Patty's Pub

On Friday, I met two friends at one of Ottawa's oldest irish pubs, Patty's Pub (opened 1974). 
Standing alone in a little  building on Bank street,  between the Rideau River and the canal.  This pub oozes charm.  The seating areas are broken up by walls and high-backed wooden pews and are quite cozy.  There's even a snug.  The lights are dim, and the old-country decor surrounds you from the broad, worn floorboards to the fireplace, to the timber-framed ceiling and the airy skylight.  There was a hum of conversation that masked the low, inoffensive background music.

I was very excited to see the long line of taps at the bar.  I counted 25, though Guiness  appeared twice.  Selections ranged from the very local Beau's Lugtread, and several other provincial choices, to the usual Irish and Belgian offerings, and the slightly less common  Kronenbourg 1664.  I enjoyed pints of Beau's and 1664, the latter in a beautiful glass that a  younger (or drunker) me might very well have tried to add to my home collection.   

I was first to get there, and quite hungry.  One of those facts will be a shock to some of you, and I'll let the rest of you guess which one.  The bruschetta was very nice, and it was a test of will to make sure some remained for the last of my friends to arrive.

Our waitress was very nice, and seemed knowledgable about the food.  She managed to get my  friend Tenacious V's veggie wrap made as a sandwich instead, which was nice.  Lil' Ball o'Hate (LBoH) is a fan of boxtys, and loved the lamb-filled offering here.  I had a philly cheesesteak which I frankly struggle to describe.  There aren't very many fun ways to say 'bland', unfortunately (if you have suggestions, please add them in the comments!).   Eventually, we found a little room each to split a desert.  A well-presented chocolate cake-thing, which we all loved.  Not too rich, not too sweet.

Having not yet visted Ireland, I can't comment on the Irish authenticity of Patty's Pub.  But what I can tell you is this: each of my several visits has flown by in comfort and good conversation.  I'm always surprised by how late it is when I leave.  Is this what they mean by "the craic"?