Ive been going to the Irish Inn for a very long time. We love that there is a nice place in the neighborhood that has a decent bar and fantastic outdoor seating. I have nothing but great things to say. I'd like to add a personal note. This past week our dog was in the hospital and we didn't feel much like cooking. We went to the bar to pick up carry out food and had a drink while we waited. While we were there, we got the very bad news that our dog basically had 24 hours to live. We were both crying heavily right there in the bar. Not exactly everyone's dream customer and not exactly what every dream customer wants to do. Not one but just about every staff member who passed by us asked us if we were ok. The bartender comped us our drinks and was genuinely sympathetic. None of them had to do that. None of them had to care. But it made all the difference. The Irish Inn will make you feel like family. They remember you when you return. Any place that hires staff/bartenders that are both compassionate and kind is a place I will frequent forever.
(5)
Monica G.
We live near here and go all the time. Lunch with kids or mother in law, night out, it's a real treasure in the neighborhood. Overpriced, but I have not had any service issues in 6+ visits. Can't wait for mother's day brunch!
(4)
Jewell S.
Today, I had reservations at 1:00 pm for 4 (they were made 1 month in advance). My mother who had not gone out in months (she is 82 with cancer and uses a walker). She dressed up and had gone to get a perm just for this dinner. When we arrived 15min prior to our reservations. They said we would have to wait. Which we understood since we were early, but then the owner came over and said, "the wait is an hour or more unless we wanted to eat in the bar or out on the patio area they just enclosed and turned on the heaters. I noticed they did have seating available (table for 4 open in the downstairs) but he was not very nice -- Of course I would not take my elderly mom to the Bar after she had planned on a nice dinner for St. Patrick Dinner. So we went out to the patio. We were the only ones dressed formally. My husband had on a jacket w/a tie, I had on a dress w/heels and my heels stuck in the flooring. The patio heating was awful. the heat beat down on us and we had to ask to have it turned off and then it was cold. They didn't bring bread until we asks. We have gone many times and I have never been treated so poorly. I will never return. I will tell as many people as possible! Plus, the leek soup they advertised on the website did not have truffle oil. The waitress said it was too expensive for the special. I could not believe the comment. As we sat there longer, I noticed they began to usher older couples in the patio. Another senior came in with a walker. Also another couple who were at least in their 80's were also escorted in the back corner table. I wonder do they want the older people out of sight? Bad business...the owner or manager was not a spring chicken!
(2)
Tony S.
I wanted to like this just because the friend I was staying with seemed to like it. It had all the hallmarks of a great experience: Free Valet Parking Great interior Friendly waiter Made me feel like I was back home in the UK although Anyway I really fancied fish and chips, and stupidly I ordered them. It was pretty revolting, bland, damp and warm i.e. not hot. COnsidering the other 2 had cabbage and gammon and the other a cottage pie mine should have been the last to be cooked so it would be crisp. The fish was translucent i.e. not cooked and clearly from frozen, which I would expect but come on at least get the batter right. The batter was damp and not crispy at all. The fries were not hot but were not bad. I detest tepid food I mean really bad. 2 days later I went to Bethesda and had fish and chips in this massive empty restaurant with a big fire at lunch time which was brilliant so I know it can be done. The cabbage and gammon looked really nice and the cottage pie was a joke, portion size. It came in this ultra tiny copper saucepan, I mean teeny portion for the price. Cottage pie is not expensive to make so to charge $13 or $14 for a childs portion in a pub is really taking the piss. Anyway my partner enjoyed it but said I wouldn't have because it was tepid, he likes his food a bit cooler. But clearly they have an issue with serving hot food. Shame, its a nice place, great interior but average pub food and expensive drinks for a pub I would say.
(2)
Deb k.
I love the setting and the service is generally OK, but the food can be spotty... the eggs benedict for breakfast had a non-bearnaise sauce that was interesting, but cold; the shepherd's pie is small and average, but when you want comfort food, it hits the spot. The potato and leek soup with the truffle oil is lovely. The $3.50 charge for a side fo bacon 92 pieces) or a single sausage seemed too high... But a charming pub and it's where I met my husband, so it'll always be special.
(3)
Bridget G.
I went here after a hike at Great Falls and was starving. While the menu is a little bit on the expensive side, the food was great. It is probably the best Reuben I have had in my life! And the lamb burger was okay, but the bun was a little dry. All in all, I will definitely go here again, especially for the dreamy Reuben!
(4)
Katherine W.
All soy free, and the food is consistently outstanding. Add in the peacefulness of the neighborhood, and it's become a regular date night out for my boyfriend and I.
(5)
Rich H.
Summary based on 1 dinner: --food ok --atmosphere quite pleasant, actually --parking easy --friendly service Went here with a local and I'd be fine going again. It's one of those places where the company matters more than anything else.
(3)
Gary M.
Visited after the the recent Folk Music Festival. Good food and brews. Fish and Chips were excellent if that's possible. Staff is attentive and personable. I look forward to going again.
(4)
Brian M.
Always fantastic! One of the only restaurants that never lets me down in terms of food and service. I have been here for dinner on the weekends and for business lunches during the week. Honestly, I don't typically think good food and Irish in the same thought. But this place is great and I have never been disappointed. I have started with the potato leek soup and the ceasar salad. Both were wonderful. And for entre I have has fish and chips, sliders, shrimp and grits, and lamb. All were wonderful. I especially like hanging out in the pub before hand. The place has a real nice pub!
(5)
Susan C.
We've eaten here in its various incarnations. We most love eating out on the porch. It feels like being somewhere other than the city. The food last time we went was outstandingly good (fish and pasta). Service wasn't super fast but we were there for a slow paced experience. We're going back tonight to celebrate our 18th anniversary.
(5)
Eleanor B.
Occasionally good food. Not the best service. Love the deck. Liked it better as Trav's and as Glen Echo Inn.
(3)
Joseph F.
I went here with Cyrus N. for Mother's Day (his mom and my MIL) and I had high hopes when I first arrived. The restaurant itself was quite cute--it's located in an actual house and it feels quite quaint. Unfortunately, the food was a bit of a letdown. It's not that it was bad--it was quite good, actually--it's just that there was nothing really exceptional or outstanding about it. Everything was just sorta...middle of the road, I suppose. Maybe I should have ordered another main course besides fish and chips, but my wife's shepherd's pie wasn't that great either. It wasn't awful by any means, and the portion sizes were very generous, but it wasn't an experience that left me genuinely sad when the food was gone and eager for my next visit. One drawback of the unique setting was that everything seemed a bit cramped. The waiter bumped into me several times while serving other folks; I got tired of this and tucked my chair in to the point where I was uncomfortable, but at least I didn't leave with black-and-blue marks on my head. Also, the cramped foyer leaves those waiting for their cars at risk of being hit by an opening door. I give five stars to places to which I would return in a heartbeat and four stars to places that were great but had a few negative aspects to them. Places at which the food was decent but not outstanding get three stars...so the Irish Inn gets three stars. I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to eat here and enjoyed what I had to eat, but this place is sub-par in comparison to the other outstanding places in the DC metro area like That's Amore, Shanghai Cafe, Guapo's, and others....
(3)
Mic X.
there is an irish inn at glen echo i know cause the name says so and if in a pinch whilst looking for kinch you will find a pub, but a bed - no the pub is irish mostly in name but the pour of the stout tis same as they do in Erin or as best as Mclaren could manage Rotten's surly fame now the fish and chips are quite crisp and the waiters talk friendly - nary a lisp but something's missing when the last bite i'm finishing and my stomach feels as full as a bloody cyst now authentic is word a tossed out - quiet often and this place is nice, despite what it's lackin' so go for a pint but don't expect sight of the ghost of O'leary who is safely in his coffin
(3)
Catherine K.
I have eaten here twice, once with a weird pseudo-date and once with a group of friends. I don't remember much of the food except that it was affordable (for a Night Out --not for Every Day) very good and that we sat outside in the summer evening, which was lovely. What I do remember clearly is the Best Dessert Of My Life. It was a chocolate cake with warm chocolate-cherry goodness inside and Guiness ice cream on top. I have had a lot of dessert in my day, in a lot of countries, and I cannot think of a single dessert I have enjoyed as much as this one. It was, unfortunately, the dessert o'the day, so who knows if they still occassionally serve it...if they do, buy it and savor it. 4 stars for good food, a pleasant location, and mostly, that one unforgettable dessert experience. Minus one because the entrees were good but not superb, it's not metro-accessible, and both times, there have been problems getting the bill straightened out.
(4)
Tom D.
The food here was mediocre despite a menu that had some creativity even though it looked as if the chef wanted to incorporate a dish from every region of the world on one menu. I had a portobello tart that was some mushroom slices, goat cheese and onion piled on a square of puff pastry. For 20 bucks...I should have had some home made tart crust not this lazy excuse for a tart. The soup was ho hum. The peach salad was good but over dressed and the mozzarella was parsimonious. The dessert saved the meal. The homemade peach, Guiness, and vanilla ice creams were great and the bread pudding was wonderful. The peach ice cream was worth going back just for. The crowd was all over 65 and the waiter was overly friendly before and during the meal, offered us coffee after dessert, and disappeared after dropping the check. I mean disappeared....the check sat with the credit card in it for over 20 minutes!!! We had to ask another waiter to run the card, and even then, I didn't see him anywhere either in the dining room or the bar. Overall, I'd be happy never to return.
(1)
Mary S.
This review is for the restaurant. There is a pub attached with less formal and less expensive fare. The food here was very good. My husband had the Fillet Mignon with a whiskey sauce and enjoyed it immensely. I had the Potato Leek Soup and the house salad with an "Irish" Vinaigrette dressing. The server told me the dressing had 7 different mustards in it when I raved about how delicious it was. We split the Warm Chocolate and Sour Cherry Cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert (Sounds odd, but is too die for). The only problem was that the server mistakenly put the 6 desserts from the table next to us on our bill (No wonder those people were tripping all over each other to leave after paying). The error was fixed quickly and politely.
(4)
Phil M.
Overpriced and dirty food. A really bad combination. Oh and the waitress sent to tell me that the vegetables were "naturally gritty" in texture. Would have laughed if I hadnt been so offended to be told that the bad food was MY FAULT. WOW!
(1)
Sanda C.
Great atmosphere, however food is overpriced. Had the bangers and mash for $19 in the bar area --- that's 3 sausages, mashed potatoes, and peas for nearly $20-- what's the Gaelic word for overpriced??
(2)
Robin R.
The food here is great and plentiful. We always enjoy it. We were seated in a small room upstairs with a bunch of drunk and loud people at a table who I'm certain needed hearing aids since they were yelling instead of just talking. We needed to move to a different room in order to have a conversation. The staff were great and moved us as soon as another table became available. We would have left otherwise.
(4)
Don L.
Ambience was nice but the food was disappointing. My dining partner and I both found fault with our dishes. She had already warned me to stay away from the fish and chips (bad experience) but assured me that all the other dishes were very good. She ordered the Reuben, I ordered the scallop salad. The Reuben had way too little in the way of dressing or sauerkraut. My salad had way too much dressing. Every leaf was drenched. In retrospect, we should have sent both dishes back but because our conversation was so absorbing we didn't start complaining to each other about the food until we had eaten too much to send back. It's too bad because the restaurant did some things right. The corned beef was moist and delicate. The rye bread was excellent. I would like to say my salad was otherwise good but it should've been larger for a $16 brunch entree. Atmosphere and service was nice except they gave us 3 scones for 2 people. All in all, we were disappointed.
(2)
Chris C.
2.5 stars. GF and I have been looking to find an authentic Irish breakfast for awhile now, and through some Yelp searches, the Inn came up. Given that I've driven past this joint many times over the years but was never interested in ever going, I was somewhat looking forward to finally experiencing it. We first went for a weekday lunch, and it's a fairly hectic place - given its primo location - and the lunch was good. I had good roasted tomato soup and decent fish 'n chips entree. The fish was good, the batter was crisp... but what's up with the crazy saltiness of the batter? I felt the veins in my arms straining... so, the following Saturday, made reservations for a wknd brunch to try the Irish b'fast... crazy contrast to the fish 'n chips, sleep-inducing, geriatric blandness! My gf, who is Irish, thought it barely decent, and I thought it okay, but was definitely expecting more unique flavors. Speaking of geriatric blandness, this place is THE spot for the elderly in the area, and the place is packed with wacky, random valet parking activity and slow-movers over the wknds. The place feels like a place which should oooze charm naturally, but the feel is decidedly contrived - no knocks to the great location though. Overall, not so bad, but I'm not ready to 'slow' down this much yet... give me another couple decades.
(3)
Doug B.
Please tell Billy and Evan that General Burdeshaw is a retired Army Brigadier General. To correctly address him now would be to say William B. Burdeshaw, BGen, USA (Ret). Remember what I said about Brigadiers! My guess is he is an impressive man. BTW, Nathan Coons used to make me "Doug's" fish and chips - a low fat and excellent alternative to the fatty fried fish and french fries. Ross and Steve both know how to do this; the servers might not know what it is. Challenge them!
(4)
James B.
We love the ambience, the atmosphere, and the decor. Those are all good things. The food is ... generally good. I personally tend to stay with the Irish pub grub, like fish and chips, or the beef stew and they have been very good. The scones are amazing! Some of the more ambitious dishes have not worked quite so well. My wife tends to try those and ... they're typically decent, but nothing special. Take a walk around Glen Echo park when you're done here, though, there's the Spanish Ballroom and a carousel and other interesting sights.
(4)
Susan F.
Surprise was the word for my experience at the Irish Inn at Glenn Echo. I expected typical Irish pub grub. What I got was interesting and inventive dining. Salmon with a pumpkin salad accented with pumpkin seeds and acorn squash. A portabella tart topped off with goat cheese and a lovely salad on the side. Oh, and the bangers and mash. Delicioso. Home-made ice cream and a molten chocolate sour cherry cake. Wow. Add to this an incredibly beautiful and idyllic setting, and unbelievable service and you've got an escape from DC that ain't too far away. This was one of the more relaxing, tasty and charming evenings I've spent in a long while.
(4)
Mark P.
A nice place to meet friends and I'd do it more often if it weren't a bit pricey. But you can always meet your friends over a Guiness in the bar. Also valet parking only - I can't look valets in the eye after they experience my ancient clunker. You can park free in nearby Glen Echo park and have a nice stroll to wake up your appetite. I agree with other reviewers: food is good but not as good as it should be for the price. Sometimes very noisy and crowded.
(3)
Nadia C.
I was taken here for an engagement luncheon with my fiance's family. It was LOVELY! We had a private room upstairs in the quaint and adorable Inn. The meal started off with a nice Irish lad introuducing himself and bring our beverages and fresh made scones. ALl of us ladies ordered something different and each one of us enjoyed our meal. I had the beef stew (something I have never ordered anywhere in my entire life), it was excellent! This place is highly recommended, take your time, enjoy your meal and listen closey to your server, most are straight from Ireland and have an awesome accent!
(5)
Helen H.
We had a surprise party for my husband at the Irish Inn. Everything was great. I worked with the manager prior to the party (a Sunday brunch). He made the party planning very easy and everything went off flawlessly. We selected three appetizers and four entrees. The party was for 19 people so we had a private room upstairs that allowed us to mingle and enjoy the company of friends and family. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. I highly recommend the Irish Inn for a party.
(4)
Susie Q.
This Irish Inn is located next to Glen Echo Park and in close proximity to the Potomac, MD "scene." If you can overcome the middle-upper income pretenses of this Washington suburban crowd, then you can enjoy the pastoral, colonial-era loveliness of the somewhat overpriced pub/restaurant. Someone told me it used to be a brothel - i guess it has been there since the 1930s. Anyhow, I had the Shepard's Pie which came in a little copper pan topped with a large swirl of mashed potatoes. Beneath the potatoes was ground beef mixed with onions and peas. What can I say about Irish meat and potatoes? There is no great culinary skill involved but it was good, satisfying comfort food. It also came with a salad that was glazed with a light house dressing. The real draw of this place is the beauty of the nature that surrounds it - it is a nice, pleasant place to go to get away from the city as long as you're not too bothered by the polo-wearing status-seekers.
(3)
Will O.
Drove by and it caught our eye. We stopped, were seated promptly, and the service was prompt and friendly. Fish tacos were tasty. Not traditional, but very good. The fish sandwich was ok, but the curry coke slaw didn't really compliment the fish. Scraped it off - it made the bun soggy. The sandwich was good - maybe ask for the slaw on the side. Nice outdoor seating and a comfortable location.
(4)
Curtis H.
Wow, great meal! The wife and I took my parents to this place to give my dad a taste of what "good" Irish food should taste like. The Irish Inn knocked it out of the park, the Shepherds Pie and Irish Beef stew were "the best we ever had" according to my parents. As for my wife and I, we were equally as happy, but we are use too the likes of this place because we frequently drive back to Glen Echo to get our Irish food fix.
(5)
Anastasia P.
I second Ron W., although he is wrong about one thing: Glen Echo is not a "ghost town". The Irish Inn has the distinction of being the only restaurant within walking distance of the historic park's ballroom (which enjoys significant patronage each week due to all the dances being held there). The Irish Inn is the only place to go if you, for example, wanted to drink away the jitters before stepping out on the dance floor with a thousand other sweaty human beings. That being said, this is a privilege that the restaurant does not deserve. Neither the drinks nor the food are cheap, though the latter is so poorly executed that it is nearly a joke. The service was atrocious. I showed up about 10 minutes before the rest of my party. I was sat anyways, and the waiter walked by and said "how are you doing", and clearly did not care to hear the response as he walked right on by to a neighboring table. I would've like a glass of wine to drink while I waited...no such luck. Once my party got there, we finally got water and about 15 minutes later (after multiple "I'll be right with you"s from our waiter), we got some service. To be fair, the guy was swamped; his section was the small backroom and he had maybe 7-8 tables of differing sizes who all needed his attention. He got my order wrong and brought me a caprese salad (asked for the "tomato and mozzerella flatbread"). He apologized, took it away, then thoughfully brought it back "on the house" for me to enjoy, as the rest of my party was digging into their meal, and, well, flatbread takes more than just a minute to cook (unless they microwaved it...which they might've). Thanks, but no thanks. The caprese salad consolation prize was a little offbeat, with watermelon and cucumber in lieu of the traditional tomatoes to complement the shiny, chewy, flavorless rounds of mozzerella on the plate. The whole thing was drenched in some kind of foul, semisweet vinaigrette (green in color), and sprinkled with mint. It was like a schoolboy put it together at a picnic in a lame attempt to impress a cute girl. No nuance, just gimmick, total yuck. I gave it to the rest of the table to eat. My advice: stick with the original, get better mozzarella. That dish is really hard to screw up, but they managed. Finally, my flatbread comes out. The "tomato compote"? Marinara sauce. It was tomato compote in the way that a milky way bar is nougat pate with a chocolate ganache (tip: call a spade a spade). More of the awful chewy flavorless mozzarella. I ate half and was uninspired to eat the rest. The restaurant seems to do well with the older sect. Besides our table, there was not a single group that had anyone who appeared to be sub-50. As a result, it was reminiscent of the supper clubs that grandparents take us out to to show off their families; mediocre food, dark, dated surroundings. So it is my impression that the Irish Inn lives on by the grace of its location and familiarity among the people who live in the area. I'll be going there to get a drink before dances and nothing else, if I can help it.
(2)
Erica W.
Cute place. Attentive staff. Family-friendly. Decent selection of wine if you don't drink beer. Haven't tried the food, but will go back sometime to try some based on the reviews.
(4)
Phil B.
Good food and good beer. I liked their IPA on tap best (not Irish, I know), followed by Guinness Stout. Service was friendly and prompt. Not too many options for vegans.
(5)
ron w.
The Irish Inn at Glen Echo...co...co...co. Take a pass...ass...ass...ass. This relic should be relegated to the Ghost Town that once was the draw to the area; The Glen Echo Amusement Park, now deserted and closed. The Inn should share the same fate or make an attempt to re-invent itself. There is a nice outside patio set in rustic surroundings and inside there is a rat's warren of tired rooms with a vibe from shabby clubby to employees lounge in a mortuary. I needed a drink after making the trip from Rockville. After having one, I still needed one. A watered down Whiskey Sour (with a mix, I suspect) and a squishy Maraschino cherry instead of a luxurious Luxardo. (Bring a flask from home.) I ordered the Mediterranean Platter. Okay, my bad to order mezze in an Irish Pub. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Direct from the Kirkland Brand purveyors they served jarred pickled vegetables, Sabra Hummus (hopefully not the one recalled due to Listeria), a few olives, some sleepy Pita, something called Pesto Pita (right from the package) and Japanese Eggplant bathed in a heavy batter, fried, and topped with store bought salsa cold and soggy as a Golden Retriever puppy that fell in the pool. The basket of bread arrived long after the mezze. Well, actually it arrived two days before and had been sitting on the counter ever since. The doughy White Bread and the faintly molasses laced Soda Bread were as cold as the eggplant. Leave them both, you don't need the empty calories and if you must have something with your mezze or cocktail, just eat the butter. The menu was large. Fine. Choose wisely would be my caveat. The Rueben was as thin as Mom's after school grilled cheese if you were underprivileged. The Corned Beef, what little showed up was acceptable, but the Swiss Cheese was a dried lattice work of something long out of the Salamander and probably the Sell By Date. The few threads of store bought Sauerkraut were barely there and the Russian dressing had defected. Three types of mustard in jars appeared 15 minutes after we'd been served sandwiches. Irish Whole Grain with Stout, Whole Grain with Irish Whiskey, and Strong Irish (whatever that was). All pretty good, but who knows who's snot nosed Grandkid tasted each one with a wet finger? Just sayin'. Maybe put the mustard in little ceramic cups? The Irish Burger featuring Irish Cheddar Cheese bordered on inedible. A skinny dry patty (maybe the recipe was handed down from the famine years) on yes, a purchased bun, with a limp Romaine leaf, a mushy tomato one step from a Waste King and maybe the chef dragged a thin slice of cheese over the mess before service. Maybe. Dessert: A tasteless, flourless, room temperature disk of chocolate with Costco Dried Morency Cherries. (Hey, Chef, cherries are in season. How about something fresh?) along with a melon ball of Vanilla Ice Cream. Suitable only for a sales meeting at the Holiday Inn Express or a base line Bar Mitzvah at the Veteran's Hall. The chef must have come from a Mine Sweeper, a Minimum Security Prison or an Assisted Living Facility as the food was your basic industrial fare. The staff, in all fairness was friendly, and helpful. Although, if we'd complained we'd still be there. If it's a choice between The Irish Inn at Glen Echo or frozen Ledo's Pizza from last week? I vote you break out the hair dryer and start defrosting.
(2)
Ashley S.
Service was great!! And the place is really adorable and cozy. Food is kind of pricey but great appetizers and Irish entrees. I really recommend the shepherd's pie, smoked salmon appetizer, fish and chips, crab cake entree, and the flat iron steak! The Bloody Mary was DELISH and I loved the free bread.
(5)
Angela L.
Before my first night of blues dancing at Glen Echo, I stopped by the Irish Inn with a group of people in order to loosen up before the dancing commenced. When we got there around 8pm on Thursday, it was fairly crowded because (I'm told) a group meets there for drinks every Thursday. They eventually thinned out around 8:30 or so. I got a few beers and wasn't sure if I should eat something small for dinner but then saw the chili on the menu and gave in. The chili is "texas-style" (I'm still not exactly sure what that means), and uses stew meat rather than regular ground beef. I thought it was pretty tasty, and the cup for $8 was especially filling. My only small complaint is that it didn't seem very hot. After i mixed the sour cream in, it was almost lukewarm. But the flavor was perfect, and had a bit of peppery zest. Next time I come here, I'll try to work up an appetite so that I can try the mussels. My friend who raves about them ordered a bowl and they looked delicious. Also, Diane is the best!
(4)
Carl W.
Nice place. Classier than I am used to, but not off-putting. Great ambiance, but you can't eat that. I had fish and chips and it was all just fine. Thin-cut fries, as God intended. I asked the waiter for extra tartar sauce and he brought it without having to be reminded, so this place is already one step ahead of most other places. I would consider going again.
(4)
J. Curtis G.
My ethics were severely compromised upon eating at The Irish Inn. The five choices on their "children's menu" were all $11.95!!! I mean, the food was pretty good, but it wasn't good enough to justify the cost. Go somewhere else unless you've already shelled out $3.7 million for your house in Glen Echo. The cherry on top was that we were charged an extra $3 for a small plate of bread, and I was billed $2 more for my entree than it was listed at on the menu! They have a nice selection of Irish and Scotch whiskies and a small selection of beers. However, no self-respecting Irishman would pay $7 for a pint of Guinness. The meal was decent, but way way way overpriced. I expect to be nourished at lunch without having my financial and philosophical ethics compromised. It may look cozy, but you should go elsewhere.
(2)
Vincent M.
The food is good (although a little pricey), and the servers are very hard working. However, the managers seem very condescending and thoughtless with their employees and customers. I got the impression that they really didn't care about their customers that much. I heard some of the managers insulting them behind their backs. It made me really uncomfortable to be there, and I was constantly wondering if they were insulting me too. It's not just about the quality of the food, it's also about the experience. I felt like I was under pressure the entire time. Give it a shot I guess, but be aware that they're running a business. They're not your friends.
(2)
Norman G.
Depending on whether you choose the bar or the restaurant or the outdoor seating, the experience is very different. The bar is about beer (mainly), Irish music (at times) and traditional Irish food, though I believe anything on the menu is available. The bar is often jammed and noisy but you may also find it empty. The restaurant serves quality food and a reservation is advisable. The patio is relaxed and is a great spot overlooking Glen Echo when the weather is good. If you like black-and-tan, which should ONLY be ordered in an Irish bar, the Irish Inn does it right. I often order the lamb chops at dinner and the ala carte brunch menu has considerable variety. I've been here for lunch, brunch, dinner and happy hour--and the experience is different for each. I'm not big on the music evenings. Too noisy and too crowded for me.
(4)
Brad T.
A nice Irish pub with a varied selection on the menu. beer was cold and the food great. Prices a little step, but not really for this area. I've eaten there twice and enjoyed it each time. Great service and very clean.
(4)
Anna Laura B.
Had an excellent meal here over the Christmas season. It was decorated so nicely for the holidays and was very homey. Our little group of six had an entire cozy private room to ourselves for dinner! The beef stew and potato leek soup were delicious and their bread pudding dessert was outstanding. The Irish aren't exactly known for their food in general but this place could change that! Excellent service as well.
(5)
Beth P.
