The Daniel O’Connell Hotel

While the name of this pub didn’t jump out at me, when I visited it with my friend when I was in Adelaide the place, especially the beer garden out the back, was quite familiar. In fact I vaguely remember coming here with a group of friends for a meal ages ago. However, since I was wondering around North Adelaide, visiting some old favourites, and checking out some of the newer places, I decided that I would stop in here with my friend for a drink. The front bar is actually really small, however when you head out the back there is a huge dining area and a beer garden (which is actually really nice). While It’s not going to fall onto my list of all time favourite pubs, it’s still a decent place to have a beer.

I’m pleased to say that the Daniel O’Connell has given the top to tail offal menu the big A and has returned to sensible food at reasonable prices.
It was a pleasure to dine there, and the staff seemed happier too.

Family dinner and soccer semi-​final viewing the other night. Was pleasantly surprised by the food — great chicken schnitzel & beef burger, chips were awesome! Friendly staff, and relaxed atmosphere. Lack of pokies/​game greatly improved the experience. Will be back soon.

We had high hopes for the Daniel O’Connell; reviews across platforms are a little hit and miss, but the website claims that «The Dan’s menu is designed to satisfy the most fastidious diner.», so we thought we’d give it a go… What a mistake!
We had booked a table, and arrived on the dot. As our party of four stood at the entrance to the dining room staff milled about, but it took quite a while for one to acknowledge us. When they did it turned out they hadn’t set up our table, so we had to wait on the couches whilst their bought out a table and set it up.
Given I have a lot to talk about, I’m going to break the review down. I apologise for the length, but as it’s pretty negative I want to justify my stance. I also apologise for the negativity! I am usually a very positive reviewer.
SERVICE
The service was definitely the worst part of the evening. When we arrived it was clear that the kitchen was running behind, we could see punters were antsy and one of the staff members that appeared to be a manager was clearly frustrated and making quite loud comments to the waiters about the wait (it seemed a little aggressive to be honest).
Throughout the evening we were served by four wait staff. They all seemed quite frazzled and didn’t really seem to communicate to each other. One woman, (who we now realise is an owner) was really abrupt. She would ask us something and then not even acknowledge our answer before she walked away. Another of the wait staff that took our meal orders seemed very stressed and very unfamiliar with the menu. She may have been new. She gave us the incorrect information about an entrée and seemed unsure about other menu items. To her credit she was lovely and did apologise about the misinformation, her frazzled state appeared to be a product of the environment and lack of knowledge. Only one waiter seemed to be efficient, but even he didn’t bother asking us how the meal was when he collected the plates and saw half an uneaten, mangled steak left.
That brings me to the FOOD.
The food did not appear to be «designed to appeal to the most fastidious dinner»… in fact it was not even worthy of a $ 10 pub lunch, let alone a $ 20 – 40 menu.
People tell me that the Daniel O’Connell is known for its nose to tail menu. They also tell me it was voted best hotel dining in 2014. Something must’ve gone seriously wrong. I have heard rumours that the head chef left recently and that would certainly start to explain the mess that is the menu.
My aubergine parmigiana was voted the best of the four meals by our group, but even then… it was pretty poor, and certainly not worth $ 24! Three small pieces of eggplant, a small stack of soggy chips and an undressed salad aren’t really worthy of ‘Best At Table’!
One of my fellow diners ordered the Free Range Chicken Breast, but asked for it to be dairy free. Rather than replacing the cream filled corn purée with some veg or something the chicken came out with only two small pieces of potato and two small grilled onions… a tiny meal and really not all that aesthetically pleasing.
Finally, I move onto the steak (not going to bother talking about the bland, gristle-​filled Steak and Guinness pie)… my partner ordered the $ 38 Grass and Grain Fed Scotch Fillet. Whilst it was cooked to order and the chimmi churri sauce was DELICIOUS, that’s where the positivity stopped. A good 40% of the steak was fat, gristle and a stringy un-​edible mess. My partner left the gristly pile on the plate. The waiter’s face was clearly concerned when he collected the plate. But he didn’t bother to say anything or ask what the problem was.
All in all, with all this combined with a good hour+ wait for dinner, the evening seemed to be a product of poor management, lack of communication across the team and a sad menu. I don’t ever plan to go back. With pubs dropping like flies in Adelaide I’ll be directing my money into those more worthy.

If you like meat and offal this is the place. Not busy at all at night earlier in the week and a nice outdoor area. Breakfast on weekends handy as not busy, so quick service and again lots of meat.

