All Roads Lead to Katie O’Donnell’s!

By:  Krista Doran

During these times of uncertainty in the economy, more and more people are demanding quality for their money.  No longer will any of us accept restaurants that serve boring, pre-frozen food, rude service or dining in poorly kept facilities.  When people do have a little extra money to go out, they want it all and can you blame them?  There certainly are plenty of places to choose from, so how do you know you are picking a place that will give you the best bang for your buck?  Well, one way is to always check the Out On The Town Entertainment Guide.  Restaurants and bars that advertise in the Out On The Town know the meaning of value and quality.  It is evident in the food they serve and the service they provide to their patrons. With all that in mind, there is a place you can go that serves up delicious food items with a smile and in an exciting & welcoming atmosphere – all well within everyone’s budget.  Please welcome Katie O’Donnell’s!

Katie O’Donnell’s is a brand new restaurant/bar right outside of the Franklin Mills Mall that is surely going to be THE hot spot for many years to come.  I wanted to see this place that everyone has been talking about, so my husband and I, along with a couple of friends went to check it out. As we arrived, we were greeted by a great big smile from their beautiful hostess, Kate who seated us right away.  As I stopped to look around and take in the atmosphere, I was pleasantly surprised by the care that had been taken in designing the restaurant.  Stunning floor to ceiling windows engulfed the entire place with cheerful sun light, and gives it an open & airy feel.  The rich dark wood and the beautiful colors on the walls made us feel very welcome.  The tables and seating were extremely comfortable and were situated with plenty of room in between.  I really liked the different levels, which allow everyone to see all the action, no matter where they are sitting.  There are lots of Irish touches, but nothing tacky or “in your face”.

Within a couple of minutes, our server, Lee came to take our drink order and returned quickly with our much needed libations! As I sipped my beer and looked at the menu, I could not decide on which of the dishes to try, as the menu was quite diverse.  The appetizers ran between $6.95 – $10.95, and were all very tempting including the wings.  Katie O’Donell’s serves up some of the best wings you will have and in flavors that will excite you like, Guinness BBQ, Bourbon Brown Sugar and Chipotle Lime, just to name a few.  Other appetizers featured were Southern Fried Pickles, Cheese Burger Ravioli and Spicy Fried Green Beans served with Horseradish Sauce.  The menu is a mix of American, Italian & Irish specialties, all served hot, fresh and home-made.  Some of the more unique Irish dishes that you don’t see elsewhere were the Irish Scallop Pie, which is loaded with sweet scallops, mushrooms and Champ mashed potatoes and the Bangers & Rum, served with garlic mashed potatoes & caramelized cabbage.  Other menu favorites are the pizzas, which are served up hot in all the ways you like them!  The pasta dishes, such as Shrimp Scampi, Seafood Pescatore and Herb Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo among others had me thinking about Sunday dinner when I was a kid.  All are home-made and very authentic recipes.

My guests and I opted for all different menu items starting with the Southern Fried Pickles, and boy were they delicious with my ice cold draft beer!  What a winning combination and a great start to a delicious dinner.  Our meals arrived shortly after we ordered them and all 4 dishes came to the table, presented beautifully, hot and FRESH out of the oven!  It was a cool, rainy night so my Bangers & Rum made me all warm inside!  The sausages were tender and full of flavor.  You could taste and smell the fresh herbs they used to make them.  The rum sauce was spectacular & perfectly complimented the caramelized cabbage and potatoes.  My husband, who is as Irish as they come, had the (Grandma Kate’s) Shepherd’s Pie and he loved it. Our friends, Dave and Sue DiRenzo had the Fish & Chips and the Chicken Parmesan and both raved about their dinners. Dave said, “It’s like my Mama used to make!” The portions were generous and the quality of the food was excellent.  All entrees on the menu range in price from $12.95 – $19.95.  After dinner, we all shared 2 scrumptious desserts, recommended by Chef Frank Kitchen, formerly of The Buck Hotel.  Our server brought us a piece each of Grandma’s Apple Pie and The Chocolate Molten Cake.  Can you guess if they were good?  Well, all I can say is there was not a crumb left on the plate!  As I looked around, feeling content and happy to be enjoying such a nice meal, with good people at a wonderful place, I could see the many other happy people in the restaurant feeling the same way.  It was almost 8 pm on a Tuesday night and the place was packed with smiling faces, laughter and the sound of people enjoying themselves.