This place has a great brunch and a dessert menu that beckoned us to return back after our afternoon adventures in Turkey Run park! I would recommend the quiche of the day; it's a generous portion of an egg and vegetable mixture du jour in a buttery crust, and it comes with a really good, lightly dressed salad. My husband tried the braised short rib and smoked gouda sandwich, which was very tasty. They also had really excellent coffee! I dinged them one star because only one server was assigned to the bar area, so we were lacking for coffee refills at times, which is a bummer. I also didn't get to ask for Tabasco (which they don't have) until I was halfway through brunch. Overall, though, it's a great place! Our 2 breakfasts and coffees ran us $35, which I think is pretty standard around here. We'll go back here again for sure!
(4)
Ivy T.
A lovely cozy nook to stop into after a day of hiking up and down the C&O Canal. I can't comment on the menu, because I only had a couple of pints, but those pints were most refreshing at the killer price of $5 a pop!
(4)
Erin T.
I adore this place. Been going for years, and always look forward to the next opportunity to do so. The reuben is amazing, as is the calamari, the fries, the shepard's pie, I could go on and on! The service is reliable and everyone does their job with a smile, even when the place is packed to the gills!
(5)
Kelly M.
Quaint ambiance, great service upstairs, meal extremely disappointing and overpriced! Three small pieces of fish and handful of fries for $18, ridiculous! Ordered our granddaughter 2 plain pancakes - no eggs, no meat - they were very small and falling apart, yet we paid $8 for maybe .50 worth of ingredients! Only way we would come back is if the menu had a complete overhaul.
(2)
Charis N.
We came here for lunch the second day of my visit to DC. The place is dark and woodsy but with windowed-natural light too. The cuisine is definitely authentic Irish and any Irishman or Irishwoman would appreciate it! We came at an odd time in the afternoon, so it wasn't very busy. Server was nice but she was a bit slow on returning to take our orders - maybe shift change or something. Anyway, even though the food is a bit heavy for my usual dining-out experience, it was certainly well prepared and delish! And don;t get me started on the Bloody Marys they make! OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Truly made from scratch, or at least tasted like it! Great family place too by the seating options even though we sat at table in the Bar area. If you're in this beautiful woodsy part of nation near the Potomac River, and enjoy true Irish cuisine, make a point to stop here. And if you're not driving, absolutely have a Bloody Mary...or 3!!!
(4)
Elliott E.
Stopped here on a whim after hiking Great Falls. Was seated immediately, had a nice spot on the outside patio and took in a nice day. Got the classic Guinness, which was fairly priced, and the Ruben. The corned beef was fantastic, great flavor. The bread was thick, but let the corned beef shine. I'd recommend asking for extra Thousand Island if you order this. I would recommend!
(4)
Patrick N.
Had the Prime Rib. Service was excellent, accommodating of dietary restrictions, and food was prepared as ordered. The brown bread and butter is also a hard to find treat. The bar area is exactly what you would expect to find in Ireland. They run a first class operation!
(5)
Joshua D.
I'll have to come back sometime and review the food. I went here with my boss and her husband who are regulars after work for some socializing. The place itself is VERY nice inside and out. We sat out on the deck, which was very well-kept and had cover overhead with ceiling fans. The location is convenient for folks who need somewhere that makes it easy to get back to Bethesda, D.C. or NoVa. The service left something to be desired. My boss waited probably 20 minutes or more on a refill for her Diet Coke. The server said that they had to change out the CO2 on the fountain machine, then came back later without a refill and said only one employee could do it and that he was on the phone. Here's an idea -- either train more than one employee to do such things, or get that guy off the phone! I want to go back here sometime when I'm eating and not just getting something to drink because it does seem like a pretty neat venue. WARNING: DO NOT bring large vehicles like trucks or tour buses into the parking lot! A tour bus turned in, and it is a VERY steep incline into the lot. The bus bottomed-out and was stuck there blocking the entrance for at least an hour. Not sure how they ever got it out.
(3)
Robert B.
Been passing this place for years saying I need to eat there. I can now keep passing it having just satisfied my curiosity. Food is tasty, portions are far too small for the price. Greek salad is like a dinner salad for $11. Turkey burger is like a slider on a big bun for $14. Perhaps the pub is good. The fish and chips are tasty but still on the small side.
(1)
Shannon S.
I just loved this place and will definitely be back. Myself, my mom, friend, and her mom went yesterday around noon. The ambiance is wonderful...just what we wanted in an Irish place. We've been looking for a great Irish Pub for awhile now. I had the Ruben with a side Caesar salad. It was great...the Thousand Island wasn't sweet which was perfect. We also shared the Calamari appetizer, very tasty. I had the Elderflower Martini. The Bloody Mary had a little too much Horseradish tang, but that would be my only complaint.
(5)
Erin B.
We stopped in for Sunday Brunch after a bike ride and had a great experience. We made a reservation for 4 (recommend if you want to sit outside); the outdoor seating fills up quickly (right after they open at 11) since they have a great deck. The location off of MacArthur is extremely bike friendly and they have a decent parking lot if you drive. The service was impeccable - friendly, timely and consistently asked how we enjoyed the meal. The food was great as well - great price points, healthy portions, and authentic Irish menu items. They have a great assortment of healthy options as well if you are stopping in after/during a bike ride: homemade granola, fruit, yogurt, house-cured salmon, etc. All in all, a great experience. We'll definitely be back to try lunch and recommend to our friends in the area.
(5)
Jon L.
A rather disappointing first experience. I made reservations two days before hand for Friday lunch....@ 1130a and I specfically requsted the patio. When we arrived, there was virtually no one else there. We were told the patio was closed. We were seated in the main dining room, a nice quiet two top in the corner. It turned out it's restaurant week so they had some nice specials...several entrees that two could spit for $15. We each opted for the Special which was a garden salad with pecans, feta cheese and four very tasty grilled shrimp. Our serve was attentative but as it became busier...she became less so. Pretty soon, we didn't see her but had to ask one of the water servers for coffee. When we got the coffee, the cream was bad...so we waited...and waited. still no server. Finally the same water server came by and after flagging him down, finally got another cup of coffee. It was barely warm...so not a good ending to what started out as a promising first time lunch. I probably won't go back until it cool's off enough to sit out on the patio.
(3)
Donald P.
Honestly, I think I'd give this place a 2.5 stars due to slow service and insane traffic around this area, but came here with the team after a well-deserved, hard-earned, after-event, happy hour. We came here on a Friday evening and the traffic at the intersection near here is absolutely mind-blowingly idiotic! So anyway we came here to chill and relax after coordinating a large 300+ conference with a relatively small team. Nice cozy feel and just take note not to order a Miller Lite at an IRISH Inn like I almost did. Also don't order a Black and Tan. The Irish don't like that.
(3)
Paul M.
Bumping this up another star because of a very pleasant recent visit - i have not been there for ages , but i did not fancy trying to find parking in Bethesda....three big improvements: 1. they now sell Guinness is 20oz pints. 2. they now serve Guinness in a glass with the Guinness logo 3. Menu much improved - great value soup and sandwich combo I like it and, with the imminent death of Ri Ra Bethesda upon us, I will be back.
(4)
Hampton C.
A tale of two motifs, the Irish Inn should be able to cover whichever mood strikes. On the dining room side you'll find an intimate and very quiet area adorned with small paintings from the Emerald Isle. The fair is classic Irish as you'd expect. On the bar side you'll find a livelier and authentic feel of a country Irish watering hole. The brunch is quite good and no one will think twice if you order a Guinness at 11AM. Note that, as you'd expect, you can only reserve seating in the dining room area so come early if you want to grab bar seating!
(4)
j b.
I spent more than usual for a weekday lunch, but it was so worth it. the fish and chips was maybe the best I have ever had. I splurged on dessert and had the bread pudding....it was awesome!
(5)
Ellen K.
This is just a lovely place to have a quiet lunch or dinner. The food is good, with plenty of fresh, interesting vegetables. The staff are accommodating and the service is excellent.
(4)
Lander P.
Really enjoy this restaurant. The problem with most Irish pubs in DC is that they focus more on drinks than food. A lot of care out into the food. This is more along the lines of a typical pub/restaurant that you would find smaller towns or suburbs in Ireland. I have only been here for lunch so I'm not sure how it is at night.
(5)
Elizabeth B.
This restaurant is so picturesque that it's easy to think (as we always had) that it probably wasn't that good and possibly might even be a tourist trap. But it was great! We sat outside on a beautiful evening, had great service (from a bona fide Irish lady) and good food. Everything was A-OK and we'll surely be back.
(4)
Bonnie W.
We hadn't been in a while, so stopped in for a Sat. lunch. Unfortunately, a large private party had just arrived, so it took more than a few minutes to seat us outside on the nice deck, which is covered & has fans now. Lovely Irish server. DH had amazing Reuben with real corned beef and I had the quiche and salad, very good. Both $13, not cheap, but generous and of excellent quality. I note they have official Happy Hours M-F 4-6:30 which explains why it is packed during rush hour. Great place to meet people from around area with free valet parking (do tip!) Drafts $5, Miller Lite $3, food specials, including $4 slider and $5 fish taco. Will have to get there early!
(4)
Nora J.
The best thing about hiking on the C & O Canal trails up this way is stopping at Irish Inn for a beer on your way back home. It's just a sweet little place, both inside and out. The food is decent, though I've had better reubens. It's just worth it for the little respite in the middle of nowhere.
(4)
Jessica M.
While back in Maryland visiting, I was reminded of how much I love the Irish Inn. The thing is, you have the best of both worlds. Want a nice, romantic dinner? Go to the dining room, the food is delicious and it's beautiful. Want to grab a few drinks and chat with strangers? Go to the bar. It's big. And wooden. And obviously Irish. You might run into a person with an accent, actually, you're almost guaranteed. And who doesn't love accents? Plus, they have a PATIO. I'm an outdoorsy girl... as in, I like getting drunk off of mimosas on patios. My favorite thing on the menu is the Tuna BLT, not gonna lie. I know, it's an Irish place, tuna? bacon? Do it. You'll be eating and be like "man, that girl from yelp was RIGHT!" Now that I live in a city where Irish bars/restaurants are severely lacking, take it from me, appreciate what you have! Or you know, maybe the Irish Inn will read this and just relocate to Austin...
(5)
Pat S.
I love this little neighborhood restaurant! I go there often at all times of the year. In the summer I like to sit outside on the deck and enjoy the weather. Other times I enjoy the quiet tables indoors. On thing that's especially fun is the jazz group they have every Sunday evening in the bar. If you're going to do this, be sure to come early enough to get a seat. It's become too popular!
(5)
Candace Y.
We stopped iat the Irish Inn for dinner because it looked like an interesting old place that was worth investigating. The person who seated us led us upstairs to a table where the table and one of the two chairs were at a significant tilt. It was pronounced enough that I wondered if I'd have a problem with my food or drink sliding sideways. Since the person had taken us here and left immediately, not waiting to see if we were okay with the tilting table, I flagged down a server and asked if we could get a more level table. The server said, "Sure, no problem, but you know...this ~is~ an old house" and took us into the next room and got us something more level. Then, she set a couple of water glasses down. My dining partner started to drink from his water glass and noticed not one, but ~two~ dead bugs floating in his glass. The server noticed him looking at the glass: "Oh, is there something in there?" And offered to get him a replacement. On the way up the stairs, I'd noticed how worn and dirty the carpeting upstairs was. (I was starting to wonder how clean the kitchen was.) The menu here is on the more expensive side for a pub-restaurant. Certainly, it had not made a good impression on me so far. It hardly seemed to be worth it. A quick look at the wine list showed a pitiful selection of inferior wines by the glass. After conferring for a moment, we decided to cut our experience short and find another place to dine.
(1)
Michael B.
This place is awesome! I stopped in here after paddling on the Potomac one day and was delightfully surprised. I got a cup of cream of crab soup (not Irish, I know). It was delicious! I then had a Reuben which was also FANTASTIC! We ate in the bar but the table still had a tablecloth and full sets of silverware as well as butter plates, saucers with coffee cups, etc. Our server was Irish (judging from his accent) and was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was super attentive but not annoying and was incredibly polite. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area!
(4)
Trevor M.
Update: Yeeaahhh! Bloody Mary and brunch. What more do you need? Cozy up to the pub area and head to the bar...get a cup of coffee, splash that on your face and then ask for a bloody mary with the peppar vodka. If you're not awake yet...then you're not ready to live. The Irish breakfast is a staple of irish working person's breakfast. It was everything that you needed to get started with your day. Eggs, bangers, Irish bacon, blood pudding, toast, tomato and beans. When God rested on the 7th day I believe he had an Irish breakfast. The bangers, bacon and puddings are from ireland so the flavors are all there. This is how you want to wake up. Ask for the scones with fresh whipped cream. The benedict here is a treat. The perfectly poached eggs and baby ham is succulent, but instead of the hollandaise sauce the parsley sauce makes it light and and vibrant. it's adds such a great creaminess to the eggs. You've got to try this. The bloody mary here really is good. They make their own batch fresh every Sunday and really, I mean really is fantastic. Describing it would be feat of magic in of itself....you've just got to try it, fall in love with it and wish that you could just have this every morning before you go to work, at work, during mid-morning break and even have it so you don't get that 2:30 feeling. Apart from Brinner (Breakfast for dinner)...Brunch has to be the perfect meal, now when you add the touch of the Irish (because any other touching is probably illegal and will land you in jail) you know that you're going to have a great meal, but when you have it here it's as close to kissing a leprechaun in the emerald isles as you can get. And here there is a a pot of gold.
(4)
Matt W.
Excellent shephard's pie, and great place to stop after a hike at Great Falls for a beer and some food.
(4)
Christopher M.
I have been coming here for years. The menu is limited compared to some similar restaurants, but what they do, they do very well. The staff rarely turns over, so you can expect to see a familiar face As for the ambiance, you are not going to find anything like it in Bethesda. It's at it's best on warn summer afternoon. Wait for the patio. You can be casual, or dress formal. Doesn't matter. You'll blend right in.
(4)
Maureen K.
We enjoyed the prix fixe menu on New Years' Eve and were amazed that they managed to turn out good food, attractively plated and served, on such a busy evening. Although we are of the "old crotchety" age that a previous reviewer complained about, we found the noise level very acceptable, and the small rooms upstairs allow one to be quiet and even moderately private if that's your choice. We were, however, not impressed with the much-touted home-made ice cream -- it tasted like they were skimping on the calories. We live fairly close so will definitely go back, probably for lunch, and hope to find their regular menu with more directly Irish-type cuisine.
(4)
Nicole L.
It's located along the winding roads and forested surrounding. In the serene area of Glen Echo there was much life in the Irish restaurant/bar. At arrival the host was going to take us to the dining room upstairs but since there was a jazz band playing at the bar I suggested to check it out.The hostess offered us this special large booth that was empty probably because people were too polite to take it or maybe because it was next to the jazz where the view was somewhat obstructed. It was a great booth!! I loved the privacy compared to the rest of the bar. We still managed to get a good view of the band as they started playing, the Brook Tegler band played some great jazz music. I ordered fish taco from the bar menu the fish was delicious along with the garnishes for my taco! Of all things it would be the last to expect a delicious fish taco at an Irish bar. It's quite the hidden gem that I discovered of this area.
(4)
Al A.
Terrible service. We waited 35mins to order food. To make matters worst, I had to twice signal our readiness to order. TWICE! Train your staff or fire them for incompetency. Our food took another 30mins to get to our table. This is inexcusable as it is pub food (fish and chips, burgers, etc). The food is expensive for the quality and quantity. The fish and chips were just haphazardly thrown on the plate, and they were no better than frozen fish sticks.
(1)
Libby F.
We celebrated my friend's landmark birthday here last night after work. Aside from the bees on the patio, the casual, laid-back atmosphere is pretty alluring. This place can be a bit pricey with no happy hour specials. $9 for a chardonnay and $6.50 for a Boddingtons or Smithwick draft. The pub fare is good grub. The calamari rings are saved by the light and crisp batter and the tasty chili remoulade sauce that accompanies it. My favorite dish is their Mediterranean platter. For $14 you get fried pita chips accompanied by three dips: hummus, feta spread and a really good black olive tapenade. My fellow diners also shared plates of hamburgers and fried ham and cheese sandwiches. No complaints all round. Even though prices are high, the Irish Inn deserves praise for the authentic atmosphere of their pub... just like in Ireland since they banned smoking in pubs there. Free valet parking is nice, except when your whole party leaves at once and the valet gets a bit overwhelmed.
(3)
Jane K.
I've frequented the Irish Inn at Glen Echo and have always enjoyed the food and service. On 11/8, my husband and I bailed on our commute (which was terrible) and stopped by the Irish Inn, hoping to salvage the day. Thankfully, we were seated without delay! Our waiter, Francois was fabulous. His impeccable manners, friendly demeanor and subtle French accent helped settle our nerves as we ordered another sumptuous Irish Inn meal. The grouper was deliciously prepared and my husband ate every bit of it. My ribeye steak was prepared perfectly and I was so glad they put creamed spinach back on their menu as an available side dish. Definitely order the Guinness onion rings and even though you're stuffed, order dessert. The warm chocolate sour cherry cake is not to be missed.
(4)
Sara J.
What a gem. Stopped in to this warm and inviting pub after a visit to Glen Echo Park. Mediocre food and slow but nice enough service. However the feel of this place can't be beat for a pint and good old Irish bar food.
(3)
Gloria M.
Sometimes bad things happens to a good place. This is the case for this business. We frequent this place often and have received a warm welcome! last Sunday the new Manager was as unwelcoming and rough as they come, her name Saoirse. We are so disappointed as this is a charming place and the service is always wonderful. The first impressions always make the rating and I gave a low rating just because of this person!
(3)
Kendra N.
Haven't eaten yet, so my review will be updated later, but great atmosphere and good drinks. Quiet, which is nice when you are out for the night and away from the kids.
(4)
Hilary M.
Every time I come here, I swear I will never go back. Then after a while, the idea of a casual, relatively inexpensive and fun meal at a charming "local" place seems tempting. Fuhgedaboudit. Waited 35 minutes past reservation time for a table, then over an hour for the main course to arrive. Even in the bar, service was terrible; I ordered a glass of wine and a mixed drink simultaneously that were delivered a full ten minutes apart. And the food? Don't get me started. How is it possible to get bad corned beef and cabbage in an Irish restaurant? There are simply too many better places to go for dinner than this one. Don't waste your time or money here. There's a lot of great food within five minutes' drive.
(1)
Tony P.
Stopped by here for dinner with some friends, before a concert event next door at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. The decor is comfy and reminds me of a classic pub. Dark woods and cozy tables. The food is pretty good. Nothing really outstanding. I had the leek soup and banger's and mash. The black and tan was a flowing steadily all dinner so I was pretty happy. I finished off the dinner with a pineapple parfait which was pretty good. Overall a good dining experience.
(3)
Maren P.
I've been to the Irish Inn about 10 times, and it's always great - both in the pub and in the main restaurant. My family has also had private parties and celebrated various occasions at the Irish Inn. They are always very accommodating and very friendly and helpful. Additionally, the food is great with traditional Irish fare as well as nightly specials. They have a lot of information and a menu on their website: irishusa.com/irishinn If you're in the Bethesda/Potomac/Glen Echo area, this is a great place to go for a relaxing, enjoyable and delicious lunch, brunch or dinner as well as for a private party.
(5)
Lisa R.
The food is very good, the atmosphere can't be beat, and although the service is at times spotty, it makes for a nice evening or lunch overall.
(4)
Tim D.
hmmmm.....how to rate an institution...?? This is a place u go for AMBIENCE...not 4 food! The interior bar w/a live jazz band playing on a Sun. nite just can't be beat! The food is...um,- how do I put this graciously,- "underwhelming"... Having said that,- u really can't go wrong w/a Smithwick draft in a 16 oz. glass poured all the way to the rim (probably 20 oz. !!) for only $6 or so... If ur getting my drift,- ya'll need to ck this place out on a Sun. nite but grab a seat early @ the bar cuz it's SRO come 5:30- 6:00PM!!
(3)
Jen M.
My review may be a little biased considering one of the people I went with here is a regular and is friends with the owners. However, I get the impression that even if that were not the case the food and service would have been just as great. The restaurant is a gorgeous place next to Glen Echo Park. We enjoyed some beers on tap and a whole lot of their delicious dinner entrees. The Shepard's Pie of my colleague which I tried was tasty. The Shrimp and Grits I ordered was surprisingly good - shrimp, scallops, sausage and grits in a tomato-based sauce. Also tried the bread pudding, creme brulee, and this amazing warm chocolate cherry cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert and all of them were amazing! It seemed a bit overpriced to me, but worth it. And they also have a less expensive (but I'm told just as great) menu in the pub area that I'd like to come back and try one day.
(4)
Lindsay D.
I love this place. It has a tavern with a full bar and a fine dining section. The staff is great; the owner is really nice. I have never had a bad meal or bad experience.
(5)
Emily B.
All my family was impressed with the food. A bit pricey for everyday. Heavy,(stereo-?) typically Irish - beef stew, Shepard's pie, corned beef n cabbage. And DELICIOUS warm chocolate sour cherry cake for dessert. The "Banoffee parfait" was also good, I heard.
(4)
Ben J.
Every time I would drive from NW DC to my girlfriend's house in NoVA I would pass this place and just wonder "What is this place?" and "Why is it here?" If you have been wondering the same thing, I only have one piece of advice - GO HERE. I decided to cave and go to the Irish Inn for my most recent birthday, sat in the restaurant side and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Everything was absolutely perfect. Ambience was pleasant - very nice, but also felt down home and welcoming. Very authentic. Servers were helpful and didn't look down on us even though we were slightly underdressed for the restaurant (I'm pretty sure I was wearing a baseball cap). This would not have been the case at most nicer restaurants in DC. Food was awesome. I had the Mahi Mahi special which was extremely good, but also very unexpected from a restaurant with a pub. And I ordered it with a pint of Guinness, which in my mind, makes the meal a perfect 10. My girlfriend had the salmon, which was also cooked well and very tasty. This last part is unique to my own experience but as an older couple was leaving the restaurant, they came over and gave us their unfinished bottle of very nice red wine (about half full). Must have been regular customers and it felt like they were welcoming us to their favorite local restaurant. That made the meal even more special for me! I'll certainly be back for more meals and may even try out the pub fare.
(5)
Bethany W.
We have been here a few times and are always impressed with the serving staff and the menu. I love it here!! Sitting on the deck is great but, the furnishings in the dining rooms is pretty awesome too.
(5)
Ed R.
I've been to the Irish Inn on several occasions for Sunday brunch, dinner, or just a night out, and its it's always a great experience. It does get crowded (especially when a band is playing), but it's a fun and friendly crowd. The menu is limited but good. They have a good selection of beers on tap and Irish whiskey. If you're just in town for a few days or a local who hasn't been, check it out.
(5)
Alan C.
I've been going to this place for a while now, usually before going to an event over at Glen Echo park. The pub is a great place to grab a drink before events, the servers are welcoming and the ambiance is great. They occasionally have live music thats very hit or miss, usually miss for my taste, but apparently people like it cause its usually packed those days. The rest of the restaurant is good as well. The food is delicious and the servers are very helpful making suggestions. The bread rolls are usually pretty good, but sometimes over toasted. The desserts are not always all listed on the menu, they've had some great off menu desserts in the past. Cons: - when the band is playing, you can't escape the noise, even if you're eating upstairs. - some of the customers are old and crotchety. They'll complain about anything. I've had friends cut off because they were having a boisterous discussion which the old people thought was because they were drunk. The management needs to realise that some of their older customers have nothing better to do than complain.
(4)
Beth E.
We has reservations at the Irish inn on 6/30/12, the day after the really bad storms. We came from Frederick county but we heard that most of the area had lost power and so did the Irish inn. We called the restaurant twice today to find out if the restaurant was open. They said they would be open all day and were serving a full menu. They had a backup generator. We arrived at 6:00 and sat outside on the patio because there was no air conditioning. Despite the heat, the meal was fantastic and the serving and kitchen team did an amazing job working in the heat. They handled the electricity challenges exceptionally well. All very professional. The food was outstanding. We had a great time. Of course we will be back again.
(5)
Kalynne H.
We didn't know it was a set price for St. Patty's at lunch so we were surprised. They did accommodate our kiddos. Its a great place to go after being at Glen Echo.
(4)
Mary Beth C.
Cozy lunch spot near Great Falls. Looks like a restaurant out of the 60's or 70's (nothing cutting edge here, except for Open Table reservation.) Charming service.
(3)
Veronique B.
I'm a huge fan mostly because of the atmosphere but now the food has caught up. between the paradise location and scene and the people, basically a complete win. Love it and if you get a table outside when it' nice, it's as enjoyable as getting one in the cozy dining room around Christmas time when it's all lit up. Beautiful, typical place. Prices are even reasonable! Do not miss!
(4)
Lo K.
If I average all of our experiences here, I'd have to give this place a 3-star rating. I've eaten here several times. First time was pretty good. Second time was for brunch and when I asked the waiter for gluten-free suggestions, he laughed in my face and told me nothing was GF. I was able to find something, he was just being difficult. Several years later, we hosted a sit-down dinner to celebrate our wedding (way after the fact) and considering the size of our party, the food was delicious. We had so many of our guests tell us that it was the best filet they'd ever had. Most recently, we went for their NYE set menu dinner. It started out okay but they switched servers on us right after ordering our main course and didn't tell us so we kind of just sat there wondering where our server had gone. The food was OK. The chef's creation amuse-bouche was a quarter of a piece of dry brown bread with a bit of cream cheese and a piece of smoked salmon, meh. We ordered the filet and the prime rib. The filet was great, the prime rib was so-so. The potatoes au gratin had blue cheese in them but it didn't say it on the menu when we ordered and if you can't eat or don't like blue cheese, well... We would of said something to our server if she had ever come back to our table after our food was served. I understand it was NYE and they were gearing up for a crowd but we were some of the first people there, it wasn't busy at all. For a $60 per/person set menu, I would have expected a little better.
(3)
Janet G.
I had a very nice experience last night at the Irish Inn. My boyfriend and I were seated in a small front dining room, and a gentleman at the next table said upon our arrival, "you are going to have a very good dinner tonight". Such a nice endorsement from a fellow patron. We both had the mixed greens, and entrees were trout w/corn pudding, and sea bass w/heirloom tomato coulis and vegetables. Both were delicious, portions were ample, and food was plenty hot (seeing that other diners in the past had fretted about the food temperature, I thought I would mention ours was just fine). We also had very attentive (yet not intrusive) service. All in all, an A+ date night for two people who really needed a nice night out.
(5)
Rick D.
I've only been a semi-regular at the pub, where it's a great place to decompress after a long workday. Love the barkeeps there and they have a fave beer on tap - Killkenny - sort of an amber version of Guinness. Food has always been good too. Only complaint is it gets a bit crowded sometimes!
(4)
Steve G.
Fish Tacos were great
(4)
shiva s.
