James E. McNellie's Public House - Restaurant Review

The first James E. McNellie's in Tulsa was quite a success, the idea of a former student that found the Irish pub appeal in Dublin while traveling abroad. Now the metro boasts its own at Plaza Court in Midtown. As a neighborhood pub, it's one of the absolute best in the metro, a casual, comfortable spot with an incredible beer selection and excellent service. As a restaurant, though, it's not of the same quality, at least in part due to a menu notably lacking much in the way of uniqueness.

The restaurant/pub James E. McNellie's Public House sits in a great location on the south edge of the renovated Plaza Court. In the first floor's main area, a long, a wooden bar half-circles the room while wide windows look out onto Midtown streets. It's not a large room, and this often creates a wait for seating, particularly if you want one of the small tables that line the edge. But it's a well-decorated and comfortable space, colorful lamps hanging overhead.

The same can't be said for the second floor, from my experience, and this is part of the strange dichotomy of McNellie's. As a casual pub, it's top notch. The bar offers over 300 beer choices from all over the world, a great many of them on tap. One of my favorite things to do is get a flight, a sampling of top ale choices grouped by theme. For example, one flight has several Oklahoma beers, including two from the metro's own COOP Ale Works.

For beer novices such as myself, the bartenders and servers are outstanding, knowledgeable and willing to assist. On every visit, I've sampled something new, inquiring as to types of ale. And each time, I've received wonderful advice in the pairing. Throw in some food choices that are of much better quality than most bar fare, and it's hard to beat McNellie's in this regard.

View McNellie's from strictly a restaurant perspective, though, and you might be disappointed. The upstairs portion is drab and undecorated, with a still-undergoing-renovation look. Whether it is or that's simply a design choice, I don't know. Some of the appetizers taste like they are right out of a package, and I was struck by the fact that a pub with origins from the Irish model features only a few authentic Irish dishes. With the exception of some tasty sweet potato fries, I came away feeling like McNellie's lacked in unique menu items.