Kate’s Irish Pub

In 2008 I had a military course at Ft. Belvoir and they lodged us at the suites right across from Kate’s. Place was great. Decent food and good atmosphere. Had karaōke and live bands. Spent many a night over the summer of 2008 in this joint.

Having recently heard that this place is closing, all I can say is thank god. I should have written a review back when we tried this place because it would have helped keep people away before their doors closing finally will. Kate’s… is awful. Awful, like, it should have been on one of those Gordon Ramsay Restaurant failure shows. I noticed a previous review mentioning mold and I can’t believe that they still try to serve the stale food from their pantry like that. I thought I was the only victim.
So, my experience. I went here on a weeknight after seeing the massively overflowing parking lot over at Mike’s (an amazing restaurant, at that). I had noticed the green awning sticking out down past Fisher’s before and noticed a lot of people outside, so we decided to go try it. What a mistake. If you want a better burger — there’s a McDonald’s on the edge of the parking lot. I use the word burger loosely here because neither Kate’s nor McDonald’s really is much of one. This was where we, too, became victim to the moldy bun. I don’t quite know what the other review meant by studded with mold — small dots starting to grow perhaps? In our case a server, manager, cook, owner, rat, or otherwise had tried to cleverly pinch the edge of the bun where mold had been. Not only did they not get it all, but they did such a sloppy job of tearing it off that it was obvious what they’d done. Now, I know what happened, but proving that and making a stink is another story. Had we actually tasted the food yet at that point, we would have said something and avoided paying for that crap. Unfortunately, we trimmed away still more of what appeared to be the moldy edge (don’t lie and say it was a floured bun, Kate’s), we tasted, disliked, and had destroyed our argument in the process. I always judge an Irish restaurant on their Reuben. In fact, it’s the only thing I order in Irish restaurants unless I am a repeat visitor because a) I love them b) no two are alike c) It’s a good litmus test of the restaurant. Kate’s failed miserably. It’s some open faced mess that can only be eaten like a salad. A salad of grease and bread so soaked you’d think it was drowned in water first. I am talking bloated bread.
As far as the décor and cleanliness… it’s been stated in every review so I won’t waste time on that. It’s dirty, dark, dated in the sense that it’s falling apart (though I know this place isn’t THAT old) and the service here is what you’d expect to find in a failing restaurant that has limited revenue and clientele. Bottom of the barrel, I don’t give a crap, staff.
Not that anyone is going to read this review before they close or anything, but if you do feel nostalgic to come here, or give them a try before they close, DON’T. Just imagine how «fresh» that food will be on their last day when they haven’t bought anything for weeks and are trying to use it all up. Numerous people were already getting mold back when the place was actually a functioning restaurant.

I just go for the bands basically. Service is mediocre, the food is pretty expensive for what it is ($ 6-​$ 8 for greasy appetizers).
I haven’t found anything on the menu that stands out. Everything I’ve had has been relatively bad to average. The atmosphere is, as others said, a bit divey. Kind of cool if you’re into that. You can get some decent happy hour specials though.

I went in on an open mic night hoping to hear some local music and enjoy a beer… what a mistake! The bartender was too busy talking with the waitress about her personal issues and took forever to come over and ask if I wanted a beer. When I finally got it I drank it as fast as I could between hearing the less than talented performers on stage. If I didn’t know better I would have thought I entered the twilight zone when I walked in… yes it was that bad!

A DIVE in every respect. Won’t go back.

I have been here about 4 times in the past 3 months, only because I am on a temp assignment in the area, and I have been more disappointed each time. I will not be going back. First of all, the people who work there are very low class. F-​bombs dropping all over the place. I was in there on Sunday with a friend and the girl bartender had such a trash mouth that it was very uncomfortable. Every other word out of her mouth was F***. She was so obnoxious. There was another bartender there who was very nice, but he also had a very limited vocab and had to use the F word in every sentence. Food is below average. I do not recommend this place at all. And if you have kids, stay away!!!

Neither Irish nor pub, and nothing to recommend it. Food was greasy, service was terrible, and it feels more like a cafeteria than a pub. Went on a Friday night and the band was good, but played to no more than a couple of dozen disinterested patrons.

I wish the owners would at least give the place a coat of paint. Grimy is a good word. Also have the floors cleaned more often. It could be so much better. The food is hit or miss. Its either very good or horrible. Who makes the corned beef? It was so bad I could not finish it! The wait staff hangs out by the kitchen or bar more than they visit the tables. The prices is ok. The bartenders on the other hand are great. Too bad as I love a good pub.

Pros: Good selection of beers, reasonable prices
Cons: Depressed staff, that weird cleaner smell when you walk in, and food lacking flavor.
I may go back for a drink, but not for a meal.

I think I found my «neighborhood» bar. Located in the same mall area and next to Fischer’s Hardware, Kate’s is a homey (sort of divey, but in a good sense) neighborhood pub. I brought another Army buddy over since he was staying a hotel close by and we did not want to travel far. We stopped by on a Tuesday night, a relatively quiet night, so fortunately, it was not crowded or noisy as others have commented. We seated ourselves in the bar area where we imbibed and enjoyed the daily «Happy Hours» offered. Whenever I go to Irish Pubs, I order the corned beef and cabbage — my recommendation is NOT to order it. The cabbage, potatoes, and carrots are not overcooked, but the corned beef leaves much to be desired; it was sliced and seemed to be fried (looked like fried baloney). My buddies ordered fish and chips and a burger; they had no issues. All portions were more than adequate.
The décor is simple; service good — drinks affordable and the atmosphere great! Good place to «hang out» with friends and have a bier or two or three. Not a place to bring a date if you are trying to impress, but more a place to just «hang out» with good friends and family.
I would definitely return with friends.

