Luck o' the Irish?

Mahoney's Bar & Grille (top) vs. Finley Mahony's

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Despite similar names, Finley Mahony's and Mahoney's Pub & Grille couldn’t be more different. That said, both bars deserve a shot at the title of best new Irish pub, so we’re pitting them against each other to see which one is worthy of being your watering hole on St. Patrick’s Day—or any other day of the year, for that matter. Read on for our take on these two new spots, then cast your vote.

THE STORY
Finley: The Finley behind this bar is the youngest son of one of the owners, Dominic O’Mahony. Born in England and raised in Ireland, the big O’Mahony is also behind The Drum & Monkey in Little Italy. Before this Lakeview pub opened last summer, owners gutted the place, a former medical consulting office. They kept only a strange little nook in the rear—a great area for holding a private party.
Mahoney's: Though this pub’s run by the Lodge Management Group (the team behind late-night party bars such as The Hangge-Uppe and The Original Mother’s), the name is a nod to Irish history. Mahoney’s is named for famous Mahoneys and Mahonys, including John O’Mahony, an Irish-American Civil War colonel who’s said to have planned to conquer Canada so he could trade it back to England in exchange for Ireland’s independence. He stationed an army in Chicago, where it’s believed he toasted future conquests.
Advantage: Mahoney’s. The owners don’t have brogues, but you gotta love a good war story.


THE SCENE
Finley: There’s a lot to make you feel like you’ve literally stepped into Ireland here. All bar stools and seats were made in Ireland and the wood paneling was handcrafted by an English and Irish contracting team. Strands of white twinkly lights cast a magical glow over a crowd of young Lakeview locals and older professionals, and brick walls, black paneling and long wooden tables create an upscale, yet cozy, ambiance.
Mahoney's: This sprawling sports bar feels nothing like an authentic Irish pub. There are flat-screen TVs splashed all over, but not one was showing rugby or soccer—we mean football—the night we visited. Sports flags throughout the bar feature only college and local sports teams, and the booths look standard-issue. There’s nothing Irish here except the name and a claddagh symbol on the sign.
Advantage: Finley’s. Hands down, it has true Irish charm.


FOOD & DRINKS
Finley: Upscale Irish grub and Chicago standbys co-mingle on the menu. Get the super-crispy fish and chips ($12, pictured) or the moist, grilled lemon salmon ($16). Or try the barbecue chicken pizza ($10). Finley’s has 12 beers on tap, including Newcastle and Leffe, in addition to standard Irish imports such as Smithwick’s and Magners.
Mahoney's: Don’t expect much more than standard sports bar fare here. The only thing Irish on this menu is fish and chips ($10.95). The turkey Reuben ($8.50) is surprisingly fatty (in a good way), but our chicken wings ($8.95) were so dry they were nearly inedible. Irish beer options include Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s.
Advantage: Finley’s. Our party had good meals all around.


ST. PATRICK'S DAY
Finley: The holiday runs from March 14 to 17 at this Irish haven. Guzzle $5 Guinness pints while you nibble on a corned beef and cabbage entree ($8), or Guinness-braised short ribs ($10). Maybe you’ll have the luck of the Irish and score a hat, beads, T-shirt or mug in the festive giveaways that will take place all day.
Mahoney's: The bar opens at 7 a.m. on parade day, March 15, with a true Irish breakfast that includes corned beef and eggs. Irish music sets a festive tone. On St. Patrick’s Day, Mahoney’s will have toasts every hour on the hour, a nod to Col. John O’Mahony.
Advantage: Mahoney’s. Considering the party scene you find at the owners’ bars on Division Street, we expect nothing less here.

Bottom line: We’re torn. We’re big on Finley’s authentic pub appeal, but not its tiny size. But Mahoney’s is too sporty to take the prize outright. So we left it up to you. Votes cast by readers in our online poll determined that Finley Mahony's is the winner--it will faceoff against the winners of our other two brackets and we'll reveal the ultimate winner on St. Patrick's Day.

>> Click here to check out more photos of both bars.

>> Faceoff No. 1 -- Click here to read more about the winner of round one, D4 Irish Pub & Cafe, and its opponent Wilde.

[ Danielle Braff is a Metromix special contributor. ]
metromix@tribune.com