This Monday, the world will raise its glass to St Patrick’s Day – a celebration of Ireland and its rich cultural history, but mostly a time to drink too much Guinness dyed a lurid shade of green. For those of you who think 17 March is just a day to spend down the pub, Harden’s has got some great suggestions on where you can tuck into some good old Irish cooking first…
Wright Brothers (Soho or Borough Market)
14-17 March
Oystermen who usually get their bivalves from Cornwall, will celebrate Paddy’s Day by also sourcing from the Emerald Isle. The Kilpatrick oysters are topped with cheese, Worcester sauce and bacon (three for £6). Drinks will include an Anglo-Irish Black Velvet, made with Guinness and Nyetimber, (£8).
The Garrison SE1
17 March
This Bermondsey gastroboozer will celebrate with a menu including Mrs Brown’s soda bread served with smoked salmon and salted butter (£7), and oysters by the (half-) dozen and a pint of Guinness (£12 / £24). There’s also colcannon hash, served with boiled bacon, and a fried egg (£15), or ‘Boxty’ potato pancakes, mackerel and sour cream (£15). And of course, no St Patrick’s day menu would be complete without a proper Irish dessert – Guinness pudding, served with whiskey cream (£7).
Haché
10-24 March
Burger lovers will be pleased to hear that Haché has something up its sleeve for St Patrick’s Day. The special beef burger is infused with rosemary, thyme and garlic salt, topped with caramelised onions, cured bacon and Guinness cheddar, served with smoky ‘slaw in a brioche bun (£9.95). Clapham, Camden and Shoreditch only.
GOAT SW10
14-23 March
On Chelsea’s ‘Beach’, this new restaurant and bar from the team behind the perennially fashionable Boujis will devote over a week to Paddy’s Day celebrations with a New York-Irish theme. GOAT says to think ‘Gangs of New York’ – bring your dancing shoes, and join them in a jig.
The Cow W2
All year round
Tom Conran’s long-fashionable boozer, on the fringe of Notting Hill. Guinness and oysters headline the menu on St Patrick’s Day… and every other day too.
Want more?
Rivington Grill (Shoreditch & Greenwich) is offering a three course lunch and dinner menu for £23.50. Diners can enjoy potato cakes with Kinvara smoked salmon and sour cream, followed by Irish coddled pork (braised in a cider infused stew) with bacon. The meal is topped off with a Bailey’s carrageen moss pudding.
Or head to The Stew House, a Dalston pop-up serving hearty bowls of stew. Okay, it’s not actually in honour of St Patrick’s Day, but what could be more Irish? The Stew House is resident at the Dead Doll’s Club on Dalston Kingsland Road. Three courses for £25.
