Springfield, Missouri’s Taste of Ireland: Dublin’s Pass

When you are visiting a new or unfamiliar place, learning the sights is difficult enough, but finding a decent restaurant can be tremendously difficult. Sure, you could follow the recommendations of radio or television ads, or you could go to a well known chain that you have heard about on a regular basis, but I find that some of the best restaurants are off the beaten path. Some of the most masterful chefs need no advertisements beyond word of mouth. Some of the best memories can be made in the best hidden places.

Over this past weekend, I got the pleasure of revisiting one of my favorite Irish pubs. If you live in the Springfield area, surely you have heard of Dublin’s Pass, located just off of the downtown square, just next door to the Gillioz Theater; however, if you aren’t from the Springfield area, this hidden treasure has probably slipped through your fingers. I gained my love for this establishment about 2 years ago, when my wife and I first moved into the area, and when time permits, I always make an attempt to come back for lunches on the square.

For this article, I have chosen to write my honest review on this terrific restaurant, and tell you why you should give it a chance next time you are in the Springfield area. As an added benefit to this article, we asked a couple of our good friends, Sean and Colleen to meet up at the pub to give us an honest evaluation, as Sean actually has experienced traditional non-Americanized Irish pubs while visiting Ireland.

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The Scenery

Dublin’s Pass, as I mentioned earlier, is located just off the downtown square of Springfield, next to the historic Gillioz Theater. The red brick building with a green awning has an outdoor seating area for it’s customers who want some fresh air on a warm spring or fall day, or on a cooler summer day, and has plenty of outdoor seating. From the outdoor seating area, one of the restaurant’s many big screen televisions can be seen broadcasting sporting events. Above either side of the awning is an Irish flag, paying homage to, of course, Ireland.

Inside the restaurant, you get a real feel for an actual Irish pub. The restaurant has dim lighting, as is characteristic of many other establishments that specialize in providing a nightlife experience for it’s customers, and helps you to focus on the members of your party. Surrounding the interior walls and the bar are carved decorative wooden inlays, which gives the bar a bit more of a “historic” impression, and again, also adds to the goal of making the establishment feel like you are actually in a pub in Ireland. There are a couple of small, enclosed English booths in the restaurant, which offer snug and private seating. Other than the drink specials lining the walls, one of the decorations that I find most fascinating is the clock near the front entrance, which displays the current time in Dublin, Ireland (while this isn’t a centerpiece to the ambiance of the restaurant, it definitely adds a cherry on the top of all of the smaller details).

This establishment has several different means of entertainment for you while you wait for your food or drinks. Strategically placed around the pub are several big screen televisions, which typically play whatever sporting events are currently playing. Just off the front corner of the building is a small and cozy room, which houses a pool table, a traditional bar-style dart board, and a boxing arcade punching machine. When facing the front of the bar, to the far right of the main room, is a shuffleboard table, which I haven’t personally seen in many bars in the Springfield area.

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The Food

Dublin’s Pass offers a full and diverse appetizer menu, including Loaded Tots, Dublin Nachos, Scottish Eggs, Giant Soft Pretzels, and Dublin’s Jumbo Wings. I personally couldn’t pass on the Reuben Rolls, which are handmade Irish egg rolls, filled with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and are served with home-made Thousand Island dressing. The flavor of the Reuben Rolls was almost perfectly balanced, with the sauerkraut offering a bit of flavor to the dish without overpowering it. The Thousand Island dressing was definitely a nice touch, making the dish so much more convenient and easy to eat than a Reuben sandwich.

My wife, Amber, being the ever-so picky eater that she is, ordered the Pretzel Sticks & Guinness Cheese. The pretzel sticks were cooked to perfection, not being too doughy, but not overly cooked and tough. The pretzel sticks were lightly salted, and came in a serving of two sticks, which seemed to be the perfect amount to hold one over until the main entrees arrive to the table. The cheese dipping sauce is infused with… You guessed it… Guinness beer. The beer offers a bit of flavor, without being overpowering.

