2008 Woodie Awards
Branagan's Means Family
Local Irish pub makes customers feel right at home.
Trevor Owens
Issue date: 6/13/06 Section: Local
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With a robust alcohol selection, and a retaraunt, it's hard to beat Branagan's for sheer practicality-- if you want it; it's here.
"You come here to see your friends and get drunk," said Patty Burton, co-owner of Branagan's, "We're all family."
Family is exactly the word that comes to mind when spending time with the staff at Branagan's. Jeff Burton is Patty's son, and owner/manager of the bar.
Jeff 's longtime girlfriend, Jen, can be seen waiting tables when she is on duty; but as soon as she is off, she changes out of her staff shirt and drinks at the bar. The other waitresses will stop by Branagan's on their day off to have a few drinks.
Other bars in Fullerton attract crowds with a happy hour, or a ladies' night. Let this barfly tell you; I've been to "ladies' night" at places like the Rockin' Taco. There are a few girls there, and "ladies' night" seems like a presumptuous name, when there are so many guys lurking around.
The atmosphere at Branagan's is more friendly than competitive. It is conducive to sitting down, and enjoying a drink, without feeling hustled or hassled.
On Thursdays and weekend nights, the bar can get pretty crowded. On really busy nights, college students are packed inside like sardines. Usually however, it isn't that crowded on Monday through Sunday, and there is usually some space at the bar.
On May fifth, there was a lone bagpipe player who walked in to the bar, and started playing, unaccompanied. While he was resting, a mariachi band started playing. It was a strange spectacle, even for Cinco De Mayo celebrations.
Jeff Burton has been in charge since the bar and restaurant opened 18 months ago, and is happy to be a part of the family business.
"It's the one job where people want to be here," Burton said. He is a man of multiple talents, as his duties include bartending, waiting, cleaning, and sometimes being a bouncer.
The full-service restaurant has good chicken fingers and French fries. The prices are standard for Downtown Fullerton, though thrifty college students may want to restrict their spending to the alcohol.
As for the alcohol, the bar itself is spectacular. There are 25 different kinds of beer on tap, including some interesting alternatives to the standard malted brew. Wieder offers both pear and raspberry cider, and Magners brand apple cider is delicious, but without the strong taste of the Wieder selections. All the ciders are sweet, but actually contain more alcohol than most beers.
The family atmosphere affects everyone at Branagan's, especially the employees. "I love it," says 21-year-old Christie Sessler. "It's an Irish pub. Everyone's drinking, but they're mellow. It's a hometown feeling." For FC students, it's a great feeling.
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