you could certainly get a burger there and a damn good one at that....you have to go upstairs and order it off of the "bar menu"....

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Maybe you need to snap your fingers. Were you ever in the military?

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Oh, no, it's an Irish bar. And it's not going to be like anything else in JC. :rolleyes:

Mentioning a "sophisticated Martini" and "Apple-tini" in the same article?

I like talk-to-people bars too. I would welcome that as well.

But I do have a question: Where can you watch games with the volume on? I know of only PJ Ryans and York Street (after we asked multiple times for the volume to be on for Monday Night Football). If there are other options, I would love to know about them.

I think there are too many places to watch sports in Jersey City -- I for one never go anywhere if the volume is on and sports are playing -- I'm not even a big fan of the game on with the volume off -- but there are plenty of places to see the games.

I like pub-culture where people meet and talk to each other.

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I am afraid that this place is going to have the same identity crisis as the new York Street Tavern. Is it a game-watching-irish-sports bar or is it a swanky loung restaurant. The two really don't combine very well. Pick one.

And, frankly, I would LOVE if a real irish pub would open up downtown. Just like Skadave said -- where construction workers and stockbrokers both go for a guinness and maybe some mediocre shepards' pie. And where it's a great atmosphere to watch sports as well.

And don't tell me about PJ Ryans. Except for Sunday afternoons, that place is dead dead dead.

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The Light Horse has always carried a great selection of beers, both on tap and an extensive collection of bottled beers. Here are their beers on tap, from their website: http://www.lighthorsetavern.com/beer.html

Beers On Draft

Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Dogfish Head 90min IPA
Guinness
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
Boulder Hazed and Infused
Fuller’s London Pride
Lighthorse “Kick Ass” brew
Reissdorf Koelsch
Erdinger Weissebrau
Scrimshaw
Brooklyn Lager
Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale

We need more bars with a good beer selection. White Star seems to be the only place that carries a decent selection (Sierra Nevada, Boddingtons primarily). That Oddfellows location is a weird one .. Don't know how much late night business it would get.

decided to give it a whirl last night....

decor...good lighting...very trendy and upscale looking...the best part are the fans that, i believe, are the original fans and they operate on a pully system(sort of)...pretty cool.

the upstairs bar/lounge area is where you want to be...great flat screens to watch games and whatnot...nice big bar.

the food: had the calamari...ok, in my book...cooked a little too much. the mussels, i normally don't go for them because they are too fishy...these ones, not so bad, pretty tasty if i say so myself...
the highlight: the kobe beef hamburger....EXCELLENT!!! the taste of that burger is second to none(well, maybe not a luger's burger!)...on the first bite, i was like, WOW! highly recommend it. and not so pricey for kobe..$12

overall consensus: i'll go back again.

Isn't that the former OddFellow's location?

It's where oddfellows used to be.

Location? Someone add this to the business directory.

I went to OConnells for dinner last night and the food was great. The servers were overly attentive almost too much. The menu is upscale Continental you can't go there for a burger as there isn't one on the menu. I was told that they menu will be tailored in the future based on what the clients want. They will open for lunch in two weeks.

They did a really nice job on the interior it is as cozy as it could be with 20 foot ceilings.

He's the guy who owned and opened the Merchant.

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Good to call it O'Connell's then.

Sure, but the real question is will their "banquettes" be as nice as these!

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Not exactly true. It's not necessary to advertise in any of their publications to get an "article" published. While you will never find anything derogatory in Diana Schwaeble's articles or her counterparts (I believe her articles appear in both the Current and JJ), she does actually go to establishments that she covers and samples the fare, free of charge I would guess. I wouldn't call them reviews and I don't think she would either. The establishment is informed in advance that she's coming and she introduces herself when she arrives. If you read the article with that in mind, then it's not misleading. However, it does give the appearance of a review which is misleading in my opinion.

I also find it odd that she is writing about a place before it opens. I've never seen that.

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really?

Why does everyone who builds restaurants in jersey city think there is a big demand for "fine dining."

fine dining is natural
fine dining is good
not everybody likes it
but everybody should!

slow cooked ribs and smth crusted lamb? - i'm interested.

