I've lived in Bloomington for almost 20 years and have been a frequent customer at the Irish Lion at different times, as a grad student and as a professional living in town. Over the years, I have tried every single item in their menu and have sampled their extensive bar selection.
Overall, their food is average at best. Their best dishes are the burgers, which are tough to mess up, and the corned beef and cabbage. If you ask for a salad with chicken expecting it will will have the equivalent of a chicken breast and cut down on calories, don't order it. You'll get maybe five thin breast strips and a bunch of cheap cheese from the supermarket dumped on top of the salad. Their escargots are frozen and prepared with cheap butter. In fact, a lot of the food is frozen and cooking of many entrees seems to be a microwave orgy. On the other hand, their desserts are very good and the whiskey pie is plain sinful. A good menu selection would be fried pickles with a drink of your choice, lamb/blarney burger or corned beef and cabbage and a whiskey pie, even if you're not a fan of whiskey.
Service is hit and miss. Most of the servers (if not all) are young college kids and their attention spans are limited. Sit at the second floor and you may get someone in training and overwhelmed. Sit outside and you'll be competing against better looking people than yourself. For better service, sit in the eating area close to the bar.
Atmosphere is great. The old bar and the tin ceiling make you feel like you went back 100 years. That, paired with their great choice of whiskey amd scotch plus beer on tap, is the main reason I keep going to the Irish Lion.
I've been here twice now. Both times I've gotten fairly decent service--prompt and friendly despite both times being with rather large groups.
The food I've had has been mixed. The appetizers I got last night were fairly good. I got the burger the first time I went--it wasn't very good. So I'm guessing that this place has better "pub" food than their regular menu. But I've heard that some of their meals are decent too--the more expensive ones, a.k.a. the ones I'm not going to buy as a poor graduate student!
The selection of beer is good, but honestly, if you're going here, you need to get a half-yard or a yard of Guinness. Forget everything else!
I'll keep coming back when I'm downtown. It's a decent place and I've got no huge issues with it.
I absolutely love this place! It's one of my all time favorites of Bloomington! The cheap Pub Grub is great for college students trying to save on money and are amazing. The pricey items on the menu are very worth it. The whole menu is wonderfully savory and delicious. Everyone must try the Blarney Balls.
The decor is very intriguing. There are all kinds of taxidermy animals and mounted heads, beautiful model ships are hung from the ceiling. Very old Irish rustic feel.
Its scotch selection and good beer taps contribute to their 4 star rating, but Irish Lion would be nothing without its Blarney Balls (patented btw). Â They are perfectly fried cheese garlic mash potatoes with a side of sour cream and herb dipping sauce. Â Perfect beer food just like the rest of the menu.
Review Source:I am addicted to this food. Â I cannot get enough of it. Nor can I get enough of the mead. Â My favorite meal here is the Leprachaun wings. Â Man are those good! Â And the Celtic stew is fantastic! Â The thing that made me dock a star from this review is that they can get very crowded and very loud. Â Sometimes you may have some trouble with the wait staff. Â They are not always consistent.
Review Source:One of the few reasons I love Bloomington, for sure. I love so many things about this place that keeping it brief will be a challenge. I'll certainly try, though:
I'm a little shocked at some of the bad reviews for the food on here, because I've never had a bad experience there. The coddle is absolutely delicious, and it really sticks with you all day long. Put it in a bread bowl, and it'll probably be the only meal you need for the day.
The Blarney Puffballs are a *little* overhyped, but not much. They are delicious, creamy, deep-fried orbs of joy. None of the appetizers have ever disappointed me, nor have the main courses.
I'm not a huge fan of whiskey, but this place has so many ways of serving it that even I can find a way to enjoy it once in a while. If you're looking for a treat with a kick, try any of their Irish coffees. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. I'm usually not a big dairy/coffee + alcohol fan, but again, the Irish Lion has a way of combining the two that is simply irresistible. I especially love it in the winter time.
The decor is amusing, the molding on the ceiling is very impressive, and the layoud, while a little confusing at first, is really cozy once you get seated. I enjoy the Irish classical music they play, though I'd imagine it can get old if you stay in there long enough.
