Let me tell you something about this fish fry......
WOOOOWEEEEEEEEE!!!!
I've always liked Bridie's. Â There food is great and the service is quick. Â Ashley and I came here on Friday after she got back from Dallas and we both had a craving for fried fish. Â The AYCE is $15 but it includes homemade chips, peas, cole slaw, fried perch, shrimp and clams. Â
I only wanted the perch, as did Ashley. Â The filets are huuuuuuuge and lightly breaded, but still manage to give you a big crunch! Â The tartar sauce is delicious. Â It has a little sweet kick to it. Â
We washed it down with a tall 312. Â It was a wonderful meal. Â They do karaoke on Friday nights as well, but we didn't stick around for that. Â Someone ate too much and had to use the bathroom....someone doesn't realize how much food one stomach can handle.....someone should be more considerate of their significant other when we dine out. Â (me)
Kids eat free- ALWAYS! That's pretty cool! Food was good. I didn't go out of my comfort range on this visit; I didn't try anything very interesting. I will come back however.
One negative comment: it was so insanely busy and we were there around 6 pm on a Tuesday. For persons without a reservation, the wait was over 30 minutes. Maybe they had a special event that night, but that seems odd for a Tuesday. People were actually waiting too! I sat at the bar to avoid waiting for a table.
I'll try again sometime, and will update accordingly.
We had lunch yesterday at Bridie McKenna's, what a wonderful Irish food treat that was. Â Shepard's Pie... Right amount of beef, potatoes and vegetable combination. Â Husband had corn beef and cabbage.... Beef super tender. Â His aunt had beef stew with Guinness gravy. Â Not a bite left there either. Each Irish special dish ( there were several to chose from) all came with either soup or salad. Â Choices were New England chowder, potato/cabbage/bacon soup or a nice size salad. Â All were excellent. Â
We even had desserts. Â Aunt and I shared a giant Irish brownie, topped with a scoop of ice cream with dollops of whip cream around the plate! Â Husband had bread pudding (no raisins added) with a scoop of ice cream on top. Â A portion of that got taken home to be savored later. We will be back even though it is quite a distance away.
Great local kind of place with with big-box Irish flair. I've been here a couple times so far. Â I have not been there when it is busy so it is not possible for me to comment on ability to handle a capacity crowd or what the crowd is like.
The good: The food is very good. The drinks are fine. I get a good vibe here. I think I could like this place.
I need to come on a busier night and see if they fit their shirt. See if they can pull off a loud friendly Irish atmosphere with great service.
More to come later.
We came into Bridie's a few Fridays ago for a change of pace from Gabe's. Â the bf thought there would be karaoke, but there wasn't, which was sad.
We'd already eaten, but settled into the bar for a beverage. Â For a Friday night it was pretty dead, but it was also a little early (9ish). Â The bartender was quick and friendly and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Â I like the traditional Irish pub feel.
We moved on after one drink, but I would definitely return, as I was glancing at the menu, it looks like they have some great traditional Irish eats.
We had Galway Arms (our "Irish place" in the city). So when we moved to Highland Park, we needed to find another nearby. Bridie's has great food, especially the corned beef hash and mother's day brunch. On saturday and sunday mornings, it's definitely quite empty. But, we like it that way - lots of attention. And the outdoor patio is not to be missed.
Review Source:Was here on a Friday night(6/22/2012) with some friends for a few drinks. Â Now i've been here before and have not had any issues...but this night was different. Â First I must say I drove all they way from the city to be here with my friends since they live in the area and they couldn't come down to see me. Â But when I go up to highland park, I like to go here. Â Â Maybe its just me, but the I find sitting at the bar to be a much better experience then sitting at the tables. Â Bar staff is much more attentive. Â Wait staff seem to be too frantic and hurried. Â
Onto the review.
- There was a wierd funky odor coming from the inside of the buliding. Â So we sat outside.
