The sign looked “charming.”
As my friends and I strolled the Riverwalk in San Antonio a few weeks ago, we were looking for a place to sit down and have “refreshments.” This looked like a likely spot.
Durty Nelly's -- the first clue was that they couldn't spell
“Durty Nellie’s,” I said. “Isn’t that interesting. Well, I’m a good Scots-Irish lassie, so let’s stop at this Irish Pub for a brew.”
It was all my fault, and I claim full responsibility.
As soon as we opened the door, all three of us gasped. It was only about 5:30 in the evening, and the floors were littered with peanut shells. Either they never swept — or they strewed fresh peanut shells daily in an attempt to look “cute.” I was not amused.
Inside Durty Nelly's it really WAS -- dirty!
But, we were already inside, and it would have felt silly to turn around at that point. God knows I would never risk looking silly, so we took seats and ordered our drinks. One of my friends decided she was hungry, and so ordered a basket of onion rings (although quite frankly I couldn’t work up much appetite as I looked around the place).
After I inspected the onion rings for any hapless cockroach that might have committed suicide in the fry grease, I munched on them and washed them down with a “black and tan,” which is a mixture of a pale ale and a dark ale (I believe that our waitress said that it was Guinness and Newcastle). The black and tan was delicious enough that I didn’t care what might be in the onion rings. Our waitress was a good one, and quite attentive — until she found out that we were only going to purchase one drink each.
The piano man at Durty Nelly's
About that time, the piano man sat down at the bar to play to the crowd (which consisted of the three of us). At first, he was charming. And, he could play piano very well. He teased with us a bit.
Being a performer, I know that playing for tips is a drag, so I dug into my purse for some money for his jar. I had the choice of a twenty, two ones, or my debit card –I gave him the two ones. Whoa! That’s when the man showed his colors. I figured out why the bar really called itself “durty.” He had the gall to razz us for being cheap (I believe he said, “I know how hard you had to work out there on the street corner to get that two dollars.”)– heck I didn’t have to give him anything! About that time, more people came into the bar, and this man began pulling out every raunchy song he knew. He knew a lot of dirty songs!
By no means am I a prude, my friends, but it got old really quickly. Now, admittedly I don’t hang out in bars a lot. I might not be your best source for information on this joint (in fact, I read quite a few on-line reviews that spoke of Durty Nelly’s and most of them spoke favorably). Perhaps if I were young enough, and rowdy enough, and drunk enough I would have enjoyed the visit more.
But, I’m not a young, rowdy drunk. Don’t take my word for it, if you enjoy a rowdy bar. However, the next time, I’m in San Antonio I will give Durty Nelly’s a pass and find another place to get my refreshments. I won’t sit inside a bar, either! Not when I could enjoy the scenes along the river!
Down the Riverwalk in San Antonio
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ll make sure to give that place a pass… I don’t think I was ever drunk enough to enjoy that!
I’m pretty sure I haven’t ever been
Yikes! That does not sound like my kinda place either. How rude of him to say that about the two dollars. Has he not got any manners? I would have taken the money back and said ba bye!
Thanks for the tip about the place I won’t go there either!(if I ever get to go to Texas)(-:
Have you ever been to Logans Road House? They may not be in Texas but its a chain. Anyhow they have peanut shells all over the floor too. Interesting decoration!(-:
cindees last blog post..New Babies
Momma didn’t teach him manners–or else it passes for his attempt at humor.
Yes, Logans Road House is a local chain. I like to eat there, but it’s not anything I’d tell an out of towner to visit (because I want them to visit restaurants owned by individuals!).
Peanut shells are not my favorite decoration either.
I want to visit you so I can visit Durty Nellie’s too!
Looks like a cool place
Kathleens last blog post..Wednesday – What can I say?
You might like it — most of the reviewers on-line did. I wasn’t that impressed, but maybe after a few more black and tans it would have been more appealing.
I’ve not been in a bar in years. Just don’t have any interest anymore. I’m with you…the river walk would be far more fun. I loved my stroll some years back. I just love San Antonio to pieces.
