Restaurant Review: The Pub Polaris

By: The Wayfarer

16 Comments

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  vestanpance February 19, 2009 12:46 pm

  Unfortunately for the reviewer “Shephard’s Pie”  is spelled Shepherd’s Pie… like herding sheep…. hence the name.

  then again you can find this error on every Bag of Nails menu also.  /sigh
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  chaptal February 19, 2009 1:06 pm

  Went up a few weeks back. The fish and chips were decent. Had a dessert called the Tipsy Laird that was a decadent mix of deep fried pound cake and brandied fruit, but had no authenticity. The decor really has no clue what it wants to be. Kilts and a large union jack on the ceiling is kind of a mish mash of culture.

  I like the look of the place, but it’s not worth the trip.
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  shroud February 19, 2009 1:10 pm

  I think I had a pretty similar experience at The Pub — fish & chips was good, though not particularly “mindblowing”.  The goat cheese dip appetizer, while not especially authentic, WAS very tasty.  I don’t think I was as turned off by the decor, but I WAS baffled by the kilts as well.   Their “signature beer” (so named to me by our server) is Bellhaven Scottish Ale, which is indeed excellent – but again, SCOTTISH is right there in the name…  *shrug*

  The biggest disappointment for me was probably the fried pickle – SO not what I’ve come to expect from a fried pickle, very different from pretty much anywhere else I’ve had one.  It was breaded in what I’d call “hush puppy breading” instead of the same batter used for the fish…  and wound up tasting more like some sort of horrible pickle-corn dog hybrid.  Ugh.
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  hungrywoolf February 19, 2009 6:30 pm

  “Notably, the Scotch Egg, a British staple, was not on the menu.”

  I have to say, I don’t ever recall having seen a scotch egg on a pub menu in Britain. They are usually eaten as part of a packed lunch or picnic, so I don’t think that is much of an omission. 

  I don’t know if they make them regularly but Barley’s had amazing house-made scotch eggs at their Burns supper. 
  http://hungrywoolf.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/burns-supper/

  I don’t ever remember having seen a fried pickle on an British menu either…. although in Glasgow they will deep fry anything, so maybe! 
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  swampkitty February 19, 2009 9:17 pm

  vestanpance – Agreed, although typically Shepherd’s Pie = lamb, whereas Cottage Pie = beef, so it’s completely misnamed in the first place ;)

  Actually, not much on their menu is what I would consider typically British anyway. Paninis, really? When I think of British foods I think of puddings, stews, etc. I would kill to find somewhere in Columbus that does a proper British fry-up. Any leads?
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  shroud February 19, 2009 9:26 pm

  swampkitty — I didn’t try it, so I can’t speak to the authenticity, but last time I was there (early January), Claddagh had a menu flyer insert that included a number of new items, one of them being the full English Breakfast … so if they still have it, you could try there?
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  swampkitty February 19, 2009 9:50 pm

  shroud – close but not quite what I’m looking for. I was thinking more of what is commonly referred to as an “ebcb” – eggs, bacon, chips and beans. IOW, fried eggs, rashers, french fries and beans. Easy enough to make here at home (since I can get Heinz beans at World Market), but haven’t been able to find a source of rashers here in Columbus short of traveling to Cincy (Jungle Jim’s) or Cleveland (Gaelic Imports).  I know a British guy at The Anderson’s told me he gets his at Bluescreek, but that they only sell it in bulk.

  ETA – Here’s a food blog that reviews ebcb all over the UK, so you’ll get an idea of what I’m talking about: http://russelldavies.typepad.com/eggbaconchipsandbeans/
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  AnneD February 19, 2009 11:19 pm

  Gaelic Imports!!! I miss that place from my northern Ohio days. They had really marvellous scones and eccles cakes.

  Have you ever been to Wise Choice British Foods in Dayton? I heard about it recently but haven’t had an excuse to drive out that way. They seem to have quite the selection, even frozen foods: http://www.wisechoiceuk.com

  (And Meijer’s is my current place to buy the Heinz beans – they seem to be cheapest there!)
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  swampkitty February 20, 2009 3:20 am

  Gaelic Imports is one of the places we stop every time we go to Cleveland. We got hooked on them when they were in the North Market, and were so sad to see them go. I so miss their bridies.

  Nope, haven’t really had the opportunity to spend any amount of time in Dayton, although if I do get out that way, I’ll have to check that place out.

  Will have to keep an eye out for the Heinz beans in Meijer. I’ve seen that they have a decent sized ethnic food section, but haven’t looked at it very closely. Thanks for the heads up. :)
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  turbo ninja February 20, 2009 10:24 am

  Does the Gaelic Imports in Cleveland carry Irn-Bru? 
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  chaptal February 20, 2009 10:44 am

  I know Jungle Jim’s has IRN-Bru. Wise Choice seems to, but it’s double the price of Jungle Jim’s.

  Someday Yuengling and IRN-Bru will be available in Columbus :)

  If the Pub really wanted some authenticity, they’d have Irn-Bru, on tap!
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  jennyleah31 February 20, 2009 11:03 am

  I’ve yet to try to The Pub in Polaris but I frequent the one at The Greene in Dayton. The inside of their pubs are decor mostly brought over directly from London so hopefully this one is the same. It’s always fun and the food is 90% of the time excellent. Monday nights are 1/2 price for fish and chips which I love. Maybe the polaris one is just new and needs their kinks worked out (crossing my fingers).

  If you like mushrooms, you must try the Stuffed Mushroom Appetizer (amazing). I say the food is great most of the time b/c i got this once and the mushrooms were not cooked thoroughly. Anyways, try the KENTUCKY BOURBON BEER!!!! In my opinion beer does not get much better than this (note i’m not a fruity flavored kinda beer girl)… $3 a glass = beer fermented in whisky barrels… burping axed unlike having a bud light and u get a great buzz :) ask for more? i think not.

  Hopefully The Pub will improve in Columbus b/c short of driving to my parent’s in Dayton I was really excited to try the one in polaris…  
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  vestanpance February 20, 2009 12:09 pm

  since we moved here from england and I’ve stopped going back every year I’ve been missing a place to get good pork pies.   :(   yes I know there are places outside of c-bus.. but why not in it!

  oh and I’ve never heard anyone in england say “cottage pie” but I learned something today :)

  funny all these people wanting english food when the joke is that it sucks.
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  AnneD February 20, 2009 8:08 pm

  I agree about the pork pies – all these bakeries in C-bus, and not a single British one among them!

  I had no idea that Gaelic Imports used to be in the North Market! I remember seeing the shop when I first moved to Columbus, but I had no idea it was connected to the Cleveland store.

  I will be stopping in for some meat pies and Eccles cakes next time I am up north! Too bad they’re having a blizzard right now.
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  Socbum February 24, 2009 5:53 pm

  Another feature that they claim on their web site is the ability to watch English Premier League Football.  They have specials during the game that include 1/2 price fish and chips (if you are wearing a game jersey) and $4 pints.  We went to watch a game and they did not have the sound on for the game.  When I asked to have the sound for the game they stated “we don’t do that here”.

  They are not going to get many EPL fans if they refuse to turn the sound on for the games, specials or not!
  After my experience at The Pub,  I sent in a note through their website asking if they planned on supporting EPL games with sound and I never received a response.

  In my opinion, the Pub is a theme restaurant of their own design not an authentic british pub.
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  Angel February 25, 2009 10:02 am

  does anyone know what their happy hour is? I know it’ 3-7 but can’t find any details on it. I’m thinking of going this friday.  Thanks!