Every once in a while, I get a craving for good Irish pub food.
Somehow, I had never heard of The Harp, an Ohio City institution for years. Named to many local and national “Best Of” lists, The Harp boasts a fantastic Irish-American menu. You’ll find staples like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie, but also more traditional American fare for pickier eaters. One of the highlights is the Boxty Cake – a jumbo potato pancake folded over a variety of fillings. Think a Reuben taco, except the taco shell is a potato pancake.
As much of a highlight as the menu is the patio overlooking the lake and downtown skyline – it’s absolutely beautiful on a warm afternoon or evening. Toss in some live music and you have yourself a nice summer-in-Cleveland outing.
We found ourselves there on one such warm evening and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
For an app, we tried the corned beef rolls – essentially an egg roll stuffed with corned beef, kraut, and Swiss cheese with a little warm cabbage salad on the side. A delicious, crunchier take on the Reuben.
S went with the classic shepherd’s pie for her main course – meat, vegetables, and gravy, all covered with a layer of oven-browned whipped potatoes.
I opted for something a little closer to home – the pan-seared walleye, served next to a heap of colcannon (cabbage and mashed potatoes) and broccoli and smothered with a lemon cream sauce.
Although it took us a while to find The Harp, it won’t take us as long to find it again. The atmosphere is great (again – sit outside if you can!), the food is great, and prices are very reasonable (most entrees in the $12-18 range). Definitely worth a visit!
Leave a Reply