|
O’DONOGHUE’S ON FIRST
205 First Street, Hoboken, NJ 201-798-5596
By Kelly Nicholaides
Hidden away from the usual bustle of Washington Avenue, O’Donoghue’s On First is like a four-leaf clover in the Dublin-like section of Hoboken and pub-crawlers revel in its nightlife.
On a Saturday night, two weeks before St. Patrick’s Day after Hoboken’s parade, people decked in green Mardi Gras beads and shamrock stickers on their cheeks have been drinking since 11 a.m., but lines pack the entrance nonetheless.
Inside, it’s a warm, cozy atmosphere or a rowdy good time, depending on where you’re situated in the 350-person capacity space. O’Donoghue’s on First is actually two large rooms separated by a wall: One side features a stage area where bands such as The Brian Quinn Band and The Nerds perform. There are also video games and a main bar along with scattered “beer wells.” The other side is a place to relax, kick back, play pool or check out the opposite sex in a more laid back bar area.
Although the pub has been in existence since 1987, owner Ken Kosco bought the hotspot in December 2000 and applied some fresh ideas into his old college hangout.
“Everyone feels at home here, whether they’re regulars, lunch crowds or first timers,” says Kosco, 31. “It’s like a pub and a lounge at the same time. It used to be more of a pub, but we added a stage area, a house system and great light show, upgraded the liquor and really turned the place around. There are 19 TVs, including two big-screens and you can watch bands perform on simulcast from the lounge area.”
Modeled after the famous spit-on-the-floor Dublin pub where the folk band the Dubliners used to jam on Merrion Row, O’Donoghue’s on First exudes a forget-your-job-and-troubles stance - all while you wait for the swirling, foamy brown turbulence of a Guinness to transform into the cream-topped black of a perfect pint. The Guinness engraved mirror with the slogan “Size Matters” reminds you that drinking a beer that’s less than 20 ounces raises eyebrows and disrespects an Irish tradition. The chalkboard specials of green beer, Guinness, Killeans and Harp beer flow. Bartenders such as Dubliner “Patrick,” decked in green t-shirts emblazoned with authentic Irish pub images, are friendly and always make sure your beer is full.
If you get the munchies after all that beer, O’Donoghue’s on First has the best pub food and the kitchen is open until 11 p.m. “Our menu is limited but untouchable,” says Kosco, who claims to offer the best buffalo wings in the business in his $2.95-7.95 menu.
Want more reasons to check out O’Donoghue’s on First? Consider this: One in 14 Dublin women consent to casual sex with a stranger after meeting them in a Dublin pub. Dubliners are more likely to buy a stranger a drink than locals from any other country. Dublin pubs are places where the likes of James Joyce and Yeats hung out. Since the spirit of Dublin lives in this Hoboken bar, you’re sure to have a great time, meet new people, get inspired, and even get lucky.
O’Donoghue’s On First is located at 205 First Street in Hoboken. Specials include $8.95 all-you-can-eat wings everyday, $2.50 Michelob drafts every Tuesday, $3 Bud Lights every Wednesday, Power Hour Thursdays and hot bands every weekend as well as Open Mic Jam Sundays hosted by “Jester”. Call 201-798-5595 for more information.
March 13-19 |
| © Steppin Out Magazine 2003 |