When you think of eating downtown in the Twin Cities, do you think of Minneapolis first? Come on, be honest? Maybe you think of St. Paul, but I wonder how many do. You really need to if you don’t.  St. Paul has a lot to offer beyond the Excel Energy Center, the St. Paul Science Museum and the Ordway Theater. It has a good number of places to eat as well. One of which is The Liffey, just kitty corner from the Excel Energy Center.

Frickles

The Liffey is one of 4 pubs operated by Cara Irish Pubs. The others are Cooper in St. Louis Park, The Local & Kieran’s in downtown Minneapolis. It’s got a nice and comfortable feel inside when you arrive. Even though it’s attached to the Holiday Inn in St. Paul, you don’t necessarily notice or “feel” that. Back in July of 2011, it was given fresh look inside and out, and so you have a number of seating options available to you to choose from. If  you’re looking for something private or secluded, there’s the “Nook” space which provides you with a more intimate space to eat and talk in for a small group. Then there’s the booths along the windows that you can eat at, similar looking and feel as if you were riding on a train.  There are also some high-stools and counters near the piano area for another kind of eating and social engagement with other fellow customers.

A 1/2 order of Fish

As an Irish Pub, they have a good deal of brews and drinks for you to try, as well as a good number of menu options sure to fill your appetite, whether your looking for a little or a lot to eat.  On my lunchtime visit, I tried a 1/2 order of their fried fish with an order of their “frickles”, deep fried sweet-pickle chips.  What a treat!  The fish is good with a nice coating on i,t so that the fish had good flavor and was great for dipping into the tartar sauce that’s provided. The lightly oiled salad that came along with it was also very tasty and fresh. Next were the “frickles”. I would HIGHLY recommend them for your first or next visit to The Liffey. They’re sweet, juicy and delicious. Especially with the dipping sauce that comes with the oder. They’re sliced a little bit on the thick side for me, I’d actually prefer them to be a little thinner, but the taste was great!

The look, feel and the food at The Liffey shouldn’t be missed. So the next time you’re in or near downtown St. Paul, give The Liffey a try. Your stomach with thank you!

@JoelECarlson:    Hello everyone! Welcome to the TwitterREVIEW of the St.Paul Irish pub called @The_Liffey. Tweeting done by the manager, Jay. Lets go!

Jay:    Thanks Joel, it’s a pleasure being “here” with you.

Q – #1    To start off with Jay, how did @The_Liffey get it’s name, and how long has it been around?

Jay:    The Liffey is named after the famed River Liffey in Ireland wich flows through the center of Dublin.

We’ve been open for over 8 years

Q – #2    Great. For people NEW to @The_Liffey, where are you located so that people can get an idea as to where to find you?

Jay:    The Liffey is located on the SW corner of West 7th & Kellogg in downtown St. Paul, kitty-corner from the Xcel Energy Center

Q – #3    Nice location! Lets now talk about the latest BUZZ about @The_Liffey, the makeover/remodel. When does that start?

Jay:    Very exciting news! We are planning a full-scale remodel inside the pub starting July 15. The new interor combines a sense of

place and spirit while the focus will be “colorfully cozy”. It was designed and will be installed by native Irish craftsmen and

should take only 10 days to complete! Along with the remodel we are currently busy creating a new menu to compliment the the look.

Q – #4    Awesome! So will you be closed during this time of construction, and will the rooftop Terrace change as well?

Jay:    We will also be featuring new drink specials, wine list, & happy hour specials…our outside dining area “The Terrace” will still be

open (weather permitting) during construction, and we hope to re-open the pub by July 28th.

Q – #5    Good to know! You mentioned Jay that there would be some changes to the menu. What items will probably stay?

Jay:    Our core menu items such as our Artichoke Dip, Reuben and Fish & Chips will of course stay but may get a bit of a “tweak”, for example

we will be making our own sauerkraut in-house for our Reuben – we are always trying to improve our game!

Q – #6    Ahhh! Great idea! Does @The_Liffey ever offer brunch or breakfast for it’s customers?

Jay:    The Liffey is open for breakfast daily 7am-1030am M-F and 730am-1030am weekends – we also offer our special Brunch menu from

11am-2pm on Sat and Sun – we are currently revamping our Brunch menu in conjuction with the new-look Liffey – expect to see

traditional favorites as well as some unique offerings including fun “brunch” drink specials!

Q – #7    Lots of NEW things going on and to expect at @The_Liffey! As far as the staff goes, are there currently any job openings?

Jay:    We are always looking for good people and personalities to help us deliver our mission to give our guests a memorable experience…

so they cannot wait to come back! We always encourage people to apply, but we have a solid staff for the rest of the summer.

@JoelECarlson:    Good to know. Thank you Jay for your time and comments about @The_Liffey. An exciting month of July for you and the pub for sure!