Claddagh is like... if TGI Friday took a trip to Ireland, went on a 3 day bender, and had a child with a Scottish prostitute.
Two stars only because I'm flat out impressed that a restaurant this bad has been able to stay open for this long. Talk about location, location, location! Right?
Imagine if this place closed and an awesome restaurant opened here. It would be packed every night!
Claddagh has a pretty cool atmosphere. Â Decorated like an old castle and dimly lit like one too. Â Good menu selection and plenty to choose from on tap.
The dinning room is divided into different areas, most of which are big enough to host large parties of 12 or more. Â The outside patio is great in the warmer months and offers one of the many views from the Newport Levee.
The service and food here have always been consistently good.
Stopped by here on a whim while visiting a friend in OH for Thanksgiving. We walked across the Purple People Bridge from downtown Cincinnati and were just hanging around Newport deciding what to do for the night since we were already full from dinner. We ended up in this pub for drinks and dessert.
FOOD/DRINKS
- Hot Apple Cider: hmmm, I love warm apple cider on cold nights. And it had a touch of rum in it, which made it even better! I would've loved if they put longer cinnamon sticks in the drink so I could stir it around for fun.
- Irish coffee: it looked like a mocha with the extra whipped cream on top, but it was definitely laced with a good amount of rum. This was actually a pretty strong drink.
- Warm & Tipsy Bread Pudding: the whiskey cream sauce definitely made this a decadent dessert! I want to recreate that sauce. You can easily split one of these between 2 or 3 people so you don't feel too full from the richness.
SERVICE
While we had our drinks and snacks, we sat outside and played Monopoly Deal for about an hour. The staff was friendly in checking in to make sure that we didn't want more food or drinks, but didn't hassle us to leave.
I would definitely come here again if I'm in town. The drinks and food seemed great, if a bit on the pricier side for Kentucky. But you get a wonderful view of the Ohio River and the skyline of downtown Cincinnati from their patio. If you want a place to eat with a view, I'd check this out!
A friend and I decided to go out for dinner. I found a Groupon for Claddagh and we decided to go.
On a Thursday night it wasn't super busy and we were sat immediately. This was the only positive note in our terrible dinner.
A DJ was coordinating some sort of name that song trivia night. This meant our evening was filled with short, loud bursts of music and customers shouting out the titles. While we weren't looking for a quiet evening, this wasn't exactly pleasant.
We started with the spinach and artichoke dip. It was good although there was much more dip than baguette slices. The appetizer took over a half hour to arrive.
Yet again this course took over a half hour to arrive. While our waiter kept insisting that the food was almost ready, each instance simply marked more visits without food. Â My companion ordered the Seared Duck. It was slightly under rendered, but the sauce was good and her meal was hot. I ordered the Dublin Chicken--panko crusted chicken breast with garlic mushroom sauce. My chicken was burnt. It wasn't crispy but absolutely blackened. Flipping it over to check the other side, a piece of chicken snapped off and bounced off the table. The waiter agreed the chicken was burnt and returned it to the kitchen. I ordered the Meatloaf as a replacement as I assumed this would be quicker.
Twenty minutes later and I received lukewarm, charred meatloaf. So I skipped the protein and picked at the sides. The manager comped my meal, but then refused to take my Groupon which required the purchase of an appetizer and two entrees. The manager insisted I could come back another time to use the voucher. I stated I didn't plan on returning. Eventually I was allowed to use the Groupon.
The manager stated that this was why they're currently hiring cooks. He gave us coupons for free dessert  on our next visit.
Our total meal took almost two hours and I left annoyed and hungry. Other tables were seated after us and had paid their bill and left before I received my replacement entree. Service was slow, food was poor, and the ambiance was lacking even for a bar.
Claddagh is an interesting pub located in the infamous Newport on the Levee, right by Jefferson Hall. I must admit, I've never eaten here, but we've stopped in a few times to have a few drinks while out at the Levee. It's an okay place. It never seems busy when we're here and it has a lot of wait staff kind of hanging around. They have a large selection of import beers and liquor- so if you're looking for a cold one, I can recommend this place. But don't make a special trip unless you're already at the Levee and have forked over the necessary $5 for parking.
