Irish pubs are a very distinctive type of bar. A bar so specific--that you know it’s the only place--that will go absolutely APESHIT on St. Patrick’s Day….Mexican cantinas may have Cinco de Mayo, but for the Irish---this is the one friggin’ day of the friggin’ year that officially recognizes the good state of Ireland….Did I just say “state”? Anyways---how many great Irish pubs can you think of in Los Angeles that goes crazy like that? Molly Malone’s near Fairfax & 6th? Patrick Molloy’s on Pier Avenue in Hermosa? (Or the one on State Street in Santa Barbara?)….Well, a perennial favorite turns out to be---O’Brien’s on Main Street in Santa Monica.

O’Brien’s Pub & Restaurant (located at 2941 Main Street) is the kind of low-key bar that has remained wildly popular & unchanging over the years, because of its unpretentiousness. Yet the proprietors have never forgotten that unpretentious doesn’t mean “cheap & common”. And the patrons are more the appreciative for it….There’s never been a cover. And O’Brien’s is way easier to get into than that “has-been” just across the street---Circle Bar!

Over there, Circle’s got a line of dudes standing outside by the wall. All metroed-out and….Okay, I know Circle’s not a gay bar, especially when I see all the chicks just walkin’ up to the door & gettin’ in---first. But damn!....When is Rob over there gonna wake up & realize how his club’s been lookin’ all these years?!.... Meanwhile, over here at O’Brien’s--no matter if you’re female or male---you just walk up to the beefy security guy, let him examine your I.D., then you’re in! Piece o’cake….

Once you’re inside, you’re really still--outside. Because you’ve just stepped into a crowded, large open-air patio that’s chock-a-block of just regular guys & girls---not all metroed-out---all from Venice & from Santa Monica & from New York & from the Mid-West & from the South & from Italy & from Japan & from France & from the U.K. & from Australia & from New Zealand & from Hong Kong….You know how it is. Regular people, just like you & me….

But how funny it is, that no matter where one of the guys came from---they’re all seemingly wearing the same brand of inexpensive, loose-fitting denim jeans! As well as half the girls….And everybody’s all drunk, yet seemingly having a great time conversing with each other---as well as with people from different backgrounds & cultures. And the larger the language barrier, the funnier it is to watch them trying to communicate with one another.

Then, once you’ve squeezed your way past everybody, now you’re inside the actual bar, and you realize---this is more of a split-level Irish-themed restaurant--than a bar. (Which for close to ten bucks could still get you a full hearty meal.) Yet none of this matters right now, ‘cause everyone’s all crowded inside their booths, laughing just as loudly as anyone outside. The full pitchers of Bass and Sam Adams and Harp’s flow freely from the lengthy bar that’s attached….Yet everyone’s still a coward to do a full pitcher of Guinness or Murphy’s.