St. Patrick’s Day is back for 2022, after a year of COVID-canceled events and then a year of limited and outdoor festivities.
Here’s an alphabetical array of Peninsula, South Bay and East Bay pubs and restaurants — along with San Francisco’s United Irish Cultural Center — serving traditional favorites and some contemporary dishes on the holiday. Know of others we should include? Tell us via the comment field at the end of the article and we’ll add them to the list.
Alhambra Irish House: This pub-restaurant and its sister property, St. Stephens Green, will offer a chef-driven menu of Irish favorites, including lamb stew, sausages and colcannon, Baileys-chocolate bread pudding and not just corned beef and cabbage but also the traditional bacon and cabbage. 831 Main St., Redwood City. www.alhambra-irish-house.com
Alley & Vine: With St. Patrick’s falling on a Thursday, this restaurant’s three-course $49 Thursday night dinner will sport a holiday theme with house-cured corned beef and savory and sweet sides. Look for a Grasshopper on the cocktail menu. 1332 Park St., Alameda. www.alleyandvine.com
Brew Crawl: More than 25 locations will offer beer and cider samples, along with bites, at the annual Pleasanton Downtown Association’s St. Patrick’s Day Brew Crawl, 5:30-8 p.m. March 17. Advance tickets, $50, available on EventBrite; search for Pleasanton Beer Crawl.
The Brit: The downtown pub will offer a limited menu of special St. Pat’s dishes: Corned beef nachos, Guinness and beef stew, shepherd’s pie (lamb), bangers and mash and traditional corned beef and cabbage. 173 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. www.thebritsj.com
Britannia Arms Almaden: A beef and Guinness stew will join corned beef and other Irish favorites on the menu. All-day festivities will include Irish dancers, pipers and a band. 5027 Almaden Expressway, San Jose. http://britanniaarms.com
Britannia Arms Cupertino: Look for shepherd’s pie, corned beef with cabbage, fish and chips, drink specials and live music on the holiday. 1087 S. De Anza Blvd., San Jose. www.britanniaarmsdeanza.com
Celtic Tea Shoppe: For the holiday, these local bakers will be making sweet Irish soda bread (traditional currant/raisin or the new cranberry orange), Irish whiskey cake, Irish whiskey fudge, Irish brown bread, shepherd’s pie and more. Advance ordering recommended; Tuesday-Friday pickups. 4432 Pearl Ave., San Jose. https://celticteashoppe.com
Chef Century: Hot St. Patrick’s Day dinners with free home delivery (on orders over $50) or pickup from Chef Century, a San Jose-based commercial kitchen. Guinness-braised short ribs or vegetarian shepherd’s pie plus side dishes and dessert. Must preorder by March 14. www.chefcentury.com
Crogan’s Montclair: On the 17th, Look for corned beef and cabbage plates to join the Reuben sandwiches and fish and chips already on the daily menu. A bagpiper will play for about an hour in the afternoon and again at dinner. 6101 La Salle Ave, Oakland. www.crogans.com
Dan’s Irish Sports Bar: Corned beef and cabbage will be offered during the day, starting at 11 a.m. At night, live music will begin at 9:30 p.m. 1524 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www.dansbar.com
Dry Creek Grill: On Thursday this restaurant will supplement its regular offerings with a St. Patrick’s Day menu of Irish stew, corned beef sliders, bangers and mash and bread pudding with Irish whiskey caramel sauce. 1580 Hamilton Ave., San Jose. www.drycreekgrill.com
Fibbar Magees: Corned beef dinners start Monday, March 14 and run through the holiday. On St. Patrick’s Day itself, additional Irish favorites will be offered. Expect Irish lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, plus appetizers and salads. 156 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale. www.fibbars.com
Fiddlers Green Irish Pub and Restaurant: A limited menu of Irish favorites will be offered at this all-day restaurant. This is one of the few spots in the Bay Area where you can get a full Irish breakfast — Irish bacon, black-and-white pudding, baked beans, grilled tomato and more — all year long. 333 El Camino Real, Millbrae. www.fiddlersgreenmillbrae.com