- We had arrived at about 8:30 - 9pm and had bout 3 different waittresses...all of which seemed to be in a hurray to get us drinks/feed us and be done with us.  1 friend  had 1 drink in 2 hours.  We couldnt rustle down a waitress for awhile.  Every time there was a hand off of the waitress staff we lost their attention.  When we got our food we had no untensils and napkins(again lost in the shuffle).  Luckily my friends and are were engaged in a good conversatation,  but I know good service when I see it.  Â
- From the moment we sat down I felt like we were not going going to get good service.
Now the prices here and fair,  The food is descent to good,  beer and liquor list is adequate..but service was questionable.  I know its a friday night and it can get busy for some restaurants. But either the staff had an off night or just didnt care for us.  Either way....down to 2 stars. Would have been one  or none if it weren't for the other good times I've been here.
As a true foodie, I consider it my "duty" to try as many new places, and kinds of food as possible. Tonight I ended up at a friends birthday dinner at Bridie McKenna's Irish Pub. Right off the bat, I knew I would have to love it, because we were seated in a room with a fireplace and shelves of books. Kind of like sitting and eating in a very cozy library! The menu was filled with delicious goodies, such as Irish classics like Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, bangers and mash, and shepherd's pie. It was hard to decide what to order, as everything sounded like something I would enjoy. However, I decided to go with the Shepherd's pie, simply because I've yet to discover one I really like.
I'm quite glad I ordered it, because it was quite good. There's honestly nothing bad that I can say about it. It came out hot and steaming, with the mashed potatoes being baked on top, and soft and whipped on the inside. The meat was tender and extremely flavorful, paired well with the various vegetables such as carrots and onions and peas. This dish was the perfect comfort food. I could see myself hunkered down on a cold night, eating Shepherd's pie and having a delightful culinary experience all over again.
I only got a bite, but the Corned beef and Cabbage was superb. Somehow, the Corned beef felt as if it had melted into my mouth and each taste bud was tasting the many flavors individually. When, not if, I return to Bridie McKenna's, I am ordering the Corned beef and Cabbage hands down. A full meal of it will probably be one of the best meals of my life.
I stopped with my family because we had heard so much about Bridie McKennas. Â The restaurant was amazing. Â Very authentic Irish bar with equally authentic Irish food. Â The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. Â I would have given it 5 stars but the prices are on the expensive side. Â Dinner for three adults (3 beers) Â was $75 + tip.
Review Source:Ok, so I am the General Manager for a new bar that opened up in Vernon Hills and tonight was my first night off in a long time. I had a few employees tell me to come to this bar and so my friend and I did. It was the 2 of us and 2 guys sitting at the bar and we were talking about where I worked. The Manager on Duty had the audacity to badmouth my bar passively to the 2 guys we were sitting with and the 2 staff members that were on duty saying we are in a honeymoon period and we would be closed by October. I asked her if she had any questions or complaints about my bar this would be the time to ask or tell me since I was sitting right here and all she did was go in the back and hide. She later was whispering about us to her employees and the 2 men who were sitting with us were shocked to hear what was spewing from her mouth. I will never go back to this place. I will promote how horrible this place is to everyone I know. I would also love to speak to the owners who employ such a horrendous person who would speak ill about a place she had never been and knows nothing about.
Review Source:Nice Irish pub inside and out. Â Quick and friendly service. Â Not many tables by the bar, so sat in the wall seats that we dislike. Fish and chips were good, but the chips far outnumbered the fish (2 small pieces). Â Included were cold peas and a tiny plastic cup of cole slaw (why bother). Â Soup or salad included. Â Cabbage soup was excellent. Â $2.50 for Miller Lite. Â Okay to return to if in the area. Â Might be nice on the patio in the summer.
Review Source:Bridie's is such a refreshing Irish bar because the food is incredibly yummy. They could have a bigger Irish beer selection considering Murphy's Irish Stout is a few stars tastier than Guiness. But I digress again about the drinks. :)
The rarebit, beef stew, and shepard's pie are time and again what you should absolutely get. One time, friends I came with got a plate of oysters which were surprisingly good.
