The Burnaby Pub & Restaurant

Just what Greystones needed - another pub claiming to revolutionize the Irish drinking experience. The Burnaby Pub & Restaurant sits there, all smug and well-positioned near the station, practically daring you to find fault with its carefully curated blend of traditional and contemporary. I went in determined to hate it. Spoiler alert: I failed.

Let's address the elephant in the room - yes, The Burnaby Pub & Restaurant in Greystones is yet another establishment jumping on the "gastropub" bandwagon. But unlike many of its trying-too-hard competitors, this place somehow manages to pull it off without making you want to roll your eyes into the next county.

The first crack in my cynical armor appeared when I discovered their seafood chowder. Now, I've survived enough mediocre chowders to fill Dublin Bay, but this one... this one made me pause mid-snark. Rich, creamy, and loaded with fresh seafood that actually tastes like it saw the ocean this century. It's the kind of dish that makes you temporarily forget you're supposed to be maintaining your professional distance.

The space itself refuses to conform to easy criticism. Sure, it's got that predictable pub-meets-modern-eatery aesthetic, but The Burnaby has managed to preserve enough authentic character to avoid feeling like it was decorated by an algorithm. The outdoor seating area - which I fully intended to mock for its inevitable Instagram-worthiness - turns out to be genuinely pleasant, especially when the Irish weather decides to cooperate (approximately three days per year).

Their draft beer selection is extensive enough to be impressive without crossing into pretentious territory. And while the prices won't have you checking your account balance mid-pint, they're reasonable enough to justify a second round. The wine list is surprisingly decent for a place that could've gotten away with three options of varying redness.

The kitchen consistently delivers dishes that make you question your commitment to being unimpressed. Those duck spring rolls everyone keeps talking about? Annoyingly good. The button mushrooms? Frustratingly perfect. Even their fish and chips - a dish so common it should be impossible to stand out - somehow manages to be memorable, with what might actually be the best tartar sauce this side of the Irish Sea.

Service manages to hit that sweet spot between attentive and overbearing, though I suspect they recognized my critic's scowl and adjusted accordingly. The staff maintains that difficult balance of professional efficiency and genuine warmth that's becoming increasingly rare in the industry. They're knowledgeable about the menu without reciting it like a memorized script, and they actually seem to enjoy their jobs, which is both suspicious and refreshing.

For families (because apparently we must address this demographic), they've thoughtfully included a children's menu and enough space to accommodate the inevitable chaos that accompanies dining with tiny humans. The place is also surprisingly adept at handling larger groups without descending into the special circle of hell usually reserved for birthday parties and corporate outings.

Sports fans will find enough screens to keep track of the match without the place feeling like a betting shop, and the sound levels are managed well enough that you can actually have a conversation without shouting yourself hoarse. It's an impressive balancing act that shouldn't work but somehow does.

Located in the heart of Greystones, The Burnaby Pub & Restaurant has become an irritatingly essential part of the local scene. The parking situation can be a bit of a faff with paid street parking and lots nearby, but that's hardly the venue's fault (though I tried to blame them anyway). They take cards, support contactless payments, and have generally dragged themselves into the 21st century without losing their soul in the process.

Look, I didn't want to like The Burnaby. I really didn't. But after multiple visits (purely for thorough research, of course), I've been forced to concede that this place actually deserves its reputation. Whether you're a local or just passing through Greystones, you'll probably end up here eventually. And despite my best efforts to maintain my professional cynicism, I have to admit - you could do a lot worse. Book ahead, especially for weekend evenings, and prepare yourself for the annoying possibility of having a genuinely good time.