Claddagh Irish Pub

This used to be my go to place for potato skins (they called them pots of gold) but now they’ve taken them off the menu saying the interest wasn’t there which makes me no longer interested in going there. I mean potatoes? Cheese? How hard is that? And people love them no matter what anyone says.

My boyfriend expressed our displeasure of not being able to find and Irish place that compared the «The Fields» from San Diego before their menu was slashed down. But much to my dismay, the same thing must have happened here according to one of the reviews I’ve read below. It’s a shame, that everything’s been turned into a shame. We were told this is really the only Irish place in Columbus to go with good authentic foods. But nope. Sure there fried cheese is good, and the meals are typical, bland and uninteresting for what it should be. While the food must have changed, I’d think that at least they’d keep what they did keep tasting good. The corned beef here was a dry disappointment. Our waitress was really nice, the food was so so, but it was clean, and they had the typical irish fair as far as beer was concerned. SO that’s why three stars. But to me, it really also lacked in the pub feel to. It’s set up like a suburban cookie cutter restaurant. Just the typical gimmicky stuff.
I left here feeling like everything has been so streamlined and fake now a days, where’s the character? Why does every «Irish» place carry just burgers and corned beef and call it self Irish? Common, not even any Boxty? What’s going on here?

I visited this particular Claddagh for the first time on a recent Friday because we wanted dinner and drinks in the Polaris area at a place with a good beer selection.
Not sure what was going on, but I had to order three different beers from their menu before getting to one that was actually available. They didn’t even have Killian’s IRISH Red! At an Irish-​themed bar! On a Friday evening!
I don’t even remember what I wound up getting, but it was really flat. I didn’t bother with a fifth attempt ordering a beer.
The food was decent. Average for any Claddagh/​Irish-​type pub.
P. S. Many of the tables here put an awkwardly huge amount of space between you and the person across the table.

Such a fun pub feel. Love the cabbage roll appetizer! Probably my favorite thing on the menu. Any traditional Irish dishes are usually a good bet too. Do not order the macaroni and cheese. Gross bread topping and not much flavor. I don’t know what I was thinking when I ordered it! Beer list is great with a lot of European options and of course Guinness. This is one of the best options for a restaurant in the Polaris area.

There are a few different pub type restaurants in the Polaris area, but my favorite for the most authentic feel of a true pub is Claddagh. The beer selection is awesome, the food is great, and the décor is just like it would be at a pub in the UK, right down to the mismatched chairs.
We went here last night for my boyfriend’s birthday with his family. This place is never that crowded anymore (but it should be), so we got right in. We all had a beer from their huge list. They also have a great selection of whiskeys and you can even get a whiskey flight if you don’t know which one to choose.
For food, I had to get my most favorite soup in the world, Guinness Onion. It’s french onion soup, but with Guinness added and nice rye croutons, thyme, and great melty cheese. It’s perfect. For dinner, I had the Yuengling Battered Shrimp. It was fried shrimp tossed in a sweet chili sauce and served with a small salad and french fries. It was really good. The breading on the shrimp wasn’t too heavy and the sauce was a little spicy, a little sweet. My boyfriend, his mom, and brother all got the fish and chips and I tried a bite and man, was it good. Boyfriend also had a side of mac and cheese, but I wasn’t a fan. It tasted like the stuff you buy from the grocery store that’s velveeta brand. My boyfriend’s dad had the ribs and they looked awesome and his other brother had the beef stew, which also looked incredible.
I’ve been here before and always had a good meal. If you ever go, you have to get the corned beef and cabbage rolls. It’s like a Reuben sandwich in an eggroll. Sooooo good. Also, the mussels are excellent, as is the Sheppard’s Pie. You really can’t go wrong.

We went here for Easter brunch with our friends. The food was great and the service was awesome. We wanted to change tables as we had a baby and the manager, even though it was a busy Easter Day obliged and gave us a more convenient table for us! The omelette bar and the waffles were the highlights!