During the warmer months, the outdoor patio is pretty big and nice to take advantage of. Separate room with a couple big TVs is nice for those wanting to watch a game and hang out with a big group of friends. Otherwise, Bridie's does have a more traditional bar that's not a bad size, just not a bunch of huge TVs there. Right across from the Fort Sheridan Metra Train Stop and plenty of street parking nearby and in the middle of downtown Fort Sheridan, it's convenient and not a bad area to hang out in.
This place is so cute I cannot believe it took me so long to check it out! Â So I came here after work with some of the girls to relax and we had a great time! Â I did not have anything to eat but I had two tall vodka pineapples :). Â The two bartenders (Cathy and Michelle) were awesome and super sweet. Â They made sure that I had a refill before my first drink was even empty (and asked me again after the second but I knew that would be a bad idea).
Entering Bridie makes you feel as though you are actually entering into an Irish Pub... in Ireland. Â The patrons at the bar are all very friendly and talkative as well. Â I think everyone in the bar talked to me during the time I was there. Â You definitely feel at home when you are enjoying your happy hour at Bridies!
I love this place. Â The staff is probably the friendliest staff you will find, the ambiance is very comfortable, the patio is tight, but nice, and the food is very good. Â The burgers are great, but expensive so go on Wednesday for half priced burgers; very good deal for the quality. Â It's hard to find a place that makes a good fish and chips so I was very happy when my order came and the fish was crispy and meaty. Â I can't say enough about the staff though, they're great (I didn't mean to sound like Tony the Tiger). Â You'll have a great time.
Review Source:I would actually give this place three and a half stars if I could. It's good, but it's not great. We've been here several times and each time I've found one or two things that keep me from giving it four stars.
For example, one time I got the stuffed chicken breast and it was dry. We had an absent-minded waiter another time (though very friendly) who took forever and forgot things, which I had to get up and retrieve myself. Another time we waited overly-long to be acknowledged and seated while  servers walked right by. Another time I got the black bread and it didn't taste any different than dark bread from the grocery store. Things like that.
On a positive note, the staff is always very friendly and smiling, the atmosphere is fun and not too loud, and the fish & chips are amazing.
Bridie's has karaoke on Friday nights, which makes it indispensable to Highwood. Â There are a lot of bars in Highwood, all with their different character, and while the Irish pub kitsch does set Bridie's apart, the karaoke is really what does it. Â They have an incredible selection, with choices as recent as Adele's Rolling in the Deep and some ill-advised hits by Lady Gaga, along with a long list of beers on draft and plenty of mixed drinks to try.
The age group is a pretty mixed bag (mostly late 20s-ish), but karaoke is definitely the great equalizer. Â Really a great time on Friday nights-- and such a different kind of fun than can be found at any other bar in Highwood.
The Best Pub Grub on the North Shore!
If you have not been to Bridie's and you love Fish & Chips, then you need to get here. Â This Highwood locale is a great place to meet up with friends for a few beers and some yummy Irish grub or even just stop in by yourself for a beer in the middle of the afternoon to sit at the bar and watch a game.
The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. On your first visit they treat you like a regular. Â The food is delicious, focusing on traditional Irish/English fare. The curry gravy is delicious and surprisingly, their calamari is some of the best I've ever had. Â
The only thing I would suggest is to check what special events might be going on. Â Sometimes there is Karaoke, live music or Irish Dancing that can change the normal laidback atmosphere of the joint.
The good: Food is fresh and tasty.
The bad: Service is inexcusably poor, we had to ask several times for items that we had previously ordered to be brought to the table.
If service would show up to work, I'm sure that this would be a fun and popular place.
Perhaps I should get out more often, but I was shocked that we payed over $20 per person for a very modest lunch.
The website reads: "Bridie's Exterior is designed in the style of a street in a Irish village."
The takeaway: A village. Not a public house, but an entire VILLAGE! It sounds crazy, but I almost got lost in here (pre-alcoholic beverage, don't judge)... this bar/restaurant is just that big.
I didn't actually intend to pay Bridie's a visit, but I happened to have 6pm dinner plans next door and due to an uncharacteristically traffic-free cruise up 94, I was met with a 25-minute gob of free time. I nabbed a rockstar parking spot in front (god, I love the suburbs) and thought, let's turn this into a drink, shall we?