Have been here on many occasions. With a group of friends for a birthday party, lunch with and without kids. When they have live music. Never had a bad experience. Great lunch time specials. Their Greek salad is really good. Not on the menu but as a special. My kids like their Fish and chips special.

I came here with a group of friends for a pre-​dinner before the nights main event for two of the group members birthday. I was sorely disapointed my food was just not good the others in our group theirs was ok but I found the waitstaff to be your typically rude college girls the music was very loud but good music will try again hope to be able to give it a better review

A little scary! Well, maybe more than a little scary.
It’s in a strip mall, in a weird corner and in a place that feels strange. The polyurethane was peeling off the bar (which kept me occupied) and it was dark and sticky-​feeling. I would have bathed in isopropyl alcohol if any part of my body had come in direct contact with anything here, especially the parts of the bar and table that aren’t cleaned regularly.
I did enjoy the patches and such hanging above the bar of various police departments and military units, They were fun to look at. Service at the bar was okay and they had my drink (Tullamore Dew) which not everyone does.
Overall okay, but more of a bottom-​of-​the-​list suggestion.

I’m not sure about this place yet. I know I will go back and give it a second chance, but I’m not sure when.
So my wife and I stopped by here the other day while we were out running some errands. We were only stopping in for some food. My corn beef and cabbage was the very bland. It was as if it was boiled in water and then served. No flavor at all.
There was a band setting up, and it seems like it will be a nice place at night once the band start playing so we will have to come back at night and give it another chance.

No, not good for dancing. Great for eating, drinking, playing darts and talking with friends. The Monday open mic is the best in town by far, and the people who work there are terrific. Terrific, if you want good service, people to chat with and be friendly — service at Kate’s is probably terrible if you need your butt-​kissed, but who does?
The char-​grilled chicken salad is delicious, as are the hamburgers, the grilled cheese and the chili. The fish and chips are write-​home worthy as are the chicken wings. Easily my favorite bar/​restaurant in the D.C. area.

This is our happy hour hang out. We go for the darts and the decent food and happy hour specials. Ok, it’s got an unremarkable atmosphere and the patrons can get loud, drunk, and fall all over the parking lot. Note the bushes when you walk in and the body prints there in. As another reviewer pointed out — park far away.
The servers know us and generally deliver us drinks before we even say ‘hi.” The food is usually warm and the Irish Chips my husband’s favorite.
What can I say? We wanted a cheapish, now non-​smoking, local dive bar and we found it. Dark and dank, with a crowd we see regularly. It is what it is.
Now that I think about it, don’t go. Stay away. It will be better for us that way.

Would give this place 4 stars for what it is if it weren’t for the management’s lack of control when it comes to patrons. Dumping belligerent drunks into the parking lot where they do untold damage to other patron’s cars rather than calling the cops really soured my pov on Kate’s.
They are a great place for live music, they are local, and their food can be quite good. I was always a fan of their Caribbean jerk chicken, Irish fries and clam chowder. Just can’t get past their inability to manage their patrons. If you go, be sure to park far away. Consider yourselves warned.

Decent open mic and the food is fairly priced. The servers are really where this place shines, just attentive and very nice people all around. Come get blitzed here!!!

A hidden gem! My boyfriend and I must have driven by this place ten times before we stopped in. It’s hard to see from the road until you’ve driven past, but every time we commented how we should try it out… if for no reason other than it has a fabulous name. ;-)
We finally made plans to meet some friends there a few Saturdays ago. We got there first, our friends had trouble finding it, since it’s tucked away into a strip mall that is set back from the road, and is directly behind a bank. It’s right next to a huge hardware store, Fishers, so if you see that, turn in — you’re in the right place!
When we first walked in, we were surprised at how big the place was. It’s deceptive from the outside! It has a very nice layout, though, with the dining room up by the door and the bar in the back. We sat at the far end of the dining area, right near the bar, and their smoke absorbers worked so well we couldn’t even smell the smokers in the bar. They have plenty of flat panel TVs tuned to sports, which they will change upon request. The service was friendly, if not consistently prompt, but then, it IS a pub! We were also surprised at how crowded it got, for being so hidden away. They have a great list of beer on tap — I got my favorite, Harp. The food was above average for pub food. We started with the nachos, and then I had the fish and chips, which definitely hit the spot. Jason had a special (can’t remember) but he cleaned his plate as well.
Just as we were leaving to go bowling, they had a live band starting up, that people definitely seemed to be into. They also have karaōke some nights. We’ll definitely be back!

This spot is a «hidden» four leaf clover in the burbs. Back before hubby and I were married, he was living near Kate’s so we would tend to end up here during the week since it was open later than most spots in Springfield.
Kate’s is tucked in tiny shopping center, next to a really good independently owned hardware store called Fisher’s. If you actually want to park in the lot, come early. If you are hitting Kate’s for the first time on a weekend, take my advice and go for any spot you can find on the street.
The food here is pretty decent. They serve their fish and chips with homemade potato chips instead of fries, but will substitute fries if you ask. Ted Garber used to play here all of the time before he had a falling out with the owner, which is relay to bad. Nowadays, there is typically a live Celtic band playing here on Friday and Satiurday nights. Cheap beer, good food and good music. Basically everything you’d want in an Irish bar.