Bring on the green and the Guinness! It’s St. Patrick’s Day in Iowa, and we are here for it. From sharing a bite and a pint at the pub, these events and dining options are oh-so savory to ignite the luck of the Irish this year.
March 14 to March 17: Hotel Julien Dubuque
Dubuque
For an authentic St. Patrick’s Day Irish feast, head to Hotel Julien Dubuque’s Caroline’s Restaurant. Chef Michael Henson will be serving corned beef hash for breakfast, corned beef and cabbage for lunch and dinner and, for dessert, a delicious toffee pudding that will leave you feeling lucky.
Reservations: hoteljuliendubuque.com.
March 16: Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Bar Crawl
Des Moines
It’s a little bit of this, a little bit of that and a whole lot of fun this St. Patrick’s Day in Iowa when you join Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Bar Crawl on March 16. Stops along this make-your-own adventure include Hessen Haus, The Stuffed Olive Des Moines, Rrackss Fine BBQ & Bistro, Tipsy Crow and Tonic Bar. Exclusive drink specials, green and gold beads, professional photographers and food specials are all along your route to what’s surely a pot of gold at the end of this festive journey in Des Moines. Check-in takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hessen Haus.
Cost: $25 through March 15; $30 day-of.
Reservations: crawlwith.us/desmoines/stpattys.
Dublin Bay Irish Pub and Grill
Ames
Dublin Bay Irish Pub and Grill in Ames takes pride in making guests feel at home to converse, share a bite or a pint and savor the spirit of life, making it the perfect place to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in Iowa. Menu must-orders include Irish soda bread and butter, baked fresh daily and served with honey butter; Guinness beef boxty with Guinness-marinated beef, carrots, peas and pearl onion in a potato pancake with gorgonzola cream sauce; Flaherty’s fish and chips, Harp Irish Lager beer-battered cod served with fries; and homemade bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce and ice cream.
Reservations: dublinbayames.com.
Olde Brick House
Cedar Rapids
If bangers and mash sound like music to your taste buds, Olde Brick House is your place to call home this St. Patrick’s Day in Iowa. Other traditional Irish dishes include Scotch eggs, comprising two hard-boiled eggs wrapped in a signature blend of pork sausage; and house-made Celtic meatloaf on a heaping bed of potatoes, creamed cabbage, fried onion straws and gravy.
Reservations: oldebrickhousepub.com.
Pat & Fran’s Irish Pub
Coralville
For an ultimate St. Patrick’s Day feast, enjoy Pat & Fran’s famed Blarney Stones, breaded mashed potato balls with cheese topped with corned beef gravy; Franny’s beef stew, made with beef, potatoes and carrots in a spiced tomato puree; and a corned beef platter with in-house corned beef and homemade beef gravy. Pair your holiday meal with one of Pat & Fran’s 25 whiskeys or 24 beers on tap.
Reservations: patandfrans.com.
Micky’s Irish Pub
Iowa City
Located in the heart of Downtown Iowa City, Micky’s Irish Pub has been a neighborhood favorite for over 30 years. The spot serves up tasty food and the self-proclaimed coldest beer in the city, a perfect combo for St. Patrick’s Day dining. Enjoy cheese curds, Irish egg rolls, Scotch eggs, Irish eggs benedict and Micky’s Lucky Burger, a burger patty topped with corned beef, sauerkraut and swiss cheese. As for the suds, enjoy various half-and-half options, including a Blacksmith (Guinness and Smithwick’s); Black and Gold (Guinness and Angry Orchard); and Black and Blue (Guinness and Blue Moon).
Reservations: mickysirishpub.com.
Jameson’s Public House
Waterloo
Settle in this St. Patrick’s Day at Jameson’s Public House, established 2005, with savory bites and frothy beers. Menu items include Jame-skins, cooked baby red potatoes loaded with smoked bacon, cheddar and sour cream, and shepherd’s pie with ground beef, peas and carrots doused in Jameson’s brown ale gravy topped with garlic mashed potatoes and baked until bubbling.
Reservations: jamesonspublichouse.com.
Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery
Ankeny
You’ll be beaming with luck after indulging in Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery’s scratch-made Irish fare with local ingredients. Savor bangers and mash smothered in brown onion-mushroom gravy; traditional Smithwick’s fish and chips with homemade coleslaw; and Yorkshire Scotch egg nest nestled in champ mashed taters. Pair with a pint of Guinness any which way, including Black Kilt (Guinness and Tennent’s lager); Black Velvet (Guinness and Champagne); and Snakebite (Guinness and Magners Irish Cider).
Reservations: mageesirishpub.com.