Restaurant Review #1 - Raglan Road Irish Pub
Where: Raglan Road Irish Pub, Power & Light District, Kansas City.
When: Lunch, Saturday, March 29th 2008
Alas, no photos of this one due to my camera not wanting to acknowledge the presence of batteries. I think my poor 4-year-old rechargables are dying, woe.
But anyway, Raglan Road is an "authentic" Irish Pub in the center of the KC Live! area of the new Power & Light District in Kansas City. From the outside, it looks like a quaint pub, almost Disneyfied in its too-sincere authenticity. Appropriate, since the Orlando restaurant is in Disney World, I think.
Inside, it's a seat-yourself place, but not like anything I'd describe as a pub. The bar is HUGE, stretching one whole side of the place with about 20 stools and three constantly working bartenders, even during the beginning of the weekend lunch crowd. The first level has some long high tables, perfect if you're bringing a crowd of co-workers, I'd imagine. Then some small stairs take you up to a second landing where there's some four and six seat tables, as well as a small stage for the house band (which I was told is usually for the after 9pm crowd). I went up to the top area, which was supported by some huge ballroom-style pillars. I was impressed by the pub-style chairs and tables in an place with expensive-looking moulding and wainscoting. It's a weird dichotomy between fancy dining and homey pub ambience. The third level where I was also opens up onto Grand Blvd directly across from the Sprint Center, too.
I hadn't sat down for more than a minute before a server came up with the lunch menu and asked if I'd like something to start off with. Having perused the menu online beforehand, I went with the fish and chips ($14) and a Black-and-Tan ($6). I figured, Irish restaurant, go authentic. (Now I wait for some of my UK readers to completely blow me out of the water there.)
The first thing I was brought was a selection of bread and dipping oil - not sure what kind, very sweet with a spicy peanut oil swirled in. The bread itself was almost like a cross between bread and fruitcake, dense and with orange peel in it. Very good appetizer.
Then the beverage came - I will say this, they make a good Black-and-Tan here. It's not my favorite way to enjoy beer, but went well on a slightly overcast Saturday.
The fish and chips was served unlike any way I'd ever had it before. Instead of the traditional trencher or bucket, the thick-cut chips were brought in a paper cone, reminiscent of newsprint, in a sort of wire basket, with the battered haddock tossed in. A small dish of tartar sauce and a bottle of malt vinegar were brought as well, and what surprised me - a shot glass of pea soup.
The pea soup was an interesting touch - a bit bland, but good with some coarse-ground pepper. The fish itself was tasty, not too greasy, and obviously right from the fryer. More like something you'd get from a roadside vendor than what you'd expect from a kitchen - which is a big positive as far as I'm concerned. The chips were a bit TOO fried - crunchy on the outside but fall-apart flaky on the inside. Didn't absorb vinegar well, which is one of my vices when having fish and chips. I douse the whole lot in malt vinegar and let it soak in for a while before salting the crap out of it.
I opted out of dessert, as I found the lunch to be rather filling. The menu did have some nifty options for dessert selection, however.
Quick summary:
Location and decor: High. It's in a good area, as the P&L District is geared specifically for the clubs and restaurants to make best advantage of their location by the new Sprint Center arena. The layout is simultaneously comfortable and high-class, and what I didn't mention earlier was the music. Kept at a volume where if you were having a conversation you wouldn't notice it, but if you're eating by yourself, it's a nice touch. Modern Irish music, I will assume, since I didn't recognize the bands but more the style.
Service: Excellent. Prompt and courteous, and I observed a lot of the other patrons receiving the same service. A lot of times servers will pay more attention to a single diner assuming they'll develop a quick rapport in the hopes of a good tip. But I saw the same level of politeness and cheer throughout the place, so kudos to a well-trained staff.
The Food: I'll give it a Medium-High. The fish was great, the chips and pea soup slightly less so. The presentation was high-class, which I thought was a nice touch. I really dig the fusion of modern presentation with classic fare.
The final tally: $20.00 + $5 tip.
Judgement: Very good, a bit upscale for a casual one-person lunch (Chipotle is more my speed, and it's right next door practically) but a definite repeat for guests, especially to check out the dinner menu and desserts.
