Recently, I had the chance to preview Fionn MacCool’s summer menu, which debuted at the chain earlier this week. Fionn MacCool’s, which is one of the four brands under Prime Pubs (others are Tir Nan Og (Kingston), D’arcy McGee’s (Ottawa area) and Paddy Flaherty’s (Sarnia), is known for their wide-rage menu which includes more “traditional” pub favourites from the British Isles as well as more “modern” items like chicken tikka curry and salads. These are items that are rarely removed from the menu. The seasonal menu, on the other hand, changes every quarter.
The summer menu includes six items, with both shareables and individual plates. They are:
Irish Chip Nachos:
A twist on the Irish chips and dip from the “regular” menu, this plate is topped with aged white cheddar, hot peppers, tomatoes, green onions and chipotle mayo. This is an excellent shareable plate, and one really has to forget about the calorie, fat and sodium content and just enjoy!
Grilled Bacon Sarnies:
Sliders made out of both peameal and regular bacon, topped with avocado purée and spicy onion salsa. While this is not a personal favourite (a bit too much bacon for my tastes), this is probably a pork-lover’s dream.
Lamb Burger:
Chargrilled ground lamb with Indian spiced onions and Stilton cheese, this burger is juicy and has a bit of a twist to it from a more “standard” lamb burger. Served with thick cut, fish and chips-style fries.
Pear and Pomegranate Salad:
A salad! Something a bit on the lighter side for those who aren’t into heavier, starch and meat-filled pub fare, this is made with spinach and frisée and tossed with honey-citrus vinaigrette. Added on top are sliced red pear, pomegranate seeds, pecans, shaved parmesan and then drizzled with a bit of honey.
Steak and Shrimp:
The six ounce bavette steak with Chimichurri sauce is grilled to order and sliced. Accompanied with corn and jumbo shrimp, it is served with fries. The meat is very tender, with the sauce giving it even more flavour.
Dublin Street Sandwich:
I’d have to say that this is my favourite. Inspired by street food in Dublin, the sandwich is a mix of different cultures, featuring a flat iron steak with roasted red peppers, citrus yogurt, cucumber and pickled onions wrapped in warm naan. While it’s a bit messy to eat, the meat is juicy, with just the right amount of spice that it isn’t overdone.
In addition to these six items, the summer menu also features two cocktails. In all, I like the menu, though I would have liked it more had there been at least one chicken or fish item rather than it be exclusively red meat, save for the salad and nachos.
NOTE: Some locations might not be carrying the summer menu
