Irish pubs and restaurants on Long Island
The Poutine, and Irish Whiskey Chicken at the Irish Times Pub in Holbrook, Feb.28, 2021. Credit: Linda Rosier
Celtic pride swells all-year-round at Long Island's Irish pubs and restaurants. The best serve a long roster of traditional fare (think shephard's pie, bangers and mash) and host traditional music sessions if not bagpipers and step dancers come March. While neighborhood spots abound, this kind of high revelry is worth traveling for — here are some best bets for marking the holiday in a lively atmosphere:
Monaghan's Bar and Restaurant
48 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre
Warm and genial Monaghan's is an Irish restaurant in the heart of Rockville Centre, one of Long Island's most Hibernian communities. Owned by the Gunn family of Monaghan, a town equidistant from Dublin and Derry, it serves traditional, vegetarian and gluten-free fare, including favorites such as shepherd's pie, fish and chips and “Dublin broil (flank steak with mushroom gravy). More info: 516-764-6372, monaghansrvc.com
The Irish Poet
1891 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh
Mike McNiff, who grew up in west Ireland's Castlerea, opened the Irish Poet in 2021 along with two buddies, both former colleagues of his at the Wantagh Inn. Besides a delicious Irish Dip sandwich, which ditches roast beef for the corned kind but leaves the cup of demi-glace intact, there are spring rolls filled with pastrami and sauerkraut and shepherd’s pie. Reservations suggested for March 17, which coincides with Wantagh's St. Patrick's Day stepping off at 2 p.m. this year. More info: 516-588-1891, irishpoetny.com
Shepherd's pie, Irish spring roll and Irish dip sandwich at the Irish Poet in Wantagh. Credit: Brittainy Newman
Belfast Gastropub
101 N. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst
Owner Dave Crowe is considered Long Island’s Irish pub pooh-bah, having opened five Flanagan’s here since 1987 (Lily and otherwise), Crowe was born in an upstairs room above his father’s place in Limerick. As such, he knows what pubs can mean, and what we stand to lose without them. “When I was young the pub was the center of the village,” he says. “There were no bowling alleys, everything was done around the pubs.” Perched squarely in the center of the village, Belfast has a busy bar scene with separate dining areas for those who want to tuck in to hearty traditional fare, from corned beef and cabbage to full Irish breakfast. More info: 631-237-7021, belfastgastropub.com
Buckley's Irish Pub
386 Main St., Center Moriches
With its etched glass, dark wood, snug booths and regular live music, Buckley's hits every classic Gaelic note. The extensive menu has plenty of Irish selections — cream of potato soup, fish and chips, shepherd's and chicken pot pies and even an “Irish”-style chicken curry. Try to come on Sunday for a brunch that includes a proper Irish breakfast of eggs, toast, baked beans, tomato, and three traditional sausages — bangers, black pudding and white pudding. Most patrons gravitate toward the bar, where partner Jason Sheridan often pulls the Guinness. More info: 631-909-8330, buckleyspub.com
John Bearese pours a guinness at Buckley's Irish Pub in Center Moriches. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Kitty Mulligan’s
615 E. Main St., Bay Shore
Dublin native Steve Bermingham named his Irish pub after his grandmother, Kitty, whose black-and-white photo has a place of honor at the bar. “She had 32 grandkids but remembered every one of their birthdays in her head, and you always felt like she knew you. It’s a gift, I think, being able to know and welcome everyone,” Bermingham said. Barn doors separate the bar area from the Trinity room, a cozy annex that’s equally comfortable playing host to speed-dating events, ’80s cover bands, televised rugby games, cutthroat dart tournaments and other entertainment. St. Patrick's Day will bring acoustic Irish music starting at 3 p.m. More info: 631-315-3571, kittymulligans.com
Joanie Marino of the band Future Past sings at Kitty Mulligan's in Bay Shore. Credit: Brittainy Newman
Lily Flanagan's Irish Pub
345 Deer Park Ave., Babylon
There is always a steady crowd that enjoys the laid-back atmosphere at this longtime spot, which is divided into two parts: dining and dancing. If you're here to eat, try the shepherd's pie, house potato soup, Reuben, corned beef sandwich or its selection of burgers. Live music and entertainment sometimes features traditional Irish singers, step dancers and bagpipers, too. More info: 631-539-0816, lilyflanaganspub.com
Carney's Irish Pub
136 Broadway, Amityville
This family-oriented restaurant offers plenty of space for groups and an eclectic menu from corned beef and cabbage to Irish egg rolls or chicken curry. There's also shepherd's pie and fish and chips. A traditional Irish breakfast is a staple on March 17 (but always available). Dinner reservations are recommended for prime holiday seatings. More info: 631-464-4445, carneysamityvillage.com
Irish Coffee Pub
131 Carleton Ave., East Islip
An elegant eatery that's hosted many a bridal or baby shower over the decades, the Irish Coffee Pub offers traditional Irish cuisine plus a variety of other menu items. The shepherd's pie has beef and fresh vegetables baked in earthenware and topped with whipped potatoes, while the Black Angus Steak Fitzpatrick is flambéed in brandy and topped with a mushroom brown sauce. Fish and chips is an Irish specialty as well at this pub-style bar. There are 10 draft beer lines on tap, including Guinness. More info: 631-277-0007, irishcoffeepub.com
Flanagan's Pub
451 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma
Family-owned and run, this is an authentic Irish gastropub features a double-sided fireplace for a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. Its spin on traditional Irish food includes an Irish dream roll, Flanagan's corned beef sandwich, fish and chips and shepherd's pie. Live music abounds, sometimes traditional Irish. More info: 631-588-9843, flanaganspub.net
Paddy's Loft
1286 Hicksville Rd., Massapequa
There's a lively bar scene and a fireplace in the dining area (and one in the pub) at Paddy's Loft. The eatery serves beef stew with boiled root vegetables and new red potatoes, bangers and mash, Irish spring roll with corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, chicken potpie or shepherd's pie. More info: 516-798-7660, paddysloft.com
Irish Times Pub
975B Main St., Holbrook
This family-friendly pub is also a late-night destination with 15 draft beers on tap and seating for 70 diners. On the menu: burgers, wraps and sandwiches plus a special all-March-long menu featuring Reuben egg rolls, Guinness Irish stew and other Irish favorites. More info: 631-467-4330, irishtimespubny.com
Lorcan Phelan, co-owner of the Irish Times Pub in Holbrook. Credit: Linda Rosier
Mary Carroll's
121 Deer Park Ave., Babylon
The mammoth beer garden from Conor Hartnett, a truebred Irishman, has grown over two decades to be a major draw on Babylon's main drag for its long draft list, outside seating and late-night dancing. While the food takes twists on traditional Irish, it's part of the spirit here: There's Guinness and beef pot pie among crowd-pleasing burgers and apps. More info: 631-587-6181, marycarrolls.co
Meehan's of Huntington
371 New York Ave., Huntington
Spacious and stylish, this pub has 20 beers on tap and a friendly crew and knowledgeable kitchen staff. Favorites are Irish stew and corned beef and cabbage. There are also two rooms you can rent for private parties. More info: 631-351-0831, meehansrestaurant.com
