Approaching its five year anniversary, Crowley’s has become a fixture of downtown St. Petersburg. A number of area bars bill themselves as “Irish Pubs” but the family-operated Crowley’s Downtown is perhaps the most deserving of that designation.
Located at 269 Central Avenue, the interior space is fairly small with an L-shaped bar area surrounded by a bit of standing space and table seating lining two sides. There are a few tables of outside seating as well. On most nights, the corner opposite the bar on the entrance side serves as a stage for Irish-themed music. Recurring weekly acts include Daniel O’Ryan every Wednesday, and The Bawdy Boys on Thursdays. Tuesdays offer one of the better trivia nights in the area with the top three teams taking $60, $30, and $15 in house cash.
The outside signage and interior décor is befitting an Irish Pub. A sign behind the bar advertises a seven course Irish dinner which does not appear on the menu. I was told by the bartender this consists of a six pack of PBR and a baked potato (pretty funny, even if the Irish-ness of Pabst is somewhat questionable). The beer selection is solid, albeit not the largest in town. A variety of styles are well represented and local options are available from Cigar City and others.
The menu consists of bar food – but very good bar food. Highlights include (but are not limited to) Scotch Eggs and Reuben Egg Rolls from the appetizer list, excellent Fish and Chips, and a legit Reuben sandwich. Prices are very manageable with most sandwiches under $10 and entrees in the mid-teens.
On the sign out front you’ll find Crowley’s slogan, “Where the Crowd Gathers.” It’s a good representation of the mood inside. A diverse collection of folks looking to have a good time. As the presence of a kid’s section on the menu suggests, this is a family-friendly spot, at least during family-friendly hours. However when the night time arrives the band tends to get a little louder and the crowd a little rowdier.
