There is a place to eat in Rochester that instantly transports you to an Irish pub as soon as you walk through the doors: Olde Brick House Irish Pub & Restaurant. This new restaurant in the heart of Rochester next to Peace Plaza on 1st Ave SW, opened just over a year ago. I have had the opportunity to dine in for a date night and again with the family to get an order to-go. Here is a quick little review.
Like I mentioned above, when you walk into Olde Brick House, it really does feel like you quickly jaunted across the pond and are sitting in a pub in Ireland. The owners achieved this feel by having items shipped over from Ireland. There are stained glass windows, earthy wood tones, and warm lighting to make you feel at home. The cozy atmosphere sets the mood for the delectable and delightful food you are about to order.
The menu has all the traditional Irish fare that you love to enjoy. I couldn’t pass up the Perrystown pretzels or the Scotch eggs when we went. The Guinness cheese sauce with the pretzels brings out the flavor of the soft pretzels, and the homemade mustard sauce that comes with the pretzels and Scotch eggs is tangy and sweet. Between my husband, friends, and I, we had all the traditional Irish foods: Guinness fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, Celtic meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and my favorite, the Dick Titus Commercial. The fish is nice and flaky, the corned beef is juicy, the mashed potatoes are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the Guinness gravy leaves me speechless, and the smashed peas are sweet. I’ve also tried the pasta and my friends have had the land entrees. Everything has been amazing. We haven’t had a chance to try their desserts yet (we are always stuffed) but our friends have gotten the desserts to-go and said they did not disappoint.
Bringing your kids to Olde Brick House? No problem! They have a mini Irish Fare food and the traditional kids’ menu items (cheeseburger, chicken fingers). Gwen got the mini shepherd’s pie and it was a good helping of food!
The drink menu is quite impressive with beers from Ireland (Guinness, of course), mules, and the Brick House Irish Coffee with locally sourced coffee from Fiddlehead (my co-worker raves about this coffee drink)! Our daughter loves their ginger ale and sodas as well.
Next time you are hankering for some good ol’ comfort food or want to take a little getaway without actually leaving town, head down to Olde Brick House. You will not leave hungry.
