Sheehan's Irish Pub

I haven't spent much time in Irish Pubs since moving to Augusta Georgia, having grown up and gone to college in areas with much larger Irish Catholic communities. However, Sheehan's is not your average Irish Pub. I have dined at Sheehan's twice in the last week, and what is most evident is that the folks behind this establishment's success are people who really love food. The other notable fact is that the menu is much more varied than I expected and not a traditional pub menu at all. For my most recent visit on a Saturday night, I had called ahead that day to secure a table on the covered patio, but there were none available due to the large weekend crowds. Dining tables can be found in the pub area, covered patio, and outside, but we ended up in pub area, as the rain prevented an alfresco experience. This section of Sheehan's can get a bit louder than the others, but it was more than acceptable that night. I started the evening with a glass of Pomelo sauvignon blanc ($6.50). I like wine, and I really enjoy sauvignon blanc, but I am not a wine connoisseur. So, I can only say that my dining partner earlier in the week (who is a wine person) recommended it, my followup research online found good things to say about this wine, and most importantly, I found the citrusy, crisp offering to be a refreshing start to the evening. For appetizers, we shared the Eggplant and Smoked Salmon Napoleon ($8.00) and the Fried Green Tomato Salad ($7.00). It is vital to note that while not traditional pub fare, this is traditional pub-sized fare, in other words, the portions are big, really big. The fried green tomatoes were hot, crisp, and juicy and the salad had a flavorful dressing that was cool and paired well with the tomatoes. The servers on both occasions this week offered to plate the shared selections on two plates, which was much appreciated and a sign of fine dining service when done without gripes or god forbid, an extra charge. The eggplant and smoked salmon napoleon was stylishly presented and it tasted even better. It was almost large enough to be a small entree by itself. The eggplant rounds were fried perfectly, and the smoked salmon was generous. The napoleon was topped with red and green peppers that had some bite, and finished with tartar and remoulade sauces. The rolls served in between the appetizers and entrees were perfect with a hot crispy outside and doughy inside.
For dinner, I had the Honey Lacquered Duck (a 1/2 partially de-boned duck) in a light Asian barbecue sauce served with Stilton blue cheese grits and fried green beens ($19.00). Yes, it was as good as it sounds. The duck was cooked perfectly and the portion so large, that 1/2 came home with me. My dining partner had the Grilled Pork Chop, a big 14 ouncer served with mashed potatoes, spinach, and topped with slices of spicy sausage ($22.00). He was quite pleased, and managed to wade his way though most of the giant plate. On my earlier visit this week, a friend and I shared an entree of tempura lobster tail, Stilton blue mac n cheese, and fried green beans ($26.00). It was also excellent, and based on the variety of all things well fried at Sheehan's, some one in the kitchen knows a thing or two about how to do this right.
Once again, we ate too much to entertain dessert. The selections (whisky cake, chocolate volcano cake, etc) sounded very good, and on my earlier visit this week, I managed to share the "Hello Dolly" sundae. It is a cooling concoction of vanilla ice cream, bananas, and strawberries interspersed with a toffee-like crunchy candy made from among other things graham crackers and chocolate--all served in a martini glass. Yummy!
The service is excellent at Sheehan's, and perhaps as telling as anything about this place is that the servers from both evenings clearly loved the food they serve. Both made candid, enthusiastic recommendations. I would have enjoyed this meal in any city in which I experienced it, but I am so pleased that it was in Augusta, Georgia.

Rating: 17/20

Sheehan's Irish Pub is located at 2571 Central Avenue, Augusta, Georgia. Phone: (706) 364-1234. Hours: TBA