On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Mon-Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Loading...
It's a pub, and they serve beer. Beers good, pub is a great location for 15th. The pub clock is set 15mins fast so happy hour always starts early.
Trivia nights are on Tuesdays and I *think* wednesday nights are free pool nights. There is a pool table out the back.
They have an outdoor seating area where you can drink and smoke which is great for your buddies who smoke.
I love this place. The staff are wonderful, friendly and quick, the beer selection is great, the drinks are strong and cheap and the food is really, really good, especially for bar grub.
The OP has steel-tipped darts, a good pool table, and arguably, one of the best outdoor seating decks in Seattle.
Parking lot? Check.
Friendly staff and regulars? Check
Great vibe? Check
Warm decor? Check
Weekend brunch? Check.
The best part about the OP is the weekend day bartender, Dorothy. Don't be put off by her "attitude." That's how you know she likes you. If she becomes super friendly with you, you know you're on her sh*t list.
So yeh, I like the OP.
I came here last night for the first time with my boyfriend, it was about eleven on Friday night and although there was a good amount of people there, there was also a pretty good selection of open seats at the bar. We headed up to the bar and were in time for happy hour for all of our drinks and food (late happy hour is 10-midnight). The bartender made me a really great well I'd never had before and was friendly. They have my boyfriend's fav, Mac N Jack. We ordered a thing of Halibut and fries (fish and chips) and there was just enough for us to split it and it and was really good! It was only $4, too.
We were there for only an hour or two, the service was friendly and quick for us (the guy with the black hair in a bun is nice)...and the prices were great to boot! I enjoyed the music too (great selection from Queen, to Elton, to Tegan and Sara) I am definitely coming back.
If a friend asked me to go here, I would, but it isn't a place I'd ever suggest. It's just kind of meh...you have better options in Ballard.
The O P is an awesome Happy Hour Spot they have GREAT Grub and Great Drinking Prices as well as a very friendly staff
Really great happy hour and super nice staff. It can get a bit crazy on the weekends, but enjoyable none the less
Can't beat Old Pequliar for beers in the afternoon. My experiences are from sitting at the bar, so let me tell you what it looks like from that seat: the bartenders are on point, they keep the booze flowing, they handle prick customers okay with an occasional 86, and the jukebox works.
Another reviewer already nailed it, "The peen to vag ratio here is quite skewed." Get past that part and it's a comfortable place.
Unless they run out of dark beer or clowns show up, which are normal signs that you know you're going to die, then you should come by.
I don't do bars, but my friend had a hankering for an Irish pub this particular evening. We grabbed a couple of stools and were promptly serviced by the bartender. Nice selection of beers, but I can't help but think the bartender screwed me by giving me something other than the Mack and Jack's I ordered. Still, I didn't want to say anything because he was kind enough to indulge us in an opinion poll about whether or not a guy will consider seriously dating a girl who puts out on the first date. I love how bars inspire the most fantastic conversations.
Nice atmosphere, interesting clientele, so-so playlist. Still, I like.
I have much love for this place. Been in a few times before, but only very briefly...and I never actually ordered anything.
However...last night's visit involved good, solid fish & chips, WAFFLE FRIES (!), a super strong rum & coke, and some crazy neck-and-neck games of darts - real darts, thank you.
Super fast service, an awesome waiter/bartender, and fairly decent food also helped make this visit pretty much a total success.
I will note that food is a little bit pricey, but happy hour deals are awesome. Drinks are decently priced, in my opinion.
I wish this place wasn't such a long walk from my apartment. If it were closer to the locks, I'd be here quite often!
I want to love you Pequliar, I really do... but It's time for a overhaul!
Instead of moving toward "Seattle Institution" the Pequliar is lurching toward a lingering, hacking death!
It's not too late though... all you have to do Mr. Pequliar, is care!
Bang out some kick ass food! Fix that Jukebox and put your heart into it! People will notice!
I would like less Old, and more Peculiar.
Service was slow. I've had (and did later in the night) much faster service in much busier bars.
