1. Menu
2. Food Review
3. Restaurant Rating
4. Recommendations
5. Information

Do you know anything about Irish food or Irish pub culture?

Personally, this didn’t cross my mind, but pubs are actually a big part of Ireland’s culture. If you’ve watched a lot of movies in European settings or if you’ve watched documentaries and clips, you’ll see people in pubs drinking Guinness, which is a true Irish staple. In Ireland, pubs are held in the same esteem as churches because they are regarded as pillars of the community. They’re safe spaces where locals meet, talk, and unwind. For travelers, Irish pubs are among the best places to meet locals and ask for advice, as they serve as genuine community centers.

It’s a welcome surprise to know that a restaurant in Davao City shares a peek of what Irish pub is like. Along V. Mapa and Tavera Street, you will see a clover sign, which is a typical Irish icon. Blarney’s Irish Pub opened just this year, 2025, around February. Although the general connotation when you hear ‘pubs’ is that they are a place for drinking, you’ll be amazed that Blarney’s Irish Pub offers a good spread of European and Irish cuisines that are not typically served in other restaurants.

In fact, as we entered the pub during lunchtime, it provided a cozy atmosphere similar to what you see in pub scenes in movies. It’s an all-new experience with a wide selection of spirits, from famous Guinness beers and apple cider beers to a long list of wines, liquors, and mixes. Although a nighttime experience would feel different, I will be writing my food review and restaurant review during our lunch visit.

Menu

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Blarney’s Interior + Menu (pause if you need to). #davao #davaoresto #wheretoeatdavao #davaocafe #davaofood

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Food Review

I found that Blarney’s Irish Pub is an underhyped restaurant that opened in Davao City in 2025. Not a lot of social media influencers talk about this, and not a lot of people from my social media feed post relating to this restaurant. Yes, the dishes might be intimidating because what does Irish food taste like? Honestly, I associate Irish food with a good cross between American (being hearty, fatty, and meaty) and European dishes that would go well with hard liquor. If you’re health-conscious, though, this may not be the best fit for you.

Pan-seared Salmon Plate– 10
I am not the biggest fan of salmon, but their pan-seared salmon is scrumptious. It had a beautiful golden coloration and was perfectly seared. It was tender and perfectly pink on the inside, yet crisp and slightly crunchy on the outside. The flavors are well-balanced. It’s not salty but perfectly seasoned, which allowed the natural richness of the salmon to shine. What sets this apart from all the other salmon dishes I’ve tried is its white sauce. It’s similar to a sour cream sauce, slightly tangy, noting some hints of vinegar, and has shredded pickles on it. It perfectly cuts the fattiness of the fish and provides a palate-cleansing bite to finish. The fries were also a good side to opt for. It was perfectly fried with a good texture. Having just plain salt and pepper flavor, the fries provide a nice balance that complements the dish fully. The only downside for me was the Brussels sprouts, which I’ve never been particularly fond of. Other than that, this fish dish is divine.

Ulster Fry – 8.5
Ulster Fry is a famous Irish dish. You know how Americans have their typical breakfast with pancakes, bacon, and eggs, while the British have muffins, eggs, beans, pudding, and sausages? For Irish people, this is Ulster Fry. Typically, it consists of pork sausages, bacon, eggs, black pudding, bread, tomatoes, and mashed potatoes.

Blarney’s version only consists of two humongous pork sausages, with tomatoes, their delicious sauce, and a choice of potatoes. Ideally, it is served with mashed potatoes, but this is not available, so we opt for the fries. I wanted to try the full Ulster Fry experience, but they don’t have black puddings (made out of pig’s blood).

While the pork sausages were good, they’re not anything unique. However, the serving size is quite generous and really filling. The pork sausages served are not the usual ones you find and buy at general markets. If it is sourced, it might be from deli shops, but if it was made in-house, the quality is delicious and really great.

The thing that makes this dish shine, though, is the sauce. Unlike other restaurants that use pepper gravy or the usual brown gravy sauce, this one had a different flavor that had a tangy and mustardy aftertaste to it.

Steak Pie – 10

If you’ve ever had pot pies, then you might be acquainted with the taste. This dish is very interesting in its visual appeal. It’s a whole pot topped with golden puff pastry that serves as a lid, baked in all its flaky glory. If you cut down the puff pastry, lies a well of tender beef cuts swimming in a pool of delicious, thick, white creamy sauce, perfectly salted and seasoned. It’s a filling dish that is not stingy with its beef cuts and is never short of flavors. This dish can be shared by two or more people and goes perfectly well with the puff pastry and fries as a side.

Sangria – 9.5

I really loved their sangria. It’s a good balance of sweetness and the strong bitter taste of the red wine. It’s also refreshingly cold. The only downside to this drink is that it lacked the fruits that could have made it perfect.

Stowford Press Apple Cider – 8

It might be too early to have a huge pint of an alcoholic drink at lunchtime, but this one is good. It’s light but has a really strong kick that made me really tipsy after downing the whole pint. It has a strong apple flavor but has a sour aftertaste like apple cider vinegar. It would be really nice if this were served really cold, but it was almost lukewarm without any ice.

Restaurant Rating

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