With St. Patrick’s Day
quickly approaching, green food coloring becomes a hot commodity in the
tri-state area. We believe that by adding a few drops of bright green liquid to
our beer we instantly become Irish. There is so much more to enjoy than just an
artificially colored American lager from a keg! At Ri Ra’s we discovered that a
whole world of scrumptious cuisine stems from the third largest island in Europe – the Emerald Isle.
Our first order of business at Ri Ra’s was to meet the
staff and learn about the restaurant. Much of the staff is actually from Ireland or claims a strong Irish heritage – from
the founder David Kelly an Ireland
native, to Ryan Bodine Ri Ra’s general manager who boasts Irish family ties –
Ri Ra’s poses as a home away from home for some employees, tri-state residents
with Irish ties and even some famous Celtic entertainers passing through. We
also met Angie Tucker, the head chef at Ri Ra’s who though does not possess an
Irish background can bang out some bangers and mash along with the rest of the
extensive Irish menu that Ri Ra’s offers!
From the moment you step into Ri Ra’s you are encompassed
by Celtic atmosphere. In fact, Ri Ra’s is the only authentic Irish pub serving
authentic Irish food within an hour and a half radius. All of the interiors were
salvaged and restored in Ireland
and shipped to Evansville.
In the windows, bottles of varying shapes, sizes and colors line the panes,
catching bright light. Hand-carved dark, rich wood adds to the intricate detail
of the pub; a refurbished bar graces the downstairs and “the ladies” were
recovered from the storage basement of an old church – both from Ireland.
We began our tasting with a homemade spinach dip. Warm
marinated artichoke hearts, spinach, and cream cheese spread smoothly along a
toasted baguette. With a hint of garlic and a velvety texture, it was no
surprise the spinach dip is the best-selling appetizer Ri Ra’s offers.
Next, three large plates were placed at our table – each
containing a traditional Irish feast. The first was Beef ‘n Guinness Stew. Mashed
potatoes draped over a mound Guinness simmered beef, carrots and onions of was
the perfect entrée for the conventional “meat and potatoes” guy or gal. It was
rich and hearty with substantial Guinness flavor in the stew. The vegetables
were thick cut and were cooked to a perfect tenderness. And, as a connoisseur
of mashed potatoes, I can tell you that they were completely homemade and
perfectly whipped. I give them an A+++.
Next, we embarked on the second dish – a broad Rueben
sandwich and hand breaded onion rings. The bread was buttery and toasted to a
crispy brown consistency while the tender sauerkraut, salty thick-cut corned
beef and tangy thousand-island dressing flavors mixed together to form a
satisfying and pleasing sandwich. Rueben sandwiches have always struck me as an
odd combination of ingredients but the result at Ri Ra’s is very tasty. I
highly recommend!
Finally, we sampled the salmon, creamed cabbage, blanched
spinach and mashed potatoes. Each item was layered and the result was a tower
of flavor. The salmon had a moist, meaty texture on the inside but a flavorful,
crispy exterior. It was not fishy tasting and it paired well with the sweetness
of the cabbage, the organic, leafy quality of the spinach and the buttery mashed
potatoes that were again A+++.
Located across from Casino Aztar in
The District, downtown, Ri Ra’s is open to families during the day and to patrons
under 21 only after 10 p.m. Enjoy a smoking section with a separate bar
upstairs and live music every Thursday thru Saturday. On the last Sunday of
each month at 2 p.m., a traditional Irish Session will fill the air with
authentic Celtic music. On St. Patrick’s Day, join Ri Ra’s for an amazing meal
and a slew of entertainment with Deaf Megan in the evening and pipers
throughout the day. On the Saturday before St. Paddy’s day Ri Ra’s will be
hosting a celebration with Rowan Tree at 6 p.m., The Fisticuffs at 10:30 p.m.
and Bosko at 10:30 p.m.
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PHOTOS | MARK MCCOY
