When someone mentions a pub, that’s usually synonymous with either the Irish or the English. But at Digger & Finch Pub in Dublin, Ohio, Scottish cuisine is on the menu.
I’ll be honest, I have been to Scotland, and much like the food of the UK, it didn’t thrill me. So, in choosing a place to eat after attending a Major League Soccer match in the freezing cold of Columbus, Ohio, Scottish food would not have been my first choice. But we were in the market for pub grub on a Saturday night…and anything else in the area would have been packed.
What we found at Digger & Finch Pub was a very warm atmosphere. There were still flat-screen televisions with March Madness playing throughout the restaurant, but there was also a fire-place with a real fire burning, beautiful windows and views, and just a comforting setting to settle into, relax, enjoy a pint or two, and some food.
Really good food too, mind you. If, like me, you have traveled to Scotland and not been blown away by the fare…give this place its fair shake. Digger & Finch offers a versatile menu which includes favorites such as shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash, and my roomie’s favorite – fish & chips (which she ordered, by the way!). In addition, some more modern and American foods appear too, like pork chops, ribs, and even grilled cheese.
I admit…I toyed with getting the grilled cheese. I mean, it included three different kinds of cheeses (but mine would come without the bacon & ham rashers, mind you!). Ultimately, however, I settled on the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich, consisting of a grilled Portobello cap on focaccia bread with mixed greens, roasted red peppers, and Pepper Jack cheese. I am still getting used to this gluten-intolerance thing, so I was a bit shy to ask for it without bread. In fact…that would have basically made it a sandwich.
Food arrived and we dove in. And every bit of it was delicious. I had expected the bread to be crisper, but what I ended up with was the mushroom and veggie filling between two very soft and delicious slices of focaccia bread. Very good! And their fries were delicious too. Granted, afterwards I felt the effect of eating the bread, but that wasn’t the restaurants fault…it was mine for ignoring my new food allergies. And let’s face it…it was delicious regardless.
Afterwards, my two friends and I split a dessert…the aptly named Chocolate Explosion, chocolate brownie served with vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Every bite of it was sinfully, melt in your mouth, chocolatey goodness. It was sex on a plate. Delicious. Warm. Melty. CHOCOLATE! Need I say more? I stuck mostly to the ice cream though since I already was feeling the effects of the bread…but took a couple small bites of the brownie. Oh yeah…next time forget the entree…just give me dessert!
Digger & Finch Pub was the perfect place to go after a cold, soccer match. We were not rushed out. We were given time to enjoy our food. And everything about the place just made me feel like I was visiting with good friends, sitting in their living room, having a good time. It’s not the typical pub…but then again, it doesn’t need to be.
And now…Scottish food sounds appetizing again!
The Celiathlete 