Jason Suss spent 15 years in tech before leaving the corporate world to pursue his passion for cocktails. For the past 12 years, he has worked on both sides of the bar at local restaurants. He now lives in Lowry Hill and owns @AProperPour.
Openings and Closings.
Before we get to this month’s featured spot, I should address last month’s article. Sadly, despite just having opened, Mari’s has temporarily closed. Did they last longer than Matriarch? It’s got to be close. They haven’t given a reason and it’s unfortunate the closure happened the same day the article was published, as I’m certain that would have sent a flood of my loyal readers to visit. There is, however, hope. They posted on social media that they plan to reopen in the spring. Fingers crossed.
Now, on to this month’s spot: The Prodigal Public House.
A public house, or pub for short, is a bit different from a bar. Bars tend to be fastpaced, focused on cocktails, decor and nightlife. A pub is meant to be a casual, cozy, community-focused place with hearty food, good beer, whiskey and conversation. The Prodigal is exactly that.
It’s owned by Randi and Jeff, who just happened to meet and fall in love in a pub. When you go, and you should, you’ll probably meet Jeff. He’ll walk right over, introduce himself, shake your hand and make you feel like he couldn’t possibly be happier that you’re there. But it doesn’t stop there.
The patrons do the same. Each time I’ve gone, I’ve ended up in a fun conversation with the person next to me. In fact, on one visit I happened to sit next to Craig Wilson. I offered to start writing a monthly article about eating and drinking in the neighborhood, and here we are.
In addition to all the friendly people, there are decorations covering the walls, a piano that someone might just sit down and play and a super-cute back room that’s great for small groups.
The Drinks
Like any good pub, The Prodigal has a solid beer selection. You’ll get a proper 20-ounce pour of Guinness or Harp, a classic ESB made just for them from Padraig’s brewery and a variety of other local favorites. The cocktails are pub-appropriate and the whiskey selection is substantial. A handful of wines and nonalcoholic options round out the list. The bartenders are friendly and the kind who will remember you and your order after a couple of visits.
The Food
Pub fare is usually hearty, stick-to-yourribs cuisine. Along with the expected bar apps, various fried parts of chickens, potatoes and vegetables, they also offer the obligatory fish and chips. There are flatbreads and sandwiches, too. But the real star is the pot pie. There’s a chicken option, a veggie option and a rotating special. Hot flaky crust, savory gravy and lots of filling make it one of the best in the city. I got about a quarter of the way through writing this article before deciding that one of them will be my dinner tonight.
So Why Go?
A cold beer, a hot meal and a room full of cheer, absent of pretension. At least half the people there will be regulars. Some have probably been there all day, and they may be there tomorrow, too. I think there are two types of people in the world: those who go to a bar because they know everyone there and those who won’t, for the same reason. This is the perfect pub if you’re the former.