Overall not awful, and the fact that they have a little parking lot right there (and in the ensuing evening of crawling, nothing happened to my car) is cool.
Still, I wanted more Pequliar. I'd have even settled for just "slightly left of normal".
I came here for the New Years thing in 2004 and there was a shooting outside....that sort of sucked. I can't see how this is the fault of the bar though. I've always had a great time here (previous listed experience excluded). The live music is always great, and the Guinness is friggin delicious.
Upon walking in - I was a bit shocked that my friend Jay asked to meet me here. Eek - not the kind of bar you walk into alone (or so I thought). I felt somewhat out of place, I was expecting something much more up scale.
I am always in search of a good Bloody Maria.. I asked the bartender - he did the best he could do with what they had, and it was good! What I liked most was his smile and sweet demure.
Got the Hummus plate - good as well, pita bread was hot and yummy!
Next time I go - I will be dressed down... and know what to expect. Its chill, 'good vibrations'... and as long as I get a smile from the bartender Chris again... I'm a happy girl!
I came here 2 times in 1 weekend.
First time ever was for the Ballard pub crawl. I remember it was dark, there was decent standing room and that the wooden benches aren't nearly as comfortable as initially thought. The bartender was surly and .. at first GLANCE, kinda attractive, but when I went to retrieve my GNT, I damned my eyes, they let me down again. Having my drink paid for by someone else (thanks), I don't really know if the pricing is fair.
The 2nd time was the next afternoon. I had helped a friend move the next morning after abandoning the pub crawl. (No one realized I had left! So so sneaky). Anyway, it was in the middle of the day and the bartender lady let us know that the kitchen wouldn't be open until 4:00 and that we could bring food back here and sip on cold delicious beer. She said it 3 or 4 times that we could bring food back here. The 3 of us just wanted grease. Yay a hamburger place down the street! The beers, I'm sure were tasty, but after a night filled w/ beer and gin, I decided on a sprite.
They have a back room that looks just like a backroom in a house, nothing very special. They have a pool table and a few old school video games, most notably Ms. Pacman. I've never been one for video games, though.
Last night was my first time visiting Old Peculiar. I had a couple Maker's and Sprites then headed over to the bathroom. I came back and was asked for ID. Now I'd understand that if I had gone across the street to take a leak, but I had used the cramped ladies room within the establishment.
The Galaga was sticky which is a little off putting, but I let that slide. A couple seconds in I realized the monitor wasn't centered properly. Please fix that friends! I do like that they offer arcade games and darts in the back room. Always nice to have something to busy myself with to slow down my drinking. A decent starting point for gathering the troops for a pub crawl.
Sundays! Now serving breakfast! The Swedish features poached eggs and ham on an English muffin with bearnaise sauce. Mmmmmm.... there are other options, too, but I am pretty much smitten with bearnaise sauce. Seven bucks, too. Biggo portion. Nice.
First, full disclosure: I'm a regular here. The kind of regular who brings 3 homemade quiches to… Read more »
The bar itself is great, been here a few times and have always enjoyed myself. Except for the last time. Which was purely because of a couple of douchebags, but I cannot fault the Old Peq. for that.
However I did notice a trend that particular night in the crowd it draws. Still, better suited to me than Belltown.
I like layout, the fact that they have darts (I like throwing stuff), and the tunes on the jukebox are fairly decent. It is usually pretty chill, just remember the crowd.
Strongbow on ice.
Thrice.
Nice.
Ye Old Pequliar.
Nothing peculiar about this, I thought, but I love the peculiar warm feel I got from here. This was our 2nd stop in out quick bar-hop tour of Ballard. My friend and I felt like we were at our old hometown drinking hole. Our first bartender was a bit rude, but our second bartender was aight.
We didn't make on time for HH, but the beers were decently priced at 4.25. The place was pretty dead for a Thursday night, but maybe that's not one of their big nights. I did like that the second floor has arcade and billiards.
