The authentic tastes and sips from the Emerald Isle

Author: By Ashleigh Ruhl

All an Irish pub really needs is Guinness, and Auld Dubliner has that — plus much more. Music is usually playing and the pints are always fl owing at the convivial bar and restaurant at The Pike Outlets on Pine Avenue, where Auld Dubliner was fi rst founded back in 2004 and continues to be a popular watering hole for regulars and tourists alike.

Co-owner, publican and Irish import David Copley, who was born and raised in Limerick, has built a cultural destination in downtown Long Beach by recreating the warmth and feel of a village pub in Ireland, from the dark wood fl oor to Irish-inspired music to the themed-photographs and other decorations covering every open inch of wall space. Seeking my own taste of the Emerald Isle on a recent weekday afternoon, I stopped into Auld Dubliner for a late lunch, fi ndingmyself among a friendly bunch of World Cup revelers tipping back a few.

More than suds and spuds, Auld Dubliner has a full restaurant menu — it’s got all the Irish classics you’d hope for, based on Copley’s family recipes. But of course — this being Southern California — there are some Long Beach-specific dishes you probably won’t fi nd in Dublin, including the corned beef tacos and banger wontons.

Besides putting a SoCal spin on a few things, Copley goes back to Ireland regularly to learn about the country’s more modern cuisine, making sure he’s staying true to the country’s traditions without anything getting stale.

With that in mind, I decided to try something different from my go-to Auld Dub favorites: the Shepherd’s Pie or the Guinness Beef Stew.

I ordered a salad instead: the Arugula and Black Pudding ($10), which is a delightful combination of mild blood sausage, fluffy goat cheese and lemon vinaigrette dressing. It’s a healthy dish, and it comes in a portion generous enough to be a full meal.

Not stopping there though, I didn’t want to leave without trying the Irish Smoked Salmon Toasted Sandwich ($13).

It’s a light lunch, with a refreshing blend of dill, chive and cream cheese setting off the flavor of the smoked salmon.

My sandwich was served with a side of perfectly crispy fries, which are always made fresh in house — never frozen — just like all the food served at Auld Dubliner.

And, although I wished I’d saved room for Auld Dubliner’s famous Guinness Float for dessert, I did take home a Baileys Cheesecake ($8 per slice) as a sweet treat for later, knowing full well that all the desserts at Auld Dubliner are homemade on site.

All in all, Auld Dubliner offers a fresh taste of Ireland with SoCal influence — and the all the Guinness and Irish whiskey you could want — that you don’t have to cross the pond to enjoy.