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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: mankie on October 13, 2003, 09:52:00 am

Title: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: mankie on October 13, 2003, 09:52:00 am
There's a new Irish bar opened in Bethesda on Elm Street....(resists temptation to make cheesie nightmare comment)....it's called "The Irish Bar" I think. My wife and her sister went on Saturday night and said it's great. It also has a restaurant attached to it. Just thought I'd let you all know that there may finally be a decent boozer in yuppieville. Even better, there's not wall to wall telly's, just one, so they're trying to avoid it becoming just another sports bar.
 
 P.S.....the owner told my missus not to order the curry and chips yet because they're shite and still trying to get the curry just right. How's that for honesty?
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: markie on October 13, 2003, 10:12:00 am
really it's called .........the irish bar........... wow i bet they thought ages about that........
 
 and anyway who wants to go to a place with shite curry?
 unless mankies gonna buy my missus a beer.......................................heheheheh  :p
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: Bags on October 13, 2003, 10:19:00 am
It's called Ri-Ra, and I'm shocked it's open -- it looked like they were still mid-construction last week!  I had dinner at Green Papaya last Tuesday, and it's directly across the street.  My fingers are crossed for you that it stays decent and doesn't fall into suburban Irish Bar hell.
 
 Apparently Ri-Ra is a chain, here's info from the Washington Post:
 
 "As for Ri-Ra, well, it's a chain, with branches in Portland, Raleigh and Atlantic City, among others. I'm sure it's nice and all, but it's a chain Irish Pub. I haven't been yet, but I heard it will open this weekend or next. (It's in Bethesda, on Elm Street across from Cafe Deluxe.) -- Fritz"
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: eltee on October 13, 2003, 10:29:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by mankie:
  P.S.....the owner told my missus not to order the curry and chips yet because they're shite and still trying to get the curry just right. How's that for honesty?
yeah, I wish someone at 9:30 had warned me about their hummus...garlic that lasts and lasts
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: mankie on October 13, 2003, 10:33:00 am
From what the owner said, the restaurant bit is called "Ri-Ra" but the bar is called "The Irish Bar"...whatever, as long as it's a decent bar in Bethesda...If it's a chain I do now have "Nightmares of Bennigans on Elm street."
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: lily1 on October 13, 2003, 11:17:00 am
its open? i walked by it last friday night and the staff were in the middle of training and then was construction equipment everywhere.
 
   
Quote
Originally posted by Bagster:
  It's called Ri-Ra, and I'm shocked it's open -- it looked like they were still mid-construction last week!  I had dinner at Green Papaya last Tuesday, and it's directly across the street.  My fingers are crossed for you that it stays decent and doesn't fall into suburban Irish Bar hell.
 
 Apparently Ri-Ra is a chain, here's info from the Washington Post:
 
 "As for Ri-Ra, well, it's a chain, with branches in Portland, Raleigh and Atlantic City, among others. I'm sure it's nice and all, but it's a chain Irish Pub. I haven't been yet, but I heard it will open this weekend or next. (It's in Bethesda, on Elm Street across from Cafe Deluxe.) -- Fritz"
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: Herr Professor Doktor Doom on October 13, 2003, 03:29:00 pm
What's with Irish bars and curry?  I popped into Fado's (7th and H) for dinner once and I asked the bartender how the curry was, and he said "I think it stinks, but you can have it if you'd like."   I decided he may have been the sort of Irishman who can't stomach anything more spicy than a baked potato, and so I ordered it anyway, and it was quite yummy.
 
 
 visit doomlink (http://www.alex.to/lavalampcity)
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: lily1 on October 13, 2003, 03:43:00 pm
what is an irish curry?
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: MaLo on October 13, 2003, 04:35:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by lily1:
  what is an irish curry?
i had curry at a pub in ireland once...like 5 years ago
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: brennser on October 14, 2003, 02:44:00 pm
it's just curry sauce and chips - normally served on the side here but for full authenticity it should be pured over the chips in a little foil pan, and eaten outside in the freezing cold, preferably after a feed of Guinness
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: lily1 on October 14, 2003, 02:49:00 pm
yeah, but what kind of curry? red? yellow? green? coconut milk based? broth based? oil based? or does it all vary?
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: Got Haggis? on October 14, 2003, 02:54:00 pm
cool, i'll have to check it out.
 
 what other places in bethesda are worth checking out anyway?
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: mankie on October 14, 2003, 03:00:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by lily1:
  yeah, but what kind of curry? red? yellow? green? coconut milk based? broth based? oil based? or does it all vary?
After a belly full of beer does it really matter?  ;)  
 
 It's usually green in color, well it is when it comes back up around 4am!
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: markie on October 14, 2003, 03:00:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Got Haggis?:
  cool, i'll have to check it out.
 
 what other places in bethesda are worth checking out anyway?
[/QUOTE}
 
 I like Rock Bottom Brewery on cheap beer nights...... And Bachus for food......
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: lily1 on October 14, 2003, 03:05:00 pm
bethesda is pretty damn lame, but markie's right, rock bottom does a decent happy hour. for food, i'd say raku for sushi, olazzo for italian american, jaleo for tapas and cafe gelato for italian panini and gelato. the landmark theatre gets some good indie/foriegn films.
 
 i work in bethesda and try not to stay here after hours. but if you have to, i'd suggest the above.
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: mankie on October 14, 2003, 03:05:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Got Haggis?:
  cool, i'll have to check it out.
 
 what other places in bethesda are worth checking out anyway?
NONE!
 
 
 Willy and Reeds.....a gazillion tellies so you know the conversation will be riveting in that place.
 
 Rock Bottom......micro-brewery that has live music...bit of a meat market for the singles scene.
 
 Flannigans....nasty bar in a basement, the whole place stinks like the toilets in the old Capital Centre. Usually has the, (ahem), "Irish music", with the green alligator, black & tans, and all that 4P's shite music.
 
 Chrome...I thought it was okay but doesn't seem to do well, probably because it's hidden away in a corner.
 
 
 Yacht Club.....grab a granny, literally. I'm 43 and would look way too young to be in there, and I'm NOT joking.
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: redsock on October 14, 2003, 03:30:00 pm
I've been to RI-Ra in Rhode Island, and I always thought the name had something to do with the State. Who knew. It always seemed ok, but much more of a yuppie 20-ish bar hangout than an authentic Irish pub.
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: brennser on October 14, 2003, 04:04:00 pm
Mankies right - Flanagans is an awful, horrible, depressing place - I went there a few years ago to watch the All-Ireland and swore I'd never go back
 
 Ri-ra is an irish word that loosely translates as crack
Title: Re: New bar in Bethesda
Post by: mankie on October 14, 2003, 04:28:00 pm
Ri~Ra agus ruaile buaile
 
 Rough translation;
 
 Devilment, good fun or social activity that includes fine food and drink.