Gunther’s Restaurant: The holiday lineup features corned beef and cabbage family platters and individual meals (with carrots, potatoes, rye bread) as well as corned beef sandwiches. 1601 Meridian Ave., San Jose. www.guntherscatering.com
Harry’s Hofbrau: The East Bay and Peninsula locations always offer corned beef platters and sandwiches, but the longest lines for these naturally form on St. Patrick’s Day. 14900 E. 14th St., San Leandro, and 1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City. www.harryshofbrau.com
Lilly Mac’s Restaurant & Pub: Look for a special holiday menu of Irish stew, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, Irish bangers and mash topped with beer gravy, Paddy’s cheddar burger and, of course, corned beef and cabbage. 187 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale. Facebook.com/LillyMacspub
McNally’s Irish Pub: At this pub in business since 1933, they’ll be handing out corned beef sandwiches while the pipers play and the pints are poured. Revelers are advised to arrive early (meaning early in the day, not early in the evening). The backyard and multiple bars will be open. 5352 College Ave., Oakland; www.mcnallys1933.com
Molloy’s Tavern: At this historic pub, founded in 1915, St. Patrick’s Day is always a lively affair. Look for folks to be imbibing indoors and on the front patio. 1655 Mission Road, Colma; Facebook.com/Molloyscolma
O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub, Dr. Funk’s and Five Points: These sister bars at San Pedro Square will feature corned beef, shepherd’s pie and vegan Irish curry on St. Patrick’s Day. Look for Irish coffees also; Five Points hosted the annual competition among local coffeehouses. 25 N. San Pedro St., 29 N. San Pedro St. and 169 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose; www.oflahertyspub.com, https://drfunksj.com and www.fivepointssj.com
Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub & Restaurant: Expect the traditional Irish favorites, including corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and fish and chips served with house-made tartar sauce, along with other menu favorites. 355 Santana Row, San Jose. www.rosiemccanns.com
Slainte Pub & Grub: To make up for the last two years, Slainte will celebrate with four days’ worth of special menus, drinks, Irish dancing and music, March 17-20. There will be extended outdoor seating and extra outdoor bathrooms. Indoor customers must present proof of full vaccination. 131 Broadway, Oakland; www.slainteoakland.com
St. Stephens Green: This pub-restaurant and its sister property, Alhambra Irish House, will offer a chef-driven menu of Irish favorites, including lamb stew, sausages and colcannon, Baileys-chocolate bread pudding and not just corned beef and cabbage but also the traditional bacon and cabbage. 223 Castro St., Mountain View. www.ststephensgreen.com
Tomato Thyme: Even Italian restaurants are Irish for a day. The cooks here will be making beer-braised short ribs, a lamb burger and corned beef and cabbage, in addition to the regular menu. 1560 Hamilton Ave., San Jose. www.tomato-thyme.com
United Irish Cultural Center: Lots of indoor and outdoor festivities. On March 13, a Greenfest Block Party with food, four bands and children’s activities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. outdoors and until 9 indoors. On the 17th, there will be corned beef, Irish dancing and pipes from noon to 10 p.m. 2700 45th Ave. at Wawona Street, San Francisco. Full lineup of music, dance at Facebook.com/IrishCenterSF.
Wild Onion Bistro & Bar: Chef Ray Garrow’s holiday offerings will include corned beef sliders with spiced cabbage and grain mustard sauce and a spring lamb entree with seasonal sides. The bar’s making two special cocktails: “Irish Ancestors,” with Jameson and Irish honey liqueur, and “My Irish Sweetheart,” featuring Baileys Irish Cream and other spirits. 750 San Antonio Road (inside the Hotel Citrine), Palo Alto. www.hotelcitrine.com/dining
Zanotto’s Market: Again this year, the delis in all four stores will make corned beef sandwiches from certified Piedmontese beef brined in-house and served on rye with Swiss cheese, house-made coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing. Willow Glen/Rose Garden/Fruitdale/Sunnyvale locations. www.zanottos.com
Source: www.mercurynews.com