It’s magically delicious

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.

It’s time once again for St. Patrick’s Day. A time when the aroma of corned beef and cabbage assaults your nostrils, beer and clothing magically turns green, and everyone starts speaking in horrible Gaelic accents. In days gone by, when things were normal, we attended the Celtic Club’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. I donned my orange pigtails and flashing shamrock necklace, while Jim turns into a 6”4” leprechaun with a giant green top hat and his flashing green tie. It’s not pretty…

Due to COVID, such was not the case this year. Instead, we received a recommendation for an Irish pub from some friends. They told us about The Cottage Pub in Crystal Lake.

We walked in and stood by what we thought was the hostess stand, and waited to be seated. This was met with quizzical stares by the patrons. After a couple of minutes, I told Jim to check his fly, since all eyes were on us. A waitress graciously walked up, greeted us, and seated us at our table. It was only then that we realized this restaurant was a seat yourself establishment. Our second clue was when the people behind us just walked in and sat down.

This is a small cottage like pub with stained glass Irish accents and lots of neon beer advertisements. They offer high tops, booths, and patio seating for the summer months. This restaurant is handicap accessible.

We were excited when we saw the green menus with the Gaelic font, and were anticipating traditional Irish fare. Nancy wanted corned beef and cabbage, and my tongue was hanging out for shepherd’s pie. The menu, although good, was not what we expected. In the appetizer section hidden amongst the quesadillas, pretzel bites, and cheese balls, we did find Irish Nachos ($8.99). This Irish (?) delicacy featured sidewinder potatoes smothered in beer cheese, bacon, scallions, and served with sour cream. These thick potato strips were tasty, however we felt the portion was small for the price. Did the Irish potato famine hit Crystal Lake???

Since Jim couldn’t have his shepherd’s pie today, what better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with another Irish tradition, a Cuban Sandwich ($10.99). It rhymes with Reuben… Work with us people!!! His Cuban sandwich consisted of ham, barbecue pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mayo on ciabatta bread with his choice of a side. He went with the tater tots (another Irish treat) for a $1 upcharge. While this was slightly different than a traditional Cuban sandwich, he said it was “magically delicious.” He even brought half of his sandwich home with him in a doggie bag.

Nancy was determined to get her corned beef and cabbage today, one way or another. She chose the closest thing she could find on the menu. She picked the Reuben Rolls ($8.99 for 3) from the appetizer menu. They were homemade from scratch egg rolls, filled with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, all served with a side of thousand island dressing. These were different than egg rolls since they were made with phyllo dough, not a wonton wrapper. Although they were deep fried, there was not a hint of grease anywhere. They were very tasty and satisfied her craving today.

If you are looking for shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, or corned beef and cabbage, this is not the place for you. If you are looking for a small local pub that features good bar food and appetizers, give this place a try.

The price for our pseudo St. Patrick’s Day celebration, $36.30. It’s “magically delicious.”

Jim’s take: The barbecue pork on my Cuban sandwich along with the ciabatta bread made my sandwich memorable.

Nancy’s take: I was getting corned beef and cabbage, no matter what!!! Surprisingly, the Reuben rolls filled me up since this was my big meal of the day.

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at: thediningduo@gmail.com.

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