Life | 3/12/08

Media Credit: Kris Marsh [Click to enlarge]

If you can't make it across the pond to kiss the Blarney Stone or to drink a pint of Guinness in a real Irish Pub this St. Patrick's Day, there's a very close runner up just down the road. An Poitin Stil, located at 2323 York Road, not only serves the Irish brew (along with several others) but also a variety of Irish dishes in an authentic pub setting complete with dark wood paneled walls and shelves lined with various knick-knacks and photos from the Motherland.

To get the full experience I decided to stick with the Irish fare and ordered the shepherd's pie with, what else, a glass of Guinness. Having previously eaten the same dish in the United Kingdom, I expected a questionable pie filling (it's traditionally minced meat, made up of the 'leftover' lamb and beef...I'll leave what makes up 'leftover' meat to your imagination).

To my delight, all parts of this pie were identifiable. Carrots, peas, onions and gravy, baked with a layer of mashed potatoes on top, surrounded thick, flavorful sirloin tips. The dish was not bland at all, and almost a bit on the salty side.

I topped it off with a plate of The Still's bread pudding in bourbon sauce. The dessert, a blend of bread and cream mixed with spices baked with raisins and nuts on top, was very heavy and denser than other bread puddings I've had, but it was still good.

Overall my meal was satisfying, though a bit pricey with the pie coming in at about $13, the dessert at about $5 and the draft a little under $6.

Other Irish dishes on the menu include fish and chips, Irish stew, bangers and mash (Irish sausage and mashed potatoes), and corned beef and cabbage. If those don't strike your fancy there are plenty of American and regular bar food dishes on the menu as well.

Their bar is fully stocked with Irish beers and whiskeys, which are great for the restaurant's happy hour.

If you are looking for a place to spend St. Patrick's Day, The Still will certainly be accommodating. There will be a four-day St. Patrick's Day Festival leading up to Monday, March 17.

The restaurant is offering a specially-priced menu as well as drink specials, including $3 Guinness, and Harp & Smithwick's pints on Monday from 11 a.m. to noon, increasing a dollar each hour until 2 p.m. when pints are $5 each.

But I think you'd have to either be a serious drinker or really love the Irish to stand up to that test.

Overall, An Poitin Stil is a good place to visit if you're looking to experience Ireland minus the rain, cold and six-hour flight.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools