Sporty Life
The motto at R.T. O'Sullivan's Sports Grill is "Irish hospitality with a flair for fun!" Irish beers and whiskeys are poured, along with selections from elsewhere. There are parties and events for holidays and sporting events, and there are nightly happy hours, and food is also served. Appetizers are the munchies one finds at other sports bars, such as nachos, potato skins and "Southwest Egg Rolls." A nod to the Emerald Isle is found in one of the four mini burgers: the "Irish Slider" tops corned beef brisket with hot mustard. The entrees will really have you seeing green, however, as half the menu is taken up by Shepherd's Pie, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Bangers & Mash and Harp's Fish & Chips.
R.T. O'Sullivan's Sports Grill
1010 W. Southern Ave.
Mesa, AZ 85210
(480) 844-1290
-also-
6646 Superstition Springs
Mesa, AZ 85206
(480) 396-9933
http://www.rtosullivans.com/
Sporty With Kilts
It's said "a cold beer never looked so good" as at the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, whose franchises are found in 32 cities in the continental United States, including Mesa. Sort of an Irish version of Hooters, the sports pubs feature shapely lasses serving food and drinks--in plaid kilts. Irish beers and whiskeys are among the pours, and entrees include Danny Boy's Shepherd's Pie, Gaelic Chicken and Longshank's Platter (braised sausages, onion, peppers and garlic mashed potatoes on the side). The appetizer menu includes the culture-blending TK's Irish Nachos.
Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery
Baseline and Gilbert Roads
Arizona, AZ 85204
(480) 507-5458
http://www.tiltedkilt.com/arizona/mesa/index.html
Lots of Turnover, Friendly Folks
The Phoenix New Times singled out the Cornish Pasty Co. in the alternative newsweekly's special "Best of Phoenix 2009" edition. The jumbo turnover is filled with steak, onion, rutabaga and potato. Also available are porkies, which come stuffed with pork, sage, onion, potato and apple; lamb-and-mint varieties for traditionalists; and pesto chicken, chicken tikka masala and Philly cheese-steak versions for the adventurous. Frosty beer helps wash it all down. You'd expect no less from an Irish- and English-themed joint.
Although it says "Irish" in the Friendly Irish Pub name, the food there is American; but the beer is cold, the whiskey is neat and you can usually scare up someone to throw darts with.
Cornish Pasty Co.
1941 W. Guadalupe Road
Mesa, AZ 85202
(480) 838-3586
http://www.cornishpastyco.com/
Friendly Irish Pub
1423 South Country Club Drive
Mesa, AZ
(480) 464-8030
