Tipperary Inn

Off the beaten path in northeast downtown Dallas, at a three way intersection lies a hidden gem. The Tipperary Inn had been a favorite pub for years, but went through management changes in 2001 and is now doing a bang up job of giving Dallas another option for an Irish-style pub.

I sampled the grilled chicken in whiskey cream sauce. My company for the evening had fish and chips. The chicken was nicely grilled – not over cooked, and the delicate béchamel-based sauce was a nice touch. It was served with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables that complemented the chicken. The fish and chips had a nice thick beer batter that made them a D-Magazine favorite. Their Shepherd’s pie was voted the best in a Dallas Observer poll. They have a wide variety of Texas and Irish inspired dishes and appetizers. Entrées averaged in the $10 range, not too bad for an evening eatery in downtown Dallas.

The Tipperary has one of the best Guiness pours in Dallas. They have a large selection of whiskeys, beers and vodkas behind their dark oak bar. They have a number of popular beers on tap, including Guiness and Harp. They pour a number of standard beer blends – Black and Tan, Black velvet, and Priest’s collar, along with a wide variety of bar standards. They don’t have the beer selection of some of the other local bars, like the Flying Saucer, but what they have is good.

This pub has a triangle layout due to its location, which leads to a rather odd floor plan. The owners have broken it into two areas – a main restaurant with the stage and the bar, and a sports bar area with pool tables, big screen TVs and a jukebox. The main bar is filled with dark stained woods and a paneled ceiling. Along the sides of the room and part of the bar they have set up lots of little booths, suitable for a party of two or four, that gives a little privacy from the main flow. About two thirds of the main area has a good view of the stage, but the band can be heard throughout the entire pub. It’s not too bad back in the sports bar, but it does conflict with the TVs and jukebox.

They regularly feature local Celtic bands, like Behan, Seamus Stout, and Paddy Gone Wild. They also host an intermediate Celtic session the last Sunday of every month.

The main detraction from this establishment is the lack of parking. Unless you come early, expect to walk a ways to get to the bar. At least the area it’s in is full of smaller businesses so there isn’t a huge competition for the few available spaces.

While other bars might have a wider selection of alcohol, or food items the Tipperary Inn isn’t a half bad place to go, hang out with friends and listen to a little Celtic music.

To get directions or check out their lists of performances, food, beverages and more visit their Web site: Tipperary Inn.

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