I've never had a bad experience, and I would never hesitate to recommend this place to a friend. You've got to try it at least once!
You will not find someone who knows their whiskey/whisky better than Irish Lion. If you want to know your liquor better, plan a weekend here and bring a notebook. Everything I know about drinking, I learned here. This isn't your typical college bar where people drink to get drunk. It's an educational experience and you'll never stop learning.
The character here is unparalleled. When I lived in Bloomington, this was always my favorite bar and I was glad I lived a block away. When I moved, I thought that every place would have a bar like this. Certainly larger cities, right? Not so. I miss this place and I've only found one other that is its equal.
If you've never done it, have the yard. Seriously, just set a goal for yourself one night. You haven't lived until you do. But you need to sit at certain booths... I have no idea how you could maneuver it at the bar.
After you've had a yard, you will find that coddle is like Irish White Castle except that it's pretty good sober, too. The little soda bread slices must be made by happy little elves that work in the back because I've never had soda bread like this anywhere else.
I love this place. Delicious food, whiskey pie, attentive staff, and a wacky, yet warm environment. It's a great place to have a Durty Nellie (I think it's an Irish Long Island Iced Tea type thing? Knocks you on your arse!), a couple of deep-fried mashed potato balls ("Blarney Puffballs"), and chow down on some really good food. Also, Strongbow hard cider on tap? Fabulous.
There's this salmon dish that I tend to get more often than not. I am a fan of seafood, but it's not the first thing I go to on a menu, typically. This dish, however, gets my goat every time. "Offaly Salmon" is apparently poached in a cream sauce with a ton of dill, mushrooms and a bit of scallions, and served on white rice. Oh lordy, is that good. I tried it in the midst of one of my more adventurous moments, and I'm glad I took the potential risk. I mean, fish covered in cream sauce? Sounds weird (at least to me), but the flavors are out of this world.
The Manfriend (a pretty picky eater) can't get enough of the coddle stew in a bread bowl. He loves it in an unhealthy, unseemly way that is rare for him. He also loves the potato puffball thingers, and the cider on tap.
Save room for the whisky pie. Seriously. Hnnnnnghhhh! :P
The Irish Lion is how I wish most restaurants in Bloomington were. The service is always good, the food is good, the prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is nice, and the draft beer selection is pretty good. The dinner menu can be a little intimidating because many of the items are higher than average for Bloomington restaurants, but there are a number of options on there that are $10 or less. Then the lunch menu (which is available on Saturday as well) has almost everything for $10 or less.
But I discovered the best part this weekend: brunch. I had no idea they even did it until we discovered the sign advertising it while walking around. It's off the path enough so it doesn't get the weekend brunch hordes that Uptown, Farm, the Bakehouse and even Feast get. The menu is not particularly extensive, but it offers some good, solid options, all of which are a very good value at - again - $10 or less.
The food at the Irish Lion could not really be called "Irish" by most stretches of the imagination, but it's good nonetheless. The interior is not as noisy as it could be with the low ceiling through part of it, and it's nice to have the different and separated spaces so you can get away from the noisier areas. But I mainly like how efficient everything is here. The servers, the bartenders, the hosts, the managers, everyone seems to be moving in a constant dance, like a well-oiled machine. If anything, it's fun to watch. I mean, you see this at restaurants all the time, but rarely at restaurants in Bloomington.
One thing I will say is that, if you have a group of more than four, then this is probably not the restaurant for you. There are very few spaces that can accommodate a larger group so, once you hit that 4+ level, you'll likely be waiting for a table unless you call for a reservation (which is always an option, of course). But, overall, it's a comfortable environment for both enjoying a drink with friends and having a nice meal.
The Irish Lion is a stolidly solid choice among the Bloomington restaurants featuring Americanized food. Located just off the downtown block, and not *as* frequented by the college population, their patio offers a wonderful Spring and Summer reprieve from a hard day of enjoying everything else Bloomington has to offer.
My favorite part? Strongbow cider on tap. You know me, a sucker for the cider.
