RESTAURANTS > RESTAURANT PROFILES > The Kinsale

The Kinsale
2 Center Plaza Government Center 617-742-5577


A taste of Ireland has arrived via an old Irish pub in Government Center, and this one is a bit more Irish than just the taste of the cuisine and the essence of a Guinness in your mouth. The Kinsale Irish Pub and Restaurant is Irish from its stouts down to its floors.

Ceiling beams, stools, floorboards and all the knickknacks betwixt and between were handcrafted and assembled in Ireland, then shipped across the Atlantic to Boston to be reconstructed into the current locality.

Greeted by the sounds of live Celtic music and the hum of the after-work crowd watching sports and chatting with friends, I walked through the pub and into the quieter yet still lively dining room.

Intricate shields, teapots and Irish tapestries decorate walls that reach high in a cathedral arch. The dining area welcomes larger parties at its open tables as well as more intimate gatherings in its booths and snugs (small alcoves set back from the rest of the dining room).

Comfortably seated in a spacious booth with a good friend and a pint of Guinness, I was ready to eat. We started with soup; he chose a bowl of the fresh clam chowder while I ordered a cup of butternut squash, the soup of the day.

After a tasty first course, we were ecstatic when our waitress, Fiona, began bringing bites of various dishes to tantalize our taste buds.

The Hearty Sampler offered potato skins, Bombay spring rolls covered in a mango chutney dipping sauce and bruschetta.

As the last spring roll disappeared, we were presented with an impressive dinner spread consisting of chicken pot pie, seafood pasta dinglebay and Shannon’s sauteed chicken. Unique from one another, the entrees offered a pleasing variety that mollified my appetite with gravy-soaked chicken served in a bread bowl; shrimp, calamari and mussels over pasta; and boneless chicken breast served with wild mushrooms, asparagus and grilled polenta. Looking at my empty plate, I thought I was done.

Done until Fiona brought over some chocolate lovin’ spoon cake and creme brulee. I couldn’t help but indulge myself once more by digging into the rich chocolate cake layered with fudge and a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.

And, so as not to leave anyone or anything out, I helped myself to a spoonful or two (or three) of the creme brulee. Fresh raspberries hidden within a velvety vanilla creme, topped with a crisp carmel crust, the dessert was a delicious end to an extravagant tasting session.

The comfort of a good friend and a pint of the finest Guinness always makes for a great evening. Add that combination to an eclectic array of American and Irish cuisine and you’ve got the Kinsale, a perfect place for a “taste”ful evening on the town.