Visiting an Irish pub is like stepping into James Joyce's Ulysses without dealing with molemen, teenage detectives, and heavy-handed NASCAR references. Read the CliffsNotes with today's Groupon. For $10, you get $20 worth of Irish fare and drinks at Tommy Nevin’s Pub in Naperville, Evanston, and Frankfort; The Kerry Piper in Willowbrook; and Muldoon’s in Wheaton.
Each eatery offers a mix of British lsles–influenced dishes, flavorful brews, and a jovial atmosphere. The menu at the Naperville location of Tommy Nevin’s has pub grub such as the Chicago-style corned beef and swiss ($7.95), a meaty dish that goes down smoothly with a 20 oz. Imperial pint of Guinness or Smithwick’s ($5.50). Celebrate finding a stegosaurus-shaped clover with the blue-cheese-topped St. Patrick’s Burger ($8.95), one of several succulent sandwiches on The Kerry Piper's menu. Muldoon’s menu features the Moby Dick, a Harp-battered cod on a toasted parmesan banquette ($8.99) that’s tailored to pub-dwellers named Ishmael. Cleanse your esophagus with a Jameson-infused Irish coffee or Bailey’s flourless cake ($5.99).
Irish-pub loungers should check each bar’s website for various events throughout the year, because The Kerry Piper hosts traditional Irish music from Gavin Coyle on every other Sunday, and several of the bars test your knowledge of Burton Gilliam's childhood fears with weekly pub trivia.
Reviews
Tommy Nevin's of Naperville has a 3-star average from Yelpers, while the Evanston and Frankfort locations have three-star averages. The Kerry Piper has a 3.5-star average from Yelpers, and Muldoon's has an average of 3.5 owl eyes from TripAdvisors:
- We decided to try this place because several reviews for our hotel recommended it, as well as the hotel desk clerk. We're glad we did. – Brinley B. on The Kerry Piper Willowbrook, Yelp
- My group of Northwestern grad school friends and I came here ALL THE TIME for many occasions: the after-class drink and vent sessions, group dinners, and, of course, our rowdy end-of-quarter celebrations (sorry Nevin's waitresses/bartenders...) – Sarah F. on Tommy Nevin's Evanston, Yelp
Tommy Nevin's Pub
Tommy Nevin's Pub was founded by Steven Prescott and christened for his grandfather Thomas Nevin, a WWI veteran. The flagship location in Evanston touts a bright red façade that pays homage to the renowned Temple Bar in Dublin, and the menus at all three locations likewise salute the culture of the Emerald Isle. Though it inhabits a decidedly Celtic corner of the pub world, Chicago Bar Project deemed the Evanston outpost “the best bar in the suburbs” for its “intriguing combination of country Irish pub, modern Chicago bar and cutting-edge alternative music venue.” Chefs whip up corned beef and shepherd's pie as bartenders handle taps and spirits. Friends can cheer on local sports teams on TV or wrack their brains to remember the name of Azerbaijan's currency and most popular potato-chip flavor at weekly trivia nights.