O'Leary's in Palm Springs

Hoping to find a new place to play our favorite NTN game in Palm Springs, we
noticed Flaherty's had been added to NTN's official website. With so few
places to play out here in the desert we were eager to check it out.

It's location was discreet in an unmarked plain concrete building next to
other rental spaces that looked unoccupied. A couple of unkempt fellows
with thick Irish accents sat smoking at the entrance. Without any windows
and the front door leaking no information I was a bit leery. One look inside
and I was ready to leave. This place looks like it party's hard.

The interior was nothing a guy would complain about with hunter green
walls, oak paneling, 3 pool tables, several televisions, a juke box and an
abundance of beer advertisements. I cringed looking at the worn carpets
and filthy sofas. I nudged my husband pointing at the sofa with the corner of
my mouth askew, but he was not phased saying that after a few drinks no
one really cares.

The bartender, doubling as a waitress, was friendly and gregarious. She led
us to the dining area in an adjoining room where many of the tables had
been left the way they were long after the occupants were through. She
welcomed us to sit anywhere we liked and proceeded to clear it of the dirty
plates and glasses, gave it a quick rub down and handed us menus while she
went off to mix our drinks.

The menu left me squirming, with seemingly typical greasy bar fare and
other dishes which I didn't have much faith in, especially with the prices so
cheap. I reluctantly decided upon an appetizer, the Slider ($2.95). This mini
burger was a bargain and hardly small either, with a quarter pound of beef
on a nice french roll with cheese. Things were looking up cause this was
really good. Just as good was the Fish Tacos ($7.95) another amazing
bargain with three huge tacos filled with grilled or breaded fish, cabbage,
salsa and ranch. We chose the deep fried fish which was tasty and a shame
to leave the last one, but we were too full, eating an finishing an order of
their sweet Onion Rings ($3.95) which were light and crunchy and paired well
with our other choices.

The food, which seemed to surpass it's surroundings, now made other menu
selections sound more appealing and included a pound and a half of Alaskan
King Crab Legs ($29.95), Pork Chops ($7.95) and a Porterhouse Steak or
Filet Mignon ($14.95).

The good food and hospitality makes me regretful to say there was also an
ant problem at the bar with a couple of hitchhikers making their way to our
table via our plate. The bartender confessed she'd seen them at the bar
where the cook had set our food and apologized up and down. As nice as she
was I think the place could benefit immensely from her cleaning more and
talking less.

Open 7 days a week from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 A.M.

Located at 436 S. Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs

Telephone (760) 325-4913