Review Source:I've always thought that Claddagh is that chain that kind of breaks the mold. Â Yes, it's a chain, and you can pretty much tell when you walk in the door. Â Everything has that sort of clean, yet mass-produced feel. Â The Irish theme is pervasive and they did their best to cover the all the bases of what Ireland is, though it never really feels like you're in an Irish pub per-say.
Never-the-less this is a relaxing atmosphere. Â It may not feel like the most authentic Irish place in the world, but maybe that's a good thing. Â There is a nice patio outside that can be taken advantage of when weather permits. Â From the patio you get a fantastic view of Cincinnati. Â There's also no pressure to be trendy here, and the bar staff is quite friendly (though they could stand to be more attentive).
The menu puts a spin on traditional Irish meals, which is great, because if you've ever had traditional Irish meals, you know that they leave a lot to be desired. Â But not Claddagh. Â Most of the menu items are a home run, rather than a swing and a miss, which is another reason to find yourself at Claddagh from time to time.
The wait was a little excessive for the time of evening (around 9pm). Â The food (I had the honey glazed pork loin, a new menue item) came out looking wonderful. Â As I cut into the pork it was cold in the center. Â The waitress was ver appoligetic and took it to be finished correctly right away. Â No compensation of any kind was offered when the bill came. Â I was pretty dissapointed with that. Â I come here to eat often and never leave spending less than $25 even when alone. Â No dessert tonight boys, mama's not spending another dime this go round :-(
Review Source:We stopped in here for a couple drinks, no food. It was extremely slow and we were the only ones at the bar. I enjoyed the better than average beer selection and my gf got a pretty good red sangria.
I could have done without the slow service and random banter between the employees. Considering we were the only ones around, I expected to be served a little more quickly. At one point, the employees were too busy yapping among themselves about inappropriate things than to help us.
Oh so slow the service here, always. My friend's original plan was to take our out-of-town visitors to City View, but according to their voicemail message, they're closed on Sundays now :( So instead she decided on Claddagh. Having been here multiple times before and almost every time experiencing really slow service no matter how busy or dead, I knew we'd most likely be in for some long waits. Especially when our group size grew to 14. But an hour and half wait to receive our food from when we ordered it, and a half hour to get the checks after we asked for them... that's a new all-time record for this place.
When we raised our concerns with our server Jessica, she gave some lame excuses about having a new cook and things being crazy. Ok, I don't blame anyone for things they can't control, but at least come out and update us a time or two on the food status. And her long absences meant she missed out on quite a few drink refills too. We ended up asking for the manager to see if anything could be done because we weren't satisfied on how she (wasn't) handling it. He took 50% off my husband and my food orders and gave a similar schpiel about new ownership and staff and getting things figured out back there. Whatever.
It's a shame too, because I enjoy pretty much everything else about Claddagh - the location/view, food/drinks,and decor. And the view was the saving grace today, because at least we got to spend our long wait enjoying the 80 degree day on the patio. However, there are other spots at the Levee to do this from, so next time I'll be going to Brothers and saving Claddagh for when I have 3 and a half hours of time to kill.
In warmer weather, I really like the outdoor patio. It's fun to watch all the people walk by and the occasional street performer. The food is fine, nothing over the top great, but it can hit the spot, especially the fish and chips. I have enjoyed a few St. Patrick's Days here and there is a waitress that actually remembers our group every year. Good times. The drink prices are not the best around so plan accordingly.
Review Source:I've been here a few times, always hoping for something better than I got  the time before.  Unfortunately, the warmed-over frozen food they pass off as Irish fare is just plain bad.
My last time there I got the shepherd's pie. Â Easy to make. Â easy to make fresh. Â It was abundantly clear that this was a frozen entree that was heated up. Â There was a cm. of hard crust on the mashed potatoes, which should be whipped and smooth. Â The taste was bland, it needed seasoning.
My husband got the corned beef and cabbage. Â Same issues. Â No flavor. Â
Don't get me started on the children's meals. Â We had to send a cheeseburger back because it was crunchy. Â Crunchy. Â Totally burned. Â The replacement we got was burned as well, but just not as badly.
