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IRISH
biddy mcgraw's
Gaze behind the newly extended bar at this bustling Irish pub and you'll see a rare and wonderful sight--four nitro-mix taps devoted exclusively to Guinness. It's poured the way it should be, smooth and creamy, and it keeps the regulars coming back every night. Not that Guinness is the only reason to stop in at Biddy McGraw's. The pub offers a copious choice of draught beer, ale and cider, with regional microbrews from Widmer, Hair of the Dog, MacTarnahan's, Full Sail, Deschutes and Seattle's Pike Brewing--adding a touch of humor with the Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale--and UK/Irish imports such as Strongbow and Harp. Decorated in street signs and political banners, Biddy's augments its decidedly Irish theme by hosting nightly jam sessions--musicians jamming on guitars, fiddles, penny whistles and squeezeboxes. With such an authentic atmosphere and prodigious selection, it's no wonder that the Hawthorne pub pours more Guinness than any other in the Pacific Northwest. (RM) 3518 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-1178. Open daily.
23 taps. dublin pub
There's an entire wall covered with spigots--105 in all--and you'll want to try every one. After settling down with a classic pint of Beamish Stout, sample a tray of fairly obscure ales (obscure on tap, at least): Hair of the Dog's Ed, which fizzes where other IPAs fizzle; Pacific City Tsunami, a rich, earthy stout; Mad River's Jamaica Red, a sweet, Smarties-flavored beer; and the candy-with-carbonation Rogue-N-Berry. As your buzz builds, try reading the Celtic aphorisms hanging on the walls and theorize about why an Irish pub would have pool tables with red felt. No matter, this place has everything you'd ever need right there on that magnificent wall. (JG) Dublin Pub, 6821 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, 297-2889. Closed Sundays. 105 taps. duffy's irish pub
From the riot of flowers and overgrown plantings in the beer garden to its grand architecture, this St. Johns spot has something for everyone. Built in 1905 as part of the Lewis and Clark exhibition, the building was later disassembled, floated across the Willamette and reconstructed on Ivanhoe Street. Until they turn on the outdoor barbecue in the summer, you won't get more than chips and dip to eat (not that the absence of Irish cuisine is a tragedy) but you can fill up on stout and barley wine. Any bar owner who wants to know how to create atmosphere could take a lesson here. No two items match, and they've all been heavily used. Live music plays a major role at Duffy's. Open-mike night is actually three nights--Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and there's a bluegrass jam every Wednesday. Adjacent to the main bar area is a wonderful old hall where regular concerts take place. (NJ) 8203 N Ivanhoe St., 285-0615. Open daily. 11 taps. the irish bank
It's odd how new restaurants and bars quickly become claimed by a group of people with more in common than hairstyles and 9-to-5 jobs. Like recent newcomers Paragon and Oba, the Irish Bank has succeeded in attracting loyalists despite competition from similar establishments mere blocks away. The Irish Bank is buzzing during lunch, happy hour and dinner, not only because of its prime, close-to-work location, but also because it presents a radically different atmosphere than its Celtic brother Kells. Though the Bank is wood-paneled and chock-full of Guinness, it doesn't hawk sweatshirts and isn't bending over backwards to sell Irish. Instead it has a sort of refined hayloft congeniality and serves some tasty dishes that beg to be washed down with another pint. Extremely popular in the green homeland, curry makes its way onto the menu in a Thai chicken dish and infused in an Indian stir-fry of carrots, squash and penne pasta. Both go well with lighter beers like Pilsner Urquell and Zig Zag Lager; save Newcastleor chunky beer-battered fish and chips. For crisp, summery satisfaction, sip on a Strongbow cider, perhaps paired with a warm chevre salad; block out the American chatter and pretend you're on vacation. (CM) 206 SW Stark St., 464-1122. Open daily. 14 taps. kells
The first thing you notice about Kells is the noise level, and it's not just the music. Every thirsty individual seems ready to kiss the Blarney Stone--or do anything else that will get plenty of attention. Among small tables and booths, a long banquet opposite the bar offers a perfect view of Kells' wall of liquor, complete with Irish flags. Besides great beer (including six microbrews), Kells offers more than 100 single-malt scotches and a cigar room. The pub menu borders on fine dining. Try the shepherd's pie, with meat marinated in Guinness. For a lighter meal, bangers with a side of Irish soda bread does the trick. You'll probably have to shout, repeat everything you say and move closer to your drinking buddy, but this allows for quick intimacy and round buying. (IR) 112 SW 2nd Ave., 227-4057. Open daily. 14 taps. paddy's bar and grill
Dim lighting and slow-moving ceiling fans give this pub the unhurried feel of Ireland. Candlelight from every table reflects attractively off tall booths of dark wood. The food isn't authentic, but the potent Kilt Lifter (from a nitrogen tap) offers a taste of Ireland (of course, there's also Guinness). Kilt Lifter is a heavy malt with a fruity flavor, surprisingly full-bodied. Along with good beer, Paddy's has Oregon's largest liquor selection. Every single-malt scotch available on the West Coast is displayed on the wall of liquor, which is necessarily equipped with a long sliding ladder. From 4 to 7 pm, join in the Afternoon Club and enjoy Northwest microbrews for $2.25, along with cheap appetizers. (IR) 65 SW Yamhill St., 224-5626. Open daily. 10 taps. |
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