Poag Mahone's Irish Pub

It's mostly a college crowd here. Smoking. Little patio out back. There's always food trucks in the vicinity for your drunk food needs. Staff is quick. Bathrooms are kinda gross.

I've never been super impressed with Poag's but I've had a couple of good times there with friends. Typical college bar, smoky and usually crowded. Darts and pool are a plus. The location is good but this is definitely not my go-to bar. I'll usually only go if its already the consensus of my friends.

Back in the day, when Deep Ellum and Greenville were my second homes, it was not uncommon for me to see preps in Lacoste shirts at an obscure punk show at Charlie's Liberty Hall.  Because back then, it seemed, the real "cool" people, were not the one's with earnings, or tattoos, or wearing the expensive clothes, but the ones who were simply being themselves, WHOEVER that was.  Because nothing shows so much as someone trying to be something they're not.  And this is why Poag's gets four stars, and the new Abbey Pub (formerly the Shamrock) gets three. The crowd is similar, heavy on frat-types, as is the vibe, but the place, and its people, are all simply being who they are.  And this is something that should be appreciated and embraced, because it is far too infrequent in the local bar scene.  So go to Poag's and soak it all in.  Have a drink and a smoke (and you WILL have a smoke, whether in your hands, or second-hand), be yourself, and enjoy the eclectic mix coming form the jukebox - from Lynard Skynard to Outkast to Beastie Boys. Sláinte!