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Win a $50 Doolin’s Gift Certificate

Comments 87 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Doolin’s Irish Pub on the corner of Granville and Nelson has become our second home on Whitecaps match days (due to it being the official base of the Southsiders supporter club) but John and I recently enjoyed a different Doolin’s experience when we stopped by after work for a flight of local brews and some dinner.

The friendly neigbhbourhood pub, situated in the heart of downtown Vancouver’s entertainment district, is known for its sporting event screenings, live music, casks nights, and beer pairing dinners. On match days, we usually enjoy the specialty menu that is offered so during our date night we sampled a wider range of offerings.

First things first, we each ordered a flight of beer ($11.50) which consists of 4 x 6oz samples of any beer they have on tap, including plenty of local options like Russell, Granville Island, Stanley Park, and brewed-for-Doolin’s features. It was a great start to the night in our cozy, wood-paneled nook near the fireplace.

doolinsgcWe decided to split an appetizer and go for something a bit different. After consulting with our server, who said it was a good choice, we ordered the Duck Bites ($8) which are chipotle and ginger marinated duck morcels topped with spicy pickled jalepenos, wrapped in bacon and topped with a sweet sesame soy glaze. There were only a few pieces of duck on the plate but they were devoured quickly and the accompanying salad was a bright and fresh contrast to the rich, tender bites.

For dinner I stuck with pub fare and ordered the Cork County Chicken Pot Pie ($12.50), made with Rossdown free-run chicken from Abbotsford, carrots, celery, and peas in a creamy stew topped with flaky pastry. It was served with house-made mash potatoes and seasonal vegetables. When I poked my fork into the pastry it was “steaming like a locomotive,” as John put it. The pastry was very light and buttery, not too dense, and baked to a golden brown. Once the piping hot filling cooled a bit, I enjoyed the large, tender chunks of chicken in the rich stew. The only drawback was that I did not finish my potato and could have gone for one fluffy, buttery mound instead of two. Those with a heartier appetite will enjoy this helping, however.

John opted for the Wild Salmon ($17) which came topped with garlic herb butter, seasonal vegetables and rice pilaf. This is a simple dish but sometimes — served elsewhere — it can go terribly wrong without the right care and attention to fresh and local ingredients. John thoroughly enjoyed his light meal and in this case it was just right, from the glistening pink salmon to the tender pilaf.

After getting our fill of vegetables at the pub we couldn’t resist dessert. John hemmed and hawed about the third course but once I serenaded him with a chorus of “peanut butter chocolate ice cream” he was hooked. The Brownies and Ice Cream ($6) features a warm, house-made brownie with velvety peanut butter chocolate ice cream. Normally we wouldn’t mix a flight of beer and ice cream but it perfectly rounded out the entire dining experience.

Finally, another thing we like at Doolin’s is the friendly staff. No matter how jam-packed the pub might get, like on a Whitecaps match day, everyone is always helpful, courteous, and prompt.

Win a $50 Gift Certificate to Doolin’s

Now that I have shared our after work/dinner date experience, I have the chance to offer a reader their own with a $50 gift certificate from Doolin’s.

They have new menu items like Cajun Chicken Salad, Wonton Prawns, Fried Pickles, Short Rid Flatbread, Wild Salmon Sandwich, and a Fried Chicken Sandwich as well as wine on tap.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a $50 @Doolins gc from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/Blzfq

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly. Doolin’s is located at 654 Nelson St at Granville in downtown Vancouver. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Update The winner is Sarah M!

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87 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Aiden Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 11:50am PDT

    This would be great to win!

  2. jane Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 12:08pm PDT

    the duck bites sounds delicious

  3. Stephanie Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 12:28pm PDT

    Always like trying out nex places.

  4. Tommy L Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 12:28pm PDT

    Pick me.

  5. rino Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 12:44pm PDT

    sounds delicious

  6. tania Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 12:45pm PDT

    brownies and ice cream!

  7. Donald Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 12:58pm PDT

    Perfect for watching a game.

  8. Hannah Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 1:31pm PDT

    Love heading to Doolin’s before the Caps

  9. Sabrina Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 2:13pm PDT

    Perfect place to enjoy with my husband 🙂

  10. Karen Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 2:52pm PDT

    Yum!! Duckbites with bacon-wrapped jalepeno sounds amazing!! 🙂

  11. Janet Y.J. Kong Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:07pm PDT

    Sounds like a good place to visit!

