The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant

Irish restaurant · Columbia Heights

The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant

Irish restaurant · Columbia Heights

1

2500 Columbia Pike UPPER LEVEL, Arlington, VA 22204

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The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant by null

Highlights

Classic Irish pub with great whiskey, shepherd's pie & fish  

Featured in Eater
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2500 Columbia Pike UPPER LEVEL, Arlington, VA 22204 Get directions

celtichouseva.com
@celtichouse_va

$$ · Menu

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2500 Columbia Pike UPPER LEVEL, Arlington, VA 22204 Get directions

+1 703 746 9644
celtichouseva.com
@celtichouse_va
𝕏
@celticonthepike

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Oct 9, 2025

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D.C.’s Essential Irish Pubs | Eater DC

"Planted right on Columbia Pike’s traffic-heavy strip, the Celtic House is known for its deep whiskey selection, Wednesday night trivia, and orders of shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and Guinness stew. There’s also a 24-seat outdoor patio. Festivities kick off on Tuesday, March 12, with live performances all week, culminating in a big Saint Patrick’s Day party starting at 9 a.m. with traditional music and dancers." - Tierney Plumb

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-irish-pubs-bars-dc
View Postcard for The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant

Rino Guerrero

Google
Friendly and accommodating staff if you're holding a work gathering. There's the main floor and a separate bar/room in the basement. Filing and delicious food.

Edward Walker

Google
My wife and I went here after our friend and realtor said that her band would be playing that night. The restaurant is very spacious and the decor looks great. It was very clean and polished as you will see from the pictures. The food was good. It was fresh and seemed much more authentic than another Irish pub in old town Alexandria. The service staff was very attentive the whole time. I highly recommend their potato and leek soup as shown in the pictures.

L.E. E

Google
We had moved my son to the area, and saw this restaurant near his apartment. We were excited to get some authentic Irish food. Did not disappoint, the restaurant is very tastefully decoratedwith a lot of dark wood, plenty of seating inside and outside, very nice bar upstairs and absolutely beautiful bar downstairs with a huge selection of alcohol. The service was great , very knowledgeable of the menu and personable, drinks, appetizers and food came out pretty quickly with our food being amazing, fresh and hot, beer and drinks were very cold. The server was very attentive with extras for our appetizer, and refills on our waters and drinks.Will definitely be back and recommend this restaurant and bar if you are in the Arlington or DC area.

Maria Nikiforova

Google
We were passing through Washington DC from North Carolina and decided to stop by a pub, drink beer and try Irish food. Everything was fast and perfect. The waitress was friendly, took our order quickly and was very friendly in answering our questions. The food was brought very quickly, I didn’t want to look at the clock and check the time. The food is hot, the meat is cooked to perfection, and the portions are very large. Beer and cocktails were also excellent. I'm sure that if I'm in those parts again, I'll definitely come here again.

Yonas Demeiyesus

Google
Amazing place for appetizers, salad, and entries!!! Try half half beer - Guinness & Harp!!

Katrina Ann

Google
Stumbled on this restaurant after attending services at Arlington. Excellent service, hot delicious food that came out so quickly. Friendly server Jack and thr owner were very attentive. Definitely recommended for anyone wanting to enjoy their meal. Scotch eggs yummy, fish and chips yummy! Iced Irish coffee so good.

Scott White

Google
While there isn’t a lot of parking, there’s enough and it’s free. This is definitely more for social drinking and enjoying time with friends than it is restaurant, but if you go for the food, it’s good. Service is generally good here and the setting appeases drinkers and eaters both, with a very comfortable atmosphere. It can get loud on game nights but that’s because people are having a good time. My wife usually orders the fish and chips here while I like to try different things. This last time I had the chicken tullamore, which was great.

Amanda Turcotte

Google
What do you do when you get home from a road trip to find out a storm came through and your home as well as most of Columbia Pike has no electricity? You go find a pub to chill out and have a beer with dinner. The Celtic House had electricity and I have passed by the pub many times over the years saying I should stop sometime for a bite to eat. Well, Saturday night was the night. The pub was busy due to the fact they were one of the only places with electricity on Columbia Pike; however, the staff was prompt to show us a table when we came in and take our drink order. We ordered a couple beers, Irish egg rolls, fish and chips, and Guinness beef stew. Everything tasted great. The atmosphere was great for hanging out, watching sports, or just chatting. We would definitely comeback. Thanks for the opportunity to relax and eat during the summer storm aftermath!
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Spencer D.

