Cead Mile Failte from Louisville!

Cead Mile Failte from Louisville!
(A Hundred Thousand Welcomes)

Posted by Megan Warmouth

A few weeks ago, I trekked down to Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Slugger and the Derby, to celebrate a milestone birthday of a friend. Not knowing what to expect or what the official party plans were, I was surprised when my friend, after dividing the partygoers into two groups, announced that we were going on a scavenger hunt. Not having participated in such an activity since I was 12, I was hesitant, to put it mildly—after all, I had no idea which way was North in the river city and getting lost is not my idea of fun!

We arrived on one of the busiest streets in Louisville, lined with cozy restaurants, street musicians and small shops, with the goal of accomplishing a list of bizarre tasks, like getting serenaded by a street performer and obtaining a handful of coffee beans from a coffee shop. After many, many strange looks from passers by and lots of laughs, we met with our opposing team at The Irish Rover, a pub/restaurant in the Clifton-Crescent Hill neighborhood, where we calculated our scores.

Dark and cozy, The Irish Rover feels as if a family-owned pub in Galway or Dublin has been picked up – furniture and all – and set down in the middle of this Midwest neighborhood. Offering gourmet versions of Irish favorites like the Blue Cheesecake, a “cheesecake” appetizer of blue cheese, herbs and cream cheese in a walnut crust served with brown soda bread and a pear vinaigrette; Cottage Pie, a homemade beef stew served in a bread bowl and topped with mashed potatoes and cheese; Traditional Fish and Chips accompanied by freshly-made dill mayonnaise; and desserts like Bread & Butter Pudding, cinnamon-scented and served warm with whiskey-caramel sauce and cream. By the time the first Guinness was placed in front of me, the awkwardness of wandering around the city making odd requests of strangers had worn and I was entranced by the pub’s character and comfort.

My team did not end up winning the scavenger hunt, the other had been able to find a few more willing strangers, but it didn’t matter. Full of delicious food, warmed by Ireland’s signature brew and surrounded by good friends, the hunt was successful—I had become acclimated to a new city and discovered a great new restaurant, The Irish Rover.

www.theirishroverky.com
2319 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 899-3544