My second favorite part? You can order your drink as a 'yard.' You know me, a sucker for copious quantities of the cider.
My third favorite part? The whiskey pie. Okay, I can't make a joke about cider on this one, but I can say that I don't like whiskey at all, but I can't get enough of this pie.
Generally, I have no complaints about the Irish Lion. I've been there several times and always had an enjoyable experience.  The servers have always been attentive and helpful, the food has been good and the prices are not exorbitant. Like I mentioned, the patio is primo, so much that I actually can't comment on the interior decor since I've never stepped in farther than the hostess station to ask if  I could sit on the patio.
Other good things I've noticed include: a veritable treasure trove of whiskey and scotch options. Properly British on that one. A lot of menu options, providing a good set up for even the vegetarians or vegans or gluten free folks to find something they can eat. Lively patrons, though not obnoxious or of questionable legal drinking age. Good location for people watching as you enjoy dinner. Â All in all, like I mentioned, a solid choice.
I've never been to Ireland, so I have no idea what Irish food tastes like, but if it tastes like this, it's great! Â The Lion is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside, and is friendly for kids (upstairs family area) though you'd never guess from the exterior. Â
Amazing range of beers and spirits. Â Also great food, from steak to burgers. Â The fish and chips are great, as are most items on the menu. Â My personal favorite is the Celtic Stew. Â Think if Dinty Moore was good, and you added lamb. Â Amazing stuff. You can get a cup or a bowl, or go for the 'Mutton Pie of Abbyfeale' which is a giant bread bowl filled with the Celtic Stew. Â I go EVERY year at the first snow, and enjoy the yummy warm goodness!
Another not-to-miss is the Blarney Puffball appetizer. Â I think the closest description would be dollops of mashed potatoes fried in a batter of some sort. Â Doesn't sound good? Â Trust me, order it. Â
Great place for drinks with friends or to dine with the family.
First time before an IU game with  friends and their charming kids.
Far enough away from the partying that you can get a table...have decent conversation....not have to listen to a variant of "FUCK" in every sentence...and a substantial reduction in the number of "LIKE's"....
.and  the server was...like...pretty cool...and like...knows alot about the menu items ??  He was like...smart or something..
Excellent oysters in the midwest and not Oceanaire prices. Â Beer in yards.... Â Lamb burger was fantastic !
Incredible whiskey list....bourbons, ryes, scotches, irish....
Charming place...above average food...excellent value....no drunken college kids.
I was in Bloomington for a conference, and had always heard great things about the Irish Lion. Â So some friends and I checked it out on a Wednesday night. Â It was actually pretty packed for a weeknight, but we didn't have to wait.
Here is how my score breaks down:
Drink selection: Â 5 stars! Â (One friend is a whiskey lover, and was very impressed with their menu of whiskeys.)
Food: Â 2.5 stars. Â I ordered the fish and chips, and was shocked at how unimpressive it was. Â The fish clearly had been frozen, and wasn't even battered. Â It was just covered in breadcrumbs. Â It was pretty dry as well. Â Each of my friends also got fish and chips, so I can't comment on any other dishes.
Atmosphere: Â 5 stars. Â I love places like this. Â It has 3 levels with lots of stairs, lots of wood molding, lots of cozy little tables, and lots of knickknacks. Â Everyone seemed to be having a good time.
I would go back and give the food another try, as I've heard great things. Â But I don't recommend the fish and chips. Â Even if all of the food were terrible, I'd be happy to go there for drinks and to soak up the ambiance.
Here's why I like this place and what keeps me coming back: the building is old and possibly haunted, the atmosphere is funky and crammed with awesome antiques & knickknacks & weird stuff, a good variety of import beer on tap, great pub grub & fantastic Irish fare, a cool yet small outdoor seating area overlooking a busy downtown street, good service every time, open 7 days a week, Sunday brunch menu complete with Eggs Benedict and the most delicious Dublin Mary cocktail (bloody mary) and ....... Bloomington is just such a frickin' good place to visit.
Review Source:It always makes me indescribably happy to visit my favorite watering hole when I get down to Bloomington. The Irish Lion has amazing food, good beers and whiskey, and a wonderful atmosphere.
