They say you can never have too much of a good thing and they (whoever they are) may be right. But not when it comes to this Irish chain.
A brand-new branch has opened at the Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi and before we arrive, we’re expecting more of the same. Top food, a lively atmosphere and a great place to watch sport.
As we walk in, it all has that familiar feel to it. There are pictures of Ireland and some of its most famous faces on the walls, a long bar, a good vibe and a few screens where you can catch the action. McGettigan’s has a winning formula that it’s sticking to and too right, we say.
We take our seats and enjoy how new everything is. It feels like the plastic has just been pulled off and if we came ten minutes ago there would be people fitting the fixtures and giving the doors a last lick of paint.
It’s fresh and we’re sure it won’t stay that way as hordes of punters start to fill the place every week as word gets around.
The staff are fast and attentive and not long after we sit in our chair we’ve got our first drink, a pint of Scottish hops that is also brilliantly on happy hour so is 30 percent cheaper than normal. Can’t be bad.
Peckish? Order some nachos to go with your drink. The beef chilli version is stacked with toppings including guacamole and a punch of spice. The whole dish is built with precision, as if the chef is playing some sort of gastronomic game of nacho Jenga. We demolish them quickly but not before grabbing another discounted drink to wash them down with.
After a couple of hours more people start to arrive and we take our cue to leave safe in the knowledge that some things never change – drinks deals are top, nachos are never disappointing and McGettigan’s will never let you down for good value, a decent atmosphere and being the answer to the question “Where should we go for a drink tonight?”.
