Check out these 9 Rockford-area eateries serving up St. Patrick's Day specials
No need to be green with envy.
Anyone and everyone can celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Rockford. With St. Paddy's Day falling on a Sunday this year, there are several weekend-long activities none bigger than Rockford's St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday and what the city has dubbed "Operation Emerald Water," turning the Rock River bright green.
After the parade, you'll likely be in the mood for some Irish dishes and drinks. If so, check out these dining establishments.
Ernie's Midtown Pub
The parade will kick off in the Midtown District in the Rockford Public School Administration building parking lot, right across the street from Ernie's, 1025 Fifth Ave.
The pub will be serving corned beef, cabbage, pastrami, Lubins, Reuben sandwiches, corned beef quesadillas and plenty of Irish beer.
Ernie's is open 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
8th Ward Pub
Starting Wednesday through Sunday, the neighborhood pub at 3905 Broadway will be offering Irish foods such as corned beef and cabbage dinner for $15, a Reuben sandwich and chips for $13, Reuben dip $12, and mint Oreo and Baileys cheesecakes at $8 a slice, and a full list of St. Patrick's Day cocktails and green beer.
The 8th Ward Pub is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Jax Pub
Bagpipes can be heard at 6 p.m. on Saturday followed by a regular DJ at Jax Pub. On the menu this weekend are corned beef and cabbage dinners for $17 and Reuben sandwiches.
Jax Pub is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily at 4160 N. Perryville Road in Loves Park.
Mulligan's Irish Pub
Corned beef dinners for $14.95, corned beef quesadillas for $10.95, Reuben and fries for $9.95 and drink specials such as Guinness Draught $5 and green shots $5. Mulligan's is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily at 2212 N. Main St., in Rockford.
Murphy's Pub
Irish dancers and bag pipers will be performing from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Murphy's. On the menu is their signature corned beef and cabbage meal for $15.99 and Reuben sandwiches for $13.99 as well as plenty of green beer.
Weekend performances include The Magtones, Clan MacAlpine Bagpipe Band, DJ Launch Box, Emerald Wind, Trinadora, Chantal Pellman and DJ Quick Mixn Rick. Murphy's is open 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily at 510 S. Perryville Road.
Neighbors Bar and Grill
The luck of the Irish will have two bands — Lola Blu Band, country music, and Trash 80’s, classic rock — performing Saturday at the bar and grill.
On the menu is corned beef and cabbage and Reubens and Irish drink specials. Neighbors Bar and Grill is open 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily at 7745 Forest Hills Road in Loves Park.
PaddyFest Embassy Suites Rockford
PaddyFest 2024 takes place from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Embassy Suites, 416 S. Main St.
Entertainment includes Madison, Wisconsin-based The Tooles and Beloit, Wisconsin-based Emerald Wind.
Families can enjoy a traditional Irish buffet with corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, steamed carrots, a roll and cookie for $22. A kids meal that includes chicken strips, mac and cheese, veggies, and a fruit cup is available for $16.
The GOAT Pub and Grill
Reuben sandwiches are a month-long mainstay at The GOAT.
The pub and grill is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday at 1428 N. Main St. in Rockford.
The Olympic Tavern
The Olympic Tavern posted the following on Facebook:"Lots of places in town purchase pre-cooked deli style corned beef, ready to slice. Instead, we source the best quality whole corned beef briskets we can find, slow roast them for 6 hours in the oven at 300 degrees, chill, trim and carve each by hand. Does it take a lot more time and labor? Yes, it does. But we know that when you try our Reuben, or corned beef & cabbage, you'll understand why we do it the long way.
"CB&C, Bangers and Mash, and our Drunken NY Strip won't be served until we start our St Patrick's Bash 2024 at noon on Saturday, but we will be happy to pour you a pint of Guinness and grill up a tasty Reuben any day that we're open at the Olympic."
The Olympic is open 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 11:30 p.m. Saturday
Chris Green is a Rockford Register Star general assignment reporter. He can be reached at 815-987-1241, via email at cgreen@rrstar.com and Twitter @chrisfgreen.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Irish eats served up at these Rockford businesses