Have a terrific day.
Comedy Pluss last blog post..The New Secretary
San Antonio is pretty cool, Sandee. I think we would have liked this place better if we sat at tables outside. We could have heard the piano man but not been the butt of his jokes. And, the air was more fresh, too!
In my checkered past I’ve been a waitress as well as dating a piano player. THAT is not the way you treat customers, I don’t care how “with it” you are supposed to be. People who don’t order a lot or tip what is expected, all have friends and if you don’t treat them well, they WILL tell all their friends. This is not a good thing for any business. You just told the whole blogosphere that this is not a place they want to go.
Jamies last blog post..D-Day Tradition
You have an interesting past, Jamie. One day I want to sit down with you and here all the down and dirty! Nope, this wasn’t a way to earn my repeat business. But, again, most of the on-line reviews were good. I may just be getting old or something (heck–no “may” about it)
What jerks. A place like that definitely doesn’t deserve your business – or your hard-earned cash!
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Summer Stock Sunday is up and running – come join the fun!
Robins last blog post..Another Old City Window
They weren’t terribly polite, but I know better next time
I’m ready for your Summer Stock Sunday (but it’s still Saturday in my neck of the woods
). Can’t wait to see all the photos people will have.
My husband and I will be visiting San Antonio soon. He just told me today that Durty Nellies was one place he REALLY wanted to visit LOL! So i guess i’ll let yall know what i think in just a few weeks
…We’re young, 21 and 24 so we may just fit right in with the roudy crowd?!
I’ve been to San Antonio several times and visited Durty Nelly’s many times. I think you missed the point of the bar. Everything you described is supposed to be that way. They do it on purpose. If you visit in the evening, the place gets packed. As the night goes on, the songs get dirtier and dirtier and the kidding gets more in your face. It’s supposed to be like a small village pub where everyone grew up with everyone else and knows everyone way too well.
It’s kind of like visiting Ed Debevic’s in Chicago. If that type of theatre isn’t for you, don’t go. If you like to chide with the staff and get in on the entertainment, this place is for you!
Oh, Nathan, I didn’t miss the point of the bar … it just wasn’t what we were wanting or expecting. I’ve already made several disclaimers, saying that many people have given it good reviews. I’m glad you like the place, because it will keep them in business.
As a performer, however, if I were performing in that venue and a group didn’t seem all that “into” what I was doing, I wouldn’t get in their faces. At least, I wouldn’t if I were working for tips. I stand by my assessment that Durty Nellie’s isn’t the wisest choice unless you like being among the drunk and disorderly.
Dear Shelly,
I appreciated your comments. Because I played piano there over 25 years (1979-2005) I felt compelled to reply. The spelling is taken from Ireland, where Durty Nelly’s Pub has been nestled up against Bunratty Castle for centuries, and the name considerably predates Noah Webster. (Couldn’t help but notice that you spelled it “Nellie’s” -please note the sign!) The place is swept every night and is spotless when it opens at 10 am every day, but muching peanuts and throwing shells on the floor is a 30-year tradition that none of us neat-freaks can overturn. I regret the entertainment & service was disappointing–I tried to be courteous to all and tailor my act to priests, nuns, drunks, rednecks, grandmas, and everyone in between. For the last 5 years I have been teaching school and doing church music, but if I ever go back to playing at Durty Nelly’s, I’ll give you a heads-up and try to coerce you into trying it again. As you noted, it has gotten lots of good reviews–I can attest that many people have thousands of great memories of Durty Nelly’s. Hope your next visit brings more to you.
Oh, duh, Steven! I can’t read, so why am I complaining about a bar? I guess I was too sideswiped by the service to be able to spell it. Church music? Doesn’t sound like what I was hearing there
. If you play there again, you can let me know, but I doubt I’d stop in again. As I’ve said (repeatedly, and over and over again…not to be redundant) it just wasn’t what I had wanted on the Riverwalk. I just wanted to sit with friends and chat and drink — not be the butt of a piano man’s jokes. Thanks for putting in your two cents.