New Bar on H St, NE – Star & Shamrock has Soft Opening

by Prince Of Petworth April 18, 2010 at 9:46 pm 38 Comments

I’ll admit I was very skeptical when I first heard about plans for a Jewish Deli combined with an Irish Tavern. Well, Star & Shamrock located at 1341 H Street, NE really impressed me. The space is quite comfortable with a huge bar, plenty of tables and tvs:

As a proud American Jew originally from New York who also drinks a lot of whiskey I feel especially qualified to give a huge thumbs up to this place. Even the latkes were good! Sadly I didn’t get to try any deli sandwiches but I have very high hopes.

A few more photos after the jump plus their soft opening menu.

Below is an obscured look into the deli section.

Thanks to Nichole for sharing the latkes:

Thanks to Claudia for sharing the pigs in a blanket:

E-Rich

This sounds like a great idea. I’m very excited to try this place. I hope the sandwiches are delicious.
nancy sinatra

Post title places the bar in a different quadrant
dmf

you should see the irish pub slash indian cuisine restaurant in san francisco…

as an irish american who loves to visit india, this makes actual sense to me. the two have a lot in common aside fmor just being former brit colonies and the same colors on their flags. :)
Breath mint

Bah. What’s on tap?
nancy sinatra

He’brew?
Anonymous

This place sounds like it will be the bomb!
People will be bursting with joy in this locale!
The food will blow your mind!
I think the popularity of this place will EXPLODE!
new hampy

i’m shocked at the prices of the sandwhiches – very reasonable! can’t wait to try this place!!!!
- u street girl
  
  Really? $8.50 for a turkey sandwich? I hope you’re joking. I’m sure it’s good but how about some deli prices? Taylor’s is more affordable.
  - Ryu
    
    You obviously aren’t familiar with the prices at high quality Jewish delis.
    - u street girl
      
      I am. Been to many. Haven’t paid $8.50 for a turkey sandwich.
      - Ryu
        
        Name them. Taylor is not. Turkey sandwiches at some of my favorite delis: Canter’s ($11.25), Langer’s (12.95), 2nd Ave. (14.95), Katz’s (14.45). I’m not saying this place is or ever will be on the same level as those delis, but you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.
    - Anonymous
      
      are any of these in dc?
      you cant honestly compare nyc prices to dc.
      well.. you can, but its means nothing to us dc folk.
Eric

but is it actually Kosher? I would like to grab lunch with an Orthodox friend. Anyone know?
- quincy9
  
  Not kosher. There are two places in DC that are certified kosher.
  - Me
    
    is maoz one of them?
    - quincy9
      
      Don’t think Maoz is certified, but it may very well serve kosher food (much easier when all items are vegetarian). Eli’s and the JCC Cafe are certified.
Badger

How can the place be Kosher and Irish?
- Anonymous
  
  i dont follow. is that mutually exclusive?
  - Badger
    
    Pretty much yes. There are a lot of pork and otherwise non-Kosher foods in Irish cooking.
    
    Remember that even a cheeseburger is non-Kosher.
    
    I can’t see them opening up two kitchens in the place and maintaining separate dishes and everything.
    
    Yeah, it’s possible, but odds are really against them.
    - Anonymous
      
      i’m not saying this place is certified kosher, but theres no pork on the menu.
      or cheeseburgers
      - Nichole
        
        You can get bacon on any of their sandwiches. It’s not Kosher.
Anonymous

I was thinking of opening a Halal English Pub across the street to compete.
- Anon
  
  That joke would be funnier if you’d said Palestinian/English Pub.
- Anonymous
  
  joke was already funny as is
johnkin

I served in the Peace Corps in Mongolia and there was a combination Mexican-Indian place called Los Banditos. Mmm…nachos and tikka masala.

I was also at the soft opening. I didn’t try any food, but the beer was good. I’m also half Jewish and half Irish, so I’ll be suing them for stealing my life story.
- er
  
  As another half-Irish half-Jewish, I am pretty excited to try this place out. Glad to know the beer and latkes are good!
  - Me
    
    what what. another 50/50 irish jew checking in.
    
    my rabbi said at my bar mitzvah that the lost tribe of israel landed in ireland.
    
    think he was playing to the crowd perhaps…
    - Badger
      
      Just to be clear, there were ten lost tribes.
Brandon

Interesting demographic on H Street NE now.
PGBCAPHILL

Taylor’s is a rip off!!!! Talk about 1-2 slices of meat and 1/2 head of lettuce!!!
Charles

The fried chicken livers, while surely terrible for me, were delicious.
PG

Since Leopold Bloom was Jewish, this place should be interesting on June 16.
monkeyrotica

If this place makes a reuben as good as Deli City, they have a license to print money. Even if that sucks, I’m still all over the fried chicken livers.

The dessicated turkey asswiches at Wall Street Deli are $8. You might find something cheaper at Subway, but then you’d have to deal with that weird wide-open ass smell at Subway.
Kev29

As an American of Irish descent who basically grew up with Parkway Deli, I am 100% behind this. Wish I lived closer.
Trinidader

We had a great time Friday. Didn’t get a chance to try the food but they had a great beer and whiskey menu. My only complaint is they had mini pint glasses instead of the proper pints that Fado and other places have. The mini Guinness pints just don’t feel the same.
- Kev29
  
  Yes! Proper 20oz tulip pints are crucial. Though they can lead to some sticker shock when a bar realizes they should probably be charging $7+ for that much of the black stuff.
  
  How much for a Guinness during the soft opening?
  - Trinidader
    
    I think beers were only 5 or 6 bucks so not too bad. I’m happy to pay $7 for the 20 oz pints.
Anonymous

joke was already funny

Subscribe to our mailing list