This restaurant is great! The menu is huge, the food is fantastic, and the service is quick and very friendly. They have some really great appetizers. The loaded mashed potato balls are amazing! And they have some of the best fish and chips I've had. Definitely worth it to stop in a grab dinner or lunch.
Review Source:Meh to average food that needs a good shake of salt on everything. Burgers and fries looked goods, but sadly I went with the dry recommended meat loaf. Â I really enjoyed the drinks and service, wish I could unpurchase the 4 buck side of Mac n cheese. I swear it was made from a box of Kraft. If it wasn't, then that's even worse.
Review Source:This was actually a really great place! A little loud up front, but we were there right before the band played on Saturday night. I had the fish and chips since its one of the few items in the menu that's pretty much dairy-free (I couldn't justify getting the asian chicken salad at an irish pub). Great batter and great fries! Ate the leftovers for breakfast the next day. It was VERY fried, though. It made my stomach gurgle a bit more than usual. I wouldn't be surprised if it was twice fried since the batter was so thick.
Also learned that their "snakebite" is different than the snakebites I've had at every other bar I've been to. I thought it would be a Guinness and cider, but it came out a harp and cider. Apparently what I wanted is called a black velvet or something. I wish the waitress had paid attention to me explaining what it was to my friend when we were ordering so she could have corrected me and brought me what I was expecting. I'll definitely go back to try a few other dishes and stay for the music, though.
We went there on a Friday evening at about 6:30 and the place was packed. They have a fairly big collection of craft beers, whiskeys and other cocktails.
For appetizers, we ordered the reuben rolls, curry chips, and tipperary wings, and everything was quite good.
I've never had curry chips before and it was a good change from the regular fries. The sauce has a curry like taste, and I don't think you can have a lot of it but a little is good.
We ended with Irish Coffee and that was really the best thing there. The area is good and there is a free parking garage very close to it which is useful on busy days.
The staff is accommodating of large groups, but I can't really say I've ever gotten friendly table service here, even on very slow nights. Â More like disinterested. Â And I was completely ignored at the bar. Â I didn't get a drink until I walked away and asked for a table.
I've eaten here twice. Â The first time was fried mac n cheese, which, while fairly tasty at first, arrived lukewarm, and once it cooled, it wasn't good.
The second time, I got a really fabulous burger with Jameson sauce. Â It was so juicy and tasty that halfway through I had to switch to a knife and fork because it was getting too messy. Â (The mac n cheese that came with it, though, was undercooked, bland, and [again] lukewarm. Â Is there some kind of Irish tradition that says mac n cheese can't be hot?)
So good (if temperature-challenged) food, so-so service... what else is there to talk about? Â Oh, yeah. Â Price.
They overcharge, as well as nickel-and-dime you here. Â I asked them to swap out the onions on my burger for mushrooms. Â Yep, they charged me for that. Â
A pint of cider, a (rather small) Irish coffee, and a regular coffee to follow boosted my bill by nearly $20! Â I don't even pay that much in the city!
That said, it is a beautiful place. Â And they actually serve black pudding, which you don't see very often. Â So there are some positives.
Awful!!!! Whomever was the manager aka Napoleon complex working on 2/1/13 was a complete jerk. The waiter sat us at a large table because we had a party of 7 people. After ordering and sitting there for a bit, Napoleon came over and told us we had to move because of a party of 9 that he needed to sit there. We obliged Napoleon and moved to a smaller table where our guests had to stand now. Napoleon then comes over and proceeds to tell us he had to move two more chairs from that table, leaving us with only two chairs for a party of 7. NEVER once apologized for anything. All he proceeded to do was tell us how great he is at running a business. The last straw was when Napoleon made a stern hand and jabbed it at a person in our party. Will never give this place a dime and for sure will tell anyone not to either. Go to Harry's across the street.
Review Source:Peggy Kinnane's was nothing to get excited about. It served as the post dinner drink location and nothing more. After my short lived experience I won't necessarily be rushing back there - to drink or eat.
Service was served with a side of attitude. The music was ridiculously loud. And the drinks were slightly over priced. Sadly, nothing about my experience was mind blowing.
Would I return for another go-around for drinks, or give the food a try? Meh...maybe. I'm all about second chances. But, based on my fellow Yelpers' reviews - I'm not expecting anything grandiose or memorable.
I have been here a couple of times for drinks but yesterday was the first dining experience. We went for an early dinner. At 5:30pm there were about 5 tables of people scattered throughout the restaurant. By the time we left the bar area was full.
My friends went with a bottle of pinot noir $30 and I had the Cucumber Cooler $6 - Effen cucumber vodka, water, splash of sour mix. Both were tasty and the cucumber drink was refreshing/not sweet. They have $3 miller draft as well as other drink specials.
