilled with the soup. It had a good quantity of onions, but I didn't like the broth. It seemed too rich but not in a good way. Seemed like it was boiled down too much.
I stayed away from the beer just because of the $6.00 cost. Waitress was good and informed us of the happy hour; menu 1/2 price from 3-6pm. I can't say I would rush back, but for happy hour I would give some of the other menu items a shot.
Usually come here on Friday nights with my friends who are regulars.
Food is pretty solid the lamb meatballs and Johnny's nachos are very popular with our group. Even their ranch dressing is really good and I am not a big ranch fan. I also like the Guinness stew.
The only thing keeping this place from being a full 5 stars is that it's probably a bit on the pricy side for what it is. Beers start at $6 (i think I haven't had one cheaper) and pretty much any food item is $10+ with sandwiches at $12. Shave a couple bucks off and they would be in solid 5 star contention.
The service here is also good as all the servers are friendly, keep up well with groups and splitting checks (always hard since our group can be anywhere from 4-12), and they are willing to joke around with us and not throw us out (always a possibility with our non-pc humor and discussions).
This is a really neat looking place and probably the best looking Irish restaurant I have visited. Both the outside and inside are beautiful!
I have been here a couple of times and once was for St. Patrick's Day. I had a lot of fun and would give the restaurant a higher rating, although I don't find the food to be all that good and its kind of expensive.
They went all out on the decor, which I love, but I wish the food was a little better!
We have only been here three times, but plan on being back when are in the neighborhood. Â Each time has been different from our end (once as a couple, another with friends, the last with our baby), and in each unique visit, everything was great. Â The food is great, the atmosphere warm. Â The drinks are crafted, not poured!
On our last visit, we had Sean (spelling?) as our server, and he was awesome! Â He took the time to welcome us, go through our menu questions, make suggestions when asked, not as a "salesman", and was attentive to our experience. Â He also recommended similar places throughout the Valley once he found out that we lived nowhere near JF's.
Overall great. Â Thank you Johnny Fox's!
My bf and I wandered in here to enjoy a beer and kill a half hour before a movie a few weeks ago. Â I would sum this place up in one word: CHARMING.
We sat out on the patio because there were two decent musicians doing acoustic covers. Â The bartenders were attentive and knowledgeable about the beer selection. Â I was impressed by the friendly staff, cleanliness, and overall charm of this English/Irish restaurant's decor.
Our intention was just to have a drink, and then, the craziest thing happened - the large group at a neighboring table was served some of the most delicious-looking food I have ever seen - and suddenly I just HAD to see a menu. Â I sat there, minutes before we left to go to the movie, openly gawking at these people's food. Â We are talking juicy steaks, garlic potatoes, sauteed garden veggies, and succulent sausages. Â I had already eaten dinner, and yet I was practically drooling because that food looked and smelled so good.
After the movie, we could not resist but return to try the fare. Â I'm a sucker for a good fish fry, so we split the walleye and fries with an added side of sauteed summer squash. Â The portions were large, the taste was amazing, and the veggies were as good as they looked. Â We could not help but try the bread pudding; I was smitten.
This place is NOT cheap; if it were less expensive, I would have probably been back several times. Â Drinks, dinner, and dessert for two adds up quickly. Â However, it is the kind of place I would take a guest from out of town or celebrate a special occasion. (Or, it is a great choice if you know someone else is going to pick up the check ;) ) Â It is definitely a good value, though.
I look forward to my next visit!
MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BAR in the West Valley.
I am pretty picky when it comes to what I consider my 'home bar', but I don't expect too much. When it comes to Johnny Fox's Public House, they have pretty much all that I need in a bar.
FOOD
This restaurant would receive 5 stars in my book, but because I am not a fan of authentic Irish food I can't call this place PERFECT for me, although it is pretty damn close. The desserts are amazing here, and that's what I can often times be found eating. The Jameson ice cream is to die for, and the red velvet cake is heavenly! Everything else is pretty foreign to me, literally. Bangers and mash? Lamb meatball sliders? Mussels and chips? This might all seem rather appealing to your taste buds, however, mine say 'negative ghostrider'! However, the wonderful staff and relaxing ambiance makes up for the non-appetizing entrees.
