Nobody knows how to have a good time like the Irish do. Between the leprechauns with pots of gold and famous brews like Guinness and Jameson, they’ve got a lot going for them. So this month, along with a good majority of the population, we’re giving a nod to all of the Plymouth-area establishments that have a little something Irish on their menus. Grab a hearty winter stout, and raise your glasses as we celebrate the luck ‘o the Irish this month.
REUBEN
Lucky’s 13 Pub
Plymouth’s own Irish pub—Lucky’s 13—should be a must-try on your list for St. Patrick’s Day. Offering a plethora of delicious Irish-inspired cuisine year round, we just can’t get enough of the reuben. Lucky’s chefs both roast and hand-carve juicy corned beef for this classic sandwich. It’s topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Lucky’s homemade Thousand Island dressing, then piled on pumpernickel bread before being grilled to perfection. Make sure to check Lucky’s website for more information about St. Patrick’s Day events and specials.
3000 Harbor Lane N.; 763.746.0071; luckys13pub.com
IRISH OATMEAL
Good Day Café
Known for its mouth-watering breakfast and brunch fare, the Good Day Café also gives a nod to the Emerald Isle with steel-cut oats. Commonly used in Scotland and Ireland to make porridge, steel-cut oats or Irish oats are whole-grain oats cut into pieces. Good Day Café serves a steaming bowl cooked to perfection, then topped with caramelized apple and brown sugar for a delightful start to any day ($5.95).
5410 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley; 763.544.0205; gooddaycafemn.com
FISH AND CHIPS
Jake’s City Grille
You can’t think Irish food without visions of fish and chips popping into your head. Lucky for Plymouthites, Jake’s City Grill cooks up a mean version of the classic St. Patty’s Day dish, which features big pieces of Icelandic cod dipped in a light beer batter and fried until crisp and flaky. Served with Jake’s fries, fresh coleslaw and tangy tartar sauce ($13.95), pair this one with a cold brew from Jake’s beer list.
3005 Harbor Lane N.; 763.559.1595; jakescitygrille.com
IRISH COFFEE
Grizzly’s Wood-fired Grill
In honor of this month’s holiday, Grizzly’s Wood-fired Grill is serving one delectable Irish coffee ($5.50)—the perfect nightcap to your dinner (or kickoff for a night of celebrating). This festive beverage features products from two local companies. The base is coffee from St. Louis Park-based Bull Run; “they have some of the best coffee you will find,” Grizzly’s assistant general manager Christine Gaudet says. The secret to this drink, though, is 2 Gingers Irish whiskey, which is made in Ireland, but owned by Minneapolis’s Kieran Folliard (owner of Cooper in St. Louis Park, Kieran’s in Minneapolis and The Liffey in St. Paul).
220 Carlson Pkwy. N.; 763.476.1011; grizzlysgrill.com
GUINNESS CUPCAKE
The Painted Turtle Chocolatier
An Irish lass herself, Pat Godfrey has a penchant for St. Patrick’s Day. “I’ve been to Darina Alan’s cooking school in Ireland,” the owner of Painted Turtle Chocolatier says. For a sweet complement to your St. Patrick’s Day festivities, we love the Guinness cupcakes ($2.25 each). These Irish-themed treats are made with an intense dark, moist chocolate cake, which is infused with Guinness, then topped with a white buttercream frosting that has another hint of the favorite Irish beer. And, of course, Godfrey makes a delectable four-pack of Irish-inspired truffles, which includes flavors like Jameson, Bailey’s, Guinness and crème de menthe shamrock ($10.95 for four).
10100 Sixth Ave. N.; 763.550.9475; paintedturtlechocolatier.com
CHICKEN AND PEPPER JACK BOXTY
Kip’s Irish Pub
Celebrate the luck o’ the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day, and nosh on a traditional Irish favorite—chicken and pepper jack boxty ($12). Meaning “poor-house bread,” in Irish, boxty is a traditional Irish potato dish. Kip’s version includes potato pancakes packed with chicken, melted pepper jack cheese and roasted red pepper aioli for a flavorful rendition of this Irish classic. Kip’s Pub also boasts a long list of Irish beers, like Guinness, Smithwick’s and Finnegans, as well as Irish whiskeys and scotches.
9970 Wayzata Blvd., St. Louis Park; 952.367.5070; kipspub.com
CORNED BEEF HASH
Original Pancake House
Between bountiful stacks of buttermilk pancakes and sizzling bacon straight from the griddle, Plymouth’s Original Pancake House cooks a mean version of corned beef hash fresh each day ($10.25). The chefs’ special recipe blends kosher corned beef, potatoes, onions and cream to perfection. Served with two basted farm-fresh eggs and buttermilk pancakes, this is a breakfast fit for Irish royalty. Be sure to order a glass of orange juice, which is fresh-squeezed daily ($2.95–$3.95).
1415 County Road 101; 952.475.9151; ophplymouth.com
IRISH SODA BREAD
Wuollet Bakery
Wuollet bakes two distinct kids of Irish soda bread—standard and rustic. The standard bread is a soda-raised, slightly sweet quick bread with raisins; it’s baked in a round pan, then topped with coarse sugar. “It tastes great with a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned beef and cabbage, or as a breakfast bread lightly toasted with butter,” manager Aaron Wuollet says. The rustic Irish soda bread is made with whole-wheat flour, which gives the loaf a denser texture. Baked in a square shape, the rustic bread better complements savory dishes, but is also delicious when toasted or served plain with butter. Both breads can be ordered year-round for $7.25.
771 East Lake St., Wayzata; 952.473.8621.
