Have you ever immediately felt at home when walking in a place?
That is what Shenanigan’s –Irish Pub at Cacamame brought to the table for me.
Upon entering the eatery warmth greets patrons from walls featuring brown and green, to dark furniture and comforting bar chairs. A wall full of hometown heroes brings extra charm to the place as does an entire wall of local ‘shenanigans’ from newspapers.
At first glance, the menu may seem small, but each dish I tried was perfectly on point combining Irish heritage with food Texans have come to know and love.
First up was Fire in the Glen, the pub’s version of hot wings. Served with celery and carrots, along with a side of ranch or blue cheese, the crispy exterior makes the ultimate bite. The wings were coated but not drowned in the sauce, offering a nice bite without coating your tongue or your hands.
As I moved onto the entree, I sampled the Guinness Pork Stew which is a hearty dish served with creamy mashed potatoes on top and a side of homemade soda bread. The bread acts as the perfect scooper for the delectable Guinness gravy, and honestly as the weather turns colder I can see sitting with the stew in front of the interior fireplace with a book being the perfect complement to each other.
Paul had the fish and chips which managed that tricky balance of crispy on the outside while glistening on the inside, complemented by flavorful garlic-parmesan fries.
All dishes were priced just right with the appetizer at $9.99, the stew at $11.99 and fish and chips at $14.99.
Since the pub is owned by friends and spouses Mark and Mindy Gardner and Carmen and Karl Andersen, it makes sense the service would be friendly and excellent.
The pub also serves a selection of beer, wine and even some shandies guaranteed to allow you to cause a bit of mischief.
The Shenanigans Mojito Shandy combines the love of mint with sweet citrus while the Lucky Slim offers some cool cucumber-lime crispness.
On draft, the pub offers Stella, Coors, DosXX, Shiner and Michelob Ultra, along with Guinness and Samuel Adams bottled.
A selection of red and white wines are available for patrons, but no hard liquor is currently served at the pub.
The eatery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The pub will kick off its soft opening in honor of first responders at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 with its official first day being Saturday, Sept. 6.
Overall, I would rate the pub at a 4.5 out of 5 stars and can’t wait to see what the future holds for what is sure to become a staple in Dublin’s Irish history.
Owners of Shenanigans Mark and Mindy Gardner and Carmen and Karl Andersen get ready to greet patrons at both their soft opening at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 and their official first day Saturday, Sept. 6.