For dinner I went with the small plate portion of fish and chips, my friends ordered the firecracker burger and bangers and mash. We also ordered the Irish soda bread to start off. Personally I would not have ordered the bread. A small loaf of raisin bread for $8 eh.
Small order of fish and chips was more than enough for me. There were approximately 6 little nuggets of fried cod and a small handful of potato wedge fries. I have never had this dish as nuggets. At other establishments I have had it as strips. The fish is breaded heavily and fried crispy. The potato wedges are also slightly crispy.
Thursdays @7:30 there is trivia - never been but perhaps in the future. I won't crave this place but don't mind coming.
Probably won't go back here. It started out well when 3 of us went there for dinner before the band started. My wife and I had a great pot roast sandwich that was tender and tasty and traditionally Irish. That was as good as it got. A measly portion of fries barely filled the plate. Our friend got an order of brown bread with plastic tubs of butter for $9. Really? You'd think you'd at least get Kerry Gold butter for that. The final insult came when the check arrived. Downtown Chicago prices in downtown Arlington Heights? No, thank you.
Review Source:Fries with curry dipping sauce. Â That's really all you need to know. Â However, assuming many of you have not been to Ireland, let me elaborate. Â All over Ireland, you can get these "Curry Chips". Â They are so good, and you'd probably like them even if you don't like curry. Â Well, my family and I decided to go to Peggy Kinnane's for beer and appetizers one Sunday afternoon, and let me tell you, I just about threw my eyeballs on the floor when I saw they had curry chips. Â They taste just like the ones I had in Ireland, and I was instantly nostalgic. Â I haven't seen them anywhere else.
The other appetizers were well enjoyed by our crew, and we all appreciated the numerous craft beers on tap. Â There are enough TV's around the bar to make any sports fan smile. Â If you'd prefer a quiet meal, there are other dining areas around the place that will suite your needs. Â Go for drinks and a game, or go for a family dinner. Â You'll be happy either way.
It was a fun time, but if you're going for the food, don't bother! Â
We were here on a Friday night when there was a U2 cover band. Â We didn't have to pay the cover, though, because we were in the back eating. Â I think it was $3, though.
In any case, our drinks were good--I got a Mai Tai and a June Bug. Â They were recommended by the waitress, and she didn't steer me wrong.
As for food, just...don't. Â They had a specials menu that sounded like it had potential (with loaded Tot-choes) but we got apps and I got a BBQ burger w/ mushrooms and a side of mac n cheese. Â The nachos were icky and the crab dip was totally inedible. Â The soft pretzels were good, but it's hard to mess that up!
My burger was sort of disgusting, and I don't even want to talk about the mac n cheese. Â It tasted straight-out-the-box. Â And not the blue box. Â Like velveeta knockoff. Â I ate literally one bite. Â Everyone who knows me knows that I would NEVER reject mac n cheese, but this was inedible. Â It was quite sad. Â My husband didn't enjoy his breakfast boxty, either.
It was my friend's birthday, so she had a little dessert lava cake and we all sang, and the lava cake was just like the one they serve at Applebee's. Â Meh, be original, Peggy!!
So come here for some good music and drinks, but eat before you arrive, FO SHO!
Peggy's is a great place to meet friends for dinner and drinks, and reminds me of a Chicago bar up in the suburbs. Â They have a great patio, extensive menu with bar staples and more authentic Irish food if you're looking for some Shepherd's Pie. Â Every time I've been here it's been crowded and lively, and if I lived in the area would definitely go to their trivia night.
Review Source:Team Trivia Thursday...
Don't judge, I like trivia, Ok!!! Â
Thursday night, trivia night at Peggy's, I've been here a few times before just for drinks, but never to dine or to play Trivia. Â I was pleasantly surprised when I found out Paul was our host for Trivia, he's a pretty cool guy. Â Our server was at the table before we could even sit down, which was great, because I was THIRSTY, after all, it was Thursday.
$3 Miller Light Taps sounds good to me! Â My boyfriend ordered "The Halfer", half of a club sandwich and a cup of broccoli cheddar soup, while I had the salmon Caesar salad. Â The food was delicious, the service was excellent, now if only we could place in this damn game of TRIVIA!!!!!!!!
I love this place. Â I did used to work here when they first opened and have known the owner Derek for years, however I am giving an honest review.
My husband ordered the pork shank which recommended by Derek, and my husband said it was one of the best things he has ever had. Â
I had the reuben, which is what I have every time I come here. Â I was perfect like always. Â I love the atmosphere, the area, and the service...but my absolute favorite thing is the Guinness and black. Â They pour the perfect pint.
