Alfredo's Bar Review

Alfredo’s Bar situated on West Nile Street (named after either the jewel on the Nile starring Michael Douglas or the small 10p chocolate treat), once again synonymous with the older gentlemen of this world (you see where we are going with this review campaign).

The first time I ever had any critic on this place it was to proudly boast how they served 16 year olds with out interrogation back in the late 80’s early 90’s. No harm done then, but questionable as the years pass and patience thins.

This establishment AND city centre heavy weight is a total juxtaposition from the entrance until you get to the bar, an unsuspecting and passable facade is met with a long narrow thoroughfare (no crude comparisons please) with seating on both sides, not out with the realms of any middle of the road bistro in town, all be it with slightly dated furnishings, but not really anything that would worry or even draw the attention of anyone who was there to do what the good Lord intended. Don’t be fooled because a bustling bar with a further seating area complete with sedimentary stalwarts, 6 or 7 TV’s, elaborate and presumably relevant football and boxing memorabilia all over the walls makes for an enjoyable and educational pint.

Although…..On calling a Magners and Cold Guinness (an all important rating factor), I found myself met with a “girl” at the bar who proceeded to bark at me several times “pine oor a boatel”. On the third attempt at clarifying what can only be decribed as a 'simple round' I soon but realised she was just as simple a "girl" as her arguing with "Hairy-Arsed Joe and Billy the Bunnet" during my purchase lead to the poor wee soul not hearing a word I said and leaving me thinking I had wronged her in some way!! A second altercation with what can only be described as the ugly half-brother of Dolores Clayborne would have been too much for this aficionado, so in her second attempt in a somewhat violent enquiry as to whether “ a wanted a pint oor a foukin boatel” I sheepishly replied “bottle”. A grunt, a growl, and probably her phone number if i'd asked, later, the deal had been done and the rest of the hour was an unsurprisingly, yet further humoured by events, enjoyable one.

Gav’s rating 5/10 (verging on a 7 on potenetial of a future, unscheduled, visit)