Oh, Paddy dear, and did you hear the news that's going 'round? There's pubs galore and much, much more in old Las Vegas town ... and that's no blarney!
Pub grub and other enticements are all part of the pub experience. And for sure, it's a fine experience where strangers become friends in seconds. London's Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street continues to thrive as a conventioneer's dream pub although Fleet Street has fallen upon lean times and the colorful writers who once daily convened there are now scattered who knows where.
It was at the Cheshire Cheese that the publican (proprietor) regaled me with stories about the old times, when seats in the pub were always scarce and as many as could bellied up to the bar. It was in the hidden room below the pub where I tasted the most amazing Cheshire cheese. This was after tasting mellow and assertive English and Irish cheeses chunked from huge slabs and rounds. The pickled onions and brown bread served with were loverly.
Nothing could top the superb Stilton wheel doused with port that ended the divine tasting and storytelling. Walnuts, dried fruits and more port sent me out into the chilly evening in a rosy glow.
That same rosy glow can be yours at local pubs.
Nine Fine Irishmen at New York-New York is named after a group of nine adventurous Irishmen. It is a tribute to their passion for their native country and their joy of life. Their photos are prominently displayed along with their legend. The menu is a mix of traditional pub favorites and regional favorites. At lunch, dine on such specialities as steak and stout, mini pies of ribeye tips braised in Guinness or a sausage pail of ale-battered and spicy sausages or lump crab and potato cake for starters. The sandwich selection includes country pork, spiced chicken and corned beef. All sandwiches include traditional chips and coleslaw.
The much larger dinner menu features such main courses as bangers and mash (excellent), Irish stew, country pot pie, shepherd's pie and Guinness short ribs. Homespun and satisfying. Desserts are much too good -- deep dish apple crisp, Bailey's crème brûlée, Bushmill's bread pudding and more. My personal pick is the sticky toffee cheesecake with a warm caramel sauce. Dance off the calories to tunes mixed by Ireland's finest DJs.
Hours: lunch daily, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; dinner nightly, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; bar hours Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 24 hours. Reservations recommended.
Fado at Green Valley Ranch is a lively, noisy typical pub. The telly blares with soccer games, the menu includes more than a bit of Irish wit. Says one wee blurb: "Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him."
Fado's menu is a mix of the real thing -- bangers and mash; oak-smoked salmon served with homemade brown bread; an all-day Irish breakfast that includes two eggs, Irish sausages, Irish bacon, black-and-white pudding, baked beans, tomatoes and brown bread. Segue south of the border with chicken boxty quesadillas -- Fado's signature boxty potato pancake layered with grilled chicken, melted pepperjack cheese and drizzled with a red chili aioli. On the side, tomato pico, sour cream and salsa. Olé!
Of course there's more: A selection of Irish coffees to warm the cockles of your heart, a selection of brews and booze and a small selection of wines. Yummy desserts, including brown bread ice cream -- caramelized brown bread crumbles whipped through vanilla ice cream and drizzles of caramel sauce.
Fado Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. No reservations, but parties of six or more can call ahead, although not on St. Patrick's Day.
J.C. Wooloughan Irish Pub at JW Marriott in Summerlin will begin their St. Pat's celebration March 15-18. Each day has its own events and includes bagpipes, a smorgasbord of food events and entertainment. Food and Beverage Director Declan McGettigan advises that advance tickets and VIP badge information are available.
The Auld Dubliner at Lake Las Vegas in MonteLago Village will open St. Patrick's Day, but reservations will not be accepted. I've not tasted any of the dishes, but the extensive menu offers "traditional Irish fayre," and a host of Americanized selections. I'm looking forward to tasting the mini Yorkshire puddings and the Dubliner pastry-wrapped sausages.
Auld Dubliner hours: daily, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.