Claddagh Restaurant & Pub — Restaurant in High Point

Review based on tonight’s experience:

Barely available waitstaff. The bartenders were “not available” according to the owner, despite us finding out it was a bartender’s first night working there. The drinks were watered down despite their prices. Myself and my date watched other patrons get their food first, when they arrived after us. We had to REMIND the owner we had ordered drinks 20 minutes ago. When trying to order another round of drinks, he stated he didn’t know his own cocktail menu as an owner… it was 6 items long. At about the we-are-confused-as-hell minute mark, my date checked with a waitress about how long our food would take. The waitress attempted a sarcastic comment with “in about another two hours.” She had us. She absolutely had us. It literally seemed like it could be an eternity before she went “just kidding!” My date then directly asked how much later and she said “five minutes.” Eventually, I had been sitting there for ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES, with our main course meal NOWHERE in sight. We had only received our appetizer 40 minutes prior. We both ordered the McGrady Panko Crusted Chicken, a popular special on the menu.

After ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES, our meal finally arrived at the table. Followed by a sheepish, relatively insincere “sorry it took so long” from the waitress. It was said in a tone that conveyed I should be happy it arrived at all, as if it was our fault that we expected the meal to be served within 1 hour and not just by the final call. At the exact same time, my date just finished paying the bill at the bar so we could try to salvage the rest of the night. He had asked to have the main course removed from the tab since it hadn’t arrived yet, despite the long wait. So when my date arrived back at the table, we were absolutely dumbfounded at what we both just experienced: Incredibly, depressingly sad service. We both had to leave at that point, so ultimately we couldn’t even eat the main course meal and therefore we had to leave without paying for it.

WE BOTH WORK IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, and there are simply no excuses for the disappointment I experienced at Claddaugh’s tonight. Normally, I love eating at small local restaurants. I work in a local business, and love having opportunities for customer interactions. Yet tonight I felt robbed of both my time and money by the end of this experience. This place is truly feels like it is not being managed: simply just opened and closed by the owner. I will never be going back to this restaurant, and advise others to take their business elsewhere if they wish to avoid this kind of...

WARNING ‼️ I visited this establishment on St. Patrick’s Day and it was my first time. I knew racism still existed but wasn’t expecting it from a well established restaurant in my own city. The patrons were great. I had good conversations and was enjoying myself. I had sat at the bar and waited for my food for 45 minutes patiently because I understood it was a crowd. When my food came out it was cold and the 1st waitress said she wanted to reorder because they left it sitting out. When the next order came I asked another waitress for silverware so I could apply my mayo and she snatched my food and walked off. When she brung it back it looked like the they slapped it with a ton of mayo pictured below. I asked for my money back in a polite manner and the waitress walked off. A few minutes later a group of security officers walked up and one of them asked me and everyone standing near me to leave. I asked him what did I do and he said the waitress felt threatened. I explained I never spoke out of tone to her as other patrons stated the same thing to him. I also asked why do they have to leave and they are not even with me other than we were all black so you assumed we were together. He then began to speak to the young black lady with disgust because she asked why was he putting them out for no reason. I really felt bad because everyone was totally innocent. When the manager came I asked him for my money and he said he could only fix the food over for the 3rd time. At this point I asked again can I just get my money and leave your establishment and then the aggressive security officer made all the blacks in my area go outside. He then told me he would bring my food to me in the parking lot. This is one of those situations that could have went so bad if I wasn’t more interested in my lifestyle and job. I’m 54 years old and never looking for trouble but that waitress and security guard made a bad decision and their true intentions were exposed! He spoke to us like we were in the 1800’s. Those are the type of attitudes that will cause chaos and division. I’m always a class act but for a quick second I almost matched his energy but I thank GOD for his guidance. Now I know why I have never visited or ate in this restaurant and I have lived in this city...

Our stop here for lunch yesterday proved interesting and informative, with some mixed results on our meal choices. This place is a bit off center , location wise - located a block or so behind Biscuit Factory, near the intersection of Eastchester & N. Main, but rather hidden from view.

The area is not particularly appealing, and they share a parking area with an accounting firm. The outside belies the rather attractive, somewhat upscale interior. The bar area to the right of the entrance is roomy, dark wooded, inviting, a real pub feel to it. The dining area to the left is bright, with lots of green and white, the tables attractively setup with cloth napkins and table cloths. This is a narrow dining area, rather cozy, but could be noisy if crowded.

The service was quick, friendly, and efficient. We ordered a couple of Irish standards - Corned Beef & Cabbage ($10.95 for the small), and Fish & Chips ($9.95 also for the small). The Fish & Chips was rather a disappointment in most every way. The size of the piece of fish was indeed small, especially once the heavy handed batter was penetrated. What little was there was not especially fresh tasting, nor was the batter. The Chips were just ok. Overpriced and bland, & would not order again.

The Corned Beef & Cabbage was superb - the beef nearly falling-a-part tender, the cabbage and red potatoes cooked perfectly, and the broth in which all was immersed, was sublime - as good as any I've tasted anywhere, including London, New York, and Boston. I'd come just for this dish.

The menu offers some other typical dishes - Shepherd's Pie, Bangers & Mash, Chicken Pot Pie - and some not some typical - Fettuccine Alfred & and a Vegetable Stir Fry. There are pub sandwiches, including a Reuben and Burgers, and more. Also a few salad choices, including a small Salad & Potato Bar in the bar area.

This is a cool place for a comfort lunch (picking the right dish is important), or a nice pint or two after dark. It is a noisy place, a little Irish music goes a long, long way, and the daily vacuuming might be better done before the start of...