The kids' pizza (yes, I know this isn't their specialty, but they offer it) was literally inedible. Â
Next time...Molly Malone's down the street in Covington.
I want to do an Irish jig every time I think about the feast of a fall menu Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant recently released. Food and Bev manager, Karen Murphy (Irish to the bone, accent included), introduced me to a fragrant fall sangria - mulled wine, fruits and spices... which was simply divine. Â On the menu, look for "IDE NUA" (Irish for "new ideas") which include appetizers like yuengling battered shrimp, baked goat cheese over a marinara sauce served with rustic bread and my personal favorite - Bass Ale stuffed mushroom caps. Â Claddaugh's fall entrees include a decadent slow cooked beef short ribs, yuengling shrimp and fries and Chicken Pot Pie with a kick of cayenne. Â To wash this hearty meal down, don't pass up on the Irish Coffee, pumpkin martini or the new Guinness Black Lager in a bottle. Â For dessert - drum roll please... the bread pudding is a MUST!!! Â My Partner in Dine - Cassandra S., an authentic Italian foodie, says Claddagh's Bread Pudding is comparable in quality and excellence to that of Bella Luna (winner of Taste of Cincinnati 2011 #1 dessert). Â I'm not kidding~ it's that good. Â Enjoy Ireland in Newport. Â There is definitely a pot of gold on this side of the rainbow.
Patio with the best view - check!
Live music - check!
Irish Breakfast - all day long - check!
As you may or may not know from past reviews, I'm not that big a fan of Newport on the Levee. It often seems like a sad glorified shopping mall filled with kids and full of places I don't enjoy buying things. Not my cup of tea.
However, sometimes, when I'm looking to eat or drink in a comfortable, familiar, shopping-mall-like environment (and it happens from time to time), I don't mind coming here. And when I do, I've always enjoyed my time at Claddagh.
Yeah, it's a chain and it can feel that way when you walk in (if it wasn't apparent by the name, it's a themed Irish bar, with stone walls, wooden bars and signs for things like Guinness everywhere.) So be it, they make np excuses for what they are - they're a family-friendly Irish restaurant all the way. And in a place like Newport, with many bars and restaurant trying to push late-night drinking or dancing or clubbing ... in a mall ... Â it's actually kind of refreshing for a place like Claddagh to be up front and honest.
The food here is solid. I've had their corned beef sandwich and it was delicious. Thinly sliced and flavorful. Little coleslaw and cheese on that, and it's pretty damn good. Last night, I also tried their goat cheese and mozzarella sauce that goes on top of baked bread as an appetizer? Damn, that was amazing! I'm not kidding, I almost ate the sauce without the bread it was so good ... Ok, honesty: I did eat the sauce without the bread it. And it was delicious!
It can get kind of crowded and crazy here, especially on the weekend as the night goes on, and service can suffer. Don't worry too much about it. Don't be in a hurry, grab a drink and enjoy. I do whenever I'm in the mood for eating in a shopping mall.
One last thing: yesterday, I learned the restaurant is actually pronounced clah-dah, not clau-dah. Just for your notes!
I'm going to admit it : I really do enjoy this place. It's a chain and I am okay with that. I am.
They have Strongbow on tap, and that right there is a plus for me because I love cider. It is almost always fresh. I really love it. Now - there have been times where the bartender couldn't manage to pour us a Strongbow (I went through three drinks once, all of them a golden colored beer - not cider- before getting the right drink).
The food is good. The cheese and fruit board is good and cheap - a few slices of a good smoked cheddar and some granny smith apples always makes me happy. It's pretty good stuff.
The irish beef stew is delicious - it is savory, filled with tender meat, carrots, and potatoes, and is just good comfort food. Near the end of my college life, I really was on a kick for it because it was so comforting. The fish and chips is also really good - better than most places so I cannot complain.
Worth it to come here and then go see a movie or something. I really do like this place.
I always order one of two entrees here. Both are quite tasty so I have yet ventured into other areas of the menu.
I love the Paddy Mac sandwich. Built with a mound of thinly sliced corned beef, this unique sandwich is topped with coleslaw and Swiss for a savory combination.