I've never seen Trump. Thank God.

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Because they see Trump, all the other new condos, and perhaps Koolhaas getting built???

Just a thought.

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because the "reviews" in the current are not actually reviews. i'm 99 percent sure they're bought and paid for.

The whole article screams overpriced and pretentious irish bar

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Maybe the check for the ads has already cleared.

Why does everyone who builds restaurants in jersey city think there is a big demand for "fine dining."

I would be more impressed if the guy said something like "it's going to be a great neighborhood bar with moderately priced food and drink where you might see a construction worker sitting next to a stock broker." Wouldn't that be more appealing than a guy telling us we need a "fine dining establishment?"

At this rate I might have to go into manhattan to get an affordable meal. :)

How do you give a glowing review to a place that hasn't finish renovating? And did the reviewer taste the food already?

New Bar - O'Connell's to open in Jersey City at former Oddfellows located at 111 Montgomery


By: Diana Schwaeble -- The Current 09/20/2006

NEW DIGS – Padraig Hennessy opens O’Connell’s in downtown Jersey City. The grand-opening bash is scheduled for early October.

There's a new bar on the scene. O'Connell's, located in downtown Jersey City, offers a hip place for people thirsty for something new. Elegant drinks and wholesome dishes that are layered with flavors will tempt your taste buds as you relax in the split-level restaurant and bar.

Not an Irish pub

Padraig (known as "Podge") Hennessy, owner of O'Connell's, has over 18 years of experience in the bar business. He previously owned several establishments in Hoboken before moving back to Ireland. Now back in the states, he's ready to redefine your idea of a good night out. He's taken over the former Oddfellows located at 111 Montgomery St. and re-created it into a new space.

Hennessy said the only reference you'll see to his Irish roots are in the namesake of the place and the pints of Guinness.

He said he got the idea for the name after talking late one night to friends. O'Connell's is for Daniel O' Connell, a liberator in Ireland.

On the wall in the bar area will be a dedication to the silver tongued Irishman as a tribute. According to Hennessy, the separate bar area will have the tribute wall, but the other rooms will have a different environment.

The first-floor dining room is more noveau chic with contemporary artwork on the wall, large plants, and custom made high leather banquettes in muted reds and greens. The room looks cozy with sections of seating separated naturally along the columns of the room. The walls are painted in deep, rich shades that give the room added warmth and are echoed in the spectacular amber sconces that line the walls. It is a room that begs people to linger a while longer.

"We want this to be a cool place to go to in Jersey City," said Hennessy. "A place where you can have a good dinner and relax with a drink afterwards."

A taste of what's in store

The grand opening is slated for early October. (Check our website for updates: www.hudsoncurrent.com). According to Hennessy, for the grand-opening celebration, there will be drink specials galore.

In addition to the already full bar, there is a specialty Martini list that includes favorites like the Cosmo, Apple-tini, plus some new ones like the Emerald-tini (it's green!) and others.

Wine will be available by the glass or the bottle including: Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon, Jacobs Creek Shiraz, Navarro Correas Merlot, Aquinas Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, and much more.

The food will pack a kick too. Several of the marinades include wine and beer. The wholesome meats are going to be infused with flavors like the herb crusted lamb, slow roasted short ribs, and potato crusted trout. The emphasis is on healthy yet hearty fare. Other items include specialty salads (calamari salad), homemade soups (potato leek and seafood bisque), wraps (salmon club), burgers, pastas and more.

In addition, the second floor dining room can be rented out for private parties and will have a separate menu. According to Paul McCarthy, general manager, they are catering to a crowd that can appreciate the good quality food and drinks.

"It will be something new for downtown Jersey City," said McCarthy. "A place where you can get everything from a pint of Guinness and a sandwich wrap to a sophisticated Martini and potato crusted trout. It will be a place for fine dining and your local pint."

O'Connell's is located at 111 Montgomery St. in Jersey City. The grand-opening bash will be in early October. For more information, call (201) 333-3633.