Why Irish Cuisine?
When Irish cuisine is done right, it’s much more than a meal. It stirs up something soothing in the soul — it feels and tastes like home. Irish cuisine is the ultimate comfort food, and this place in Philadelphia is no exception. It’s home-made and often starchy, filling, hearty, and warm. It’s nearly always a balanced meal that includes potatoes, a veggie, and some meat or fish.
When visiting Philadelphia, it felt appropriate to go for an Irish dinner — especially while staying in the Old Town. The Irish were some of the first inhabitants of the United States as many were colonists and soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War in some capacity. Seeing as Philadelphia was a major city during the fight for independence, that means they’ve had two hundred and forty plus years to get the Irish cuisine right.
No Shamrocks Here.
The Plough and Stars name comes from (I assume) the play written by Irish playwright, Sean O’Casey in the mid-1920s. The ambiance feels historical while also being incredibly warm and cozy. Many places that brand themselves as ‘Irish pubs’ can be kitschy with cardboard cutouts of shamrocks and green beer offered every day. The Plough and Stars went with a much more tasteful and modern feel that is reminiscent of the types of establishments that have cropped up around Dublin lately. Traditional Irish music is performed on Sundays so guests can get a sampling of culture that goes beyond food.
More Than Cabbage.
The Plough and Stars food is so memorable that I can actually start salivating when I think about it! Yeah, it was that good. From the minute the first bite touched my tongue, it was insanely apparent that this place does not just rush through orders. You could taste the love and effort that went into each dish, and that to me is the essence of Irish cooking.
I absolutely implore travelers to start with the lamb lollys. This is the perfect-sized starter as it’s not too filling, but you definitely have enough to keep you tied over until dinner. I each lamb regularly, and this has to have been some of the best-seasoned lamb that I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. The cut was beautiful, and a great balance between fatty/savory and gamy. Potatoes come on the side and are also seasoned to perfection with an impossibly impeccable balance of crispy and starchy. The gravy that accompanies the starter is the stuff of dreams, it bursts with flavor and I quite literally felt my taste buds dance with joy as the gravy hit my palate.
Soda bread
I was thrilled that Irish soda bread was on the menu in Philadelphia, as I miss it throughout the year. It’s typically only available near me in mid-March. Imagine my sheer delight when I was expecting some rinky-dink half basket of a few slices to show up, and instead, we got AN ENTIRE PILLOW SIZED LOAF for five dollars. We took it back to New York with us where we’re still enjoying its fresh taste. Oftentimes, soda bread can be quite dry. We were both surprised at how dense and moist the bread is, I apologize as I know moist is the worst word known to man, but I couldn’t find a more appropriate synonym. This was hand’s down the best soda bread that I’ve ever had.
Deciding on an entree was really tough. Guinness casserole, shepherd’s pie, curry, and steak frites all sounded perfect, but I went with the fish and chips. Again, no surprises that the dish was unfairly perfect. The proportion was more than filling, but not wasteful and the fish was not too soft, not too crispy. The tartar sauce was a knock-out tangy accompaniment and is homemade.
If you’re looking for an exceptional, authentic, Irish meal in Philadelphia — have no doubts about making The Plough and Stars your place to go!
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