If I'm really hungry, I order the fish n' chips, signature to Claddagh. Order the smaller portion though, the fish is HUGE! Â Claddagh is one of the few places I will order a fillet of fish, as they know how to do it right. Crispy golden brown on the outside, fresh and flaky on the inside. Not too salty. Both of these entrees come with chips (steak fries). I like to dip them in the homemade tartar sauce.
For drinks, I recommend a pint of the Lemon Shandy (beer with carbonated lemonade.)
The only downside to Claddagh is the location at Newport On The Levee. You have to pay to park in the garage and battle tourists visiting the Levee if you're just interested in a meal. I don't go as often as I'd like, but when I do, I'm sure to order one of the above dishes!
Here's a little update on Claddagh. Nothing's changed. But hey, I guess that's the point with any chain, right?
The food is fine, the service is sub-par. Really the only things going for this place is that it is in a happening spot, and has a nice view from the outside tables.
If you go, check out the Monte Cristo and the chips are good too. I also like the little 'hair net' they put on the lemons, so you don't get seeds when you squeeze it.
Our server seemed friendly enough and we got our food quickly, but then she disappeared. We never saw her again, and we had to ask another server for water refills as well as our check so that we could leave. We ended up giving a cash tip to the other server, since she was friendly and actually helped us.
The building is beautiful and a good addition to the riverfront options. Our food was good, except some of the potatoes in the clam chowder weren't fully cooked. Maybe they had combined the lunch batch (fully cooked) with a fresh dinner batch (undercooked)? Lots of clams in the chowder and we also enjoyed a cheese plate and some Guinness.
Of note is that smoking is only allowed in the large bar area, and since all Claddaughs are divided into rooms, the smoke smell isn't pervasive.
Those in our party ordered Shepherds Pie, Fish and Chips and those old Irish favorites, some kind of fried chicken sandwich and mushroom ravioli. Â I was offered a taste of the Shepherds Pie, and honestly it was less flavorful than mine and I was a smidge disappointed. Â
In honor of our immediately prior visit to the aquarium next door, I got the  fish and chips which was fine. The steak fries were lightly battered and kind of a nice change of pace, the fish was properly cooked but lacked character, (cod needs a little seasoning or at least a bit of salt and pepper in the batter to fulfill the promise of having been deep-fried, otherwise just broil it and give me a lemon wedge!  The mushroom raviioli presented as the best of the table and was consumed with relish by the petite diner no offers of tastes were made and methinks for good reason.  The chicken sandwich, who really cares?  It was a deep-fried chicken sandwich...sauce, bun chicken breast, ...what's to describe?  The diner ate it in toto and stated it was flavorful.  Service was friendly and ample.
The best part about the Levee Claddagh is definitely the riverfront patio facing the Cincinnati skyline. The restaurant itself is a bit dark inside, which makes me sleepy. They have some specials during the week that are great (two for one fish and chips, for example), but in general, I'd say the pricing is a couple dollars more than what you get. It's your average Irish pub fare. They are kid-friendly so our friends were able to seat their toddler in a high chair and give her coloring sheets. I think my husband enjoys the beer selection.
My last visit brings about one major disappointment: the calamari appetizer. The batter was decent and there were some peppers that were in the mix, which were good. The calamari was tiny, a little shriveled- best likened to eating cheerios, they were that small and basically only crunchy because there was not much calamari there. Would not recommend it, though I suppose it could have been a fluke that day.
All in all- Claddagh is exactly average in my book, with a few bonus points for the patio.
The Claddagh Irish pub has a nasty habit of leaving me unsatisifed, so I'm not sure why I go back.
Nevertheless, the service has always been a bit on the slow side. Â The kitchy Irish stuff annoys me (it annoyed me even more when I brought my Irish, Co. Kerry born husband there & he expressed his disgust) but I can get past it. Â The atmosphere though, is always lacking for me,
The food is usually decent, although I've never been totally wowed by it.
Okay for a meal when down in Newport, I suppose. Â Just never left feeling happy about my experience there.
