James Joyce Irish Pub

Nice Front Porch. A very nice place to have a drink and be seen in Durham. Trends are set here and changed again. If you go next door you may not be able to get a drink at the Fed, where you may find the atmosphere dark, and in a way that may blow your mind. If you see Mr. Bland at the Joyce be sure to pass him a smile, yet the last time I visited he appeared to be showing as invisible. Don't let the ever changing crowd get you down, and don't stand on the table outside or you may get bounced.…

Good food, good service. Compares well to pubs in Ireland. We had dinner (Irish stew, fish & chips) and found it surprisingly good for a pub. Our waitress was pleasant, prompt and helpful. Now that bars are nonsmoking we'll be eating and drinking there regularly.…

Bad Service. I don't recommend this place for dinner. Our service was very slow! My date mis-calculated the tip (he meant to put more) and the waitress came back and asked for more money!! She was very rude and not a very good waitress to begin with. If you are going to the James Joyce, eat dinner beforehand!…

An honest-to-goodness Irish pub, without any pretense.. In Short
A small, well-worn bar is surrounded by cozy tables in this dimly lit retreat. The crowd offers a mix of grad-student types and older patrons, and the decor is nostalgic without feeling cheesy. Live music, Gaelic football league and rugby action on the tube attract a crowd of regulars, as does the solid selection of stouts and brews on tap. The menu is heavy on pub fare, including a hearty, true-to-form shepherd's pie.…