D’Arcy’s Pint

BEST BAR FOOD
D’Arcy’s Pint 661 W. Stanford Ave., 492-8800 D’Arcy’s Pint bills itself as a “cozy, neighborhood-style tavern serving authentic Irish fare and American classics.” Our voters must dig the best of both worlds — Irish Reubens, McCafferty’s cheese steaks and bookmaker sandwiches on one hand, chipotle burgers, sausage grills and buffalo chicken sandwiches on the other — as nearly 300 of them turned out to tell us that the local pub takes the cake in the Best Bar Food category. Co-owner Glenn Merriman credits D’Arcy’s bartenders, servers and staff for making the bar worth a trip, too. “We get a lot of repeats,” he says. “People come a lot just to see the help.”
Runner-up: Barrelhead

BEST COMFORT FOOD
D’Arcy’s Pint 661 W. Stanford Ave., 492-8800 Comfort food (n.) Tasty, uncomplicated food that feeds your soul. Forget mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese — for D’Arcy’s Pint co-owner Glenn Merriman that means “stuff that gets you over the hump to the real meal.” And really, after a long day at the office, who wouldn’t want to kick back with a hefty mug of Guinness and a whole plate of Irish nachos, white cheddar cheese nuggets or battered portabella mushrooms? Oh, and nothing says contentment like D’Arcy’s Irish boxty — traditional Irish potato cakes stuffed with jalapenos or bacon and scallions, drizzled with a homemade cheese sauce.
Runner-up: Cracker Barrel

BEST PLACE TO IMPRESS OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS
D’Arcy’s Pint 661 W. Stanford Ave., 492-8800 If D’Arcy’s Pint is good enough for Al Roker from the Food Network’s “Roker on the Road” and Adam Richman from the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food,” it won’t be beyond the pale for your dear granny from Vermont or your nitpicky in-laws from Arizona. Follow the rainbow…er, Stanford Avenue, to the authentic Irish pub and restaurant, where you’ll find favorites like the Dublin pot roast — slow-roasted pot roast served on oven-baked ciabatta bread with Irish farmhouse cheddar and caramelized onion — and the Celtic Philly cheese — corned beef stacked on a grilled hoagie and smothered with grilled onions, peppers and cheese. For dinner, try the Taste of Ireland — a combo of Irish Rover’s shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage and fish ‘n’ chips.
Runner-up: Ross Isaac

BEST UNIQUE HORSESHOE
D’Arcy’s Pint 661 W. Stanford Ave., 492-8800 Is anyone surprised that D’Arcy’s once again snagged the top spot in this category? Along with simple, yet scrumptious, hamburger and buffalo chicken ’shoes — that’s meat served over Texas toast, topped with fries and cheese sauce for you out-of-towners — the Irish eatery features a weekly special. One voter told us they crave the Celtic horseshoe: “I’ve only seen it eaten once, but man, oh, man, I pray it’s the special every time I go.” Caitie Girl’s won second place, and after tasting its signature horseshoe, created with jalapeno cheddar cornbread, pulled pork BBQ and pepper jack cheese sauce, we know why.
Runner-up: Caitie Girl’s