Inside: O'Toole's Irish Pub

Along with the beach-going crowds, local businesses returned to Asbury Park's boardwalk this past summer, and among the welcome additions was O'Toole's Irish Pub, tucked away in the indoor arcade between Convention Hall and the Paramount Theater. 

However, now that the bulk of the crowds have left for the season, O'Toole's hopes to keep its doors open and its taps flowing year-round.

"That's the plan," said George Fisher, director of food operations. 

Is this bar and grill worth a trip to the Shore, even in the off-season? Find out as Metromix Jersey Shore takes a look inside.

Décor: When they say O'Toole's is an Irish pub, they mean it. Take one look around the dimly lit bar and you'll find a framed photo of John F. Kennedy sharing wall space with beer ads, as well as church pews to sit on while you eat, drink and be merry. All that's missing, really, is sawdust on the floor. 

To accommodate its NFL-loving clientele, the bar also has flat screen TVs in almost every direction to make sure you don't miss out on any of the big games this fall.

Drinks: While O'Toole's does have a bar fully stocked with hard liquor, this most certainly is a beer place, and an affordable one at that -- of the 14 beers on tap, only one will cost you more than $4 (that would be Guinness, for $5). 

And its selection of brews should also please any beer connoisseur. O'Toole's features both local favorites (Yuengling and Brooklyn Lager) as well as not one, not two, not three but four Irish beers: Beamish, Killian's Red, Guinness and Smithwick's.

Crowd: This past summer, O'Toole's attracted a mix of folks coming off the beach looking for a hearty meal and a cold beer. 

According to Fisher, during the off-season it still is attracting summer-size crowds on nights when there are shows at Convention Hall or the Paramount Theater. The bar also is able to bring people out during NFL games with specials that include a New York strip steak and a pitcher of Coors Light for $12 and a half-time buffet.

Entertainment: The bar, which features a jukebox packed with punk, classic rock, metal and some country, features live acoustic entertainment on weekends.

Food: Remember the O'Toole's love of Irish beers? That also invades the food portion of the menu, with the standout item being Beamish beef stew, which includes beef tips and vegetables served in a Beamish Stout demi-glaze with garlic bread. 

The bar pays a refreshingly high level attention to all of the items included on its brief but satisfying menu. Its standard burger, for instance, is a black angus burger served on a ciabatta bun with a side of spicy fries.

Bottom Line: Whether you're looking for a cold beer to top off a day at the beach, a hearty meal to see you through a fall or winter evening or a place to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink before or after a show, O'Toole's is a sure bet year-round. And with affordable drinks and only two food options costing more than $10, you're sure to get a lot of bang for relatively few bucks.

Photo by Alex Biese

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