The salt and pepper calamari ($10) came served into conical containers over wax paper. Oddly, they come with vegetable tempura, and, not for the weak of heart, a baby squid with tentacles, also covered in tempura. This dish was not worth its price.

Things didn’t get better the child’s meal ($6), which came with a salad that had impossibly runny ranch dressing and highly bitter greens—not at all what kids want. The mac and cheese had a white cheese with a complex, almost burned, flavor. Again, this was not designed with a child’s palate in mind, and represents a miscalculation by the chefs. To the credit of our server, she recognized the child’s dismay, noted that the mac and cheese often engenders this reaction, and offered a free switch to a grilled cheese sandwich (which had thick white bread and a Swiss cheese—still not great for a kid, but at least a touch better).

Things looked up with the drinks. Strongbow cider ($7) and Guiness ($7) are on tap here, though incongruously, the Guiness is served cold rather than the more traditional room temperature, perhaps to cater to the typical American palate. The beef stew ($13) came in its own pot, and featured tender cuts of beef that yielded complex, Guiness-infused flavor. The fish and chips ($15) was only two pieces, but tasted excellent, and managed to somehow be light and fluffy. Both entrees were slightly overpriced. 

Expect a noisy, boisterous atmosphere, one that will only get louder as the day turns into night. Service isn’t lightning quick, despite the lack of crowds, but it was adequate, and responsive to our unspoken needs.