Hagy's Irish Pie Pub. Charleston, West Virginia

908 Quarrier Street

Guinness Tag: $7.00 | Overall Rating: 7.95

Today's Dedicated Pint: Terri Sheidler

This may have been the hardest rating to place out of all the Pubs I've been to so far. I typically don't even put too much weight on the ratings, as I've rated some Pubs in the past under a 6 despite loving the place and outspokenly claiming I'd be a regular at the joint had I lived nearby. When I rate a Pub, I'm really judging it off its Irish authenticity and not so much, "How much fun can you have here?" Some Pubs are just sports bars with an Irish name out front, and while there's nothing wrong with that, I can't turn around and give a "Pub" like that a high rating, no matter how much fun I had watching the Cincinnati Bengals kick the Pittsburgh Steelers' asses. If I slap a rating of an 8.00 or higher, then that puts the Pub on my "Highest Rated Pubs" list, which is a pretty big honor if you ask me. So, when I come across a Pub that's sitting on the wire of being good enough to make it to the Highest Rated pedestal, I want to be sure I'm accurate, as thousands of people will be taking my word before dedicating their time on a specific Pub. I unwittingly made myself "the Irish Pub guy," and with my 16+ years of work experience in the industry, I want people to trust what I have to say.

I started my day by cranking my car in Virginia Beach with a final destination of Sharonville, Ohio. I figured I'd stop inside Hagy's Irish Pie Pub along the way, being that I've never stepped foot on Charleston, WV soil, and the name of this Pub is perhaps one of the jolliest names I've ever laid eyes on. It lays its bones in a neat little part of the city, where you'll find architecturally significant neighboring buildings and brick layered roads/alleyways. I came in right when they opened, and I wish I gave them an hour or so, because when I asked for a Guinness, the bartender told me the keg was dry and she's not strong enough to change out a new one. I wanted to offer to change it for her, but I chose not to. I lift kegs almost every day of the week, so I wanted to keep my "off day" a true off day. I opted for a local stout, and it was poured in moderate fashion along with a delicious taste attached to it.

I can confirm that they pour their Guinness in an imperial pint in exchange for 7 bucks on an average shift. They provided the best Irish whiskey selection that I came across this week, and that involved 7 Pubs in 5 different cities across both Virginia and West Virginia. The bartender was friendly, but pretty disengaging once the pint was poured and the affirmation of not desiring any food was established. She sat at the end of the bar and stared at her phone, which was unfortunate, because I love chatting with new people in new cities. I have a lot of stories to tell, and I am always eager to hear other people's stories. That's the best way to learn in life, if you ask me. It is what it is, though, because there's always another Pub waiting to be enjoyed around the corner.

Hagy's Pie Pub offers you a semi-large patio underneath a roof, a long L-Shaped bar that holds maybe 20 asses, and many tables along the opposite wall that overlook the bar. The ceiling tiles in here are flippin' sweet, and the bar counter is nicely crafted with a perfectly chosen stained wood. I wish the barstools had backrests to them, but that's small potatoes on the grand scale. The walls are what made me choose the 7.95 rating over an 8.00 rating. They're too bright of a green, they're too bare and plain, and they would look SO MUCH better in a darker shade. I'm not the biggest wallpaper guy, but a dark green wallpaper with some sort of pattern would look sick here, especially if they added some crown molding. Throw in some more authentic wall decor/mirrors, and this place would instantly pop. Every picture taken in here would make everyone who sees it say, "Damn, now that's a sexy Pub." In my opinion, this place is inches away from being awesome. It's good, don't get me wrong, but it's still a few good nights away from getting the invitation to the big leagues. I very much enjoyed their bathroom.

When I compare it to places such as the Erin Rose and The Dead Rabbit, I can't possibly rank it alongside them, unfortunately. The good thing about this place is that I don't necessarily live that far away, so perhaps I'll make a revisit here a few years down the road and we can bump this rating up to an 8.50 or so.

One more critical thing... I can't say I'm in love with the curb appeal. The signage out front gives me "NYC Chinese Takeout" vibes. If I wasn't wearing my contacts, then I'd walk in here expecting to inhale some Egg Foo Young. When you Google, "Irish Pubs nearby," and see the name, "Hagy's Irish Pie Pub," you immediately think of a charming little spot with greenery and Shepherd's Pies (at least that's what I did). If I could spend 2 or 3 weeks embellishing this place's storefront and interior walls, then I'd be in heaven; especially if I purchased everything from Menards (you gotta save big money). Hey, Hagy's, I know my opinion is worthless to you, but if you want to tag team on some of the place's cosmetics, I'm totally game! I've been to a Pub or two in my day, and I like to say I know what people crave and don't crave. I'm not far, hit me up, I'll work for Guinness =)

Anyway, as I wrap this thing up, I wish I could tell you about a fun conversation I

had with one of the locals or anything exciting, but I can't. I don't think I caught Hagy's on a bad day, but I didn't catch them on a good one either. If you've been here, you should send me a message about your experience. How's the Craic once the place gets full? How's the crowd on a busy weekday evening? How's the pie?

Til next time.