My Favorite Irish Pub
Type of Cuisine: Pub Food
Where Did You Have It: 5400 ch. Côte-des-Neiges (corner Lacombe), Montreal QC, H3T 1K7
How Much: $20/person, with a beer, taxes and tip included
Rate From 1 to 10: An 8 out of a possible 10
My neighborhood has three pubs. The first one, La Maisonnee, holds a sacred place in my memory. I remember having my first beer there as a teenager… wearing my private school uniform. It is a place where young kids, REALLY young kids, drink till they’re blind and where old perverts go to stare at young flesh. I fortunately have outgrown that stage (except for every other weekend lol!). The second one has had so many names that it’s not even worth mentioning the present one because it’s life span will probably not outlive a dragonfly’s (they live only four months!). That location is certainly cursed.
McCarold's Pub Burger Photo from MidnightPoutine.ca
This leads me to our third and best pub, “The Irish”. I remember walking by this bar on a daily basis and wondering who in the world actually goes into this filthy joint. It was unkept, dark and just plain unappealing. And then one spring, I was surprised to see renovations taking place on the exterior walls of the bar – nice black wood lining the establishment with a beautiful golden sign representing the rebirth of the pub.
Since that spring, I have been a regular. It’s the place where I acquired my taste for single malt scotches (with my boyfriend’s guidance of course); the place where I discovered a variety of beers from all over the world; and the place where I can honestly say I have eaten the best pub food Montreal has to offer.
McCarold's Irish Pub
As nibblers, I usually order the nachos served with a spinach and artichoke dip. It’s so sinful but who can resist it with a cold Harp. The poutine is solid especially at around 12:30 a.m. when you’ve had one too many beers. It puts you right into place. The burgers are a staple at “The Irish” with patties that are huge and juicy, there is absolutely no shame in licking your fingers here. But the show stoppers for me are the traditional pub plates. The fish ‘n chips, shepherd’s pie and lamb stew are all meals that will make you feel like you’re at home. You will get that warm feeling of nostalgia, the recognition that this same food was made hundreds of years ago in similar establishments offering the same services to pasersby. Or maybe it was the beer talking that night lol! All I know is that McCarold’s always leaves me full and satisfied at all hours of the day.
May it stay an institution in Montreal for years to come.