I’d call this place the best kept secret of the Polaris area that more people should become aquatinted with. I went in with some friends on Tuesday for $ 3 pint night and a bite to eat. Our server was prompt and helpful with specials. We got the shrimp app to start and if anyone is familiar with bang bang shrimp, this app is not only better, but less expensive! The over all atmosphere is awesome and could accommodate any occasion you might come in on. Not to mention an actual manager stopped by the table to say hello and check on us, now that’s a breath of fresh air!

A friend of mine and I went in for dinner before hitting the movies last night. I’d been here a couple times at the bar but this was my first time being seated in the rest of the restaurant.
The place looks nice. It certainly fits the bill of «traditional» Irish pubs as we know them over here. And for 6:30 on a Friday night, it seemed awfully quiet (although that would change). We were seated in an area that seemed to be missing a lot of chairs and tables. Our server was very nice, friendly and quick.
I ordered the Irish pork loin which turned out to actually be a pork chop, which was okay although a little dry. The star of the place was the honey whiskey glaze/​sauce, I’d put that stuff on anything it was tasty. My friend got the Jameson burger which he loved (and I do too, it’s great).
The only drawback to the evening was when the area next to use filled up with a large and very loud rehearsal dinner. Why would you seat people next to this area when the rest of the place was virtually empty? Obviously, this kind of thing isn’t going to happen every visit so it’s not a strike against them.
Overall, the service has always been great and the food is pretty tasty. It’s a very relaxed place to hang out. I’ll be back for a Guinness or two.

Wifi and a nice patio!
It’s weird, despite being so accessible, they always seem dead, the food is always good, and the service is always bitchin’.
I love when I come here, because the staff is so friendly.
I’ve been here for group lunches, and late lunches, and the occasional pint of Guinness after a long day — and man, it’s a fucking pub. I’ll be back.

The gang met here for St. Patrick’s Day. Probably not the best day to go out, but we had a blast and the «Shepherd’s Pie» (it’s actually a cottage pie; Google it if you’re curious) was so, so good. We’re definitely going back.
I have no idea what this place is like every other day out of the year, but it was jam-​packed on St. Patty’s Day and it was really loud in there. Our party leader and another friend got there around 5:30pm and had only just managed to grab a table about 15 minutes before we arrived at a little after 7pm.

Finally got to give this pub a try on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Walked in the door about 1 and stood there for about 5 minutes waiting until someone checking on a order with the bartender saw me and showed me to a seat in what I have dubbed «The Black Box of Claddagh». It was a small windowless room off the bar painted completely black with two tables, a comfy bench along one wall with chairs on the other side of the tables. It was about the size of a small apartment bedroom if that big, so if you’re claustrophobic ask for another place to sit, maybe even the dining room I didn’t get to see
.
OK this fits in line with the general «Irish Pub» atmosphere, dark wood and the décor to fit. The menu is full of Irish and semi-​irish type foods, corned beef, cabbage, bangers & mash and of course the «Full Irish Breakfast» with black and white puddings, rashers, bangers n’ eggs. I finally decided on the «Paddy Mac» a hot corned beef sammich with coleslaw on toasted marble rye with their pub chips.
My order came out very quickly and was appetizing, hot and plated very nicely. The sandwich was very good and well made, tender corned beef but the coleslaw didn’t have much flavour which makes me wonder if they make their own. To me it tasted like it came out of a food service container, not much flavour or spice to make it stand out. The pub chips were wonderful big potato wedges that were lightly battered and fried, I loved’em with some malt vinegar.
Now the service this trip was kinda hit & miss, while the table beside me had the bartender as their server, I had someone that was doing double duty in the other dining room. My raspberry iced tea for $ 2.49 went dry in the middle of my lunch and I had to end up scoring water when the bartender was refilling water on the table right next to me. While my service wasn’t the worse I have had, it sure wasn’t the best. I did get my food quickly which made up for a lot of it.
Can’t say this will be a regular place for me but, I’d prolly take guests here for a lunch or dinner for another try.
PS: The free wifi was almost non-​existant in the «Black Box of Claddagh»