When the waiters and bartenders all have Irish accents you know you have scored landing on an authentic Irish pub. A gem in glen echo park with a fantastic beer selection on tap.
(4)
Candace Y.
We stopped iat the Irish Inn for dinner because it looked like an interesting old place that was worth investigating. The person who seated us led us upstairs to a table where the table and one of the two chairs were at a significant tilt. It was pronounced enough that I wondered if I'd have a problem with my food or drink sliding sideways. Since the person had taken us here and left immediately, not waiting to see if we were okay with the tilting table, I flagged down a server and asked if we could get a more level table. The server said, "Sure, no problem, but you know...this ~is~ an old house" and took us into the next room and got us something more level. Then, she set a couple of water glasses down. My dining partner started to drink from his water glass and noticed not one, but ~two~ dead bugs floating in his glass. The server noticed him looking at the glass: "Oh, is there something in there?" And offered to get him a replacement. On the way up the stairs, I'd noticed how worn and dirty the carpeting upstairs was. (I was starting to wonder how clean the kitchen was.) The menu here is on the more expensive side for a pub-restaurant. Certainly, it had not made a good impression on me so far. It hardly seemed to be worth it. A quick look at the wine list showed a pitiful selection of inferior wines by the glass. After conferring for a moment, we decided to cut our experience short and find another place to dine.
(1)
Nicole L.
It's located along the winding roads and forested surrounding. In the serene area of Glen Echo there was much life in the Irish restaurant/bar. At arrival the host was going to take us to the dining room upstairs but since there was a jazz band playing at the bar I suggested to check it out.The hostess offered us this special large booth that was empty probably because people were too polite to take it or maybe because it was next to the jazz where the view was somewhat obstructed. It was a great booth!! I loved the privacy compared to the rest of the bar. We still managed to get a good view of the band as they started playing, the Brook Tegler band played some great jazz music. I ordered fish taco from the bar menu the fish was delicious along with the garnishes for my taco! Of all things it would be the last to expect a delicious fish taco at an Irish bar. It's quite the hidden gem that I discovered of this area.
(4)
Sara J.
What a gem. Stopped in to this warm and inviting pub after a visit to Glen Echo Park. Mediocre food and slow but nice enough service. However the feel of this place can't be beat for a pint and good old Irish bar food.
(3)
Gloria M.
Sometimes bad things happens to a good place. This is the case for this business. We frequent this place often and have received a warm welcome! last Sunday the new Manager was as unwelcoming and rough as they come, her name Saoirse. We are so disappointed as this is a charming place and the service is always wonderful. The first impressions always make the rating and I gave a low rating just because of this person!
(3)
Kendra N.
Haven't eaten yet, so my review will be updated later, but great atmosphere and good drinks. Quiet, which is nice when you are out for the night and away from the kids.
(4)
Hilary M.
Every time I come here, I swear I will never go back. Then after a while, the idea of a casual, relatively inexpensive and fun meal at a charming "local" place seems tempting. Fuhgedaboudit. Waited 35 minutes past reservation time for a table, then over an hour for the main course to arrive. Even in the bar, service was terrible; I ordered a glass of wine and a mixed drink simultaneously that were delivered a full ten minutes apart. And the food? Don't get me started. How is it possible to get bad corned beef and cabbage in an Irish restaurant? There are simply too many better places to go for dinner than this one. Don't waste your time or money here. There's a lot of great food within five minutes' drive.
(1)
Tony P.
Stopped by here for dinner with some friends, before a concert event next door at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. The decor is comfy and reminds me of a classic pub. Dark woods and cozy tables. The food is pretty good. Nothing really outstanding. I had the leek soup and banger's and mash. The black and tan was a flowing steadily all dinner so I was pretty happy. I finished off the dinner with a pineapple parfait which was pretty good. Overall a good dining experience.
(3)
Maren P.
I've been to the Irish Inn about 10 times, and it's always great - both in the pub and in the main restaurant. My family has also had private parties and celebrated various occasions at the Irish Inn. They are always very accommodating and very friendly and helpful. Additionally, the food is great with traditional Irish fare as well as nightly specials. They have a lot of information and a menu on their website: irishusa.com/irishinn If you're in the Bethesda/Potomac/Glen Echo area, this is a great place to go for a relaxing, enjoyable and delicious lunch, brunch or dinner as well as for a private party.
(5)
Lisa R.
The food is very good, the atmosphere can't be beat, and although the service is at times spotty, it makes for a nice evening or lunch overall.
(4)
Tim D.
hmmmm.....how to rate an institution...?? This is a place u go for AMBIENCE...not 4 food! The interior bar w/a live jazz band playing on a Sun. nite just can't be beat! The food is...um,- how do I put this graciously,- "underwhelming"... Having said that,- u really can't go wrong w/a Smithwick draft in a 16 oz. glass poured all the way to the rim (probably 20 oz. !!) for only $6 or so... If ur getting my drift,- ya'll need to ck this place out on a Sun. nite but grab a seat early @ the bar cuz it's SRO come 5:30- 6:00PM!!
(3)
Ed R.
I've been to the Irish Inn on several occasions for Sunday brunch, dinner, or just a night out, and its it's always a great experience. It does get crowded (especially when a band is playing), but it's a fun and friendly crowd. The menu is limited but good. They have a good selection of beers on tap and Irish whiskey. If you're just in town for a few days or a local who hasn't been, check it out.
(5)
Jen M.
My review may be a little biased considering one of the people I went with here is a regular and is friends with the owners. However, I get the impression that even if that were not the case the food and service would have been just as great. The restaurant is a gorgeous place next to Glen Echo Park. We enjoyed some beers on tap and a whole lot of their delicious dinner entrees. The Shepard's Pie of my colleague which I tried was tasty. The Shrimp and Grits I ordered was surprisingly good - shrimp, scallops, sausage and grits in a tomato-based sauce. Also tried the bread pudding, creme brulee, and this amazing warm chocolate cherry cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert and all of them were amazing! It seemed a bit overpriced to me, but worth it. And they also have a less expensive (but I'm told just as great) menu in the pub area that I'd like to come back and try one day.
(4)
Lindsay D.
I love this place. It has a tavern with a full bar and a fine dining section. The staff is great; the owner is really nice. I have never had a bad meal or bad experience.
(5)
Emily B.
All my family was impressed with the food. A bit pricey for everyday. Heavy,(stereo-?) typically Irish - beef stew, Shepard's pie, corned beef n cabbage. And DELICIOUS warm chocolate sour cherry cake for dessert. The "Banoffee parfait" was also good, I heard.
(4)
Ben J.
Every time I would drive from NW DC to my girlfriend's house in NoVA I would pass this place and just wonder "What is this place?" and "Why is it here?" If you have been wondering the same thing, I only have one piece of advice - GO HERE. I decided to cave and go to the Irish Inn for my most recent birthday, sat in the restaurant side and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Everything was absolutely perfect. Ambience was pleasant - very nice, but also felt down home and welcoming. Very authentic. Servers were helpful and didn't look down on us even though we were slightly underdressed for the restaurant (I'm pretty sure I was wearing a baseball cap). This would not have been the case at most nicer restaurants in DC. Food was awesome. I had the Mahi Mahi special which was extremely good, but also very unexpected from a restaurant with a pub. And I ordered it with a pint of Guinness, which in my mind, makes the meal a perfect 10. My girlfriend had the salmon, which was also cooked well and very tasty. This last part is unique to my own experience but as an older couple was leaving the restaurant, they came over and gave us their unfinished bottle of very nice red wine (about half full). Must have been regular customers and it felt like they were welcoming us to their favorite local restaurant. That made the meal even more special for me! I'll certainly be back for more meals and may even try out the pub fare.
(5)
Bethany W.
We have been here a few times and are always impressed with the serving staff and the menu. I love it here!! Sitting on the deck is great but, the furnishings in the dining rooms is pretty awesome too.
(5)
Alan C.
I've been going to this place for a while now, usually before going to an event over at Glen Echo park. The pub is a great place to grab a drink before events, the servers are welcoming and the ambiance is great. They occasionally have live music thats very hit or miss, usually miss for my taste, but apparently people like it cause its usually packed those days. The rest of the restaurant is good as well. The food is delicious and the servers are very helpful making suggestions. The bread rolls are usually pretty good, but sometimes over toasted. The desserts are not always all listed on the menu, they've had some great off menu desserts in the past. Cons: - when the band is playing, you can't escape the noise, even if you're eating upstairs. - some of the customers are old and crotchety. They'll complain about anything. I've had friends cut off because they were having a boisterous discussion which the old people thought was because they were drunk. The management needs to realise that some of their older customers have nothing better to do than complain.
(4)
Beth E.
We has reservations at the Irish inn on 6/30/12, the day after the really bad storms. We came from Frederick county but we heard that most of the area had lost power and so did the Irish inn. We called the restaurant twice today to find out if the restaurant was open. They said they would be open all day and were serving a full menu. They had a backup generator. We arrived at 6:00 and sat outside on the patio because there was no air conditioning. Despite the heat, the meal was fantastic and the serving and kitchen team did an amazing job working in the heat. They handled the electricity challenges exceptionally well. All very professional. The food was outstanding. We had a great time. Of course we will be back again.
(5)
Kalynne H.
We didn't know it was a set price for St. Patty's at lunch so we were surprised. They did accommodate our kiddos. Its a great place to go after being at Glen Echo.
(4)
Mary Beth C.
Cozy lunch spot near Great Falls. Looks like a restaurant out of the 60's or 70's (nothing cutting edge here, except for Open Table reservation.) Charming service.
(3)
Veronique B.
I'm a huge fan mostly because of the atmosphere but now the food has caught up. between the paradise location and scene and the people, basically a complete win. Love it and if you get a table outside when it' nice, it's as enjoyable as getting one in the cozy dining room around Christmas time when it's all lit up. Beautiful, typical place. Prices are even reasonable! Do not miss!
(4)
Deb k.
I love the setting and the service is generally OK, but the food can be spotty... the eggs benedict for breakfast had a non-bearnaise sauce that was interesting, but cold; the shepherd's pie is small and average, but when you want comfort food, it hits the spot. The potato and leek soup with the truffle oil is lovely. The $3.50 charge for a side fo bacon 92 pieces) or a single sausage seemed too high... But a charming pub and it's where I met my husband, so it'll always be special.
(3)
Lo K.
If I average all of our experiences here, I'd have to give this place a 3-star rating. I've eaten here several times. First time was pretty good. Second time was for brunch and when I asked the waiter for gluten-free suggestions, he laughed in my face and told me nothing was GF. I was able to find something, he was just being difficult. Several years later, we hosted a sit-down dinner to celebrate our wedding (way after the fact) and considering the size of our party, the food was delicious. We had so many of our guests tell us that it was the best filet they'd ever had. Most recently, we went for their NYE set menu dinner. It started out okay but they switched servers on us right after ordering our main course and didn't tell us so we kind of just sat there wondering where our server had gone. The food was OK. The chef's creation amuse-bouche was a quarter of a piece of dry brown bread with a bit of cream cheese and a piece of smoked salmon, meh. We ordered the filet and the prime rib. The filet was great, the prime rib was so-so. The potatoes au gratin had blue cheese in them but it didn't say it on the menu when we ordered and if you can't eat or don't like blue cheese, well... We would of said something to our server if she had ever come back to our table after our food was served. I understand it was NYE and they were gearing up for a crowd but we were some of the first people there, it wasn't busy at all. For a $60 per/person set menu, I would have expected a little better.
(3)
Janet G.
I had a very nice experience last night at the Irish Inn. My boyfriend and I were seated in a small front dining room, and a gentleman at the next table said upon our arrival, "you are going to have a very good dinner tonight". Such a nice endorsement from a fellow patron. We both had the mixed greens, and entrees were trout w/corn pudding, and sea bass w/heirloom tomato coulis and vegetables. Both were delicious, portions were ample, and food was plenty hot (seeing that other diners in the past had fretted about the food temperature, I thought I would mention ours was just fine). We also had very attentive (yet not intrusive) service. All in all, an A+ date night for two people who really needed a nice night out.
(5)
Jenny O.
Ive been going to the Irish Inn for a very long time. We love that there is a nice place in the neighborhood that has a decent bar and fantastic outdoor seating. I have nothing but great things to say. I'd like to add a personal note. This past week our dog was in the hospital and we didn't feel much like cooking. We went to the bar to pick up carry out food and had a drink while we waited. While we were there, we got the very bad news that our dog basically had 24 hours to live. We were both crying heavily right there in the bar. Not exactly everyone's dream customer and not exactly what every dream customer wants to do. Not one but just about every staff member who passed by us asked us if we were ok. The bartender comped us our drinks and was genuinely sympathetic. None of them had to do that. None of them had to care. But it made all the difference. The Irish Inn will make you feel like family. They remember you when you return. Any place that hires staff/bartenders that are both compassionate and kind is a place I will frequent forever.
(5)
Jewell S.
Today, I had reservations at 1:00 pm for 4 (they were made 1 month in advance). My mother who had not gone out in months (she is 82 with cancer and uses a walker). She dressed up and had gone to get a perm just for this dinner. When we arrived 15min prior to our reservations. They said we would have to wait. Which we understood since we were early, but then the owner came over and said, "the wait is an hour or more unless we wanted to eat in the bar or out on the patio area they just enclosed and turned on the heaters. I noticed they did have seating available (table for 4 open in the downstairs) but he was not very nice -- Of course I would not take my elderly mom to the Bar after she had planned on a nice dinner for St. Patrick Dinner. So we went out to the patio. We were the only ones dressed formally. My husband had on a jacket w/a tie, I had on a dress w/heels and my heels stuck in the flooring. The patio heating was awful. the heat beat down on us and we had to ask to have it turned off and then it was cold. They didn't bring bread until we asks. We have gone many times and I have never been treated so poorly. I will never return. I will tell as many people as possible! Plus, the leek soup they advertised on the website did not have truffle oil. The waitress said it was too expensive for the special. I could not believe the comment. As we sat there longer, I noticed they began to usher older couples in the patio. Another senior came in with a walker. Also another couple who were at least in their 80's were also escorted in the back corner table. I wonder do they want the older people out of sight? Bad business...the owner or manager was not a spring chicken!
(2)
Tony S.
I wanted to like this just because the friend I was staying with seemed to like it. It had all the hallmarks of a great experience: Free Valet Parking Great interior Friendly waiter Made me feel like I was back home in the UK although Anyway I really fancied fish and chips, and stupidly I ordered them. It was pretty revolting, bland, damp and warm i.e. not hot. COnsidering the other 2 had cabbage and gammon and the other a cottage pie mine should have been the last to be cooked so it would be crisp. The fish was translucent i.e. not cooked and clearly from frozen, which I would expect but come on at least get the batter right. The batter was damp and not crispy at all. The fries were not hot but were not bad. I detest tepid food I mean really bad. 2 days later I went to Bethesda and had fish and chips in this massive empty restaurant with a big fire at lunch time which was brilliant so I know it can be done. The cabbage and gammon looked really nice and the cottage pie was a joke, portion size. It came in this ultra tiny copper saucepan, I mean teeny portion for the price. Cottage pie is not expensive to make so to charge $13 or $14 for a childs portion in a pub is really taking the piss. Anyway my partner enjoyed it but said I wouldn't have because it was tepid, he likes his food a bit cooler. But clearly they have an issue with serving hot food. Shame, its a nice place, great interior but average pub food and expensive drinks for a pub I would say.
(2)
Joshua D.
I'll have to come back sometime and review the food. I went here with my boss and her husband who are regulars after work for some socializing. The place itself is VERY nice inside and out. We sat out on the deck, which was very well-kept and had cover overhead with ceiling fans. The location is convenient for folks who need somewhere that makes it easy to get back to Bethesda, D.C. or NoVa. The service left something to be desired. My boss waited probably 20 minutes or more on a refill for her Diet Coke. The server said that they had to change out the CO2 on the fountain machine, then came back later without a refill and said only one employee could do it and that he was on the phone. Here's an idea -- either train more than one employee to do such things, or get that guy off the phone! I want to go back here sometime when I'm eating and not just getting something to drink because it does seem like a pretty neat venue. WARNING: DO NOT bring large vehicles like trucks or tour buses into the parking lot! A tour bus turned in, and it is a VERY steep incline into the lot. The bus bottomed-out and was stuck there blocking the entrance for at least an hour. Not sure how they ever got it out.
(3)
Robert B.
Been passing this place for years saying I need to eat there. I can now keep passing it having just satisfied my curiosity. Food is tasty, portions are far too small for the price. Greek salad is like a dinner salad for $11. Turkey burger is like a slider on a big bun for $14. Perhaps the pub is good. The fish and chips are tasty but still on the small side.
(1)
Shannon S.
I just loved this place and will definitely be back. Myself, my mom, friend, and her mom went yesterday around noon. The ambiance is wonderful...just what we wanted in an Irish place. We've been looking for a great Irish Pub for awhile now. I had the Ruben with a side Caesar salad. It was great...the Thousand Island wasn't sweet which was perfect. We also shared the Calamari appetizer, very tasty. I had the Elderflower Martini. The Bloody Mary had a little too much Horseradish tang, but that would be my only complaint.
(5)
Bridget G.
I went here after a hike at Great Falls and was starving. While the menu is a little bit on the expensive side, the food was great. It is probably the best Reuben I have had in my life! And the lamb burger was okay, but the bun was a little dry. All in all, I will definitely go here again, especially for the dreamy Reuben!
(4)
Katherine W.
All soy free, and the food is consistently outstanding. Add in the peacefulness of the neighborhood, and it's become a regular date night out for my boyfriend and I.
(5)
Rich H.
Summary based on 1 dinner: --food ok --atmosphere quite pleasant, actually --parking easy --friendly service Went here with a local and I'd be fine going again. It's one of those places where the company matters more than anything else.
(3)
Gary M.
Visited after the the recent Folk Music Festival. Good food and brews. Fish and Chips were excellent if that's possible. Staff is attentive and personable. I look forward to going again.
(4)
Rick D.
I've only been a semi-regular at the pub, where it's a great place to decompress after a long workday. Love the barkeeps there and they have a fave beer on tap - Killkenny - sort of an amber version of Guinness. Food has always been good too. Only complaint is it gets a bit crowded sometimes!
(4)
Steve G.
Fish Tacos were great
(4)
shiva s.
When the waiters and bartenders all have Irish accents you know you have scored landing on an authentic Irish pub. A gem in glen echo park with a fantastic beer selection on tap.
(4)
Brian M.
Always fantastic! One of the only restaurants that never lets me down in terms of food and service. I have been here for dinner on the weekends and for business lunches during the week. Honestly, I don't typically think good food and Irish in the same thought. But this place is great and I have never been disappointed. I have started with the potato leek soup and the ceasar salad. Both were wonderful. And for entre I have has fish and chips, sliders, shrimp and grits, and lamb. All were wonderful. I especially like hanging out in the pub before hand. The place has a real nice pub!
(5)
Susan C.
We've eaten here in its various incarnations. We most love eating out on the porch. It feels like being somewhere other than the city. The food last time we went was outstandingly good (fish and pasta). Service wasn't super fast but we were there for a slow paced experience. We're going back tonight to celebrate our 18th anniversary.
(5)
Eleanor B.
Occasionally good food. Not the best service. Love the deck. Liked it better as Trav's and as Glen Echo Inn.
(3)
Joseph F.
I went here with Cyrus N. for Mother's Day (his mom and my MIL) and I had high hopes when I first arrived. The restaurant itself was quite cute--it's located in an actual house and it feels quite quaint. Unfortunately, the food was a bit of a letdown. It's not that it was bad--it was quite good, actually--it's just that there was nothing really exceptional or outstanding about it. Everything was just sorta...middle of the road, I suppose. Maybe I should have ordered another main course besides fish and chips, but my wife's shepherd's pie wasn't that great either. It wasn't awful by any means, and the portion sizes were very generous, but it wasn't an experience that left me genuinely sad when the food was gone and eager for my next visit. One drawback of the unique setting was that everything seemed a bit cramped. The waiter bumped into me several times while serving other folks; I got tired of this and tucked my chair in to the point where I was uncomfortable, but at least I didn't leave with black-and-blue marks on my head. Also, the cramped foyer leaves those waiting for their cars at risk of being hit by an opening door. I give five stars to places to which I would return in a heartbeat and four stars to places that were great but had a few negative aspects to them. Places at which the food was decent but not outstanding get three stars...so the Irish Inn gets three stars. I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to eat here and enjoyed what I had to eat, but this place is sub-par in comparison to the other outstanding places in the DC metro area like That's Amore, Shanghai Cafe, Guapo's, and others....
(3)
Catherine K.
I have eaten here twice, once with a weird pseudo-date and once with a group of friends. I don't remember much of the food except that it was affordable (for a Night Out --not for Every Day) very good and that we sat outside in the summer evening, which was lovely. What I do remember clearly is the Best Dessert Of My Life. It was a chocolate cake with warm chocolate-cherry goodness inside and Guiness ice cream on top. I have had a lot of dessert in my day, in a lot of countries, and I cannot think of a single dessert I have enjoyed as much as this one. It was, unfortunately, the dessert o'the day, so who knows if they still occassionally serve it...if they do, buy it and savor it. 4 stars for good food, a pleasant location, and mostly, that one unforgettable dessert experience. Minus one because the entrees were good but not superb, it's not metro-accessible, and both times, there have been problems getting the bill straightened out.
(4)
Robin R.
The food here is great and plentiful. We always enjoy it. We were seated in a small room upstairs with a bunch of drunk and loud people at a table who I'm certain needed hearing aids since they were yelling instead of just talking. We needed to move to a different room in order to have a conversation. The staff were great and moved us as soon as another table became available. We would have left otherwise.
(4)
Tom D.
The food here was mediocre despite a menu that had some creativity even though it looked as if the chef wanted to incorporate a dish from every region of the world on one menu. I had a portobello tart that was some mushroom slices, goat cheese and onion piled on a square of puff pastry. For 20 bucks...I should have had some home made tart crust not this lazy excuse for a tart. The soup was ho hum. The peach salad was good but over dressed and the mozzarella was parsimonious. The dessert saved the meal. The homemade peach, Guiness, and vanilla ice creams were great and the bread pudding was wonderful. The peach ice cream was worth going back just for. The crowd was all over 65 and the waiter was overly friendly before and during the meal, offered us coffee after dessert, and disappeared after dropping the check. I mean disappeared....the check sat with the credit card in it for over 20 minutes!!! We had to ask another waiter to run the card, and even then, I didn't see him anywhere either in the dining room or the bar. Overall, I'd be happy never to return.
(1)
Mary S.
This review is for the restaurant. There is a pub attached with less formal and less expensive fare. The food here was very good. My husband had the Fillet Mignon with a whiskey sauce and enjoyed it immensely. I had the Potato Leek Soup and the house salad with an "Irish" Vinaigrette dressing. The server told me the dressing had 7 different mustards in it when I raved about how delicious it was. We split the Warm Chocolate and Sour Cherry Cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert (Sounds odd, but is too die for). The only problem was that the server mistakenly put the 6 desserts from the table next to us on our bill (No wonder those people were tripping all over each other to leave after paying). The error was fixed quickly and politely.
(4)
Phil M.
Overpriced and dirty food. A really bad combination. Oh and the waitress sent to tell me that the vegetables were "naturally gritty" in texture. Would have laughed if I hadnt been so offended to be told that the bad food was MY FAULT. WOW!
(1)
Sanda C.
Great atmosphere, however food is overpriced. Had the bangers and mash for $19 in the bar area --- that's 3 sausages, mashed potatoes, and peas for nearly $20-- what's the Gaelic word for overpriced??
(2)
Mic X.
there is an irish inn at glen echo i know cause the name says so and if in a pinch whilst looking for kinch you will find a pub, but a bed - no the pub is irish mostly in name but the pour of the stout tis same as they do in Erin or as best as Mclaren could manage Rotten's surly fame now the fish and chips are quite crisp and the waiters talk friendly - nary a lisp but something's missing when the last bite i'm finishing and my stomach feels as full as a bloody cyst now authentic is word a tossed out - quiet often and this place is nice, despite what it's lackin' so go for a pint but don't expect sight of the ghost of O'leary who is safely in his coffin
(3)
Don L.
Ambience was nice but the food was disappointing. My dining partner and I both found fault with our dishes. She had already warned me to stay away from the fish and chips (bad experience) but assured me that all the other dishes were very good. She ordered the Reuben, I ordered the scallop salad. The Reuben had way too little in the way of dressing or sauerkraut. My salad had way too much dressing. Every leaf was drenched. In retrospect, we should have sent both dishes back but because our conversation was so absorbing we didn't start complaining to each other about the food until we had eaten too much to send back. It's too bad because the restaurant did some things right. The corned beef was moist and delicate. The rye bread was excellent. I would like to say my salad was otherwise good but it should've been larger for a $16 brunch entree. Atmosphere and service was nice except they gave us 3 scones for 2 people. All in all, we were disappointed.
(2)
Chris C.
2.5 stars. GF and I have been looking to find an authentic Irish breakfast for awhile now, and through some Yelp searches, the Inn came up. Given that I've driven past this joint many times over the years but was never interested in ever going, I was somewhat looking forward to finally experiencing it. We first went for a weekday lunch, and it's a fairly hectic place - given its primo location - and the lunch was good. I had good roasted tomato soup and decent fish 'n chips entree. The fish was good, the batter was crisp... but what's up with the crazy saltiness of the batter? I felt the veins in my arms straining... so, the following Saturday, made reservations for a wknd brunch to try the Irish b'fast... crazy contrast to the fish 'n chips, sleep-inducing, geriatric blandness! My gf, who is Irish, thought it barely decent, and I thought it okay, but was definitely expecting more unique flavors. Speaking of geriatric blandness, this place is THE spot for the elderly in the area, and the place is packed with wacky, random valet parking activity and slow-movers over the wknds. The place feels like a place which should oooze charm naturally, but the feel is decidedly contrived - no knocks to the great location though. Overall, not so bad, but I'm not ready to 'slow' down this much yet... give me another couple decades.
(3)
Doug B.
Please tell Billy and Evan that General Burdeshaw is a retired Army Brigadier General. To correctly address him now would be to say William B. Burdeshaw, BGen, USA (Ret). Remember what I said about Brigadiers! My guess is he is an impressive man. BTW, Nathan Coons used to make me "Doug's" fish and chips - a low fat and excellent alternative to the fatty fried fish and french fries. Ross and Steve both know how to do this; the servers might not know what it is. Challenge them!
(4)
James B.
We love the ambience, the atmosphere, and the decor. Those are all good things. The food is ... generally good. I personally tend to stay with the Irish pub grub, like fish and chips, or the beef stew and they have been very good. The scones are amazing! Some of the more ambitious dishes have not worked quite so well. My wife tends to try those and ... they're typically decent, but nothing special. Take a walk around Glen Echo park when you're done here, though, there's the Spanish Ballroom and a carousel and other interesting sights.