If you haven't checked Peggy's out, give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
I have to disclose that I used to serve here back in the early 2000s, so I (and my family) are very familiar faces around here. We know Derek, most of the staff, and the bartenders. That being said, here's the most honest review I can give.
Peggy's is pretty damn authentic in ownership, decor, and in food prep (that which is Irish food). Peggy Kinnane is Derek's (the owner's) mother, and he had this bar shipped (in pieces) from Ireland. That's right folks - Irish wood, Irish barstools, Irish everything.
There used to be two large dividers with cases between the area where the band plays and the middle area, and these held really great little artifacts of Derek's life, but they have since been removed - I imagine to help the flow and the crowds during the live music nights.
There are many different areas of the restaurant, and it used to be a little more closed off when I worked there but has since opened up a bit. That helps make it look more "Americanized" as people have said, but I believe it also helps the servers. Not to say that's why they did it, but just a thought.
The nice thing about Peggy's is while they have seasonal waitstaff, most of the people working there have been there for years. The bartenders are awesome and most are direct from Ireland. Most of the rest (if not all) have worked with Peggy's for a long time. Same with the waitstaff. Many of them have been around since I worked there.
There is a great outdoor patio with umbrellas which is perfect during those brisk spring days, hot summer days, and relaxing fall days.
They have enjoyable bands many weekends (my favorite being Elevation - the U2 cover band). They bring in big crowds so be sure to get there early if you expect a seat throughout the show.
The only thing is I feel the food has gotten away from its Irish roots quite a bit. They used to have more traditional Irish food, but I guess with the increasing crowds and the whole lot of Americans eating here, they've had to amend the menu to please a lot of tastes. They also have a different chef from when I worked there, so perhaps that was it too. It doesn't help dispel the myth that this is an "Americanized" Irish pub but it probably brings in more money. A dilemma for sure.
Whenever I'm back in town, we try to fit in a trip to Peggy's because as much as it's an Arlington Heights staple, it's also a family staple.
Stopped in here on a Saturday evening after attending a performance at Metropolis Theater. The place was packed at 7 PM and the wait was about 30-minutes. I parked about two blocks away in a free Arlington Heights city lot. I believe the only other option would be to park on the street.
The decor was nice -- wood floors and paneling -- a lot of decorative nick knacks on the walls. As we were leaving, someone at the door was collecting a cover for the band that began at 9 PM.
We started with an appetizer of beer battered onion rings, which came with ranch dipping sauce. I ordered a Jameson Angus burger that was cooked perfectly and tasted quite good. There were several options for a side and I chose the fries. My wife ordered a club sandwich and it was also tasty. Our server was pleasant and attentive, but not overly so on either account. Our bill was about $35 without drinks.
I would definitely come back after attending Metropolis Theater. There are a number of items I would like to try on their expansive menu.
Overall, I would say that this was pretty good, and the "Small Bites" portion of the menu is very reasonably priced allowing you to sample a variety of their offerings without breaking the bank. A friend, who happens to be a girl, and I were able to eat our fill for less than $35 and took home leftovers. On the one hand, we only water, but, on the other hand, beer seems to fill me up faster than water does... The ambiance wasn't bad if maybe a bit on the empty side, but it was a Monday evening. I tend to prefer things lit a little more dimly, but I don't hold that against Peggy's.
The Crispy Mac n' Cheese Balls were very good. They have a satisfying breading that reminds me a little bit of the crispy exterior of falafel if maybe a slightly finer grit to it. They are surprisingly substantial and don't easily fall apart. As for the flavor, it's over-the-top cheesy, and I'm a big fan of cheese that's over-the-top. I will say, though, that they are a bit salty which I did not notice at first, but I was definitely craving something to drink much later. I strongly advise pairing them with less-salty offerings or splitting among three people.
My friend, who would know these things, claims that the batter on the Pub Battered Fish n' Chips is authentic enough when comparing it London fair. I could find nothing wrong with them. They were solid, and the breading was good. Nothing really stood out, and I assume that, if I was craving fish n' chips, this would satiate the need, but there's not connection, as of yet, for me. Fries (really more potato wedges) come with, but I'll detail them below.
(You will read this next food in Jim Gaffigan's voice) Shepherd's Pie Pockets. It's a cool concept, but they were missing mashed potatoes. Even so, this was the most filling dish because of the mixture of meat and pastry. The crust seemed to be some kind of a flaky pastry deal which reminds me of the crust on spanakopita. The filling was pretty good without being seasoned to an extreme but still flavorful. It was okay, but I'm not sure I would order it again.