I’ll be back to review again.
Took the man for a later night nosh one happy Friday. We split a whiskey flight and had two sides of mac n cheese. Yum!
Fun service and a clean space.
My drawback right now is my Black and Black I ordered. Or whatever name it goes by here — it’s the Guinness with the currant syrup float in it.
Usually I pay $ 5 for this as a flat rate, an alternative to the many layered Guinness concoctions. The pint was $ 5.75 and the currant shot was an extra 50-​cents. Never heard of that before and I’ve never been charged at the Brewery District location.
That night there was also a DJ and a very vacant dance floor. I don’t think this is the right fit for the clientele. Just saying.
I’d avoid the loud music and prefer to come for sporting events or a nice eclectic mix of contemporary Irish/​Irish rock and current tunes… not rap and early 2000’s remixes.

Having eaten chicken and beef all week I was in the mood for something different so I went to Unilocal and searched for all restaurants and stumbled across Claddagh Irish Pub. After reading the rave reviews about the Fish and Chips I decided to give it a try.
Walked right in and got a seat at the bar where Alex came right up, introduced himself, and took my drink order. I have never tried Irish Cider so I opted for that tonight… just a hint drink it before it starts getting warm. Very interesting flavor and I will have it again but will ensure to not let it get warm. Placed my order for a cup of the clam chowder and the fish and chips. The chowder came out piping hot and was good. I guess I am not used to chowder that is not «white» but it was very good, with one exception… I encountered quite a bit of grit. The fish and chips came out about 5 minutes into my chowder so I was a bit disappointed. However, the meal was piping hot as well so I was able to enjoy my chowder and still ate a hot fish & chips.
I was not disappointed with the fish & chips. The batter on the fish was perfect, light and crispy yet the fish was tender and flavorful. The chips, actually hand cut fries, were incredible… I don’t know what the seasoning is on the chips but it makes them what they are. Any restaurant can do fries/​chips but what differentiates them is the seasoning!
I will go back when I am in Columbus!

This review is based solely on the Guinness pour. if you have read any of my other reviews of Irish pubs you will notice a theme.
This was a terrible pint. straight pour, very little head which any Guinness drinker will tell you is the best part.
they did a very nice job on the interior to try to make a very large space feel cozy.
I would go again but avoid the pint. Arthur would not be please.

A nice pub with the usual suspects but they do have a few outstanding offerings. I love love love their hot apple cider with rum! That cinnamon stick and the brown sugar rim — yum! — and Strongbow cider on tap. Their fish and chips are quite good.
Claddagh does not give you a weaselly little piece of fish hidden in a major blanket of crust like some places — oh no! You get this nice big piece of fish in just the right about of crispy batter and big steak fries. Their Irish breakfast is filling enough even if I will never ever touch the black and white pudding again — not my thing!
But the thing we always order when we go? Their corned beef and cabbage rolls! Oh good heavens yes!!! It’s pretty much a corned beef and cabbage egg roll that they cut on the diagonal and serve on a plate with two dipping sauces. One is sweet and sour I forget the other. You have got to try these at least once!
Service is usually pretty good although there have been times we had to send out the hounds to find our server (especially when it gets crowded) but as long as I have my cider and my rolls — all is well.

Claddagh has your usual pub fare with a handful of Irish and British specialties thrown in.
The sandwiches are greasy and delicious, and for a restaurant in the midwest, the corned beef is actually pretty darned good.
The real reason I love Claddagh though, is because it’s one of the only places in town where you can get a real Irish breakfast, which is a protein-lover’s dream. Banger sausages, bacon, eggs, and black pudding. Yes, they actually serve blood sausage! It may be a heart attack on a plate, but it’s extremely tasty.
If you go, try to pick a week day evening, or go at lunch. They do sometimes have games up on the TV, and it can be extremely loud inside, especially if you’re near the bar.

