There are Two Irish Pubs inside The Villages, Florida. I Went to Both, and I'm Counting Them.
The Villages, Florida.
I'm clumping these two Pubs together into one article, because they're a bit outside of the "Drunken Mallard" SOP. One of them, McCall's, doesn't serve Guinness and has a western theme to it, but it has an Irish name and a shamrock on their logo and front door... so I'm counting it. The other, McGrady's/Sawgrass Tavern, is more of a Pub, but still a little flimsy.
These two are controversial, but I'm adding them to my overall list and I don't care! Because... in a decade or so when I finally tell the world, "I did it, I stepped foot inside every Irish Pub in America," you know someone out there will say, "Yeah but look at this Pub inside the bowling alley in The Villages, it has a shamrock and you didn't talk about it."
Leave no stone unturned.
Sawgrass Tavern/McGrady's.
Guinness Tag: $8.00 | Overall Rating: 2.05
Today's Dedicated Pint: WVLG Radio at Lake Sumter Landing
Most people travel here via a golf cart as it sits in the Sawgrass area of The Villages. You'll notice touches of English, Scottish, and Irish underneath this roof, but unlike McCall's, you will find a pint of the black stuff behind this bar's countertop. There are a couple of cocktails that will tickle a few fancies here as well.
The owners gave the place some fine touches and some alright wall decor. It gives patrons and Villagers something out of the norm to venture to, but at the end of the day it just feels like another place to grab a drink inside the mighty Villages world.
You can enjoy NFL Sundays here, and the food didn't look too bad. The people at the bar were friendly while we imbibed on our Guinness and Coca Cola, however, the staff behind the bar isn't going to be anywhere close to your favorite bartender inside your favorite Irish Pub in your favorite city.
I can talk more, but I choose not to. I came, I sipped, and I counted it on my list. Sorry for being curt with this one, but something tells me you won't care too much.
McCall's Tavern. Spanish Springs Bowling Alley.
Guinness Tag: $0.00/No Guinness | Overall Rating: 0.05
Today's Dedicated Pint: Pete Weber
We just got done throwing the rock down the lane in Spanish Springs, and as we were heading toward our golf cart on the street, I noticed a little shamrock underneath the Irish name on the front door of this establishment which has connected itself to the bowling alley. I said to myself, "Well, we gotta go in." So, we did.
I ordered a Guinness. "We have Yuengling." A Yuengling I drank. As you sit at the bar and place your head on a swivel, you'll notice a fun stage for live music and dining tables for stuffing your face before/after your bowling ventures. The music is actually fun here, as I've seen it performed live before and I'm not going to lie to you; it looked like fun.
You could say the Craic is here, but you can't say I'll be seeking for any of it in here in the future. You'll certainly see me grabbing a beer or two at the walk-up window near the lanes from time to time, but in regard to treating this place like an Irish Pub? I'll pass.
As I said earlier, you know someone out there will try and claim this place as an Irish Pub, so with that: ink it in!
I'm off to the Shamrock Lounge. Slainte!
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