The Irish-American rock band Mary’s Lane entertains a crowd at P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub. Photograph courtesy of PJ McIntyre

The Brady Campbell Irish Dance School occupies the second floor of P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub, on Lorain Ave. Photograph courtesy of Brady Campbell Irish Dance School

By LAURI GROSS
Cleveland is home to a hunger-busting selection of Irish eateries. With menus offering corned beef, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, boxtys and much more, and a vibe that invites hanging around and sharing stories, these restaurants, pubs and cafés crank it up a notch on St. Patrick’s Day, when the whole city seems to congregate for the party.
5 Points Café, 3600 West Park Road, in Cleveland. This family-owned restaurant in a renovated building is open for breakfast and lunch and offers great coffee and tea plus a menu that includes corned beef, Irish breakfast pie and other Irish-inspired treats for the season.
The Flat Iron Café, 1114 Center Street in the flats. The official meeting headquarters for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, the Flat Iron is Cleveland’s oldest Irish Pub, established in 1910. The Flat Iron offers free shuttle service to and from the parade (and home Cavs, Guardians and Browns games). In addition to Shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and corned beef, the Café’s menu includes plenty of other selections such as pierogies, fried pickles, a Whiskey Island burger, and a Guiness ice-cream float.
Flannery’s Pub, 323 Prospect Ave. (a block from Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse). A Cleveland fixture for 25 years, Flannery’s describes itself as downtown’s largest Irish Pub, and its staff as the friendliest in town. Crowds come for a perfect pint of draft and craft beer, house-made corned beef, fish and chips and live music.
The Harp Irish Pub and Restaurant, 4408 Detroit Ave.. In nice weather, the Harp’s patio offers great sunset views of the lake and downtown. All year, visitors appreciate the free parking and great menu that includes favorites like fish and chips, boxtys and desserts including a Guiness brownie sundae. On St. Patrick’s Day, don’t miss the live bands in the heated tent beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Muldoon’s Saloon and Eatery, 1020 East 185th street. With more than 100 craft beers and 42 years’ experience serving Clevelanders, Muldoon’s sticks to a simple mission of good food and service. On St. Patrick’s Day, the Muldoon’s team goes through nearly 2,000 pounds of corned beef preparing dinners, sandwiches and more for hungry and dedicated crowds.
P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub, 17119 Lorain Ave. The restaurant décor featurescollections of Irish sports, history, music and literature memorabilia and the upstairs is home to the Brady Campbell Irish Dance School. Restaurant patrons especially love the Irish eggrolls and fish and chips. On St. Patrick’s Day, things get ever wilder with bagpipers, dancers and the Irish-American rock band Mary’s Lane.
Stone Mad Pub, Restaurant and Bocce, 1306 West 65th Street, in the Gordon Square Arts District. Featuring colorful tile floors, indoor bocce courts and an elaborate patio with a towering stone chimney, Stone Mad offers something for all the senses, and everything on their menu is made from scratch in house. Come for the live music all day on St. Patrick’s Day and on alternating Sundays the rest of the year.
And two more. These are not Irish but still beloved for the corned beef (and more):
Corky and Lenny’s Restaurant and Deli, 27091 Chagrin Blvd., in Woodmere. An iconic Cleveland gathering place for 67 years, Corky and Lenny’s is always busiest on St. Patrick’s Day (which might have something to do with their beloved corned beef). In addition, they have their own bakery where they turn out classics like rugelach, plus Maria from Lucy’s Sweet Surrender creates plenty of her own specialties.
Slyman’s Restaurant and Deli, 3106 St. Clair Ave., downtown. This self-described mom-and-pop organization offers very personalized service where the owners make the food themselves. Come for their extensive menu of favorites including turkey breast, pastrami and of course corned beef. In fact, the website proudly states that this place is “home of the biggest and best corned beef in town” and includes a link where you can read about some very well-known people who have visited and dined here through time.