(4)
Susan F.
Surprise was the word for my experience at the Irish Inn at Glenn Echo. I expected typical Irish pub grub. What I got was interesting and inventive dining. Salmon with a pumpkin salad accented with pumpkin seeds and acorn squash. A portabella tart topped off with goat cheese and a lovely salad on the side. Oh, and the bangers and mash. Delicioso. Home-made ice cream and a molten chocolate sour cherry cake. Wow. Add to this an incredibly beautiful and idyllic setting, and unbelievable service and you've got an escape from DC that ain't too far away. This was one of the more relaxing, tasty and charming evenings I've spent in a long while.
(4)
Mark P.
A nice place to meet friends and I'd do it more often if it weren't a bit pricey. But you can always meet your friends over a Guiness in the bar. Also valet parking only - I can't look valets in the eye after they experience my ancient clunker. You can park free in nearby Glen Echo park and have a nice stroll to wake up your appetite. I agree with other reviewers: food is good but not as good as it should be for the price. Sometimes very noisy and crowded.
(3)
Nadia C.
I was taken here for an engagement luncheon with my fiance's family. It was LOVELY! We had a private room upstairs in the quaint and adorable Inn. The meal started off with a nice Irish lad introuducing himself and bring our beverages and fresh made scones. ALl of us ladies ordered something different and each one of us enjoyed our meal. I had the beef stew (something I have never ordered anywhere in my entire life), it was excellent! This place is highly recommended, take your time, enjoy your meal and listen closey to your server, most are straight from Ireland and have an awesome accent!
(5)
Helen H.
We had a surprise party for my husband at the Irish Inn. Everything was great. I worked with the manager prior to the party (a Sunday brunch). He made the party planning very easy and everything went off flawlessly. We selected three appetizers and four entrees. The party was for 19 people so we had a private room upstairs that allowed us to mingle and enjoy the company of friends and family. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. I highly recommend the Irish Inn for a party.
(4)
Susie Q.
This Irish Inn is located next to Glen Echo Park and in close proximity to the Potomac, MD "scene." If you can overcome the middle-upper income pretenses of this Washington suburban crowd, then you can enjoy the pastoral, colonial-era loveliness of the somewhat overpriced pub/restaurant. Someone told me it used to be a brothel - i guess it has been there since the 1930s. Anyhow, I had the Shepard's Pie which came in a little copper pan topped with a large swirl of mashed potatoes. Beneath the potatoes was ground beef mixed with onions and peas. What can I say about Irish meat and potatoes? There is no great culinary skill involved but it was good, satisfying comfort food. It also came with a salad that was glazed with a light house dressing. The real draw of this place is the beauty of the nature that surrounds it - it is a nice, pleasant place to go to get away from the city as long as you're not too bothered by the polo-wearing status-seekers.
(3)
Will O.
Drove by and it caught our eye. We stopped, were seated promptly, and the service was prompt and friendly. Fish tacos were tasty. Not traditional, but very good. The fish sandwich was ok, but the curry coke slaw didn't really compliment the fish. Scraped it off - it made the bun soggy. The sandwich was good - maybe ask for the slaw on the side. Nice outdoor seating and a comfortable location.
(4)
Erica W.
Cute place. Attentive staff. Family-friendly. Decent selection of wine if you don't drink beer. Haven't tried the food, but will go back sometime to try some based on the reviews.
(4)
Phil B.
Good food and good beer. I liked their IPA on tap best (not Irish, I know), followed by Guinness Stout. Service was friendly and prompt. Not too many options for vegans.
(5)
Curtis H.
Wow, great meal! The wife and I took my parents to this place to give my dad a taste of what "good" Irish food should taste like. The Irish Inn knocked it out of the park, the Shepherds Pie and Irish Beef stew were "the best we ever had" according to my parents. As for my wife and I, we were equally as happy, but we are use too the likes of this place because we frequently drive back to Glen Echo to get our Irish food fix.
(5)
Angela L.
Before my first night of blues dancing at Glen Echo, I stopped by the Irish Inn with a group of people in order to loosen up before the dancing commenced. When we got there around 8pm on Thursday, it was fairly crowded because (I'm told) a group meets there for drinks every Thursday. They eventually thinned out around 8:30 or so. I got a few beers and wasn't sure if I should eat something small for dinner but then saw the chili on the menu and gave in. The chili is "texas-style" (I'm still not exactly sure what that means), and uses stew meat rather than regular ground beef. I thought it was pretty tasty, and the cup for $8 was especially filling. My only small complaint is that it didn't seem very hot. After i mixed the sour cream in, it was almost lukewarm. But the flavor was perfect, and had a bit of peppery zest. Next time I come here, I'll try to work up an appetite so that I can try the mussels. My friend who raves about them ordered a bowl and they looked delicious. Also, Diane is the best!
(4)
Carl W.
Nice place. Classier than I am used to, but not off-putting. Great ambiance, but you can't eat that. I had fish and chips and it was all just fine. Thin-cut fries, as God intended. I asked the waiter for extra tartar sauce and he brought it without having to be reminded, so this place is already one step ahead of most other places. I would consider going again.
(4)
Anastasia P.
I second Ron W., although he is wrong about one thing: Glen Echo is not a "ghost town". The Irish Inn has the distinction of being the only restaurant within walking distance of the historic park's ballroom (which enjoys significant patronage each week due to all the dances being held there). The Irish Inn is the only place to go if you, for example, wanted to drink away the jitters before stepping out on the dance floor with a thousand other sweaty human beings. That being said, this is a privilege that the restaurant does not deserve. Neither the drinks nor the food are cheap, though the latter is so poorly executed that it is nearly a joke. The service was atrocious. I showed up about 10 minutes before the rest of my party. I was sat anyways, and the waiter walked by and said "how are you doing", and clearly did not care to hear the response as he walked right on by to a neighboring table. I would've like a glass of wine to drink while I waited...no such luck. Once my party got there, we finally got water and about 15 minutes later (after multiple "I'll be right with you"s from our waiter), we got some service. To be fair, the guy was swamped; his section was the small backroom and he had maybe 7-8 tables of differing sizes who all needed his attention. He got my order wrong and brought me a caprese salad (asked for the "tomato and mozzerella flatbread"). He apologized, took it away, then thoughfully brought it back "on the house" for me to enjoy, as the rest of my party was digging into their meal, and, well, flatbread takes more than just a minute to cook (unless they microwaved it...which they might've). Thanks, but no thanks. The caprese salad consolation prize was a little offbeat, with watermelon and cucumber in lieu of the traditional tomatoes to complement the shiny, chewy, flavorless rounds of mozzerella on the plate. The whole thing was drenched in some kind of foul, semisweet vinaigrette (green in color), and sprinkled with mint. It was like a schoolboy put it together at a picnic in a lame attempt to impress a cute girl. No nuance, just gimmick, total yuck. I gave it to the rest of the table to eat. My advice: stick with the original, get better mozzarella. That dish is really hard to screw up, but they managed. Finally, my flatbread comes out. The "tomato compote"? Marinara sauce. It was tomato compote in the way that a milky way bar is nougat pate with a chocolate ganache (tip: call a spade a spade). More of the awful chewy flavorless mozzarella. I ate half and was uninspired to eat the rest. The restaurant seems to do well with the older sect. Besides our table, there was not a single group that had anyone who appeared to be sub-50. As a result, it was reminiscent of the supper clubs that grandparents take us out to to show off their families; mediocre food, dark, dated surroundings. So it is my impression that the Irish Inn lives on by the grace of its location and familiarity among the people who live in the area. I'll be going there to get a drink before dances and nothing else, if I can help it.
(2)
Patrick N.
Had the Prime Rib. Service was excellent, accommodating of dietary restrictions, and food was prepared as ordered. The brown bread and butter is also a hard to find treat. The bar area is exactly what you would expect to find in Ireland. They run a first class operation!
(5)
ron w.
The Irish Inn at Glen Echo...co...co...co. Take a pass...ass...ass...ass. This relic should be relegated to the Ghost Town that once was the draw to the area; The Glen Echo Amusement Park, now deserted and closed. The Inn should share the same fate or make an attempt to re-invent itself. There is a nice outside patio set in rustic surroundings and inside there is a rat's warren of tired rooms with a vibe from shabby clubby to employees lounge in a mortuary. I needed a drink after making the trip from Rockville. After having one, I still needed one. A watered down Whiskey Sour (with a mix, I suspect) and a squishy Maraschino cherry instead of a luxurious Luxardo. (Bring a flask from home.) I ordered the Mediterranean Platter. Okay, my bad to order mezze in an Irish Pub. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Direct from the Kirkland Brand purveyors they served jarred pickled vegetables, Sabra Hummus (hopefully not the one recalled due to Listeria), a few olives, some sleepy Pita, something called Pesto Pita (right from the package) and Japanese Eggplant bathed in a heavy batter, fried, and topped with store bought salsa cold and soggy as a Golden Retriever puppy that fell in the pool. The basket of bread arrived long after the mezze. Well, actually it arrived two days before and had been sitting on the counter ever since. The doughy White Bread and the faintly molasses laced Soda Bread were as cold as the eggplant. Leave them both, you don't need the empty calories and if you must have something with your mezze or cocktail, just eat the butter. The menu was large. Fine. Choose wisely would be my caveat. The Rueben was as thin as Mom's after school grilled cheese if you were underprivileged. The Corned Beef, what little showed up was acceptable, but the Swiss Cheese was a dried lattice work of something long out of the Salamander and probably the Sell By Date. The few threads of store bought Sauerkraut were barely there and the Russian dressing had defected. Three types of mustard in jars appeared 15 minutes after we'd been served sandwiches. Irish Whole Grain with Stout, Whole Grain with Irish Whiskey, and Strong Irish (whatever that was). All pretty good, but who knows who's snot nosed Grandkid tasted each one with a wet finger? Just sayin'. Maybe put the mustard in little ceramic cups? The Irish Burger featuring Irish Cheddar Cheese bordered on inedible. A skinny dry patty (maybe the recipe was handed down from the famine years) on yes, a purchased bun, with a limp Romaine leaf, a mushy tomato one step from a Waste King and maybe the chef dragged a thin slice of cheese over the mess before service. Maybe. Dessert: A tasteless, flourless, room temperature disk of chocolate with Costco Dried Morency Cherries. (Hey, Chef, cherries are in season. How about something fresh?) along with a melon ball of Vanilla Ice Cream. Suitable only for a sales meeting at the Holiday Inn Express or a base line Bar Mitzvah at the Veteran's Hall. The chef must have come from a Mine Sweeper, a Minimum Security Prison or an Assisted Living Facility as the food was your basic industrial fare. The staff, in all fairness was friendly, and helpful. Although, if we'd complained we'd still be there. If it's a choice between The Irish Inn at Glen Echo or frozen Ledo's Pizza from last week? I vote you break out the hair dryer and start defrosting.
(2)
Ashley S.
Service was great!! And the place is really adorable and cozy. Food is kind of pricey but great appetizers and Irish entrees. I really recommend the shepherd's pie, smoked salmon appetizer, fish and chips, crab cake entree, and the flat iron steak! The Bloody Mary was DELISH and I loved the free bread.
(5)
J. Curtis G.
My ethics were severely compromised upon eating at The Irish Inn. The five choices on their "children's menu" were all $11.95!!! I mean, the food was pretty good, but it wasn't good enough to justify the cost. Go somewhere else unless you've already shelled out $3.7 million for your house in Glen Echo. The cherry on top was that we were charged an extra $3 for a small plate of bread, and I was billed $2 more for my entree than it was listed at on the menu! They have a nice selection of Irish and Scotch whiskies and a small selection of beers. However, no self-respecting Irishman would pay $7 for a pint of Guinness. The meal was decent, but way way way overpriced. I expect to be nourished at lunch without having my financial and philosophical ethics compromised. It may look cozy, but you should go elsewhere.
(2)
Vincent M.
The food is good (although a little pricey), and the servers are very hard working. However, the managers seem very condescending and thoughtless with their employees and customers. I got the impression that they really didn't care about their customers that much. I heard some of the managers insulting them behind their backs. It made me really uncomfortable to be there, and I was constantly wondering if they were insulting me too. It's not just about the quality of the food, it's also about the experience. I felt like I was under pressure the entire time. Give it a shot I guess, but be aware that they're running a business. They're not your friends.
(2)
Norman G.
Depending on whether you choose the bar or the restaurant or the outdoor seating, the experience is very different. The bar is about beer (mainly), Irish music (at times) and traditional Irish food, though I believe anything on the menu is available. The bar is often jammed and noisy but you may also find it empty. The restaurant serves quality food and a reservation is advisable. The patio is relaxed and is a great spot overlooking Glen Echo when the weather is good. If you like black-and-tan, which should ONLY be ordered in an Irish bar, the Irish Inn does it right. I often order the lamb chops at dinner and the ala carte brunch menu has considerable variety. I've been here for lunch, brunch, dinner and happy hour--and the experience is different for each. I'm not big on the music evenings. Too noisy and too crowded for me.
(4)
Brad T.
A nice Irish pub with a varied selection on the menu. beer was cold and the food great. Prices a little step, but not really for this area. I've eaten there twice and enjoyed it each time. Great service and very clean.
(4)
Anna Laura B.
Had an excellent meal here over the Christmas season. It was decorated so nicely for the holidays and was very homey. Our little group of six had an entire cozy private room to ourselves for dinner! The beef stew and potato leek soup were delicious and their bread pudding dessert was outstanding. The Irish aren't exactly known for their food in general but this place could change that! Excellent service as well.
(5)
Beth P.
This place has a great brunch and a dessert menu that beckoned us to return back after our afternoon adventures in Turkey Run park! I would recommend the quiche of the day; it's a generous portion of an egg and vegetable mixture du jour in a buttery crust, and it comes with a really good, lightly dressed salad. My husband tried the braised short rib and smoked gouda sandwich, which was very tasty. They also had really excellent coffee! I dinged them one star because only one server was assigned to the bar area, so we were lacking for coffee refills at times, which is a bummer. I also didn't get to ask for Tabasco (which they don't have) until I was halfway through brunch. Overall, though, it's a great place! Our 2 breakfasts and coffees ran us $35, which I think is pretty standard around here. We'll go back here again for sure!
(4)
Ivy T.
A lovely cozy nook to stop into after a day of hiking up and down the C&O Canal. I can't comment on the menu, because I only had a couple of pints, but those pints were most refreshing at the killer price of $5 a pop!
(4)
Erin T.
I adore this place. Been going for years, and always look forward to the next opportunity to do so. The reuben is amazing, as is the calamari, the fries, the shepard's pie, I could go on and on! The service is reliable and everyone does their job with a smile, even when the place is packed to the gills!
(5)
Kelly M.
Quaint ambiance, great service upstairs, meal extremely disappointing and overpriced! Three small pieces of fish and handful of fries for $18, ridiculous! Ordered our granddaughter 2 plain pancakes - no eggs, no meat - they were very small and falling apart, yet we paid $8 for maybe .50 worth of ingredients! Only way we would come back is if the menu had a complete overhaul.
(2)
Charis N.
We came here for lunch the second day of my visit to DC. The place is dark and woodsy but with windowed-natural light too. The cuisine is definitely authentic Irish and any Irishman or Irishwoman would appreciate it! We came at an odd time in the afternoon, so it wasn't very busy. Server was nice but she was a bit slow on returning to take our orders - maybe shift change or something. Anyway, even though the food is a bit heavy for my usual dining-out experience, it was certainly well prepared and delish! And don;t get me started on the Bloody Marys they make! OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Truly made from scratch, or at least tasted like it! Great family place too by the seating options even though we sat at table in the Bar area. If you're in this beautiful woodsy part of nation near the Potomac River, and enjoy true Irish cuisine, make a point to stop here. And if you're not driving, absolutely have a Bloody Mary...or 3!!!
(4)
Elliott E.
Stopped here on a whim after hiking Great Falls. Was seated immediately, had a nice spot on the outside patio and took in a nice day. Got the classic Guinness, which was fairly priced, and the Ruben. The corned beef was fantastic, great flavor. The bread was thick, but let the corned beef shine. I'd recommend asking for extra Thousand Island if you order this. I would recommend!
(4)
Paul M.
Bumping this up another star because of a very pleasant recent visit - i have not been there for ages , but i did not fancy trying to find parking in Bethesda....three big improvements: 1. they now sell Guinness is 20oz pints. 2. they now serve Guinness in a glass with the Guinness logo 3. Menu much improved - great value soup and sandwich combo I like it and, with the imminent death of Ri Ra Bethesda upon us, I will be back.
(4)
Hampton C.
A tale of two motifs, the Irish Inn should be able to cover whichever mood strikes. On the dining room side you'll find an intimate and very quiet area adorned with small paintings from the Emerald Isle. The fair is classic Irish as you'd expect. On the bar side you'll find a livelier and authentic feel of a country Irish watering hole. The brunch is quite good and no one will think twice if you order a Guinness at 11AM. Note that, as you'd expect, you can only reserve seating in the dining room area so come early if you want to grab bar seating!
(4)
Erin B.
We stopped in for Sunday Brunch after a bike ride and had a great experience. We made a reservation for 4 (recommend if you want to sit outside); the outdoor seating fills up quickly (right after they open at 11) since they have a great deck. The location off of MacArthur is extremely bike friendly and they have a decent parking lot if you drive. The service was impeccable - friendly, timely and consistently asked how we enjoyed the meal. The food was great as well - great price points, healthy portions, and authentic Irish menu items. They have a great assortment of healthy options as well if you are stopping in after/during a bike ride: homemade granola, fruit, yogurt, house-cured salmon, etc. All in all, a great experience. We'll definitely be back to try lunch and recommend to our friends in the area.
(5)
Jon L.
A rather disappointing first experience. I made reservations two days before hand for Friday lunch....@ 1130a and I specfically requsted the patio. When we arrived, there was virtually no one else there. We were told the patio was closed. We were seated in the main dining room, a nice quiet two top in the corner. It turned out it's restaurant week so they had some nice specials...several entrees that two could spit for $15. We each opted for the Special which was a garden salad with pecans, feta cheese and four very tasty grilled shrimp. Our serve was attentative but as it became busier...she became less so. Pretty soon, we didn't see her but had to ask one of the water servers for coffee. When we got the coffee, the cream was bad...so we waited...and waited. still no server. Finally the same water server came by and after flagging him down, finally got another cup of coffee. It was barely warm...so not a good ending to what started out as a promising first time lunch. I probably won't go back until it cool's off enough to sit out on the patio.
(3)
Donald P.
Honestly, I think I'd give this place a 2.5 stars due to slow service and insane traffic around this area, but came here with the team after a well-deserved, hard-earned, after-event, happy hour. We came here on a Friday evening and the traffic at the intersection near here is absolutely mind-blowingly idiotic! So anyway we came here to chill and relax after coordinating a large 300+ conference with a relatively small team. Nice cozy feel and just take note not to order a Miller Lite at an IRISH Inn like I almost did. Also don't order a Black and Tan. The Irish don't like that.
(3)
j b.
I spent more than usual for a weekday lunch, but it was so worth it. the fish and chips was maybe the best I have ever had. I splurged on dessert and had the bread pudding....it was awesome!
(5)
Pat S.
I love this little neighborhood restaurant! I go there often at all times of the year. In the summer I like to sit outside on the deck and enjoy the weather. Other times I enjoy the quiet tables indoors. On thing that's especially fun is the jazz group they have every Sunday evening in the bar. If you're going to do this, be sure to come early enough to get a seat. It's become too popular!
(5)
Al A.
Terrible service. We waited 35mins to order food. To make matters worst, I had to twice signal our readiness to order. TWICE! Train your staff or fire them for incompetency. Our food took another 30mins to get to our table. This is inexcusable as it is pub food (fish and chips, burgers, etc). The food is expensive for the quality and quantity. The fish and chips were just haphazardly thrown on the plate, and they were no better than frozen fish sticks.
(1)
Monica G.
We live near here and go all the time. Lunch with kids or mother in law, night out, it's a real treasure in the neighborhood. Overpriced, but I have not had any service issues in 6+ visits. Can't wait for mother's day brunch!
(4)
Libby F.
We celebrated my friend's landmark birthday here last night after work. Aside from the bees on the patio, the casual, laid-back atmosphere is pretty alluring. This place can be a bit pricey with no happy hour specials. $9 for a chardonnay and $6.50 for a Boddingtons or Smithwick draft. The pub fare is good grub. The calamari rings are saved by the light and crisp batter and the tasty chili remoulade sauce that accompanies it. My favorite dish is their Mediterranean platter. For $14 you get fried pita chips accompanied by three dips: hummus, feta spread and a really good black olive tapenade. My fellow diners also shared plates of hamburgers and fried ham and cheese sandwiches. No complaints all round. Even though prices are high, the Irish Inn deserves praise for the authentic atmosphere of their pub... just like in Ireland since they banned smoking in pubs there. Free valet parking is nice, except when your whole party leaves at once and the valet gets a bit overwhelmed.
(3)
Jane K.
I've frequented the Irish Inn at Glen Echo and have always enjoyed the food and service. On 11/8, my husband and I bailed on our commute (which was terrible) and stopped by the Irish Inn, hoping to salvage the day. Thankfully, we were seated without delay! Our waiter, Francois was fabulous. His impeccable manners, friendly demeanor and subtle French accent helped settle our nerves as we ordered another sumptuous Irish Inn meal. The grouper was deliciously prepared and my husband ate every bit of it. My ribeye steak was prepared perfectly and I was so glad they put creamed spinach back on their menu as an available side dish. Definitely order the Guinness onion rings and even though you're stuffed, order dessert. The warm chocolate sour cherry cake is not to be missed.
(4)
Michael B.
This place is awesome! I stopped in here after paddling on the Potomac one day and was delightfully surprised. I got a cup of cream of crab soup (not Irish, I know). It was delicious! I then had a Reuben which was also FANTASTIC! We ate in the bar but the table still had a tablecloth and full sets of silverware as well as butter plates, saucers with coffee cups, etc. Our server was Irish (judging from his accent) and was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was super attentive but not annoying and was incredibly polite. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area!
(4)
Ellen K.
This is just a lovely place to have a quiet lunch or dinner. The food is good, with plenty of fresh, interesting vegetables. The staff are accommodating and the service is excellent.
(4)
Lander P.
Really enjoy this restaurant. The problem with most Irish pubs in DC is that they focus more on drinks than food. A lot of care out into the food. This is more along the lines of a typical pub/restaurant that you would find smaller towns or suburbs in Ireland. I have only been here for lunch so I'm not sure how it is at night.
(5)
Elizabeth B.
This restaurant is so picturesque that it's easy to think (as we always had) that it probably wasn't that good and possibly might even be a tourist trap. But it was great! We sat outside on a beautiful evening, had great service (from a bona fide Irish lady) and good food. Everything was A-OK and we'll surely be back.
(4)
Bonnie W.
We hadn't been in a while, so stopped in for a Sat. lunch. Unfortunately, a large private party had just arrived, so it took more than a few minutes to seat us outside on the nice deck, which is covered & has fans now. Lovely Irish server. DH had amazing Reuben with real corned beef and I had the quiche and salad, very good. Both $13, not cheap, but generous and of excellent quality. I note they have official Happy Hours M-F 4-6:30 which explains why it is packed during rush hour. Great place to meet people from around area with free valet parking (do tip!) Drafts $5, Miller Lite $3, food specials, including $4 slider and $5 fish taco. Will have to get there early!
(4)
Nora J.
The best thing about hiking on the C & O Canal trails up this way is stopping at Irish Inn for a beer on your way back home. It's just a sweet little place, both inside and out. The food is decent, though I've had better reubens. It's just worth it for the little respite in the middle of nowhere.
(4)
Jessica M.
While back in Maryland visiting, I was reminded of how much I love the Irish Inn. The thing is, you have the best of both worlds. Want a nice, romantic dinner? Go to the dining room, the food is delicious and it's beautiful. Want to grab a few drinks and chat with strangers? Go to the bar. It's big. And wooden. And obviously Irish. You might run into a person with an accent, actually, you're almost guaranteed. And who doesn't love accents? Plus, they have a PATIO. I'm an outdoorsy girl... as in, I like getting drunk off of mimosas on patios. My favorite thing on the menu is the Tuna BLT, not gonna lie. I know, it's an Irish place, tuna? bacon? Do it. You'll be eating and be like "man, that girl from yelp was RIGHT!" Now that I live in a city where Irish bars/restaurants are severely lacking, take it from me, appreciate what you have! Or you know, maybe the Irish Inn will read this and just relocate to Austin...
(5)
Trevor M.
Update: Yeeaahhh! Bloody Mary and brunch. What more do you need? Cozy up to the pub area and head to the bar...get a cup of coffee, splash that on your face and then ask for a bloody mary with the peppar vodka. If you're not awake yet...then you're not ready to live. The Irish breakfast is a staple of irish working person's breakfast. It was everything that you needed to get started with your day. Eggs, bangers, Irish bacon, blood pudding, toast, tomato and beans. When God rested on the 7th day I believe he had an Irish breakfast. The bangers, bacon and puddings are from ireland so the flavors are all there. This is how you want to wake up. Ask for the scones with fresh whipped cream. The benedict here is a treat. The perfectly poached eggs and baby ham is succulent, but instead of the hollandaise sauce the parsley sauce makes it light and and vibrant. it's adds such a great creaminess to the eggs. You've got to try this. The bloody mary here really is good. They make their own batch fresh every Sunday and really, I mean really is fantastic. Describing it would be feat of magic in of itself....you've just got to try it, fall in love with it and wish that you could just have this every morning before you go to work, at work, during mid-morning break and even have it so you don't get that 2:30 feeling. Apart from Brinner (Breakfast for dinner)...Brunch has to be the perfect meal, now when you add the touch of the Irish (because any other touching is probably illegal and will land you in jail) you know that you're going to have a great meal, but when you have it here it's as close to kissing a leprechaun in the emerald isles as you can get. And here there is a a pot of gold.
(4)
Matt W.
Excellent shephard's pie, and great place to stop after a hike at Great Falls for a beer and some food.
(4)
Christopher M.
I have been coming here for years. The menu is limited compared to some similar restaurants, but what they do, they do very well. The staff rarely turns over, so you can expect to see a familiar face As for the ambiance, you are not going to find anything like it in Bethesda. It's at it's best on warn summer afternoon. Wait for the patio. You can be casual, or dress formal. Doesn't matter. You'll blend right in.
(4)
Maureen K.
We enjoyed the prix fixe menu on New Years' Eve and were amazed that they managed to turn out good food, attractively plated and served, on such a busy evening. Although we are of the "old crotchety" age that a previous reviewer complained about, we found the noise level very acceptable, and the small rooms upstairs allow one to be quiet and even moderately private if that's your choice. We were, however, not impressed with the much-touted home-made ice cream -- it tasted like they were skimping on the calories. We live fairly close so will definitely go back, probably for lunch, and hope to find their regular menu with more directly Irish-type cuisine.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jenny O.
