St. Patrick’s Day is more than an excuse to drink, although it is that. But there are other aspects of getting in touch with your real or imagined Irish roots. One is standing around the family piano with pints of Guinness or tumblers of Jameson while singing exquisitely mournful Irish songs, like “Danny Boy” and “Carrickfergus” with tears streaming down your ruddy cheeks, and another is indulging in food from the Emerald Isle. And you can likely do some singing, and certainly do some dining at your favorite Irish pub on Thursday’s St. Patrick’s Day.
The Auld Dubliner: We’ll start you at this popular and ultra-authentic Irish pub, which is going perhaps even greener than usual on the good saint’s feast day. There’s the full menu of Irish meals available including, of course, corned beef and cabbage, along with Irish stew, shepherd’s pie, a whiskey chicken boxty (a traditional potato pancake with chicken and mushroom cream sauce) and bangers and champ (Irish sausage and mashed potatoes with scallions). The entrees are $17 each, save for the whiskey chicken boxty, which is $18.
And, lest you stray from the Irishness of the day, the Auld Dubliner will be bringing in Gaelic entertainment: The McNulty Irish Dancers will perform at 1 p.m.; the Whooligans perform lively Irish tunes from 3 to 6 p.m. and, from Wexford, Ireland, singer songwriter Niall Cash will play from 11 p.m. to closing, around midnight.
The Auld Dubliner is at 71 S. Pine Ave. 562-437-8300. Open 4 p.m. to midnight.
EJ Malloy’s Pub: Like the Auld Dubliner, Bixby Knolls’ favorite pub, EJ’s is going to be swamped on Thursday, and with good reason. The Knolls nightery serves true Irish food every night, and, while it’s serving from a limited menu on busy St. Pat’s, there’ll still be everything you’ll need to go green.
EJ’s specialties include traditional style corned beef and cabbage ($15), as well as shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash (both $14) and Irish egg roll appetizers ($9).
And if your allegiance is torn between your rich Irish heritage and an equally avid appreciation for college hoops, you can pair a platter of bangers with first-round NCAA tournament action. Is this going to be a glorious night, or not?
EJ Malloy’s Pub is at 4306 Atlantic Ave. 562-424-5000. St. Pat’s hours are 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Kitchen closes at 9:45 p.m.
Shenanigan’s Irish Pub & Grille: Celebrate the feast of St. Patrick on the water at this Shoreline Village pub with a nice view of the marina, perhaps while nursing a Guinness and cozy warm dinner of Irish cheddar grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato basil soup. Or kick off your festivities with a breakfast of an Irish hash burrito or a banger breakfast with sausage, eggs and baked beans.
And, of course, the official St. Paddy’s meal—corned beef and cabbage (and mashed potatoes). Enjoy the festivities and the view at this popular seaside pub.
Shenanigan’s Irish Pub & Grille is located at 423 Shoreline Village Drive. 562-437-3734. St. Patricks Day hours 9 a.m.-2 a.m.
