Originally opened eight years ago, O'Ginny's has long been the bar of choice for the multitude of suits who work and play hard in the area adjacent to Taipei's busy Tunhua North and Minsheng East roads.
Recently purchased by the same management team who brought us The Tavern -- Taipei's infamous libation-soaked venue much favored for its live broadcasts of international sporting events -- O'Ginny's underwent a long-overdue face lift last month.
The overhaul has seen the bar's once badly lit and rather drab interior transformed into a naturally lit, bright and cheerful spot in which patrons can now see the facial features of the person with whom they are conversing.
Punters will find a smorgasbord of reasonably priced drinks and eats in a clean and friendly atmosphere that has all the trappings and feel of an extension to one's living room rather than a bar.
The menu is packed with a choice of meals ranging from popular pub grub such as cheeseburger and fries (NT$280), fish and chips (NT$280), cottage pie (NT$260) and bangers (sausages for the uninitiated) and mash (NT$220) to a selection of local and Italian dishes.
For the truly ravenous, however, O'Ginny's grills are a must. The steak and mashed potatoes (NT$350), fillet of pork (NT$320) and the mixed grill (NT$380) all guarantee diners a mouthwatering feast of belt-busting proportions.
For the lunch-time crowd a NT$250 buffet, which offers diners a choice of meat dishes along with a salad bar, is available from between midday and 2:30pm.
Although now owned by the ever-partying Tavern crew, non-sporting and non-heavy drinking types need not fret. In stark contrast to its more raucous sibling, O'Ginny's offers patrons a much less rambunctious atmosphere in which to enjoy an evening out.
The bar's fine assortment of some of Scotland and Ireland's premium malt whiskeys, its modest, but solid selection of wines along with the heavily starched and spotlessly clean white tablecloths are enough to dispel any fears patrons might have that this pub is a hangout for lager louts.
"We wanted to offer people the same friendly service and choice of quality food and drinks, but in different, more relaxing environment," explained a spokesperson for O'Ginny's. "Instead of simply recreating another Tavern, which would have been a bit stupid, we're aiming at the less rowdy crowd. You know, couples and friends who want to chat and enjoy a good meal and drink in a laid back and cordial atmosphere without the hullabaloo."
To complement its ground-floor bar area, O'Ginny's has a small and cozy basement in which patrons can play pool, watch TV or simply escape the hustle and bustle of a public bar.
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