Everybody's favorite Irish holiday (and an honorary one for many Loyola students), St. Patrick's Day, is upon us. The majority of our campus will, of course, celebrate their adopted Irish pride through nightly festivities. But before hitting the clubs and pubs, head down the street for a casual and delicious authentic Irish meal. Ryan's Daughter, the newly opened Irish pub and restaurant in Belvedere Square, has more than enough Irish flair to go around.
Whether dining for dinner or lunch, it shouldn't be a problem getting a table. The large size of the restaurant means there is hardly any wait until 7 p.m. All diners are quickly seated and the waitress and busboy staff is very attentive and friendly. You are assured to enjoy your meal more without constant pleas for refills and condiments.
Enjoying a late Saturday lunch, my meal consisted of an appetizer and sandwich. The Dubliner Dip -- the restaurant's take on classic spinach and artichoke dip -- was served inside a large loaf of bread and was enough for my luncheon guest and me. The artichoke and spinach were perfectly blended and the bread was just tough enough to make it perfect for dipping.
For an entrée, I chose the emigrant sandwich, a toasted rye bread sandwich consisting of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, bean sprouts and seasoned with a honey Dijon sauce. The sandwich was served with a heaping of perfectly seasoned steak fries. The entire meal was amazingly flavorful as well as filling. I was too full to eat anything off the dessert menu, and instead settled for a smooth and well-made Irish coffee.
The menu at Ryan's Daughter isn't large, but offers a variety of foods. Appetizers include soup, cheese platters, French fries and cockles and mussels Molly Malone, little neck clams and mussels steamed in garlic, shallots and white wine. Among the variety of salads are the salmon spinach leap and the Captain John O'Donnell, featuring Asian greens, mandarin oranges and fried wontons in sesame ginger dressing.
The rest of the menu consists of sandwiches and burgers, all prepared with traditional Irish ingredients from the choice of cheese to the choice of mustard.
There are plenty of hearty pies for dinner options, including the traditional shepherd's pie and the vegetarian ploughman's pie. And finally, the real reason you should head to Ryan's Daughter: the Irish Favorites section of the menu. Fish and chips, bangers and mash and of course the requisite St. Patty's Day meal, corned beef and cabbage, are all offered. Appetizers range from $4 to $13, salads from $4 to $11, sandwiches from $7 to $8, pies from $10 to $13 and Irish Favorites from $10 to $19. These prices may seem a bit pricey for college students, but the portions served almost require two plates and are well worth the price.
Ryan's Daughter offers a large list of draft and bottled beers including Guinness, Harp, Magners Cider, Smitwicks, Boddingtons and Magic Hat. Wines and champagnes are also available as are decadent desserts, Irish coffee and Irish port wines.
Ryan's Daughter is decorated in the theme of a large Irish pub. The walls are covered with Guinness advertisements, maps of Ireland and four leaf clovers. The tables, chairs and hardwood floors offer a throwback to mother Ireland. Ryan's Daughter offers live music four nights a week: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m. Music ranges from traditional Irish music to contemporary Celtic, folk and blues.
Authentic Irish cuisine and dining atmosphere is the focus at Ryan's Daughter, where just about everything about the restaurant reminds you of Ireland. Expect nothing less than the best food, drink and entertainment at this authentic Irish restaurant and pub.
Ryan's Daughter is located in the newly renovated Belvedere Square off of York Rd. at 600 E. Belvedere Ave. Carry-out and reservations are available. For more information, call the restaurant at 464-1000.
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