The Luck of the Irish is Found at Kells Irish Pub

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, but you don’t have to wait any longer to enjoy the rich heritage of the Irish if you order up a hearty plate of the Emerald Isle’s best meals at Kells Irish Pub

I celebrated my Gaelic roots early with a trip to Kells last weekend, where my family enjoyed traditional Irish dishes, Celtic folk music, a frothy glass of Guinness© Draught and a creamy Irish coffee.

We started off our meal with a plate of Wee Hottie Scottie Scotch eggs. Crispy, deep fried sausage wrapped around a boiled egg and dipped in creamy herb sauce with a side of delicious house pickles ($7)’ it was a bite-sized preview of the hearty meal to come.

A bowl of Kells Irish Lamb Stew ($7/$11.50) is the best remedy to a rainy Portland day. Made with Kells own house-brewed Stout, the slow braised Northwest raised lamb is stewed with fresh vegetables, rosemary and parsley that combines many traditional Irish flavors in one bowl.

Take a bite out of Kells Shepherd’s Pie for a savory forkful of beef and vegetables stewed in Kells Stout and covered with a cheddar potato crust and rich demi glace ($11.50).

I chose their Corned Beef and Cabbage ($12/$15) and found the braised corned beef tender and juicy. A dollop of stone ground mustard added spice to the meat and mashed potatoes, carrots, and cabbage sautéed with onions and bacon rounded out the plate. It was a salty, savory combination that satisfied my urge for traditional Irish fare.

Kells St. Patrick’s Irish Festival

Every year Kells hosts a three-day St. Patrick’s Irish Festival that will overtake the entire block in downtown Portland this year from Thursday, March 17 to Saturday, March 19. Celtic folk music and dancing, pipers, and amateur boxing for the grown-ups are staged in the bar, inside Kells Cigar Room, and in a tent set up outside. Kids are always allowed inside the restaurant, and on Saturday the festival tent will also be open to everyone until 5pm.