Serving classic Irish fare and Thai-influenced dishes
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Irish pubs, having once worked as a musician in an Irish band in my younger days. Indeed, there is something invariably comforting about hearty Irish fare and really good beer on tap.
O’Kane’s was designed as a tribute to owner Denise Scheffer’s father, John O’Kane, whose grandmother, Mary O’Kane, owned and operated a pub in Northern Ireland. But this pub is a bit different than the one that John O’Kane would have remembered. With Thai Chef Vithoon Khamchareon creating dishes like Thai Tuna Burgers along with traditional Irish fare, O’Kane’s boasts a “Thai-rish” menu with a multitude of choices.
Our group decided to go for the Irish fare, which is always warming and delicious, but we began with a basket of Fried Calamari served with marinara dipping sauce. We all agreed, it was the most perfectly cooked calamari on Amelia Island – with a light & fluffy batter, and very tender.
Our shared entrees included Fish and Chips with real malt vinegar, Steak and Guinness Pie, and Shepherd’s Pie. Our favorite was definitely the Steak and Guinness Pie, made with the renowned Guinness stout, Certified Angus Beef sirloin tips, peas, carrots, and new potatoes in gravy, and topped with puff pastry. In fact, we enjoyed our lunch so much that we decided to return to O’Kane’s for dinner the next night, eager to try some “Thai-rish” dinner entrees.
I ordered New Zealand Mussels served with a spicy garlic sauce and the dish was out of this world – highly seasoned with garlic, ginger, and star anise, and extremely tender. We also enjoyed the Dublin Spicy Lobster Tail with oriental vegetables and a special Szechuan sauce. Thai chefs are well known for their ability to cook seafood to perfection and our entrees were no exception.
In addition to fabulous and unique food offerings, O’Kane features 12 varieties of beer and two ciders on tap and Irish music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. For dessert, I suggest O’Kane’s Irish Cream Bash, a gigantic slice of ice cream pie that tastes like Bailey’s Irish Cream without the alcohol.
A warm and comforting restaurant with a friendly staff and extraordinary food, O’Kane’s Irish Pub & Eatery is always eager to bid all their customers “A Hundred Thousand Welcomes!” in the warm Irish tradition.
