Kennedy’s Non-Sticky Non-Divey Irish Restaurant

Since late last year, my officemates and I have been holding a monthly dinner club where we invite our favourite co-workers past and present to dine with us on various cuisines from around the world. As last month’s dinner fell on St. Patrick’s Day, I asked my friend Beth to choose something Irish for us.

No one was excited about the prospect of this, I should mention. Not only did no one believe there’s such a thing as Irish cuisine, but we all imagined being forced into this crowded, divey bar with sticky floors and slobbering drunk frat boys. But when I walked into Kennedy’s, I discovered comfortable booths, old-timey music, and a long bar that was full but not overcrowded with a pleasant mix of young and old.

I’m a chicken pot pie fanatic, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with my thick, golden crust and its piping hot insides. The all-white chicken chunks were tender, huge, and cut in the jagged way that let you know they’re not thawed from a bag.

My friend Jack, along with about half of the table, ordered the shepherd’s pie, which was definitely fit for two people, though Jack certainly gave it a good go.

I find most New York cheesecakes sadly lacking compared to what I can make at home (or order at The Cheesecake Factory), but I couldn’t help wanting to try the Kahlua Cheesecake for dessert. Our waiter reluctantly explained that they had run out of it but then mentioned that pouring a shot of the coffee-flavored liqueur over a slice of cheesecake would give me the same effect. And so that’s what we did, and it was as awesome as expected.

Kennedy’s wouldn’t be the sort of place I’d take a date to impress him or the kind of restaurant I’d bring a visitor to if I wanted to give her a taste of NYC, but for generous portions of home-cooking in a completely unassuming and friendly atmosphere, I’d definitely go back. Plus, we sat beside Jackie Mason there, which means I get to add someone new to my personal blog’s list of Famous People I Have Seen While Living in New York City from July 2005 to Present.

Exciting, eh?