I recently visited Claddagh on a Tuesday night and was happy to notice the lack of weekend crowds that regularly throng Newport on the Levee. Â I ordered the Jameson burger while my friend ordered the Cornucopia (vegetarian) burger. Â Both of us really enjoyed our food, although my friend found her burger to be a bit dry. Â A little bit of Jameson sauce quickly remedied that, and she raved about her fries. Â That evening also featured live Irish music and I was happy to score a $2.50 pint of Strongbow for happy hour.
Review Source:Summary: slow service and embarrassing food quality means we won't be back.
My wife and I were in town for the holidays. Â We had gone here years ago, as I recalled thoroughly enjoying their fish and chips. Â This time around, we went on a weekday afternoon for a late lunch. Â We were greeted quickly at just around 2:30PM, and sat in the back near the fireplace the other reviewer mentioned. Â The server greeted us politely, but that was the end of the pleasant parts of our experiences.
We ordered the spinach/artichoke dip as an appetizer, as my wife recalled having it (and enjoying it) in the past. Â The portion was certainly large enough, as it arrived relatively warm. Â Most appealing to me were the thin slivers of parmesean cheese on top, which mixed nicely into the dip to add firmness to its texture. Â But I had an odd thought...that looked like plain, toasted white bread cut into quarters. Â Surely they wouldn't try to pass off white toast with this appetizer; alas, they did. Â The dip itself was creamy enough, and the artichokes firm, adding some variety to the texture (and some good brininess).
The meals took quite a long time to arrive, as the other reviewer mentioned. Â Using a stopwatch app on my phone, I timed 35 minutes from ordering the entree to receiving the entree. Â On a busy night, I can fully imagine waiting a long time. Â But at 3:15PM (which it was at this point), there was no excuse for it to take that long. Â By the time it arrived, the food was warm, so I'll give credit there: food that takes a long time but arrives hot is only the server's fault if they forget to put the order in (the more likely scenario is it was the kitchen's fault and/or ineptitude).
The food itself (Jameson Burger w/ Pub Chips) was appalling. Â The burger was a preformed patty that was brown all the way through, and the texture was uniformly chewy as well. Â It made me think of hamburger day in my elementary school cafeteria. Â The bun was quite fresh, but everything in between abysmal. Â The Jameson sauce did not taste of Jameson, and had no other identifiable original flavor to it. Â The fries were okay as far as fries go, having a visible herbed breading that added little identifiable herb flavor to it.
More than anything else, the food conveyed to me either (1) financial ruin or (2) complete indifference on the behalf of ownership and management. Â The food they prepare is cheap, mass produced, quickly cooked (theoretically, at any rate), and made without care. Â They are a long way from their excellent fish and chips of the past years - again, Claddagh is either struggling to get by financially in this economy, or trying to get over on rubes who will eat even the most dreadful of food. Â I'm certainly not interested in sticking around to find out which of the two it is.
This was a late Sunday afternoon lunch with my daughter before heading off to a show inside at Newport on the Levee. After waiting at the hostess stand for a moment, we were greeted by what appeared to be the only hostess. As soon as she said "Hello", a second lady immediately walked up and said "You don't want to talk to her, she'll put you outside, and it's cold out there today!" Then she yelped "Only kidding!" It was awkward, to say the least. We asked for a seat in the back near the fireplace, making a quick stop at the restroom before coming back to the hostess stand to be seated. When we returned, the second lady immediately said something put-downish again about the greeter. When I said "We're ready now", lady #2 said (she believed jokingly) "Well maybe we're not!" This was again followed by "Just kidding!" Exasperated, I turned towards the seating area and said "Fine, we'll just seat ourselves". She hollered to us "I said I was just kidding". This was a very uncomfortable start for me, my daughter, and the other greeter.
We were greeted inn the back by a very pleasant young lady who was our server. We ordered drinks, which came quickly, and then ordered lunch. I ordered the Jameson Burger, medium rare, with a side of their Guinness BBQ sauce. The burger came with a side of chips (fries), and a small portion of creamy Cole slaw.