There's also outdoor seating for your smoking delight. Meh, I'll give it another chance sometime soon.
I am very fond of this place. Back when I lived in Ballard, we used to stagger home from the OP on a regular basis.
Ahh, the sweet drunken memories... Like that New Year's when my friend Marcel and I let the guys at the next table buy us shots of tequila all night, and I subsequently felt inspired to dance (I thought I had mad skills that night, but am fairly certain that is false). All sorts of drunken debauchery ensued.. good times!
Or the time my generally well behaved sister was visiting from California, and I got her drunk, and she wound up making out with a highly suspect fella with what my friend Sarah describes as "prison tattoos" on his knuckles. Heee heeeee!!!
I don't come here as often now that I live in Capitol Hill... but whenever I make it back, something entertaining usually happens. I like coming here when Dorothy is bar tending. She starts pulling a pint as soon as she sees me come in, and always has another at the ready without me having to ask. Yay!
I stop by here after work from time to time to enjoy a beer or a strongbow before heading home. Service is usually pretty friendly, place is usually dead or very few patrons, so getting a drink is quick and easy. Unfortunately for all the times I have been here I have never ordered any food and come to think of it, I have never seen anybody else there eating either.
I will have to try what judging by the menu appears to be some pretty good pub fare on one of my visits to come. Look for future reviews.
Wow, what a disappointment. After reading a few reviews, and the need to try something new, my girlfriend and I tried this place for some happy hour beers and appetizer. Eww.
First, the waitress was godawful. I don't expect much from bar waitresses, honestly. It's not like you're fine dining. But at least be pleasant. And please don't just throw our sh*t on the table. And please don't act like we're a thorn in your side: people you have to check up on in between your smoke breaks.
We tried the nachos after reading a few Yelp reviews. The waitress told us that a whole order of nachos was the "size of a large pizza". So, we went with the half order. I guess "large pizza" meant "personal pan pizza," because there's no way that was the size of half a large pizza. They were pretty crappy too. You could probably make better with a bag of Tostitoes, shredded cheese and a microwave.
Nothing special about this place. It was just filled with creepy older people: the type that you see at casino buffets at 3:00 in the afternoon. Just reminded me of lame bars I went to in college, the kind where most people are outside smoking, and if you walk by with your girlfriend to get to your car, she's most likely to get hassled by a group of drunk douchebags chugging Coors Light.
I give it an extra star (2 total) because the prices were cheap and decent. But obviously, you get what you pay for (nachos, yuck)
Every time I drive past this delightful dive, I have a Homer-Simpson-esque reaction.... "mmm, Guinnessandfishandchips....."
I really enjoy the Old Pequliar. The first time I came here was with my mom when we were worn out from making my brother's wedding invitations and were in sore need of Guinness and fish and chips (my entire family's go-to comfort foods... yes, Guinness can be considered a food. Meal in a cup, hello). Anyway, we consider ourselves connoisseurs of the fish and chip, and the Old Pequliar's meet with our enthusiastic approval! Their Guinness pints hit the spot so soundly that day (perfectly poured) that I have not ever ordered anything different there since.
There were a good mix of people on that Sunday, and have continued to be on my return trips. I did once do something dumb here, and as promised, I shall disclose it. We came to see a band one Saturday night, and I (in my Guinness soaked exuberance) might or might not have said the word 'Freebird!' somewhat loudly in between songs. The band was not pleased and proceeded to tell the crowd that the only way to permanently end this audience reflex would be to actually play it every time it was mentioned. Luckily, they didn't, and it all turned out to be pretty funny. And I, to my credit, have not uttered that word since, whether in the presence of a band or not.
UGH.....
The ONLY thing that got them a 2-star is the fact that they....or she the daytime bartender can pour a proper pint of loveliness..err GUINNESS
The ambiance sucks arse.... The night staff suck ass... Food is shite....
Nothing really good about this place...... Except for the day staff, even then she is quite a rude B*$@H
Yeah, this is not a dive bar.
A bar.
Spacious, woody, badass lady bartenders.