Lastly, the Curry Chips were very good for the fries/potato wedges that they were. They were fried just right and very lightly seasoned with a satisfying resistance to their skin and fluffy interior. The curry, itself, was satisfyingly strong even in a very watery state which made coating dipped items very easy. Combined, though, I don't think they're a great match. The curry is so strong that it easily overpowers the fries, but this is not an indictment of either the curry or the fries. I've never been a big fan of just plain potatoes and curry.
Came here on a Tuesday afternoon with my husband and brother. Â Love the atmosphere - definitely a lot of effort was put into the decor. Â Service was good. Â Food was tasty - but expensive. Â Beer was also on the expensive side. Â Just because a restaurant is located on the few streets that make up downtown Arlington Heights, doesn't mean they should charge 30% more than what is reasonable.
For 3 people, including 1 burger, 1 sandwich, 1 entree, 1 app, 1 side salad, and 3 beers was almost $80 including tip. Â Luckily we had a Living Social Coupon, so it was closer to $50, which I would be happy to pay on a regular basis. Â
I did really enjoy my veggie sandwich that came with grilled Portobella mushrooms, zucchini, onions, Â mozzarella cheese and pesto mayo.
We also tried the Fried Mashed Potato ball appetizer, and although tasty, the amount didn't warrant the $8. Â Like I said, if everything was 20 -30% cheaper, we would be more inclined to coming more often. Â As it stands, we might bring newbies just for the atmosphere.
First of all, I highly recommend this Peggy Kinnane's around Christmastime - it's that kind of old world festive we don't see too often here, like an adult Hogwarts. Â Definitely a lot of fun.
With that being said, the food was, at best, pretty good. Â The corned beef on rye was dry and as it turned out entirely lacked any sauce, so I had to put some yellow mustard. Â The fish and chips were decent if greasy, but the mashed potato balls really stole the show (unfortunately, I think they were a December special). Â I probably would have lingered over the beer menu a bit more but we had a movie to see - which, by the way, the staff was very accommodating when we realized we were running behind and made sure to get us everything quickly.
Cheerful and fun, with a good location and a decent menu, Peggy Kinnane's is a good place for a (somewhat expensive) night out.
I've been going to this bar ever since I was apart of the Metropolis Youth Symphony... which started in 1999! Â We would go here after concerts because it is literally across the street. Â
It's a great place to bring a group of people and have a good time. The food isn't bad and the beers are great. Â Your typical Irish bar, but they have some nice decor around the place. Â The bar area is a decent size and sort of gated off of the rest of the restaurant. Â
My family and I went here for a little meeting we had a few years ago and they put us in a nice area and we had great service. Â Everyone was super helpful and seemed like they were happy to be there.
I also went here on St. Patrick's Day this past year and we had a great waiter. Â He dyed his hair green for the occasion and was in great spirits the whole day. Â
My mom prides herself on her homemade Irish Coffee but she ok-ed the ones here... so that's saying something! Â Although the drinks are pretty pricy for it being a pub type of place. Â But if you go there on one of the daily special days, I think they have some good deals with beer, etc.
Don't come here if you're looking to have a night on the town. Â The bar can get a little crazy, but it's mostly for people in their late 20s-early 30s who are just there to hang out. Â Sometimes they'll have live bands and that's fun too. Â
Great little place... I don't think I'll ever stop visiting!
Hmmm, quite the mixed reviews here. We went here on a Saturday night at 6:30 pm because there was no wait. We tried a few other restaurants in the Heights first, but didn't feel like waiting 45 minutes to eat. I had heard good things from my sister, so we gave it a shot.
The decor fit my preconceived notions of what an Irish restaurant/pub should look like. It's a pretty huge place, but still felt cozy. Service was on the slow side, but it was during the Saturday night dinner rush, so I can get past that. There were 4 of us and well all loved our entrees. We all ordered traditional Irish fare: shepherd's pie, lamb stew, seafood boxty, and braised pork shoulder. It was all authentic, tasted great.
In the end, I'd have to say I'm a fan and will go back to try more.
I like Peggy's way more than Harry's across the street. A little bit darker. Definitely larger. The crowd was definitely a little older than Harry's with a number of cougars seeming to congregate towards the front. Coicidentally, the younger crowd hung out towards the back.
There was another mediocre band that the guy at the front door tried to get us to pay $3 for. He thought we were negotiating when we said no so he lowered the cover to $5 for the three of us. When it was pretty clear we were only coming for 1 round and we had ZERO interest in the band, he let us in for free.
Bartenders were pretty attentive and we got our drinks and check pretty quickly. Seats were in low supply but at least we didn't have a hard time finding ample places to stand.