My daughter ordered the Chicken Kildare. This was accompanied by mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables. After waiting approximately forty minutes we finally had to ask about our food. We said that we had tickets to a show in about thirty minutes, and were concerned we wouldn't make it. The waitress replied that the Chicken Kildare took a while, but that she would check on our order. I should add the restaurant was almost empty, having only about six filled tables. Five minutes later, our meal arrived. My medium rare burger, which was a pressed, preformed patty, was well done throughout and burnt on one side. I did not ask for another out of fear that we would not make our show due to the slow service. The Jameson sauce was good, but nothing as unique as the "Jameson Sauce" would imply. The Kaiser like bun was nice, if not maybe a little dry. The chips were done well, crispy outside, moist inside. The side of Guinness BBQ sauce was good, but again was not unique, and definitely did not taste of Guinness (I would know, it is my favorite adult beverage). Not worth the extra charge for the side. The creamy Cole slaw was good, no complaints there.
The Kildare Chicken, like my burger, was also overcooked. The top was golden brown, the lower half was a moderately dark brown (see photo). We were surprised, as we were told that the chicken takes a while to cook. The chicken inside remained moist, however, and the garlic/spinach filling was very flavorful. There was a delightful dab of garlic butter on top of the panko type crusted chicken. The mashed potatoes were nothing special but they were acceptable, however the sautéed vegetables that came with this meal were very nice. They had just the right amount of "bite" and "give" to them, in both our opinions.
Overall, it was disappointing. I have eaten here before, and I recalled it to be much better. I had the fish and chips before, so maybe that's the key here. The server and the one greeter were great, the other greeter and the food were not. I mentioned this experience to a friend at work who goes here a lot. He was surprised by the food we received (He says he always has the Fish n' Chips, which he likes a lot), but was not surprised by "the odd woman". He said he knows who she is, that she hasn't been there very long, and that he has had similar encounters with her. With all of that in mind, and a nice view of the Ohio River and the Cincinnati skyline, I had to give it only "Two Stars".
Yes, this place is a chain and isn't making a play for "most authentic Irish Pub" in anyone's book, but despite that, the beer selection is great and there are several menu items I'm pretty fond of as well. It's location at Newport on the Levee means I go there more often than I would otherwise because it's a great place to stop before/after seeing a movie there.
On my last trip, I enjoyed a lovely pint of creamy Boddingtons with my 'Paddy Mac' sandwich (usually corned beef on rye w/ slaw, but I usually substitute turkey) and pub fries. The fries are usually a highlight--thick slabs of potato deep fried to a crispy outside and creamy inside with great seasoning.
Service can be a bit hit or miss, but generally is friendly and efficient. In nice weather, I highly recommend snagging a seat on the outside patio and when it turns colder, a seat by the fireplace in the back is my favorite. There is smoking inside like the rest of NKY, so if that bothers you (as it does me), just stay away from the bar area and it doesn't really travel.
Wanted Irish food and wanted to eat in the sunshine on the river. Â The wind kept us from eating outside, but the super dark castle-like decor kept out the sunshine. Â I guess you can't win them all. Â Our server was very attentive, but the food fell kind of flat. Â No ranting and raving, just standard Irish fare.
Review Source:for a chain, it's pretty dang good. Â When I was living in the area, I enjoyed a really nice meal/drink before catching a movie at the levee. Â They had a great mote christo sandwhich. Â The food came out hot which is always good, cuz chains can sometimes have major timing issues and innattentive staffs. Â The bartender kept my drink full, or was always within earshot so I could get his attention quickly. Â The decor is very traditional irish with dimmer uplighting making for a sort of darker, hole-in-the-wall pub feel without feeling like it's dark cuz it's dirty. Â
good stuff. would go back if i were still around.
What are 3 people who are extremely hungry supposed to do at Newport on the Levee when it comes to food? Well we had many choices for the type of cuisine that we were looking for and after narrowing down the choices we decided to give Claddagh a try. What we ended up finding was a restaurant with all the makings of a good experience if only the service and quality were stepped up a bit. Â
As you step into the pub you find a very rustic feel to it. There are wooden benches and almost medieval types of chairs and decorations. Basically if you have seen some typical or regular Irish pubs or decorations this is what you would see here. They sat us right next to the window where the patio is and where seating would have been should the weather not have been freezing.
