New Five Points locale infuses traditional bar feel with tacos
So an Irishman walks into a bar and decides to open up a taco shack.
Enter in Senor O’Malley’s — The Irish Pub Taco Shack, Five Points’ newest brew and dining establishment. Located in the former home of Chubby’s Two By Four, Senor O’Malley’s bridges the gap between two seemingly contrasting eateries — traditional pub-style dining and the tangy, explosive dishes of classic Mexican fare — in a collision of fresh ingredients and flavorful taste bud pleasers.
And although he is not full-blooded Irish himself, owner Andrew Burton said that after months of bouncing around countless ideas for the space, this unique concept felt just right.
“I’m a strong believer in eating with your hands, and being able to snag a bite off your friend’s plate while you’re out having a beer,” Burton said. “Ultimately, I want this to be a really fun place where people can have a great time.”
Even though Senor O’Malley’s still maintains its original “bar” atmosphere, complete with exposed brick, an extensive bar and a narrow space, Burton said he wants the new joint to be remembered more for the appeal of its distinct dishes. The menu boasts appetizing dishes of the both the pub and Mexican variety, with the main courses distinguished by a characteristic “Pub O’ and Taco ’liciousness.”
Appetizers include Irish Pub potato skins stuffed with cheddar, bacon, green onion or sour cream. Or if you are feeling more south of the border, take a dip into the fresh guacamole, handmade with large chunks of fresh avocado and served with in-house fried chips. There is even fried mac-and-cheese sticks, loaded up with ham and macaroni and served with marinara or ranch sauce at $7.95.
As for the “’liciousness,” Senor
O’ Malleys offers several Irish favorites like the baked Shepherd’s pie with vegetables and ground beef for $9.95 or a pub steak sandwich complete with Killian’s-marinated sirloin steak and a delectable blend of mushrooms, peppers and onions priced at $10.95.
The veggie burger is named the McPat for the owner’s mother (who provided the recipe) made of a mix of garbanzo, walnuts, onions, oatmeal, soy sauce and sage.
And what is a taco shack without tacos? Senor O’Malley’s serves up a diverse assortment of these hands-on treats, but is certainly not limited to the typical steak, chicken and ground beef selections — but don’t worry, O’Malley’s has those too. For the more daring diner the restaurant dishes up buffalo chicken tacos with thick cuts of chicken doused in Frank’s Red Hot sauce and paired up with a tongue-cooling ranch sauce.
McPat’s veggie taco is made with chunks of the vegetarian patty fried up and sauced up with cucumber-garlic yogurt. Senor O’Malley’s fish taco blends crisp chunks of panko-breaded fish with house sauce and is already a customer favorite. All tacos are served on crunchy or soft flour or corn tortillas and piled high with fresh tomatoes, cheese, pico de gallo and chopped lettuce for $2.50 each.
For Burton, quality and freshness of his ingredients remain the most important aspects of his business, and he says the menu is constantly being reworked to provide the best dishes for his customers.
“My idea is to keep the menu limited. We want to have specific stuff and do that stuff really well,” Burton said. “We’re really not racing into anything.”
Restaurant manager Allen Munn added that O’Malley’s works to incorporate the two cultures in its food.
“We try to mix in the Irish with the Mexican as best we can,” Munn said. “Take the fish and chips. It’s a pub dish, but the batter we used was made from Dos Equis beer.”
Burton hopes to create a fun atmosphere for any type of diner. With the pressure of St. Patty’s Day looming plans are in the works for a Senor O’Malley’s taco sale, as well as a Mexican take on the Irish car bomb.
“We’re planning to mix tequila in there somehow,” Burton said. “It’s tentatively called the ‘Cartel Car bomb.’”
The Irish Pub Taco Shack is becoming steadily popular through word-of-mouth from first-time visitors, and is even offering half-price meals on Tuesday nights and $2 Corona Thursdays. A self-proclaimed lover of Five Points, Burton says he wants to keep it a place where people can come grab a taco at any time of day, whether the clock reads 7:15 p.m. or 11:15 p.m.
“We believe in good food and having a good time,” said Burton. “It’s all about how you feel when you walk into a place, and we want everyone that comes through the door to be comfortable and have fun.”