Ive been going to the Irish Inn for a very long time. We love that there is a nice place in the neighborhood that has a decent bar and fantastic outdoor seating. I have nothing but great things to say. I'd like to add a personal note. This past week our dog was in the hospital and we didn't feel much like cooking. We went to the bar to pick up carry out food and had a drink while we waited. While we were there, we got the very bad news that our dog basically had 24 hours to live. We were both crying heavily right there in the bar. Not exactly everyone's dream customer and not exactly what every dream customer wants to do. Not one but just about every staff member who passed by us asked us if we were ok. The bartender comped us our drinks and was genuinely sympathetic. None of them had to do that. None of them had to care. But it made all the difference. The Irish Inn will make you feel like family. They remember you when you return. Any place that hires staff/bartenders that are both compassionate and kind is a place I will frequent forever.
(5)Monica G.
We live near here and go all the time. Lunch with kids or mother in law, night out, it's a real treasure in the neighborhood. Overpriced, but I have not had any service issues in 6+ visits. Can't wait for mother's day brunch!
(4)Jewell S.
Today, I had reservations at 1:00 pm for 4 (they were made 1 month in advance). My mother who had not gone out in months (she is 82 with cancer and uses a walker). She dressed up and had gone to get a perm just for this dinner. When we arrived 15min prior to our reservations. They said we would have to wait. Which we understood since we were early, but then the owner came over and said, "the wait is an hour or more unless we wanted to eat in the bar or out on the patio area they just enclosed and turned on the heaters. I noticed they did have seating available (table for 4 open in the downstairs) but he was not very nice -- Of course I would not take my elderly mom to the Bar after she had planned on a nice dinner for St. Patrick Dinner. So we went out to the patio. We were the only ones dressed formally. My husband had on a jacket w/a tie, I had on a dress w/heels and my heels stuck in the flooring. The patio heating was awful. the heat beat down on us and we had to ask to have it turned off and then it was cold. They didn't bring bread until we asks. We have gone many times and I have never been treated so poorly. I will never return. I will tell as many people as possible! Plus, the leek soup they advertised on the website did not have truffle oil. The waitress said it was too expensive for the special. I could not believe the comment. As we sat there longer, I noticed they began to usher older couples in the patio. Another senior came in with a walker. Also another couple who were at least in their 80's were also escorted in the back corner table. I wonder do they want the older people out of sight? Bad business...the owner or manager was not a spring chicken!
(2)Tony S.
I wanted to like this just because the friend I was staying with seemed to like it. It had all the hallmarks of a great experience: Free Valet Parking Great interior Friendly waiter Made me feel like I was back home in the UK although Anyway I really fancied fish and chips, and stupidly I ordered them. It was pretty revolting, bland, damp and warm i.e. not hot. COnsidering the other 2 had cabbage and gammon and the other a cottage pie mine should have been the last to be cooked so it would be crisp. The fish was translucent i.e. not cooked and clearly from frozen, which I would expect but come on at least get the batter right. The batter was damp and not crispy at all. The fries were not hot but were not bad. I detest tepid food I mean really bad. 2 days later I went to Bethesda and had fish and chips in this massive empty restaurant with a big fire at lunch time which was brilliant so I know it can be done. The cabbage and gammon looked really nice and the cottage pie was a joke, portion size. It came in this ultra tiny copper saucepan, I mean teeny portion for the price. Cottage pie is not expensive to make so to charge $13 or $14 for a childs portion in a pub is really taking the piss. Anyway my partner enjoyed it but said I wouldn't have because it was tepid, he likes his food a bit cooler. But clearly they have an issue with serving hot food. Shame, its a nice place, great interior but average pub food and expensive drinks for a pub I would say.
(2)Deb k.
I love the setting and the service is generally OK, but the food can be spotty... the eggs benedict for breakfast had a non-bearnaise sauce that was interesting, but cold; the shepherd's pie is small and average, but when you want comfort food, it hits the spot. The potato and leek soup with the truffle oil is lovely. The $3.50 charge for a side fo bacon 92 pieces) or a single sausage seemed too high... But a charming pub and it's where I met my husband, so it'll always be special.
(3)Bridget G.
I went here after a hike at Great Falls and was starving. While the menu is a little bit on the expensive side, the food was great. It is probably the best Reuben I have had in my life! And the lamb burger was okay, but the bun was a little dry. All in all, I will definitely go here again, especially for the dreamy Reuben!
(4)Katherine W.
All soy free, and the food is consistently outstanding. Add in the peacefulness of the neighborhood, and it's become a regular date night out for my boyfriend and I.
(5)Rich H.
Summary based on 1 dinner: --food ok --atmosphere quite pleasant, actually --parking easy --friendly service Went here with a local and I'd be fine going again. It's one of those places where the company matters more than anything else.
(3)Gary M.
Visited after the the recent Folk Music Festival. Good food and brews. Fish and Chips were excellent if that's possible. Staff is attentive and personable. I look forward to going again.
(4)Brian M.
Always fantastic! One of the only restaurants that never lets me down in terms of food and service. I have been here for dinner on the weekends and for business lunches during the week. Honestly, I don't typically think good food and Irish in the same thought. But this place is great and I have never been disappointed. I have started with the potato leek soup and the ceasar salad. Both were wonderful. And for entre I have has fish and chips, sliders, shrimp and grits, and lamb. All were wonderful. I especially like hanging out in the pub before hand. The place has a real nice pub!
(5)Susan C.
We've eaten here in its various incarnations. We most love eating out on the porch. It feels like being somewhere other than the city. The food last time we went was outstandingly good (fish and pasta). Service wasn't super fast but we were there for a slow paced experience. We're going back tonight to celebrate our 18th anniversary.
(5)Eleanor B.
Occasionally good food. Not the best service. Love the deck. Liked it better as Trav's and as Glen Echo Inn.
(3)Joseph F.
I went here with Cyrus N. for Mother's Day (his mom and my MIL) and I had high hopes when I first arrived. The restaurant itself was quite cute--it's located in an actual house and it feels quite quaint. Unfortunately, the food was a bit of a letdown. It's not that it was bad--it was quite good, actually--it's just that there was nothing really exceptional or outstanding about it. Everything was just sorta...middle of the road, I suppose. Maybe I should have ordered another main course besides fish and chips, but my wife's shepherd's pie wasn't that great either. It wasn't awful by any means, and the portion sizes were very generous, but it wasn't an experience that left me genuinely sad when the food was gone and eager for my next visit. One drawback of the unique setting was that everything seemed a bit cramped. The waiter bumped into me several times while serving other folks; I got tired of this and tucked my chair in to the point where I was uncomfortable, but at least I didn't leave with black-and-blue marks on my head. Also, the cramped foyer leaves those waiting for their cars at risk of being hit by an opening door. I give five stars to places to which I would return in a heartbeat and four stars to places that were great but had a few negative aspects to them. Places at which the food was decent but not outstanding get three stars...so the Irish Inn gets three stars. I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to eat here and enjoyed what I had to eat, but this place is sub-par in comparison to the other outstanding places in the DC metro area like That's Amore, Shanghai Cafe, Guapo's, and others....
(3)Mic X.
there is an irish inn at glen echo i know cause the name says so and if in a pinch whilst looking for kinch you will find a pub, but a bed - no the pub is irish mostly in name but the pour of the stout tis same as they do in Erin or as best as Mclaren could manage Rotten's surly fame now the fish and chips are quite crisp and the waiters talk friendly - nary a lisp but something's missing when the last bite i'm finishing and my stomach feels as full as a bloody cyst now authentic is word a tossed out - quiet often and this place is nice, despite what it's lackin' so go for a pint but don't expect sight of the ghost of O'leary who is safely in his coffin
(3)Catherine K.
I have eaten here twice, once with a weird pseudo-date and once with a group of friends. I don't remember much of the food except that it was affordable (for a Night Out --not for Every Day) very good and that we sat outside in the summer evening, which was lovely. What I do remember clearly is the Best Dessert Of My Life. It was a chocolate cake with warm chocolate-cherry goodness inside and Guiness ice cream on top. I have had a lot of dessert in my day, in a lot of countries, and I cannot think of a single dessert I have enjoyed as much as this one. It was, unfortunately, the dessert o'the day, so who knows if they still occassionally serve it...if they do, buy it and savor it. 4 stars for good food, a pleasant location, and mostly, that one unforgettable dessert experience. Minus one because the entrees were good but not superb, it's not metro-accessible, and both times, there have been problems getting the bill straightened out.
(4)Tom D.
The food here was mediocre despite a menu that had some creativity even though it looked as if the chef wanted to incorporate a dish from every region of the world on one menu. I had a portobello tart that was some mushroom slices, goat cheese and onion piled on a square of puff pastry. For 20 bucks...I should have had some home made tart crust not this lazy excuse for a tart. The soup was ho hum. The peach salad was good but over dressed and the mozzarella was parsimonious. The dessert saved the meal. The homemade peach, Guiness, and vanilla ice creams were great and the bread pudding was wonderful. The peach ice cream was worth going back just for. The crowd was all over 65 and the waiter was overly friendly before and during the meal, offered us coffee after dessert, and disappeared after dropping the check. I mean disappeared....the check sat with the credit card in it for over 20 minutes!!! We had to ask another waiter to run the card, and even then, I didn't see him anywhere either in the dining room or the bar. Overall, I'd be happy never to return.
(1)Mary S.
This review is for the restaurant. There is a pub attached with less formal and less expensive fare. The food here was very good. My husband had the Fillet Mignon with a whiskey sauce and enjoyed it immensely. I had the Potato Leek Soup and the house salad with an "Irish" Vinaigrette dressing. The server told me the dressing had 7 different mustards in it when I raved about how delicious it was. We split the Warm Chocolate and Sour Cherry Cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert (Sounds odd, but is too die for). The only problem was that the server mistakenly put the 6 desserts from the table next to us on our bill (No wonder those people were tripping all over each other to leave after paying). The error was fixed quickly and politely.
(4)Phil M.
Overpriced and dirty food. A really bad combination. Oh and the waitress sent to tell me that the vegetables were "naturally gritty" in texture. Would have laughed if I hadnt been so offended to be told that the bad food was MY FAULT. WOW!
(1)Sanda C.
Great atmosphere, however food is overpriced. Had the bangers and mash for $19 in the bar area --- that's 3 sausages, mashed potatoes, and peas for nearly $20-- what's the Gaelic word for overpriced??
(2)Robin R.
The food here is great and plentiful. We always enjoy it. We were seated in a small room upstairs with a bunch of drunk and loud people at a table who I'm certain needed hearing aids since they were yelling instead of just talking. We needed to move to a different room in order to have a conversation. The staff were great and moved us as soon as another table became available. We would have left otherwise.
(4)Don L.
Ambience was nice but the food was disappointing. My dining partner and I both found fault with our dishes. She had already warned me to stay away from the fish and chips (bad experience) but assured me that all the other dishes were very good. She ordered the Reuben, I ordered the scallop salad. The Reuben had way too little in the way of dressing or sauerkraut. My salad had way too much dressing. Every leaf was drenched. In retrospect, we should have sent both dishes back but because our conversation was so absorbing we didn't start complaining to each other about the food until we had eaten too much to send back. It's too bad because the restaurant did some things right. The corned beef was moist and delicate. The rye bread was excellent. I would like to say my salad was otherwise good but it should've been larger for a $16 brunch entree. Atmosphere and service was nice except they gave us 3 scones for 2 people. All in all, we were disappointed.
(2)Chris C.
2.5 stars. GF and I have been looking to find an authentic Irish breakfast for awhile now, and through some Yelp searches, the Inn came up. Given that I've driven past this joint many times over the years but was never interested in ever going, I was somewhat looking forward to finally experiencing it. We first went for a weekday lunch, and it's a fairly hectic place - given its primo location - and the lunch was good. I had good roasted tomato soup and decent fish 'n chips entree. The fish was good, the batter was crisp... but what's up with the crazy saltiness of the batter? I felt the veins in my arms straining... so, the following Saturday, made reservations for a wknd brunch to try the Irish b'fast... crazy contrast to the fish 'n chips, sleep-inducing, geriatric blandness! My gf, who is Irish, thought it barely decent, and I thought it okay, but was definitely expecting more unique flavors. Speaking of geriatric blandness, this place is THE spot for the elderly in the area, and the place is packed with wacky, random valet parking activity and slow-movers over the wknds. The place feels like a place which should oooze charm naturally, but the feel is decidedly contrived - no knocks to the great location though. Overall, not so bad, but I'm not ready to 'slow' down this much yet... give me another couple decades.
(3)Doug B.
Please tell Billy and Evan that General Burdeshaw is a retired Army Brigadier General. To correctly address him now would be to say William B. Burdeshaw, BGen, USA (Ret). Remember what I said about Brigadiers! My guess is he is an impressive man. BTW, Nathan Coons used to make me "Doug's" fish and chips - a low fat and excellent alternative to the fatty fried fish and french fries. Ross and Steve both know how to do this; the servers might not know what it is. Challenge them!
(4)James B.
We love the ambience, the atmosphere, and the decor. Those are all good things. The food is ... generally good. I personally tend to stay with the Irish pub grub, like fish and chips, or the beef stew and they have been very good. The scones are amazing! Some of the more ambitious dishes have not worked quite so well. My wife tends to try those and ... they're typically decent, but nothing special. Take a walk around Glen Echo park when you're done here, though, there's the Spanish Ballroom and a carousel and other interesting sights.
(4)Susan F.
Surprise was the word for my experience at the Irish Inn at Glenn Echo. I expected typical Irish pub grub. What I got was interesting and inventive dining. Salmon with a pumpkin salad accented with pumpkin seeds and acorn squash. A portabella tart topped off with goat cheese and a lovely salad on the side. Oh, and the bangers and mash. Delicioso. Home-made ice cream and a molten chocolate sour cherry cake. Wow. Add to this an incredibly beautiful and idyllic setting, and unbelievable service and you've got an escape from DC that ain't too far away. This was one of the more relaxing, tasty and charming evenings I've spent in a long while.
(4)Mark P.
A nice place to meet friends and I'd do it more often if it weren't a bit pricey. But you can always meet your friends over a Guiness in the bar. Also valet parking only - I can't look valets in the eye after they experience my ancient clunker. You can park free in nearby Glen Echo park and have a nice stroll to wake up your appetite. I agree with other reviewers: food is good but not as good as it should be for the price. Sometimes very noisy and crowded.
(3)Nadia C.
I was taken here for an engagement luncheon with my fiance's family. It was LOVELY! We had a private room upstairs in the quaint and adorable Inn. The meal started off with a nice Irish lad introuducing himself and bring our beverages and fresh made scones. ALl of us ladies ordered something different and each one of us enjoyed our meal. I had the beef stew (something I have never ordered anywhere in my entire life), it was excellent! This place is highly recommended, take your time, enjoy your meal and listen closey to your server, most are straight from Ireland and have an awesome accent!
(5)Helen H.
We had a surprise party for my husband at the Irish Inn. Everything was great. I worked with the manager prior to the party (a Sunday brunch). He made the party planning very easy and everything went off flawlessly. We selected three appetizers and four entrees. The party was for 19 people so we had a private room upstairs that allowed us to mingle and enjoy the company of friends and family. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. I highly recommend the Irish Inn for a party.
(4)Susie Q.
This Irish Inn is located next to Glen Echo Park and in close proximity to the Potomac, MD "scene." If you can overcome the middle-upper income pretenses of this Washington suburban crowd, then you can enjoy the pastoral, colonial-era loveliness of the somewhat overpriced pub/restaurant. Someone told me it used to be a brothel - i guess it has been there since the 1930s. Anyhow, I had the Shepard's Pie which came in a little copper pan topped with a large swirl of mashed potatoes. Beneath the potatoes was ground beef mixed with onions and peas. What can I say about Irish meat and potatoes? There is no great culinary skill involved but it was good, satisfying comfort food. It also came with a salad that was glazed with a light house dressing. The real draw of this place is the beauty of the nature that surrounds it - it is a nice, pleasant place to go to get away from the city as long as you're not too bothered by the polo-wearing status-seekers.
(3)Will O.
Drove by and it caught our eye. We stopped, were seated promptly, and the service was prompt and friendly. Fish tacos were tasty. Not traditional, but very good. The fish sandwich was ok, but the curry coke slaw didn't really compliment the fish. Scraped it off - it made the bun soggy. The sandwich was good - maybe ask for the slaw on the side. Nice outdoor seating and a comfortable location.
(4)Curtis H.
Wow, great meal! The wife and I took my parents to this place to give my dad a taste of what "good" Irish food should taste like. The Irish Inn knocked it out of the park, the Shepherds Pie and Irish Beef stew were "the best we ever had" according to my parents. As for my wife and I, we were equally as happy, but we are use too the likes of this place because we frequently drive back to Glen Echo to get our Irish food fix.
(5)Anastasia P.
I second Ron W., although he is wrong about one thing: Glen Echo is not a "ghost town". The Irish Inn has the distinction of being the only restaurant within walking distance of the historic park's ballroom (which enjoys significant patronage each week due to all the dances being held there). The Irish Inn is the only place to go if you, for example, wanted to drink away the jitters before stepping out on the dance floor with a thousand other sweaty human beings. That being said, this is a privilege that the restaurant does not deserve. Neither the drinks nor the food are cheap, though the latter is so poorly executed that it is nearly a joke. The service was atrocious. I showed up about 10 minutes before the rest of my party. I was sat anyways, and the waiter walked by and said "how are you doing", and clearly did not care to hear the response as he walked right on by to a neighboring table. I would've like a glass of wine to drink while I waited...no such luck. Once my party got there, we finally got water and about 15 minutes later (after multiple "I'll be right with you"s from our waiter), we got some service. To be fair, the guy was swamped; his section was the small backroom and he had maybe 7-8 tables of differing sizes who all needed his attention. He got my order wrong and brought me a caprese salad (asked for the "tomato and mozzerella flatbread"). He apologized, took it away, then thoughfully brought it back "on the house" for me to enjoy, as the rest of my party was digging into their meal, and, well, flatbread takes more than just a minute to cook (unless they microwaved it...which they might've). Thanks, but no thanks. The caprese salad consolation prize was a little offbeat, with watermelon and cucumber in lieu of the traditional tomatoes to complement the shiny, chewy, flavorless rounds of mozzerella on the plate. The whole thing was drenched in some kind of foul, semisweet vinaigrette (green in color), and sprinkled with mint. It was like a schoolboy put it together at a picnic in a lame attempt to impress a cute girl. No nuance, just gimmick, total yuck. I gave it to the rest of the table to eat. My advice: stick with the original, get better mozzarella. That dish is really hard to screw up, but they managed. Finally, my flatbread comes out. The "tomato compote"? Marinara sauce. It was tomato compote in the way that a milky way bar is nougat pate with a chocolate ganache (tip: call a spade a spade). More of the awful chewy flavorless mozzarella. I ate half and was uninspired to eat the rest. The restaurant seems to do well with the older sect. Besides our table, there was not a single group that had anyone who appeared to be sub-50. As a result, it was reminiscent of the supper clubs that grandparents take us out to to show off their families; mediocre food, dark, dated surroundings. So it is my impression that the Irish Inn lives on by the grace of its location and familiarity among the people who live in the area. I'll be going there to get a drink before dances and nothing else, if I can help it.
(2)Erica W.
Cute place. Attentive staff. Family-friendly. Decent selection of wine if you don't drink beer. Haven't tried the food, but will go back sometime to try some based on the reviews.
(4)Phil B.
Good food and good beer. I liked their IPA on tap best (not Irish, I know), followed by Guinness Stout. Service was friendly and prompt. Not too many options for vegans.
(5)ron w.
The Irish Inn at Glen Echo...co...co...co. Take a pass...ass...ass...ass. This relic should be relegated to the Ghost Town that once was the draw to the area; The Glen Echo Amusement Park, now deserted and closed. The Inn should share the same fate or make an attempt to re-invent itself. There is a nice outside patio set in rustic surroundings and inside there is a rat's warren of tired rooms with a vibe from shabby clubby to employees lounge in a mortuary. I needed a drink after making the trip from Rockville. After having one, I still needed one. A watered down Whiskey Sour (with a mix, I suspect) and a squishy Maraschino cherry instead of a luxurious Luxardo. (Bring a flask from home.) I ordered the Mediterranean Platter. Okay, my bad to order mezze in an Irish Pub. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Direct from the Kirkland Brand purveyors they served jarred pickled vegetables, Sabra Hummus (hopefully not the one recalled due to Listeria), a few olives, some sleepy Pita, something called Pesto Pita (right from the package) and Japanese Eggplant bathed in a heavy batter, fried, and topped with store bought salsa cold and soggy as a Golden Retriever puppy that fell in the pool. The basket of bread arrived long after the mezze. Well, actually it arrived two days before and had been sitting on the counter ever since. The doughy White Bread and the faintly molasses laced Soda Bread were as cold as the eggplant. Leave them both, you don't need the empty calories and if you must have something with your mezze or cocktail, just eat the butter. The menu was large. Fine. Choose wisely would be my caveat. The Rueben was as thin as Mom's after school grilled cheese if you were underprivileged. The Corned Beef, what little showed up was acceptable, but the Swiss Cheese was a dried lattice work of something long out of the Salamander and probably the Sell By Date. The few threads of store bought Sauerkraut were barely there and the Russian dressing had defected. Three types of mustard in jars appeared 15 minutes after we'd been served sandwiches. Irish Whole Grain with Stout, Whole Grain with Irish Whiskey, and Strong Irish (whatever that was). All pretty good, but who knows who's snot nosed Grandkid tasted each one with a wet finger? Just sayin'. Maybe put the mustard in little ceramic cups? The Irish Burger featuring Irish Cheddar Cheese bordered on inedible. A skinny dry patty (maybe the recipe was handed down from the famine years) on yes, a purchased bun, with a limp Romaine leaf, a mushy tomato one step from a Waste King and maybe the chef dragged a thin slice of cheese over the mess before service. Maybe. Dessert: A tasteless, flourless, room temperature disk of chocolate with Costco Dried Morency Cherries. (Hey, Chef, cherries are in season. How about something fresh?) along with a melon ball of Vanilla Ice Cream. Suitable only for a sales meeting at the Holiday Inn Express or a base line Bar Mitzvah at the Veteran's Hall. The chef must have come from a Mine Sweeper, a Minimum Security Prison or an Assisted Living Facility as the food was your basic industrial fare. The staff, in all fairness was friendly, and helpful. Although, if we'd complained we'd still be there. If it's a choice between The Irish Inn at Glen Echo or frozen Ledo's Pizza from last week? I vote you break out the hair dryer and start defrosting.
(2)Ashley S.
Service was great!! And the place is really adorable and cozy. Food is kind of pricey but great appetizers and Irish entrees. I really recommend the shepherd's pie, smoked salmon appetizer, fish and chips, crab cake entree, and the flat iron steak! The Bloody Mary was DELISH and I loved the free bread.
(5)Angela L.
Before my first night of blues dancing at Glen Echo, I stopped by the Irish Inn with a group of people in order to loosen up before the dancing commenced. When we got there around 8pm on Thursday, it was fairly crowded because (I'm told) a group meets there for drinks every Thursday. They eventually thinned out around 8:30 or so. I got a few beers and wasn't sure if I should eat something small for dinner but then saw the chili on the menu and gave in. The chili is "texas-style" (I'm still not exactly sure what that means), and uses stew meat rather than regular ground beef. I thought it was pretty tasty, and the cup for $8 was especially filling. My only small complaint is that it didn't seem very hot. After i mixed the sour cream in, it was almost lukewarm. But the flavor was perfect, and had a bit of peppery zest. Next time I come here, I'll try to work up an appetite so that I can try the mussels. My friend who raves about them ordered a bowl and they looked delicious. Also, Diane is the best!
(4)Carl W.
Nice place. Classier than I am used to, but not off-putting. Great ambiance, but you can't eat that. I had fish and chips and it was all just fine. Thin-cut fries, as God intended. I asked the waiter for extra tartar sauce and he brought it without having to be reminded, so this place is already one step ahead of most other places. I would consider going again.
(4)J. Curtis G.
My ethics were severely compromised upon eating at The Irish Inn. The five choices on their "children's menu" were all $11.95!!! I mean, the food was pretty good, but it wasn't good enough to justify the cost. Go somewhere else unless you've already shelled out $3.7 million for your house in Glen Echo. The cherry on top was that we were charged an extra $3 for a small plate of bread, and I was billed $2 more for my entree than it was listed at on the menu! They have a nice selection of Irish and Scotch whiskies and a small selection of beers. However, no self-respecting Irishman would pay $7 for a pint of Guinness. The meal was decent, but way way way overpriced. I expect to be nourished at lunch without having my financial and philosophical ethics compromised. It may look cozy, but you should go elsewhere.
(2)Vincent M.
The food is good (although a little pricey), and the servers are very hard working. However, the managers seem very condescending and thoughtless with their employees and customers. I got the impression that they really didn't care about their customers that much. I heard some of the managers insulting them behind their backs. It made me really uncomfortable to be there, and I was constantly wondering if they were insulting me too. It's not just about the quality of the food, it's also about the experience. I felt like I was under pressure the entire time. Give it a shot I guess, but be aware that they're running a business. They're not your friends.
(2)Norman G.
Depending on whether you choose the bar or the restaurant or the outdoor seating, the experience is very different. The bar is about beer (mainly), Irish music (at times) and traditional Irish food, though I believe anything on the menu is available. The bar is often jammed and noisy but you may also find it empty. The restaurant serves quality food and a reservation is advisable. The patio is relaxed and is a great spot overlooking Glen Echo when the weather is good. If you like black-and-tan, which should ONLY be ordered in an Irish bar, the Irish Inn does it right. I often order the lamb chops at dinner and the ala carte brunch menu has considerable variety. I've been here for lunch, brunch, dinner and happy hour--and the experience is different for each. I'm not big on the music evenings. Too noisy and too crowded for me.
(4)Brad T.
A nice Irish pub with a varied selection on the menu. beer was cold and the food great. Prices a little step, but not really for this area. I've eaten there twice and enjoyed it each time. Great service and very clean.
(4)Anna Laura B.
Had an excellent meal here over the Christmas season. It was decorated so nicely for the holidays and was very homey. Our little group of six had an entire cozy private room to ourselves for dinner! The beef stew and potato leek soup were delicious and their bread pudding dessert was outstanding. The Irish aren't exactly known for their food in general but this place could change that! Excellent service as well.
(5)Beth P.
