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Ratings and reviews

#594 of 807 Irish in Dublin
#1,185 of 2,080 Restaurants in Dublin
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
US$5 - US$22
CUISINES
Irish, Bar, Pub, Gastropub
Meals
Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
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features, about
Reviews (82)
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Reviewed 3 August 2023 via mobile

We had rented an Airbnb to celebrate a couple of family birthdays which was across the road from Mcgowans. We were lucky, it was so handy that we ended up in there 3 out of the 4 nights and ate there a couple of times....Food was lovely, freshly cooked and well presented. Staff were so friendly and welcoming - would thoroughly recommend. Big portions and we would recommend the fish & chips, the pasta and the chicken wings.More

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 11 April 2023

Here last Friday night after spending couple of hundred euro with my partner and met friends staff highly rude when asked for tonic water with no alcohol after buying rounds all night as I was drunk at this stage bar man accused myself and my...partner of having our own alcohol when my partner tried to explain this bar man then called security men who took my partner off his feet wouldn’t listen to anything we had to say said 8 security men stood all over my partner chest he is suffering with broken ribs black and blue from getting dragged to the ground smashed elbow bruised face kids have to see there dad like that over what was supposed to be a nice date night out . We then had to call police because at one stage I thought they were going to kill him robbing his pockets and watch while he was on the ground in fear of our lives to go to a bar ever again suffering from ptsd over these unfortunate of events all down to aggressive egotistic racist security men who behaved inhumane over the sound of our accent!! Boycott this business videos of this whole scene . Effects this has had on our lives shameful night life scene .More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 12 March 2023 via mobile

We booked a table for 4 friends for the 8 o’clock quiz, we showed up at 8 and the lady told us it was almost over, the lady told me on the phone that it started at 8, but apparently it randomly started at 7...for no reason.. we decided to stay for a drink whilst we decided where to go next however as we sat down one of the members of staff, a man with glasses, kicked us out incredibly rudely saying that my husband was drunk, when actually my husband is entirely sober and has been for years. My friend who I was with is pregnant and none of us had been drinking but they refused to serve us and practically pushed us out saying that we’re too drunk. The pub was COMPLETELY empty with a terrible atmosphere, but they still decided to kick a totally normal, sober group out for no reason. It was shocking and entirely unjust. I will be telling all of my friends to never go to this pub.More

Date of visit: March 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 12 February 2023 via mobile

Went for Superbowl, which we have done for years. They closed that bar early, never told anyone! Whats the point in offering viewing of an event of ur gonna close the bar early? Ill be looking elsewhere next year!!!

Date of visit: February 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 18 April 2022

I sat and watched the match in here on a Saturday afternoon and had a great time, I thought the staff were attentive, polite and fun. Esp, the manager. My family joined after the match and we were allowed to choose any 'reserved' table provided...we would be quick (not a problem) and we had a really nice meal, quick polite service and really really good food reasonably priced. I can see why they are busy with bookings but thought they were wonderful to accommodate us.More

Date of visit: April 2022
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Reviewed 22 March 2022

Reserved a table for the rugby match (Ireland Scotland, 6 Nations). They sat us up very well. We had excellent service, the food was great (one of the best cheeseburgers I have ever had) and the bar selection is quite good. Highly recommend, good alternative...to the roar of Temple Bar.More

Date of visit: March 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 February 2022

Bouncer Aiden and manager Alan very bad service . Would not let some people in , and could give no reason for it

Date of visit: February 2022
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Reviewed 12 September 2021

Came here for some food, drinks and the pub quiz and the atmosphere was amazing. I wish I lived locally as this would be a firm favourite.

Date of visit: September 2021
Helpful?
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Reviewed 7 July 2021

They say rejection is the Divine's way of saying - 'wrong choice dear' - well I heard that loud & clear tonight in MacGowan's in Phibsboro thanks to the passive aggressive behaviour of who I presume, going on his affect, to be the manager. A...man who tried to make himself feel big by making me feel small for no good reason at all. Best of luck guys, I'm afraid you need to move with these times & be kind, or you'll be left behind. I'd heed some of the previous reviews too. STEER CLEAR ME DEARS!More

Date of visit: July 2021
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Reviewed 17 June 2021

Had a booking here for dinner and drinks. Arrived half hour early, where our server brought us to our seating outside beside the main road!! Asked twice could we get a table inside to be told they were fully booked. Lots of customers came afterwards...and not one placed outside.. waited half an hour to place an order for food.. would have spent longer here but staff weren't very helpful.. would not recommend..More

Date of visit: June 2021
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Reviewed 30 September 2020 via mobile

Visited here with 4 friends and won’t be back again. For whatever reason we got singled out and were given our bill after 60 mins in the place. When challenged about the 105 minute rule, we were told the server had loads of tables to...get to so needed the bill paid. We had drank ONE drink in the place along with our food. A different bargirl came over afterwards and asked for a drinks order, we ordered some more drinks, then 2 mins later a different girl came over and said she needed the table back for another booking so we couldn’t have the drinks! We booked our table at half 8, the last booking available in the place, a group of girls sat behind us were there were we arrived, had no food and still were being served drink when we left. We were talking to some lads in the smoking area who had been there for 3 & a half hours, when questioned about this we got told she “didn’t make the rules” We were also asked to put on our masks when entering the premises although while we were sat at the table at least 20-30 people entered with no masks whatsoever. It seems it’s one rule for one, and not for others. I’m 37 yrs of age, maybe if I was 21 in a low cut top things would be different! At a time like this when many publicans are begging for their premises to be reopened, I feel they should have some kind of respect for their paying customers.More

Date of visit: September 2020
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 29 August 2020

Absolutely disgusting and shocking service, my party had a booking at 8.30, ordered food and drinks no problem..asked to pay the bill 30 mins before we were due to leave and told..no more drinks even though there were people who were there before us still...getting served. Managed to order more drinks but told the table was needed for a booking at 10.15 even though the last reservation is 8.30??? Tried to explain to girl on the door but we were dismissed abruptly. Its who you know not what you know when it comes to this place. Also we were asked for masks at the door bit plenty or parties came in after us with no masks. Never againMore

Date of visit: August 2020
Helpful?
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Reviewed 3 August 2020

I definitely wouldn’t recommend McGowans. Very little staff were wearing face masks/shields and loud music meant they got very close to take orders. The food was fine but incredibly slow and we had to pay 30 minutes before getting it (1hr 40mins from sit down...to the food arriving). Most importantly, we were told to “calm down” and not be so “snarky” by our server when asking who to order drinks from as we weren’t to leave our seats and no servers were walking around.More

Date of visit: August 2020
Helpful?
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Reviewed 2 August 2020 via mobile

My friend had a table booked in thhf place for 10pm Bank Holiday Sunday, we walked up showed the doorman the booking, they mysteriously couldn't find the booking and refused us entry, this particular pub is well renowned as being a haunt of country garda...and nurses and they are known to discriminate against any working class Dubs despite this being in a working class Dublin area, the only time I've ever got in here was when I came in before the doorman were on, in this day and age for a pub to discrimiate on the grounds of class or creed is shocking and I notice from previous reviews it appears they discrimiate in colour as well as class, so unless your from the country or a garda or nurse or your middle class you've zero chance of getting into this place, I'll never darken the door of this place ever again and I cannot under any circumstances recommend a place like this which clearly discriminates, avoid like the plague.More

Date of visit: August 2020
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 7 February 2020 via mobile

Food is delicious 😋and always happy to adapt to food intolerances. Staff very friendly and attentive, big shout out to Shanice 🙌 she looked after us on our first night. Lovely quiet pub until after 10pm but then if your looking for a lively night...stay put! 😀More

Date of visit: February 2020
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
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johnny767767
8 July 2019|
Answer
Response from Moogav | Reviewed this property |
When a bouncer says members/regulars only it means they dont like the look of you or you look like trouble . You're not missing much anyway.
0
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Rezel R
18 March 2017|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from thisdrinkinglife | Reviewed this property |
120 from parnell street but to be honest its a nice walk from the city centre
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MC GOWANS OF PHIBSBORO, Dublin - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Mc Gowans of Phibsboro

Mc Gowans of Phibsboro is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5