Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day (but late for the parades and most people’s plans for a pub crawl) is my updated Lincoln Park Irish Pub map.
It takes much more than an Irish name and a neon Budweiser shamrock in the window to be an Irish Pub. By my definition a real Irish pub must have real Irish people in it – on either side of the bar. And by their definition that means real Irish – not Americans with Irish names. Some other requirements are: a two pour Guinness, Harp, John Power’s and Tullamore Dew, Tayto’s or Crunchies for sale behind the bar and a minimal amount or absence of TV’s. Extra points for a fireplace, live Irish music and Irish food.
It’s a minor update but I added two new places Mystic Celt and Galway Arms. Also I added 2 bars to the list of pubs outside the boundary of my map – The Pepper Canister and Poag Mahone’s. The Pepper Canister, one of my new favorite places has decent food, and a church like setting complete with votive candles and a ‘confessional’ in back. The name is taken from the nickname of Dublin’s St. Stephen’s church. Perfect for the pub-goer who drinks religiously. Poag Mahone’s is a cute pun on the irish “kiss my ass”. I haven’t been able to do any ‘research’ in it yet.
Here’s a review of Poag’s and Galway Arms. As usual Metromix has a slew of articles on St. Patty’s day stuff.