Johno's (O'Sullivans Bar), Douglas

Next up in our Douglas pub food review series is O’Sullivans Bar, affectionately known to the locals as “Johno’s”, located directly across the road from The South County in the heart of Douglas village. The two venues are close competitors but offer noticeably different experiences, and Johno’s has carved out its own loyal following.

Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch And Dinner

Johno’s offers a full menu spanning breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, giving it broad appeal throughout the day. The kitchen is clearly putting effort into the food side of the business, and from our visits it shows.

We have been in Johno’s twice recently, once for lunch and once for dinner, and on both occasions found the food to be of really high quality.

The Food

For lunch I had the Johno’s Buttermilk Chicken Breast in a bun. The portion size was excellent, the chicken was cooked properly and full of flavour, and the chips were also really good. I left feeling genuinely full and satisfied, which is exactly what you want from a pub lunch.

I came back a few weeks later for dinner and had the chicken wings with a couple of beers. Again the chicken was fresh, well cooked, and the BBQ sauce was tangy and delicious. The kind of wings you actually want to order again rather than just polish off because they are in front of you.

The prices are slightly higher than across the road at The South County, but in our opinion it is well worth the extra few euro for the step up in quality.

Atmosphere And Crowd

Johno’s attracts a slightly younger crowd than The South County, and the ambience is a bit louder and more lively. It has a real buzz to it, particularly later in the evening, and it is the kind of pub where the atmosphere builds nicely as the night goes on.

The interior has a great feel to it, the staff were attentive and friendly throughout both visits, and the whole experience felt well looked after from start to finish.

Scorecard

• Facility: 7.5
• Atmosphere: 7.0
• Staff: 7.5
• Food Quality: 7.0
• Value: 7.0
• Overall: 7.4/10

The Verdict

Johno’s is doing a lot right. The food is genuinely good, the portions are generous, the atmosphere is lively, and the staff know what they are doing. It sits at the upper end of pub food in Douglas in our opinion, and the slightly higher prices are justified by the quality on the plate.

For anyone weighing up the two big Douglas village pubs, Johno’s edges it on food and energy, while The South County offers a more traditional pub experience with strong live music. Both have their place, but for a proper feed and a livelier night out, Johno’s is hard to beat.

Next up in the Douglas pub food series, we will be reviewing more of the village’s standout spots. Stay tuned.