DRINKS/STAFF
You can find a good drink everywhere, but can you find an equally as awesome bartending staff? I have had a good experience with every person who has ever served me. Particularly my boyfriend and I are fond of the bartender named 'Timmy'. He is attentive, friendly, humorous, and always takes care of us! When you work for the 'industry' (ex: bartender, server, etc) you are always looked after at Johnny Fox's. They offer a 25% off discount for industry folk, which really comes in handy! Getting even a little discount on my tab makes me feel welcome, like family, and who am I kidding.. it makes me wanna leave a better tip; these bartenders will take care of those who take care of them. PLUS, they always remember us!
AMBIANCE
I have heard this bar is slammed and busy on weekend nights, which is great for business and most people, however I prefer my bars quiet and humble. On weekend nights when the restaurant is a lot more lively I have heard they often times have bands, deejays, and groovin' tunes. They also have two bars inside and one outside; the outdoor patio is huge and offers an equally inviting atmosphere. I can often times be found at Johnny Fox's in the deep evening (between the hours of 8pm-10pm). The bar is a little emptied out, but that's just how I like it.
This place is by far my number one pick when it comes to choosing a bar to hang out at.
This review is based on the times we have been there for dinner.
I have had seafood stew that is quite good, a shepherds pie the was good, great Irish beer and nice low hum of conversation. We have eaten at two of the bars in different areas of the restaurant and both times were pleasant. The bar tenders were attentive and genial. We ate in the main dining area at a tall table, I think the seats could be a better height, but that is neither here nor there. Didn't affect my opinion of the place. Our servers in the main dining area were attentive and on the go, it was a busy night, and we were never forgotten. It was overall a good experience each time and has kept us coming back again and again.
THEY RIPPED ME OFF SHAMELESSSS!!!!!!! The bartender brought my bill when I was ready to leave and he added 1 dollar per drink I guess he thought I was drunk or stupid!!!! When asked about it he said ah ah well I guess you got the in the biz discount at the bar? hhhmmmm bad idea to try this with afederal officer what a dork does his boss know he does this on A WEEKDAY!!!!!!!! wow never going back I sure hope i see him for breakfast at the joint soon. Be sure you check your bill and check what the REAL price for drinks are, how embarressing he must be to have to try to take people's money on an outside bar, I hope the popo that patrol the DUI alley by his bar get him one night -NO SHAME and then he didn't even ask if I wanted my change!!!!
Review Source:This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet, as have never ordered off menu here.
My 71 year old father bought a Groupon for Sunday brunch buffet  for 4, which included one Bloody Mary or Mimosa each, & was a great deal for $40. I was a bit leery as JF's has only been doing the brunch for about a month, & buffet menu was not mentioned on their website. We've recently been to another restaurant which couldn't keep up with the Groupon demand, but Johnny Fox's seems to, for the most part  have their act together.
We arrived at 10:55 am, 5 minutes before the buffet was supposed to begin, and there were already about 40 people lined up outside the locked doors. By 11:00, there must have been 100, and they didn't open the doors until about 11:05 - first only allowing in the diners who had reservations. Make sure you book!
We were seated at a great booth, the Irish music playing wasn't too loud, & the atmosphere was impressively authentic. The staff milling about were very polite. According to our friendly waiter, they made sure the restaurant was extremely well-staffed for the buffets.
First the waiter took our drink orders, which was unique as we had a choice of the waiter bringing out glasses (for those of us who chose Bloody Mary's) to take ourselves to a build-your own Bloody Mary bar. The bartender traded the glasses for a fresh, cold pint glass filled with ice & a generous shot of vodka. The BM bar was very well stocked with several hot sauces, different condiments & pickles, and hot horseradish. It was really nice to be able to make it the way I like it.
Back at the table, the waiter brought us large plates for the buffet, which is spread in a separate room. It was joyful to see the plentiful items - shrimp, salmon, sea bass, oysters, carving station ham & prime rib, leg of lamb chunks, stuffed pork loin, cold cuts, fruit, salads, as well as the usual breakfast items like O'brien potatoes, scrambled eggs, applwood smoked bacon, french toast, etc. The food was all elegantly presented & kept stocked. Food was overall very good, however our only complaints were that the hot items were not held hot enough (cold by the time back to the table); the lamb tasted somewhat "gamey"; the prime rib was surprisingly tough, and there could have been some poultry selections instead of just red meats & seafood. We all managed to fill a second plate, and were all stuffed! There were numerous selections of pastries & cakes to choose from for dessert.
