Firkin hungry

Are you "firkin hungry?" Try the Firkin and Friar Pub on Commodor Plaza. There is lots to do there, too. You can eat, drink, play pool and enjoy sports on comfy leather couches in dark wooden rooms.

Ask Todd (shown here) about the free glass of wine (or beverage) when ordering lunch.

Todd told us that "firkin" refers to a nine gallon barrel of beer used in olden England and Friar is the name given to this particular Pub, all of the chains are "Firkins" with a different name attached such as "Friar" for the Grove location. It's the old Don Quixote location with the old world charm left in tact.

They offer English, Belgian and Irish beers including Guinness, Beck's, Bass, Harp, Smithwick's Red Ale, and much more. The entire Samuel Smith collection is also on hand according to the "New Times."

The staff is quite friendly, except for one angry young lady who sat us and didn't seem to keen on us being there. But we enjoyed the outside seating area in spite of her and Todd's excellent demeanor and service made up for the nasty person who sat us.

Even the chef remembered my friend from the night before and gave him a big hello. They didn't have the lamb, which another friend ordered the night before, and the chef was kind enough to personally come out to the table to apologize for not having the item that night and then again to say hello to my other friend the next day. That was very nice and made my friend feel special.

That's a stained glass window (at right) left over from the old Don Quixote motif. It fits in well with the pool table area.

Try the French Onion Soup ($4.95) and the Coconut Shrimp ($8.75) as delicious appetizers. You can't go wrong with the Firkin Burger ($7.95) or Fish and Chips ($6.96 to $9.25) and of course what is an English pub without Bangers, Beans and Mash ($8.45).

Firkin & Friar is located at: 3148 Commodore Plaza.
Phone: (305) 443-2774