For many people, Irish or not, St. Patrick’s Day is like a national holiday — sort of like Thanksgiving, only with beer instead of turkey. The Yard House thinks it’s important enough that it has devoted an entire three-day weekend to it. From 11 a.m. opening to closing Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all company locations (including Pasadena) will boast an Emerald Isle feel for the food, drink and ambiance.
The restaurant has received rave reviews for its state-of-the-art music system. All weekend, the stereo-on-steroids will be cranking out rock by some of Ireland’s finest, including generous portions of U2, Van Morrison, the Cranberries and Sinead O’Connor.
Yard House is also known for its huge selection of draft beers. The Pasadena location is home to 116 different flavors of fizz. This weekend, you can get a glass of Emerald Isle-colored Coors Light and Pyramid Hefeweisen, as well as the usual George Killian’s Irish Red, Guinness Stout and Harp Lager.
If cocktails are your pleasure, try Irish Coffee with Bushmills or Jameson whiskey topped with whipped cream, an Irish Boiler Maker with Bailey’s Irish Cream mixed with either Bushmills or Jameson and dropped into a glass of Guinness, or a Berry Irish Martini with Skyy Berry vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream, DeKuyper Razzmatazz and half-and-half.
The food menu also speaks with an Irish accent, with corned beef brisket braised in Irish beer, accompanied by boiled red potatoes and cabbage, shepherd’s pie with Guinness-stewed beef sirloin and roasted garlic mashed potatoes in a puff pastry, and other special selections. Of course, the regular menu, including appetizers and desserts, is also available. Friday happy hour runs in its usual 3 to 6 p.m. slot.
For a no-blarney good time, this weekend should be a winner at Yard House.
— John Sollenberger