Dish & Drink KC: St. Patrick’s Day preview at Conroy’s Public House and The Craic on Main

Reuben at Conroy’s Public House. // Photo by Lauren Textor

Forget about Valentine’s Day. The next major drinking holiday is St. Patrick’s Day, and we all know how crowded downtown will get. Start planning early with us for one of the rowdiest days of the year.

Conroy’s Public House

You probably know at least one annoying study-abroad kid, no matter how old you were. They spent a semester outside the U.S.—probably in Europe—at some point in their life, and now it comes up in almost every conversation. “When I was in Spain…” “Mm. This pizza is okay, but the ones in Italy…” Etc. 

I fill this niche for my friend group. Last fall, I studied abroad in Ireland, and I will never let anyone forget it. 

My first meal in Cork was chips and curry from Hillbilly’s, which was a five-minute walk from my apartment. Right after dropping my stuff off in my room, I ordered a meal that was more of a side, and now I crave it like some people crave their mom’s chicken soup. 

All this is to say that I developed an affection for Irish food, especially pub food, and sometimes I attempt to scratch that itch here. 

I visited Conroy’s Public House once with my aunt before I left for my semester in Ireland. We each ordered the fish and chips, and she downed a tall glass of Smithwick’s, her favorite beer from her own semester abroad. I poked at the mushy peas and cleared my plate of the flaky, battered fish, wondering how Conroy’s might stack up to Ireland itself. 

Leek and potato soup at Conroy’s Public House. // Photo by Lauren Textor

Now that I’ve been back and forth from Dublin a few times, I can definitively say that Conroy’s inspires an accurate nostalgia for the Emerald Isle. 

Firstly, it’s dark. All of the pubs that I visited in Ireland were dark, too, with photographs in wooden frames, beer adverts pasted to the wall, and maybe even a flash of neon in the window. Conroy’s is much bigger than the average Irish pub, with many more tables, but the decor stacks up pretty well. You might even spot a table of white-haired men gossiping in a corner, which is very necessary for maintaining a proper vibe. It’s not a nightclub, after all. Jay-sus. 

The food is standard, simple fare. Homemade sausage rolls, wings, sandwiches, salads, and baked potatoes. For $11, you can order two of the three lunch combo offerings: a half sandwich, salad, or a cup of soup.

Of course, if you’re committed to an Irish meal, you’ll have the Reuben with leek and potato soup. I ate some version of it in between many of my classes in Cork, and Irish corned beef is just superior. Add in the tang of Thousand Island Dressing and sauerkraut, and this sandwich is the craic.

The soup was thick, bobbing with chunks of Ireland’s most famous crop. It was sprinkled with cheese, adding to the already creamy flavor. 

Conroy’s Public House is located at 12924 State Line Rd., Leawood, KS 66209.

Cameron’s Kick at The Craic on Main. // Photo by Lauren Textor

The Craic on Main

When my Dubliner boyfriend was in town, my parents bought each of us a drink at the Craic in Parkville. He, of course, ordered a Guinness. 

His exact words were, “I’ve had worse pints in Ireland,” which is high praise coming from him.

Cameron’s Kick is not on the official Craic menu—or, at least, it wasn’t when I was there. It certainly deserves to be. My mom asked for a sweeter cocktail, and the bartender immediately whipped up a citrusy wonder that she knocked back. I downed a watermelon shot while my dad sipped at a Black and Tan.

My dad enjoyed his drink, but my boyfriend quickly pointed out that you’d be hard-pressed to get a Black and Tan in Ireland. It’s called a half and half over there due to the history of the Troubles in the north.

While we sat, my boyfriend chatted to the owner about the Rugby World Cup and the hoard of Irish memorabilia on the walls. In addition to serving quality pints, the Craic serves traditional Irish pub food such as beef stew and fish and chips.

The building has its fair share of history, too, as it was constructed in 1927 to serve as Parkville’s first U.S. Post Office. Now, it’s a roaring good time, complete with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Craic is located at 12 Main St. in Parkville, MO 64152.