Debbie and I went to the Irish Inn for dinner with Rita, Bob, and Andy.
There are two possible entryways into the Inn. The first entry coming from the District takes you to a very small parking area. The second entryway accesses the Inn and Glen Echo amusement park (Tulane Drive) and there is substantial parking near the Inn and the park.
At the entry to the Irish Inn building in what was part of the parking lot, there is a very large area outside the building to the left that is lined with tables seating up to 4 people. These tables had large umbrellas above them and there were a number of picnic tables with attached benches that seat up to six people with large coverings above them.
Our group was seated at one of the picnic tables. Debbie commandeered two individual chairs that weren’t being used at other tables and placed one at each end. One for me and one for her.
Warren was our server. He was friendly, attentive, and helpful. He has worked at the Inn for five years. Sometimes full time and sometimes part time. When he is not working at the Inn, he is a Maintenance Technician. (see ** below for a description of a maintenance technician.)
An initial water course was served in Styrofoam cups.
Andy and I started with Buttermilk Fried Calamari as I always order calamari whenever on a menu.
Rita selected as a starter the Irish Greens Salad – Baby Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Carrots, Watermelon, Radish, Country Vinaigrette.
Bob and Debbie picked the Winter Pear & Pomegranate Salad – Arcadian Harvest mix, Pears, Walnuts, Pomegranate Seeds, Goat Cheese, Champagne Vinaigrette.
Bob, Andy, and Debbie ordered Lobster rolls served with French fries and each of them commented about the quality and quantity of the lobster meat.
For her main course, Rita the selected Crab Cake Entrée – Two Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Vegetable of the Day and asked to substitute French fries for the mashed potatoes that usually come with this dish.
I opted for Seafood Skewer – Scallops, Shrimp, Salmon, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Saffron Rice, Vegetable of the Day.
We all passed on dessert.
It can be very noisy as it seems to be directly on the path of planes heading to National Airport. Sitting outside, one can easily here the dance music emanating from Glen Echo.
Again, the restrooms were inside the main building and too far away to check them out.
The current owners are Christy and Libby Hughes. Christy emigrated to the United States from Ireland. Prior to arriving in the United States in 1974 Christy learned about the restaurant business. He worked as the manager of the Dubliner Irish Pub (WW was there more than once). He met Libby there and they have owned a series of restaurants leading up to the Irish Inn.
The Irish Inn at Glen Echo*
6119 Tulane Avenue
Glen Echo, Maryland 20812
301-229-6600
Open Tuesday- Friday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
*The Irish Inn as we know it today was built on the site of a house owned by the Moxley family. The family opened a tavern there at the end of prohibition in 1931. In the 1940s and until 1964 it was Otto’s grill. During the 60s and 70s it was a roadhouse known for chilies and bar fights. From 1986 until 2002 it was an upscale restaurant known as the Inn at Glen Echo. The current owners reopened it in 2003 as the Irish Inn at Glen Echo.
** Maintenance Technicians are hired by facility owners to oversee the general upkeep of the building and its infrastructure. Their role is to maintain building operations and ensure that the facilities are safe, and functional, at all times. They manage routine maintenance and emergency repairs to prevent and resolve safety or comfort issues. Maintenance technicians install new equipment and oversee building upgrades according to owner requests and to preserve the facility