Mahoney's Irish Pub & Steakhouse

I stopped in  for lunch after getting my haircut. I ordered a French dip sandwich.  How can you screw up a French dip you might ask? Well you cut up some roast beef, slap some cheese on it a microwave it until the cheese melts. The problem is that the roast beef becomes so rubbery it isn't edible. How about putting under a burner or something. It was pretty bad.

Paid Mahoney's a visit on Saturday night and wasn't greeted with a warm welcome!

A group of us had originally wanted to go to Union Square for the night but after getting a late start to the night we were faced with a huge line outside Union so we decided to head to Mahoney's instead.

Now Mahoney's and I have a long history since I spent most of my Friday and Saturday nights, in my earlier 20's, partying here with a group of friends so I'm not new to the scene. I have also worked in the industry for the last 15 years and have a degree in Hospitality Management, so I'm aware of the good and the bad in the business.

So enough with the background information...We arrive to Mahoney's around 11:45pm and are glad to see there isn't a line so myself and 2 other girlfriends head to the door while the guys in our group park. We are greeted (although I wouldn't say a warm, glad you're here to spend money, thanks for coming kind of greeting) by a bouncer who must pride himself on hitting the gym twice a day (atta boy) asked for our ID's in a bothersome tone.  Okay, I get it you deal with idiots all night and safety is your number one priority especially with the unfortunate events that took place here a few months back, but seriously no need for the tude buddy I just got done with work myself dealing with drunken idiots!! I'm not some young teenager looking to get in, I'm not drunk and falling over trying to come in the door, and we did say "Hi, how are you?" when we approached you, so what's the deal? After very professionally checking my friends ID the lovely gentlemen said "there's a cover!!" in again, a bothersome tone. So trying to still be personable with Mr. IHATEMYJOB, I give him my ID and say "Oh is there a band tonight?" (because I don't ever remember Mahoney's charging a cover, but I did have a few blackout nights here...please no judging) his oh so warm pleasant self mumbled "Yeah Bosco and the Storm." He proceeded to check the last ID and never said "have a nice night, have fun tonight ladies, NOTHING!" After that lovely transaction we head through the door to be met by another bouncer with a hand held metal detector who proceeds to motion to us he needs to wave his magic wand over our purses but apparently has been working all night (it's 11:50 at this point) and can't speak, lost his voice, or hates his job too.

If this were my first time coming to this bar I would never come back! As a Veteran to this place I guess I'm not surprised as it seems like the overall consensus is "We are THE Mahoney's, we are one of the leading bars in Poughkeepsie, and our customers are a dime a dozen!" I'm not singling this particular security staff out because this kind of interaction is similar to numerous other times I've been here.

As a fellow employee of the industry...you need to actually want to make your customers feel welcome and that doesn't only apply to the bartenders and wait staff that's the ENTIRE STAFF! The feeling shouldn't be bothersome, intimidating, and unwelcoming when approaching the establishment. As the first person I see whomever it is, in this case being the bouncer/security personnel, put a smile on your face and be happy you have customers willing to spend money and as the old saying goes "the first impression is a lasting impression!"

Was here Tuesday night this week (today is Thursday).  I get the feeling this is a better bar than a restaurant.  I would give it 3 stars but there is so much competition in this town at this price point.  When you charge this much for a fish & chips, you need to offer another level of service above the family restaurant down the street with a $10 fish & chips.  

The Good:  The food was good.  Fries could be better actually, they were not Irish pub fries.  I've had English chips lots of times in England, + the Belgium variant, etc. These are acceptable American French fries.  If you want this place to pop - fix up your 'chips' to the proper level.  The decor and fixtures were fairly nice, befitting a bar in an old train station.  

the Bad: the service.  Honestly, this was terrible.  I had to try hard for several minutes to get attention to get vinegar for the fries.  Same deal to get a water refill.  Having a check split out among business-dinner colleagues seemed to be a problem: then she only brought 1 pen (4 cards)!  One of these issues is trivial, but all the little things were off.  The $10 family restaurant down the street brings 4 little trays, 4 pens, and they love you - want you to come back.  Maybe the girl has never waited tables before?  If so then how come the 2 guys working the floor were not around more to make sure people got served?  This place doesn't care if you come back, and it shows.