Baile Corcaigh

I had heard of this place from a few friends and finally had the chance to check it out.
It has an absolutely beautiful interior, richly detailed wood and nice booths.
The food, I have to say, was far better than what I expected. On both of my trips to Dublin I came home disappointed with ‘real Irish food’. Baile Corcaigh gets it right, extending beyond the ‘typical’ Irish meat-​and-​potatoes. Unfortunately they were out of the Shepard’s pie, but the shrimp dish I ‘settled’ for was very good.
The music was authentic and not overpowering.
I want to see this place on a night that is bustling and lively. It feels very authentic, in a GOOD way!

My family happened upon this place after another area restaurant had a huge wait. We were not disappointed. From the start, the Irish soda bread was delicious. I got the beef stew which was great, and just like my grandpa makes. All of the food was very substantial and we were all very full when we left. We got dessert which was awesome. They also had a small but nice selection of draught beers.
I liked the décor, being dark and cozy. It was a nice and relaxing environment (although this isn’t necessarily the case when there’s live music, I’m told). Our waiter was also quiet but nice and took good care of us.
I had never really considered going out for Irish food before, but I definitely enjoyed it.

The drink prices are steep, which probably helps keep the riff-​raff out and plenty of barstools open for me and my friends. The food is good and the vibe is warm and family friendly. Not the place you want to get falling-​down drunk and cantankerous. However, do stop in for a pint or the city’s very best Irish coffee (made with home-​made cream). Sing along with the band. And try that Irish staple: calamari.
Hey, it’s good.

From the website: Baile Corcaigh (bal-​ya cor-​kee) means «Town of Cork». Makes sense, eh?
Had to hit up Corktown for St. Patrick’s Weekend (yeah, Americans will stretch out any holi-​day into a weekend, given the chance). We’ve never been here before and were impressed with the neighborhood vibe, the authentic furnishings brought across the ocean with care, and of course, the food and beer.
The pub is pretty classic — a few pub tables line one wall, the dark wood bar opposite. We were there early and the pub was the most occupied. Most of the younger folk were in the pub, while the older patrons were there for an early dinner. The dining room lies on the other side of an elegant wood-​paneled wall with very solid stained glass panels. The booths look to be imported straight out of some castle on the Irish countryside — heavy, carved wood, leather seats, and the tables are solid as well. A small stone fireplace anchors the seating area… the band set up right in front of it.
Our server arrived with glasses of water and a basket of soda bread. Hubby started off with a Guinness (I wonder if that’s the Irish equivalent of Bud?) and progressed to Smithwicks (pronounced Smithix). We chose the not-​very-​Irish fried calamari to start, which was delicious — great batter.
Hubby got the shepherd’s pie, sauteed ground beef with some veggies and mashed potatoes on top and a side of green beans. I got the chicken pot pie, in a really good buttery sauce with chicken, veggies, and a nice flaky crust. I got a healthy side of mashed potatoes and green beans. Hubby is a starch fiend so he got the rest of my potatoes to mix into his pie. He rated his dish as fair, due to his preference for more carbs. Mine was four star-​worthy.
We would have stayed longer to listen to the band but we had to get to a show, so we skipped dessert this time.
Overall, it’s a great restaurant with owners who obviously take a great deal of pride in it. We enjoyed the chance to enjoy a part of Detroit that we don’t get to often and would love to come back with a larger party (for a rollicking good time, dontcha know).
Notes: The restaurant has a private, free parking lot.