Raglan Road - The Irish Experience

[tony67]

First let me start by saying I did not go to Raglan Road for the food.
This is my opinion of the environment and the Guinness.


After experiencing really bad Guinness at the Ireland cart at the Food and Wine festival I happened upon the seminar with Kevin from Raglan Road. I listened to it from behind the great wall of plants. (If you've been to the F&W events you know what I am talking about)

Anyway, he sold my on trying Raglan Road, so I stopped in few a few jars.

He talked about how the staff was Irish and the bands came from Ireland and they wanted everything to be authentic.
Well, the Kitty O' Sheas in Paris is more authentic (that's sarcasm BTW)
There is a Kitty O'Sheas in Orlando I just have not been there so can not comment, but it is the McDonalds of Irish Pubs.

None of the bartenders where Irish. The band was a guy with a guitar and a guy with a banjo (sometimes a fiddle)
They played for 30 minutes and took a break. Tough gig.
They said they are going to play a Pogues song called Dirty Old Town.
Well it is an Ewan MacColl song that the Pogues covered.
A "top notch" musician brought in from Ireland would know that.
They are really just a cheesy local band that happen to be Irish.
You have tourists from all over the world looking for a good night of drinking.
At least get a lively band or an have Irish Trad Seisiun.
I'm glad I left before they played Danny Boy.

Anyway, back to the beer.

The first pint was very good. Smooth and milky as Guinness should be, but something was slightly off. It did not feel right in my hand. Then I realized the glass was slightly smaller then a proper pint glass. If you are used to drinking pints of Guinness something like this will really throw you off. Finally I asked and yes it was an American pint (16 Ounces), not an Imperial pint (about 20 US ounces).
90% of all Irish bars in the US get proper 20oz pint glasses. (I made the 90% up , but I bet it is close. I don't have he real numbers) It seems they had the glasses specially made so they would be very close to a 20oz pint glass (Reminds my of the forced perspective at main street USA). Even better they charge 6.75. A 20oz pint in Ireland is about 4 Euro. In Boston it is about six dollars. In my opinion 6.75 for 4 less ounces is criminal. This really adds up after 6 or 7 pints.

The next 2-3 pints were not as nice they had a bitter taste like they had just changed the keg but did not pull off the first few pints. They did get better from there.

As for the food I tried the Battered Sausages, something they call Dundalk Duo.
This is one of the many corny names they have for the meals in this place.
I have had many battered sausages after a night on the Guinness in Dublin and Ennis and these were very good once you got rid of the mustard sauce and added salt and vinegar.
But there was one BIG issue. There was a terrible smell of fish off of them. I mean foul.
They chips and sausages should not be fried in the same oil as fish.
The smell was disgusting and really put me off of the sausages.

In the end I will not be going back. There are numerous Irish pubs in this country that can give you the experience of an Irish Pub without insulting your intelligence (the Quite Man was a LONG time ago) and without picking your pocket.

If you are looking for bright green sweaters and leprechauns then this is the place for you.

 

[BayouMickey]

Wow, I don't know but it sounds like you're nick picking here. So it isn't a "authentic" irish pub. The food is good, the beer is cold, and there's a long legged lady doing a jig. What is there really to complain about?

 

[tony67]

I would normally agree except the simple fact that the chef from the place sold me on the authenticity at his seminar at the food and wine festival. He went on and on about the authenticity. The talked about the fact that they brought top level musicians from Ireland on a regular basis and they want it as authentic as possible.

I also talked to the bar staff and was told that the specifically ordered these smaller pint glasses and they get numerous complaints. Because of this they are considering getting imperial pints, so I think the point is valid. They have them at the eniglish bar in Epcot, why not here? If no one complains it will stay the same.

As I said in the OP I can't say weather the food was good or bad since I only had the battered sausages that smelt like fish. This is off putting to me and as I said, I will not be rushing back.

As for your other point if I want to look at long legged girls I can go to wing house, the Cajun wings are excellent.

BTW, by the look on her face she did not seem to be happy doing what she was doing.

So no, I do not think it is nit picking.

 

[MickeyNicki]

There has always been so much hype on the Dis about RR so in June we decided to see what we were missing out on...absolutely nothing! The food was disgusting! Fun entertainment but horrible food and that bread & butter pudding everyone raves about? BLECH! It was dry toast stuffed into a coffee cup with a super sweet sauce to pour over it

 

[DVCconvert]

Tony67 -

"May I ask what you expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically...?"

Sorry you were disappointed....I think you're expectations would best be met in Ennis!

 

[mickeymousemom]

First of all, I don't agree that the OP is nit picking. I think the OP KNOWS what an authentic Irish pub should be and was lead to believe he would find it in Raglan Road, only to be disappointed. Most of us have never been in an authentic Irish pub so we'd be satisfied with something close. As for my family, we ate there a few weeks after they opened and were very happy with the food. We weren't thrilled about the atmosphere, as we ate early and missed any entertainment. We went back the next year and were very disappointed in both the service and the food. I even thought about trying once more this year, but when I looked at the menu and realized that some things had been removed(and not many choices left), I decided against it. Seems to me, according to reviews I've read lately, that RR is going to have to kick it up several notches real darn quick or they'll have an empty restaurant every day.

 

[natalielongstaff]

To sell something as Authentic when it clearly isn't is a poor show IMO

 

[notaclue]

We ate at RR 2 years ago and loved it. Went back last week and it was meh. Several items have been removed from the menu and even on the DXDDP there are some apps that aren't allowed. DH had the shepherd's pie which now has a tomato base (didn't have tomato 2 yrs ago). I had the chicken pie which was just a frozen chicken pot pie without veggies. The service was lacking also. BTW...we've been to Ireland so we do know authentic Irish food. I agree, RR is missing the mark these days.

 

[tony67]

"May I ask what you expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically...?"

Don't be silly. I expect to be able to see the sea.

DVCconvert -

Unfortunately 90 degree days are very rare in Ennis, as is the sun, but least there is no snow to speak of.

It's just frustrating that there are SO MANY good Irish pubs in the US and Disney can't put together one.

It just makes me miss the Adventures Club all the more.

It would just be nice to be able to find a decent place to drink with Disney transportation when you are in the world solo and unfortunately La Cava del Tequila closes at 9PM and getting to boardwalk is a pain. They really need an inter resort bus or have all downtown disney buses stop at boardwalk.

 

[ekball]

I would have loved to hear Danny Boy when we spent a night at RR last May. I believe the 'band' closed with a Johnny Cash tune.

 

[phunchak]

I would have loved to hear Danny Boy when we spent a night at RR last May. I believe the 'band' closed with a Johnny Cash tune.

Believe it or not...Johnny Cash tunes are popular in Irish Bars. I just a came back from Ireland and in Belfast, Derry, Limmerick, Cork, and Dublin every band, trio or musician I heard played at least one Johnny Cash tune in at least one set and these were for the most part real pubs with hardly any tourists.

But I agree if you have an authentic Irish Bar outside of Ireland you'd probably want to have some real Irish songs. Its not hard since there are hundreds of great songs to choose from.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

See the funny thing is if you do go to and "authentic" Irish pub all you hear is Johnny Cash...I should know because I spend a month every summer on the Beara Penninsula and out there you NEVER hear Irish music.

Sarah