I started to peruse the menu and was impressed by the rather large list of items. They had a good variety of sandwiches and traditional Irish fare. Corn Beef and Cabbage along with Bangers and Mash were on the menu with steak burgers and their version of a Reuben. Â They also had a good variety of beers on tap with a mix of foreign and domestic. I decided to go with the Paddy's Mac Corn Beef and Slaw and a Strongbow Cider, while my friends got the Steak Burger and a Dublin Salad. Â We also got an order of the Pub Fries because they were supposed to come out "in like 2 or 3 min".
Within a few minutes our server brought out my friend's waters and said that my Strongbow should be coming up shortly as well. Well we waited about another 5 minutes before I asked for my Strongbow and our fries again. Eventually another server came out with my Strongbow and said they would check on the fries. Low and behold when our food came out it was without the Pub Fries and I made a comment as to how they were missing. They asked if we still wanted them or just have them taken off the order and I decided on the latter as we all had fries with our meal so it seemed like a mood point.
We started to dig in to our food and we had a mix of experiences. My friend really liked his Steak Burger, but I don't think I would have liked it as much because of the fried onion straws on top but I guess what mattered was what he thought about it. Â My friend said the Dublin Salad was ok, but it was about as ordinary as any other grilled chicken salad so it just seemed to blend in with all the others from her past. Â My Strongbow was good but tasted a tad flat, as if someone had poured it and let it sit at room temp for a while. My "Reuben" was alright but considering all the other reubens I have had in my past this was definitely subpar. The size was fairly small and the slaw totally overwhelmed the flavor of the meager amout of corned beef. I also thought that they were fairly skimpy on the fries. Now the fries are the traditional steak fries but with some added and visible seasoning. They looked good and were nice and hot but they seemed underseasoned as they didn't have much flavor to them. Rather dissapointing.
Our server never came back to refill my friend's waters and when he came to clear the table we had waited long enough that our desire for something sweet had waned and decided to part ways with the restaurant.
The total bill came to $38 sans tip and needless to say the tip was rather meager considering the service that we had received. All in all it was an ok experience, but I wouldn't say that I would run back any time soon to have the food again especially if this is indicative of the typical level of service. If they can fix their service and maybe do some quality control on some food items then this place would be a great experience and highly recommended.
The old school Irish atmosphere is great, and you wouldn't expect it from the Levee, but you're transformed as you walk through the place. It truly feels like you are in an old Irish pub, nestled on the banks of the River Shannon, then you look outside and see the muddy Ohio. ;) Just kidding, they do have a nice view of the city from the outside patio.
As for the food, I had the fish and chips, which were excellent, and washed it down with a Newcastle. I like this place, so if you're taking in a movie on the Levee and you'd like to hit a dinner spot beforehand, it's worth a try.
Did you know that Claddagh is a ring? Â Yeah, and depending on which way it's worn, it's supposed to indicate the romantic availability of the wearer. Â So, does that make Claddagh Irish Pub a place for lovers, friends or both? Â I have been there with my wife and with my friends and with my wife's friends, and it is a suitable eating place for all.
Importing much of the furniture and decoration from Ireland and serving typical pub food of higher than typical pub quality, Claddagh strives for a certain Irish authenticity. Â I have never been to Ireland, so I can't necessarily vouch for that authenticity, but the food is pretty good regardless.
Despite being a Midwestern chain of pubs, Claddagh has usually been a good experience for me. It's probably because we sit outside and ignore the people inside. It could also be that we have reputed pirates and gypsies among our friends. If you like themed dining and corporate bars with some interesting features than you might like it even more than I do. The best thing I have to say about this place is that when the outdoor dining area clears out because of rain storms, it becomes a great place to watch a lightning storm roll down the river valley while enjoying an overpriced beer.
Review Source:Each time I go back to Claddagh, I am less impressed. It first started with the stale beer smell in the inside portion of the restaurant. Since we always eat outside, I tried to forget it!
However, when the menus are sticky and the service starts to slide, you have to mention it. When we went this past weekend, the waitress obviously took advantage of our "large" party and over-sold us on the fish and chips.
