Loading ...Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub – Portland, Oregon
On my two visits last weekend, I found these comments to be right on the mark. Being in Kells feels as though you’ve walked into a pub somewhere in Ireland and your friends are there welcoming you home. The 40-foot long bar backed by towering shelves filled with hundreds of different liquors, the Guinness and Harp on tap,the emblems of Ireland’s provinces hanging high above the comfortable booths and tables and the warm softly accented greeting received from Kells owner, Gerard McAleese, all radiate authentic Irish hospitality. Kells was voted #1 Irish establishment in America 2009 and it’s no wonder, Kells has it all and shares it with every guest that enters.
Kells menu is varied and has something for every taste including several genuinely Irish dishes. Boxty, Shepherds Pie and Fish & Chips are just a few. Everyone at our table chose a different entree and all raved about their choices. The food arrived promptly, warm from the kitchen and more than enough to satisfy the hardiest of appetite.
Kells is not just another Irish pub, their generosity is obvious. Looking up to the ceiling above the bar brings into focus hundreds of dollar bills. These dollars come from customers throughout the year and are collected during the annual “Kells Ceiling Scraping.” Their total is matched dollar for dollar by Kells and donated to Providence Child Center. The center also benefits from some sales at the Kells annual St. Patrick’s Irish Festival.
Friday nights’ entertainment, Grafton Street, is a trio of incredibly talented musicians, singing and playing traditional Irish songs. The bar area was packed and noisy as you would expect, but not so loud as to drowned out the music. Guests were dancing and clapping and all appeared to be having a grand time, as was the band.
All in all, Kells lives up to its reputation for being the destination when in the Portland area. I would highly recommend stopping by Kells for a pint, some pub grub, a wee meal, outstanding entertainment and most assuredly a hearty helping of Irish hospitality. All are available and waiting for you at Kells-Portland.
To visit Kells website: http://kellsirish.com/
Thank you, Gerard, for your gracious hospitality. And, for taking me back to Belfast for a few hours. ~DianeS
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