Restaurant Reivew
Kells Irish Pub
Kells Irish Pub is the best place in Portland to enjoy traditional Irish pub fare, as well as the best St. Patrick's Day destination in Oregon. This is the place to go downtown if you are craving some tasty pub style comfort food. The cozy ambiance and great service has made Kells a favorite with both locals and visitors since opening in 1983.
Food
Kells offers your typical lineup of Irish favorites like Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie, and Corned Beef and Cabbage. The nice thing about Kells is the focus on natural ingredients, which is a bit unusual for a pub, but greatly appreciated by the health conscious diners out there.
There are plenty of tasty appetizers on the menu. Try the Irish nachos - probably a ton of calories, but worthy of the splurge!
In terms of entrees, you really cannot go wrong with Fish and Chips. And if you are a vegetarian, no need to worry as there are plenty of options. Try the delicious Butternut Squash and Barley Risotto.
In keeping up with the Portland health conscious vibe, there are plenty of meat-free options as well as traditional fare! You will also find a number of gluten-free selections including a delicious Chicken Curry.
Service
Service is great at Kell's. The owner was walking around all the tables greeting guests.
Atmosphere
The ambiance at Kells is just great with authentic decor and a cozy feeling that goes along great with Portland's dreary weather. The cozy fireplace, brick walls, and woodsy furniture give the place a lot of character. On cold, overcast days, Kells is the perfect place to warm up and enjoy some warm comforting foods.
Kells claims to host the largest St. Patrick's Day festival in the Northwest. The place is decked out in green as soon as March rolls around.
As soon as you enter, you will notice tons of money up on the ceiling. Kells has a unique tradition where they collect donations throughout the year, toss them up on the ceiling, and sweep them down on St. Patrick's Day each year. Kells matches whatever is up there, and donates all the money to local charities! What a great program!
Final Remarks
Kells is a wonderful dining choice in downtown Portland. St Patrick's Day or not, Kells offers a winning cozy ambiance and delicious comfort style foods menu.
