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Flock to These Places for Shepherd’s Pie on St. Paddy's Day

Mashed potatoes + meat = never a bad thing

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As one of the signature dishes of the British Isles, it’s no surprise when eaters crave shepherd’s pie the week of St. Patrick’s Day. Originally known as "cottage pie," this dish bakes meat (usually lamb or beef), vegetables, and gravy inside a golden mashed potato crust.

Natives to the British Isles, as well as highly informed diners, know that a true shepherd’s pie must contain lamb, since shepherds tend to sheep. But here on this side of the pond, shepherd’s pie and cottage pie have become practically interchangeable. They're both synonymous with baked layers of meat, vegetables, and potatoes – which is never a bad thing.

Fortunately for diners who also double as St. Paddy’s Day enthusiasts, D.C. is bursting with opportunities to eat this dish. While guzzling green beer and Irish whiskey with the lads and lassies, flock to one of these 18 spots for a hearty helping of shepherd’s pie.

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Formerly known as Plan B Burger Bar, "b" is known for its house ground patties and also uses its beef in a hearty shepherd’s pie. In this dish, fresh ground beef and fresh corn are baked with house-made mashed potatoes and gravy, all topped with organic frizzled onions. Diners can order it every day from 11:00 am to 12:00 am for $16.

Chef Garret Fleming will offer shepherd’s pie during special lunch hours on St. Patrick’s Day. Barrel’s version will feature Barolo braised beef cheeks, Robuchon potatoes, roast peas, and scallions. The dish will be available for $17 beginning at 11:30 a.m. on March 17 only.

Bier Baron Tavern

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Head here for a pie that combines lean ground lamb and corn with other traditional ingredients for $15. Enjoy this dish from 4:00 p.m. to midnight each day, with hours extending to 2:00 a.m. on weekends.

Daniel O'Connell's Restaurant & Bar

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Priced at $16, O’Connell’s pie bakes beef, vegetables, and braising stock inside a Parmesan mashed potato crust. Order this dish every day from 11:00 am to 1:00 a.m.

Del Ray Pizzeria

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This surprising server of shepherd’s pie, local favorite DRP serves it as a regular Monday night special. Order this lamb, red wine gravy, and seasonal veggie pie the Monday after St. Paddy’s to stay in the Irish spirit. It’s available for $15 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Dubliner Restaurant & Pub

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Head here for a traditional beef shepherd’s pie with Guinness gravy and creamy champ potatoes. The lunch version is available for $15.95 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday, while the dinner version is available for $16.95 from 3:00 pm to 10:30 pm every day.

Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant

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This spot incorporates both lamb and beef into its pie, as well as crispy onions and rich beef gravy. Order it for $13.95 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day.

Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

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For $15.95, Fado’s serves a ground beef pie topped with colcannon, an Irish dish combining mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. It’s one of the better deals available, with a half portion farmhouse salad and Guinness cheddar bread served on the side. Order it from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

Gadsby's Tavern

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The “gentleman’s pye” at this historic eatery combines tender cuts of both lamb and beef in a red wine stew, topped with whipped potatoes and pastry crust. Order this $22 dish every evening from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub

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Priced at $14.99, this eatery offers a ground beef pie and the option to add cheddar cheese for an extra $1.50. Order this dish from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

James Hoban's Irish Restaurant & Bar

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Traditional beef pies can be ordered here for $15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. each day.

Kelly's Irish Times

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Kelly’s offers a creative twist on this classic by using short ribs, as opposed to ground lamb or beef. The dish is $13 and available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. each day.

Kitty O'Shea's DC

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Located in Tenleytown, Kitty O’Shea’s combines freshly ground lamb and beef with corn and other traditional ingredients. Order the lunch pie for $11 until 3:00 p.m., with the evening-sized portion priced at $13. The pub is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

Martin's Tavern

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Home to the booth where JFK proposed to Jackie, this Georgetown eatery unsurprisingly adds an elegant twist to shepherd’s pie by infusing the lamb and veggies with rosemary and Guinness. The crust also gets a bit of a kick with the addition of cheddar cheese. Order the pie for $15.95 from 11:00 am to 1:30 am, with extended hours on the weekends.

P.J. Clarke's

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Although PJ Clarke’s isn’t known for Irish cuisine, the King George Shepherd’s Pie is available each day beginning at 11:00 a.m. Priced at $18.75, this dish combines ground beef and lamb with mushrooms and veal stock. PJ Clark’s is open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with the exception of midnight closings on Sunday and Monday.

