Oakmont Offers Twist on Traditional Pub
The Oakmont National Pub serves up craft beer and innovative food along with traditional pub favorites.
Brendan Goggin, 42, owner of the Oakmont National Pub in Havertown, has an uncanny ability to make the old and familiar into something entirely new.
After all, how many pubs feature a classically trained chief in the kitchen, or an outdoor beer garden complete with heated floors?
It is this passion for innovation that sets The Oakmont National apart from the usual pub, though it wasn’t always clear that it would work out.
“When we first moved in here, people looked at you like you had 16 heads if you didn’t have Bud or Michelob on tap,” he said.
That was 13 years ago, when Goggin purchased the bar, then known as The Iron Gate, with his brothers Peter and Garret.
Back then, The Iron Gate was “more of a shot and beer kind of place,” according to Goggin, who rechristened the pub as The Oakmont National and now serves as its primary owner.
In the years since, people have come to love The Oakmont National for its wide variety of seasonal, craft beers, as well as its unique take on traditional pub food.
“When people come in here now, you can see their eyes rotate towards the taps to see what’s new," he said."
According to Goggin, Oakmont National was on the forefront of the “gastro-pub revolution” on the east coast, which saw the rise of bars dedicated to craft beer and daring new takes on typical pub fare.
It’s hardly surprising, considering that Goggin spent two years working in a microbrewery in California (where craft brewing first began to emerge) before creating The Oakmont National.
Even now, Goggin remains a part of the craft-brewing scene. His bar has participated in Philly Beer Week for years, and he frequently invites local brewers to his pub for tastings and special events.
The bar itself is located in a building that dates back to the 1920’s, and was originally constructed as a bank. Goggin has embraced that image, incorporating the building’s original architecture and purpose into his pub.
“The building has been a little gem,” he said. “A lot of the beauty of the original building had been covered up by the previous owners, so we didn’t even know it was there when we bought it.”
Now, the high, vaulted ceilings and massive bay window that had been obscured during the building’s life as The Iron Gate are displayed proudly.
And Goggin doesn’t limit his drive to bring out the beauty of Havertown to his pub.
He currently serves as president of The Haverford Partnership for Economic Development, where he strives to make the town a better place to live and work by beautifying business districts.
Goggin is a local. He lives “a couple of blocks” from his pub, and says that his engagement with the community is his biggest advantage as a business owner.
“We’re not a big corporate place,” he said. “When people come in, I know them, and they know me. I’m really fortunate to be embedded in a great local community.”
mlt
9:09 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Awful place.....menu never changes and service is horrible....
Suze1011
12:47 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I really hate leaving negative comments..esp when it's a neighborhood place..and I do know some people who really like it..BUT...we've tried it 2x...the 1st time for dinner inside..the service was dreadful and food only passable...we tried it again for lunch..it was a rainy cool day..and we were sent outside to eat..I asked if we could eat inside and we were told no....Again the service was so bad..I waited & waited for my food shivering..and again.the food was passable..but not worth the wait...As we waited we became fixated on the table of 10 from a nearby business..the food came out to this group slowly 1 by 1...there were mistakes with the order..and the 1st couple served were finished by the time the last was served...
I so wish I could recommend the Oakmont..I wish it was a place we could go...I think we've given them a chance but with the poor service and just fair food... they failed....sorry...
Michael Maloney
1:31 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
My family and I love the Oakmont Pub!
Melanie Villwock
2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I don't know what restaurant some of you are talking about; my family and I have been regulars at the Oakmont for a long time now, and we've never been disappointed! The service is great, the food is phenomenal, and the specials are always new and exciting!
Stacy Ryan
9:06 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
I have a family of 8 and we all have had great food & awesome times at the Oakmont. My husband & I also enjoy the variety of beers that are kept on tap and are always fresh. We have been there many times for lunch & dinner & have never had a problem with the service.
