‘Little Irish Pub’ Opens December 9 on NE Alberta

Unless the weather says otherwise, the T.C. O’Leary’s Irish pub will celebrate its grand opening tonight, December 9, at 5 p.m.. It takes over the old Branch Whiskey Bar, located at 2926 NE Alberta St, and is owned by Ireland-born Thomas O’Leary, Branch Whiskey’s former bar manager.

O’Leary worked as an actor in Ireland and New York and also brings ten years bartending experience, including a period at Los Angeles’s beloved old-school bar Tom Bergin’s. Designed after traditional Irish pubs, T.C. O’Leary’s will serve beer on tap, a full bar, whiskey flights, and classic Irish plates, including brunch, on weekends.

Other staff from the upscale whiskey bar have made the transition, including Cassandra Ericson, formerly running Branch Whiskey’s whiskey flight program. Like at Branch, she’ll be in charge of designing whiskey flights, and she tells Eater the new pub will have a more casual atmosphere.

The menu at T.C. O’Leary’s will be stuffed with traditional pub grub, like fish and chips, with an entire section dedicated to blaas, soft rolls with fillings such as Guinness-braised beef short rib. Brunch brings well-priced Irish Breakfasts, for between $6 and 11, plus a vegetable hash, soda bread breakfast sandwich, and more. Head chef Liam Ashton (Urban Farmer, Bazi, Cascade Dining Room) grew up on the Irish cooking of his Dublin-born mom.

For tonight’s grand opening, T.C. O’Leary’s is offering food and drink specials, with complimentary samples from the menu. Moving forward it'll be open for dinner seven days a week, with brunch served Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• T.C. O’Leary’s [Official]