Irish Pubs – Road Warrior Dining

Bushwaller’s

Bushwaller’s has the look and feel of an Irish Pub. The food is top notch.

There is no doubt when You walk into Bushwaller’s in Frederick MD, You are walking into an Irish Pub. Most Irish Pubs I have been to here in the States seem to be more a restaurant than a pub. Of course they have a bar area and they serve traditional Irish fare, but there primary focus is being a restaurant.

When we walked into Bushwaller’s on a Wednesday night, it was obvious this is an Irish pub. The bar is a prominent feature. Everything about Bushwaller’s screams Irish pub, down to the dart tournament that was going on in the back. Of course, the real reason we went to Bushwaller’s was to try their food.

Bushwallers Reuben Egg Rolls — Bushwaller’s Reuben Egg Rolls

Bushwaller’s serves one of my favorite appetizers of all time, Reuben Egg Rolls. Imagine taking an egg roll wrapper and stuffing it with corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss Cheese, then deep frying it. Of course it wouldn’t be a Reuben without the 1000 Island dipping sauce. I’m of the school any thing deep fried is good, but Bushwaller’s Egg Rolls are over the top. I would recommend sharing, the Reuben Egg Rolls are close to being an entree by themselves. It is a shame more Irish Pubs don’t serve them.

Bushwallers Cornbeef and Cabbage Stew — Bushwaller’s Corned Beef and Cabbage

If you are looking for a hearty meal, you can’t go wrong with Bushwaller’s Corned Beef and Cabbage. When the Corned Beef and Cabbage was served, it was served in a bowl. This is definitely different, in that I usually see the dish served on a plate, with the Corned Beef served over the Cabbage. Bushwaller’s is more like a stew. The meal was seasoned just right, no need to add salt here. In fact, the flavors were balanced. If you are a Corned Beef and Cabbage fan, you have to try this dish.

Bushwallers Reuben Sandwich — Bushwaller’s Reuben Sandwich

You might say a Reuben Sandwich is a Reuben Sandwich, given this is one of my favorite comfort foods, not all Reuben Sandwiches are equal. I believe I found my new favorite. What makes this sandwich different; is the bread. I could not believe how good this bread tasted. One of the other things that made this sandwich stand out was the balance of the ingredients. When you take a bite, not one ingredient overpowers the rest. You taste the sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. All of this is supported by the thick sliced toasted Rye bread. Bushwaller’s Reuben is worth the trip.

As a point of disclosure, this blog actually encompasses two trips to Bushwaller’s. In writing the article, I saw they had the Reuben Egg Rolls on their menu and had to go back and try them. On the second trip, I also sampled their Irish Farmhouse burger. Having a burger that is served with a fried egg on it is an experience. This is a taste sensation. To me it is a little strange having the egg yolk saturate the burger after you bite into it. But this is something I will have again.

I believe you can tell when ever I’m back in Frederick, MD and I’m craving an Irish pub dining experience I will be back to Bushwaller’s. Have you been to Bushwaller’s or is there an Irish pub you would like me to review, leave a comment below.

O’Lordans Irish Pub

O’Lordans Irish Pub serves up the best Fish and Chips in Westminster, MD.

O’Lordans Irish Pub is one of those places that if you are in the area, you definitely want to stop and have lunch or dinner. Business brought me to the Westminster area so there was no doubt in my mind where I was heading this Friday afternoon for lunch.

According to their web-site, the building started life as a foundry in the late 1860’s. Since then it has housed may businesses. The Johannson family purchased and fully restored the building in 2005. O’Lordans has three separate eating areas, the bar area downstairs, the main dining area upstairs, along with balcony seating.

The first time I went to O’Lordans, the place was packed. On this trip they were just opening for lunch, so seating was not an issue. The question is, what is the draw of an Irish pub? I would say it is the patrons. The crowds are so vibrant. Then again in the case of O’Lordans Irish Pub, the food is also excellent.

O’Lordans serves your standard Irish fare. You can’t go wrong with their Corned Beef, served with a creamy parsley sauce. Then again, Bangers and Mash, Beef & Guinness Stew or Shepherds pie are always a crowd favorite.

OLordan Fish and Chips — O’Lordans Fish and Chips

Hands down they serve the best Fish and Chips in the area. I would even go as far to say, their Cod fillets are some of the best on the East Coast. Deep fried to a golden brown. The Cod is light and flaky. The portion is very generous; surprising in this post Covid era. The meal comes with tartar sauce. Tartar sauce is supposed to enhance the flavor of food. There are times I have used it to cover up the taste of the fish. Here at O’Lordans, tartar sauce is not needed. With the light flavor of the cod, tartar sauce can cover up what is a really a good bite.

Simply put O’Lordans Irish Pub should be at the top of your list of places to visit, especially if you like Irish food. The plus for me is some of the best Fish and Chips I have ever had. Let me know your thoughts below. Have you been to O’Lordans? Do you have a favorite Irish Pub?

Garryowen Irish Pub

Garryowen is a traditional Irish pub in Gettysburg, PA. Enter Garryowen hungry, leave satisfied.

