Byrnes Irish Pub

A MUST stop when we are in town. The Destroyer with an extra piece of bread to make it a full sandwich (normally served open face) is my favorite with a mug of the freshest Guinness (properly poured EVERY TIME! If you know, you know). I've had just about everything on their menu and there is not a single thing I don't like. The Guinness gravy is TO DIE FOR! The Reuben omelet (when it's on special) is heavenly paired with a mimosa or irish coffee during Sunday Brunch! You will absolutely love the authentic cozy, warm pub atmosphere complete with the best local regulars that know how to have a great time. The service is TOP NOTCH! You definitely won't regret visiting Byrnes in Bath.

If you like an Irish pub, you’ll love Byrnes Irish. A rainy Friday in Bath found us wet and hungry, but even the lunchtime vibe was lively and festive with a mix of local workers and families. The place wasn’t overly crowded, but we were lucky to get a table. The food and service were solid. We enjoyed the Brian Boru Reuben and the clam chowder. That’s a corned beef Reuben (Irish, right) with a healthy dose of cheese & kraut, and the clam chowder was just the hearty comfort food you probably want on a damp day in Maine. The Irish onion soup was the unique item made with the usual beef stock (I think) and caramelized onions, but the Guinness in the broth provides a complexity beyond the more familiar French version of this soup. The mix of cheeses on top add a tangy sharpness that made this my favorite part of our meal. Sadly, we couldn’t explore the broad array of libations offered, as we had 7-hour drive ahead of us. I’ll plan my itinerary better next time.

We stopped in because we heard the music and the albeit reluctant allure of a Guinness beer in a pint glass. But after entering and smelling the food we decided to try a little. We started with Celtic Cesar salad with anchovies for an extra dollar. It was fabulous and so we tried the Irish onion soup with a slice of Guinness bread for an additional dollar. The soup was amazing with a hint of Guinness and robust onion taste. It was light on the cheese but paired with the slightly sweet bread it was delectable. So it was two for two. We then decided to try two specialty drinks a the bloody Irishman and the Brynes bacon Bloody Mary. Wow were they well constructed. Both came with a slice of lemon and slice of lime, two olives and stalk of celery. Everything you need for a wholesome meal. The biggest difference is that the Bloody Irishman has a hint of Guinness and no bacon. Both drinks went down easy and were sufficiently strong that you know you had a well constructed drink. And you know what goes well with Bloody Mary??? Pastrami! We then ordered pastrami poutine and the Brooklyn pastrami sandwich with a side of ginger coleslaw. It was served on marble rye with a single pickle Speer. The pickle was as good as any New York deli so we asked for two more. The pastrami was lean and very tasty, both dishes were a hit. The ginger sesame coleslaw was refreshing and surprisingly crisp. The only thing left to do was sample the dessert. We ordered the bread pudding. It was on the dry side with overly crisp bread. The only downside was the dessert. It was surprisingly just like someone else’s mom used to make and I didn’t eat that one either. It’s a five star “hole in the wall” with great music on Wednesday. The musicians are all unpaid and so I am sure the quality varies but today it was great. This bar food is certainly the best I have ever had and for the meal components, they compare favorably with some fine dining I have had. If you are in town or passing through you have to stop in and put this review to the test. It was fairly priced a lot of food and two drinks for $70.

This was our first time here and loved it. They had a great selection of drinks. I had a Magners Irish Cider on tap and my wife had a variation of an Irish coffee. They serve pub food but it is really good pub food. We split a couple of appetizers, the pastrami poutine and the whiskey glazed wings. Both were great as was the service. Definitely going to make this place a regular watering spot.