Review: Claddagh Irish Pub
Author: WIBIA | Filed under: Food Reviews, Location: Indianapolis, IN
Claddagh Irish Pub
3835 E 96th St
Indianapolis, IN 46240
http://www.claddaghirishpubs.com
If you are from Indy, you could probably figure out what I ordered. This place is known for their Fish and Chips. Claddagh Irish Pub is a small chain with fifteen locations in IN, OH, KY, MI and a few other scattered restaurants. Overall, I would say that I am a fan of the Claddagh. I love Irish food and they do it reasonably well for an average of $12-$15 an entree, which is a difficult price point to find in Indy. Plus, I always find their restaurants comfortable and well spaced. I enjoy sitting by the fireplace at the downtown location.
What I Got: Fish and Chips $13.50. Coleslaw and pub chips included.
What I like about the Fish and Chips here is the breading. Bass beer is included in the batter and I never find it too salty, too thick, too thin or falling off the fish. It is just right. I am hard pressed to think that they are using fresh fish, but the flavor can be convincing and I found the fish to be tender and flaky just like it should be.
The pub chips were plentiful and they were fresh and perfectly cooked. A little crispiness on the outside and soft warm potato on the inside. The coleslaw was a joke and it was embarrassing to put it on the table.
Would I Buy It Again? Yes and no.
Yes: It is a pretty good version of fish and chips considering that we are landlocked and the local competition is weak. Sometimes I crave fish and chips, and going to Long John Silver’s just feels dirty.
No: $13.50 for lunch, plus a soda was $2.40. With tax and tip, you are looking at $20+ for lunch. The service and overall direction of Claddagh was awful. Let me explain:
1. The service was horrible. I was in there on a weekend afternoon with two other tables and my server was nowhere to be found. I didn’t get one refill on my drink and she never stopped by the table to check how things were. Futhermore, she did not say THANK YOU!!! That is my pet peeve number one at a restaurant. I usually never go back to a restaurant if the server didn’t thank me for coming in.
2. Claddagh is changing their menu to this. As you can see, basically the only thing that remains is Shepherd’s Pie and Fish and Chips. To be honest, it doesn’t look good to me. They also took off two of my favorites, Cabbage/Bacon/Pork and the Guinness Beef Stew.
Totally bogus.
-wibia
p.s. Where else can I find a good Fish and Chips in Indy?
[Editor's Note: FYI, just saw in the newspaper this week that they have buy one, get one free on fish and chips orders at Claddagh on Mondays.]
You might try the Fish and Chips at the Red Lion Grog House.
I found the Claddagh to be way overpriced and definitely not worth the money.
Lockerbie Pub has a really good fish and chips special on Fridays. It’s very reasonably priced, too (6 or 7 dollars with coleslaw).
Chatham Tap also has a pretty good one on their regular menu. The half order is plenty for me and is also not that expensive.
I have heard good things about the Red Lion Grog House’s F&C but have not tried them myself.
Also, you should try Mo’s Irish Pub in Hamilton Town Center in Noblesville. I had their fish and chips and thought it was really good.
Claddagh… just a glorfied Ruby Tuesday’s, Meh.
Broad Ripple Brewpub has good fish and chips… The batter is always crisp and craggy-looking… And their coleslaw isn’t a joke! Plus they have all their authentic English-style brews. Their ESB is a perfect match for the fish and chips. I’m sure they use their beer in the batter.
Def Red Lion Grog House. Fish n chips rocked (homemade fries- bonus) and the service is good as well.
Was very underwhelmed with the service and value the last time my wife and I popped in for lunch a few months ago…didn’t expect to drop over $30 without getting a beer to go with it! Claddagh used to be a destination dinner spot for us every so often but they have priced themselves out of what I’ll pay for fish n chips. The last good Fish and Chips I had was at the Union Jack Pub out in Speedway. Used to get it at Max n Erma’s (probably not the freshest, but tasty!) until they too priced themselves out of the dinner budget for a family of five!
I’ve experienced the same sort of trouble with Claddagh… my last visit had terrible service, one of the worst burgers in recent memory… and woe of all woes, they were having trouble with their nitrogen lines and couldn’t serve Guinness. If we weren’t meeting a large group that was already there, I think that would have been enough for me to turn right around
I’ll 2nd the Broad Ripple Brewpub’s fish & chips. Plus my wife is a vegetarian and *loves* their black bean burger – I can’t say enough good things about the brewpub, even if the menu’s hit & miss for my taste.
Random, but this makes me think of a fish & chips joint I saw on TV that had a bitchin name, ‘a salt & battery’
Oh I forgot about the Broadripple Brewpub. That place does have great fish and chips. Very good.
Another vote for Red Lion Grog House. Their fish and chips is the best I’ve had since Rob & Jay’s Chippie closed a few years back.