Yelp
Thrilled to have found this place while attending a training conference nearby. I am not ashamed to say I came here for lunch every day of the week The good: the atmosphere is as good as it gets for a pub. Quiet lunch stop, Friendly staff a traditional pub menu great whiskey selection and a gorgeous mirror backed ornate wood bar display. I swapped between both the Reuben and fish sandwich all week and highly recommend either. The bad: My major complaint is that this place is too far from my house but it may be good enough that I start looking for new apartments in the area. This is what it is to the maximum degree if you are in the mood for an Irish pub I don't think you can do better.
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Tom O.

Yelp
EXCELLENT FOOD, great service. I would come here again. The Guinness beef stew was plated beautifully, the tenderest roast beef I could cut with my fork -- and not a shred of fat or grizzle! Large, neatly cut vegetables. The potatoes were wetter than usual, but they complimented the sauce. Melted in my mouth! The fish and chips came out with three filets in their own beer batter, laid on thin and crispy over the tenderest cod, although it held a little oil. Fries were medium cut. Golden crispy and long. Apple pie? It's the best in town, bar none! Home made with tender sweet apples (Fuji?) in a wide 10-inch pan, which may have been glass because the color was the same too and bottom. Not a touch of that hours egg wash, but sprinkled with confectioners sugar. The Ala mode ice cream was pure dairy, none of the French vanilla that suppliers have been pushing on restaurateurs. The servers were quick and friendly, making eye contact and smiling. Our food came out in FIVE MINUTES! Gourmet stuff like that? Holy cats. Tables were clean and seating was instant. Then why four stars? Ambiance. It's definitely Irish, but a little worn. Similar to a place in Tipperary, but not for special occasions. Parking was a nightmare -- even at 6pm! I finally just followed the locals and parked illegally in the posted lot that seemed the least likely to impound me -- I mean really!
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Bryan S.

Yelp
So let me preface this review by pointing out it was Day One for this establishment. The place was packed within a hour of opening. However my date and I never noticed..the servers were attentive and never had unreasonable wait time for service. They have a great selection of whiskey, scotch, and bourbon. Everything is reasonably priced. Even some of the more expensive drinks are fair value. The place looks like a trendy bar you would see on a TV sitcom. But the music played feels morenkuke an early 00's club. The only thing I would change is having the music fit the bar. Overall I'd say this place is a 4.75 out of 5 as the only thing I didn't like was the music in the place as it felt out of place.
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Lia M.

Yelp
Great new whiskey bar on the lower level of the shopping center. The Whiskey Bar is the sister to Celtic House. Very friendly, helpful staff. Everyone seemed excited about this new bar. Interesting list of bourbon, scotch, and Irish whiskey, the latter being their specialty. About 12 tables and a similar number of seats at the bar. It's got a cozy, intimate feel. I appreciate their Laphroaig and Ardbeg offerings. Between the my friend and I, we tried Teeling, Macallan, Red Breast, and Laphroaig options. I ordered the Donegal chips, which were delicious. I loved my experience here and am looking forward to returning.
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Chandler D.

Yelp
This a great hidden gem and dive bar in the heart of Arlington! We grabbed a few drinks after getting Happy Hour food across the street. Our service was top notch. They also had a live band performing that was singing some great classics!
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Scott W.

Yelp
While there isn't a lot of parking, there's enough and it's free. This is definitely more for social drinking and enjoying time with friends than it is restaurant, but if you go for the food, it's good. Service is generally good here and the setting appeases drinkers and eaters both, with a very comfortable atmosphere. It can get loud on game nights but that's because people are having a good time. My wife usually orders the fish and chips here while I like to try different things. This last time I had the chicken tullamore, which was great.
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Trisha H.

Yelp
We came here with a large group for dinner and we had a great experience. Most of the group got the fish and chips and it was thoroughly enjoyed. I ordered the guiness stew and it was delicious! And a very large portion. I ordered a Snakebite and they made it as it should be so that made me very happy. Our server was definitely on top of things especially with a large group and with a child. We also went downstairs to the new whiskey bar, and the bartender was very attentive, the space is really cool and inviting, and we had a wonderful time. Highly recommend!
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Shawn P.

Yelp
This place ain't fancy but that's okay. I tried the full Irish, which was average, and the Shepard's Pie, which was very good. Creme brûlée was average. The evening I went was apparently trivia night and the establishment was packed. Service was very friendly. They have Bells on tap which is a plus! Unfortunately I had the worst hot toddy I've ever had there.
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Parth R.