I took a seat and was immediately welcomed by a charming female bartendress who gave me a beer menu. As I perused the selections, I overheard a mishmash of accents around me: Definitely Irish, but also... South African? Yes, definitely South African. And Johannesburg, not Cape Town (don't ask how I can make this distinction).
Back to that beer list. I'll admit, I wasn't expecting such a deep, thoughtful selection. On draft, Bridie's offers Guinness, Boddingtons, Magners, Kilkenny, Carlsberg, Delerium, Chimay White, Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA, and usually but not this evening: Blanch de Chambly. Some of my favorite bottles include Chimay Red and Blue, Liefmann's Frambozen, St. Bernadus Abt #12 and... drum roll, please... La Fin Du Monde.
There you have it - a dauntless, daring Irish bar unafraid of dabbling internationally. An instant friendship has been forged!
Irish American restaurant that doubles as a sports bar.  At least one tv(there are 2 flat screens mounted on either side of the bar) was showing soccer when I visited.  Bridie's is the place to go when you crave shepherd's pie, fish and chips  or corned beef and cabbage.  Kids menu has something for the pickiest eater.  Friendly prompt service at reasonable prices with good food.  There's often live music, too.
Review Source:In a town that is known for it's bars and restaurants, comes a nice Irush Pub that is authentic as Ireland herself. Â Highwood for years has been known as "The" place to go for libations on the North Shore. Â Primarily Italian in nature with its prevalent Italian restaurants, a hidden gem has opened it's doors to change the face of old Highwood.
I've been here many times and waited in anticipation of the opening. Â Everyone saw the structure being built and while it took quite some time to finally open, the patrons were not disappointed. Â The interior has authentic Irish taste and decor.
The exterior design is bright and inviting and calls to you to come taste Ireland.
There are words above the main door titled "Slan Abhaile" which translates to "Safe Home" and ain't that the truth!
There is a wonderful selection of both bottled and draft beers at the elegant Victorian Bar. Â There was obvious money thrown into that bar. Â It's a real eye catcher right when you enter the door.
Throughout the Irish tavern are many rooms for private parties and plenty of space to get away and enjoy the ambience.
If it's food you are looking for, then dry your drool and take a seat!
Plenty of food choices for both young and old including traditional Irish food: Â Corned Beef, Cabbage, Bangers and Mash, Fish and Chips, Lamb Stew, Guiness Stew, Shepards Pie, All Day Irish Breakfast! Â I'm a big fan of the Irish Spring Rolls (Cabbage and Corned Beef rolled in a spring roll with horseradish!!!!!!!!)
This is a great date place for wooing the opposite sex, treating them to great food, great spirits, and romantic ambience....just wait until you get back to your car for steamy action!
Phenomenal Service - decent food
The service definitely makes this place worth the trip. Â Our waitress Stephanie was awesome at making us feel welcome and like we were good friends. Â
The ambiance was nice. Â We sat outside and it was enjoyable. Â I was there with my mom for dinner. Â It looked like a cute pub for an afterwork drink. Â
The food was tasty - although my steak was overcooked on the outside. Â I still enjoyed it though.
Parking was a little awkward - there was valet parking but it looks like it's for the entire block. Â I couldn't really see where there was street parking. Â I'm from CA and not familiar with the area.
Stopped for a beer during a day of junking, aka going to estate sales. Had been to a sale that was supposed to have had a huge collection of bag pipes so this bar seemed fitting. (I know, bagpipes do not = Irish...)
Anyway, it was "Bridie's Birthday" so Irish beers/stouts were $4. Who cares! They have Carlsberg on tap. No brainer.
Bartender was super friendly, looked like she made a mean bloody mary. Secret ingredient? HP sauce.
Varied crowd was here, both young and old. Perfect afternoon bar to read ian. Wasn't crowded either. Â The bar itself is pretty big too, so you're not stuck at a table if you like to belly-up. This is a polished up Irish bar, only been here since 2007. So it's not the more gritty bar I enjoy and it certainly much too big to be an authentic Irish bar. Another reviewer said it's a "pub in a box" and I'd agree.
