The Cottage Irish Pub at EGAD Review

If you are looking for Irish food on the Space Coast, you have a couple of options. Meg O’Malley’s is a Downtown Melbourne classic, but I have found that I prefer the Cottage Irish Pub in the Eau Gallie Arts District. This is a cozy spot with both outdoor and indoor seating and an authentic Irish menu.

Location and Atmosphere

You can find the Cottage Irish Pub right on the end of the arts district in a wooded corner. This makes it both convenient to get to, but also secluded feeling. There’s street parking as well as a big lot across the street. It’s also walking distance to Intracoastal Brewing Company and Traditionals if you want to bar hop after your meal.

I absolutely love the outdoor seating here. There’s a big wooded patio out front with a tree growing right in the middle which makes for a lovely atmosphere. Irish and folk music is frequently performed on the patio during the weekend evenings which is extra fun.

The last time we went, we ended up on the back patio because of our large group, so we could not hear the music. However, the lighted trees make it feel like you are in a magical forest, so don’t discount the back patio either!

The inside of the restaurant is equally as charming, as it feels like you are eating in an Irish living room. Old paintings and a few Guinness signs adorn the walls and there are tables and chairs in every nook and cranny. Lastly, there is a small bar, but you are welcome to sit anywhere you like, even if you are just coming for a pint.

Beverages at The Cottage Irish Pub

It would not be an Irish restaurant without Guinness! They have it and the Guinness blonde on tap, in addition to Harp Irish Lager, Smithwicks Irish Red, and Intracoastal Dragonpoint IPA. If you don’t like any of those, they have a wider selection of cans, with everything from a Bud Light to a Whiskey Aged Stout. The draft beers range from $5.50 to $7.00 and the cans from $3.75 to $7.00.

The Cottage also has a decent selection of wine for either $6 or $8 per glass. And there is the usual selection of soft drinks, as well as coffee and Irish tea. I pretty much always get the Guinness or a Black & Tan. If just goes perfectly with the food.

Food at The Cottage Irish Pub

On this past occasion, we dined with my parents and sister, so we ended up getting a lot of food. We started with the Beer Cheese Pretzel and the Irish Nachos, both for $8 each. The pretzel came with beer cheese and a tangy seeded mustard. The “nachos” are actually fries with beer cheese, bacon, chives, and sour cream. This wasn’t a healthy way to start the meal, but it was delicious!

I recommend the “nachos” over the pretzel because they was a bit more unique, but both hit the spot. However, one appetizer would have been more than enough, because they are both very hearty. We ended up devouring the appetizers and then still having a lot of entrée leftover.

The night was slightly chilly, so I was really feeling the Tomato Basil Soup. However, this $4 cup didn’t seem like it would be enough, so my mom and I each got a soup and then split the French Dip. It turns out that after the appetizers, the soup would have been plenty! It’s definitely more of a bowl of a soup than a cup and it comes with some tasty Irish soda bread. I absolutely loved the tomato basil flavor and have been craving this soup again lately.

The French Dip on the other hand, left a bit to be desired. The beef was not nearly as tender as it should be for a French dip and the sandwich fell apart quickly. However, the au jus was very flavorful and added a lot to the sandwich. The cheese on it was also good, but added to the messiness of the sandwich. We both found the half sandwich with the soup and the appetizers, was way more than enough food.

My Dad was also in the mood for a sandwich so he got the Reuben and loved it. The corned beef was perfectly cooked and the sauerkraut added that nice acidic flavor. These sandwiches were both $12, but were pretty big and came with chips and a pickle. They offer a half sandwich, half cup of soup deal for $10, but it is only for cold sandwiches.

Andrew and Nancy both opted for the traditional Irish meal with The Cottage Pie. This shepard’s pie had seasoned beef and veggies over mashed potatoes and topped with Irish cheddar. They both thought it was extremely well done, and very similar to what you would find at Raglan Road.

Other Irish dishes on the menu include Bangers and Mash, Guinness Beef Stew and Fish and Chips. I have had the fish and chips in the past and they really have the batter down. It was light and flaky, but didn’t fall off the fish. Between this and the savory mashed potatoes, you can tell the owners of this pub are from Ireland!

Know Before You Go

The Cottage Irish Pub is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week and closes at 10 PM Sunday-Thursday, and midnight Friday & Saturday. They don’t take reservations, but as long as the weather is good, there are always plenty of picnic tables outside. It can be very lively in the evening, but being an Irish pub, I think it would be a bad thing if it wasn’t!

I was excited to take my family there, as Andrew and I had been a few times before and loved it. They all had a great time as well and it is possibly our new dinner spot before going to check out can releases at Intracoastal Brewing. Between the location, food and ambiance, you can’t go wrong with this restaurant. The full menu pictures are at the end of the post for reference!

Do you like Irish food? I’m part Irish and used to hate it growing up, however I am a big fan now!