The only surprise on the bill was that there was no tax added, & the Groupon covered all but the tip.
So for this review, the star rating goes as follows:
Value: 5 - fabulous deal for $40;
Service: 4.5 (being left to stand outside until 11:05 took half a star off)
Ambiance: 5
Selection: 4-4.5
Food: 3.5-4 (points off for temperature, tough beef)
I would definitely go back for the Groupon deal for sure, and it is still a pretty good deal for the regular price of around $20/plate.
I had to update... and upgrade... this review!
Since first opening... they completely shifted gears to become a legit Irish pub!
I met a buddy here, today, and hit the patio for a cigar and stout pint. Â First noticed change was all the UK beers on tap that now even include Murphy's Stout... which the bartender (they call him Flossy) actually knew how to pour!!
Next, they revamped the menu to include a TON of real Irish food... with a shepherd's pie that actually has lamb... and some Irish potato cakes served with eggs and baked beans!
They also play nothing but Irish music over the speakers... and have a live patio band almost every day...
Add, to all of this, that happy hour knocks a buck off every tap and half price on ALL the food... and this place has come around!!!
Regular pricing is still a bit steep for me to go 5 stars...... but the place has won me over and I'll be back a lot more!
So it was Saturday night and my girlfriend wanted to try eating somewhere new. Â We have our favorites, but sometimes get bored. Â We ventured out to 'Restaurant Road' and came across Johnny Fox's Public House. Â
Very nice atmosphere, cool furniture and tall ceilings. Â It has a very inviting vibe (if that makes sense). Â For an appetizer we had potato cakes which oddly had egg on top. Â I was good.
For an entree, I had the Corn Beef sandwich and my girlfriend had the St. Patricks Day traditional Corn Beef, Cabbage and potatoes w/ carrots.
Dessert was upside-down apple cake w/ toffee sauce and candied pecans. Â A little too sweet for me, but very good.
We both enjoyed our meals and had lots of left-overs. Â The corn beef was extremely tender and lean. Â Never seen corn beef so lean before.
Service was great. Â I drink a lot of water and the waiter was kind enough to come often to refill my glass.
We are glad that we found Johnny's and will definitely be going back to try new dishes.
This is a real Irish Pub. Â It's not some cheap, Irish-themed sports bar where the most authentic thing on the menu is "Irish-Nachos." Â
Johnny Fox's, like Robbie Fox's (Tempe), has got it right: great food that is traditionally themed, great service and great craic (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCraic&s=026205f885ec822c80c8a9204de2b3a396db7ddb738c0e8f3ea275f215447679" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/…</a>).
It's a good place to just grab drinks or have a nice meal.
My girlfriend and I had the joy of coming here for lunch one Sunday a few weeks ago and was blown away by this awesome place.
You walk in and the place is different from room to room. It feels straight out of Ireland! Â I've never been, but it feels like it.. so yeah.
We sat outside because the weather was perfect. Â I've been to a pub over in Tempe Marketplace (forgot the name) and was not impressed with their bland food. Â This time I asked what was good just to make sure.
As we sat and looked at our menu, something caught my eye. Â Black Pudding. Â Being a fan of shows like Bizarre Foods and Anthony Bourdain. Â I knew what that was and it was time to try it. Â I told my girlfriend what it was and she said she'd try it.
For those who dont know what that is.. it's Blood Sausage.. yep.
I LOVED IT! Â ...she hated it. lol. Â I finished it off with some crackers and some sauce. Â Just tasty stuff!
We split a sandwich and a salad for our main course.
This place was just wonderful and I cant wait to go back!
We came here because every other restaurant in the strip of restaurants was packed and had a long wait time and we were trying to catch a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Johnny Fox's sat us right away with a smiling and friendly server who seemed genuinely excited to wait on us.
The atmosphere was a little loud but the place was hopping for a Friday night and it added to the liveliness of the restaurant. I wouldn't go here for a romantic, intimate dinner but it's obviously not that kind of restaurant.