But it's still a nice bar. Â It will be better in about ten years once it's worn in....
Didn't have any food so can't review that. Â But I did see a nice collection of whiskeys which is admirable.
Nice place, Nice people who work there, and nice food & service.
You walk in in this & immediatly feel comfortable. It's warm, friendly, comfortable, and cozy.
The Shepards Pie is just wonderful as are the Fish & Chips!
And the person who runs it, Nuala ( spelling ? ) is a geniunely nice person, and old school as far hard working and very pleasant.
This is nice place and I'll be going back to try other things on the menu!
Bridie's is a regular lunch stop of ours on weekends. Â The food is good, including the kid's menu. Â They make a children''s mac-n-cheese that is actual baked pasta with cheese (not from the box) and my daughter absolutely loves it. Â I regularly order the fish and chips, and I think it''s quite good. Â Service is very friendly, and the atmosphere is nice (several small rooms, rather than one large room). Â Good beer selection. Â We stopped by here one Friday night and it had a good crowd. Â Although the decor seems a bit like an Irish version of Appleby's (i.e. token Irish items and pictures screwed to the walls), it still has a nice feel and I don't believe that this is a franchise. Â Perhaps as time goes on it will begin to develop a bit more of that authentic Irish pub feel; I'll keep stopping by to find out.
Review Source:We stopped into Bridie's for a work social this evening after work. Â The service was great: friendly, attentive, quick, good suggestions, and willing to split the bill for a party of ten! Â
The prices seemed a bit steep for what you get. Â I had the fish and chips, which met my needs were not the best fish and chips I've ever had. Â They were just okay. Â Others at the table ordered the crab cake appetizers and the mini-ruebens because they were both on special for half-price. Â Given the special price, the crab cake was okay (you only get one crab cake), but if they only give you one crab cake when you're paying full-price then I'd call that rip off.
In all, I'd say we had a good experience and would definitely return, but I would order something different next time.
Went here last night with a group of 7, including 2 kids. Â Showed up for our 5:00 reservation and we were seated immediately. Â Our table was right next to the door and at first we weren't too happy with that, but the longer we sat and the more the place filled up, I was glad we were close to the door for an easy escape. Â Within an hour of us arriving, the place went from just a few people at the bar to a waiting list of almost 90 minutes. Â My friend saw her boss sitting at the bar while waiting for a table and wanted to go say hello. Â The place was so crowded she couldn't make it the 15ft. or so to get to the bar - a good sign business-wise I suppose.
Our server (regretfully I don't remember her name) was WONDERFUL. Â She was very friendly, helpful, funny and very welcoming. Â She made great suggestions as far as entrees and was extremely knowledgeable about the drink/beer selections (tons of imports).
The menu was varied but solid.  About 10 each of  appetizer, salad, sandwich, main entree and "Traditional Irish Fare" selections to choose from.  We ordered the mini rubens and calamari for appetizers - both were very good.  For dinner I had the Cottage Pie (chicken pot pie).  It was good, but not phenomenal, and was a "stick-to-your-ribs" kind of dish.  The crust was awesome.  Everyone else ordered Guinness Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Shepard's Pie and Fish & Chips and all were very good.  My son had the cheeseburger and said he loved it (have to admit, it did look GREAT!).
The atmosphere was pretty authentic, it was obvious the crowd was heavily Irish. Â (The waitress told us the owner is an Irishman who is also a carpenter and took great pains to make the place as authentic and genuine as possible.) Â Age range was mostly late 30's - 60's but we saw all sorts from infants to elderly people. Â The bar seemed like a great place to hang out and have a few drinks, which is what we might try next time we head to Bridie McKenna's.
Overall, this was a really solid place. Â Really good food, great atmosphere, TVs for watching the games, outstanding service and very reasonable prices (total for dinner was $237 including drinks, desserts and tip for 7 people) and it will definitely become a favorite haunt for us. Â We also couldn't help but notice that the other once bustling resturants in the immediate area were slow if not dead. Â Seems Bridie's has become the new favorite in Highwood.
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