Raglan Road. Disney Springs, Florida

1640 Beuna Vista Drive

Guinness Tag: $12.75 | Overall Rating: 7.80

Today's Dedicated Pint: Lance Koss

I wake up every day to try and find the most authentic Irish Pub known to man (in America). I've tried waking up for other reasons, but they were never as fun. Pubs come in all shapes and forms (like Rosie O'Donnell), ranging from gimmicky, to mediocre, to remarkably authentic. It's hard to find a Pub with authentic attributes, let alone one that has a long history with a dedicated base of regulars attached to it as well. As I keep stepping foot inside every Irish Pub that I can find, many times I'll come across sports bars with touches of the Irish culture sprinkled throughout the place. A lot of owners here in the states take pride in their Irish heritage, but don't necessarily go above and beyond to make their establishment feel like you're somewhere else. They choose to get generic furniture, generic signage, play the same music as the other guy, and throw 5 TVs on the wall (like 90% of every restaurant in America right now). You definitely feel like you're somewhere else here at the Raglan Road.

Some Pubs that go above and beyond to make themselves really stand out are places such as Butch McGuire's up in Chicago, The Dead Rabbit over in NYC, The Erin Rose in New Orleans, and Pat O'Shea's in Louisville. None of those are incredibly "proper," but they surely didn't cut any corners when it came to constructing their brand. The best thing about these establishments? They don't have any form of "corporate," or "chain" feelings attached to them. The Raglan Road? It surely feels like you're in a corporate world.

I'm in love with the eye candy at the Raglan Road, and no, I'm not talking about the waitresses or Irish Dancers performing on the stage. I'm talking about the Pub's curb appeal and stunning interior design. It does a great job showing off some authentic decor, astounding furniture, light fixtures, ceilings, and patios. Every wall has something interesting to gaze at, every barstool offers a great spot to people watch, and the dining room has somewhat of a ballroom feel to it. You're surrounded by neat pillars, comfy booths, polished handrails, impeccable craftsmanship, and beautiful dish/glassware. It's assiduous. I'm going to let the pictures below do most of the talking.

It comes with an expensive little gift shop (but hey, they have one). There's a fun little outside bar called Paddy's that holds about 15 barstools wrapped around a horseshoe styled countertop. There are maybe 3 or 4 different patio sections with their own vibes, and the live music stage has a fun backdrop to it. We went in the middle of a weekday and yet they still offered live music and dancing, it was pretty awesome.

I don't normally eat food at every Pub, as I'd definitely die of high cholesterol and/or obesity if I did. You don't need to supply food in order to be a good Pub, but when you offer good food, it certainly doesn't hurt your case. The Raglan Road delivers some incredible dishes, mind you, you're going to open your wallet for them, though. If you're hungry for some Irish cuisine and have a little jingle in your pockets, then I'd definitely advise you to stick a fork in a few of these offerings.

They pour their Guinness the right way, but it's one of the most expensive pours you'll come across in America. Believe it or not, out of all the Pubs I've been to so far (over 150 east of the Mississippi) it has the highest price tag of them all. The staff here is pretty attentive, and the management doesn't give off the look of, "I want to kill myself." So far, everything seems pretty flippin' amazing, right? Well, yeah, kind of. Sometimes you need to keep your lawn free of children though, so let me gripe about a few things.

Some of the best Pubs (let's think of Hap's over in Cincinnati for the time being) are small enough to provide guests with an intimate atmosphere, and large enough to obtain a decent following without forcing everyone to stand like a sardine anytime they sip on a Guinness. When you go to Hap's, you'll meet all of the locals who have been supporting the place for over 50 years. You'll meet the local lawyers, cops, postal workers, dentists, salesmen, musicians, barbers, and everything in between. You'll feel at home, you'll laugh a lot, you'll see the same people almost every time, and you'll only spend about $2.50 on a Miller Highlife. Will you ever experience that type of atmosphere at the Raglan Road? No. Not a chance in hell.

For one, the Raglan Road is too expensive for the everyday Joe to frequent to a few times a week. Nobody can afford to drop $80 every time they go in for a "quick fix" after (or before) work. For seconds, it sits in Disney Springs where patrons need to park in a garage about a quarter mile away, making it essentially impossible to become a regular here (logistically speaking) even if you had a $300 weekly Guinness allowance. For thirds, you're surrounded by tourists. Even if you and a few buddies found a way to become regulars here and bellied up at the bar a few times a week, you'll get so tired of this place so fast. I guarantee it. One can only shop at an overpriced gift shop so many times and listen to the same band play the same music with the same Irish dancing routine so many times before saying, "Alright, I've had enough." You'll get sick of being surrounded by little kids with Mickey Mouse ears to the point where you'll probably find yourself mouthing off to a whiney 9-year-old and their mom, Karen one night (nobody needs that on their resume). The demographics here are not the type anyone should encounter every day of the week, which should grant the staff here a lot more respect than they probably receive. If you could pick this Pub up with a giant crane and place it on a deserted beach with a total population of 500 people (all above the age of 30) then the Raglan Road would instantly become five times more enjoyable.

Is the Raglan Road a fun place to satisfy a lot of cravings? Definitely. Is it a place that any normal person would want to visit every single week? Absolutely not. As cool as the place is, it couldn't possibly be considered one of the best Pubs in America when every Pub on my "Highest Rated Pubs" list are ones that I'd happily bend the elbows at multiple times a week for weeks on end. If I can't (or don't want to) be inside your place more than four or five times a year, then I can't place you near the top of the totem pole.

I hope that makes sense, and if it doesn't, then only God can help you.

Thanks, Raglan Road, it was a fun time and I will probably be back a few times here and there throughout the years. You guys have a gorgeous place, and I truly hope you kick ass for decades to come! I'm off to another barstool. Slainte.