The menu had tons of Irish options. What I liked was that besides the usual fish & chips and shepherd's pie, they had Guinness braised short ribs, lamb stew, bangers and mash, and seafood pie.  Their menu also had a American fare like spinach scallop dip and beet salad. Then there was  Mediterranean selections like gyros, Greek salad, and lamb sliders. And it all worked! It was a welcome surprise that there were lots of different menu items so everyone could get something they liked or you could mix and match!
In and out with full bellies and in time to catch the Padres beat the Giants. All in all a good night.
You can't mess up a place with great beer and when you pair that with a respectable menu then you get Fans like me! Â
We have visited two of these locations in town and hear they are expanding. Definitely don't mind it because you can never have enough Guinness. Â We had their bangers and mash with some french onion soup. Â Their fry's and curry, yum!
The location is awesome for those going to spring training and they have plenty of great size tables for large parties.
Best place for Irish food.
Great ambience, the selection of beers is excellent (having Murphys on tap sold it for me). Â We came during happy hour half off all food and beer - best happy hour ever!
Nice outside patio area to hang out. Â
Coming from England this is the best approximation to an English/Irish pub I have come across so far in Phoenix.
Dined here with 3 other people. No one was happy.
Waitress was clueless (new and untrained?) she wasn't sure what soda they offered. She brought the drinks about 10 minutes after we ordered them, saying "sorry I was looking for cups"
My lemon on my water smelled like dirty kitchen rag.
Fries were nice and thick, but dry and soggy. Corned beef was hideous, very tough and rubbery. I sent it back for a fish and chips plate that was similar to what I get at CoCo's, but with the big soggy sponge fries.
Highlight of the dinner, the company and my beer.
We will never come back, unless it's only for drinks.
We brought my 77 year old Irish mother here for dinner.  The beautiful hostess spent 20 minutes at our table talking to her about all things Irish. A true pub experience with live music, wonderful food, and lots of beer and whiskey!  I was blown away by the atmosphere, the rooms (great for private parties), and the  huge patio with a full bar, TVs, and a live band.
The Seafood chowder was delicious, and I managed to steal some of my son's fish and chips, and the fish cuts were enormous and the breading was delicious. Â Bread pudding was fantastic.
Amanda, our waitress, was outstanding. Â Kind, helpful, and fun.
Summary: Great food but avoid this place on the weekend because the kitchen and wait staff can't keep up.
We were seated for a good 15 min before anyone came to our table. It was obvious that it was chaotic. It took 20 min before we had drinks and a good 15 min wait between courses.
I don't blame this on the waitress completely because they were understaffed in the front of the house as well as in the kitchen.
My husband and I have been there twice. Once we had mussels for an appetizer (yummy) and today we got the smoked salmon platter (very good).
After telling the waitress that we were starving, it still took forever to get our beet salad. The tomatoes could have been a little fresher and the salad could have used a little less oil, but we have also like this enough to get it twice.
For dinner, my husband and I ordered the same thing both times - he had braised lamb shanks (gunormous!) and I had the bollycotton (seafood pie with a delicious cream sauce and flaky crust).
For dessert we had a buttermilk tart that tasted more lemony that buttery, but was a good companion to the Bailey's and coffee.
I wish that a manager had come by or at least we had been offered a free dessert or something, though. The excuses from the waitress about everything from the bartender to the kitchen to the computer gives me concern about how well the place is organized. I hope they can improve the service because the live music and environment is something we really enjoy.
I recently had the opportunity to check out Johnny Fox's Public House during a pre-opening/soft opening event. Having never visited during its previous incarnation I didn't know what to expect, but was immediately impressed by the care taken to design the exterior, which provided an inviting facade evoking the warmth and charm of an Irish village.
The entryway to the restaurant is equally inviting and as you move from room to room you are greeted by unique niches and details one usually sees only in an older establishment. The wood floors were polished to a high shine to welcome the new visitors. I was particularly taken with the bar off the entry which provides as a certain coziness in contrast to the high energy main dining room.
The bar has an impressive selection of beers, Irish, craft and your basic American lagers. I was taken by the scotch list (as per usually) and was happy to see some old favorites and a broad range of choices in blends and single malts.
On this particular occasion we were served Irish classics such as corned beef and fish and chips, which were just as you'd expect. I was impressed by the fresh oysters and smoked salmon. As I understand the menu will place an emphasis on fresh seafood and I am looking forward to a second visit to try out more of the options the kitchen has to offer and to work my way through the whiskey list soon.
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