Yelp
A rare 5star no-frills Irish pub with locals who appreciate value prices for good whiskey, beer, and Irish/pub food. I'd recommend none of you to frequent this place so we can keep it a gem for townies only!
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Jonathan X.

Yelp
Absolutely fantastic. Our server Hillary was awesome. She was a cut above every other server I've had this year, really appreciated her positive attitude and attention to detail. The food ..wow. It was all VERY delicious and reasonably priced, as were the alcoholic drinks and dessert. I could not have asked for anything more. I had the corn beef and cabbage, with its mountain of mashed potatoes. My date had the lamb stew, and we shared the brown bread pudding. Just a fantastic evening, everyone was really nice, we never wanted for anything, and it was just a wonderful time. Even with trivia going on around us, it was great.

Mitch E.

Yelp
The Guinness burger was amazing, and the half and halfs were very good as well. The music was very appropriate and fun!
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Amanda T.

Yelp
What do you do when you get home from a road trip to find out a storm came through and your home as well as most of Columbia Pike has no electricity? You go find a pub to chill out and have a beer with dinner. The Celtic House had electricity and I have passed by the pub many times over the years saying I should stop sometime for a bite to eat. Well, Saturday night was the night. The pub was busy due to the fact they were one of the only places with electricity on Columbia Pike; however, the staff was prompt to show us a table when we came in and take our drink order. We ordered a couple beers, Irish egg rolls, fish and chips, and Guinness beef stew. Everything tasted great. The atmosphere was great for hanging out, watching sports, or just chatting. We would definitely comeback. Thanks for the opportunity to relax and eat during the summer storm aftermath!

Jacqueline C.

Yelp
This place serves really good food but the service is not good and unhelpful with the menu. We ordered the chicken pot pie, shepherds pie, fish and chopped, and corned beef Mac and cheese. The chicken pot pie and shepherds pie were delicious and the fish and chips were also good. The Mac and cheese was okay but not great. We had the apple pie for dessert and it was good.

Chelsea S.

Yelp
Didn't get any food on this particular trip but have had food from the pub part before. On the Whiskey Bar trip, they have a VERY tasty espresso martini. For a whiskey bar, I had hoped that there would be comfy seating or a nice outdoor seating space but it's more of an extension of the pub space on the upper level and nothing outside. Bartenders are attentive and food on prior visits is good, though a little expensive.
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Sarah H.

Yelp
My husband and I came here when we were in town for the Marine Corps Marathon. We needed something that was not far from our hotel that we could walk to. We went on a Saturday night and were seated right away. Our waitress was very attentive and sweet. I had the seafood chowder and the buffalo chicken wrap. Both were really good. My husband had the salmon and some beer and enjoyed his meal as well. I would highly recommend trying this place if you are in town and need a great meal!

Doug S.

Yelp
It has a good chef but then there are drop offs if his eagle eye is not available. Service can be both but the third star was won by a perfect PINT of Guinness- there is no argument there and I tip my hat to the kind Lady of The Bar!

Chris C.

Yelp
This place was awesome. Steak was plentiful, and soup of day was delicious. Fish and chips hit the spot and kids serving was just enough. Service was on point. If I visit again- I'd come back.

Goldpipe P.

Yelp
Was not happy with the service provided. Not worth the cost to come here. Would recommend going to a different place instead.​
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Dana Z.

Yelp
I feel like lately if I don't care for a place, I usually won't review it on yelp until I give it a second try. But then.... sometimes one try is all you really want. My friend and I love trivia, so we decided to try coming here instead of our usual spot. The trivia was fine, it was the service. Our waiter didn't write anything down when taking our orders, which is FINE as long as you remember what we ordered. It took over 10 minutes to get my first drink and it was before they were very busy. He never came back and asked if I wanted another one until the trivia "intermission" at which point, another member of my table had to go flag him down while he was off wiping down menus. We also got wings for the table (they were ok) and my friend ordered a side item that never came and we had to follow up. So by the time the 2nd half of trivia is rolling along, he actually did come back to the table and asked if we would like another drink. My friend ordered one, and he never brought it. At the end of the night he asked "would you like another drink?" yeah, we ordered one like 20 minutes ago and you forgot and now the night is over so nevermind?! I'm sorry this really sounds like it's an ad for Prevagen but maybe you should grab a pencil if you're this forgetful. Like I said, I see by the other reviews that this is probably a great place but based on this experience I have no interest in trying it again.
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Penelope J. L.

