Tucked away in the back of Old Town Orcutt, in the middle of what was once pretty much nothing, rests Rooney’s Irish Pub.
Rooney’s opened in the summer of 2010, mixing the Emerald Isle with Costal California. It’s no wonder they have grown to be one of the most widely recognized names in brewing and dining in the Santa Maria Valley.
The gastro pub, classified by its Irish cuisine with a fresh California twist, is the only Irish brewpub in the United States according to Jeremiah Higgins of HJL Restaurant Advisors. On site, the pub brews four constant beers: Blonde Ale, Amber Ale, Porter and IPA, as well as two seasonal beers that change throughout the year.
Four years ago Rooney’s opened its door to instant success, and was overflowing from the get-go.
“We didn’t have a big enough restaurant for the first two years,” said Jake Rooney, owner and bar manager.
Recently, Rooney’s announced it’s going educational via beer classes and e-commercial with online food ordering.
Starting Sept. 27, Rooney’s will be offering a food and beer pairing class every Saturday. “Beer 101”—as they call it—will teach all the basics of beer production, from grinding the grain to the finished product.
Jake said that this class isn’t that new of a concept, as the restaurant has held beer and food pairing meals before. But now, it’s something that Rooney’s really wants to highlight. By making brewing and pairing a regular Saturday activity, they want to help the Orcutt Union Plaza area become a destination, where people can come and spend a couple of hours or the whole day.
“We don’t look at [Pasión or Uliveto] as competition,” he says. “Everyone offers something different.”
The cost for the one-hour class hasn’t been finalized, but Jake and General Manager Ashlyn Rooney said they’re looking at around $35 for the walk through, the sampling, and the food pairing.
Love Rooney’s food, but don’t have the time to sit down and soak up the pub scene? They’ve got you covered. On Sept. 24, Rooney’s started taking Internet orders that will be ready in eight to 10 minutes and can be brought out for curbside delivery.
Don’t worry regulars: Jake said the new system should actually improve the atmosphere, especially on the weekends.
“The phone rings like 40 times on a Saturday night for orders,” Jake said. The new Internet-based system will send orders directly into the kitchen without all the phone hassle.
With the new service also comes a new menu. It’s a streamlined, fresh look at the fare that Rooney’s does so well. And, all the items on the menu will be priced between $6 and $8.
While there’s something to be said for doing one thing and doing it really well, Rooney’s is not concerned about stretching itself too thin because the staff is prepared for the changes.
“We’ve done a lot of work behind the scenes,” Ashlyn said.
Staff Writer Michael McCone wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 2, 2014.