Me and my fiancé went here because we bought a Groupon. We started off with the hummus and flatbread. At first bite it wasnt great but it got better with each bite.
Originnally I was going to go with the first chicken dish but after reading all of the reviews we both decided on the fish and chips. Even though I vowed never to get it again after two horrible experiences with it at two other Irish places.
I wasn’t disappointed. It was the best fish ‘n’ chips I’ve ever had. The fish just melted in my mouth, and the chips were also very good, they had some kind of spice or herb on them that was awesome.
My fiancé was also very happy because they have mangers or some type of beer, so we will probably most definitely be back. Give it try

I used to reccomend Claddagh to friends wanting to eat around Polaris when they first opened. I’m really, really disappointed at what they’ve turned into over the last few years.
As a place to go and have a drink, it’s still fine — the bar staff is solid and the drink selection and prices are reasonable. But for food, the last few years it’s slowly slid downhill.
When they first opened, their menu was a big, thick, folding thing with some wonderful dishes that, even if they weren’t totally authentic, FELT more like actual Irish pub fare — the wine steamed mussels, the plate of chips with a tasty horseradish flavored cream to dip them in, bangers and mash, a robust shepherd’s pie, fantastic rosemary chicken, and a Guinness stew that was rich as Lex Wexner and dark as a starless night. Mmf. Oh, and did I mention that the portions were big enough that you could reliably take delicious leftovers home for lunch?
I wasn’t going up to Polaris to eat much for the last few years, but I was up there for dinner recently, and the menu has been violently stripped down to a single page sheet — and most of the character went with it. The shepherd’s pie is still there, but the portion is smaller and it seems like they’re using a less flavorful cut of meat — it felt surprisingly bland.
Gone are the other dishes I loved. They’ve been replaced with a fairly small selection of entrees and sandwiches that feel generic — even supposedly «Irish style» offerings like the Guinness BBQ ribs (which, on sampling, tasted like boiled ribs in a store bought BBQ sauce — no taste of the stout, or any other beer, at all), or «Jameson’s style» burgers. (My friend ordered this, hopefully, thinking that perhaps it would come with onions sauteed in the whiskey, or something similar. Instead it was basically just some regular fried onions and smothered in a nasty looking cheesy sauce. He said it tasted «OK», but he wouldn’t have gotten it if he’d known what it really was.) The fish and chips were «Decent», according to one of the friends I went with who tested them out, but you can get a larger portion for $ 3 cheaper across the street at The Pub Polaris.
(Oh, and the questionably named «Paddy Mac» sandwich? Sorry, guys. It’s a Reuben. I don’t care if you change the name, or put it into a panini press. When you put corned beef, cheese, slaw, and dressing on rye bread, it’s a Reuben.)
Even some of the better desserts, like the bailey’s & raspberry crêpe or the flourless chocolate cake are gone.
Stop in for a drink if you like, and enjoy the dark wood paneling and nice faux-​stonework look of the place, but if you want to eat, there are better places to spend your money.

I didn’t have any of their beer but their food is really good! I started off with a cup of their onion soup. The broth was dark and very rich and was loaded with onions. It was also topped with croutons and cheese.
For my main course I had «bangers and champs.» The bangers were breakfast size sausage links that were perfectly cooked. The potatoes included garlic and the gravy was dark and rich. Everything was delicious! And this is the first time that I can remember taking food home. I took half of this order with me. I was full!
Along with dinner I got to hear a number of Irish jigs.

Typically have good experiences at this Claddagh, but my dinner on Sunday was putrid. I made the mistake of ordering the Beef stew. It contained exactly two chunks of meat. The vegetables were either overcooked and soggy, or undercooked and hard as rocks.
The mashed potatoes it was served on were decent, but how do you mess that up?
It’s not something I would order again anytime soon.