We've been there at least 6-8 times and have never been offered two sizes of the fish & chips (either a pound or half pound). Our waitress convinced us we needed full pound order each for two adults and my nieces who were sharing an order. She also sold us a "sour cream" dip for our fries without telling us there is an additional charge!
After she pushed the soup of the day, she also tried to convince us to order dessert. When she asked if we wanted the gratuity to be added automatically, we declined. She did so anyway.
Sorry, but we won't be back anytime soon. It's The Pub at Crestview or Rookwood for us!
Claddagh is a small mid-western based chain (just 15 locations in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois), which I found surprising...the restaurant locations I've dined at are so well-run and similar to each other that I assumed the chain was nationwide. Â Those behind Claddagh vow to bring "the best of Ireland to the states," and that is indeed what they have done.
No pub is complete without Fish and Chips, and Claddagh's do not disappoint. Â A huge piece of haddock comes breaded in festive Bass Ale batter and is served with a half lemon for drizzling and a hearty helping of wedge French fries. Â I've had the fish on countless occasions and it has always been fresh and has never been overly greasy, which is quite the feat for any fried entre. Â Other winners for dinner are the hearty Guinness Beef Stew, which is cheering during chilly Cincinnati winters, and the Jameson Drunken Steak, which is slathered in a marinade made from...what else? Â Jameson Irish whiskey. Â Claddagh also offers traditional Irish fare like Bangers and Mash and a scrumptious Monte Cristo sandwich. Â
The Newport location of Claddagh is a favorite place of mine to visit on warm spring and early summer days; diners can eat on the restaurant's outdoor patio that sits right above the Ohio River. Â Service at this location is quick and not overly attentive, which I like. Â Inside, the restaurant is all done up in Irish memorabilia and heavy wood, a large bar sits at either end of the dining area. Â Drink specials are offered everyday of the week, a favorite being $6 Stoli Martinis on Fridays. Â This place is frequented by young couples and business people; though I don't see why it wouldn't be welcoming for kids...plenty of options on the menu (chicken tenders, turkey club, and burgers) to satisfy finicky palates.
While Claddagh is a regionally operated chain, the owners do a decent job of pulling off the Anglo-Irish pub vibe. With a nice river view and expansive liquor and beer selection, Claddagh is a great spot to unwind after work. The fish and chips are always a winner, but if you're looking for something a bit lighter, the Dublin Salad is an excellent choice. Char-grilled chicken rests atop a bed field greens, candied walnuts, tomatoes, and goat cheese (or sub bleu cheese), which is served with Tarragon Dijon dressing.
Word of warning for non-smokers and families: while there is technically a non-smoking section, it's not very well secluded from the smoking sections. We left reeking of second-hand smoke.
I love the style and food of this place. The view is indeed spectacular. The atmosphere is a great experience, obviously Irish themed, stone floors, heavy wooden chairs and tables, feels a bit like a castle. The bar is a bit awkwardly placed with not much space around it, but it's not really a "bar" kinda place anyway.
I don't know anything about how authentic the food actually is but I've been here several times and have been satisfied each time. Mostly heavy "comfort" type dishes, but there are a few lighter meals too.
The beef stew is great! Huge pieces of beef, carrots, and potatoes with an awesome gravy.
For a dessert I suggest either the lava chocolate cake if you want something rich or the mocha ice cream cake (both are delicious). The strawberry shortcake is good if you want something light.
Service is always satisfactory. If you have a choice of table and want a view of the city watch out for giant polls that obscure the view for some tables.
Solid if unspectacular Irish pub food at Newport on the Levee. Drinks can be a bit more expensive than other options on the levee, but the food is generally good. Fish and chips are better than average and the Irish Monte Cristo is unique if nothing else (the bread is sprinkled with powdered sugar). Probably the best part about the Newport location of this Indianapolis-based chain is the patio which offers a stellar view of the Cincinnati skyline across the river.
If I were going to pick an Irish pub to go to in town, I'd probably opt for Molly Malone's (formerly the Dubliner) in Pleasant Ridge, but Claddagh is a fine option if you are visiting the aquarium, or for before a movie or a show at the Southgate House.
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