Anyone who has downed a pint in a typical Americanized Irish pub--bland decor, bad music and ersatz bar food--knows the experience leaves much to be desired.
But David Kelly and Ciaran Sheehan are changing that with Rí Rá, their small (but rapidly expanding) chain of authentic Irish pubs.
The Dublin-raised duo opened their first Rí Rá in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1997. Their goal: to re-create the communal atmosphere of a traditional 19th-century Irish pub in a way Americans had never before seen (Rí Rá is a Gaelic term that roughly translates to "a state of revelry and exuberance").
Since then, they've opened 10 more locations along the Eastern seaboard, taking pains to make sure each bar is distinct. They choose historic buildings and fill them with salvaged items from theaters, pubs and other Irish landmarks. Their latest location, in Atlanta, contains a parquet floor that came from the Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built.
Rí Rá's menu varies by location, but the stellar quality of its Irish-meets-American pub fare doesn't. Try the Reuben (made with house-cured corned beef) and a side of pan-seared potato cakes (pictured). Or stick with the liquid options: In addition to an extensive selection of beer, whiskey and Irish tea, Rí Rá features 20-ounce pours of--what else?--Guinness, which is cheekily listed on the menu under "Starters."
