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Legendary Worcester restaurant O'Connor's halts public dining

  • Posted by Dining Out April 26, 2025 - Filed in Food & Dining - #Worcester  #OConnors Restaurant and Bar  - 25,078 views


    The parking lot at O'Connor's Restaurant and Bar at 7:30 Friday night.

    WORCESTER — Legendary Worcester restaurant O'Connor's Restaurant and Bar announced on Friday that it would cease public dining to temporarily accommodate only large parties due to ongoing staffing shortages.

    In a social media statement, the popular dining spot said it is shifting focus to group gatherings, celebrations, and special events to ensure guests receive the "top-notch experience" they've come to expect.

    "We’re a bit short on hands," the restaurant said, emphasizing the decision was made to maintain high service standards. "We’ll keep you posted when things change."

    At 7:30 Friday night, the extensive parking lot was empty, and a sign on the door read, "CLOSED FOR PRIVATE PARTY."

    The restaurant, known locally for its Irish-American fare, has been under new ownership since July 2022, when restaurateurs Dennis and Jennifer Maxwell and their son Kyle took over from longtime owners Brendan and Claire O’Connor. The O'Connors opened their establishment in 1989, a year after emigrating from Limerick, Ireland.

    In a post on its Facebook page early Saturday morning, the restaurant wrote, "We are NOT closing indefinitely, it is all speculation. As we posted yesterday we are closed due to being short staffed and that is the only reason.

    "We are accommodating large parties that were already booked to keep our word true," the Saturday post continued. "We want to be fully staffed with employees that are properly trained to handle the volume we do here. Buisness (sic) has been great and everything has been going really well, the staff we do have is one big hard working family. Times are tough in this industry and very different than in the past."

    Customers and patrons are encouraged to follow the restaurant's social media for further updates.

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