Fionn MacCool's

Fionn MacCool's

4485 Gateway Boulevard

Edmonton, AB T6H 5C2

(780) 431-1100

Fionn MacCool's is found on the south end of the Holiday Inn on Gateway Boulevard. Opening in the spring of 2012, it is a part of the Prime Pubs chain of Irish-style pubs found across the country. The restaurant is decorated in dark wood with glass etched with beer company logos dividing sections. Classic rock hits waft through the atmosphere at a moderate volume.

The establishment is divided into a dining room and a bar, with the elevation of the tables and proximity to the bar being the only differences I noted. Perhaps it's more lively on Fridays and Saturdays, but on my Sunday evening visit the spirit laid-back with many couples out for dinner, and hotel guests working on their laptops over beers.

Mini Yorkshire puddings

I started out with a Guinness, and an order of miniature yorkshire puddings. These were freshly baked, and stuffed with a tender beef short rib. It was braised with an unfortunately salty sauce that masked most of the Alexander Keith's IPA it reportedly contained.

Haddock sandwich (L) & pub salad with chicken (R)

The haddock sandwich was the tasty combination of haddock, fried to a perfect crisp, topped with lobster and slaw. Accompanied by thick-cut fries, my guest was very satisfied with his entree. Though the kitchen initially forgot the asparagus spears for my salad, they arrived quickly after I enquired, and I enjoyed the dish, particularly the oniony zest of the Strongbow Cider dressing.

Spice cake

We visited on the eve of a menu change, and were able to have a sneak preview of their new spice cake dessert. Warm, covered in caramel, and with a tangy cream cheese consort, I'm confident this will be a popular new item.

My guest and I enjoyed our selections that evening, and both of us saw several menu items we'd like to try at future visits. The service was attentive, and I appreciated the easygoing atmosphere and fairly low noise level for our casual dinner. For hearty, comforting food in a decent North American interpretation of an Irish Pub, Fionn MacCool's is worth a visit if you're in the area.

Restaurant website