Get Your Irish On At Limerick Junction!
By: Denise Romeo
With St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, you may be looking for somewhere to “get your Irish on” and there’s no better place to do it than Atlanta’s oldest Irish bar, Limerick Junction. This genuine Irish pub has been a cornerstone of the Virginia-Highland restaurant scene since its doors opened 25 years ago this week.
The pub’s name comes from the only town in Ireland that actually grew around a railroad, much like Atlanta being built around the Southern railroad hub to the U.S. Midwest in 1836, when Georgia decided to build the line’s terminus here. The pub showcases original fixtures including school bench bar tables and the bar area which was originally an enormous linen cupboard from an Irish Manor House. If you look carefully you will notice that the mirrored doors of the cupboard adorn the dining area walls.
Since whiskey is considered the “water of life” in Ireland (“uisce beatha” in Gaelic), the bar boasts a large whiskey collection, more than 50 varieties of scotch, Irish and bourbon. The bar also features seasonal signature drinks. In the summer months, Manager Liam Murphy grows cayenne and jalapeno peppers in a flower box off the restaurant’s back balcony. The fresh jalapenos are used in mango-jalapeno martinis and the cayenne peppers to infuse tequila for their signature winter drink of chili-spiked hot chocolate.
Chicken Curry
When asked what they wanted people to know about Limerick Junction, Murphy and owner Gordon Kerr both responded, “Our full-service menu!” About a year ago the restaurant hired Chef Sean O’Neill who has since revamped the restaurant’s recipes, making the dishes more authentic and flavorful.
O’Neill is quick to point out that Limerick Junction is not a “chip shop.”
“We try to serve real Irish food; the kind you’d actually eat in Ireland,” O’Neill says. The menu includes traditional Irish dishes like shepherd’s pie (made with lamb), cottage pie (made with beef), Reuben sandwiches, and curry. Yes, curry!
Lamb Burger
According to O’Neill, curry in Ireland is like pizza in America. While it is not completely original to the culture, curry has been a popular dish in Ireland for over a hundred years. The restaurant imports their curry powder from Ireland to ensure authentic “Irish” flavor. Having tried O’Neill’s chicken curry, I can understand why it has become an Irish favorite. The chicken breast meat is marinated in lemon juice and thyme, seared with onions and peppers, tossed in curry sauce and served over fresh spinach and rice. The result is not too sweet or too spicy and has a wonderful lemony zing.
Toastie
The lamb burger is a special treat with a marinated pepper and onion salsa, goat cheese and spinach served on a toasted bun which becomes a generous helping of pleasing flavor combinations.
For those just wanting a nibble with their beverage, a “toastie” is for you. Toasties appear on menus throughout the motherland. Toasties are to Ireland what tapas are to Spain. Limerick Junction serves two versions: apple Swiss and BST & Swiss. To make one at home, try Chef O’Neill’s recipe:
BST & Swiss Toasties:
2 slices of good sandwich bread
2 teaspoons butter, softened
1 slice Swiss cheese
Healthy pinch of fresh spinach leaves (about 6-8 depending on size)
2 slices of fresh tomato
3 rashers, (slices of bacon cooked and crispy)
Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place one slice of bread on a sandwich press buttered-side down and place a slice of Swiss cheese on the bread. Add spinach, tomato and bacon slices, and then top with the second slice of bread placed buttered-side up.
Sammie Press
Close the press and allow to toast for 8-10 minutes. Resist the urge to open too soon; allow the sammie to cook throughout and for the bread to get nice and crispy. Trim the crusts and scraps from the sides and serve warm.
For a genuine Irish experience this St. Patrick’s Day, head over to Limerick Junction for live music inside and out and a holiday menu which includes traditional corned beef and cabbage, banger (Irish sausage) sandwiches, cottage pie, and fish & chips. Doors open at 12:30 PM with a $5 early cover charge ($10 later).
Limerick Junction Irish Pub
822 N. Highland Ave.
404-8874-7147
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband, Dom, enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!