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| D’Arcy McGee’s in Orleans: a restaurant in a pub’s clothing? |
| Most Ottawans surely know of old D’Arcy McGee’s, The Sparks location is certain to please? But now there’s another way out in the East Where with the Luck of the Irish, you’ll get a good feast Or perhaps you’d prefer just fish, chips and peas! |
Most Ottawa residents are probably aware of the iconic D’Arcy McGees Irish Pub location on the corner of Sparks and Elgin Streets in the heart of downtown. We have eaten there several times over the last few years and have always been satisfied. The chain has now expanded to no less than five locations in the National Capital area and we recently had occasion to frequent the Centrum Boulevard location. From a location and atmosphere standpoint, the two locales could not be more different. Situated in the heart of the Orleans town centre, with a pleasant outdoor terrace, this East End branch is more restaurant than pub. Its prices also tend to reflect this distinction, being somewhat higher than one might expect for pub fare.
Traditional Pub Fare: Fish & Chips
What we ordered: On this particular occasion, we were three, Dorothy, Ian and myself. I had purchased a Groupon some time before and it was about to expire, so we were taking the opportunity to use it. Ian ordered the seafood in pastry. Dorothy decided to stay with more traditional pub fare and opted for the fish and chips. Personally, once I spotted lamb shank on the menu, I could not resist. Since D’Arcy McGee’s has Strongbow cider on tap, I took advantage of the occasion to enjoy one of my favourite UK exports.
Seafood in Pastry with Fries!
What we got: This is one instance where I believe that a picture is truly worth a thousand words, since I think you can really get the sense of the food served from the shots here. In short, the food was good but not extraordinary. Perhaps it was a little to pricey for pub food! Our joint judgement was that whilst we had no specific complaints, neither were we blown away. Although it was midweek and not overly busy, service, although pleasant, was a little slow. Fortunately, we were not in a hurry.
Rosslare Lamb Shank
Worthy of note: Like many pub-style restaurants, the decor tends to be a little sombre. In the summer months, the outdoor patio might be your best bet. It is offset from the road enough that the traffic noise is somewhat mitigated.
Summary
- Positives: Good Location with lots of free parking, great outdoor patio.
- Negatives: Prices a little high for the quality of food!
- Recommendation: On balance, it’s worth a try if you like pub-style food!
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| Category | Rating | Explanation |
| Food Quality | *** | Fair to good |
| Price | $$$$ | Slightly overpriced |
| Decor | *** | Clean but sombre |
| Service | *** | OK |
| Overall Rating | *** | Worth a visit |
| Frivolous Foodie Facts |
| The home of Guinness is in Dublin.The famous Guinness Brewery at St.James’ Gate, Dublin has a 9,000 year lease. |
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