Pick Up a Pint at Old Shillelagh!
Written: Jan 09 '01 (Updated Jan 09 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great atmosphere, tons of fun.
Cons: Can be very crowded.
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| bittermiss's Full Review: Detroit |
Shillelagh: (She lay lee) N.) A town in Ireland.
I notice that Detroit has no food section of it's own, which is unfortunate. However, I'm not sure this would fit well under food anyway. Old Shillelagh is a small Irish pub in downtown Detroit (the Greektown area, to be exact). I suggest going on a Friday or Saturday night for the entertainment, and here is what you would find.
Upon entrance, you see a normal sort of pub with a bar and a pool room. It's early Saturday (only about 8:30 pm) and it's already packed. You're thinking to yourself: If the bar is this packed, it must be completely over commercialized. This is no charming hole in the wall. You might be right, but you may still find it very enjoyable.
You fight your way through a crush of people to find yourself in a line. The guy selling tickets is a charming sort, with smiling eyes. You look at him curiously and ask what they are for. He tells you that if you pay three dollars, you can go upstairs and check out an authentic Irish band. This isn't your normal weekend activity, but you think, what the heck...and go for it.
Pretty soon, they open the upstairs, and the pub crowd thins out. Still, since you bought a ticket, you figure you better go upstairs and check it out. You get in line, and they lead you through a small bar area to a small room packed with tables and a stage about the size of the bathroom of your shoe box apartment. They line you up at the tables like sardines. You pray there isn't a fire. You're not quite sure if this is your idea of a good time.
The band comes out, and you order your first pitcher of beer (there is a two drink minimum per set). The band begins by playing a hearty jig by the Irish Rovers. You're staring at your glass of beer, wondering about the meaning of life. The next thing you know, someone next to you is pouring you more beer. Now I suggest at this point, you order some food. They have the typical tavern fare (pizza and appetizers) as well as some decent items that are more Shillelagh specific, like Irish Stew and Shepherd's Pie. You may not think you're hungry now, but you'll thank me later.
So the band plays another song, and you find it's time to buy another pitcher. People around you begin to chant with the band, and they start to stomp their feet. And they start to bang their hands on the table...and you watch your beer slosh dangerously. And they start to bang the ash trays on the table. And they start to bang their empty beer bottles on the table (not you, you're drinking a from a pitcher, remember). Not wanting to commit the ultimate sin of alcohol abuse in an Irish bar, you pick up your drink so it won't spill and wave it around in the air. By now, your second pitcher is obviously empty...so you bang THAT on the table. The next thing you know, you find yourself being coerced by those same dang Irishmen singing from their shoebox a song that goes something like this:
Dos, a beer, a Mexican beer
Ray, a guy who buys me beer
Me, the guy, Ray buys beer for
Far, a long way to the bar
So, I need another beer
La, la la la lots of beer
Tea, hell no I want a beer
and that will bring us back to Dos!
Suddenly you realize that not only have you had about 4 pitchers of beer by yourself, (I bet you're glad you ate) but you're also in some obscene version of the Sound of Music...except instead of being Switzerland, you're in an Irish bar in Detroit...and instead of the Von Trapp family, you have about two hundred people singing and banging like children. And tonight, every one of them is Irish.
So let's recap:
There is a $3.00 cover charge to get upstairs (weekends only).
If you go on a weekend, go early (like 8:30 pm).
The food is typical tavern fare with some typical Irish dishes as well.
Bring enough money for beer (although they do serve sissy drinks, I don't recommend them).
Be prepared to sing along.
Some other information:
There are more than 20 imported beers available at Old Shillelagh.
Although the bar opened only twenty five years ago, the building dates back to the 1800's.
The Irish Folk band that plays there is called Black Mist, fronted by a gruff Billy Dixon (who is really Scottish) and also includes Michael McMahon and Jerry Poirier.
I would personally avoid Old Shillelagh on St. Patrick's Day, because the crush is a little too much to handle.
Old Shillelagh is by far Detroit's most popular and well known Irish bar, and is well worth a visit. If you're in town one weekend, swing by this pub and you too can be Irish for a night!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bittermiss
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Location: MI
Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 34 members
About Me:
I have been lax lately. There are several reasons.
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