Downstairs at O'Malley's in Weston

O'Malley's Pub and Brewery in Weston begins with a descent. From above ground, the building gives little warning of the connected underground rooms below: a series of cellar-like spaces reached by stairs, with bars, dining areas and corners that seem to reveal themselves a level at a time.

The setting has the character of an old cellar, icehouse or storage space, and that history is not merely background decoration. It shapes the whole visit. You can come down for a cream ale and stay because another stairway, another room or a burst of music makes you curious about what is around the next turn.

This is a place for dinner, certainly, but it also suits a less structured stop: a beer at the bar, a pretzel for the table and time to wander through a pub that is much larger and stranger below ground than it appears from the street.

O'Malley's and its brewery can be approached through different entrances, giving the destination a slightly split personality before the underground spaces connect it all. One route may feel more restaurant-oriented, another more like heading straight for a drink.

Once inside, the stairways are a major feature of the experience. They lead downward through multiple levels rather than simply delivering guests to one basement dining room. The changing elevations add a little exploratory pleasure to an ordinary meal out.

The underground layout does mean stairs are part of the visit. The venue should not be thought of as one broad, step-free room; the levels are central to its character.

The décor and lighting are deliberately far from a standard sports-bar formula. In some dining areas, there is little or no overhead lighting, creating a dark old-world mood that can take a moment to adjust to when arriving from daylight.

That low-lit approach works especially well with the former-cellar setting. Rather than trying to make every corner bright and polished, O'Malley's lets the underground architecture keep its mystery.

One bar area looks into the cavern-like surroundings, making the room itself a reason to linger over a drink. The spaces can suit a couple settling into dinner, a group claiming a table, or someone taking a seat at the bar to see how the place unfolds.

O'Malley's operates as both a pub and a brewery, so house-brewed beer is a natural starting point. Craft selections and the cream ale are notable choices for a visit that begins with a drink rather than a full meal.

A house beer has a particular advantage here: it gives the historic underground surroundings a present-day purpose. The old storage-space atmosphere is not staged as a museum piece; people are gathering below ground to eat, talk and order another round.

The pub works well for drinks alone, though the food menu gives a table plenty to work with if the stop turns into dinner.

The food runs through traditional Irish dishes and broader pub fare, with Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, fish and chips, corned beef dishes and sandwiches among the choices. It is a menu built for a beer, but not confined to snacks.

The Scotch egg is one of the more distinctive starters: a boiled egg wrapped in sausage, breaded and fried. It is a substantial little project for the kitchen and a much more interesting opening move than the usual fried appetizer sampler.

Then there is the oversized soft pretzel, served with dipping cheese. It has been described as larger than its plate and roughly head-sized, which makes it an easy item to put in the middle of the table and let everyone tear into.

Corned beef appears in more than one form. The O'Malley sandwich uses deli-sliced corned beef and comes with fresh, sweet slaw, while corned beef egg rolls take the same familiar flavor in a more playful direction.

Seating extends beyond one underground dining room. There are indoor tables, bar and counter seats, private dining space, plus an outdoor patio or terrace when an above-ground table sounds better.

In at least one downstairs dining area, food can be ordered by QR code at the table, with dishes brought over from the neighboring American Bowman Restaurant. Chicken salad is among the items that may be available through that arrangement.

The connection between the two venues gives the destination an unusual flexibility, though food-ordering details can differ by area. The basic appeal remains straightforward: settle into the setting that suits the moment, then let the meal find its way to the table.

Live music is a recurring feature at O'Malley's, and the underground rooms give it a more intimate setting than a conventional stage at the far end of a dining room. Traditional Irish jigs may share an evening with acoustic contemporary songs, sometimes in different rooms.

The most spirited Irish sets can become interactive, with call-and-response between musicians and the crowd and, on occasion, invitations for guests to sing. It is not a promise for every night, but it explains why a quick drink can stretch into a longer stay.

Sound levels naturally shift with the music and the crowd. At quieter times, conversation can be easy; during a performance, the room may be more about listening, joining in and enjoying the small-town pub energy.

O'Malley's has room for more than date-night tables. Its connected spaces have accommodated large parties as well as smaller groups, and the mix of dining, bar seating and outdoor tables keeps the visit from feeling one-note.

Free parking has been available in a lot, with free street parking also mentioned around the area. Once you are there, the surprise is how much of the destination lies below the surface.

Staff and bartenders may share background on the building and its underground spaces, a useful bit of context when you are standing in a room that plainly has a story before the first pint arrives.