Yelp
Nice place with good service. Has a stage for bands (enjoyed The Rockits) plus a small dance floor.
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Alyssa S.

Yelp
Salmon was literally perfect (definitely worth $20) and the lamb sliders are always cooked perfectly! Celtic House is forever 10/10

JJ G.

Yelp
Love this place! I get the chicken sandwich with Irish bacon all the time and a APPLE PUE MULE to wash it all down with. That drink is amazing, i get it every time. And their FRIESSS are so good--because of course they are!!! great atmosphere and sometimes have live music, although it's just as lively alone! Great place to eat
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Ehab R.

Yelp
Great vibe. Great food and drinks and the staff are excellent. A fun place to watch the game or just come in and unplug from the world

Libby P.

Yelp
Celtic House is one of my favorite restaurants in Arlington. I've had so many things on their menu and they are all amazing. They are the best comfort food you could ask for. My favorites are definitely the fish and chips, the shepherds pie, the mac & cheese, just to name a few. Seriously there is nothing bad on this menu. The weight staff is always amazing and extremely accommodating, even when we bring big groups.
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Tara S.

Yelp
We've been coming here for brunch once or twice a month basically since they opened. Our son was a baby and is now 10! We adore Jackie ...she's amazing. Food is always fast and delicious. We've never had a bad visit ...not even a meh experience. Always A+
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Paul G.

Yelp
Cool spot! Stop by for some quick drinks.. had the mulled wine.. the space is pretty spacious. Looks as if they have a good set of regulars whom pass thru often... a long list of whiskeys!! Oh I love that for sure! The staff was welcoming but our waiter was a little weird trying to do too much to connect on a black live matter level lol.. but overall a cool spot wouldn't mind giving more stars after another visit.

Jordan P.

Yelp
I loved this place. Good food, good drinks. Very kind servers. Not just for St Pattys day!
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Katrina D.

Yelp
Great Wednesday night trivia! I ate my awesome chocolate cake while my chicken pot pie cooked enough to eat. Everything was delicious and I'm glad I went because I live so close! The waiter was great and attentive with really quick service. The owner was walking around chatting to table and it was pretty nice. Decent selection of drafts. Plenty of seating and parking isn't too bad either.

Paul R.

Yelp
I'm a regular and come to this pub annually for St. Paddy's. Today I went to go and grab some food and a few drinks... the older guy at the door tells me there's a $10 cover.. I ask "just to come in and have a few drinks and some food?" Then the guy casually says, "because it's St. Paddy's". I've always tipped at least 35%, every single time I've come here, The fact that they wouldn't let me participate in some St Paddy's day activities, rubs me wrong. Was it because I'm Hispanic? Taxing me, because they assume I won't tip? They didn't even announce it anywhere on their website or on their social media. Won't be coming here anymore. Service here has declined, noticeably. Ended up going to a better bar across the street. Better food, entertainment and drinks there anyhow. And no ridiculous made-up cover charge.
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Christina P.

Yelp
Great food, especially their weekend specials! The fish is always fresh and amazing. The service is great as well. It is a very homey and casual spot for good food, drink and service. Leona is also a GEM! I love this place in my neighborhood!
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Gabrielle M.

Yelp
Casual place, fun crowd, it one of our neighbor hood haunts. I have had everything on the menu and everything is delicious.

David H.

Yelp
The service and food here continues to be outstanding! Special shoutouts to Jackie and Mickey for great customer experience. can't wait to try the new whiskey bar below.
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Kimberly A.

Yelp
The staff & owners are wonderful, the vibe is always welcoming, the food tastes like it was made with love and the live music is actually really good! AND they play soccer games on the big screen!
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Lindsey R.

Yelp
The service was amazing. The food was delicious and so were the drinks. Nothing like this authentic Irish bar. Great location and perfect place to go before or after Arlington cinema and draft house.

Amber M.

Yelp
The food was amazing! The service was great! Great Irish pub. Best one stateside that I've been to.

Isabella P.

Yelp
10/10 I regularly go here to eat and the food is always amazing. The ambiance and service are why I love coming here. They know their regulars and will know your order before you sit down!!!
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Bee U.

