As most of you know, I live in a very small, rural town, and it’s not as though people expect to go through our historic streets with the one traffic light and come across an Irish pub, let alone an authentic one. Believe it or not, though, we do have one…well, technically speaking anyway. In reality, what we have is a posh bar, with a fancy sign. You’d think the owners would at least try to make it a legitimate Irish pub, but there, you would be wrong. Oh sure, the menu is covered in clovers and Celtic knots and has elaborate dishes with the words ‘Irish’ and ‘Dublin’ liberally strewn about, but that doesn’t make it a decent Irish pub. Although I have yet to make my heart’s desire journey to Ireland, one thing I do know is pub food. As a matter of fact, there is a quintessential Irish pub about an hour away, so I do have that oasis…but still, it’s quite the hike for fish and chips, no matter how good it may be. And trust me, it’s amazing.
So when this new joint first opened, I had high hopes of ditching the long commute in my quest for bangers and mash, and the aforementioned fish and chips. But alas, those hopes were dashed like a bottle of Guinness caught in a wave against the Cliffs of Moher. My main gripe with this place is its hours and upscale, hipster vibe. It gives every impression of being an upper crust establishment, with upper crust prices for extravagant dishes you’d never see in Ireland, let alone any self-respecting pub. Calling a brie-cheeseburger covered in crab imperial (a Maryland specialty by the way) a Dublin Burger does not a Dublin Burger make. I won’t even get into the portions that look like they’re meant for an elf, and a smallish elf at that. As for the hours – now I know my town rolls up its streets at dusk, but still…no self-respecting Irish pub closes before 10 PM on any given day. I mean hell, that’s when all the best drinking starts. I can’t be the only one who thinks that, right? Right!?
But their ploy is working, this bar was actually voted ‘Best Irish Pub’ in the area. Although given what else is in the area with regards to food and entertainment, maybe that’s not so hard to believe after all.
Musings from a Tangled Mind 
Well, based on their Milarkey Menu, they could always call the place the Blarney Bar . 😀
That would be an excellent name for a bar, period!
Hahahahaha– you’re so right !
In my experience, it’s very hard to find an authentic Irish pub outside of Ireland. I found a few in New York, but far more clichéd ones. But with the proliferation of hipsters and overpriced food served in shoes and jam jars in Ireland, it probably won’t be too long before that bar is actually a fairly genuine Irish pub!
One day, I will experience a true Irish pub somewhere in the countryside of Ireland. 😀 I’m determined to make it there. But food in shoes? No thanks!
Agreed: food should only be served on plates. Well, except for soup.
Most definitely! Although it might be interesting to see soup served on plates — if for no other reason than the entertainment factor.
Why? …oh, WHY? ….
…are retailers catering to the desires of the overprivileged well-to-do types?
What about the rest of us? How come we never matter?
Right??