Rí Rá

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This popular pub chain serves $15 classic pies from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

Samuel Beckett's Irish Gastro Pub

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For a pie that meets both your booze and food needs, head to this spot in Shirlington Village. Beckett’s tops ground organic lamb and mixed vegetables with Guinness gravy and Jameson mashed potatoes. It's served everyday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The Star and Shamrock

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This H Street eatery elevates the shepherd's pie by combining roasted leg of lamb with traditional veggies, pearl onions, and gravy. Order is for $13 from 11:00 am to 2:00 am each day.

B

Formerly known as Plan B Burger Bar, "b" is known for its house ground patties and also uses its beef in a hearty shepherd’s pie. In this dish, fresh ground beef and fresh corn are baked with house-made mashed potatoes and gravy, all topped with organic frizzled onions. Diners can order it every day from 11:00 am to 12:00 am for $16.

Barrel

Chef Garret Fleming will offer shepherd’s pie during special lunch hours on St. Patrick’s Day. Barrel’s version will feature Barolo braised beef cheeks, Robuchon potatoes, roast peas, and scallions. The dish will be available for $17 beginning at 11:30 a.m. on March 17 only.

Bier Baron Tavern

Head here for a pie that combines lean ground lamb and corn with other traditional ingredients for $15. Enjoy this dish from 4:00 p.m. to midnight each day, with hours extending to 2:00 a.m. on weekends.

Daniel O'Connell's Restaurant & Bar

Priced at $16, O’Connell’s pie bakes beef, vegetables, and braising stock inside a Parmesan mashed potato crust. Order this dish every day from 11:00 am to 1:00 a.m.

Del Ray Pizzeria

This surprising server of shepherd’s pie, local favorite DRP serves it as a regular Monday night special. Order this lamb, red wine gravy, and seasonal veggie pie the Monday after St. Paddy’s to stay in the Irish spirit. It’s available for $15 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Dubliner Restaurant & Pub

Head here for a traditional beef shepherd’s pie with Guinness gravy and creamy champ potatoes. The lunch version is available for $15.95 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday, while the dinner version is available for $16.95 from 3:00 pm to 10:30 pm every day.

Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant

This spot incorporates both lamb and beef into its pie, as well as crispy onions and rich beef gravy. Order it for $13.95 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day.

Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

For $15.95, Fado’s serves a ground beef pie topped with colcannon, an Irish dish combining mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. It’s one of the better deals available, with a half portion farmhouse salad and Guinness cheddar bread served on the side. Order it from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

Gadsby's Tavern

The “gentleman’s pye” at this historic eatery combines tender cuts of both lamb and beef in a red wine stew, topped with whipped potatoes and pastry crust. Order this $22 dish every evening from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub

Priced at $14.99, this eatery offers a ground beef pie and the option to add cheddar cheese for an extra $1.50. Order this dish from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

James Hoban's Irish Restaurant & Bar

Traditional beef pies can be ordered here for $15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. each day.

Kelly's Irish Times

Kelly’s offers a creative twist on this classic by using short ribs, as opposed to ground lamb or beef. The dish is $13 and available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. each day.

Kitty O'Shea's DC

Located in Tenleytown, Kitty O’Shea’s combines freshly ground lamb and beef with corn and other traditional ingredients. Order the lunch pie for $11 until 3:00 p.m., with the evening-sized portion priced at $13. The pub is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

Martin's Tavern

Home to the booth where JFK proposed to Jackie, this Georgetown eatery unsurprisingly adds an elegant twist to shepherd’s pie by infusing the lamb and veggies with rosemary and Guinness. The crust also gets a bit of a kick with the addition of cheddar cheese. Order the pie for $15.95 from 11:00 am to 1:30 am, with extended hours on the weekends.

P.J. Clarke's

Although PJ Clarke’s isn’t known for Irish cuisine, the King George Shepherd’s Pie is available each day beginning at 11:00 a.m. Priced at $18.75, this dish combines ground beef and lamb with mushrooms and veal stock. PJ Clark’s is open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with the exception of midnight closings on Sunday and Monday.

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Rí Rá

This popular pub chain serves $15 classic pies from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

Samuel Beckett's Irish Gastro Pub

For a pie that meets both your booze and food needs, head to this spot in Shirlington Village. Beckett’s tops ground organic lamb and mixed vegetables with Guinness gravy and Jameson mashed potatoes. It's served everyday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The Star and Shamrock

This H Street eatery elevates the shepherd's pie by combining roasted leg of lamb with traditional veggies, pearl onions, and gravy. Order is for $13 from 11:00 am to 2:00 am each day.

Related Maps