Any trip here must include three things: mutton pie, Blarney puff balls, and Guinness. Mutton pie is a mutton stew in a bread bowl that is said to cure a hangover. You can substitute Coddle if you prefer sausage and/or dislike carrots. Blarney puff balls are mashed potatoes and onions deep fried and served with sour cream for dipping. They are heaven. Guinness can be consumed alone, as a Half and Half (with Harp), or as a Snakebite (with cider). The only excuse for skipping Guinness is that you're partaking in their significant whiskey selection.
Be prepared for a world of taxidermy when you arrive. And when you walk down the stairs, never EVER look the moose in the eyes. His voodoo has been known to make people fall down the stairs. Or maybe it's all the Guinness...
Cead mile failte!
I didn't go here for a long time, assuming it was a bit expensive. I don't know why I got that impression- One day we went and I was pleased to find out that they have a whole range of prices, depending on if you're in the mood for Irish bar food or full platters.
I have tried a number of different foods, and really, you can't go wrong with a beer on tap and a lamb burger! Speaking of beer, they have a long list of beers available and other mixed drinks to suit your fancy. Depending on your night's plans, they sell "yards" of beer to share, too.
If you get a choice on where to be seated, you definitely want to pick the first floor. Decorated in traditional Irish pub style, complete with ornate woodwork and fixtures, the atmosphere adds a lot to the experience. Upstairs is pretty bland, but if you're coming with a  large group or a kid, that may be where you end up no matter what.
Stopped by this past Friday, which (full disclosure) is a pretty busy time for retail establishments in Bloomington thanks to Little 500.
I've been here a few times before. The food always takes a little longer to arrive than I prefer, but given that this place has the most extensive whisk(e)y selection in Bloomington, I know what to expect.
Party of eight. Waiter takes drink orders for everyone, which arrive 20 minutes later. Tolerable - we're a big, rowdy crowd.
20 more minutes pass, and our waiter returns to take HALF our food orders. 20 minutes after that, and he returns for the other half of our orders, which takes 25 minutes to arrive. When I bring this to the attention of the manager (Dennis?), he informs me that 25 minutes is not unreasonable for food to arrive. Touché, sir, but 40 minutes of idle time between drinks and ordering is a little unreasonable.
Two stars for having multiple Macallan selections, and only because I really love Macallan.
What to say, this place is an institution in Bloomington. The food isn't bad, but isn't amazing either... it's not worth the price based on the quality of the food, but is the food really why folks eat here?
What the Irish Lion has going for it is that it holds a ton of memories for generations of IU students. Â Most current students like the place because it's fun, they have fancy yards of beer, and decent food (most undergrads won't have very discriminating taste buds, and will be thrilled with the food). Â Most older returning graduates love the place because of the memories that they have of the place and their time in Bloomington and are willing to look past the so-so food and limited beer selection.... and remember the good ole days.
On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being amazing, and one being the worst:
Service: Â Â Â Â Â 3 (this varies, sometimes a 2 and other times a 4)
Food: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 (just barely, it's close to being a 2 but some times such as the 'balls' are a solid 4)
Drink: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (fun place to get a drink)
Atmosphere: Â 4 (this is what folks come here for)
I think people who would rate this place really low are missing the charm of the place... but I also think that people who rate this place a five are missing that the food/service/drink isn't really *that* good to warrant this place something to be considered 'as good as it gets'.
So I give the place a '4' rating, but just barely and mostly because I think that overall the atmosphere and feel of the place and considering how long it's been there. Â I'll be back but only occasionally.. but if you haven't been there ever, it's definitely worth a stop.
Irish Lion is a Bloomington institution. Â Everyone knows about the Irish Lion and it is loved by many. Â To be honest, I haven't fallen in love with the food, but I love stopping in for a drink, chatting with the friendly bartenders and taking in the scenery. Â The Irish Lion has a unique layout that I really like, despite the inconvenience of having to go upstairs to use the restroom. Â For me, it's just part of the experience of hanging out there. Â
Hands down, they make THE BEST Jameson and Ginger in the state of Indiana and have been most successful at creating an authentic Irish pub in the state.
