Finnegan's Way

Finnegan's calls itself an Irish pub and sports bar, and the interior portion of the restaurant fits that bill. The bulk of the room is occupied by dining tables, pool tables, and a bar boasting Guinness and a half-dozen other beers on tap. At night, the space takes on a darker pub ambiance, with much of the illumination coming from a glowing fish tank and eight plasma TV screens. Oysters on the half-shell ($11.95 for a dozen) don't exhibit much in the way of bright, briny flavor. The Rockefeller ($8.95) rendition's topping of creamed spinach and mozzarella cheese smothered whatever fresh appeal the oysters might have had. Most other appetizers are fried and can be sampled together on a combo plate containing calamari and a pair each of coconut shrimp, chicken strips, Buffalo wings, and sliders. All but the squid tasted like prebreaded frozen product dumped directly from the box to the deep fryer. Cups of tartar sauce, honey mustard, and cocktail sauce on the side were likely poured straight from gallon jugs. There are a number of lobster and crab treatments on the menu, but the only other seafood entrées are, oddly enough, the usual sushi roll suspects (dragon, rainbow, and spider, all under $12) and catch of the day ($17.95). Entrées come with suggested wine pairings, each highlighted in red on the menu. We suggest putting down a pint of Guinness instead.