15 March 16-22, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Essential Irish Pubs of Dallas To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve gathered all the great Irish-inspired fare in North Texas. BY ANGIE QUEBEDEAUX AND LAUREN DREWES DANIELS T he Irish have observed March 17 as a religious holiday for cen- turies. The first recorded cele- bration in America was in 1600. Over the next four centuries, we’ve learned the particular satisfaction of sipping a dark beer in a dim Irish pub. Pa- rades, green eyeshadow and dyeing entire rivers green are all just incidental to the charm of a proper Irish pub. Following is a roundup of great Irish pubs around North Texas with proper pints and great traditional dishes. Blackfriar Pub 2621 McKinney Ave. (Uptown) Blackfriar Pub is a popular spot every day of the year, and when the weather is nice, the large, dog-friendly patio is bustling. Inside, dark wood and warm lights give it a proper pub atmosphere. Try the corned beef pou- tine (yeah, you read that right) made with house-made corned beef, white cheddar and Guinness gravy over steak fries. The cheese boards are stellar too. Pub chicken curry and fish and chips are also standard hits here. And if you go for brunch, you can get a proper Irish breakfast. Cannon’s Corner Irish Pub 1314 W. Davis St. (Oak Cliff) Cannon’s Corner is tucked away on Davis Street and might be easy to miss when pass- ing along the busy road. But pass by you should not, especially when the weather is nice and big windows open up to the patio. This is one of three spots in Dallas owned and operated by Dublin-native Alan Kear- ney. You can get many traditional dishes here, including duck wings and fish and chips. And while the Monte Cristo sandwich might remind you of Bennigan’s, try the real thing here. The Crafty Irishman Public House 1800 Main St. (Downtown Dallas) Inside the historical Mercantile Building in downtown Dallas, The Crafty Irishman Public House is also owned and operated by Alan Kearney, so every detail is rooted in Irish tradition. During happy hour, week- days 3–7 p.m., look for $6 drunken mussels, corned beef cabbage rolls, Irish nachos and a warm pretzel — all for $6 each. The Dubliner 2818 Greenville Ave. The Dubliner on Lower Greenville is an in- stitution. It’s the local dive bar version of Irish pubs. The taps are full of the standard Irish hits — Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s and Newcastle — plus a good whiskey selec- tion. They have cheese boards and shep- herd’s pie here, but also pizza. Get a black and tan (Smithwick’s and Guinness) or a Snakebite with one part Magner’s Cider and one part Harp. Harwood Arms 2850 N. Harwood St. (Uptown) Harwood Arms is one of several concepts on La Rue Perdue, a cobblestone alleyway at the base of the Harwood No.10 office tower. Elephant East and Poco Fiasco are nearby. A circular bar in the middle of Harwood Arms makes it a great place to watch a game and sip a fine whiskey or Guinness. The Reuben fries are a great choice for starters; shoe- string fries are tipped with corned beef, Swiss cheese sauce, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and caraway spices. The most Irish thing in this city might be the Sunday roast supper here; starting at 4 p.m. you get a slab of tender and juicy roast served with vegetables, roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and traditional gravy. But be sure to leave enough room for the whis- key toffee cake, which is served with Jame- son anglaise, candied hazelnuts and vanilla whip. Lochland’s 8518 Plano Road (Northeast Dallas) Lochland’s is a sister spot to the Dubliner and is owned by an Irishman and his wife (originally from Dallas). This Lake High- lands spot has a large outdoor beer garden, picnic tables, string lights and heaters for chilly Dallas nights. The menu has several American dishes along with traditional fare of the Emerald Isle such as corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. Definitely get the sticky toffee pudding and an Irish coffee. The Old Monk 2847 N. Henderson Ave. (Knox/Henderson) The Old Monk has been a staple in Dallas for more than two decades. The popular spot is unpretentious while bougie at the same time; there’s something for everyone and then some. While brunch here is an entire scene, there’s stellar standard Irish fare too like the Guinness beef stew, perfect for cold days. If you feel like a stroll, head east to- ward one of its two sister bars just down the road, Spider Murphy’s or The Skellig. The Playwright Irish Pub 1722 Routh St. The Playwright Irish Pub is a bit more re- fined (for the art), with chandeliers over- head and beautiful woodwork throughout the space. A large patio looks over the Arts District. For traditional fare get the Scotch eggs encased in a sausage and rolled in panko crumbs, or the Gaelic mac and cheese with three cheese, bangers and bacon topped with Guinness Stout. And while not authentic at all, the Irish nachos with a mix of ground beef and lamb with pico and a cheese sauce are amazing. ▼ FIRST LOOK THE THIRD IS CHARMING AT BISTRO, AKA AU TROISIEME, SERVES A GLOBAL MENU WITH HAWAIIAN, CAJUN, FRENCH AND AMERICAN DISHES. BY ANGIE QUEBEDEAUX A u Troisieme opened last summer as a neighborhood bistro in the heart of University Park (Preston Center). The concept is new American cuisine with a global influence — actually not French. There are a few French dishes on the menu (like fish Provencal), but then there’s also a kimchi Reuben. Au troisieme is French for “the third place.” The term has special meaning for the owners, Bobby Pollette and Jeff Acol, whose paths first crossed in Hawaii and many more times throughout the years. During a conversation, Acol pointed out that people spend most of their time either at home or at the office, and he hoped that this restaurant would become the go-to “third place.” Hence, Au Alison McLean Harwood Arms is celebrating St. Paddy’s by taking over the block with a party. | CITY OF ATE | ▼ Dish >> p16