Ann M
3:20 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
I really want to like the Oakmont, too, as it's a great location and I like to see local places do well, and I like being able to walk to a good bar. We've eaten there as a family a few times. The food seems like an afterthought. The pasta/sausage entree I had the last time we were there was mushy and tasted like it had been cooked three days before and then heated up in the microwave. Nobody else's entree tasted fresh. They do have some great beer there, but depending on your server if you're seated in the outdoor area you might not ever find out. We asked what beers were on tap, and the waitress didn't know other than the usual bud/coors/bland-variety beers. She said she'd go look and never came back to take the beer order. My husband had to get up and go inside to look at the taps to realize they had Three Philosophers on tap. When she came back to check on how things were going, she looked puzzled when he asked for one. If you're going to be a beer destination, your servers had better know what's on tap or had better check and then follow up with you. I will say that I have friends who really like the Oakmont's cheesesteaks. I have not eaten a cheesesteak there. If I go back, maybe I will try one, but I won't get any other entrees. To be honest, though, for a really great beer/food experience, my favorite place is Teresa's Next Door in Wayne. For a less pricey option Iron Hill in Media is fantastic for beer and food. I'd rather go to one of these than back to Oakmont.
Foley5
6:54 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
I find it interesting that people that say they hate to leave negative comments or that they do not want to trash a popular neighborhood place but then just go and do exactly that. The Oakmont was just featured in this article for the contribution and success they have had as a small business here in Havertown.
I think they deserve to enjoy the write up and should be appreciated for being successful in a very difficult market. You don’t have to like them and I’m sure they have not satisfied all the people that have gone through their doors over the years. However; their presence and contribution to the local landscape is unquestioned.
If your desire is to go negative then write it on Yelp or better yet take it up with their management or ownership. It strikes me as a bit classless and vindictive to attempt to sway people from not appreciating their success because of your experience.
For my part, I have had many great experiences at the Oakmont and some not so great. However; their commitment and contribution to the local landscape is what I appreciate. You need not look any farther then the way they have developed and maintain their property. Good Article!
Ann M
9:26 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
I am happy that they have been successful. I would like them to be more successful. It is a great spot in that it's a beautiful building in a walk-to location in a thriving community. Their enthusiasm for serving quality craft beer deserves to be matched by some serious attention to improving the quality of their food and service. This Patch article is the perfect forum to address this while commending them for the good things they have done with the building and for the local beer scene. Yelp is a good forum, too. I'm writing here because I care enough to be honest and I know the owner is probably following the comments here more than he pays attention to Yelp. I would spend a lot more time and money in Oakmont if they served quality fresh food.
mlt
8:43 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
There is not a question of the good the owner has done for our community. The issue here is the quality of food and service. If you are a party of more than 4 you can expect a delay between the delivery of every ones meals. From the time the first person received their dinner there can be a 20 minute wait until the last person gets their dinner. As far as addressing management, they are not receptive to complaints. Last summer while having lunch on the terrace a mouse climbed up the wall and was staring at our food. We immediately got someone and they scared it away and it was only a few minutes until it reappeared. Managements response was well I guess we'll have to set more traps???? Yikes!!!! We asked for our check and quickly left our appetites were gone. This is constructive to help this establishment improve their restaurant side of the pub. This is not classless it is reality plain and simple.
Melanie Villwock
2:03 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
Actually, the question IS what good the owner and the establishment has done for the community. As it has been stated before, the topic of the article is about just that, not whether or not you had a good experience. I think we can conclude that people have had both amazing and not-so-great experiences at the pub, which is to be expected of any business. The point here is that they have made a great effort in contributing a service to the community, and they are now being recognized for that effort. I disagree whole-heartedly that this is the appropriate forum to debate experiences. These hard-working people deserve to celebrate their accomplishments without having their good name soiled on the very article that was meant to be a positive thing. I, for one, will always support and back the good name of the Oakmont National Pub. You guys rock!!
Ann M
11:56 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Great. Support them if you want. If they can't take constructive criticism in whatever public forum it arises and make positive changes, they are missing out on many local potential customers and in fact selling their own business short. As much as I enjoy a good beer, there's no excuse for serving frozen crinkle cut fries no better than a school cafeteria's and other premade tasteless food, so my dollars will go to one of the many other beer destinations in the area that provide quality fresh food and good service. Oakmont knows they can do better; if they choose not to, that's their problem.