Irish Rover
8250 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco
214-618-6222
No need to venture here for the food. You can also ignore the decor, a den of predictable Irish-themed odds and ends surrounded by dark wood and glass--what anyone gets when they call up and order an authentic look-alike.
Go for the beer and the folks who show up for whichever sport happens to be playing on whichever screen they're facing. These people are expressive, lending real character to a place otherwise lacking.
Food service has a pre-packaged feel. Not that they purchase ready-made
stuff, but certain dishes just mock the taste and consistency of frozen
goods. In some cases you'd be equally well off heating something from
Costco at home, then heading over to the pub for drinks. Their version
of shepherd's pie, for instance, is an exercise in monotony--hearty but
under-seasoned monotony. Scotch eggs (yes, we're skirting Ireland)
reveal a little spice under its fried shell, making up for interest
lost elsewhere. But, on my most recent visit they forgot the promised
Branston Pickle.
Maybe they were out, but still...
Dishes really match sports bar quality, with an Irish-British-Scottish
twist here and there. So you won't be disappointed if you're in search
of a place to munch on something mindless while the game is on. After
about seven years in business, however, it's unfortunate (perhaps
unforgiveable) that staff members still fumble around making rookie
mistakes. Case in point? On my last stop they brought out my entree
long before I was half finished with the appetizer.
C'mon. Expediting is fundamental.
Oh, well. At least they don't mess up the beer.
