[New Brunswick] Fiddleheads, Fish and Chips: NB's Culinary Experiences

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

is it perhaps time to take this thread off of a sticky and let it die a peaceful death?

yes!

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Is it perhaps time to take this thread off of a sticky and let it die a peaceful death?

if not, at least make it Atlantic Canada wide, lol.

[riverviewer]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

if not, at least make it Atlantic Canada wide, lol.

I wait for something to pop up here to justify a trip to new locales. I'd like an Atlantic thread that gives news of the hidden gems travelers have found.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by riverviewer

I wait for something to pop up here to justify a trip to new locales. I'd like an Atlantic thread that gives news of the hidden gems travelers have found.

I’d definitely make a trip out of town for a good restaurant.


Here’s a question for y’all:

Where is the best Irish Pubs in Atlantic Canada?

And more specifically, where are the best Irish Pubs in New Brunswick?

Saint John has a few “Irish” pubs and gastro pubs, but I feel like none of them are very authentic for the city that calls itself, “Canada’s Most Irish City”.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I’d definitely make a trip out of town for a good restaurant.


Here’s a question for y’all:

Where is the best Irish Pubs in Atlantic Canada?

And more specifically, where are the best Irish Pubs in New Brunswick?

Saint John has a few “Irish” pubs and gastro pubs, but I feel like none of them are very authentic for the city that calls itself, “Canada’s Most Irish City”.

I agree with you. Cask and Kettle showed some "Irish" promise when they first opened but but after couple of years almost all the Irish dishes had disappeared from the menu. Now you are more likely to get Fish Tacos or breakfast Burritos Even their big breakfast isn't a "full Irish" ... (Nothing says "Irish" like Maple Chipotle bacon) . OTOH they have done well and are now up to 3 locations. I can only conclude Canada's most Irish city doesn't actually like Irish food.

O'Leary's has music but I'm told it's rarely Celtic anymore either. When I was at university in Halifax in the late 70's/early 80's there was a plethora of Irish pubs full on Friday nights of people pounding back draft and belting out "Wild Colonial Boy" or "Whiskey in the Jar" along with the band. Everybody from CB who could fiddle,strum a mandolin or play the tin whistle seemed to be in Halifax performing. Those days seem long gone.

[Mud]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I agree with you. Cask and Kettle showed some "Irish" promise when they first opened but but after couple of years almost all the Irish dishes had disappeared from the menu. Now you are more likely to get Fish Tacos or breakfast Burritos Even their big breakfast isn't a "full Irish" ... (Nothing says "Irish" like Maple Chipotle bacon) . OTOH they have done well and are now up to 3 locations. I can only conclude Canada's most Irish city doesn't actually like Irish food.

O'Leary's has music but I'm told it's rarely Celtic anymore either. When I was at university in Halifax in the late 70's/early 80's there was a plethora of Irish pubs full on Friday nights of people pounding back draft and belting out "Wild Colonial Boy" or "Whiskey in the Jar" along with the band. Everybody from CB who could fiddle,strum a mandolin or play the tin whistle seemed to be in Halifax performing. Those days seem long gone.

Don't know how high it ranks on "authenticity" but I like Gallagher's in Moncton. Still hear Celtic music from time to time both live and on the speakers. Menu still has a few nods to Irish pub fare but otherwise pretty general stuff.

Nice atmosphere too, definitely the most "authentic" looking Old Triangle back when it was still part of that group and it remains unchanged. O'Hickey's in Fredericton is a close second, no food though.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

I don’t really give a flying flip about Celtic music or whatever… i just wanna see a lot more Irish beer on the menu and a decor/atmosphere that feels like an Irish pub… and O’Leary’s in SJ definitely doesn’t fit that description, imo.

[Ire Narissis]

A certain Irish Youtuber I once watched would disqualify Cask & Kettle right out the gate for not having Guinness on tap, let alone anything else.

I love C&K, but not for its Irish pub authenticity.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Ire Narissis

A certain Irish Youtuber I once watched would disqualify Cask & Kettle right out the gate for not having Guinness on tap, let alone anything else.

I love C&K, but not for its Irish pub authenticity.

Good luck finding Murphy’s on tap anywhere in Canada. That’s one of the few good things about Cask & Kettle… they have Murphy’s on tap. Murphy’s is way better than Guinness Draught, and it’s from Cork!

Something like Guinness Foreign Extra Stout might be better than Murphy’s, but imo, Murphy’s is way better than the standard Guinness on tap at almost every single “Irish” Pub in Canada has on tap. Very few Irish Pubs in Canada have something better than Guinness on tap, and the few that do, usually just have Smithwicks or Kilkenny, and almost never something as good as Beamish, O’Hara’s, or Guinness Foreign Extra stout… and probably even fewer Irish Pubs in Canada have, “the pint of Harp!” (see below for one of the most hilarious beer commercials in history)


• Video Link
The Pint of Harp

It’s always been my dream to own an Irish Pub on the West Side of SJ called “New Cork, New Cork” 🍾

Murphy’s would definitely be on tap, and bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout in the fridge… hopefully that would be enough to keep the Guinness Mafia from running me out of town.

[Mud]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I don’t really give a flying flip about Celtic music or whatever… i just wanna see a lot more Irish beer on the menu and a decor/atmosphere that feels like an Irish pub… and O’Leary’s in SJ definitely doesn’t fit that description, imo.

They have Guinness, Murphy's, Harp and Kilkenny so that should cover you unless you were looking for something obscure. And, again, best atmosphere of any Irish pub I've seen in the Maritimes.