People around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day — typically with anything green, a parade and a toast, along with a good Irish feast. If you plan to step out and celebrate this Irish holiday and are seeking an authentic Irish dish typically not found on menus, here are three notable Wichita stops serving up something very Irish for your tastebuds.

Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar

First stop is Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar, where one of the most familiar faces at Mort’s, longtime bar manager Emma Russell, will be making her “legendary” corned beef and cabbage stew. Emma has been personally making the stew for Mort’s customers on St. Patrick’s Day for at least 15 years. It’s a favorite and according to Emma, “I have to make it. I have no choice. If I did not make it, I would get in big trouble and my staff requires it too.” Believing the recipe was originally her mom’s, she knows it by heart and every year has made two industrial stock pots of the popular stew that Mort’s serves in a complimentary bowl to patrons until the pot run dry, along with a side of crusted bread. In the Irish spirit, Mort’s also makes all their drinks green all day long and offers the typical Irish whiskeys, brews and other celebratory drink specials. Mort’s will be open from noon to 1 a.m. with live bands starting at 2 p.m. 

Artichoke Sandwichbar

Next stop is the Artichoke Sandwichbar, and they will be starting the party early! The Artichoke is joining Wichita’s Fake Patty’s Day celebration held one week earlier on Friday, March 11 in conjunction with the popular Delano downtown parade, recently renamed the Paddy Day Parade. Artichoke’s featured Irish dishes will include their Mulligan stew, bangers and mash, and their Reuben sandwich, a customer favorite on the menu year-round, piled with corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, and topped with thousand island dressing. The stew is described as a typical Guinness stew and the bangers and mash dish consists of sausages served with mashed potatoes, peas and an onion gravy. Co-owner Uche Onwugbufor, will tell you what makes those two specially prepared Irish entrées undoubtedly stand out: their own homemade onion gravy, truly an untold family secret recipe. The Artichoke will offer drink specials, including $4 Guinness and $3 green beer pints, along with other drink specials and shots, plus live music. Their celebration will be held on not only Friday, March 11, but continues Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, known as the Artichoke’s Irish Weekend. On Fridays and Saturdays the Artichoke Sandwichbar is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Walt’s East Wichita

Last stop is Walt’s East Wichita, a popular establishment with a reputation for being your neighborhood “Cheers” pub. They’ve been serving scratch hamburgers, homestyle meals and a variety of other dishes since 1947. Every week their menu includes daily specials and — just for St. Patrick’s Day — their daily special will include what they also call their “legendary” corned beef and cabbage special along with a side of Irish bread for $14.99. In honor of the Irish, Walt’s is also offering $5 16 oz. pint drafts of Warbeard, a popular Irish red ale brewed by Walnut Brewing Company in El Dorado. Walt’s East opens daily at 11 a.m. and stays open every night of the week until 2 a.m.

Enjoy the feast and may a little luck of the Irish rub off on you!

Where To Find Them

Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar

923 E. 1st Street

mortswichita.com

The Artichoke Sandwichbar

811 N. Broadway 

artichokesandwichbar.com

Walt’s East Wichita

7732 E. Central 

waltseast.com