“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything,” is an Irish proverb that holds true after visiting a restaurant filled with great food and the perfect beer. Not only is St. Patrick’s Day known for leprechauns and four-leaf clovers, but it’s also accompanied by an assortment of rich dishes. From steaming Irish coffee to hearty Shepherd’s pies, The VanCougar has assembled the perfect list of takeout restaurants in Vancouver to celebrate this March.
Dulin’s Village Cafe
Nothing says “top of the mornin to ya!” like Dulin’s Village Cafe. Dulin’s is a truly special restaurant, and according to their website, has consistently been voted for the best breakfast and lunch restaurant in Vancouver. Surrounded by walls adorned with beautiful paintings of the Ireland countryside, Dulin’s Village Cafe holds authentic Irish character. Their menu is also loaded with traditional Irish foods such as various potato dishes, Irish sausage, fish and chips, Irish stew, a Celtic Caesar salad and Irish coffee. Dulin’s also provides a great selection of American breakfast foods like french toast, pancakes, eggs and vegetarian sausage. If you make a trip, keep in mind they usually close at 2 p.m., but typically stay open a little later on St. Patrick’s Day. Nothing truly satisfies the desire for a great Irish breakfast and lunch like Dulin’s.
McMenamins
A great pub to visit on the Columbia River is McMenamins, which identifies itself as a “brewpub.” They have multiple locations across the Pacific Northwest, one of two McMenamins located in Vancouver, but the waterfront location offers great customer service, breathtaking views and a trail to take an outdoor stroll after your tasty meal. They also provide a wide variety of delicious food, but don’t emphasize the Irish theme as much as other pubs. Irish items on their menu include Shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash and Irish coffee.
Additionally, McMenamins has drink options for everyone, and presents several cocktails, wines, beers and sweet, bubbly ciders. The grand mimosa cider is a great choice for a perfect sweet and tart drink when paired with cranberry juice, but there aren’t limited options when it comes to this restaurant.
(Tessa Hensley/The VanCougar)
Grady’s Public House
A great place to visit while partaking in Irish festivities is Grady’s Public House. Southeast of the Vancouver Mall, Grady’s menu has plenty of Irish options like cottage pie, bangers and mash, Irish soda bread and a classic Irish stew. Of course, Grady’s also has a great selection of various beers, their top two best-sellers are Manny’s Pale Ale and 10 Barrel Profuse Juice, which are both hazy IPAs with a bitter taste. This spot is exactly what you want from a pub since it offers good drinks, great food and awesome music. With a stunning ambiance of high red cushion booths and black wood paneling, Grady’s is an excellent choice to visit this St. Patrick’s Day.
With these recommendations, luck isn’t needed to have an absolute blast on the Irish holiday. If you do decide to check out some of these local spots, make sure to plan accordingly, drink responsibly and have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!