Happy Irish Hours: Ri Ra Irish Pub

Unless you've visited the Ri Ra website you probably didn't know the bar is a chain with others in Arlington VA, Charlotte NC, Atlantic City, NJ, Evansville, IN, Bethesda, MD, Burlington, VT, Providence, RI and Louisville, KY. Usually, I'm turned off by chain establishments, but Ri Ra has got a killer Happy Hour and I've had nothing less than a memorable time when I've visited.

The times I've gone to Ri Ra I:

1. Got tipsy enough that I left my credit card, never paid the bill and did the walk of shame back to the bar the next morning. I blame it on King Memphis - that band is just too fun.

2. Was kicked out for "stealing." It was St. Patty's Day of 2006 and I was carrying a metal tea kettle (don't ask). I was bringing it into Ri Ra to pass it on to another friend, but couldn't find him. On my way out the bouncer said I wasn't allowed to take the kettle with me. I protested that it was mine, but the glazed eyes and giggling didn't help my case one bit.

3. Was with two women on a man hunt. (Side note: I'm not a manhunter because I lack social charm and generally intimidate men before they develop interest.) They got hammered, spilled drinks all over themselves and I had to take them home.

The first time I checked out Ri Ra I was surprised how small it was. And then I walked into the additional bar on the right. And then I saw people walking upstairs and followed to find a huge upstairs bar and restaurant. You could roll into the spot with a crew of friends and not be cramped.

Unless there's a band playing or it's Happy Hour. The place gets packed. And fast. I've never been for Happy Hour, but after checking out the menu, I will be. Happy Hour is Mon-Fri from 4-7 pm. Check out the prices here. Happy Hour discounts include Smithwicks, Blackbush Irish Whiskey, Kilkenny Cosmo, Corona and Black & Tan (Monday), Harp, Snakebite, Sierra Nevada, Irish Manhattan and Jameson (Tuesday), Newcastle, Half & Half, Heineken, Green Eyes and Bushmills (Wednesday), Carlsberg, Hoegaarden, Archie Red and John Powers Irish Whiskey (Thursday) and bartender's choice, domestic bottles and well drinks (Friday). All day Sunday you can get a 20oz Guinness pint for $3.50. There's also a menu just for Happy Hour.

Ri Ra also has full dinner and lunch menus with traditional Irish food like Shepherd's Pie ($10.95), Emigrant's Corned Beef & Cabbage ($12.95) and Bangers and Mash ($11.95), and pub food like Paddy Melt ($9.95), wings ($8.95) and Guinness BBQ Burger ($9.95). I have yet to eat there - I usually hit up Bull Feeney's for my Irish fix - but I'm interested in trying the Kilcooly, a sandwich with turkey, melted cheddar, sliced apple, smoked bacon and cranberry mayo on grilled sourdough for $9.95. And I'd like to put a hurtin' on their traditional Irish breakfast ("proper fry up of eggs, bangers, rashers, pudding, grilled tomato, Ri Ra beans" for $10.95).

There's more to Ri Ra than food. They've got a live music calendar full of bands playing Wed-Sat and Pub Quiz Night every Tuesday at 8 pm. Pub night features six rounds of trivia with prizes for each round, one for the night and one for the month (at the end of the month). Sign up your team and join the regulars.

There's also Wii night on Mondays - get your Guitar Hero on or try some boxing or bowling. On Sundays, join the soccer junkies and watch the Fox soccer channel - don't forget about that Guinness on special for $3.50! With two recently installed dart boards, talk to the bartender about hooking up a dart league.

Draft beers range in price from $3.50 (on special) to $5 and bottled beers range from $2.50-$9. Those expensive beers include Sam Smith Nut Brown and Young's Oatmeal Stout. If you're jonesin' for an Irish beer your choices include Guinness - of course - Harp, Smithwicks and Murphy's Irish Stout in a can.

With St. Patty's Day around the corner, keep Ri Ra in mind as a spot to visit. They usually have bagpipers, drink specials and unruly people in green on March 17. Speaking of my favorite holiday, look for a round-up of St. Patty's Day events the Thursday before.

Oh, and you can still get in on the Casco Bay Plunge at 5:30 am on St. Patty's Day. Call or stop in Ri Ra for information on how to get sponsors. There's still time!

**First photo taken by Amy Martin, second photos taken from Ri Ra's myspace page.