Yelp
The food is delicious. We ordered a shepard's pie and the full English breakfast. They didn't disappoint. Service was good without being overbearing. Our server made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed, and we loved the classic old pub vibe. This is probably one of the nicest most relaxing spots to stop and have dinner and a drink in the area. It's not stuffy or pretentious. The owner is down to earth and kind. He came by to make sure we were good more than once.

Gary L.

Yelp
I'm just responding to a review that contains blatant lies. The reviewer "Mary" said it appears that the staff was "seemingly Irish." I can assure you that only 3 of the floor staff are not from Ireland. As far as the fish and chips being smothered in vinagre is another false statement.... this is because the fish and chips aren't served with vinagre on it, the customer puts it on, just like any other place that serves fish and chips. Everyone has their own opinion o what's good, but when you make totally false statements, they should be called out!
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Stringfellow H.

Yelp
Update--Leona the waitress rocked! Was kind enough to substitute my fries for black and white pudding, which was cooked perfectly.
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Rich W.

Yelp
We love this place. Staff is always extremely nice and the food is good. We always stop in when we are over in the area. I love the bangers and mash (I sub the mashed for fries and trust me it awesome). My son swears by the chicken fingers and my wife always gets the Reuben. It's a great neighborhood Irish bar and anything that is just a good old neighborhood place can be hard to find in Nova.
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William P.

Yelp
Been coming to Celtic House for years, love the place. From the owner Mikey, bartenders, to the wait staff and the cooks, just great people. Good drinks and great food!
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Nate W.

Yelp
I love this pub, which has been a staple in South Arlington for many years. From the food to the drinks to the atmosphere, it's always a fun time!
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Micky L.

Yelp
I really enjoyed the soup of the day which was seafood chowder.The ceaser salad was really just okay. The beef stew was very tasty but, I was expecting to be a lot softer and more tender. I did enjoy the service and everything was perfectly seasoned!
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Shannon B.

Yelp
I lived in this neighborhood for years but avoided this place assuming it was another run o the mill Irish restaurant. It is so much better than that. The staff is friendly and cohesive, the food is held to a high standard, the owner is always in the mix helping staff and visiting with customers. The live music I caught one Thursday night was lovely and not at all loud and intrusive. Very good vibes all around!
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Christine H.

Yelp
Every neighborhood needs a solid Irish Pub and this is Columbia Pike's local watering hole. The Shepherds Pie is something that I'd definitely rate a 4.5/5 given the creaminess of the potato and the comfort level that it brings. The Fish and Chips are excellent too. Not too oily, the fish is perfectly flaky. I would come here for a pint and hope to be back when there's live music playing too. Service 4/5 - The service was great. Because of social distancing, there are odd nooks where people are sitting, which limits the flow of service, but it wasn't anything too terrible to notice. Ambiance 3.5/5 - It's a local watering hole so there's nothing too impressive to see. Cleanliness 4/5 - The place is still socially distancing people to be covid-19 safe.
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Love W.

Yelp
So delicious! It was a welcomed surprise and I ate everything. The fish and chips were excellent, I had a taste of the pot pie and I wish I had an appetite to order that as well. The service was amazing, our waitress was attentive and friendly.

Larry B.

Yelp
The food was served hot and was very good. Staff very friendly. Patio seating was great.

Andreas S.

Yelp
Might've been the best chicken pot pie I've ever had. The beef stew is killer as well. Definitely will be going back to try as much as I can. Staff and owners are very friendly and has a definite community vibe with local regulars.
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Samantha G.

Yelp
We stopped here for lunch and wound up have a surprisingly awesome time. This is not your typical "Irish" pub. It's actually Irish! The owner(?) is a legit Irishman. My family, all being Irish, had a wonderful time talking with him. He was so polite and thoughtful and friendly. The ambiance and vibe is chill and casual, and friendly and welcoming. Just like in Ireland. The menu has the usual pub and Irish staples, plus some unique finds. The potato cakes were a particular favorite of mine. Absolutely yummy! And the buffalo shrimp dip was a nice twist and full of flavor. All in all, a great afternoon was had here. Really happy we stopped in. This is definitely a place that will be going on my go-to list of places in the DC area.
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Dia D.

Yelp
We picked this place for a weekday lunch because they have outdoor seating and they allow dogs. They have some outdoor seating along the parking lot and a deck with tables. They also have a fenced area for dogs. They brought a dish of water for the dog along with the menu. We shared an order of Fish and Chips and they split the order in the kitchen which I love. The Fish and Chips were very tasty and not greasy at all. Very friendly and fast service and things felt very covid safe.