Here’s the challenge: Close your eyes, picture what an Irish pub looks like, then walk into Garryowen. Look around and take in the atmosphere, I would argue with anyone that Garryowen is a traditional Irish pub. According to their website, Garryowen is reminiscent of Irish pubs back in the old country.

Garryowen bar 2 — Garryowen Bar Gettysburg PA

With what appears to be plenty of seating, you can expect to wait at least 15 minutes or more on any given night to be seated. This has a lot to say about the popularity of this establishment. Having dined in Garryowen on several occasions, they are well worth the wait. Once you are seated you can expect first class service.

Shepherd’s Pie, Bangers and Mash, and Fish and Chips are dishes you would expect to find on any Irish Pub’s menu. If this is what you are hungry for, Garryowen will not disappoint. As you are reading down the menu you will come across Ulster Fry. Traditionally Ulster Fry is served as breakfast in Ireland. Garryowen’s Ulster Fry is served with grilled Irish bacon, sausages, black and white pudding, fried egg, grilled tomato, and house-made soda bread. What I found unique about the meal is the black and white pudding. Here in the states, when you think about pudding, you think about a sweet dessert. In England, Scotland, and Ireland, puddings are predominantly savory. The black and white pudding served at Garryowen, is best described as a tasty sausage dish.

If you are not certain about Garryowen traditional Irish fare, then try their meatloaf. Their meatloaf is served with a Smokey Honey BBQ sauce. I say it is good to the last bite. I would also recommend their Reuben sandwich for lunch. I can’t say enough about the meals I have had at Garryowen.

There is no way I can talk about Garryowen without mentioning the selection of 120 + Irish whiskies, plus Ireland’s draft beers. They advertise the perfect pour of Guinness. I have to confess, I am not a fan of Guinness. But, they do have my favorite Danish beer on tap, Carlsberg.

Enter Garryowen hungry, leave satisfied. When I’m in the mood to eat out, Garryowen is at the top of my list of restaurants that immediately come to mind. What makes Garryowen a place that ends up on Road Warrior Dining; of course its the good ole fashion Irish food. Then again, the selection of 120 Irish whiskies helps.

O’Rorke’s

If you are driving through Gettysburg Pennsylvania and desire a hearty lunch, O’Rorke’s should be your destination. Fine dining no; Pub fare yes.

Dinning Experience

O’Rorke’s is more than a place to get a cold beer and a good meal. O’Rorke’s is a place where couples and families come to meet. I expected the place to be empty due to it being a chilly, rainy Saturday morning. I was surprised no sooner had I been seated that people started to flow in. I heard a woman tell the hostess, that she needed seating for seven. Her family was traveling from different parts of the area to meet for lunch. Shortly after they were seated a party of six bellied up to the bar. Just like with the party of seven, O’Rorke’s was a central location for them to meet. Within less than an hour of opening O’Rorke’s was busy. I can only imagine what it is like when tourist fill the streets.

ORORKES GUEST — Friends Gathering at O’Rorke’s

O’Rorke’s is your typical Irish Pub. From Boston to Los Angeles, when you stop in an Irish Pub you can expect the menu to have the standard fare; Bangers and Mash, Shepard’s Pie, Fish and Chips, and my favorite, a Reuben Sandwich. If you are looking for something that sets O’Rorke’s apart from other Irish Pubs, it has to be their house made chips. When you order Fish and Chips in most Irish Pubs, the fish is served with steak fries. O’Rorke’s chips are thicker then commercially produced potato chips. They have a satisfying texture and were salted just right. I’m not a fan of steak fries in general, so the chips actually enhanced the meal.

ORORKES RUEBEN 2. jpg — O’Rorke’s Reuben Sandwich

The Food

Prior to driving to O’Rorke’s, I had already looked at their menu online and I planned on ordering their Reuben sandwich. First of all, I love Reuben’s and secondly I wanted to compare their sandwich to their cross town rival, Garryowen. The Reuben sandwich at O’Rorke’s was to much for me to eat. I ended up taking half of the sandwich and chips home. The sandwich was comprised of a generous portion of corn beef, covered in sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and Swiss cheese. It was served with house made chips and corn fritters. The portion was large enough to fill a hearty appetite or have take out. Both Garryowen and O’Rorke’s Reuben sandwiches are worth drive. One sandwich is not better than the others. So, the next time I am hankering for a Reuben, I will have to toss a coin.

ORORKES Fish and Chips — O’Rorkes’s Fish Basket

Just like the first time I went to O’Rorke’s, I had a specific item on the menu I was looking for. In this case I wanted to try their Fish Basket. I saw on their menu, they make their Fish and Chips with Cod. Given I only eat Fish and Chips if they are prepared with Cod or Flounder, I knew I had to come back on a Friday and try their version of Fish and Chips. As with their Reuben, they did not disappoint. The fish was fried to perfection. The flavor was light, seasoned just right. If I don’t like a fish, I will hide the flavor with tartar sauce. No Tatar sauce required. Just as with the Reuben platter, the chips were cooked to perfection. No need for adding salt. If I was to suggest anything, I would reduce the amount of chips that comes with the Fish Basket.

Final Thoughts

O’Rorke’s is definitely a restaurant I will return to. I can’t say enough about about the food. If you are spending the day in Gettysburg, then O’Rorke’s should be your destination for good food.