It seems a bit like piling on to add a review to something that has 39 already, but why not. Here goes.
I was in Bloomington for an overnight and my work partner and I headed there. It turned out to be a good choice. Not an excellent one, but a good one.
What we ordered was decent. What we paid was decent. The service we got was decent. And the atmosphere was decent as well. For an establishment to have 39 reviews says something - at least it is getting a decent amount of visitors. But that's where it stopped for me, at "decent."
It was around the corner from my usual hotel, so I'll likely be back for more decent stuff.
The Lion is one of those places I've liked for years. As a new foodie lacking fortitude dishes like the oysters rockafeller helped me ease into the idea of eating shellfish and also made me feel nostalgic. I remember eating more adventurously as a child growing up, but that part of me stayed in Chicago when I left.
I decided to approach this meal with a friend and colleague. Devon Boyll is one of the kitchen managers at the restaurant I manage so while I'm orchestrating careful catastrophe and frustrating servers front of house he is making sure ticket times stay long and orders go out over or undercooked. Obviously we are perfectly capable of critiquing everyone else's food.
We started with the Escargot. It came out quickly on a bed of hot rock salt drowning in delicious garlic butter with toast on top. Those little snails were fantastic. Chewy without being snotty, slimy without being runny and with just the right amount of resistance to bite force ratio. I'll say it again. Fantastic.
After the escargot I ordered the Celtic stew and Devon had the Coddle. They came to the table looking suspiciously similar. Same color, same density, similar ingredients and essentially the same flavor lead me to believe these two soups are basically the same thing. Both were very good, but I prefer the Coddle. My stew was entirely too hearty with massive chunks of potato in every spoonful.
Most notable was the complimentary soda bread. It was dense and sweet and perfectly suited for dipping or simply smothering with butter. I would come to the Lion for this alone.
For the main course I ordered the Chicken cordon bleu. It came on a bed of Dunmurry rice, with a "supreme sauce", fresh tomato, mushrooms, scallions and cream. The chicken was breaded and fried to perfection, juicy and tender with gobs of melty cheese oozing from the center with just a bit of juicy ham. Tons of food, all tasty and this place is totally affordable. This entrée was $14.95 and could feed two.
 Would I return? Yes... probably within the week. This place is always good, and aside from occasionally off-putting moments (for me, always involving the owner), a spot in Bloomington that is more reliable then most.
Wow, I can't believe I have not reviewed this place yet! I am not impressed with the food at all, after several meals. It's not that it's terrible or anything, it's just bland and not worth the price. Go eat at Crazy Horse next store which has better food, but less atmosphere. then come to the Lion for drinks and awesome ambiance. This is a very authentic (or seems like it, never been to Ireland) old style bar. They have good drink selection, and a cool upstairs too. Mixed feelings on the service, but never horrible. The best things are the yards and half-yards of Guiness- SPECTACULAR!!!
(Try the puffballs, that's the best thing I've had there.)
I was incredibly let down by the food. I ordered the Celtic stew- an Irish traditional dish...it was so salty I could barely finish it. The meat was loaded with sodium and the stew was thick and clumpy. I tried some of a friends fish & chips...what a waste that was!
I would've rather just made my own stew! I'll never venture into the Irish Lion again.
Loved this place! I lived in Ireland for a while and when I walked in to main floor of Irish Lion I just about peed my pants. It looked and even SMELLED like the pubs in Ireland. Heck. Yes.
I would have liked to have stayed on the main floor, but since we had a bigger party of people we had to trek upstairs. Upstairs definitely is not as neat as the downstairs. So moral of this paragraph: don't invite your friends so you can stay downstairs!
I ordered the Irish Stew in a bread bowl and some mead. I had had mead before, but it was more of a beer in that case. This mead, however, was more of a liquor and came in a (you guessed it) liqueur glass. Very tasty even though it wasn't what I was expecting! The Irish Stew, though, was the star of the show. AMAZING flavors and just the right consistency for a full meal.
HIGHLY recommended.
As I write this review I can taste the delicious puff balls-almost as if they were still stuck in my arteries! Â Worth every calorie though. Â As are the deep fried pickles, deep fried mushrooms, deep friend zuchini. only thing missing is twinkies! - just kidding.
Half yards rock - Amstel light or guinness. Â Full yards are too much. awkward at tables, and it gets warm too fast.
Attn underagers: sit downstairs if you can. Â they aren't strict about carding and upstairs is lame.
I would also suggest bringing a pee bag in case you can't make it to the bathroom. Around the corner, up the stairs, all the way down and on your right. In a level 10 emergency, you probably won't make it.
Irish pub feel in Bloomington, Indiana. Pretty on point. Yards of Guinness, good Scotch, and great Irish Food make this an ideal spot for grabbing a drink or grabbing a meal. The servers are helpful and knowledgeable. The dead things hanging from the walls might be overkill, but the rustic feel of the bar is pretty awesome.
I've never gotten anything that wasn't good here, but some of their entrees are a bit generic. The puffballs are little deep-fried balls of mashed potatoes and cheese and are about the best thing in the world. You also can't go wrong with the stews and coddles.
Definitely one of the best, most consistent, reasonably priced meals in Bloomington.
I can't figure out whether or not I like this place, so I'll just make some observations.
The good:
This restaurant has the best atmosphere in Bloomington. The walls are covered in dead animals and weapons. Â
The bartenders are the best in town; true professionals (they wear black waistcoats for fucks sake).
The Coddle and Irish Stew are delicious.
The yards of beer are a good deal.
Some of the waitresses are hot.
Some are not.
The Bad:
The food is not good. The cooks have a salt fetish, and I'm pretty sure they take bites out of the food before it's sent out. I would enjoy the food if it was half the price, then it would be delicious.
Everything except for the beer costs too much. I ordered a yard of scotch (4 different types of scotch for $15.95). I was brought four glasses, but only got a giggle's piss worth of scotch in each. Altogether I got about 1.5 shots worth of scotch for $15.95. Fuck you Irish Lion.
Try it out. See how you feel. I can't in good faith tell you not to, nor can I tell you that it's a great restaurant. But I can in good faith tell you not to order the pickled herring. That shit is disgusting.
I ate at Irish Lion this year when I came to Bloomington for my brother's college graduation. Apparently, they are famous for their yards of beer and ale. Their dark beers are delicious, whether or not you get the entire yard. They also have great dessert drinks, including a coffee with Bailey's that I thought was delicious.
The alcohol was definitely the good and earns this place a second star. Otherwise I didn't like Irish Lion and don't get why it's a local classic, unless most people just drink the beer. The place was so loud and crowded that I could barely hear myself think, let alone hear the rest of my group, and tables were so crammed together that I could barely squeeze out of my seat to use the bathroom. Service was extremely slow, and the server repeatedly forgot to bring us things. Once my dinner came out, it tasted pretty bad. The shrimp were tiny and looked like it was just stuck in the microwave and reheated, and the rest of my meal was just a huge bed of crappy white rice. I can't believe that entree cost $17!
My theory is that Irish Lion just hopes everyone will get drunk enough off the huge beers to notice everything else, since drinking is definitely the Irish way...
1. I hate the physical layout of this place. Â It's like an ugly tri-level suburban home (with additional levels).
2. Â They only play boring traditional instrumental Irish music.
3. Â The staff wear bow ties and cumberbuns.
4. Â The food is a step below mediocre and completely overpriced. Â I knew a woman who had worked there at one time and she told me that most of the items were frozen and microwaved and that she would never ever eat that lamb stew they serve. Â Fried dill pickle spears are good, though.
5. Great scotch and whiskey selection.
6. Â Don't drink at the bar. Â Let's say a pint of Guinness is $4.50. Â Well, when the Irish Lion says $4.50 they don't include tax. Â I put a twenty down and ordered a drink and got a bunch of nickels and pennies back in my change. Â I just find that incredibly tacky at a bar.
Oh the memories I have from this place in college!
My freshman year I used to walk the half hour in 2 feet of snow from my dorm to the Lion in order to have their lamb stew in a bread bowl. Oh man, that stew was so good...it stuck to the insides of your ribs and warmed you to the core...and made the return half hour walk worth it.
We also used to come here after most theatre productions because it was a restaurant and not a pub. I used to order a side of their Irish soda bread and eat that for the evening. SO good.
OH! and their puff balls, order the puff balls! YUM. And that's not even mentioning their drinks, which come in half yards and have the side effect of evenings of fun and ridiculousness. :)
This place is essentially an IU staple. Everyone should definitely go here at least once during their time at IU... you'll be happy you did!
My husband & I and 2 other friends from Long Beach came to Bloomington for a wedding reception. Â We were early so we wandered to the closest place serving alcohol. Â It was the Irish Lion. Â We were so happy we found this place. Â
Notice every review mentions the Puffballs? Â That is because they are awesome! Â And they have yard & 1/2 yard beers, plus many Irish whiskeys. Â Too cool. Â Nice decor.
Beware of the bathrooms, they are on the 2nd floor. Â And the stairs can be treacherous! Â
I should of bought a t-shirt! Â Felt like Van Morrison would have a beer here.
My boyfriend used to go to the Irish Lion when he was in college in Bloomington and we went while we were in town for the weekend. Sadly, they no longer had the potato soup that he remembered so fondly, but we were both happy with the food that we ordered.
Two little bitches I have about the place: the restroom is upstairs, and as I was walking through the entrance to find the stairs to go upstairs to find the restroom, I overheard other servers (not my own) talking about taking smoke breaks and comparing how much money they'd already made. I get that they're in college, but save that kind of stuff for the kitchen!
Still, I would totally go there again. I really liked the place and the food!
Blarney puff balls are magical and a perfect snack while having a beer.
They also have these beers called yards and 1/2 yards, which are not only fun to drink but also a challenge to finish them!
The dinners are pretty good, the lamb burgers are tasty and the fish and chips are perfectly cooked. I'm not a fan of the coddle/stew, but I really like the cabbage soup.
I stopped by one evening while I was visiting town for a drink. I had the grasshopper, which I have to recommend highly. It was great, basically a mint ice cream and liquor milkshake.
Atmosphere - 4 a pretty cool setup in an old building. A little loud, the ceilings were a little low for someone above 6 feet.
Price - 4
Service - 4
Drink - 4
I had an all-around above average experiance at the Irish Lion. I only had a drink so I'm not going off much, but hey, if I lived in Bloomington I'd go back and try it again.
One thing is fo' sho' ... Irish pub food seems to be consistent state-wide ...
After a flawless flight from SFO to Indiana earlier this week, we had a very late dinner at this University town Irish pub in the center of Indiana's eclectic neighborhood .. Bloomington.
Albeit my flight to Indy was effortless, by the time we checked into our countryside hotel and into the pub, I was tired. Â We were a party of eight or so, computer geeks and a business guy in the heart of Indiana's University belt.
I had a couple of glasses of red, not bad. Â
We were encouraged (coerced?) to sample the specialty apetizer: Â Blarney's Puffball, very deep fried potato balls comprised of cheese, garlic mix, scallions and sour cream. Â It sank into my tummy like a mini-dense-mega-brick; but from a pallate's standpoint? Â awww, devilish! Â I succumbed into the temptation, .. mouthing a total of three of these puff balls. Â Texture was similar to a croquette ... the caloric intake? ... I don't even want to think of it ...
For my main dish: Corned Beef and Cabbage with a side of Brandon potatoes ... the cabbage was huge and good, beef tasteful and hearty .. potatoes? Â a fantastic, bombastic bomb ...
the result? Â no guilt, no fear .. for the next couple of days I joined the boys in racking and stacking our gear in the data center, culminated by a flawless software configuration activity... calories burnt, guilt gone.
Great dinner, for a hungry traveler, ...
BTW, they serve $5 mega long-island-ice-tea like drinks; Â I was unable to sample the concoction as I was on a work assignment, yet the locals assured me that it was more than potent ...
i think this place deserves a four star.
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