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| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 Harp And Celt Restaurant And Irish Pub
Copyright © 2006 - 2008 Cajun Paddy Inc. All Rights Reserved Last modified: 10/04/2008 5:17 PM EST - 042117 GMT |
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| Come and enjoy great food, music and atmosphere in the historic district of downtown Orlando |
| 25 South Magnolia Avenue Orlando Florida 32801 Phone: 407- 481-2928 |
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| News Release Celt Irish Pub Wins 2nd Best Irish Pub 2008 In Central Florida by ORLANDO WEEKLY Readers Poll |
| ORLANDO WEEKLY The Harp and Celt Anniversary Party Friday, August 14, 2009 at 8 pm Critic's Pick There is a reason that Flogging Molly will always have the edge over the Dropkick Murphys, and why the Pogues kick both their asses outright. One can feel it in the first warble of lyrics: authenticity, specifically authentic Irish vocals. Thus it is refreshing, when calling a downtown pub, to get a real Irish brogue at the other end of the line. This particular Erin accent belongs to Jimmy Mulvaney, and whatever you may think of his family’s dabblings in the political, the man (and his wife, Kathy, it must be said) puts together a fine drinking hole. Two years ago, that spousal team united with another, Rick and Lisa Boyd, to fill the void left in downtown’s heart with the disappearance of the old Scruffy Murphy’s. We’ve heard worse excuses to down an Irish Car Bomb. Music provided by Ty Elwin’s sensitive acoustics, sans his Chocolate Broccoli Experiment. By Trevor Fraser |
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| Restaurant Review
The Harp Restaurant hits all the right notes Heather McPherson | FOOD | Food Editor Orlando Sentinel October 12, 2008 |
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| Entering The Harp on Magnolia Avenue in downtown Orlando is a quick step back in time.
The decor is cozy, with wood-trimmed booths, nice-sized tables and a hushed ambience. The designers went for an early 1900s fine-dining feel, and they hit the mark. It's quite a contrast from its fun, boisterous sister operation, the neighboring Celt pub. But the yin and yang works. There's something else worthy of note before we get to the menu: the lighting. The Harp has an attractive, subdued environment in which you can actually read a menu. I often see patrons of new restaurants holding menus at odd angles trying to catch elusive rays for illumination. Recently I almost caught a typography-challenged translucent menu on fire, holding it over a candle to get backlight. You can read The Harp menu easily enough, but here are some of the highlights from my visits. |
| For a starter, I liked the shrimp and crab chowder ($4-$5). The lump crab flavor dominates the thick concoction. I was disappointed by the caprese salad ($8). The buffalo mozzarella rounds were ample, but the cheese was a bit dry, and the tomatoes lacked flavor. Stick with the Irish theme and share the smoked salmon platter for two ($16). The honey-flavored fish is presented with capers, cream cheese, tomatoes, red onion and warmed brown bread. For entrees, the menu writer injected a bit of humor into two of my favorites. The paddy lamb shank redemption ($26) was falling-off-the-bone tender and finished with a wine demiglace. For the salmon of knowledge ($20), the chef blanketed the fish in chopped pistachios and served it with a cream sauce. The distinctively flavored nuts complemented the richness of the salmon. The chicken marsala ($16) was a tad salty for my palate, but my guest loved it. The chef's choice of vegetables can vary; steamed asparagus was served on both of my visits. But it's the colcannon you don't want to miss. These creamy Irish mashed potatoes include flavorful thinly sliced leeks. Several of the desserts come from Annie Pies Gourmet Bakery in Longwood (AnniePiesBakery.com). And I liked that the server readily gave credit to Ann Resnick and her staff. Annie Pies' Jack Daniel's bourbon-laced chocolate cake ($6) and the Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake ($4) can start fork wars, so arm yourself. The restaurant really shines with its own Kahlua-laced bread pudding ($7). Warm and sweet, it's what all comfort food hopes to be. The Harp is a small dining room, easily handled by one very professional and attentive waiter. General evening dining is limited to Friday and Saturday nights, but the room is often booked for corporate and private events, so it is important to make reservations, or you could end up crashing some nice couple's rehearsal dinner. Dining on a budget The dinner menu has many moderately priced choices. The lighter bites can definitely keep you under $15 at dinner. Dinner under $15: Order the marinated rib-eye salad ($10) with sauteed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, a crispy topping of julienned onion drizzled with peppercorn ranch dressing and cup of seafood chowder ($4). Dinner for $10: Try a bowl of shrimp and crab chowder ($5) and the house salad ($5). |
| Louisiana Crawfish Boil Invades Downtown Orlando at the Celt Irish Pub Louisiana Crawfish prepared the same way as your used to having in Louisiana in Orlando? Say it ain't so! But folks, it's so and happening every Tuesday and Saturday at 5:00 PM at the Celt Irish Pub. We have live Louisiana crawfish and seasoning being flown in the day of the boil from our sister company: The Crawfish Company Of Central Florida and being prepared by the Cajun cooks of the crawfish company. We challenge you to the Louisiana Crawfish tasting test. You decide! Lassez Les Bons Temps Rouler! |
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