Came here for Saturday afternoon lunch, and while nothing was bad, nothing stood out as amazing, that is why the 3 stars.
We came in and it was pretty empty. Few people at the bar and a group out back. We sat ourselves and our server came over and took our drink order.
All 4 of us ordered a meal and soup, 2 got a beef stew and 2 got the potato. Both of the soups where very good and a nice cup size portion.
Main course was good, but nothing special. I had the burger and it was just a bit plain. No cheese and the meat just kinda lacked flavor. The rest of the party said their meal was good, but again nothing amazing.
Overall for the cost it was not a bad lunch, but it was also nothing memoriable.
Stopped by this tavern on a whim. The in-laws tried it before so it was our turn.
I had a lovely beef stew and a seared ahi tuna salad. The beef stew was heavenly. LOTS of big chunks of potatoes & carrots & beef. Very thick (that's what she said) and awesome on a cold day. The Salad was a 1/2 order and the tuna was cooked perfectly with the sesame seeds on the outside. The dressing was only good for the tuna... wasabi cream. I would have preferred more of a citrus ginger dressing.
I was impressed with the vast amount of beer/cider on tap. Husband and I was able to enjoy a BIG glass of Angry Orchard. Tastes just like sparkling apple juice!
Perfect lunch stop.
I thought that the change from JJ Landers to MaGee's was going to be significant enough to bring me back. Â Well, no. Â It's the same place. Â I get the whole idea. Â Pubs are very popular right now, and this one was good about 4 years ago when it had the same owner as the popular pub on Grand in Escondido. Â However, it has crashed and burned since then and I have kept my distance. Â
Keeping the focus on this review being about MaGee's Tavern and not JJ Landers (the former name/owners) is difficult since I saw such little change. Â The menu is similar, if not the same. Â The more traditional fare, like the Boxty and Sheperd's Pie, seem to be the same recipes as before, only more carelessly executed. Â So, last time I visited, I thought I would keep it safe with an entree salad. Â Bad. Â Really bad. Â Then, there was the time my daughter and husband ordered the dessert with the moldy strawberry. Â
However, if you are looking for a bar for Fallbrook nightlife, that might be a different review. Â They have a ton of different beers and it always looks packed when I drive by on a Friday and Saturday night, so obviously they are doing something right in that respect. Â And, I have to give them props for surviving the recent death of so many Main Street businesses.
Despite *really* wanting to like this place, I just can't work up much enthusiasm for MaGee's.
The food ranges from mediocre to bad--this is what kills my enjoyment of MaGee's. I've had selections from the various sections of the menu (traditional Irish fare, pub sandwiches, etc) and not been pleased with anything I've eaten. The fish & chips were particularly bad, with the breading on the fish *very* dense and heavy (more like dense bread than breading). The pub steak was a poor cut.
The beer selection is decent, with several local brews available on tap and a sufficient range of bottled beer to please most folks. Spirits and wines are also available, however I can't speak to selection/quality. This is where I go if I want a beer in Fallbrook.
Several flat-screen TVs typically show three or so sports channels. The sound is turned off on the TVs, though the pub will pipe in the Monday Night Football sound (haven't been for other game nights).
MaGee's offers occasional live entertainment. I'm not sure the one show I caught was typical, but I was unimpressed.
My husband and I enjoy taking weekend trips together and this past weekend, we decided to head down to the Avocado Capital of the World ~ Fallbrook, CA! Admittedly, before our quest for our next local destination, we had never even heard of Fallbrook, but after a perfect day and night in this old town, I'd say we are definitely planning on going back!
A stop at MaGee's is a definite must for anyone looking for good grub! Upon entering this Irish pub, we received a warm welcome by one of the new owner's BC and were served by Katie ~ definitely ask for her, she was wonderful! She helped us learn a bit about the Irish brew, Magee's history, and even provided us with a free tasting of a couple of different draft brews! For appetizers, Katie recommended the fried avocados and seeing that we were in the Avocado Capital of the World, how could we resist? Well, to say the least, we were not disappointed! Fried to perfection, hot and crispy battered but NOT oily! The fried avocados alone are worth the trip to MaGee's in Fallbrook!
We also had some authentic avocado & shrimp ceviche (ended up ordering a second order ~ yes, it was that good!) and also had the sesame crusted seared Ahi tuna salad. Okay, my husband isn't a big Ahi Tuna fan, most of the time complaining that it's too fishy, but this Irish Pub seems to have figured it out. I had to share my entire order with him and we even split the last bite. :) It was served atop a bed of mesclun greens tossed in a creamy wasabi vinaigrette that was delish (FYI - I would order the dressing on the side - to dip with the Ahi Tuna slices!) So far, so good! For dinner we ordered my favorite Irish dish ~ Corned Beef and Cabbage w/ boiled potatoes. Again, the cabbage wasn't over cooked (usually at restaurants I've been too the cabbage was soggy from being boiled waaay too long). Â The brisket was perfectly marinated and something I've never had with my corned beef before was an Irish creamy sauce? It was SO good! The boiled potatoes and carrots were standard and I almost finished my entire dinner..except I was too stuffed to finish my potatoes. My husband ordered the Beef Stew on the recommendation of the couple seated next to us and it WAS filling and delicious.
What made our date night at Magee's absolutely magical was the entertainment! Apparently we had missed the Friday night gig in which MaGee's was absolutely packed ~ standing room only with the Leprechaun Band on stage. Â But on our Saturday evening, they had this band called "Cover Me Badd" and the drummer was hilarious! Not only are they incredibly talented, but between jamming to alternative rock, oldies, and Gotye, the drummer had us laughing the whole time! They also hosted "live" Karaoke which was a lot of fun! Â Overall, portions are generous, price is just right, service is unparalleled, and the food was excellent! So, we glady give MaGee's 5 STARS! Thanks for making our weekend so enjoyable and memorable! We will definitely be back!
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