Dining Out @ Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub
DininG ArounD TowN with Roundhouse Ron
All I gotta say to my friends is “Paddy Whacks”, after a very positive joyful response, they always ask me which one my dude? On this God given day, I choose to do a foodie review on the Welsh Road location just off of the Roosevelt Boulevard in NE Philadelphia. There is currently 3 locations, with the other 2 being at “Paddy Whacks” Comly Road (also just off of Roosevelt Boulevard) & “Paddy Whacks” South Street (corner of 2nd Street).
This really cool concept of bringing an Irish pub together with a casual sports bar, combining these ideas & opening them all in an awesome city like Philadelphia has to be the best idea since sliced bread. Since opening the 1st “Paddy Whacks” location at Welsh Road in May of 2004, all I have been hearing is spectacular & exciting comments. Owned by a few local hometown brothers, “Casey Jones”, “Mathew Jones” & “Donald Jones (DJ)“ have taken on the challenge & are making all 3 local locations very successful. To be perfectly honest, your boy “Roundhouse Ron” has been to all 3 “Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pubs” during this past year & it has always been a freakin maxed out blast.
When entering “Paddy Whacks”, you can’t help but notice the sleek contemporary Irish pub feel with classily framed Notre Dame football memorabilia on the walls, to the modern high top tables & let’s not forget the numerous Irish beers on tap. Seating my foodie posse & I was this very attractive personable young lady who goes by the name of “Jenn”, and we soon found out she was also our server for this evening. As we all settled in, a round of beverages was in order, with mine being a Jack Daniels & Diet Coke. With the quickness, “Jill” & “Chris” (bartenders) jumped on our order, dazzled us with knowledge & treated me to a few sweet libations. I personally had to thank “Kevin” (bar manager), cause “Paddy Whacks” has a very professional bartending staff.
Reviewing the exceptional dining menu choices, I noticed a very nice selection of appetizers, soups & salads to start me off with. If you like soup, you will simply love “Paddy Whacks” “Irish Potato Soup” which is a thick potato soup topped with bacon bites scallions & melted cheese. Another tantalizing soup selection is the “Maryland Crab Soup” made with their very own secret recipe that includes jumbo lump crabmeat. Things like these spectacular creamy creations carry a ton of flavor & really warms up my belly on a cold winter evening.
If you happen to be a chili lover, the folks here at “Paddy Whacks” are taking over with a bombelicious taste of the old west. The “Paddy Chili” is a famous blend of spices, red beans, onions, peppers & ground beef topped with melted cheddar cheese & chopped scallions. If this doesn’t get your taste buds rocking like Elvis in Memphis, then I don’t know what will. BAM, POW, BOOM
Now, as we all move onto the tasty appetizer selections, a few things were a definitely must have, like the “Philly Cheesesteak Rolls” packed a powerful punch with mini cheese steak stuffed in a crispy shell. The “Loaded Paddy Chips” are freshly cut potatoes fried to perfection, piled high & smothered in “Paddy Whacks” medium spicy chili with melted cheese. And one of my favorites have to be their “Almost Famous Wings” served in either a mild, medium, hot or spicy garlic seasoning. These wings are off da focking charts good and I will be placing them on my “Roundhouse Ron’s Top 10 Of Philadelphia’s Best Hot Wingz List”.
Just to give my brain a little break from all these “Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub” starters, before I move onto the main dishes, I decide to walk around & introduce myself to this kitchen staff of funky flavor town. “Chef Chris” (kitchen manager) along with “Chef Mark” (head chef) have this operating room on lock down with surgical precession as they are creating sum crazy creations.
The salads are all super stunning & outstanding, such as the “Paddywhack Salad” sliced chicken strips served over a blend of romaine & iceberg lettuce with cucumbers, tomatoes & onions, topped with bacon bites, Monterey Jack cheddar cheese with your choice of dressing. How can you freakin go wrong with these lettuce masterpieces like the “Cajun Chicken Salad” blackened Cajun chicken breast sliced over their pub salad with Monterey Jack & cheddar cheese with croutons, served with honey mustard dressing.
A few of my friendz rocked out the sandwich options, while I just moved right into the pub favorites. But, I did sample sum bites & must refer you to the “The Paddy Melt” with select chicken tenders, bacon & American cheese on grilled sourdough bread. Let’s not forget the “Yik-Yak Burger” a half-pound sirloin burger smothered in hot sauce with bleu cheese & lettuce on toasted rye. All of the sexy sandwiches & wonderful wraps are served with fresh-cut “Paddy Chips”.
The room light up with smells of aroma ecstasy as my pub favorite entrée was being severed. My “Chicken Parmesan” consist of freshly breaded chicken breast lightly fried, topped with marinara sauce & provolone cheese, served with a bed of linguini. This work of art tasted even better then it freakin smelled. When you go to “Paddy Whacks”, you must also try the “The Open Face Roasted Turkey” with oven roasted turkey served over toasted sourdough bread with their country mashed potatoes & topped with house made gravy. Or, an Irish specialty, the “Shepherd’s Pie” with lean ground beef sautéed with carrots, peas, onions & piped country mashed potatoes topped with their house made gravy. Believe me party people, you will not be disappointed in these dynamic tasteful culinary dishes.
“Paddy Whacks” also has a very sinful selection of desserts, as they are all designed to impress your sweet taste buds. Just think about, “Homemade Spice Cake” topped with peppermint whipped cream, candied walnuts & fresh berries, how about the “Kilkenny Chocolate Cake” a volcanic eruption of chocolate goodness served with creamy vanilla ice cream or the “Funnel Cake Fries” sweet & delicious, made to order & topped with fluffy confectioner’s sugar. Your killin me smallz, cause these are all so damn scrumptious.
At all 3 “Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub” locations, they have catering & banquet packages available that will be tailored maid to all your needs. Plenty of room for any party, celebration, receptions or gathering that you are hosting. To reserve this spacious area & inquire about the fantastic catering menu specials, please visit any location or call 215.464.7544.
I have done my research on this spectacular dining & drinking establishment named “Paddy Whacks”, found numerous outstanding weekly food & drink specials to pass on, but I seriously want you to hit up their website at www.PaddyWhacksPub.com for all these wild daily deals. This is a very special place with sum very unique Irish & American dishes that will definitely get your attention & satisfy your culinary appetite. “Paddy Whacks” has a great selection of Irish beers, holiday flavors & craft brews on tap as well as a warehouse packed of bottles to quench any thirsty land lover’s personality.
You must include this amazing contemporary Irish tavern on your Christmas wish list & I promise you will totally enjoy your dining experience. Do me a favor & don’t take my advice, go visit & experience “Paddy Whacks” for yourself, then you be the judge & write to me. But, when you go, make sure you tell them your boy “Roundhouse Ron” sent you ;-}
Please stop by “Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub”, 9241-43 Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19114, 215.464.7544, www.PaddyWhacksPub.com, they can also be found on social media @ twitter, facebook & myspace, just go to: “Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub”. If you have a smart phone, download the “Paddy Whacks” app & receive a 10% off coupon. “The Coolest Irish Sports Bar In da Philadelphia Area”