Raglan Road Irish Pub: Thumbs up.
When: Lunch, Saturday, March 29th 2008
Alas, no photos of this one due to my camera not wanting to acknowledge the presence of batteries. I think my poor 4-year-old rechargables are dying, woe.
But anyway, Raglan Road is an "authentic" Irish Pub in the center of the KC Live! area of the new Power & Light District in Kansas City. From the outside, it looks like a quaint pub, almost Disneyfied in its too-sincere authenticity. Appropriate, since the Orlando restaurant is in Disney World, I think.
Inside, it's a seat-yourself place, but not like anything I'd describe as a pub. The bar is HUGE, stretching one whole side of the place with about 20 stools and three constantly working bartenders, even during the beginning of the weekend lunch crowd. The first level has some long high tables, perfect if you're bringing a crowd of co-workers, I'd imagine. Then some small stairs take you up to a second landing where there's some four and six seat tables, as well as a small stage for the house band (which I was told is usually for the after 9pm crowd). I went up to the top area, which was supported by some huge ballroom-style pillars. I was impressed by the pub-style chairs and tables in an place with expensive-looking moulding and wainscoting. It's a weird dichotomy between fancy dining and homey pub ambience. The third level where I was also opens up onto Grand Blvd directly across from the Sprint Center, too.
I hadn't sat down for more than a minute before a server came up with the lunch menu and asked if I'd like something to start off with. Having perused the menu online beforehand, I went with the fish and chips ($14) and a Black-and-Tan ($6). I figured, Irish restaurant, go authentic. (Now I wait for some of my UK readers to completely blow me out of the water there.)
The first thing I was brought was a selection of bread and dipping oil - not sure what kind, very sweet with a spicy peanut oil swirled in. The bread itself was almost like a cross between bread and fruitcake, dense and with orange peel in it. Very good appetizer.
Then the beverage came - I will say this, they make a good Black-and-Tan here. It's not my favorite way to enjoy beer, but went well on a slightly overcast Saturday.
The fish and chips was served unlike any way I'd ever had it before. Instead of the traditional trencher or bucket, the thick-cut chips were brought in a paper cone, reminiscent of newsprint, in a sort of wire basket, with the battered haddock tossed in. A small dish of tartar sauce and a bottle of malt vinegar were brought as well, and what surprised me - a shot glass of pea soup.
The pea soup was an interesting touch - a bit bland, but good with some coarse-ground pepper. The fish itself was tasty, not too greasy, and obviously right from the fryer. More like something you'd get from a roadside vendor than what you'd expect from a kitchen - which is a big positive as far as I'm concerned. The chips were a bit TOO fried - crunchy on the outside but fall-apart flaky on the inside. Didn't absorb vinegar well, which is one of my vices when having fish and chips. I douse the whole lot in malt vinegar and let it soak in for a while before salting the crap out of it.
I opted out of dessert, as I found the lunch to be rather filling. The menu did have some nifty options for dessert selection, however.
Quick summary:
Location and decor: High. It's in a good area, as the P&L District is geared specifically for the clubs and restaurants to make best advantage of their location by the new Sprint Center arena. The layout is simultaneously comfortable and high-class, and what I didn't mention earlier was the music. Kept at a volume where if you were having a conversation you wouldn't notice it, but if you're eating by yourself, it's a nice touch. Modern Irish music, I will assume, since I didn't recognize the bands but more the style.
Service: Excellent. Prompt and courteous, and I observed a lot of the other patrons receiving the same service. A lot of times servers will pay more attention to a single diner assuming they'll develop a quick rapport in the hopes of a good tip. But I saw the same level of politeness and cheer throughout the place, so kudos to a well-trained staff.
The Food: I'll give it a Medium-High. The fish was great, the chips and pea soup slightly less so. The presentation was high-class, which I thought was a nice touch. I really dig the fusion of modern presentation with classic fare.
The final tally: $20.00 + $5 tip.
Judgement: Very good, a bit upscale for a casual one-person lunch (Chipotle is more my speed, and it's right next door practically) but a definite repeat for guests, especially to check out the dinner menu and desserts.
Raglan Road Irish Pub: Thumbs up.