Alright, I know we don’t usually write about our eats at pubs but I have a reason for writing about the Irish Harp Pub in Niagara on the Lake. It was a fabulous experience with young kids. Pure and simple. We often end up trying to figure out where to hang out in the area and we found this piece of Ireland (complete with Craic!!) in Ontario’s Wine Country and simply had to share!
We had a large group of 8 adults and 2 kids on a Saturday evening, so we called ahead and was informed that they would put our name on the list and that the wait would be about an hour. I was surprised when they told us to make our way down around in an hour’s time. How’s that for service? We arrived and our table was waiting for us and the atmosphere was buzzing with many families and couples gathering over pints and dishes on that Saturday evening. We also heard that ‘Finnegans Wake’ would be hitting the stage soon for some great Irish Hits (needless to say, it was JUST what we needed).
What was once (in 2005) an abandoned building was lovingly restored by the owner who shipped the ENTIRE mahagony interior all the way from Ireland! That explains the true Irish feel of the place. Given that it was a pub most of us didn’t have high expectations when it came to the food or the drinks but we were pleasantly surprised. Yes the menu was your traditional Irish pub grub but it had flavour unlike most of the outposts you find in North America. The classic dishes were well made and while everyone in our group enjoyed pints of beer and cider, I decided to mix things up with a couple cocktails.
When it came to the meals we sampled a few dishes but I had my hands full with the kids given the late hour in the day so I didn’t get a chance to photograph much except my own dishes. Whenever I see Baked Brie I MUST get it. This one was wrapped in phylo and perfectly gooey and paired with a berry compote. There were a few store bought crackers on the side but I would have much preferred some bread instead. I shared this one with the table and it quickly disappeared! For my mains I kept it boring and went for the Chef’s Signature burger which was cooked to perfection and doused in cheese (just the way I like it). The Beef Stew received positive nods at our table, as did the Fish and Chips. I’m trying the wings next time I’m in!
What really makes this place special isn’t the fact they welcomed the kids with crayons, plastic cups and smiles but the fact that the live entertainment put the entire room in a great mood. For the two hours we were there, I was transported back to our road trip around Ireland and the music we listed to on the road. Knee slapping, hootin’ good times. We event spotted some dads and daughters dancing away…yes dancing is highly encouraged! We had spent the morning exploring the wineries so we were a bit tired which is the only reason we decided to leave the pub after our meal.
Given that it’s right on the main strip and within easy walking distance to my parent’s B&B in Niagara on the Lake, I see us visiting these guys often!
