Restaurant Review: The Lir

It has been ages since I published a restaurant review on Joyful Antidotes, but I am back in a true stereotypical fashion with an Irish bar review.

The Lir is a cosy Irish bar nestled on a street running along by the Bellevue S-Bahn Station. Opening at 5pm every day, it has friendly staff, good drink and shows sport from back home. However, it is the very tasty food which I go there for.

The menu is extensive enough for pub grub and includes traditional Irish and German staples. Although I have never tried them, I like that they serve dishes which other Irish bars in Berlin don’t: lamb chops and Galway seafood stew. It is also a good place for a classic fish and chips which is done pretty well this side of Europe.

On this occasion, I opted for the vegetarian curry ‘Lir style’. Even though it was 36 degrees outside, I just couldn’t resist a plate of this heavenly food. This is the nearest thing to a curry from back home that one can get in Berlin.

My eating partner in crime opted for the burger and was quite happy with it, especially the chunky chips.

The food here is really good and worth making your way to the west for. This is not a biased opinion – I have brought others to The Lir to eat too and they also very much enjoyed it.

What I also like about The Lir is the decor of the bar itself. Again, it wins in comparisons to other Irish bars in the city when it comes to authentic and non-tacky decoration. They have a generous space for outdoor seating also and even though it is more or less on the street, the slope of the area and the green plants give it a private feel. When I sit here, I feel like I could be in a country bar back in the homeland.

If you find yourself in Berlin or, more importantly, are an expat in the city with a serious hankering for Irish food, be sure to give The Lir a try. They have vinegar!