An Italian-American fusion restaurant might seem an offbeat destination for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities, but Brent Conley, general manager at Pinstripes in Edina, says the restaurant’s once-yearly tribute to the Emerald Isle is not to be missed. On March 17 only, Fulton’s Lonely Blonde beer is dressed up in cheery green and priced at $3 per pint. The St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage dish is another crowd-pleaser, says Conley: “It’s a shame we don’t have it year-round. Our chef may be Ecuadoran, but he makes some darn good Irish food!”
Count yourself lucky to be toasting Ireland from this side of the pond where happy hour deals at Tavern on France include green domestic drafts available at a happy price of $3 a pint from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, March 16-18.
“No green beer here!” says Grant Fabel, bar manager at Red Cow, where the colors of St. Patrick’s Day are black and tan. Irish Americans can drink Irish throughout the month of March at this craft beer and burger joint, which devotes attention to imported brews, permitting a wide variety of ale-stout cocktails, such as top-selling Guinness-cider black-and-tans. For a blend that’s equal parts traditional and community-minded, combine your Guinness with an Irish-style amber from Minneapolis-based brewery Finnegan’s. Red Cow’s signature dish also adopts a brogue for the occasion with a corned beef and cabbage burger special. Brined beef is incorporated into the Angus patty and topped with a mound of traditional boiled cabbage. Foamy Guinness meets rich chocolate mousse in Red Cow’s dessert feature. Remember, it’s good for you, right?
