Carr’s

Nestled in between the posh shops of Mui Mui and Diane von Furstenberg, just off of the couture lane that is rue St. Honoré, is Carr’s, a Paris institution in its own right. Mr. Carr serves up craic by the pint in a large yet cozy setting.

On the ground level, Carr’s has two dining rooms on the left side for the restaurant and a bar on the right side (but you can eat there, too, especially in the back). Brick and exposed wooden beams make the walls and ceilings. A bric-a-brac collection of Irish photos, posters, horse tack and old-fashioned country plates adorn the walls, giving the place a warm atmosphere.

Sessions

Carr’s is famous for its nightly music sessions. The upstairs bar has a piano and there’s live music every night of the week. While the restaurant area can be quieter, there’s another piano in there as well, and I’ve eaten dinner while listening to some guys playing fiddle at a table just beside the door when the session in the bar was too full.

Lunch & Dinner

The food at Carr’s is more than just your average pub fare. Don’t come here looking for fish and chips or a burger. The guys in the kitchen know what they’re doing. The supply of brown soda bread (served with butter!) is enough to make you want to stay for hours.

At lunch, Carr’s has a 19-euro menu that includes an appetizer, a main course and a dessert.

When Andy and I ate there recently, we had the mackerel paté and the tuna salad for our first course. Both of these were generous portions and very well made. The mackerel paté was fresh and cold. Very tasty on that brown soda bread.

For our main dishes, Andy had the Irish stew (made with lamb) and I had the whiskey chicken. Any excuse for some whiskey. For the chicken, not for me. The sauce was rich and the chicken soft, but I didn’t get drunk, although the chicken probably did. This must be Irish comfort food. Dressed-up mac and cheese. The lamb stew (which I’ve eaten there in the past) was tender and included cabbage and that little Irish vegetable called the potato.

For dessert, we ate pie—apple and rhubarb. The apple pie is great. And the rhubarb pie? Let’s put it this way, it packs a punch.

Parties

Downstairs is Mr. Carr’s cave, with which countless expats are familiar. Mr. Carr rents out this space for private parties. The ceilings are low, vaulted brick and the cave has its own bar. Everyone loves a party at Carr’s.