Fresh off a lunch visit for Himalayan Nepali cuisine, I decide to head over to the opposite end of the food spectrum: Irish pub! I had seen some good online reviews for Doherty’s Irish Pub in Cary on High House and figured it was finally time to check em out! Not knowing what to expect, Doherty’s is located on the side of a large strip plaza and I admit that I wasn’t too thrilled by what I saw on the outside. Bland signage, a faux Irish pub store-front, I had just been at the Hibernian the previous night and it just didn’t compare. And growing up in the Boston area, old-school Irish pubs are pretty common. But looks can be deceiving. I realized that once I stepped into Doherty’s and had a very solid, dining experience.
Inside, Doherty’s picks up the pace with some polished wood booths and an old-school u-shaped bars. The place was busy for lunch time which was a good sign. Looking through the menu there are all the pub classics along with some interesting house items. I order up the Irish egg rolls (cool) along with their fish and chips. (Yes, please!) Doherty’s has a restaurant side (booths) with the bar and pub area which is mostly high-boy seating. Looking at the signage, looks like they occasionally have music here along with the usual daily specials.
We get our Irish egg rolls which are stuffed with pastrami and sauerkraut, interesting. We get eight pieces of well-fried roll which show off their deep red interior. It’s a tasty and non-greasy treat which pairs well with the sweetish 1000 Island dressing, yum! Next comes my fish and chips which is a nice plate of fish, fries and haricot vert (green beans). I had read about Doherty’s fish and chips and couldn’t resist the reviewers were absolutely correct. Doherty’s does a great fried fish in a super light, airy, crispy batter fried just right. Dipped into the delicious tartar sauce it made for a great bite. The fries and not traditional pub chips but lightly coated and delicious. The lightly sauteed green beans were even well-done and made for a nice alternative to all the fried going on my plate.
Service at Doherty’s was excellent, they noticed the untouched soup with my lunch-mate and took the item off his bill. Even though the place was really busy, they were doing their best in cheerful fashion to keep their customers happy which I certainly noticed. So while from the outside, Doherty’s doesn’t look that impressive, if I lived in this area I’d definitely swing by regularly. In fact, if you put the food from Doherty’s into the Hibernian, I think you’d have a fantastic Irish pub! But I’m pretty sure that’s wishful thinking. So thanks Doherty’s for a great lunch. It’s a little bit off the beaten path for me but you were worth the effort…
Cornerstone Shopping Center
1979 High House Road
Cary, NC 27519
919.388.9930
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