New bar in Bethesda

[mankie]

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?

[markie]

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

[Bags]

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"

[eltee]

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

[mankie]

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."

[lily1]

its open? i walked by it last friday night and the staff were in the middle of training and then was construction equipment everywhere.
 
   

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"

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

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

[lily1]

what is an irish curry?

[MaLo]

Originally posted by lily1:
  what is an irish curry?

i had curry at a pub in ireland once...like 5 years ago

[brennser]

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

[lily1]

yeah, but what kind of curry? red? yellow? green? coconut milk based? broth based? oil based? or does it all vary?

[Got Haggis?]

cool, i'll have to check it out.
 
 what other places in bethesda are worth checking out anyway?

[mankie]

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!

[markie]

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......

[lily1]

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.