O’Reilly’s Irish Bar & Restaurant opened over 2 months ago in The Harrison. Since its grand opening, I have heard a wide range of reviews from friends and acquaintances. Many have raved over a new place to spend time with friends after a ballgame while I have heard others tell me they expected more. I wanted to spend a good amount of time here before I wrote a review.

I have stopped in before and after TinCaps games, stopped in for drinks with friends, had a dinner date, and even taken a friend out for her birthday at O’Reilly’s. Each time the service was quality, the food was delicious, and the environment was warm and friendly. When deciding on evening or weekend plans in downtown, O’Reilly’s is now very much on the list of options.

Having more of a variety of places to dine and drink downtown was my only expectation when they opened. I know if I want fine dining, I am going to stop by Club Soda, Bourbon Street Hideaway, or Takaoka. What O’Reilly’s has supplied us with is a free view of Parkview Field, a wide open space where we can enjoy a game on the widescreen, and draft beer by the pitcher.

Honestly, the food isn’t bad either. I’ve tried everything from soups and salads to their grilled salmon sandwich. Their onion rings are delicious and if you are a hummus lover, you might want to try their homemade hummus dip. Nothing has disappointed so far.

Nearby parking can be found in the parking lot on the east side of The Harrison, to the west off of Ewing Street, or off-street parking in front of the building on Jefferson Blvd. As downtown continues to grow, having to walk an extra minute or two is going to become more common in our urban core but parking options are plentiful. I believe that these small growing pains are a fair trade-off as the variety of things to do in downtown Fort Wayne continues to evolve.

I have found that, like most things in life, O’Reilly’s is what you make of it. Bring your friends, a few good stories to share, and come thirsty. They will supply the drinks, the food, and the view. I am happy that we now have one more place to make memories in downtown Fort Wayne this summer. (Also, I highly recommend the Stephen Spinach Salad.)

By Stephen J. Bailey for the Downtown Improvement District