The glass dome at the RiRa Irish Pub in Portsmouth, NH
We spent most of the day at the RiRa Irish Pub in Portsmouth, N.H.
It’s a nice pub set up in a the space once occupied two banks. The bar was salvaged from a pub in Ireland. The former bank vaults serve as a semi-private seating area. As soon as you enter you notice the glass dome. It too is a part of the building’s past, installed originally in 1904 when that part of the building was the Portsmouth Bank. It depicts the seal of New Hampshire.
Here the heavy bank vault doors lead the way to a dining area
Comfortable dining in a former bank vault
We got there at about 10 in the morning so we had a choice between breakfast and lunch. I went with fish and chips . My husband chose the Irish breakfast special for St. Paddy’s day so that he could both try both the white and black pudding that came with it.
Black pudding is a type of sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it’s thick enough to congeal when cooled. I tried a piece, and even knowing what it is, it wasn’t bad. I thought it was a bit salty.
The fish and chips were great but a little bit greasy for so early in the day but you only live once anyway.
Fish and chips
We had a lot of fun there. The staff and crew really get into the holiday and the crowd was having a good time.
Bar at the RiRa Irish Pub
The bar with a halo of light from the dome
We were there in the afternoon for the band Oran Mor and also caught a bit of the Irish step dancing before we had to leave and head home. More about the band and the dancing to come in another post.
As we left we also got to hear a bit of bagpipe music outside the restaurant.
I'm not sure what this is
We took a quick walk to Celtic Crossing to pick up a few gifts and also to Canine Cupboard to get a few treats for the dog.
All in all a good but tiring day.
Find out more about the RiRa Irish Pub in Portsmouth, N.H. here:
http://www.rira.com/index.php?id=34