Review of McCann’s Food and Brew - St Cloud, MN

Originally posted December 28, 2007

For years I went to O’Hara’s Restaurant on the corner of 33rd Ave and 3rd street in St Cloud. It was a landmark on that corner for over 50 years. Times change and so in the aftermath of Tim O’Hara’s restaurant debacle, we have a new and improved restaurant at that famous intersection.

McCann’s (Notice the same Irish name) completely redesigned the restaurant, cutting out most of the excess space used for meetings by every organization imaginable in the St Cloud area. They kept the brewing equipment but I have unfortunately not tried any of the house beer. I know,”for shame, Chad!” Hey, I was in there on my lunch break with one of my salesmen. I really didnt want to tip too much beer and go back to work.

Food: 6

While it was no particularly outstanding, the menu consists of a lot of bar related food. They had a roast beef sandwich as the special. I will admit, I am not a big beef person. Give me pork, any kind of foul, or fish and I am satisfied. Oh, and burgers are much better when they are beef as well. The beef was definitely tender and the portion size was good. The prices seemed a little on the high side of low…as in middle of the road.

Service: 4

We were mostly served by the jovial bar back but the service level was more a kin to sports bar traffic than actual fine dining, which is a shame. They still have a good sized dining room and hopefully they will develop that kind of dining which is seriously lacking in the whole St Cloud area.

Atmosphere: 4

They must have spent a bundle on the remodel. There is a lot of decorative stonework covering the walls and a lighter color scheme. The downside to any stonework is that you need to counter the cold of stone with the warmth of decorations. Unfortunately they must have run out of money or time in the decorating area as the walls that were not coved with stone were devoid of the nicky nacky types of things that can warm up a room. It felt very sterile. They opened recently so we can only hope that this type of thing develops over time. Hopefully sooner than later. Even college students like a little character inside their haunts and the locals may object to the changes from the landmark restaurant location they now occupy.

Overall: 5

They have potential. With a smaller restaurant space, retooled look, and preservation of the massive pool table room in the basemen, this place can once again reclaim its designation as a college student hang out. For the restaurant portion, it still needs a little work. I will eat there again with the hopes that they are still developing their dining experience. If not there might be another open space for rent in the next year or so.

McCann’s Food & Brew

3310 3rd St N
St Cloud
320…

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