What a week! Both Becky and Jodie had busy work schedules, but we awoke on Saturday ready for brunch. It was a beautiful, sunny day, so with guest Brunch Bae Luke in tow, we headed out.

Setting the Scene

Pride weekend was kicking off in our neighborhood, with lots of tourists in from out of town. We decided to stay on the fringe of our usual haunts to avoid the crowds and headed to one of our favorite neighborhood bars, F. O’Mahony’s. While not a gay bar, it is a very gay-friendly bar with most patrons hailing from the neighborhood.

Amenities and Accessibility

The restaurant has two doors at the front entrance, with a ramp leading in. The dog-friendly patio is brick, but also on level with the sidewalk. The restrooms are clean, bright and also accessible. Currently the streets are under construction, which may prove to be a problem for some.

Food and Drink

Brunch deals differ depending on the weekend day. Sunday offers bottomless mimosas for $25 with your choice of entrée while Saturday serves up drinks by the carafe ($13) and entrées separately priced. If breakfast foods aren’t your thing, they do offer a lunch menu of burgers and sandwiches.

Jodie ordered the BLT with sliced avocado and sweet potato fries. The bread was perfectly toasted and the bacon crispy. A few drops of Sriracha complemented the flavors and textures well. The fries were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. This is her go-to brunch selection because it always comes out well-prepared and satisfying.

Luke picked scrambled eggs with bacon and fried potatoes. The eggs were fluffy and more like an omelette. The bacon was thick but crisp. The potatoes were a little bland and basic, but he doesn’t eat the carbs anyway. Overall it was a delicious meal, which he enjoyed. Luke also got the house Bloody Mary which came with bacon, a pickle, cheese curds, olives, and citrus. It was a spicy and smoky delight – a wake-up call in a glass.

Becky ordered the breakfast sliders – two buttermilk biscuits with scrambled eggs, cheddar, and bacon. Since meat isn’t her thing, she got the bacon on the side for her brunch companions and added tomato, with a side salad in exchange for the potatoes. The salad was delightful and fresh, topped with cherry tomatoes, red onions, and cucumber on leafy greens. The biscuits were fluffy and satisfying, however, they came out without the cheese (a common problem with this order – such a mystery). The sliders were filling – she had to bring one of them home with her because the salad and one biscuit was enough. The food, after Mo reconciled the cheese miss, was solid and sustaining.

BONUS TREATS

The bartenders – Mike and Mo. They are serving up brunch realness with a hefty side of sass (and often a shot or two). They keep the drinks and the conversation flowing.

The owner, Michael Collins, takes great pride in the establishment and is there on a daily basis, usually early. He is well-respected by staff and patrons and makes a point to greet and chat with customers.

The lady sitting next us at the bar, who treated us to a drunken karaoke rendition of every song that played.

We discovered that professional drone racing is A Thing. Thanks, ESPN!

Mimosa Rating (out of 10)

A solid 7 out of 10. A few missteps from the kitchen kept this below an 8 or 9, however they were quickly made right by our bartender. The atmosphere is fun, the patrons are friendly and the food is usually consistent and filling, but nothing exceptional. It falls into the background (not a bad thing), letting the drinks, atmosphere, and staff shine. The drinks are generous, fizzy, and delightful.

Pro Tips

• Sit at the bar. All of the bartenders here are friendly, engaging, and accommodating. There are a contingent of lively regulars who occupy one corner. Make friends!
• On hot days, the back bathroom is a great place to cool off. Somehow, it gets the most AC of anywhere in the bar.
• While we prefer to sit at the bar, the patio is the best spot for neighborhood people-watching, especially on event and game days. The swirl of humanity is truly amazing. Also, lots of cute dogs.
• Get the pretzel sticks and beer cheese, found on the regular menu. They are the Midwest’s nectar and ambrosia.
• The happy hour deals during the week are definitely worth checking out, as well as their trivia nights on Wednesday.