The Irish Village

It has come to pass that any introduction to Dubai’s social circuit is incomplete without a night’s initiation at the immensely popular Irish Village 16 Reviews

Meal Deal

The Irish Village’s barbecue

Choose from a range of meats – from chicken to steak – and get a free hop or short beverage with each order. Dhs50 (includes one drink) Timings: Noon-4pm (Friday, Saturday)

© ITP Images

It has come to pass that any introduction to Dubai’s social circuit is incomplete without a night’s initiation at the immensely popular Irish Village. For a laid-back bevvy or three, quality live entertainment and top pub grub, nowhere hits closer to home than the IV. Set in its own atmospheric ‘village’ with authentic Irish shop fronts, an expansive courtyard and chirrupy Irish staff, the IV is an all-time favourite with residents and visitors alike who love paying homage to this local institution.

The food is hale and hearty pub fare with something for everyone. For starters, the cajun chicken salad tickles the tongue with its light orangey zest, though the chicken is perhaps a little too crispy. Moving on to the mains, the traditional fish and chips in Guinness batter is the winner, cooked to crunchy perfection and served with a generous dollop of mushy green peas. The tasty chicken, ham and mushroom pie fares just as well, the chunky filling thoughtfully presented in its own dish as not to make the crusty pie pastry soggy. Those not excited by wintry fare will melt for the Atlantic salmon, grilled to perfection so it falls off the fork, and served with a colourful array of grilled vegetables.

The steamy hot apple pie defies any anglophile not to feel positively nostalgic. Whether it’s for an after-work drink or a lively evening out, the IV comes up trumps yet again.

By Time Out Dubai

• Previous reviews
  • 21 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 11 August,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 17 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 01 December,2004- reviewed by Matthew Lee
  • 01 May,2002- reviewed by Carolyn Robb
  • 01 January,2002- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: James Molloy on 12 Dec ' 12 at 20:36

Hello Jason,
after so many years. I lmost your postcard, concerning
my Franco Irish Group "Tumbleweed". We are a five man group.
Four French musicians, fiddle, two guitars and drums and myself,
Singer yodler, from Dublin.
Our repertoire is Country, Hank Williams, Johnnie Cash, Willie Nelson, John Denver, American Folk Tom Paxton, Irish Ballads,
Dubliners, Whisky In The Jar, Wild Rover, Galway Races etc And
some original compositions, instrumental. I present my concert with
explainations of every song, not too boringly long. We are 13 years
performing and promise and deliver our very best
Sincerely,
James Molloy

Posted by: Mick.C. on 13 Oct ' 12 at 05:15

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Last time I went,2wks ago with a friend over from UK.Went inside and 3 staff in one corner of the bar folding napkins,and chatting.We stood at the other end of the bar, only 3 other people inside and waited for about 2-3 mins to be served.After this time it was obvious that we were invisible to the staff and decided to leave.As we walked out my friend who was behind me was approached by one of the staff, with the comment DID YOU WANT SOMETHING.Never again.

Posted by: diego mateo santos on 07 Oct ' 12 at 21:09

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Brunch served
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: aswin on 29 Mar ' 12 at 05:23

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Posted by: momto2 on 02 Nov ' 10 at 05:39

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Went to this bar last night with a group of friends. The waitress was smiley but rude. I'm ok with waiters being down to earth and not too formal but I just felt she was rude and sarcastic (was annoying).

She botched our drinks orders at least 4 times.

The food was overpriced, as were the drinks.

Posted by: russo on 20 Oct ' 10 at 07:20

OverallService

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Changing the entance fee policiy @ the last minute, uncool service

Posted by: LK on 20 Oct ' 10 at 05:38

OverallDecorService

AmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Before going to the Hopfest/Oktoberfest, we called several times to confirm that there was no cover charge. We were told there was not.

To our surprise and dismay, upon arrival at Irish Village (with a large group of people), we were told there was in fact a cover charge. The staff was quite rude about this.

Furthermore, Irish Village pulled this same stunt last year.

If you like being lied to, then sure, come here.

If not, I suggest you find elsewhere to spend your money.

Posted by: sanjay on 07 Mar ' 10 at 13:50

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Brunch served
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

reading one review here certainly made me laugh! i have been to pubs all over the world including irish and never have i experienced such indifferent service anywhere else. some of the staff at IV seem unhappy and stressed out. the ones behind the bar counter especially seem hard of hearing and blind at the same time...and selectively so. i actually love everything else about the place and sorry, the staff are not going to prevent me from enjoying some hard earned food, drink and fresh air.

Posted by: sinead on 26 Oct ' 09 at 10:27

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Reading the reviews I had to laugh. You wont get American style service with the Irish. If you actually talk to the waiters you will find them very friendly and hospitable. The Irish perfer to converse with the guests. So next time try that and I think you will get a better response from them. I actually think it adds to the charm of the place.

I have been a regular here since I came to Dubai and I really enjoy the place. The food I agree is not the best and the selection of lower calorie lighter meals is poor. Not everyone wants to eat heavy carbohydrated filled food so a better selection would be well received. Also a better selection of smaller dishes so you could share among groups. chips and dips is quite a sad selection.

The Irish village is part of the whole century village and Cellar so its quite disapointing that the wine list is so poor.
So upgrade choices for food and wine and you have yourself a great bar.
Prices are higher than most pubs and they could lower them as the place is always full, but I suppose you pay for the setting..

Posted by: andrew on 25 Oct ' 09 at 17:06

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Brunch served
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Its a pity the staff at Irish village are rude and couldn't care less attitude. Not sure is they are "trained"to be this way?

Posted by: Karen on 25 Oct ' 09 at 07:29

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Service was terrible....the Waitress, both who came to my table were very rude ...Irish Village better get some customer friendly waiters and waitresses..else they are going to lose a lot of customers!!

Posted by: Hani on 23 Mar ' 09 at 15:41

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

The staff are rude, the food is bad... I just hate it!!

Posted by: Anil Khurana on 18 Mar ' 09 at 04:04

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Paul Gall on 17 Mar ' 09 at 20:58

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

You know exactly what you will get decent pub grub all the usuals from burgers to fish and chips, its not flash or upmarket just good traditional pub fayre, lovely setting and usually a good live music playing which you can sit outside and enjoy.

Posted by: Rolf Laws on 17 Mar ' 09 at 05:09

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Having been a visitor to the Irish Village for nearly 10 years I have noticed that the overall standard of service and quality of food has declined to a point that I no longer use the venue as a place of choice with regard to food. As a place to meet, converse, enjoy the entertainment and have a beverage or two excellent but that is as far as it goes.

Posted by: Paddy Murphy on 16 Mar ' 09 at 08:28

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

"The kitchen serves all the Irish favourites, like fish and chips and weekend fry-ups"

When exactly was fish and chips an Irish favourite?