This is my «St pattys (annual) local and has been for a few years HOWEVER… We dined here a few weeks ago as a group of about 16 over 2 tables in the bar area for a friends birthday (and to take part in the Thursday night trivia)
Across our whole group here are some of our problems that we incurred
— cold food
— extremely small portion size (on almost every dish)
— over cooked
— saltier than the sea
— under cooked
— bland
— expensive for what was received
— rude staff
— slow service
They have tried to create an interesting and unusual menu including a lot of more offal type cuts of meat but they have just gone too far left of field.
The service was slow, rude and one of our party actually had the barman roll his eyes at him when he requested to open a tab.
Not a pleasant experience and will be finding a new Irish pub for next years St Pats!

The Daniel O’Connell is a brilliant place to spend a rainy afternoon. We started off with a beer in the cosy front bar chatting to the friendly bar staff. Then we claimed a chesterfield each in the massive 80’s extension out the back and shared some wines, as well as the pork belly with cabbage, beer and beans and the beef shin. Scrumptious! I cant recall if we had dessert as I may have consumed a few too many wines. I can all but guarantee it would have been delicious if the rest of the food we feasted on was any indication. We look forward to heading back to the Daniel O’Connell really soon.

We did a 5 course ‘Nose to Tail’ menu with matching wine last night as part of a Good Food Society event. Ingredients were adventurous and beautifully prepared. To be honest the Daniel O’Connell wasn’t in my radar prior to this event but it’s definitely front and centre now. Aside from the food the pub has a lovely traditional feel to it — all wood panelling and dark corners. Highly recommend!

A new kitchen staff, an old barman, a new owner and the old décor. Excellent!
When we arrived we were greeted by John the barman, who has apparently been there over 10 years and managed to stay on when the place was bought out. I’m glad he stayed as he’s from the old school. He’ll chat, offer advise, is great with a one liner and seems to know the regulars.
The food. Hello food! The nose-​to-​tail phrase is bandied about by a lot of places who’ll only offer one or two offals sorts, but this place has it all. A 5 course degustation with sweetbreads, terrines, tongue, venison tartare, beautiful steak and venison (rare) and a de constructed Eton Mess and raspberry soufflé later we were bursting at the seams yet wanting more. Of course, for the less adventurous there are some excellent things like shepherds pie, steak etc.
The serving staff were incredibly positive and knowledgeable and generally made us feel welcome. We were there for about 5 hours and I think I could have easily stayed longer.

I wouldn’t recommend the daniel o’connell after having dinner there on a quiet Saturday night I have to wait 2 hour to receive my meal (grilled fish and chips) not a difficult meal to prepare at all. After serval complaints about waiting for my meal it finally came out clearly rushed going off the presentation and small serve. This may have been understandable if the pub was busy but it wasn’t which makes sense who wants to wait for 2 hours for a meal, I definitely wont be going back.
Although I wasn’t impressed with the food and kitchen service, the girls at the bar provided excellent service.

The first time I went to the Daniel O’Connell was 20 years ago for dinner at the Peppertree Restaurant and have happy memories of being with grandparents since past away dining there. Over the years I’ve been back many times for a drink, a meal or the infamous open mic nights which are always a good way to spend an evening.
Although the restaurant is great, the meals are the front bar are pretty good and although I’m mainly vegetarian their chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce and their beer battered chips gets me eating my occassional serve of meat (don’t tell anyone).
You can also eat your meal out in the beer garden under the giant Peppertree from which the restaurant gets its name. The décor is like stepping back in time, irish themed, colonial style and not pretentious, this is an aussie pub after all.

Irish eyes are sure to smile when they visit this nice neighbourhood venue.
The Irish-​style 19^th century pub has a nice atmosphere and it’s particularly great on a Friday night.
It regularly has live music and open mic nights, which often generates a real buzz about the place. The Dan’s Irish Sessions and trivia nights are also quite popular.
The pub also has an imaginative restaurant menu and was really good when we went.
The Dan’s Vegetarian mains option of baked peppers stuffed with rice, basil pesto and pine nuts, with roasted fennel and spiced tomato sauce is delicious and a great change for vegetarians from the usual pasta and risotto options. And the baked Tasmanian salmon fillet, served on a warm potato, dill, caper and rocket salad with gremolata is beautifully cooked.
The restaurant’s seafood and steaks are particularly popular.
Like the bustling O’Connell Street it is situated just off, the pub is named in honour of a celebrated, progressive 19^th Irish political leader who fought for the abolition of slavery and for Catholics to sit in the British Houses of Parliament, among many other worthy causes.
A plaque on the hotel’s wall reveals a hotel was licensed on the site in 1850, but the present building was built in 1881.