- Good quality carvery at very reasonable prices.
- Authentic pub atmosphere with plenty of locals dropping in.
- Spacious but with cozy corners.
- Backyard Restaurant caters for more formal dining.
- Tables in pub area can be on the small size.
- Vegetables in carvery tend to be overcooked.
- Modern but "traditional" Irish pub with some rustic charm in the restaurant area.
- Carvery meals are excellent value for money and provide typical Irish fare.
- Restaurant meals are more expensive and of good quality.
- Convenient location on N3 - Dublin Bus stops just outside and car parking is available.
Situated on the Navan Road (the N3, telephone 01-8383358) and at the Ashtown roundabout near the Phoenix Park, the sprawling Halfway House pub is hard to miss. Recently renovated in a traditional style it boasts a number of bar areas and a carvery worth visiting.
Usually serving such traditional fare as roast beef, roast turkey or bacon in generous portions, this is a very Irish dining experience. The chef will cut the meat of choice at the counter, then his assistants will heap the side-dishes on ... several varieties of potatoes, a variety of vegetables, all drowned in gravy if you insist. Note that this is one pub where a request for another spoonful is not even raising the staff's eyebrows. Precariously balancing your meal (plus starters and dessert if needed) and a drink you will then make your way to a table. Which can be very small, making even two people struggle with plates and glasses sometimes. The home-cooked quality of the food is good to very good, even though the vegetables tend to the very soft side most of the time. This is more or less a typical carvery issue.
For a more formal dinner, though the surroundings are rustic, you may sit down in the Backyard Restaurant and enjoy waiter service. Here the prices are higher and the menu is varied but standard. Quality again is good but do not expect a culinary epiphany, we are still in home-cooking territory here.
A main course with drink will cost you less than € 15 in the carvery, expect € 20 in the restaurant.
