Monday, April 19, 2010

Checking Out the Star & Shamrock

I stopped by the Star and Shamrock (1341 H Street) for food and drink with a couple of friends tonight. The place had a good feel, and friendly bartenders. For those wondering if you can take in small children, the answer is yeas, but they might end up eating fries for dinner. For adults the menu options are much expanded. They offer a number of sandwiches, ranging from egg salad, to rare roast beef, to chopped chicken liver. I opted for the liverwurst with onions on pumpernickel. Because we wanted to try stuff we also ordered latkes, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, kosher cornies (small sausages wrapped in puff pastry), and a pickle. To drink I had the He-Brew Messiah (draft). The latkes were tasty, but I like mine with apple sauce, and they don't serve them that way. The sauce they did provide worked out well. The coleslaw was good, we didn't find much special about the potato salad or macaroni salad. Cornies are good drinking food, and you can order them in three sizes. The pickle was great, as was my sandwich. I look forward to trying out more food menu items, all of which are priced under $9, as well as exploring the beer list a bit. The have one of them internet jukebox thingies, so I can't say who/what was playing dj, but the music over the 2+ hours we spent there was an unusually good set.  Just FYI, Star and Shamrock is cash only for the next week or so, but they do have an ATM.

Oh, and I think this is the only place on H Street you can get Guinness on draft.  They have several beverages on tap. Here are a few of the offerings: Harp, Brooklyn E.I.P.A., Magner's Cider, Brooklyn Lager, He'Brew Messiah, and Kilkenny Cream Ale. They have around 25 beers in bottles. The bottles screw heavily towards the craft brews, with more offerings from Brooklyn, and He-Brew, as well as Hop Rod Rye Ale, and Founder's Red Rye. Cider drinkers will notice both apple and pear ciders from Original Sin. Those who prefer stiffer drinks can find solace in the roughly 25 Irish whiskeys, and assorted other brown goods that decorate the back of the drink menu.

Other reviews:
The Hill is Home
Prince of Petworth

You can read more about the Star and Shamrock in the H Street Life column in the May issue of the Hillrag.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

Nice place, and while I know I will get beat up for this, and since I am already vomiting in my mouth, I don't understand the need to bring children to a pub. I know, I know, kids are great, but really while trying to down a beer in a pub, hearing the annoying cry strollers is bizarre and perhaps irresponsible. I walked home and asked my neighbor who had kids if he would take his children to a bar, he was like, "no, that crazy." I don't have kids, maybe one day I will, but by then I will get my need for pub time out of me. But maybe that's an advantage about being a gay male couple, we can actually plan to have children. People please remember that not every place is for children. Baby sitting and common sense are available. Please use them.

-Robby

Cider Fan said...

Glad to see they sell magners cider - love it so much!

Anonymous said...

FYI--I believe Liberty Tree has Guiness on tap, too.

Anonymous said...

Odd...they offered a choice of apple sauce or sour cream for the latkes on Saturday night. Wonder what changed?

inked said...

8:25,
Liberty Tree may have Guinness on tap. I'm not sure.

crossbonesdj,
when I asked if they sold apple sauce the bartender said no. Maybe they were just out.

oboe said...

Oh, Robby, you.

Anonymous said...

Amen Robby. Amen.

Hillophile said...

So are they open? Constant state of soft opening? I'd like to go Friday night - will I be turned away? Anyone have any intel?

Anonymous said...

Hillo-

They are fully open now

Anonymous said...

I was there over the weekend and the food was very good. Affordable too..3 beers, 2 orders of fried matzo balls, latkes and an order of rueben wrap egg rolls (6) for under $35. I'll definitely be back for more

Cap Conservative said...

Just met the owners tonight as the family was leaving the Argo......with our children! Of course we eat at 5pm. The owners seemed cool, my wife and I plan to check it out sometime......without the children!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if they do carryout? would love to grab a sandwich and watch the Caps game at home...

oboe said...

I'll be heading out there some night soon with all of our children. You'll recognize us because they'll be the ones screaming and throwing the filling from their Reuben egg rolls at Robbie.