R.I.P. Brian O'Neil's: Goodbye Old Friend

Last night was an end of an era.  At least for me and my friends it was..  You see after this Sunday Brian O'Neill's in the Rice Village will be shutting its doors.  It will then be remodeled and rebranded into something completely different.  The reason I say that last night was an end of an era is because my friends and I have been going to what we affectionately call Brian O's in one form or another since 2002. It was also one of my first reviews when I started blogging.

I first discovered  Brian O's back in 2002 when my college roommate and I were hungry and in search of a place to eat.  Living in an apartment very close to the Rice Village, we decided to explore. We happened to chance upon Brian O's and wandered in.  It was then that we noticed that Brian O's had a weekly Wednesday special of half priced burgers.  My roommate and I decided to come back that Wednesday.  It was that first Wednesday of many that we also discovered that Brian O's had a glass special, where, if you bought their glass, you got cheap refills on beer as long as you had your glass.

Original Brian O'Neil's Glass

After that we were hooked.  My roommate and I spent many a Wednesday night there throughout the school year.  That is where I first sang karaoke. Since my roommate and I were having such a good time, we started inviting other friends.  Brian O's is where we watched Rice lose the second game of the 2003 College World Series.  One of my friends was almost turned against Brian O's due to a bad order and a vindictive waitress.  Luckily he was not soured enough to not come back.  As time passed, more and more friends started to show up on Wednesday.  Next thing we knew, it was our weekly tradition.  Show up at Brian O's on Wednesday before 7:30 for half priced burgers and cheap beer.  Show up after 7:30 and we will have already ordered without you.  Those were the rules.

As time went on, some of the faces changed and some of us could not always be there, but the time and the place remained constant. It became like an old warm comfortable blanket.  It was where we could meet on weekly basis to converse and discuss the events of the week or plan for the upcoming weekend. Even after some changes were made to the menu and they changed the glass special (bring your own up to 32 oz), the time and the place remained constant.  Even if you could not make it this week, you always knew there was next week as the time and the place remained constant.

Brian O's did not only serve as our weekly meeting place.  We also had other event there.  I remember more than one birthday celebration being had at Brian O's.  I had part of my bachelor party there as well as the rehearsal dinner for my wedding.  Brian O's has been a part of my life pretty much since its beginning.

But as they say the only thing that ever stays the same is change.  It was announced via Eater Houston that Brian O'Neill's was shutting down to remodel  and rebrand with a whole new menu.  Now while Brian O'Neill's is not technically closing, what it once was will be gone and I can't help but feel a little sad about that.  Last night was the last Wednesday of what had been a great weekly tradition.  Last night was our last hurrah.  Some of us even took our old Brian O's glasses.

We talked and cajoled like have done for so many nights, but we also reminisced a bit.  So, as the night ended, it was like saying good bye to an old friend.  Farewell Brian O'Neill's, you will be missed but not forgotten!

Brian O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub

Brian O'Neill's is a little Irish Pub that has found its home in Houston, TX right next to the prestigious Rice University. It has great atmosphere and good food. It is a place to meet up with friends once a week or a place to have bigger gatherings. I first discovered Brian O'Neil's my last year at Rice University. I was forced to move off campus and my good friend and roommate at the time came with me. Since we were living off campus and had to depend on ourselves for food, we decided to explore the eateries in the Rice Village, a shopping and retail center close to Rice. One night we just happened to stumble upon Brian O's, as we now lovingly call it. That fateful day, we became life long patrons.

Brian O's may be easy to miss if you are not looking. It is wedged at the bottom of what seems to be an office building with two parking lots as book ends. Well, you might miss it, except for all the people who are out in the patio. In front of the Pub's facade is a sunken patio with plenty of tables and space. There is also a window to the bar where one can order drinks at his leisure.

Once inside you have the bar to your right, tables in front of you, a secluded room ahead next to the kitchen door and the end of the bar. There is also a little lounge type area with comfy couches and a big TV. Next to that area is the Tea Merchant's room. You can close the doors for a private function or just get away from the crowds. In the back left corner is a little alcove with a round table. This little sanctuary is where my friends and I like to meet every Wednesday. I will get into why Wednesday later.

Brian O's has been voted the best place to drink a Guinness at least twice by the Houston Press. And while that is a good reason to go, the food also has to be a large draw. The burgers are fantastic. The steaks are decent and the shepherd's pie is nothing to laugh at. Ah, but our main draw are the burgers. You see, Brian O's is one of those places that has a daily special. And Wednesday just happens to be the Big Ass Beer and Half Price Burger night. Now do you see the appeal of Brian O's on a Wednesday? So yeah, that is our weekly meeting place. This is how we keep up, talk about our jobs, ourselves and future social plans. The prefect place for meeting to talk about this, that, and everything else.

But on to the food. What kind of cooking blog would this be if I did not talk about the food? First, let's mention the burgers themselves. They are the stars of the show. And you have a nice selection too. There is the Smoky Backyard BBQ burger. This is my personal favorite. It is a half pound beef patty cooked to order topped with two large strips of crispy bacon, a smoky barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese. Next is the Swiss Alpine Burger. This one, if you have not guessed already, involves the same beef patty only now it is topped with sauteed mushrooms and swiss cheese. Yum. If you don't like those then try the Black and Bleu Burger. This one has two crispy bacon strips and crumbled blue cheese. Don't like blue cheese. The the last of the burgers on this beef parade is the Ranchero Burger. This one involves pico de gallo, white cheddar cheese and two slices of avocado. So you still have not found a burger you like, well then make your own damnit. Yes, you can create your own burger with whatever you feel like putting on it. Nothing says yummy like beef in the tummy.

So, now that we have covered the main thrust of the plate, lets explore the sides. First of all, all burgers come with a lettuce leaf, tomato and onion slice, and pickle wedge. You do have the option of getting fries, chips, fruit (for the calorie conscious), cole slaw or soup. If you choose the soup, then you get your choice of a cup of chicken tortilla, French onion, or baked potato. All choices of the soup are quite good. Although I can't decide if I like the chicken tortilla or the baked potato better. If you order the fries, you get the typical shoestring fried potatoes. If you order the chips, you get the thickly cut steak fries. Both are good and have their pros and cons. I personally like the chips better.

The other half of the meal is the big ass beer. For $8 you can own your very own 23oz. Brian O's pilsner glass, with free beer. Well, only that first beer is free. After that you have to pay to get refills. But on the plus side you get cheaper refills than if you had bought a normal draft. And you get more. That is a great benefit of the glass.

I have only touched a small portion of what great culinary delights this nifty little Irish Pub holds. But I do hope it has whetted your appetite for this place. So if you ever find yourself in Houston, TX, do yourself a favor and visit Brian O'Neil's Irish Pub.