Old Shillelagh

Bar, Eatery

349 Monroe St
Detroit, Michigan, 48226-2928
United States

(313) 964-0007 | map
oldshillelagh.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
2.84
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
25
pDev:
26.76%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ssimpson89:
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Rated by ssimpson89 from Illinois

3/5  rDev +5.6%

Dec 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by JimboBrews54 from Michigan

Oct 17, 2018
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Reviewed by SaisonRichBiere from Michigan

3/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Raging chach bar, mostly macros, decent burger before Tiger's games. Come for stupid human Olympics the week of St. Paddy's day, and see how poor humanity can actually be. Douchebag central after ballgames.
May 16, 2016
 
Rated: 2.41 by chuckgietzen from Michigan

Sep 24, 2015
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Reviewed by DeliciousDetroiter from Michigan

1.3/5  rDev -54.2%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1.25 | service: 1.5 | selection: 1 | food: 2
Super douchey. Cocky door guy, cocky bartender, cocky manager? Owner? She was smashed and disgusting. Wtf? Go, just to find out how horrible. Just kidding, don't step close.
Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.23 by tommy5 from Michigan

Jan 14, 2015
 
Rated: 2.5 by loganburgh from Michigan

Dec 17, 2014
 
Rated: 2.84 by Readysethgo989 from Michigan

Dec 06, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by scottlerok from Michigan

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by CaptainFleeker from Illinois

Nov 19, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by hotsudge from Canada (ON)

Aug 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by beergorrilla from Michigan

Aug 03, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by Jas45678 from Michigan

Jun 07, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by HardyA from Michigan

Jun 01, 2014
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Reviewed by importedfromdet from Michigan

1.61/5  rDev -43.3%
vibe: 1.25 | quality: 1.5 | service: 1.25 | selection: 2.25
Stay far far away unless you want the whole suburban college kids coming to party in the "D." Cover charges for this location for no specific reason. Frat house type mentality in all who come.

Very raw and unfinished (aka cheap) look around the place. If you come to get good beer go to Grand Trunk or Park Bar.
Feb 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Dshep1340 from Michigan

Feb 13, 2014
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Reviewed by TurboBrew from Michigan

1.59/5  rDev -44%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 2.75 | food: 2.5
Wants service on a busy night ? Non existent.

Want to order a drink? Punch through people to get to the bar to stand there for about 10 minutes til someone takes an order. Actually left after 1 beer to go somewhere else.

Loud...Crowded... Beer selection pretty lacking overall.

Place is pretty dirty on the inside too. I wont be back.
Dec 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Pog-Mo-Thoin from Michigan

Dec 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jaysmittyland from Michigan

Nov 27, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by JasonR1975 from Michigan

Oct 08, 2013
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Reviewed by Shibbykaiyai from Michigan

1.71/5  rDev -39.8%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1.5 | service: 1.5 | selection: 2.5
I love a good dive bar and I have been going to bars for 20 years and I was amazed to finally find a place that I did not want to have a beer at. A couple friends of mine and I went after a Tigers game and it reminded me of a bad frat party...music too loud, beer sucked, people were even worse. We bought an overpriced Bud Light, killed it off quickly, and got out ASAP.

If you are looking for a bar filled with people who are 18 with a good fake id, then this is your place. If not, go elsewhere, maybe the Detroit Pub. Next time I head back for a game, I will stay away from this rat hole.
Oct 09, 2011
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Reviewed by guntherhophead from Ohio

3.34/5  rDev +17.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3
I've been to this bar a few times mostly because it's a Detroit classic. It's an average Irish pub with nothing fancy. You go to drink with buddies and listen to the local singer, who's not too bad. The ambience is alright. Exposed brick walls, with a couple of small-ish TVs and some beer posters and photos. The beer selection is just o.k. Guinness, bass, harp typical macros. I had a Bodington's on tap which was served at the perfect temp. in an old style mug. The prices are decent too. The old Shillelagh is an unpretentious decent bar and worth a stop. Get there early if you want to go on St.Patty's day!
Aug 28, 2008
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Reviewed by Smittysguinness from Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +28.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
I love this bar. Plain and simple. Every time I am in Detroit, which is at least once per month, I have a rule that I must visit this bar.

I have a long family history with this bar. My parents met there. When my dad was in law school at the U of D (when their law school was still there, before Michigan State bought it a moved it to East Lansing), they would meet there after his classes. I doubt I was conceived there, but you never know... ;)

Anyway, there is this Irish guy named Billy, with an awful haircut-that's-not-a-haircut, who plays about 5 nights a week. Billy is a fixture, and can never leave. He sings all the rowdy songs, and even breaks it down and does some traditional Irish stuff too. My wife and I, who honeymooned in Ireland, challenged him with some little-known songs, and he knew them and sang them well. He's the real deal.

And the Old Shillelagh is the real deal. A dark, tight, tiny two-story hole-in-the-wall, that gets over-filled every weekend and every night there's a Pro sports event. There is a wide rnge of beer for every pallete, from Guinness to Miller Light. There is food, typical bar fare, but who cares? I go for the Guinness, the food, and Billy. We sing drinking songs, we get smashed on Guinness, and we thank God for great bars like the Old Shillelagh. If you've not been....GO!
Oct 07, 2005
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

3.2/5  rDev +12.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
I've been to Old Shillelagh with a group of coworkers about once per year since 2002. The real draw is the Irish-style singer who runs through a rowdy set of songs while insulting anyone who stands up to make for the bathroom or exit.

The beer selection is wide, but nothing outstanding. The most exotic offering is a witbier (I think Blue Moon), so it's pretty main-stream beers. Mostly you'll have a selection of macro pilsner style beers. Still it's fun just for the entertainment if not the beer.
Jul 17, 2005
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Reviewed by marburg from Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +28.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
This place is great.

An old school (olde school?!?!) bar in Detroit that maintains its simple approach and will have a lot of success doing so. Snippy Irish guys work the bar, which has around 10-15 taps at least, and there's barely any room to sit. Five small-ish tables in back is about all you'll find for seating on the first floor aside from the very-crowded bar.

The taps consist of everything from the requisite Guinness to the unfortunate Miller Lite to the local Bell's products. For an old Detroit establishment, they've got a decent selection going on here.

There's live entertainment, pretty much exclusively Irish guys with guitars, upstairs every weekend, and it's always got a good crowd in there.

Order an ice water while you're there. They'll make sure to harass you for it, and the regulars will quite literally boo you. How can anyone not like a place like that?
Oct 05, 2003
Old Shillelagh in Detroit, MI
Place rating: 2.84 out of 5 with 25 ratings