GREAT dirty martini (Angela's, not mine).
Decent bar food.
My Reuben was disappointing.
Good beers on tap, nothing out of the ordinary.
Tuesday nights they have trivia at 8pm. It was my first encounter with Pub Trivia, and it was a fairly good experience.
Good food, good company, good trivia.
My only negative remark is there was a specific waitress who was pretty nasty for no obvious reason.
Close to my house, which always helps make a great review. Because I know you care about that type of thing, don't you?!
I've been here a few times, and I love it here... usually. Sometimes some dumbass puts on death metal on the jukebox for a few songs and I want to scratch my eyes out. But not really the OP's fault.
Tonight I was a bit hungry so I got the artichoke and spinach dip, with warm pita bread and carrots. Hubby got a half order of nachos (regular kind, apparently they also have nachos that use fries instead of chips, how delicious and greasy does that sound?).
Mine was perfect, the only thing to gripe about is the dip was a bit on the runny side, i.e., I could not really "scoop" with the pita bread and have something stick. It was more of a consistancy of french onion soup, and thus, makes it hard to scoop. Hubby's half order of nachos were pretty good, I think they kinda skimped on the cheese, but there was lots of beef, jalepenos and sour cream to make up for it.
Great happy hour available here, on Sundays the pool table is free all day. They also have a few dart boards in the back that rock. They have a heavy hand on the drinks, that are not too pricey.
Now we just need to get rid of the death metal, and we'll be in bidness.
Maybe it's because we would frequent on Sunday afternoon/evenings...and really, if you are a bar tender/server and a group of five or six walk in and want food and drink...on Sunday's you can just ignore them right?
The service we experienced over and over again was awful. The place was practically empty and whenever one from our party would approach the bar to order, they got attitude - we were interrupting their gossip time.
We made our mistake again and again, hoping things would improve....but we are not going back.
Four stars, you ask? Yuppers. This place rocks. Any place that remodeled post smoking ban gets high marks from me, and though the food could be better, they have a rockin late night happy hour that fits my budget.
I have a group that meets here once a week (in Nov anyway) and they've tolerated us and our occasional climbing up to plug in our power strip with good cheer. I did have to practically beg to be carded (but hey, I'm pathetic in my need to pretend I'm still young) but it was all done in fun. The friends seem to enjoy the brew, and I enjoy my girlie appletinis and there ya go. Steer clear of the irish nachos, which frighten me...the very idea...
I do wish the smokers would move away from the door...
Good place as a local hang-out and if you go there, you will meet all the locals.
I've not eaten any of the food there but it's a typical pub and expectations should not be too high.
I used to hang out here several years ago (still live in Ballard), but for some reason I haven't frequented in awhile. Probably because I got hit on by douchebags and old dudes here (even when I am obviously with my boyfriend). The peen to vag ratio here is quite skewed. Also, one night I had accidentally knocked down a rod with a decorative curtain on it by the front window, and flying ants came at me everywhere. One even managed to find its way down my shirt, into my bra, got disgruntled and BIT ME ON THE NIPPLE. Bad memories folks.
Great pub! LOVE it.
Guiness, Newcastle, and Boddingtons on tap! I haven't been for a couple years (I moved away from WA), but the burgers were always great. So were the other sandwiches and the shepard's pie. If jeremy's still bartending there, he's a good guy.
The bar trivia is AWESOME there. I used to live in Bothell, and I drove all the way out just for the beer, food and trivia. It was very worth the trip out to Ballard.
All I have to say is this place scares me a bit. It smells like dank smoke & beer & their drinks are...umm...not that great.
Normally I'm a fan of dive bars, but this one? I could do w/o going there ever again.
Been here a few times during the week. I'm not exactly a party animal so tend to avoid Friday and Saturday nights when it can get pretty busy.
Drinks are cold, they have Strongbow which is the one drink I have a hard time saying 'no' to. Food is typical bar fare. Don't expect anything too fancy, deep fried and salty, perfect match for a pint.