For our main courses, I chose to follow a theme from my appetizer (the Reuben Rolls), and so I ordered the St. Patty Melt. The St. Patty Melt at Dublin’s Pass is a hamburger patty, topped with chopped corned beef brisket, sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. To further enhance the dish, it isn’t served on a hamburger bun (because that would be too basic); the St. Patty Melt is served on two slices of marbled rye. The flavor was amazing, and even though it took me a little while to find the hamburger patty, on account of all of the added fillings in the melt, everything was cooked to perfection. Again, the sauerkraut offered a bit of extra flavor without being too overpowering, and the home-made Thousand Island dressing definitely brought the dish together. The St. Patty Melt was served with a side of hand cut fries, which really completed the meal.

Again, for the main course, Amber was a bit of a picky eater, and chose to go with the Classic Fish and Chips. This dish was served with two cod planks, which were deep fried in a Guinness beer batter. The flavor of the Guinness beer in the fish batter was definitely pronounced, but didn’t overwhelm the senses (you see, Amber can’t stand the flavor of beer, however, she definitely enjoyed the dish). The dish was served with the house tartar sauce, which was expertly put together, and served with a decent portion of hand cut fries.

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The Dublin Dare 2.0

If you are an extreme foodie or culinary adventurer, then make sure to try the Dublin Dare 2.0. This meal is made for someone with a MONUMENTAL appetite, and someone that can hold their portions. This is one food challenge that I have not yet had the honor of trying.

The Dublin Dare 2.0 consists of the restaurant’s largest burger: a Reuben sandwich topped with FOUR hamburger patties, bacon, sausage, Guinness cheese sauce, and is topped with another Reuben, a Reuben roll, and a Scottish egg. Served as a side, you get one pound of fries AND one pound of tater tots, which are both loaded. As a drink, you get one quart of Guinness beer, as well as a Dublin Drop Shot.

The price tag on this one meal is just a little steep, at $50; however, if you completely finish the Dublin Dare 2.0 in thirty minutes, you receive your meal for free.

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The Prices

Overall, the pricing at Dublin's Pass was very fair, and around what you would expect an establishment as such to cost for a good meal. The drinks were definitely reasonable, and the food was priced fairly for the portions we received. We had the financial benefit of visiting the restaurant during their happy hour, which cut the cost of our appetizers in half, so we could eat a full, large meal without spending unnecessary funds.

The Reuben Rolls normally costs $9, but because of happy hour, they only cost $4.50 at the time of our visit. The Pretzel Sticks & Guinness Cheese normally costs $7, but only cost $3.50 during happy hour.The St. Patty Melt cost $11, while Amber's Classic Fish and Chips was the highest price menu item we indulged in, at $13. Finally, I couldn't leave the pub without sampling a Guinness beer, as well as a drop shot.

Overall, our entire tab, before the tip for our amazing waitress (and as it turns out, manager of the establishment), was $44.50 for two people, which is quite comparable to many other restaurants in the area.

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If you are looking for a traditional Irish pub feel in Springfield, Missouri, look no further than Dublin’s Pass. I can not think of one negative experience I have had at this establishment, and they have always been sure to please. To me, Dublin’s Pass is a way of visiting Ireland, without ever leaving the United States.

The atmosphere at Dublin’s Pass is definitely enough to make a memorable experience. The large wooden inlays and moldings surrounding the walls add a bit of sophistication to the establishment, and the atmosphere has been very warm and welcoming every time my wife and I have visited. The pub has a wide range of music playing in the background, from traditional Irish folk music, to Irish rock, to American rock, which just adds to the atmosphere.

The food at this restaurant is simply to die for. Whether you are visiting for just a small lunch, or a couple of drinks, or whether you are visiting to take on the Dublin Dare 2.0, the food has always been top notch for our family. Everything on the menu has consistently been very fresh and flavorful, the beer is poured perfectly, and the shot options are always very good.

The prices at this restaurant are definitely worth the portions you receive. Again, my wife and I had quite a large meal, drinks, and appetizers for only $44.50; the price would have been slightly higher if we hadn’t come to the restaurant during happy hour, but it would have still been within the realm of reason.

Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the Springfield, Missouri area.

Dublin’s Pass is located at 317 Park Central East in Springfield, Missouri. They are open seven days a week, and hours vary based on the day; check out their listing on Google for more accurate hours.