I like Mo’s Irish Pub’s Fish & Chips! (get the cheese dip for the fries…oh so good)
why does this place remind me of a Disneyland version of an Irish pub?
Thanks for all the suggestions. Red Lion is on my radar and I have been to BR-BP and have had about everything but the the fish and chips…
I have found two dishes that I like at Claddagh, but with their prices through the roof on signature items and the lackluster service…. well…it appears that my story is not that unique.
@Erin- I have thought that too. I feel that way about most Irish bars. Great point
@Condimentality- Didn’t even think of Lockerbie…good one.
@Tom H.. I love black bean burgers as well. I am not a vegetarian by any means…but I can totally dig a BB Burger.
That new menu blows! The only thing I ever order there, the Monaghan Melt, is gone? Fish and chips can kick rocks. I want a meat loaf sandwich.
another vote here for Union Jack, but the one in Broad Ripple. Brewpub is good but i’m not a fan of the service.
We tried one of these near Chicago, it was St. Patrick’s Day so I think our experience was a little biased but it really was just like a canned Irish bar to me.
The fish and chips at Kona Jack’s, 96th and Meridian, are quite good and always fresh. But don’t waste your money on their sushi, it’s gone seriously downhill.
I must admit I also like the fish and chips at Red Robin. The kids love their burgers, and I get a bit tired of them, so I’ve had their fish and chips a few times. It always came out hot, fresh and crispy and their tartar sauce has a nice amount of horseradish, for a family-style chain.
Have you tried The Aristocrat’s fish and chips? I usually go in there for their pork tenderloin, but the fish and chips are good too. Interested to see what you think of the place. They’re on College in the Broad Ripple area…
good fish n chips are hard to find. then it depends on the species you like, fresh or salt water. I dont much care for rainbow trout or salmon. though they are abundant. in wnc. thats like tilapia might as well have carp well. what do you do like? . well … flounder is to thin… easily burned or over cooked .I like snapper or cod. that is probably the most difficuct and labor intensive things you can get into. years ago, I worked at shoneys. and the owner got fresh shimp and fillets every other day. and he paid a little old lady to come in every morning to bread shrimp, fish. and onion rings. standining room only. a good location… but he left, and went to another state to manage kfc. the new management team decided on cost cutting meausers. order the shrimp prebreded from pya. the restuurant died. well, not too bad they barley scrapped by but that one little old lady, who they were only paying about 4 bucks an hour to bread fish? about about 135 aweek?. she was let go. cost cutting and she was the only reason persons were comming there. just a simple lady. the place is there to this day. geting by. but there are no more people lined up at the doors,no lines outside the door. just one more corporate bunch scratching their heads, saying what went wrong? they killed the gose that laid the golden egg. and the still dont get it. If I am gonna pay 15 bucks a plate for fish or shimp, it better taste better than gordons. I can get that a home, and not have to leave a tip or tax I love the new offer from comfort suites… stay two nights and feed a family of four. you get a 50 buck gift card. well… unless you eat of the dollar menu.. when is the last time you got out for 50 bucks with two adults and two kids…..
sorry, just complaning. but except for military and police, “hospitality” has got to be the worst…
Growing up in New England, the only way to have fish is chips is with nice thick pieces of Atlantic cod. I found the fish at Red Lion to be quite meaty. He uses real cod and doesn’t substitute with lesser fish (spoke to Wally about this). As long as they keep up using decent cod, I’ll keep eating their fish and chips.
Being a born and bred brit I can honestly say the last time I had GOOD fish and chips was my last trip home. Trouble with the places here is that they try to get too fancy with the chips/fries. The best chips are just real potato and nothing else, oh and its gotta be cod
Oh my…. I am the Sales Manager for the Greater Indy Claddagh Irish Pubs and am so disappointed in the service you experienced at our 96th Street pub. Our new GM, Paul Kennedy, and Chef Jason Hinton are both very passionate about consistancy and excellence in food and service. I hope you will give us another shot!
To address some of the additional comments:
Our fish is the highest quality Pacific cod. Wild not farmed. I make it my business to try the fish n’ chips around the city, and I stand behind ours being the best out there!
There is a lunch portion of the dish called The Heir to the Throne for only $7.99. It is a 5oz piece. The dinner is 8oz.
The menu change reflects the summer season with fresh, lighter options. Fall will bring the same type of changes.
Helldog
The chicken burger is our new chicken meatloaf with Guinness BBQ and onion straws, like the old Meatloaf Melt. And they have added bacon!
Tom H Tell your wife to come in and try our Cornucopia vegetarian burger. It is so good and made in-house!
Hope this helps address some of the issues expressed. Again, please come in and give the menu and new staff a chance to impress you!
Cheers!
Robin Griger
Claddagh Irish Pubs
rgriger@claddaghirishpubs.com