As far as the bar goes, its one of the best I have seen. They actually have 2…the first bar is the Irish Pub. It is on the right as you come in the front door and it has an adjacent outdoor patio. This area is perfect for having drinks with friends while enjoying beautiful weather. The main bar which is just passed the hostess desk is situated in the center of the restaurant and is the focal point of the room. It boasts a 140″ High Definition projector screen TV that is amazing!  We could see the Phillies game perfectly from our table.  It was almost like being there! For all you beer lovers, Katie O’s serves up quite a nice list of beers including Stella, Smithwick’s, Dogfish Head and even a Gluten-free beer called Red Bridge, plus many others. Their experienced and friendly bartenders will welcome you and make your drinks just the way you like.

As we finished up, the owner of the restaurant, Dave Greenhalgh came over to introduce himself to us.  Many of you may recognize this name.  Dave is a former graduate of Arch Bishop Ryan, who went on to play football in college and played Pro Football for the Seattle Seahawks and the NY Jets.  Dave is also the former owner of what used to be Callahan’s Irish Bar on Frankford Ave (now Smokeeater’s Pub).  I asked Dave what prompted him to get back into the business and he told me “I just missed it so much. It’s in my blood and something I just had to do.”  Along with his partners, good friend and former Vietnam Vet Ed Bonk, and Dave’s lovely wife Sandy, they have created a place for folks to dine, watch sports and just escape the every day blahs in a environment of friendly people and good times.  Dave is certainly in his element at Katie O’Donnell’s. One look at this very tall, handsome, friendly and outgoing person who actually takes the time to stop and talk to his customers, you can easily tell that he truly loves this business.  Dave is always making sure his customers are enjoying themselves. He obviously takes a lot of pride in the place and it shows.  As Dave looked around the restaurant he told me, “I am the Union Benefit Rep for UAW Local 2177, and am proud to say this entire place was built by Union Labor.”  As we complimented the tasteful decor, Dave also explained, “We owe all of this to our General Contractor, Bob Foley of Northeastern Financial.  Without Bob’s vision and focus, none of this would have been possible.  He is the smartest guy I have ever met”.  Dave is a very humble man and extremely grateful for all that he has been able to achieve.  As I watched him go around the room greeting people, I could see the genuine interest he had in knowing how they felt about their dining experience.  Dave and his partners named Katie O’Donnell’s after his beloved Grandmother, Kate and he takes this very seriously. “Many people think Katie O’s is a franchise, but it’s not and we take much pride in this fact. We do things our way.  We cook all of our food to order and everything is fresh and home-made, just like my Grandmother Kate would have served her guests.”

Katie O’Donnell’s is located at 4501 Woodhaven Road, just outside the Franklin Mills Mall.  It’s adjacent to Raymour & Flanigan, whose staff has been very kind to Dave and his employees.  It is very easy to get to and there is plenty of parking.  Katie O’s is open 11 am to 2 am and a great place to spend with friends and family.  On Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays DJ Dan Bucc spins from 10 pm to 2 am and on Sunday nights it’s the Back in the Day Party with DJ John Brady from 4 pm – 8 pm.  The areas best live bands will also be coming soon!  Please visit their website at www.katieos.com for all daily specials including their already famous Prime Rib dinner special that runs Thursday through Saturday! Be sure to stop in to enjoy the daily Katie Hour from 4 pm – 6 pm!