Staff can be aloof. Meh, it is what it is and I appreciate it. I used to be one of the insiders at a joint back east where they were considered rude too but I loved it and love this place for it. (and for the record, I'm not an insider so if you're new, I'm probably the guy next to you that's getting the same treatment)
Atmosphere isn't trendy. It's genuine. Don't like it, get the hell out.
Hmmmm.... Think I'm a little thirsty right now....
this was the most memorable service i have had in... well... as long as i can remember.
here's the low down...
i was haveing little "so-sorry-i-missed-your-birthday" dinner with a close friend. we went to dinner (wown't say where), i asked if they could do something for his blated birthday. they said yes. nothing happened... so... we moved on. when we got to the old pequlair, i asked my server if he could help me out as soon as my buddy turned his back. my wonderful, awesome, AMAZING server told me that he didn't have anything that he could use... but he would see what he could do. i figured that would mean... well, nothing. again. but i was wrong. 10 min later, my friend has a freaking cup cake from down the street with a candle in it sitting in front of him... that's right. he had no dessert items in the house, so my server left, went down the street, and brought me back a cup cake from another establishment. awesome. i work in a restaurant, and this was inspiring to me. i will be back again and again. thank you for making my, and my friends, night.
I was happy to see that wings were on the happy hour menu--my Seattle Chicken Wings Tasting Tour continues! Dubbed "Wings o' Glory," the wings at Old Peculiar were pleasantly plump and dripping in a tasty sauce; however, their blue cheese is really what's going to make me come back for more. The sauce was thick and teeming with chunks of blue cheesy goodness. I can't figure out the name of these wings, but at $4 during happy hour, who really cares?
I have never been blown away by this place. I have been somewhat disappointed on occasion. But I've usually been happy enough upon leaving.
Best thing about this place is the trivia, which is done in the best over-all engineering of any trivia I've been to in Seattle.
I love the look and vibe to the place, but my problems come in when it becomes a sports bar for the game (and never the interesting game like soccer or Olympics), or drunkard house on the random night.
The tap selection here could be more interesting, and could be shook up on occasion, and the servers could be more friendly... but they are generous, so it makes up for a lot.
I also love that patio of theirs. Great especially in the fall when most Seattlites are afraid of the somewhat cooler temps and falling leaves (they have deciduous trees on the property).
We were here with a bunch of friends on a Wednesday night. There was tons of space and tables large enough for our large party. The plan was to be here for Happy Hour, but we got there a little after 6pm, so we missed that. Darn. Although it's nice to save money, the regular price for beer wasn't too much more than the HH price ($3). Micros were $4.25. Very good selection of beer on draft. I was drinking Stella and Erik was drinking Harp's.
I am bummed that I missed out on the HH appetizers though. I have really been craving chicken wings lately and I saw them on the menu and right away I was like "I need some wings, ASAP". The HH price for wings is $4 and regular price is $8. But they were SO good. Seriously. And the bleu cheese was chunky and very yummy.
The wait staff and bartenders were really nice and attentive.
They have a patio. They have an upstairs. They have some arcade games, including my favourite, Ms Pac Man.
I thought it was rad that they had a "Yelp Loves Us" sticker displayed on the front window.
I'm definitely looking forward to another after-work Happy Hour gathering here.
i'm a picky fish and chips eater. i like to be able to taste the fish, so i tend to pick off all the extra batter. at the OP, i didn't have to do that. they use just the right amount and it is oh so good.
haven't spent too much time here, but i like the laid-back, familiar atmosphere. Guinness is on tap, so there's that. and the service i've experienced has been very good -- above average for your typical pub.
not sure why i don't spend more time here. will have to do something about that.
The place where I popped my Ballard Bar Cherry. Good Hummus plate, comparably priced drinks. Not bad here, but not spectacular either, much like anyone's first time
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Dive Bars
...and sometimes I review them. Here are a few I…
For me, and most of my Scotch-Irish family,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
The best neighborhood eva. Here's the good and the…