This place has a great brunch and a dessert menu that beckoned us to return back after our afternoon adventures in Turkey Run park! I would recommend the quiche of the day; it's a generous portion of an egg and vegetable mixture du jour in a buttery crust, and it comes with a really good, lightly dressed salad. My husband tried the braised short rib and smoked gouda sandwich, which was very tasty. They also had really excellent coffee! I dinged them one star because only one server was assigned to the bar area, so we were lacking for coffee refills at times, which is a bummer. I also didn't get to ask for Tabasco (which they don't have) until I was halfway through brunch. Overall, though, it's a great place! Our 2 breakfasts and coffees ran us $35, which I think is pretty standard around here. We'll go back here again for sure!
(4)Ivy T.
A lovely cozy nook to stop into after a day of hiking up and down the C&O Canal. I can't comment on the menu, because I only had a couple of pints, but those pints were most refreshing at the killer price of $5 a pop!
(4)Erin T.
I adore this place. Been going for years, and always look forward to the next opportunity to do so. The reuben is amazing, as is the calamari, the fries, the shepard's pie, I could go on and on! The service is reliable and everyone does their job with a smile, even when the place is packed to the gills!
(5)Kelly M.
Quaint ambiance, great service upstairs, meal extremely disappointing and overpriced! Three small pieces of fish and handful of fries for $18, ridiculous! Ordered our granddaughter 2 plain pancakes - no eggs, no meat - they were very small and falling apart, yet we paid $8 for maybe .50 worth of ingredients! Only way we would come back is if the menu had a complete overhaul.
(2)Charis N.
We came here for lunch the second day of my visit to DC. The place is dark and woodsy but with windowed-natural light too. The cuisine is definitely authentic Irish and any Irishman or Irishwoman would appreciate it! We came at an odd time in the afternoon, so it wasn't very busy. Server was nice but she was a bit slow on returning to take our orders - maybe shift change or something. Anyway, even though the food is a bit heavy for my usual dining-out experience, it was certainly well prepared and delish! And don;t get me started on the Bloody Marys they make! OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Truly made from scratch, or at least tasted like it! Great family place too by the seating options even though we sat at table in the Bar area. If you're in this beautiful woodsy part of nation near the Potomac River, and enjoy true Irish cuisine, make a point to stop here. And if you're not driving, absolutely have a Bloody Mary...or 3!!!
(4)Elliott E.
Stopped here on a whim after hiking Great Falls. Was seated immediately, had a nice spot on the outside patio and took in a nice day. Got the classic Guinness, which was fairly priced, and the Ruben. The corned beef was fantastic, great flavor. The bread was thick, but let the corned beef shine. I'd recommend asking for extra Thousand Island if you order this. I would recommend!
(4)Patrick N.
Had the Prime Rib. Service was excellent, accommodating of dietary restrictions, and food was prepared as ordered. The brown bread and butter is also a hard to find treat. The bar area is exactly what you would expect to find in Ireland. They run a first class operation!
(5)Joshua D.
I'll have to come back sometime and review the food. I went here with my boss and her husband who are regulars after work for some socializing. The place itself is VERY nice inside and out. We sat out on the deck, which was very well-kept and had cover overhead with ceiling fans. The location is convenient for folks who need somewhere that makes it easy to get back to Bethesda, D.C. or NoVa. The service left something to be desired. My boss waited probably 20 minutes or more on a refill for her Diet Coke. The server said that they had to change out the CO2 on the fountain machine, then came back later without a refill and said only one employee could do it and that he was on the phone. Here's an idea -- either train more than one employee to do such things, or get that guy off the phone! I want to go back here sometime when I'm eating and not just getting something to drink because it does seem like a pretty neat venue. WARNING: DO NOT bring large vehicles like trucks or tour buses into the parking lot! A tour bus turned in, and it is a VERY steep incline into the lot. The bus bottomed-out and was stuck there blocking the entrance for at least an hour. Not sure how they ever got it out.
(3)Robert B.
Been passing this place for years saying I need to eat there. I can now keep passing it having just satisfied my curiosity. Food is tasty, portions are far too small for the price. Greek salad is like a dinner salad for $11. Turkey burger is like a slider on a big bun for $14. Perhaps the pub is good. The fish and chips are tasty but still on the small side.
(1)Shannon S.
I just loved this place and will definitely be back. Myself, my mom, friend, and her mom went yesterday around noon. The ambiance is wonderful...just what we wanted in an Irish place. We've been looking for a great Irish Pub for awhile now. I had the Ruben with a side Caesar salad. It was great...the Thousand Island wasn't sweet which was perfect. We also shared the Calamari appetizer, very tasty. I had the Elderflower Martini. The Bloody Mary had a little too much Horseradish tang, but that would be my only complaint.
(5)Erin B.
We stopped in for Sunday Brunch after a bike ride and had a great experience. We made a reservation for 4 (recommend if you want to sit outside); the outdoor seating fills up quickly (right after they open at 11) since they have a great deck. The location off of MacArthur is extremely bike friendly and they have a decent parking lot if you drive. The service was impeccable - friendly, timely and consistently asked how we enjoyed the meal. The food was great as well - great price points, healthy portions, and authentic Irish menu items. They have a great assortment of healthy options as well if you are stopping in after/during a bike ride: homemade granola, fruit, yogurt, house-cured salmon, etc. All in all, a great experience. We'll definitely be back to try lunch and recommend to our friends in the area.
(5)Jon L.
A rather disappointing first experience. I made reservations two days before hand for Friday lunch....@ 1130a and I specfically requsted the patio. When we arrived, there was virtually no one else there. We were told the patio was closed. We were seated in the main dining room, a nice quiet two top in the corner. It turned out it's restaurant week so they had some nice specials...several entrees that two could spit for $15. We each opted for the Special which was a garden salad with pecans, feta cheese and four very tasty grilled shrimp. Our serve was attentative but as it became busier...she became less so. Pretty soon, we didn't see her but had to ask one of the water servers for coffee. When we got the coffee, the cream was bad...so we waited...and waited. still no server. Finally the same water server came by and after flagging him down, finally got another cup of coffee. It was barely warm...so not a good ending to what started out as a promising first time lunch. I probably won't go back until it cool's off enough to sit out on the patio.
(3)Donald P.
Honestly, I think I'd give this place a 2.5 stars due to slow service and insane traffic around this area, but came here with the team after a well-deserved, hard-earned, after-event, happy hour. We came here on a Friday evening and the traffic at the intersection near here is absolutely mind-blowingly idiotic! So anyway we came here to chill and relax after coordinating a large 300+ conference with a relatively small team. Nice cozy feel and just take note not to order a Miller Lite at an IRISH Inn like I almost did. Also don't order a Black and Tan. The Irish don't like that.
(3)Paul M.
Bumping this up another star because of a very pleasant recent visit - i have not been there for ages , but i did not fancy trying to find parking in Bethesda....three big improvements: 1. they now sell Guinness is 20oz pints. 2. they now serve Guinness in a glass with the Guinness logo 3. Menu much improved - great value soup and sandwich combo I like it and, with the imminent death of Ri Ra Bethesda upon us, I will be back.
(4)Hampton C.
A tale of two motifs, the Irish Inn should be able to cover whichever mood strikes. On the dining room side you'll find an intimate and very quiet area adorned with small paintings from the Emerald Isle. The fair is classic Irish as you'd expect. On the bar side you'll find a livelier and authentic feel of a country Irish watering hole. The brunch is quite good and no one will think twice if you order a Guinness at 11AM. Note that, as you'd expect, you can only reserve seating in the dining room area so come early if you want to grab bar seating!
(4)j b.
I spent more than usual for a weekday lunch, but it was so worth it. the fish and chips was maybe the best I have ever had. I splurged on dessert and had the bread pudding....it was awesome!
(5)Ellen K.
This is just a lovely place to have a quiet lunch or dinner. The food is good, with plenty of fresh, interesting vegetables. The staff are accommodating and the service is excellent.
(4)Lander P.
Really enjoy this restaurant. The problem with most Irish pubs in DC is that they focus more on drinks than food. A lot of care out into the food. This is more along the lines of a typical pub/restaurant that you would find smaller towns or suburbs in Ireland. I have only been here for lunch so I'm not sure how it is at night.
(5)Elizabeth B.
This restaurant is so picturesque that it's easy to think (as we always had) that it probably wasn't that good and possibly might even be a tourist trap. But it was great! We sat outside on a beautiful evening, had great service (from a bona fide Irish lady) and good food. Everything was A-OK and we'll surely be back.
(4)Bonnie W.
We hadn't been in a while, so stopped in for a Sat. lunch. Unfortunately, a large private party had just arrived, so it took more than a few minutes to seat us outside on the nice deck, which is covered & has fans now. Lovely Irish server. DH had amazing Reuben with real corned beef and I had the quiche and salad, very good. Both $13, not cheap, but generous and of excellent quality. I note they have official Happy Hours M-F 4-6:30 which explains why it is packed during rush hour. Great place to meet people from around area with free valet parking (do tip!) Drafts $5, Miller Lite $3, food specials, including $4 slider and $5 fish taco. Will have to get there early!
(4)Nora J.
The best thing about hiking on the C & O Canal trails up this way is stopping at Irish Inn for a beer on your way back home. It's just a sweet little place, both inside and out. The food is decent, though I've had better reubens. It's just worth it for the little respite in the middle of nowhere.
(4)Jessica M.
While back in Maryland visiting, I was reminded of how much I love the Irish Inn. The thing is, you have the best of both worlds. Want a nice, romantic dinner? Go to the dining room, the food is delicious and it's beautiful. Want to grab a few drinks and chat with strangers? Go to the bar. It's big. And wooden. And obviously Irish. You might run into a person with an accent, actually, you're almost guaranteed. And who doesn't love accents? Plus, they have a PATIO. I'm an outdoorsy girl... as in, I like getting drunk off of mimosas on patios. My favorite thing on the menu is the Tuna BLT, not gonna lie. I know, it's an Irish place, tuna? bacon? Do it. You'll be eating and be like "man, that girl from yelp was RIGHT!" Now that I live in a city where Irish bars/restaurants are severely lacking, take it from me, appreciate what you have! Or you know, maybe the Irish Inn will read this and just relocate to Austin...
(5)Pat S.
I love this little neighborhood restaurant! I go there often at all times of the year. In the summer I like to sit outside on the deck and enjoy the weather. Other times I enjoy the quiet tables indoors. On thing that's especially fun is the jazz group they have every Sunday evening in the bar. If you're going to do this, be sure to come early enough to get a seat. It's become too popular!
(5)Candace Y.
We stopped iat the Irish Inn for dinner because it looked like an interesting old place that was worth investigating. The person who seated us led us upstairs to a table where the table and one of the two chairs were at a significant tilt. It was pronounced enough that I wondered if I'd have a problem with my food or drink sliding sideways. Since the person had taken us here and left immediately, not waiting to see if we were okay with the tilting table, I flagged down a server and asked if we could get a more level table. The server said, "Sure, no problem, but you know...this ~is~ an old house" and took us into the next room and got us something more level. Then, she set a couple of water glasses down. My dining partner started to drink from his water glass and noticed not one, but ~two~ dead bugs floating in his glass. The server noticed him looking at the glass: "Oh, is there something in there?" And offered to get him a replacement. On the way up the stairs, I'd noticed how worn and dirty the carpeting upstairs was. (I was starting to wonder how clean the kitchen was.) The menu here is on the more expensive side for a pub-restaurant. Certainly, it had not made a good impression on me so far. It hardly seemed to be worth it. A quick look at the wine list showed a pitiful selection of inferior wines by the glass. After conferring for a moment, we decided to cut our experience short and find another place to dine.
(1)Michael B.
This place is awesome! I stopped in here after paddling on the Potomac one day and was delightfully surprised. I got a cup of cream of crab soup (not Irish, I know). It was delicious! I then had a Reuben which was also FANTASTIC! We ate in the bar but the table still had a tablecloth and full sets of silverware as well as butter plates, saucers with coffee cups, etc. Our server was Irish (judging from his accent) and was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was super attentive but not annoying and was incredibly polite. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area!
(4)Trevor M.
Update: Yeeaahhh! Bloody Mary and brunch. What more do you need? Cozy up to the pub area and head to the bar...get a cup of coffee, splash that on your face and then ask for a bloody mary with the peppar vodka. If you're not awake yet...then you're not ready to live. The Irish breakfast is a staple of irish working person's breakfast. It was everything that you needed to get started with your day. Eggs, bangers, Irish bacon, blood pudding, toast, tomato and beans. When God rested on the 7th day I believe he had an Irish breakfast. The bangers, bacon and puddings are from ireland so the flavors are all there. This is how you want to wake up. Ask for the scones with fresh whipped cream. The benedict here is a treat. The perfectly poached eggs and baby ham is succulent, but instead of the hollandaise sauce the parsley sauce makes it light and and vibrant. it's adds such a great creaminess to the eggs. You've got to try this. The bloody mary here really is good. They make their own batch fresh every Sunday and really, I mean really is fantastic. Describing it would be feat of magic in of itself....you've just got to try it, fall in love with it and wish that you could just have this every morning before you go to work, at work, during mid-morning break and even have it so you don't get that 2:30 feeling. Apart from Brinner (Breakfast for dinner)...Brunch has to be the perfect meal, now when you add the touch of the Irish (because any other touching is probably illegal and will land you in jail) you know that you're going to have a great meal, but when you have it here it's as close to kissing a leprechaun in the emerald isles as you can get. And here there is a a pot of gold.
(4)Matt W.
Excellent shephard's pie, and great place to stop after a hike at Great Falls for a beer and some food.
(4)Christopher M.
I have been coming here for years. The menu is limited compared to some similar restaurants, but what they do, they do very well. The staff rarely turns over, so you can expect to see a familiar face As for the ambiance, you are not going to find anything like it in Bethesda. It's at it's best on warn summer afternoon. Wait for the patio. You can be casual, or dress formal. Doesn't matter. You'll blend right in.
(4)Maureen K.
We enjoyed the prix fixe menu on New Years' Eve and were amazed that they managed to turn out good food, attractively plated and served, on such a busy evening. Although we are of the "old crotchety" age that a previous reviewer complained about, we found the noise level very acceptable, and the small rooms upstairs allow one to be quiet and even moderately private if that's your choice. We were, however, not impressed with the much-touted home-made ice cream -- it tasted like they were skimping on the calories. We live fairly close so will definitely go back, probably for lunch, and hope to find their regular menu with more directly Irish-type cuisine.
(4)Nicole L.
It's located along the winding roads and forested surrounding. In the serene area of Glen Echo there was much life in the Irish restaurant/bar. At arrival the host was going to take us to the dining room upstairs but since there was a jazz band playing at the bar I suggested to check it out.The hostess offered us this special large booth that was empty probably because people were too polite to take it or maybe because it was next to the jazz where the view was somewhat obstructed. It was a great booth!! I loved the privacy compared to the rest of the bar. We still managed to get a good view of the band as they started playing, the Brook Tegler band played some great jazz music. I ordered fish taco from the bar menu the fish was delicious along with the garnishes for my taco! Of all things it would be the last to expect a delicious fish taco at an Irish bar. It's quite the hidden gem that I discovered of this area.
(4)Al A.
Terrible service. We waited 35mins to order food. To make matters worst, I had to twice signal our readiness to order. TWICE! Train your staff or fire them for incompetency. Our food took another 30mins to get to our table. This is inexcusable as it is pub food (fish and chips, burgers, etc). The food is expensive for the quality and quantity. The fish and chips were just haphazardly thrown on the plate, and they were no better than frozen fish sticks.
(1)Libby F.
We celebrated my friend's landmark birthday here last night after work. Aside from the bees on the patio, the casual, laid-back atmosphere is pretty alluring. This place can be a bit pricey with no happy hour specials. $9 for a chardonnay and $6.50 for a Boddingtons or Smithwick draft. The pub fare is good grub. The calamari rings are saved by the light and crisp batter and the tasty chili remoulade sauce that accompanies it. My favorite dish is their Mediterranean platter. For $14 you get fried pita chips accompanied by three dips: hummus, feta spread and a really good black olive tapenade. My fellow diners also shared plates of hamburgers and fried ham and cheese sandwiches. No complaints all round. Even though prices are high, the Irish Inn deserves praise for the authentic atmosphere of their pub... just like in Ireland since they banned smoking in pubs there. Free valet parking is nice, except when your whole party leaves at once and the valet gets a bit overwhelmed.
(3)Jane K.
I've frequented the Irish Inn at Glen Echo and have always enjoyed the food and service. On 11/8, my husband and I bailed on our commute (which was terrible) and stopped by the Irish Inn, hoping to salvage the day. Thankfully, we were seated without delay! Our waiter, Francois was fabulous. His impeccable manners, friendly demeanor and subtle French accent helped settle our nerves as we ordered another sumptuous Irish Inn meal. The grouper was deliciously prepared and my husband ate every bit of it. My ribeye steak was prepared perfectly and I was so glad they put creamed spinach back on their menu as an available side dish. Definitely order the Guinness onion rings and even though you're stuffed, order dessert. The warm chocolate sour cherry cake is not to be missed.
(4)Sara J.
What a gem. Stopped in to this warm and inviting pub after a visit to Glen Echo Park. Mediocre food and slow but nice enough service. However the feel of this place can't be beat for a pint and good old Irish bar food.
(3)Gloria M.
Sometimes bad things happens to a good place. This is the case for this business. We frequent this place often and have received a warm welcome! last Sunday the new Manager was as unwelcoming and rough as they come, her name Saoirse. We are so disappointed as this is a charming place and the service is always wonderful. The first impressions always make the rating and I gave a low rating just because of this person!
(3)Kendra N.
Haven't eaten yet, so my review will be updated later, but great atmosphere and good drinks. Quiet, which is nice when you are out for the night and away from the kids.
(4)Hilary M.
Every time I come here, I swear I will never go back. Then after a while, the idea of a casual, relatively inexpensive and fun meal at a charming "local" place seems tempting. Fuhgedaboudit. Waited 35 minutes past reservation time for a table, then over an hour for the main course to arrive. Even in the bar, service was terrible; I ordered a glass of wine and a mixed drink simultaneously that were delivered a full ten minutes apart. And the food? Don't get me started. How is it possible to get bad corned beef and cabbage in an Irish restaurant? There are simply too many better places to go for dinner than this one. Don't waste your time or money here. There's a lot of great food within five minutes' drive.
(1)Tony P.
Stopped by here for dinner with some friends, before a concert event next door at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. The decor is comfy and reminds me of a classic pub. Dark woods and cozy tables. The food is pretty good. Nothing really outstanding. I had the leek soup and banger's and mash. The black and tan was a flowing steadily all dinner so I was pretty happy. I finished off the dinner with a pineapple parfait which was pretty good. Overall a good dining experience.
(3)Maren P.
I've been to the Irish Inn about 10 times, and it's always great - both in the pub and in the main restaurant. My family has also had private parties and celebrated various occasions at the Irish Inn. They are always very accommodating and very friendly and helpful. Additionally, the food is great with traditional Irish fare as well as nightly specials. They have a lot of information and a menu on their website: irishusa.com/irishinn If you're in the Bethesda/Potomac/Glen Echo area, this is a great place to go for a relaxing, enjoyable and delicious lunch, brunch or dinner as well as for a private party.
(5)Lisa R.
The food is very good, the atmosphere can't be beat, and although the service is at times spotty, it makes for a nice evening or lunch overall.
(4)Tim D.
hmmmm.....how to rate an institution...?? This is a place u go for AMBIENCE...not 4 food! The interior bar w/a live jazz band playing on a Sun. nite just can't be beat! The food is...um,- how do I put this graciously,- "underwhelming"... Having said that,- u really can't go wrong w/a Smithwick draft in a 16 oz. glass poured all the way to the rim (probably 20 oz. !!) for only $6 or so... If ur getting my drift,- ya'll need to ck this place out on a Sun. nite but grab a seat early @ the bar cuz it's SRO come 5:30- 6:00PM!!
(3)Jen M.
My review may be a little biased considering one of the people I went with here is a regular and is friends with the owners. However, I get the impression that even if that were not the case the food and service would have been just as great. The restaurant is a gorgeous place next to Glen Echo Park. We enjoyed some beers on tap and a whole lot of their delicious dinner entrees. The Shepard's Pie of my colleague which I tried was tasty. The Shrimp and Grits I ordered was surprisingly good - shrimp, scallops, sausage and grits in a tomato-based sauce. Also tried the bread pudding, creme brulee, and this amazing warm chocolate cherry cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert and all of them were amazing! It seemed a bit overpriced to me, but worth it. And they also have a less expensive (but I'm told just as great) menu in the pub area that I'd like to come back and try one day.
(4)Lindsay D.
I love this place. It has a tavern with a full bar and a fine dining section. The staff is great; the owner is really nice. I have never had a bad meal or bad experience.
(5)Emily B.
All my family was impressed with the food. A bit pricey for everyday. Heavy,(stereo-?) typically Irish - beef stew, Shepard's pie, corned beef n cabbage. And DELICIOUS warm chocolate sour cherry cake for dessert. The "Banoffee parfait" was also good, I heard.
(4)Ben J.
Every time I would drive from NW DC to my girlfriend's house in NoVA I would pass this place and just wonder "What is this place?" and "Why is it here?" If you have been wondering the same thing, I only have one piece of advice - GO HERE. I decided to cave and go to the Irish Inn for my most recent birthday, sat in the restaurant side and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Everything was absolutely perfect. Ambience was pleasant - very nice, but also felt down home and welcoming. Very authentic. Servers were helpful and didn't look down on us even though we were slightly underdressed for the restaurant (I'm pretty sure I was wearing a baseball cap). This would not have been the case at most nicer restaurants in DC. Food was awesome. I had the Mahi Mahi special which was extremely good, but also very unexpected from a restaurant with a pub. And I ordered it with a pint of Guinness, which in my mind, makes the meal a perfect 10. My girlfriend had the salmon, which was also cooked well and very tasty. This last part is unique to my own experience but as an older couple was leaving the restaurant, they came over and gave us their unfinished bottle of very nice red wine (about half full). Must have been regular customers and it felt like they were welcoming us to their favorite local restaurant. That made the meal even more special for me! I'll certainly be back for more meals and may even try out the pub fare.
(5)Bethany W.
We have been here a few times and are always impressed with the serving staff and the menu. I love it here!! Sitting on the deck is great but, the furnishings in the dining rooms is pretty awesome too.
(5)Ed R.
I've been to the Irish Inn on several occasions for Sunday brunch, dinner, or just a night out, and its it's always a great experience. It does get crowded (especially when a band is playing), but it's a fun and friendly crowd. The menu is limited but good. They have a good selection of beers on tap and Irish whiskey. If you're just in town for a few days or a local who hasn't been, check it out.
(5)Alan C.
I've been going to this place for a while now, usually before going to an event over at Glen Echo park. The pub is a great place to grab a drink before events, the servers are welcoming and the ambiance is great. They occasionally have live music thats very hit or miss, usually miss for my taste, but apparently people like it cause its usually packed those days. The rest of the restaurant is good as well. The food is delicious and the servers are very helpful making suggestions. The bread rolls are usually pretty good, but sometimes over toasted. The desserts are not always all listed on the menu, they've had some great off menu desserts in the past. Cons: - when the band is playing, you can't escape the noise, even if you're eating upstairs. - some of the customers are old and crotchety. They'll complain about anything. I've had friends cut off because they were having a boisterous discussion which the old people thought was because they were drunk. The management needs to realise that some of their older customers have nothing better to do than complain.
(4)Beth E.
We has reservations at the Irish inn on 6/30/12, the day after the really bad storms. We came from Frederick county but we heard that most of the area had lost power and so did the Irish inn. We called the restaurant twice today to find out if the restaurant was open. They said they would be open all day and were serving a full menu. They had a backup generator. We arrived at 6:00 and sat outside on the patio because there was no air conditioning. Despite the heat, the meal was fantastic and the serving and kitchen team did an amazing job working in the heat. They handled the electricity challenges exceptionally well. All very professional. The food was outstanding. We had a great time. Of course we will be back again.
(5)Kalynne H.
We didn't know it was a set price for St. Patty's at lunch so we were surprised. They did accommodate our kiddos. Its a great place to go after being at Glen Echo.
(4)Mary Beth C.
Cozy lunch spot near Great Falls. Looks like a restaurant out of the 60's or 70's (nothing cutting edge here, except for Open Table reservation.) Charming service.
(3)Veronique B.
I'm a huge fan mostly because of the atmosphere but now the food has caught up. between the paradise location and scene and the people, basically a complete win. Love it and if you get a table outside when it' nice, it's as enjoyable as getting one in the cozy dining room around Christmas time when it's all lit up. Beautiful, typical place. Prices are even reasonable! Do not miss!
(4)Lo K.
If I average all of our experiences here, I'd have to give this place a 3-star rating. I've eaten here several times. First time was pretty good. Second time was for brunch and when I asked the waiter for gluten-free suggestions, he laughed in my face and told me nothing was GF. I was able to find something, he was just being difficult. Several years later, we hosted a sit-down dinner to celebrate our wedding (way after the fact) and considering the size of our party, the food was delicious. We had so many of our guests tell us that it was the best filet they'd ever had. Most recently, we went for their NYE set menu dinner. It started out okay but they switched servers on us right after ordering our main course and didn't tell us so we kind of just sat there wondering where our server had gone. The food was OK. The chef's creation amuse-bouche was a quarter of a piece of dry brown bread with a bit of cream cheese and a piece of smoked salmon, meh. We ordered the filet and the prime rib. The filet was great, the prime rib was so-so. The potatoes au gratin had blue cheese in them but it didn't say it on the menu when we ordered and if you can't eat or don't like blue cheese, well... We would of said something to our server if she had ever come back to our table after our food was served. I understand it was NYE and they were gearing up for a crowd but we were some of the first people there, it wasn't busy at all. For a $60 per/person set menu, I would have expected a little better.
(3)Janet G.
I had a very nice experience last night at the Irish Inn. My boyfriend and I were seated in a small front dining room, and a gentleman at the next table said upon our arrival, "you are going to have a very good dinner tonight". Such a nice endorsement from a fellow patron. We both had the mixed greens, and entrees were trout w/corn pudding, and sea bass w/heirloom tomato coulis and vegetables. Both were delicious, portions were ample, and food was plenty hot (seeing that other diners in the past had fretted about the food temperature, I thought I would mention ours was just fine). We also had very attentive (yet not intrusive) service. All in all, an A+ date night for two people who really needed a nice night out.
(5)Rick D.
I've only been a semi-regular at the pub, where it's a great place to decompress after a long workday. Love the barkeeps there and they have a fave beer on tap - Killkenny - sort of an amber version of Guinness. Food has always been good too. Only complaint is it gets a bit crowded sometimes!
(4)Steve G.
Fish Tacos were great
(4)shiva s.