Whoops, almost forgot I have had the food here on a previous occasion and it was absolutely phenomenal Irish food. I remember the Shepard's Pie and the Buffalo Wings being good.
Me and a buddy are standing on an opposite corner trying to figure out our happy hour destination. A couple lovely ladies enter and due to nothing going on anywhere else.. we walk in. Sat at the bar, no greetings from the bartender. He mozies over at some point, minutes after making us sit for some time. Not very busy and a few locals downing some Coronas which are on special this month, they got the full attention of the bartender.
I should've just had a Miller lite draft special and left, but ordered a Leinenkugel Honey Weiss instead which cost $5.75 and I got a bit of attitude when I asked the price. That price for a pint in Arlington heights; seriously? Prices for food run $10-$20, sandwiches and regular stuff are on the lower end, house specials are $15-$20.
Might be thrilling at night, happy hour today was a snooze fest at 6pm.
Why oh why do I end up coming back here? Perhaps it's because my companion was already sitting at a table when we agreed to catch a bite out for lunch the day before.
How could they screw up a Chicken Salad sandwich wrap? All I got was mayonnaise with one or two squares of meat involved in a dried out week old tortilla. Their drinks are overpriced along with their entrees.
Peggy's we share the same heritage line, but this is the end. Good bye.
I came here as part of our NW Suburban Dinner group. Before I begin this review, I think it is fair to point out that the owner of Peggy Kinnane's went out of his way to accommodate our group of 11 despite the fact that the whole restaurant was booked solid that night. I was going to book the dinner a week in advance when I learned that Irish dancers would be performing that night and they essentially filled the place to capacity. While they were turning away walk-ins, we had our spot secured in the back of the restaurant.
Anyway, this restaurant/Irish pub is located in downtown Arlington Heights, just south of the train tracks. Once you go inside, it's part bar, part restaurant and part museum of Irish memorabilia, vintage Irish beer signs, old political advertisements and lots of other cool things encased in cabinets around the front.
We got a fantastic looking booth & table combination in the back with these slender wooden chairs that look like they were carved out of a tree trunk. The walls are adorned with Celtic inscriptions and artistic motifs throughout. And it's by no means a noisy place despite the massive crowd turnout that night and the dancers in the main room next to the bar. We were able to carry on our conversation as usual without having to yell.
Our waitress was Kelly and she was quick to take our drink orders once we were seated. Glancing at their menu, I liked that many of the traditional Irish dishes like banger sausages or corned beef had interesting little narrative about their origins, giving authenticity to the whole surroundings. I went for the Connacht burger, which had cheese, bacon, mushrooms and a great BBQ sauce on it. I upgraded to the onion rings as my side. While both the burger and o-rings were great, I don't think the upgrade is worth $2 more.
Best item on the menu may be the fish & chips. Don't let a couple negative reviewers fool you on this one. The fish pieces are more like rounded cubes and it's a huge serving size. I noticed everyone who ordered them from our group had some to take home as well. A great side to go with it has to be the deep-fried green beans. I tried a bite of Giselle's green beans and yes folks, even healthy green vegetables can be deep-fried and taste awesome.
Considering the busy night, our food came pretty quickly. My only other complaint is that our waitress Kelly left us for a prolonged period of time during dinner after our food had arrived. But in the end, we were filled up and none of us had room for dessert.
Overall, I like Peggy Kinnane's and having dinner there on a super-busy night really put it to the test, which I believe it passed.
Came here back in '07 for my bachelorette party dinner after Fuego was all jampacked-booked up.
While the bachelorette party wasn't the wildest night ever, Peggy Kinnane's was a very nice place to start the evening. Nice atmosphere, GREAT service, good food... I think half of us got fish andchips, and it was tasty. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, seeing as it was 18 months ago, but I'd go back just for dinner, definitely.
Peggy's is a suprisingly good Irish pub in the middle of Arlington Heights suburbia. Â The interior is larger than what you would expect, and done very well, decor-wise. Â I guess a lot of the stuff inside is actually from Ireland, and not cheezy reproduction garbage. Â
The staff tends to be on the young side, but every one we have ever got have been extremely friendly and efficient. Â
Gotta recommend: Â the curry chips, the brown bread, the Farm Burger and the Corned Beef on Rye. Â I have never ordered the "Thanks Giving" which is corned beef, parsley boiled potatoes and cabbage, but BF's exceptionally picky-eater father almost inhaled the entire platter - so that definitely speaks well for that entree! Â
I have a bad habit of calling this place Peggy McKane's so sorry to all the people I have recommended this place to and that have had a bitch of a time Googling.
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