3930 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89119
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Ri Ra is a popular Irish Pub with numerous locations. One of these can be enjoyed at The Strip's Mandalay Bay casino. If you find yourself planning a Vegas vacation during the busy St. Patrick's Day/March Madness week, Ri Ra will be one of several Vegas Irish themed pubs you will want to check out. Or, you may just want to try it out anytime of the year if you are craving some traditional Irish food! This is the best place on the Strip for high quality Irish food.
Ri Ra serves up some tasty authentic Irish fare. The Fish & Chips, a favorite amongst most tourists was recommended by our server, and Mike throughout enjoyed his entree. The potato cakes are the most delicious appetizer! I was very pleased! The onion rings were a bit of a disappointment. Other app choices include: Chicken Bites, Deviled Scotch Egg, Wings, and Baked Goat Cheese.
In terms of soups, you cannot go wrong with the classic Potato Leek option. Before your meal, your server will bring out some tasty Irish bread with Kerrygold Butter. The bread is a bit different if you are not used to it, however, very good.
A sample of entree choices include: Pub Mac and Cheese, Irish Chicken Curry, Guinness Stew, traditional Shepherd's Pie, and Jameson's Salmon.
There are lots of choices for everyone at Ri Ra, even vegetarians and those dining gluten-free. Several menu items can be prepared gluten-free on request (they offer gluten-free buns). For vegetarians, they have some great salads on the menu including a Strawberry and Shaved Brussels Sprouts salad, so you will definitely not leave hungry! And the mac and cheese is delicious! Basically everything is delicious and totally affordable, especially for a touristy area like Vegas!
Service was just fantastic here. Our waiter was friendly and more than willing to make recommendations. Most restaurants on The Strip have fabulous service, and Ri Ra is definitely one of them.
If there is anything disappointing about the Ri Ra experience, it is the dining atmosphere which feels a bit cramped. The back room is especially unattractive with a bright red color theme and crowded seating. The ambiance is noisy and uncomfortable with too many crowded tables as opposed to private booths. The front of the restaurant is designed more like a traditional Irish pub, although seating often fills up early.
The pub was constructed n Ireland and shipped to the Mandalay. If you can get a seat in this area, the ambiance is great, and as an extra bonus there is often live entertainment.
Overall, Ri Ra is a decent Irish pub on The Strip. The food and service are both fantastic here, the live music (with bands direct from Ireland) is a great extra touch, and the service exceptional. The setting is a bit loud, however, fun for anyone planning a fun night out on The Strip/social gathering. I recommend the delicious Mac and Cheese, the standard Fish and Chips (really, you have to at any Irish Pub), and the comforting Potato Leek soup.
