You don’t have to be Irish to appreciate good Irish food, and you don’t have to travel far to find it. Drink specials, family events, live music—whatever your dining flavor this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Dallas has it.
Bar Louie (The Shops at Park Lane)
Take a seat, sip a pint, and “shamrock it out” with live music at this friendly, eclectic lounge. Bar Louie will be open from 11 a.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday and will offer Irish food, $4 green beers, and $6 Jamesons all day.
Blackfriar Pub
The first of the McKinney Ave Irish pub trifecta, Blackfriar opens at 2 p.m. Friday. Catch Whiskey Folk Ramblers and a Tom Petty tribute band live on the porch while you eat your corned beef and cabbage; fish and chips; and Irish Reubens. Wash it all down with Irish whiskey and beer.
Capitol Pub
Get all the Irish grub—corned beef and cabbage; Shepherd’s pie; Guinness beef stew; and fish and chips—from 11 a.m. Friday until they sell out. Don’t miss Seamus Stout performing live at 1 p.m. and the Lone Star Bottle Band at 6 p.m. (no cover).
The Dallas Farmers Market
The whole family will love this free, lively festival, running from 5-11 p.m. Friday. Highlights: several food and drink vendors, live music (including the Metroplex United Pipe Band), and games.
The Dubliner
Pop in between 9 a.m. Friday and noon Saturday for traditional Irish food and live entertainment (Irish musicians Behan at 1 p.m., Irish dancers at 2 p.m., Seamus Stout at 4 p.m., and the Mumbles at 9 p.m.).
The Ginger Man
The Irish beer garden and pub serves more than 100 specialty beers and will offer their usual Happy Hour special ($1 off most drafts between 4-6 p.m.). Stick around for a free live show from Mr. Blue Sky and shoot some darts.
The Heights
Lakewood’s coziest hole in the wall is adding corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew to their homestyle menu just for St. Paddy’s. Guinness and Jameson specials make the usual Happy Hour drink specials (5-7 p.m.) even sweeter. Opens at 4 p.m. Friday.
Idle Rich Pub
The homey bar boasts a great menu (corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s pie, Irish Reubens, and bread pudding, served from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) with a lineup to match (Celtic rock band Rathmore live at 4:30 p.m., Irish dancers and bagpiper at 5:30 p.m., a U2 tribute band at 6, and The O’s at 7 p.m.).
The Irishman
No longer staggering after a tasteful re-brand and remodel, the Irishman pub will be hosting live music all day. St. Paddy’s drink specials include $5 Guinness, $5 Irish Car Bombs, $4 Jameson, $3.50 Tullamore, and $3 domestic beer bottles; food specials include Irish nachos, Kobe beef sliders, wings, Shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and fish and chips. Feeling lucky? Take a shot at winning the raffle or giveaways.
The Londoner in Rockwall
The free, family-friendly celebration kicks off Friday at 4 p.m. with whiskey sampling, a host of local breweries, Guinness glass engraving, and local musician Joseph Veazie. The special menu features Irish classics like corned beef pie, smoked corned beef Reuben, and smoked corned beef and cabbage. The party continues Saturday at 10 a.m. with grilled bratwurst, adoptable pups from the Rockwall Animal Shelter, live music from Marisela, and a leprechaun.
The Old Monk
Check out The Old Monk’s Irish beer and whiskey and delicious Irish food (corned beef & cabbage, beef stew, Irish Reubens, and bread pudding) served from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Catch Homespun Remedies live at 4 p.m., Irish dancers at 6:30 p.m., and Whiskey Folk Ramblers at 8:30 p.m.
Renfield’s Corner
Cross your fingers for patio weather to savor your St. Paddy’s drinks—margarita and beerita specials and extremely green apple-melon punch—on Renfield’s rooftop deck. Open Friday at 4 p.m. to Saturday at 2 a.m.; Happy Hour is from 4-7 p.m..
Richardson Food Truck Park
The perfect kid-friendly, pet-friendly gathering place, the food truck park will be open from 6-10:30 p.m. Friday, with live music from Sam & Olivia and local cover band Accidental Ensemble starting at 6:30 p.m. The Eggstand, Flaming Grill Barbecue, and Soul Bowl trucks are scheduled to appear. Event is weather permitting.
Trinity Hall Irish Pub
Trinity Hall is serving their most popular items from a limited menu and will offer draft beers and a full bar (no bottles or cans). Local musicians will be playing all day inside and on the patio (Jigsaw Trad Irish at 10 a.m., Bofum Duo and Jeff Phillips at 2 p.m., the Irish Rogues at 5 p.m., and Seamus Stout at 10 p.m.).
Ginni Beam is a DMagazine.com intern.
