TL;DR: I have poo-pooed Irish cuisine a lot in the past, but in all honesty there is no ill-will there at all. It does have its place, and most of the dishes are simple, old-time favourites that have endured over the years. Like with many others of its ilk, this is one of the draw-cards to Finn McCools, where the portions will fill you up for quite a while. Add that onto a friendly environment, service that is swift, as well as being a place where it is all happening whatever day of the week, it is safe to say that Finn McCools is one place that is pretty ..... sweet.
In the middle of the Brunswick Street Mall, Finn McCools acts as a den inviting all kinds of patrons into its charming atmosphere. Are they there for a drink after work? Or perhaps a decent bite to eat? Maybe even a good time with entertainment and/or mingling with the locals? There is all that and more here, giving this Irish pub an edge over the several in the city.
Even with the hit list constantly expanding regarding all the places to try and get to in Brisbane, there will still be the odd lot that always rise themselves to the top and into the back of my mind. For some bizarre reasons, Finn McCool's has always been one in my mind to get to at some point over the past year. Whatever the reason was, there was finally a chance to get here - and boy was it pretty good. Coincidental timing had me signed up to their mailing list, and I was going to see a friend of mine for dinner; the last time around I met up with her, an Irish pub was a suggestion for a place to go among a few other options. Upon signing up to the mailing list, the gift given (for lack of a better term) was a $10 voucher to be used within the next two weeks. So it was all a-go to here, and it proved to be worth the wait.
After critiquing something for a while, whether it be movies, dining out or whatnot, one starts to develop something of an eye for details and recognising the decisions and idiosyncrasies in stylising something to create the whole picture. Not every movie is going to be heavy on film-making techniques, and not every eatery is aiming to replicate the Ritz. That being said, where the character can come alive for better or worse is within the decor. Finn McCools has it set right there.
For one thing, the place is set out really well and there is a lot of space to take up and fill with all sorts of idiosyncrasies and different ways in which you could be seated. One such table were stand-up beer barrels, complete with the bar-stools around them. The lighting is low, with enough dankness to be relaxing and enough illuminating ligghts to see what is going on. Pool tables adorn the place, pop music plays on a television, and street signs point the ways to different sections of the pub. It goes in deep, and there is even more than the eye can see from standing outside. Word of mouth has the Causeway being a popular place that is out the back, using the alleyway effectively as an extension of the bar.
Service is pretty much what is expected in a pub environment. After perusing the menu for a bit, go up to the counter and place the order then pay. They give you a table number, one that is attached to a small basket with all you need - the cutlery and serviettes. The food is going to be brought directly to the table, as well as the drinks depending on what you order - my friend got a beer, which was served right there and gotten back to the table. It has a distinct speed that is still fast, but gives you enough breathing time to take in the place.
One more aspect to add on that highlights the quality of customer service involved one order. At the counter, an order for some Scotch eggs were put into place (had them before, thought to try again where they would be fresh) but something in them was not available. Since everything had already been paid, a replacement was put into place with some other starters. This was done at the table, went quickly, and showed both attention to detail and efficiency. Massive kudos goes there.
With the fare that is served here, it is pretty much pub sort of stuff. It has its Irish influence definitely - and there is a separate section for that entirely - and is not quite the gastro-pub either. What to expect, grub-wise, is a range of bar snacks, a few basic pizzas, the essential pub meals such as steaks, burgers, and the odd roast or pasta among some others. Each day of the week dedicates itself to a particular item on the menu, each for a decent price. The menu chops and changes what is available, so that possibly helps with getting return clients. And what is definitely present here is having the traditional Irish breakfast.
It would not be a pub either without the range of drinks that they have on offer. That includes a range of beers that are imported and local, both bottled and on tap, plus a range of spirits, wines, definitely Guinness on tap, cocktails and possibly a range of many more. Behind the bar are more kinds of beverages than you could shake a stick at. Those who don't drink alcohol are also catered for - sodas are there, as well as good old coffee (and presumably tea).
As per the norm, the choice of beverage I had was coffee. A doppio to be more precise. I'm not sure what the beans were, though it was possibly a good choice of brew they had. It is was serviceable one, as good as you would both want and expect at a pub, with a decent extraction, slightly strong buzz, and mild flavour with a few hints of notes here and there.
For the start of the meal, in place of the Sctoch eggs - with a bit of back-and-forth between parties - what was gotten was some chicken wings and a basket of fries. Both of these items, as simple as they are, were sufficient enough to be grounds to judge just how good the food was going to be there. And it is with valour that I can say, things were going to be looking pretty good from here on out. Chicken wings have to be pretty good to impress me, and they managed to do that well here. They were crispy - always better - and had a thick, sticky sauce with a little bite to it. The sauce also had a little fruity taste to it. On another big plus, it must have been cooked freshly and quickly since these suckers were pipping hot when they got to the table. Plus the fries were not too bad either. They were fairly crispy, had a decent if slight seasoning on them, and were thinly cut. Both of these starters were absolutely delicious with a portion that did not hurt either, and might have made a decent outing stopping right then.
A rarity to happen when it comes to dining out that I have is for my eye to really be set upon one particular item. What is rarer is if it has lasted as long as this and still perpetuates. For Finn McCool's, that was the case for me. To still put it out there, other items did also sound good along the way; I ended up ordering their take on a chicken curry. Earnestly, it could have been something to do with the fact there was an order of fries on the side, and curry is often hard to go by. This was a simple sort of curry. It possibly had a whole heap of curry powder mixed in the sauce, and the mixing had a good amount of chicken, a few vegetables including potato and carrot, and two sides in the form of rice and fries. That is truly a good touch that makes the place.
The curry here was a simple one, and well-done nevertheless. It won't be among any Thai or Indian curries, but it does not need to be. The sauce was smooth and had a mild amount of spice all with a nice little flavour. The vegetables were cooked to just the right degree, plus the chicken was tender and pulled apart really well. In fact, with the exception of one little greebly bit, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the meat. On the side, the steamed rice was perfectly cooked, plus it certainly did not hurt to have some extra fries on the side either. All up, a nice and filling little meal it was.
With the meal being substantial, plus the starters as well, I did still manage to get a bit of a nibble from my friend's meal She locked onto one other item as well, not deviating from it, and that was a beef and Guinness pie. It came with a big mound of mashed potato, some peas, and a whole lot of gravy - some from the meat, and a lot extra drizzle. From the bites I had of it, the mashed potato was both creamy and smooth without a lump in it, the gravy was thick, plus quite rich and flavoured well with the slowly cooked meat. That beef was pretty tender, plus the puff pastry was not too bad either. Suffice to say, the food here will definitely satisfy those wanting a feed.
In saying everything that has been said, no-one here is pretending that Finn McCool's is anything beyond some pub fare - but almost every time coming back to the pub, there are several undeniable charms that can go into them as a whole, and each one can acquire their own. Finn McCool's is one of them, and might be one of the coolest places available within the Valley area. While overall the good here is pretty wholesome fare, what cannot be denied is both the value for money, and the portion size. This will certainly fill you up on a cold winters night.
Also, what helps are all of the interactions and figures that you meet - and there were at least a couple of memorable ones for me. That possibly is what made it all a good night out for me, and make Finn McCool's one place that is worth going to. It frequently has a lot going on throughout the year which adds even more to the vibe of the place. The food won't set the world on fire, though it does do its job effectively. What is about though, is the vibe. Irish pubs often prove themselves to be good value in a number of ways, most of all is their cosy, calming character. There is no exception here, and should prove to be good value for a long time to come especially given the location.
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