When the waiters and bartenders all have Irish accents you know you have scored landing on an authentic Irish pub. A gem in glen echo park with a fantastic beer selection on tap.
(4)Candace Y.
We stopped iat the Irish Inn for dinner because it looked like an interesting old place that was worth investigating. The person who seated us led us upstairs to a table where the table and one of the two chairs were at a significant tilt. It was pronounced enough that I wondered if I'd have a problem with my food or drink sliding sideways. Since the person had taken us here and left immediately, not waiting to see if we were okay with the tilting table, I flagged down a server and asked if we could get a more level table. The server said, "Sure, no problem, but you know...this ~is~ an old house" and took us into the next room and got us something more level. Then, she set a couple of water glasses down. My dining partner started to drink from his water glass and noticed not one, but ~two~ dead bugs floating in his glass. The server noticed him looking at the glass: "Oh, is there something in there?" And offered to get him a replacement. On the way up the stairs, I'd noticed how worn and dirty the carpeting upstairs was. (I was starting to wonder how clean the kitchen was.) The menu here is on the more expensive side for a pub-restaurant. Certainly, it had not made a good impression on me so far. It hardly seemed to be worth it. A quick look at the wine list showed a pitiful selection of inferior wines by the glass. After conferring for a moment, we decided to cut our experience short and find another place to dine.
(1)Nicole L.
It's located along the winding roads and forested surrounding. In the serene area of Glen Echo there was much life in the Irish restaurant/bar. At arrival the host was going to take us to the dining room upstairs but since there was a jazz band playing at the bar I suggested to check it out.The hostess offered us this special large booth that was empty probably because people were too polite to take it or maybe because it was next to the jazz where the view was somewhat obstructed. It was a great booth!! I loved the privacy compared to the rest of the bar. We still managed to get a good view of the band as they started playing, the Brook Tegler band played some great jazz music. I ordered fish taco from the bar menu the fish was delicious along with the garnishes for my taco! Of all things it would be the last to expect a delicious fish taco at an Irish bar. It's quite the hidden gem that I discovered of this area.
(4)Sara J.
What a gem. Stopped in to this warm and inviting pub after a visit to Glen Echo Park. Mediocre food and slow but nice enough service. However the feel of this place can't be beat for a pint and good old Irish bar food.
(3)Gloria M.
Sometimes bad things happens to a good place. This is the case for this business. We frequent this place often and have received a warm welcome! last Sunday the new Manager was as unwelcoming and rough as they come, her name Saoirse. We are so disappointed as this is a charming place and the service is always wonderful. The first impressions always make the rating and I gave a low rating just because of this person!
(3)Kendra N.
Haven't eaten yet, so my review will be updated later, but great atmosphere and good drinks. Quiet, which is nice when you are out for the night and away from the kids.
(4)Hilary M.
Every time I come here, I swear I will never go back. Then after a while, the idea of a casual, relatively inexpensive and fun meal at a charming "local" place seems tempting. Fuhgedaboudit. Waited 35 minutes past reservation time for a table, then over an hour for the main course to arrive. Even in the bar, service was terrible; I ordered a glass of wine and a mixed drink simultaneously that were delivered a full ten minutes apart. And the food? Don't get me started. How is it possible to get bad corned beef and cabbage in an Irish restaurant? There are simply too many better places to go for dinner than this one. Don't waste your time or money here. There's a lot of great food within five minutes' drive.
(1)Tony P.
Stopped by here for dinner with some friends, before a concert event next door at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. The decor is comfy and reminds me of a classic pub. Dark woods and cozy tables. The food is pretty good. Nothing really outstanding. I had the leek soup and banger's and mash. The black and tan was a flowing steadily all dinner so I was pretty happy. I finished off the dinner with a pineapple parfait which was pretty good. Overall a good dining experience.
(3)Maren P.
I've been to the Irish Inn about 10 times, and it's always great - both in the pub and in the main restaurant. My family has also had private parties and celebrated various occasions at the Irish Inn. They are always very accommodating and very friendly and helpful. Additionally, the food is great with traditional Irish fare as well as nightly specials. They have a lot of information and a menu on their website: irishusa.com/irishinn If you're in the Bethesda/Potomac/Glen Echo area, this is a great place to go for a relaxing, enjoyable and delicious lunch, brunch or dinner as well as for a private party.
(5)Lisa R.
The food is very good, the atmosphere can't be beat, and although the service is at times spotty, it makes for a nice evening or lunch overall.
(4)Tim D.
hmmmm.....how to rate an institution...?? This is a place u go for AMBIENCE...not 4 food! The interior bar w/a live jazz band playing on a Sun. nite just can't be beat! The food is...um,- how do I put this graciously,- "underwhelming"... Having said that,- u really can't go wrong w/a Smithwick draft in a 16 oz. glass poured all the way to the rim (probably 20 oz. !!) for only $6 or so... If ur getting my drift,- ya'll need to ck this place out on a Sun. nite but grab a seat early @ the bar cuz it's SRO come 5:30- 6:00PM!!
(3)Ed R.
I've been to the Irish Inn on several occasions for Sunday brunch, dinner, or just a night out, and its it's always a great experience. It does get crowded (especially when a band is playing), but it's a fun and friendly crowd. The menu is limited but good. They have a good selection of beers on tap and Irish whiskey. If you're just in town for a few days or a local who hasn't been, check it out.
(5)Jen M.
My review may be a little biased considering one of the people I went with here is a regular and is friends with the owners. However, I get the impression that even if that were not the case the food and service would have been just as great. The restaurant is a gorgeous place next to Glen Echo Park. We enjoyed some beers on tap and a whole lot of their delicious dinner entrees. The Shepard's Pie of my colleague which I tried was tasty. The Shrimp and Grits I ordered was surprisingly good - shrimp, scallops, sausage and grits in a tomato-based sauce. Also tried the bread pudding, creme brulee, and this amazing warm chocolate cherry cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert and all of them were amazing! It seemed a bit overpriced to me, but worth it. And they also have a less expensive (but I'm told just as great) menu in the pub area that I'd like to come back and try one day.
(4)Lindsay D.
I love this place. It has a tavern with a full bar and a fine dining section. The staff is great; the owner is really nice. I have never had a bad meal or bad experience.
(5)Emily B.
All my family was impressed with the food. A bit pricey for everyday. Heavy,(stereo-?) typically Irish - beef stew, Shepard's pie, corned beef n cabbage. And DELICIOUS warm chocolate sour cherry cake for dessert. The "Banoffee parfait" was also good, I heard.
(4)Ben J.
Every time I would drive from NW DC to my girlfriend's house in NoVA I would pass this place and just wonder "What is this place?" and "Why is it here?" If you have been wondering the same thing, I only have one piece of advice - GO HERE. I decided to cave and go to the Irish Inn for my most recent birthday, sat in the restaurant side and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Everything was absolutely perfect. Ambience was pleasant - very nice, but also felt down home and welcoming. Very authentic. Servers were helpful and didn't look down on us even though we were slightly underdressed for the restaurant (I'm pretty sure I was wearing a baseball cap). This would not have been the case at most nicer restaurants in DC. Food was awesome. I had the Mahi Mahi special which was extremely good, but also very unexpected from a restaurant with a pub. And I ordered it with a pint of Guinness, which in my mind, makes the meal a perfect 10. My girlfriend had the salmon, which was also cooked well and very tasty. This last part is unique to my own experience but as an older couple was leaving the restaurant, they came over and gave us their unfinished bottle of very nice red wine (about half full). Must have been regular customers and it felt like they were welcoming us to their favorite local restaurant. That made the meal even more special for me! I'll certainly be back for more meals and may even try out the pub fare.
(5)Bethany W.
We have been here a few times and are always impressed with the serving staff and the menu. I love it here!! Sitting on the deck is great but, the furnishings in the dining rooms is pretty awesome too.
(5)Alan C.
I've been going to this place for a while now, usually before going to an event over at Glen Echo park. The pub is a great place to grab a drink before events, the servers are welcoming and the ambiance is great. They occasionally have live music thats very hit or miss, usually miss for my taste, but apparently people like it cause its usually packed those days. The rest of the restaurant is good as well. The food is delicious and the servers are very helpful making suggestions. The bread rolls are usually pretty good, but sometimes over toasted. The desserts are not always all listed on the menu, they've had some great off menu desserts in the past. Cons: - when the band is playing, you can't escape the noise, even if you're eating upstairs. - some of the customers are old and crotchety. They'll complain about anything. I've had friends cut off because they were having a boisterous discussion which the old people thought was because they were drunk. The management needs to realise that some of their older customers have nothing better to do than complain.
(4)Beth E.
We has reservations at the Irish inn on 6/30/12, the day after the really bad storms. We came from Frederick county but we heard that most of the area had lost power and so did the Irish inn. We called the restaurant twice today to find out if the restaurant was open. They said they would be open all day and were serving a full menu. They had a backup generator. We arrived at 6:00 and sat outside on the patio because there was no air conditioning. Despite the heat, the meal was fantastic and the serving and kitchen team did an amazing job working in the heat. They handled the electricity challenges exceptionally well. All very professional. The food was outstanding. We had a great time. Of course we will be back again.
(5)Kalynne H.
We didn't know it was a set price for St. Patty's at lunch so we were surprised. They did accommodate our kiddos. Its a great place to go after being at Glen Echo.
(4)Mary Beth C.
Cozy lunch spot near Great Falls. Looks like a restaurant out of the 60's or 70's (nothing cutting edge here, except for Open Table reservation.) Charming service.
(3)Veronique B.
I'm a huge fan mostly because of the atmosphere but now the food has caught up. between the paradise location and scene and the people, basically a complete win. Love it and if you get a table outside when it' nice, it's as enjoyable as getting one in the cozy dining room around Christmas time when it's all lit up. Beautiful, typical place. Prices are even reasonable! Do not miss!
(4)Deb k.
I love the setting and the service is generally OK, but the food can be spotty... the eggs benedict for breakfast had a non-bearnaise sauce that was interesting, but cold; the shepherd's pie is small and average, but when you want comfort food, it hits the spot. The potato and leek soup with the truffle oil is lovely. The $3.50 charge for a side fo bacon 92 pieces) or a single sausage seemed too high... But a charming pub and it's where I met my husband, so it'll always be special.
(3)Lo K.
If I average all of our experiences here, I'd have to give this place a 3-star rating. I've eaten here several times. First time was pretty good. Second time was for brunch and when I asked the waiter for gluten-free suggestions, he laughed in my face and told me nothing was GF. I was able to find something, he was just being difficult. Several years later, we hosted a sit-down dinner to celebrate our wedding (way after the fact) and considering the size of our party, the food was delicious. We had so many of our guests tell us that it was the best filet they'd ever had. Most recently, we went for their NYE set menu dinner. It started out okay but they switched servers on us right after ordering our main course and didn't tell us so we kind of just sat there wondering where our server had gone. The food was OK. The chef's creation amuse-bouche was a quarter of a piece of dry brown bread with a bit of cream cheese and a piece of smoked salmon, meh. We ordered the filet and the prime rib. The filet was great, the prime rib was so-so. The potatoes au gratin had blue cheese in them but it didn't say it on the menu when we ordered and if you can't eat or don't like blue cheese, well... We would of said something to our server if she had ever come back to our table after our food was served. I understand it was NYE and they were gearing up for a crowd but we were some of the first people there, it wasn't busy at all. For a $60 per/person set menu, I would have expected a little better.
(3)Janet G.
I had a very nice experience last night at the Irish Inn. My boyfriend and I were seated in a small front dining room, and a gentleman at the next table said upon our arrival, "you are going to have a very good dinner tonight". Such a nice endorsement from a fellow patron. We both had the mixed greens, and entrees were trout w/corn pudding, and sea bass w/heirloom tomato coulis and vegetables. Both were delicious, portions were ample, and food was plenty hot (seeing that other diners in the past had fretted about the food temperature, I thought I would mention ours was just fine). We also had very attentive (yet not intrusive) service. All in all, an A+ date night for two people who really needed a nice night out.
(5)Jenny O.
Ive been going to the Irish Inn for a very long time. We love that there is a nice place in the neighborhood that has a decent bar and fantastic outdoor seating. I have nothing but great things to say. I'd like to add a personal note. This past week our dog was in the hospital and we didn't feel much like cooking. We went to the bar to pick up carry out food and had a drink while we waited. While we were there, we got the very bad news that our dog basically had 24 hours to live. We were both crying heavily right there in the bar. Not exactly everyone's dream customer and not exactly what every dream customer wants to do. Not one but just about every staff member who passed by us asked us if we were ok. The bartender comped us our drinks and was genuinely sympathetic. None of them had to do that. None of them had to care. But it made all the difference. The Irish Inn will make you feel like family. They remember you when you return. Any place that hires staff/bartenders that are both compassionate and kind is a place I will frequent forever.
(5)Jewell S.
Today, I had reservations at 1:00 pm for 4 (they were made 1 month in advance). My mother who had not gone out in months (she is 82 with cancer and uses a walker). She dressed up and had gone to get a perm just for this dinner. When we arrived 15min prior to our reservations. They said we would have to wait. Which we understood since we were early, but then the owner came over and said, "the wait is an hour or more unless we wanted to eat in the bar or out on the patio area they just enclosed and turned on the heaters. I noticed they did have seating available (table for 4 open in the downstairs) but he was not very nice -- Of course I would not take my elderly mom to the Bar after she had planned on a nice dinner for St. Patrick Dinner. So we went out to the patio. We were the only ones dressed formally. My husband had on a jacket w/a tie, I had on a dress w/heels and my heels stuck in the flooring. The patio heating was awful. the heat beat down on us and we had to ask to have it turned off and then it was cold. They didn't bring bread until we asks. We have gone many times and I have never been treated so poorly. I will never return. I will tell as many people as possible! Plus, the leek soup they advertised on the website did not have truffle oil. The waitress said it was too expensive for the special. I could not believe the comment. As we sat there longer, I noticed they began to usher older couples in the patio. Another senior came in with a walker. Also another couple who were at least in their 80's were also escorted in the back corner table. I wonder do they want the older people out of sight? Bad business...the owner or manager was not a spring chicken!
(2)Tony S.
I wanted to like this just because the friend I was staying with seemed to like it. It had all the hallmarks of a great experience: Free Valet Parking Great interior Friendly waiter Made me feel like I was back home in the UK although Anyway I really fancied fish and chips, and stupidly I ordered them. It was pretty revolting, bland, damp and warm i.e. not hot. COnsidering the other 2 had cabbage and gammon and the other a cottage pie mine should have been the last to be cooked so it would be crisp. The fish was translucent i.e. not cooked and clearly from frozen, which I would expect but come on at least get the batter right. The batter was damp and not crispy at all. The fries were not hot but were not bad. I detest tepid food I mean really bad. 2 days later I went to Bethesda and had fish and chips in this massive empty restaurant with a big fire at lunch time which was brilliant so I know it can be done. The cabbage and gammon looked really nice and the cottage pie was a joke, portion size. It came in this ultra tiny copper saucepan, I mean teeny portion for the price. Cottage pie is not expensive to make so to charge $13 or $14 for a childs portion in a pub is really taking the piss. Anyway my partner enjoyed it but said I wouldn't have because it was tepid, he likes his food a bit cooler. But clearly they have an issue with serving hot food. Shame, its a nice place, great interior but average pub food and expensive drinks for a pub I would say.
(2)Joshua D.
I'll have to come back sometime and review the food. I went here with my boss and her husband who are regulars after work for some socializing. The place itself is VERY nice inside and out. We sat out on the deck, which was very well-kept and had cover overhead with ceiling fans. The location is convenient for folks who need somewhere that makes it easy to get back to Bethesda, D.C. or NoVa. The service left something to be desired. My boss waited probably 20 minutes or more on a refill for her Diet Coke. The server said that they had to change out the CO2 on the fountain machine, then came back later without a refill and said only one employee could do it and that he was on the phone. Here's an idea -- either train more than one employee to do such things, or get that guy off the phone! I want to go back here sometime when I'm eating and not just getting something to drink because it does seem like a pretty neat venue. WARNING: DO NOT bring large vehicles like trucks or tour buses into the parking lot! A tour bus turned in, and it is a VERY steep incline into the lot. The bus bottomed-out and was stuck there blocking the entrance for at least an hour. Not sure how they ever got it out.
(3)Robert B.
Been passing this place for years saying I need to eat there. I can now keep passing it having just satisfied my curiosity. Food is tasty, portions are far too small for the price. Greek salad is like a dinner salad for $11. Turkey burger is like a slider on a big bun for $14. Perhaps the pub is good. The fish and chips are tasty but still on the small side.
(1)Shannon S.
I just loved this place and will definitely be back. Myself, my mom, friend, and her mom went yesterday around noon. The ambiance is wonderful...just what we wanted in an Irish place. We've been looking for a great Irish Pub for awhile now. I had the Ruben with a side Caesar salad. It was great...the Thousand Island wasn't sweet which was perfect. We also shared the Calamari appetizer, very tasty. I had the Elderflower Martini. The Bloody Mary had a little too much Horseradish tang, but that would be my only complaint.
(5)Bridget G.
I went here after a hike at Great Falls and was starving. While the menu is a little bit on the expensive side, the food was great. It is probably the best Reuben I have had in my life! And the lamb burger was okay, but the bun was a little dry. All in all, I will definitely go here again, especially for the dreamy Reuben!
(4)Katherine W.
All soy free, and the food is consistently outstanding. Add in the peacefulness of the neighborhood, and it's become a regular date night out for my boyfriend and I.
(5)Rich H.
Summary based on 1 dinner: --food ok --atmosphere quite pleasant, actually --parking easy --friendly service Went here with a local and I'd be fine going again. It's one of those places where the company matters more than anything else.
(3)Gary M.
Visited after the the recent Folk Music Festival. Good food and brews. Fish and Chips were excellent if that's possible. Staff is attentive and personable. I look forward to going again.
(4)Rick D.
I've only been a semi-regular at the pub, where it's a great place to decompress after a long workday. Love the barkeeps there and they have a fave beer on tap - Killkenny - sort of an amber version of Guinness. Food has always been good too. Only complaint is it gets a bit crowded sometimes!
(4)Steve G.
Fish Tacos were great
(4)shiva s.
When the waiters and bartenders all have Irish accents you know you have scored landing on an authentic Irish pub. A gem in glen echo park with a fantastic beer selection on tap.
(4)Brian M.
Always fantastic! One of the only restaurants that never lets me down in terms of food and service. I have been here for dinner on the weekends and for business lunches during the week. Honestly, I don't typically think good food and Irish in the same thought. But this place is great and I have never been disappointed. I have started with the potato leek soup and the ceasar salad. Both were wonderful. And for entre I have has fish and chips, sliders, shrimp and grits, and lamb. All were wonderful. I especially like hanging out in the pub before hand. The place has a real nice pub!
(5)Susan C.
We've eaten here in its various incarnations. We most love eating out on the porch. It feels like being somewhere other than the city. The food last time we went was outstandingly good (fish and pasta). Service wasn't super fast but we were there for a slow paced experience. We're going back tonight to celebrate our 18th anniversary.
(5)Eleanor B.
Occasionally good food. Not the best service. Love the deck. Liked it better as Trav's and as Glen Echo Inn.
(3)Joseph F.
I went here with Cyrus N. for Mother's Day (his mom and my MIL) and I had high hopes when I first arrived. The restaurant itself was quite cute--it's located in an actual house and it feels quite quaint. Unfortunately, the food was a bit of a letdown. It's not that it was bad--it was quite good, actually--it's just that there was nothing really exceptional or outstanding about it. Everything was just sorta...middle of the road, I suppose. Maybe I should have ordered another main course besides fish and chips, but my wife's shepherd's pie wasn't that great either. It wasn't awful by any means, and the portion sizes were very generous, but it wasn't an experience that left me genuinely sad when the food was gone and eager for my next visit. One drawback of the unique setting was that everything seemed a bit cramped. The waiter bumped into me several times while serving other folks; I got tired of this and tucked my chair in to the point where I was uncomfortable, but at least I didn't leave with black-and-blue marks on my head. Also, the cramped foyer leaves those waiting for their cars at risk of being hit by an opening door. I give five stars to places to which I would return in a heartbeat and four stars to places that were great but had a few negative aspects to them. Places at which the food was decent but not outstanding get three stars...so the Irish Inn gets three stars. I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to eat here and enjoyed what I had to eat, but this place is sub-par in comparison to the other outstanding places in the DC metro area like That's Amore, Shanghai Cafe, Guapo's, and others....
(3)Catherine K.
I have eaten here twice, once with a weird pseudo-date and once with a group of friends. I don't remember much of the food except that it was affordable (for a Night Out --not for Every Day) very good and that we sat outside in the summer evening, which was lovely. What I do remember clearly is the Best Dessert Of My Life. It was a chocolate cake with warm chocolate-cherry goodness inside and Guiness ice cream on top. I have had a lot of dessert in my day, in a lot of countries, and I cannot think of a single dessert I have enjoyed as much as this one. It was, unfortunately, the dessert o'the day, so who knows if they still occassionally serve it...if they do, buy it and savor it. 4 stars for good food, a pleasant location, and mostly, that one unforgettable dessert experience. Minus one because the entrees were good but not superb, it's not metro-accessible, and both times, there have been problems getting the bill straightened out.
(4)Robin R.
The food here is great and plentiful. We always enjoy it. We were seated in a small room upstairs with a bunch of drunk and loud people at a table who I'm certain needed hearing aids since they were yelling instead of just talking. We needed to move to a different room in order to have a conversation. The staff were great and moved us as soon as another table became available. We would have left otherwise.
(4)Tom D.
The food here was mediocre despite a menu that had some creativity even though it looked as if the chef wanted to incorporate a dish from every region of the world on one menu. I had a portobello tart that was some mushroom slices, goat cheese and onion piled on a square of puff pastry. For 20 bucks...I should have had some home made tart crust not this lazy excuse for a tart. The soup was ho hum. The peach salad was good but over dressed and the mozzarella was parsimonious. The dessert saved the meal. The homemade peach, Guiness, and vanilla ice creams were great and the bread pudding was wonderful. The peach ice cream was worth going back just for. The crowd was all over 65 and the waiter was overly friendly before and during the meal, offered us coffee after dessert, and disappeared after dropping the check. I mean disappeared....the check sat with the credit card in it for over 20 minutes!!! We had to ask another waiter to run the card, and even then, I didn't see him anywhere either in the dining room or the bar. Overall, I'd be happy never to return.
(1)Mary S.
This review is for the restaurant. There is a pub attached with less formal and less expensive fare. The food here was very good. My husband had the Fillet Mignon with a whiskey sauce and enjoyed it immensely. I had the Potato Leek Soup and the house salad with an "Irish" Vinaigrette dressing. The server told me the dressing had 7 different mustards in it when I raved about how delicious it was. We split the Warm Chocolate and Sour Cherry Cake with Guinness Ice Cream for dessert (Sounds odd, but is too die for). The only problem was that the server mistakenly put the 6 desserts from the table next to us on our bill (No wonder those people were tripping all over each other to leave after paying). The error was fixed quickly and politely.
(4)Phil M.
Overpriced and dirty food. A really bad combination. Oh and the waitress sent to tell me that the vegetables were "naturally gritty" in texture. Would have laughed if I hadnt been so offended to be told that the bad food was MY FAULT. WOW!
(1)Sanda C.
Great atmosphere, however food is overpriced. Had the bangers and mash for $19 in the bar area --- that's 3 sausages, mashed potatoes, and peas for nearly $20-- what's the Gaelic word for overpriced??
(2)Mic X.
there is an irish inn at glen echo i know cause the name says so and if in a pinch whilst looking for kinch you will find a pub, but a bed - no the pub is irish mostly in name but the pour of the stout tis same as they do in Erin or as best as Mclaren could manage Rotten's surly fame now the fish and chips are quite crisp and the waiters talk friendly - nary a lisp but something's missing when the last bite i'm finishing and my stomach feels as full as a bloody cyst now authentic is word a tossed out - quiet often and this place is nice, despite what it's lackin' so go for a pint but don't expect sight of the ghost of O'leary who is safely in his coffin
(3)Don L.
Ambience was nice but the food was disappointing. My dining partner and I both found fault with our dishes. She had already warned me to stay away from the fish and chips (bad experience) but assured me that all the other dishes were very good. She ordered the Reuben, I ordered the scallop salad. The Reuben had way too little in the way of dressing or sauerkraut. My salad had way too much dressing. Every leaf was drenched. In retrospect, we should have sent both dishes back but because our conversation was so absorbing we didn't start complaining to each other about the food until we had eaten too much to send back. It's too bad because the restaurant did some things right. The corned beef was moist and delicate. The rye bread was excellent. I would like to say my salad was otherwise good but it should've been larger for a $16 brunch entree. Atmosphere and service was nice except they gave us 3 scones for 2 people. All in all, we were disappointed.
(2)Chris C.
2.5 stars. GF and I have been looking to find an authentic Irish breakfast for awhile now, and through some Yelp searches, the Inn came up. Given that I've driven past this joint many times over the years but was never interested in ever going, I was somewhat looking forward to finally experiencing it. We first went for a weekday lunch, and it's a fairly hectic place - given its primo location - and the lunch was good. I had good roasted tomato soup and decent fish 'n chips entree. The fish was good, the batter was crisp... but what's up with the crazy saltiness of the batter? I felt the veins in my arms straining... so, the following Saturday, made reservations for a wknd brunch to try the Irish b'fast... crazy contrast to the fish 'n chips, sleep-inducing, geriatric blandness! My gf, who is Irish, thought it barely decent, and I thought it okay, but was definitely expecting more unique flavors. Speaking of geriatric blandness, this place is THE spot for the elderly in the area, and the place is packed with wacky, random valet parking activity and slow-movers over the wknds. The place feels like a place which should oooze charm naturally, but the feel is decidedly contrived - no knocks to the great location though. Overall, not so bad, but I'm not ready to 'slow' down this much yet... give me another couple decades.
(3)Doug B.
Please tell Billy and Evan that General Burdeshaw is a retired Army Brigadier General. To correctly address him now would be to say William B. Burdeshaw, BGen, USA (Ret). Remember what I said about Brigadiers! My guess is he is an impressive man. BTW, Nathan Coons used to make me "Doug's" fish and chips - a low fat and excellent alternative to the fatty fried fish and french fries. Ross and Steve both know how to do this; the servers might not know what it is. Challenge them!
(4)James B.
We love the ambience, the atmosphere, and the decor. Those are all good things. The food is ... generally good. I personally tend to stay with the Irish pub grub, like fish and chips, or the beef stew and they have been very good. The scones are amazing! Some of the more ambitious dishes have not worked quite so well. My wife tends to try those and ... they're typically decent, but nothing special. Take a walk around Glen Echo park when you're done here, though, there's the Spanish Ballroom and a carousel and other interesting sights.
(4)Susan F.
