North County's most authentic Irish pub has a new owner and name, but it still feels like something you would find in Dublin.
In February, Dennis O'Sullivan took over Tom Giblin's Irish Pub in the Carlsbad Village. The popular tavern is now called O'Sullivan's Irish Pub & Restaurant.
Regulars need not worry about their favorite hangout changing too much. While O'Sullivan has made some changes, he plans to keep the integrity of the pub intact.
“The idea is to keep it going like it was when Ned and Brenda Giblin owned it,” O'Sullivan said. “There is still live music every night except Monday.”
After purchasing the restaurant, the first change O'Sullivan made was to install Directv and sign up for its Setanta sports package.
“People were clamoring for the European sports channel on Directv,” he said. “European people love it.”
O'Sullivan plans to replace all nine TVs in the pub with flat screens and is adding to the d?cor to give it an old Ireland look. He remodeled the outdoor patio, which keeps patrons warm on cool nights with two large fire pits, and also expanded the menu to give customers more choices.
“I also made the portions bigger because that is what Irish pubs are all about,” O'Sullivan said.
The menu now includes several breakfast entrees, including the All Day Irish Breakfast, which already is a customer favorite. The authentic meal includes two eggs, Irish rasher, tomatoes, black and white pudding, Heinz baked beans and cheese potatoes served with Irish soda bread for $12.95.
“It's the real deal,” O'Sullivan said. “No other place in San Diego does it that I know of except The Field.”
Also new to the menu is Irish stew, seafood and chicken dinner entrees and a brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday featuring a bottomless glass of champagne for $9.50.
“Everything that was on the menu still is,” O'Sullivan said. “But I've almost doubled the number of items.”
Carlsbad resident Anne Martin, who grew up in Ireland, has been an occasional patron of the pub for 20 years. She said she likes it because it reminds her of home.
“It hasn't changed drastically since the new owner, but it's always encouraging when the owner is Irish,” Martin said.
It's apparent that O'Sullivan knows what he's doing because business has increased since he became owner, and all of the staff stayed on after the changeover. O'Sullivan attributes the smooth transition to the pub's two managers, Terri Matthews and Jane Powell, who've both worked there for nearly 10 years.
This isn't O'Sullivan's first venture into restaurants. He owned The Alley in Newport Beach for 14 years and also owns an Italian restaurant in Huntington Beach. The 57-year-old also keeps busy by practicing law full-time in Long Beach.
“What's the alternative? I don't want to sit home and watch Oprah,” O'Sullivan said, adding that he's always wanted to own an Irish pub.
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub & Restaurant
640 Grand Ave., Ste. A, Carlsbad
(760) 729-7234
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday
In February, Dennis O'Sullivan took over Tom Giblin's Irish Pub in the Carlsbad Village. The popular tavern is now called O'Sullivan's Irish Pub & Restaurant.
Regulars need not worry about their favorite hangout changing too much. While O'Sullivan has made some changes, he plans to keep the integrity of the pub intact.
“The idea is to keep it going like it was when Ned and Brenda Giblin owned it,” O'Sullivan said. “There is still live music every night except Monday.”
After purchasing the restaurant, the first change O'Sullivan made was to install Directv and sign up for its Setanta sports package.
“People were clamoring for the European sports channel on Directv,” he said. “European people love it.”
O'Sullivan plans to replace all nine TVs in the pub with flat screens and is adding to the d?cor to give it an old Ireland look. He remodeled the outdoor patio, which keeps patrons warm on cool nights with two large fire pits, and also expanded the menu to give customers more choices.
“I also made the portions bigger because that is what Irish pubs are all about,” O'Sullivan said.
The menu now includes several breakfast entrees, including the All Day Irish Breakfast, which already is a customer favorite. The authentic meal includes two eggs, Irish rasher, tomatoes, black and white pudding, Heinz baked beans and cheese potatoes served with Irish soda bread for $12.95.
“It's the real deal,” O'Sullivan said. “No other place in San Diego does it that I know of except The Field.”
Also new to the menu is Irish stew, seafood and chicken dinner entrees and a brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday featuring a bottomless glass of champagne for $9.50.
“Everything that was on the menu still is,” O'Sullivan said. “But I've almost doubled the number of items.”
Carlsbad resident Anne Martin, who grew up in Ireland, has been an occasional patron of the pub for 20 years. She said she likes it because it reminds her of home.
“It hasn't changed drastically since the new owner, but it's always encouraging when the owner is Irish,” Martin said.
It's apparent that O'Sullivan knows what he's doing because business has increased since he became owner, and all of the staff stayed on after the changeover. O'Sullivan attributes the smooth transition to the pub's two managers, Terri Matthews and Jane Powell, who've both worked there for nearly 10 years.
This isn't O'Sullivan's first venture into restaurants. He owned The Alley in Newport Beach for 14 years and also owns an Italian restaurant in Huntington Beach. The 57-year-old also keeps busy by practicing law full-time in Long Beach.
“What's the alternative? I don't want to sit home and watch Oprah,” O'Sullivan said, adding that he's always wanted to own an Irish pub.
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub & Restaurant
640 Grand Ave., Ste. A, Carlsbad
(760) 729-7234
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday