Kilderkin's Pub

Went out tonight intending to try out Gibby's. First off, Google Maps is pretty useless in this area, so we got misdirected, and decided to see if it was in a strip mall that we had eaten at before. It wasn't, so I called the phone number that was on the webpage and they answered Kilderkin's...which was directly in front of us in the strip mall, so we decided that we were meant to eat there instead. Fate was on our side, one of our best meals ever!

We started with Bavarian Pretzel Sticks served with Queso (the website lists it as Welsh Rarebit cheese sauce, so I'm not sure if this is a change of name only, or of recipe as I've never had Welsh Rarebit cheese sauce). The pretzels were soft and fluffy, with just the right amount of salt (and not the white hard stuff on the pretzels at the theater). The Queso was good, but not outstanding. I would like to see a different dip option, but it was still fantastic!

My honey tried the Bangers & Mash with a Side Salad with Ranch Dressing. I was very pleased to see his salad came with an actual mix of green, not just iceberg. The salad was nothing overly special, but not bad. The only complaint was the cucumber and tomato were a little too cold.

Now, I am not a big fan of bratwurst, mashed potatoes, or gravy, so the Bangers & Mash didn't have a great chance of being liked by me, but the bite I tried was actually pretty tasty. They must use some sort of beer in the recipe because you could smell it coming off the plate, but not in a bad way. The brats were well cooked and seasoned, the mash was clearly made in house from actual potatoes (they left the skins on, which I actually like, but if you don't, be warned). The onion gravy was even pretty tasty. My honey LOVED it. He ate more than he wanted because he didn't want anyone to think he didn't like it when he asked for a box to take the rest home. He's actually excited to eat leftovers tomorrow (which NEVER happens!!)

After a lot of debate, I chose the Bacon Blue Cheese Burger with House Made Chips. I know it's not really a traditional English dish, but we had chosen Gibby's originally to have burgers, so I couldn't switch gears, lol. Not a mistake. The beef was delicious, just enough fat to cook out and give flavor, but nothing to make it too chewy. Just a perfectly cooked beef patty. My honey told me later that he noticed they used all Angus beef noted on the menu, which I missed, and the quality of meat was apparent. This applied to the bacon also. Many restaurants (most, really) serve a limp, fatty bacon to save costs, Kilderkin's used a crispy, meaty cut, cooked perfectly, well salted, and oh so tasty. Then, add a healthy dose of blue cheese, and it's heaven in your mouth. They wisely serve their lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion on the side, so you can choose what you want to put on. I requested they leave the onion off altogether (I don't like the red onion flavor being infused into my tomatoes), and they were happy to comply. Oh, and I have no idea what type of bread the bun is made of, but it's flavorful, and supports the headlining flavors of beef, bacon, and blue.

Ah, the chips. Several other reviews here have stated how good they are...it is not a lie. Save yourself the debate, get them, enjoy them, thank me later. Perfectly crispy, well salted (a few too much, but still tasty), and I ate all but 5 when my stomach told me it was done. I hated leaving them on the plate, lol.

There wasn't much décor on the walls, but I didn't miss it. The music was pretty standard bar favorites, which I enjoyed singing along with. My honey noticed they played "Margaritaville" three times, which he didn't like, but I didn't notice. Now, I know the place is still new, but it was very clean (including the bathroom), and we were very happy to see the waitress wipe down not only the table next to us when the people left, but also the seats. It's depressing how many restaurants do not do this, or only do it once a day. This is one area that I really hope they keep up on, too many restaurants in this area get too lax in this department.

Now for the side of dining out that can turn great food into a train wreck, service. At Kilderkin's the service is (almost) as good as the food! We were seated quickly, and only waited a bit for our server to come by. He apologized for our wait (no longer than any other restaurant on a Saturday night), and took our drink orders. He let us know that they were short-staffed and had just had a bunch of people come in, but not in a complaining way, he was just trying to give an explanation to go with his apologies. Now, I have seen A LOT of slow service in my time, this was not slow, at all. Our drinks were NEVER empty for more than a minute, and other staff members asked if we wanted refills if our server was busy elsewhere.

Overall, we had a fantastic time and as an added bonus, the Cards won!!!

Our first visit to Kilderkin's and came here on a referral from family.  The pretzel appetizer was good, but the Porcini Risotto Balls were amazing. The sandwiches were filling and the Bangers and Mash were very tasty. Top it all off with some great bread pudding for dessert.

Sam was our waitress and did a great job taking care of us. If you get a chance, talk with Scott the owner and hear how they are doing things the right way. Kids had a great time and so did the wife and I. Suggest you give it a try if you are in the area.

Love this place the owner walks around to make sure your experience is enjoyable.... Great beer choices and and great addition to Eureka!!!   A must visit and the food is AWESOME!!