Surprise was the word for my experience at the Irish Inn at Glenn Echo. I expected typical Irish pub grub. What I got was interesting and inventive dining. Salmon with a pumpkin salad accented with pumpkin seeds and acorn squash. A portabella tart topped off with goat cheese and a lovely salad on the side. Oh, and the bangers and mash. Delicioso. Home-made ice cream and a molten chocolate sour cherry cake. Wow. Add to this an incredibly beautiful and idyllic setting, and unbelievable service and you've got an escape from DC that ain't too far away. This was one of the more relaxing, tasty and charming evenings I've spent in a long while.
(4)Mark P.
A nice place to meet friends and I'd do it more often if it weren't a bit pricey. But you can always meet your friends over a Guiness in the bar. Also valet parking only - I can't look valets in the eye after they experience my ancient clunker. You can park free in nearby Glen Echo park and have a nice stroll to wake up your appetite. I agree with other reviewers: food is good but not as good as it should be for the price. Sometimes very noisy and crowded.
(3)Nadia C.
I was taken here for an engagement luncheon with my fiance's family. It was LOVELY! We had a private room upstairs in the quaint and adorable Inn. The meal started off with a nice Irish lad introuducing himself and bring our beverages and fresh made scones. ALl of us ladies ordered something different and each one of us enjoyed our meal. I had the beef stew (something I have never ordered anywhere in my entire life), it was excellent! This place is highly recommended, take your time, enjoy your meal and listen closey to your server, most are straight from Ireland and have an awesome accent!
(5)Helen H.
We had a surprise party for my husband at the Irish Inn. Everything was great. I worked with the manager prior to the party (a Sunday brunch). He made the party planning very easy and everything went off flawlessly. We selected three appetizers and four entrees. The party was for 19 people so we had a private room upstairs that allowed us to mingle and enjoy the company of friends and family. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. I highly recommend the Irish Inn for a party.
(4)Susie Q.
This Irish Inn is located next to Glen Echo Park and in close proximity to the Potomac, MD "scene." If you can overcome the middle-upper income pretenses of this Washington suburban crowd, then you can enjoy the pastoral, colonial-era loveliness of the somewhat overpriced pub/restaurant. Someone told me it used to be a brothel - i guess it has been there since the 1930s. Anyhow, I had the Shepard's Pie which came in a little copper pan topped with a large swirl of mashed potatoes. Beneath the potatoes was ground beef mixed with onions and peas. What can I say about Irish meat and potatoes? There is no great culinary skill involved but it was good, satisfying comfort food. It also came with a salad that was glazed with a light house dressing. The real draw of this place is the beauty of the nature that surrounds it - it is a nice, pleasant place to go to get away from the city as long as you're not too bothered by the polo-wearing status-seekers.
(3)Will O.
Drove by and it caught our eye. We stopped, were seated promptly, and the service was prompt and friendly. Fish tacos were tasty. Not traditional, but very good. The fish sandwich was ok, but the curry coke slaw didn't really compliment the fish. Scraped it off - it made the bun soggy. The sandwich was good - maybe ask for the slaw on the side. Nice outdoor seating and a comfortable location.
(4)Erica W.
Cute place. Attentive staff. Family-friendly. Decent selection of wine if you don't drink beer. Haven't tried the food, but will go back sometime to try some based on the reviews.
(4)Phil B.
Good food and good beer. I liked their IPA on tap best (not Irish, I know), followed by Guinness Stout. Service was friendly and prompt. Not too many options for vegans.
(5)Curtis H.
Wow, great meal! The wife and I took my parents to this place to give my dad a taste of what "good" Irish food should taste like. The Irish Inn knocked it out of the park, the Shepherds Pie and Irish Beef stew were "the best we ever had" according to my parents. As for my wife and I, we were equally as happy, but we are use too the likes of this place because we frequently drive back to Glen Echo to get our Irish food fix.
(5)Angela L.
Before my first night of blues dancing at Glen Echo, I stopped by the Irish Inn with a group of people in order to loosen up before the dancing commenced. When we got there around 8pm on Thursday, it was fairly crowded because (I'm told) a group meets there for drinks every Thursday. They eventually thinned out around 8:30 or so. I got a few beers and wasn't sure if I should eat something small for dinner but then saw the chili on the menu and gave in. The chili is "texas-style" (I'm still not exactly sure what that means), and uses stew meat rather than regular ground beef. I thought it was pretty tasty, and the cup for $8 was especially filling. My only small complaint is that it didn't seem very hot. After i mixed the sour cream in, it was almost lukewarm. But the flavor was perfect, and had a bit of peppery zest. Next time I come here, I'll try to work up an appetite so that I can try the mussels. My friend who raves about them ordered a bowl and they looked delicious. Also, Diane is the best!
(4)Carl W.
Nice place. Classier than I am used to, but not off-putting. Great ambiance, but you can't eat that. I had fish and chips and it was all just fine. Thin-cut fries, as God intended. I asked the waiter for extra tartar sauce and he brought it without having to be reminded, so this place is already one step ahead of most other places. I would consider going again.
(4)Anastasia P.
I second Ron W., although he is wrong about one thing: Glen Echo is not a "ghost town". The Irish Inn has the distinction of being the only restaurant within walking distance of the historic park's ballroom (which enjoys significant patronage each week due to all the dances being held there). The Irish Inn is the only place to go if you, for example, wanted to drink away the jitters before stepping out on the dance floor with a thousand other sweaty human beings. That being said, this is a privilege that the restaurant does not deserve. Neither the drinks nor the food are cheap, though the latter is so poorly executed that it is nearly a joke. The service was atrocious. I showed up about 10 minutes before the rest of my party. I was sat anyways, and the waiter walked by and said "how are you doing", and clearly did not care to hear the response as he walked right on by to a neighboring table. I would've like a glass of wine to drink while I waited...no such luck. Once my party got there, we finally got water and about 15 minutes later (after multiple "I'll be right with you"s from our waiter), we got some service. To be fair, the guy was swamped; his section was the small backroom and he had maybe 7-8 tables of differing sizes who all needed his attention. He got my order wrong and brought me a caprese salad (asked for the "tomato and mozzerella flatbread"). He apologized, took it away, then thoughfully brought it back "on the house" for me to enjoy, as the rest of my party was digging into their meal, and, well, flatbread takes more than just a minute to cook (unless they microwaved it...which they might've). Thanks, but no thanks. The caprese salad consolation prize was a little offbeat, with watermelon and cucumber in lieu of the traditional tomatoes to complement the shiny, chewy, flavorless rounds of mozzerella on the plate. The whole thing was drenched in some kind of foul, semisweet vinaigrette (green in color), and sprinkled with mint. It was like a schoolboy put it together at a picnic in a lame attempt to impress a cute girl. No nuance, just gimmick, total yuck. I gave it to the rest of the table to eat. My advice: stick with the original, get better mozzarella. That dish is really hard to screw up, but they managed. Finally, my flatbread comes out. The "tomato compote"? Marinara sauce. It was tomato compote in the way that a milky way bar is nougat pate with a chocolate ganache (tip: call a spade a spade). More of the awful chewy flavorless mozzarella. I ate half and was uninspired to eat the rest. The restaurant seems to do well with the older sect. Besides our table, there was not a single group that had anyone who appeared to be sub-50. As a result, it was reminiscent of the supper clubs that grandparents take us out to to show off their families; mediocre food, dark, dated surroundings. So it is my impression that the Irish Inn lives on by the grace of its location and familiarity among the people who live in the area. I'll be going there to get a drink before dances and nothing else, if I can help it.
(2)Patrick N.
Had the Prime Rib. Service was excellent, accommodating of dietary restrictions, and food was prepared as ordered. The brown bread and butter is also a hard to find treat. The bar area is exactly what you would expect to find in Ireland. They run a first class operation!
(5)ron w.
The Irish Inn at Glen Echo...co...co...co. Take a pass...ass...ass...ass. This relic should be relegated to the Ghost Town that once was the draw to the area; The Glen Echo Amusement Park, now deserted and closed. The Inn should share the same fate or make an attempt to re-invent itself. There is a nice outside patio set in rustic surroundings and inside there is a rat's warren of tired rooms with a vibe from shabby clubby to employees lounge in a mortuary. I needed a drink after making the trip from Rockville. After having one, I still needed one. A watered down Whiskey Sour (with a mix, I suspect) and a squishy Maraschino cherry instead of a luxurious Luxardo. (Bring a flask from home.) I ordered the Mediterranean Platter. Okay, my bad to order mezze in an Irish Pub. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Direct from the Kirkland Brand purveyors they served jarred pickled vegetables, Sabra Hummus (hopefully not the one recalled due to Listeria), a few olives, some sleepy Pita, something called Pesto Pita (right from the package) and Japanese Eggplant bathed in a heavy batter, fried, and topped with store bought salsa cold and soggy as a Golden Retriever puppy that fell in the pool. The basket of bread arrived long after the mezze. Well, actually it arrived two days before and had been sitting on the counter ever since. The doughy White Bread and the faintly molasses laced Soda Bread were as cold as the eggplant. Leave them both, you don't need the empty calories and if you must have something with your mezze or cocktail, just eat the butter. The menu was large. Fine. Choose wisely would be my caveat. The Rueben was as thin as Mom's after school grilled cheese if you were underprivileged. The Corned Beef, what little showed up was acceptable, but the Swiss Cheese was a dried lattice work of something long out of the Salamander and probably the Sell By Date. The few threads of store bought Sauerkraut were barely there and the Russian dressing had defected. Three types of mustard in jars appeared 15 minutes after we'd been served sandwiches. Irish Whole Grain with Stout, Whole Grain with Irish Whiskey, and Strong Irish (whatever that was). All pretty good, but who knows who's snot nosed Grandkid tasted each one with a wet finger? Just sayin'. Maybe put the mustard in little ceramic cups? The Irish Burger featuring Irish Cheddar Cheese bordered on inedible. A skinny dry patty (maybe the recipe was handed down from the famine years) on yes, a purchased bun, with a limp Romaine leaf, a mushy tomato one step from a Waste King and maybe the chef dragged a thin slice of cheese over the mess before service. Maybe. Dessert: A tasteless, flourless, room temperature disk of chocolate with Costco Dried Morency Cherries. (Hey, Chef, cherries are in season. How about something fresh?) along with a melon ball of Vanilla Ice Cream. Suitable only for a sales meeting at the Holiday Inn Express or a base line Bar Mitzvah at the Veteran's Hall. The chef must have come from a Mine Sweeper, a Minimum Security Prison or an Assisted Living Facility as the food was your basic industrial fare. The staff, in all fairness was friendly, and helpful. Although, if we'd complained we'd still be there. If it's a choice between The Irish Inn at Glen Echo or frozen Ledo's Pizza from last week? I vote you break out the hair dryer and start defrosting.
(2)Ashley S.
Service was great!! And the place is really adorable and cozy. Food is kind of pricey but great appetizers and Irish entrees. I really recommend the shepherd's pie, smoked salmon appetizer, fish and chips, crab cake entree, and the flat iron steak! The Bloody Mary was DELISH and I loved the free bread.
(5)J. Curtis G.
My ethics were severely compromised upon eating at The Irish Inn. The five choices on their "children's menu" were all $11.95!!! I mean, the food was pretty good, but it wasn't good enough to justify the cost. Go somewhere else unless you've already shelled out $3.7 million for your house in Glen Echo. The cherry on top was that we were charged an extra $3 for a small plate of bread, and I was billed $2 more for my entree than it was listed at on the menu! They have a nice selection of Irish and Scotch whiskies and a small selection of beers. However, no self-respecting Irishman would pay $7 for a pint of Guinness. The meal was decent, but way way way overpriced. I expect to be nourished at lunch without having my financial and philosophical ethics compromised. It may look cozy, but you should go elsewhere.
(2)Vincent M.
The food is good (although a little pricey), and the servers are very hard working. However, the managers seem very condescending and thoughtless with their employees and customers. I got the impression that they really didn't care about their customers that much. I heard some of the managers insulting them behind their backs. It made me really uncomfortable to be there, and I was constantly wondering if they were insulting me too. It's not just about the quality of the food, it's also about the experience. I felt like I was under pressure the entire time. Give it a shot I guess, but be aware that they're running a business. They're not your friends.
(2)Norman G.
Depending on whether you choose the bar or the restaurant or the outdoor seating, the experience is very different. The bar is about beer (mainly), Irish music (at times) and traditional Irish food, though I believe anything on the menu is available. The bar is often jammed and noisy but you may also find it empty. The restaurant serves quality food and a reservation is advisable. The patio is relaxed and is a great spot overlooking Glen Echo when the weather is good. If you like black-and-tan, which should ONLY be ordered in an Irish bar, the Irish Inn does it right. I often order the lamb chops at dinner and the ala carte brunch menu has considerable variety. I've been here for lunch, brunch, dinner and happy hour--and the experience is different for each. I'm not big on the music evenings. Too noisy and too crowded for me.
(4)Brad T.
A nice Irish pub with a varied selection on the menu. beer was cold and the food great. Prices a little step, but not really for this area. I've eaten there twice and enjoyed it each time. Great service and very clean.
(4)Anna Laura B.
Had an excellent meal here over the Christmas season. It was decorated so nicely for the holidays and was very homey. Our little group of six had an entire cozy private room to ourselves for dinner! The beef stew and potato leek soup were delicious and their bread pudding dessert was outstanding. The Irish aren't exactly known for their food in general but this place could change that! Excellent service as well.
(5)Beth P.
This place has a great brunch and a dessert menu that beckoned us to return back after our afternoon adventures in Turkey Run park! I would recommend the quiche of the day; it's a generous portion of an egg and vegetable mixture du jour in a buttery crust, and it comes with a really good, lightly dressed salad. My husband tried the braised short rib and smoked gouda sandwich, which was very tasty. They also had really excellent coffee! I dinged them one star because only one server was assigned to the bar area, so we were lacking for coffee refills at times, which is a bummer. I also didn't get to ask for Tabasco (which they don't have) until I was halfway through brunch. Overall, though, it's a great place! Our 2 breakfasts and coffees ran us $35, which I think is pretty standard around here. We'll go back here again for sure!
(4)Ivy T.
A lovely cozy nook to stop into after a day of hiking up and down the C&O Canal. I can't comment on the menu, because I only had a couple of pints, but those pints were most refreshing at the killer price of $5 a pop!
(4)Erin T.
I adore this place. Been going for years, and always look forward to the next opportunity to do so. The reuben is amazing, as is the calamari, the fries, the shepard's pie, I could go on and on! The service is reliable and everyone does their job with a smile, even when the place is packed to the gills!
(5)Kelly M.
Quaint ambiance, great service upstairs, meal extremely disappointing and overpriced! Three small pieces of fish and handful of fries for $18, ridiculous! Ordered our granddaughter 2 plain pancakes - no eggs, no meat - they were very small and falling apart, yet we paid $8 for maybe .50 worth of ingredients! Only way we would come back is if the menu had a complete overhaul.
(2)Charis N.
We came here for lunch the second day of my visit to DC. The place is dark and woodsy but with windowed-natural light too. The cuisine is definitely authentic Irish and any Irishman or Irishwoman would appreciate it! We came at an odd time in the afternoon, so it wasn't very busy. Server was nice but she was a bit slow on returning to take our orders - maybe shift change or something. Anyway, even though the food is a bit heavy for my usual dining-out experience, it was certainly well prepared and delish! And don;t get me started on the Bloody Marys they make! OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Truly made from scratch, or at least tasted like it! Great family place too by the seating options even though we sat at table in the Bar area. If you're in this beautiful woodsy part of nation near the Potomac River, and enjoy true Irish cuisine, make a point to stop here. And if you're not driving, absolutely have a Bloody Mary...or 3!!!
(4)Elliott E.
Stopped here on a whim after hiking Great Falls. Was seated immediately, had a nice spot on the outside patio and took in a nice day. Got the classic Guinness, which was fairly priced, and the Ruben. The corned beef was fantastic, great flavor. The bread was thick, but let the corned beef shine. I'd recommend asking for extra Thousand Island if you order this. I would recommend!
(4)Paul M.
Bumping this up another star because of a very pleasant recent visit - i have not been there for ages , but i did not fancy trying to find parking in Bethesda....three big improvements: 1. they now sell Guinness is 20oz pints. 2. they now serve Guinness in a glass with the Guinness logo 3. Menu much improved - great value soup and sandwich combo I like it and, with the imminent death of Ri Ra Bethesda upon us, I will be back.
(4)Hampton C.
A tale of two motifs, the Irish Inn should be able to cover whichever mood strikes. On the dining room side you'll find an intimate and very quiet area adorned with small paintings from the Emerald Isle. The fair is classic Irish as you'd expect. On the bar side you'll find a livelier and authentic feel of a country Irish watering hole. The brunch is quite good and no one will think twice if you order a Guinness at 11AM. Note that, as you'd expect, you can only reserve seating in the dining room area so come early if you want to grab bar seating!
(4)Erin B.
We stopped in for Sunday Brunch after a bike ride and had a great experience. We made a reservation for 4 (recommend if you want to sit outside); the outdoor seating fills up quickly (right after they open at 11) since they have a great deck. The location off of MacArthur is extremely bike friendly and they have a decent parking lot if you drive. The service was impeccable - friendly, timely and consistently asked how we enjoyed the meal. The food was great as well - great price points, healthy portions, and authentic Irish menu items. They have a great assortment of healthy options as well if you are stopping in after/during a bike ride: homemade granola, fruit, yogurt, house-cured salmon, etc. All in all, a great experience. We'll definitely be back to try lunch and recommend to our friends in the area.
(5)Jon L.
A rather disappointing first experience. I made reservations two days before hand for Friday lunch....@ 1130a and I specfically requsted the patio. When we arrived, there was virtually no one else there. We were told the patio was closed. We were seated in the main dining room, a nice quiet two top in the corner. It turned out it's restaurant week so they had some nice specials...several entrees that two could spit for $15. We each opted for the Special which was a garden salad with pecans, feta cheese and four very tasty grilled shrimp. Our serve was attentative but as it became busier...she became less so. Pretty soon, we didn't see her but had to ask one of the water servers for coffee. When we got the coffee, the cream was bad...so we waited...and waited. still no server. Finally the same water server came by and after flagging him down, finally got another cup of coffee. It was barely warm...so not a good ending to what started out as a promising first time lunch. I probably won't go back until it cool's off enough to sit out on the patio.
(3)Donald P.
Honestly, I think I'd give this place a 2.5 stars due to slow service and insane traffic around this area, but came here with the team after a well-deserved, hard-earned, after-event, happy hour. We came here on a Friday evening and the traffic at the intersection near here is absolutely mind-blowingly idiotic! So anyway we came here to chill and relax after coordinating a large 300+ conference with a relatively small team. Nice cozy feel and just take note not to order a Miller Lite at an IRISH Inn like I almost did. Also don't order a Black and Tan. The Irish don't like that.
(3)j b.
I spent more than usual for a weekday lunch, but it was so worth it. the fish and chips was maybe the best I have ever had. I splurged on dessert and had the bread pudding....it was awesome!
(5)Pat S.
I love this little neighborhood restaurant! I go there often at all times of the year. In the summer I like to sit outside on the deck and enjoy the weather. Other times I enjoy the quiet tables indoors. On thing that's especially fun is the jazz group they have every Sunday evening in the bar. If you're going to do this, be sure to come early enough to get a seat. It's become too popular!
(5)Al A.
Terrible service. We waited 35mins to order food. To make matters worst, I had to twice signal our readiness to order. TWICE! Train your staff or fire them for incompetency. Our food took another 30mins to get to our table. This is inexcusable as it is pub food (fish and chips, burgers, etc). The food is expensive for the quality and quantity. The fish and chips were just haphazardly thrown on the plate, and they were no better than frozen fish sticks.
(1)Monica G.
We live near here and go all the time. Lunch with kids or mother in law, night out, it's a real treasure in the neighborhood. Overpriced, but I have not had any service issues in 6+ visits. Can't wait for mother's day brunch!
(4)Libby F.
We celebrated my friend's landmark birthday here last night after work. Aside from the bees on the patio, the casual, laid-back atmosphere is pretty alluring. This place can be a bit pricey with no happy hour specials. $9 for a chardonnay and $6.50 for a Boddingtons or Smithwick draft. The pub fare is good grub. The calamari rings are saved by the light and crisp batter and the tasty chili remoulade sauce that accompanies it. My favorite dish is their Mediterranean platter. For $14 you get fried pita chips accompanied by three dips: hummus, feta spread and a really good black olive tapenade. My fellow diners also shared plates of hamburgers and fried ham and cheese sandwiches. No complaints all round. Even though prices are high, the Irish Inn deserves praise for the authentic atmosphere of their pub... just like in Ireland since they banned smoking in pubs there. Free valet parking is nice, except when your whole party leaves at once and the valet gets a bit overwhelmed.
(3)Jane K.
I've frequented the Irish Inn at Glen Echo and have always enjoyed the food and service. On 11/8, my husband and I bailed on our commute (which was terrible) and stopped by the Irish Inn, hoping to salvage the day. Thankfully, we were seated without delay! Our waiter, Francois was fabulous. His impeccable manners, friendly demeanor and subtle French accent helped settle our nerves as we ordered another sumptuous Irish Inn meal. The grouper was deliciously prepared and my husband ate every bit of it. My ribeye steak was prepared perfectly and I was so glad they put creamed spinach back on their menu as an available side dish. Definitely order the Guinness onion rings and even though you're stuffed, order dessert. The warm chocolate sour cherry cake is not to be missed.
(4)Michael B.
This place is awesome! I stopped in here after paddling on the Potomac one day and was delightfully surprised. I got a cup of cream of crab soup (not Irish, I know). It was delicious! I then had a Reuben which was also FANTASTIC! We ate in the bar but the table still had a tablecloth and full sets of silverware as well as butter plates, saucers with coffee cups, etc. Our server was Irish (judging from his accent) and was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was super attentive but not annoying and was incredibly polite. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area!
(4)Ellen K.
This is just a lovely place to have a quiet lunch or dinner. The food is good, with plenty of fresh, interesting vegetables. The staff are accommodating and the service is excellent.
(4)Lander P.
Really enjoy this restaurant. The problem with most Irish pubs in DC is that they focus more on drinks than food. A lot of care out into the food. This is more along the lines of a typical pub/restaurant that you would find smaller towns or suburbs in Ireland. I have only been here for lunch so I'm not sure how it is at night.
(5)Elizabeth B.
This restaurant is so picturesque that it's easy to think (as we always had) that it probably wasn't that good and possibly might even be a tourist trap. But it was great! We sat outside on a beautiful evening, had great service (from a bona fide Irish lady) and good food. Everything was A-OK and we'll surely be back.
(4)Bonnie W.
We hadn't been in a while, so stopped in for a Sat. lunch. Unfortunately, a large private party had just arrived, so it took more than a few minutes to seat us outside on the nice deck, which is covered & has fans now. Lovely Irish server. DH had amazing Reuben with real corned beef and I had the quiche and salad, very good. Both $13, not cheap, but generous and of excellent quality. I note they have official Happy Hours M-F 4-6:30 which explains why it is packed during rush hour. Great place to meet people from around area with free valet parking (do tip!) Drafts $5, Miller Lite $3, food specials, including $4 slider and $5 fish taco. Will have to get there early!
(4)Nora J.
The best thing about hiking on the C & O Canal trails up this way is stopping at Irish Inn for a beer on your way back home. It's just a sweet little place, both inside and out. The food is decent, though I've had better reubens. It's just worth it for the little respite in the middle of nowhere.
(4)Jessica M.
While back in Maryland visiting, I was reminded of how much I love the Irish Inn. The thing is, you have the best of both worlds. Want a nice, romantic dinner? Go to the dining room, the food is delicious and it's beautiful. Want to grab a few drinks and chat with strangers? Go to the bar. It's big. And wooden. And obviously Irish. You might run into a person with an accent, actually, you're almost guaranteed. And who doesn't love accents? Plus, they have a PATIO. I'm an outdoorsy girl... as in, I like getting drunk off of mimosas on patios. My favorite thing on the menu is the Tuna BLT, not gonna lie. I know, it's an Irish place, tuna? bacon? Do it. You'll be eating and be like "man, that girl from yelp was RIGHT!" Now that I live in a city where Irish bars/restaurants are severely lacking, take it from me, appreciate what you have! Or you know, maybe the Irish Inn will read this and just relocate to Austin...
(5)Trevor M.
Update: Yeeaahhh! Bloody Mary and brunch. What more do you need? Cozy up to the pub area and head to the bar...get a cup of coffee, splash that on your face and then ask for a bloody mary with the peppar vodka. If you're not awake yet...then you're not ready to live. The Irish breakfast is a staple of irish working person's breakfast. It was everything that you needed to get started with your day. Eggs, bangers, Irish bacon, blood pudding, toast, tomato and beans. When God rested on the 7th day I believe he had an Irish breakfast. The bangers, bacon and puddings are from ireland so the flavors are all there. This is how you want to wake up. Ask for the scones with fresh whipped cream. The benedict here is a treat. The perfectly poached eggs and baby ham is succulent, but instead of the hollandaise sauce the parsley sauce makes it light and and vibrant. it's adds such a great creaminess to the eggs. You've got to try this. The bloody mary here really is good. They make their own batch fresh every Sunday and really, I mean really is fantastic. Describing it would be feat of magic in of itself....you've just got to try it, fall in love with it and wish that you could just have this every morning before you go to work, at work, during mid-morning break and even have it so you don't get that 2:30 feeling. Apart from Brinner (Breakfast for dinner)...Brunch has to be the perfect meal, now when you add the touch of the Irish (because any other touching is probably illegal and will land you in jail) you know that you're going to have a great meal, but when you have it here it's as close to kissing a leprechaun in the emerald isles as you can get. And here there is a a pot of gold.
(4)Matt W.
Excellent shephard's pie, and great place to stop after a hike at Great Falls for a beer and some food.
(4)Christopher M.
I have been coming here for years. The menu is limited compared to some similar restaurants, but what they do, they do very well. The staff rarely turns over, so you can expect to see a familiar face As for the ambiance, you are not going to find anything like it in Bethesda. It's at it's best on warn summer afternoon. Wait for the patio. You can be casual, or dress formal. Doesn't matter. You'll blend right in.
(4)Maureen K.
We enjoyed the prix fixe menu on New Years' Eve and were amazed that they managed to turn out good food, attractively plated and served, on such a busy evening. Although we are of the "old crotchety" age that a previous reviewer complained about, we found the noise level very acceptable, and the small rooms upstairs allow one to be quiet and even moderately private if that's your choice. We were, however, not impressed with the much-touted home-made ice cream -- it tasted like they were skimping on the calories. We live fairly close so will definitely go back, probably for lunch, and hope to find their regular menu with more directly Irish-type cuisine.
(4)