  12. lindawwww Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:14pm PDT

    The Cork County Chicken Pot Pie sounds so good!

  13. Branka Nedimovic Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:15pm PDT

    Would love to win this prize. Good luck everyone.

  14. Radhika Khan Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:21pm PDT

    Would love to try a new place when we visit again

  15. Warren Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:23pm PDT

    LOVE DOOLINS. SO GOOD FOR SOUTHSIDERS AND ANY OTHER SPORTS GAME ON TV.

  16. Linda Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:30pm PDT

    Everything sounds delicious. Would love to test it out.

  17. Annie Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:39pm PDT

    Awesome dishes 🙂

  18. Sanaz Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:44pm PDT

    It’d be great to win this prize!

  19. Tawcan Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 3:54pm PDT

    Never been there, would love to win and check out the restaurant.

  20. Tiffany Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 4:09pm PDT

    Looks like elevated pub food!

  21. claire Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 5:38pm PDT

    I would love to take my husband to this new-to-us place! Thanks for sharing.

  22. Sharon Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 5:51pm PDT

    Would love to win – would give me a good excuse to try the restaurant out. I’ve been meaning to for a long time.

  23. lor Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 5:59pm PDT

    yesssss

  24. Nancy Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 6:28pm PDT

    yummy..my kinda pub food:)

  25. wenxiao zhu Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 7:22pm PDT

    That chicken pot pie looks delicious.

  26. denise Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 9:11pm PDT

    this would be a great place for a date night.

  27. Linda Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 9:22pm PDT

    fried pickles – yum. would love to try them.

  28. Kam Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 9:58pm PDT

    Would love to go here!

  29. Maya Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 10:43pm PDT

    Cajun chicken salad yum!

  30. Michelle W Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 — 10:44pm PDT

    Love a good Irish pub!

  31. Harjit Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 5:26am PDT

    It all sounds so yummy! Thank you for the chance to win, twitter fan@plumerea

  32. Ali Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 7:18am PDT

    I’d love to try this pub!

  33. Mike Gismondi Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 8:02am PDT

    Thanks for the chance to win!

  34. Angela griffin Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 8:03am PDT

    Great prize!

  35. Monique Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 8:22am PDT

    Hope I win!! I love food and beer haha

  36. Ellie Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 9:06am PDT

    This place sounds amazing! I’m moving to Vancouver next month and will definitely check it out.

  37. Tim Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 2:44pm PDT

    fun place!

  38. Lloyd Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 2:58pm PDT

    Beer tasting, yum

  39. Steve Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 3:16pm PDT

    My Celtic Music friends often play there and I would love to win. (I’ll even bring my Spoons)

  40. Tammy Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 3:44pm PDT

    Yes please!

  41. Lisa Martin Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 6:52pm PDT

    Yeah! Guiness!

  42. Linda Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 9:01pm PDT

    Delicious!

  43. Elaan Thursday, September 11th, 2014 — 9:21pm PDT

    Yum! Love to have a meal here.

  44. Jenn S Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 3:26am PDT

    I would love to try Doolins, The food looks great and so many great choices

  45. Ariel Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 8:19am PDT

    Sounds like my kind of place!

  46. Cassie Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 9:25am PDT

    Never been here before but heard about it! Fried pickles…mmmm!

  47. Graham Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 12:20pm PDT

    Great place to fill up on food and drink before Whitecaps games!

  48. Peter K Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 1:14pm PDT

    Go Whitecaps!

  49. jan Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 2:22pm PDT

    mmm. new (to me) restaurants to try.

  50. Rebecca Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 3:03pm PDT

    Would like to try a new place.

  51. cindy quach Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 8:46pm PDT

    mmmm…those pix…

  52. Teresa K Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 8:51pm PDT

    I’d love to win.

  53. Joey Prefontaine Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 8:52pm PDT

    Your date night was a perfect evening to trying different foods and great pub.

  54. Am Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 9:04pm PDT

    I would love to have a bite to eat here to before a Whitecaps match, or to watch an away game!

  55. Michelle W Friday, September 12th, 2014 — 10:53pm PDT

    Sounds tasty! Thanks for the chance to win!

  56. Lisa Saturday, September 13th, 2014 — 9:00am PDT

    Great prize!! would love to pair a pint with some delicious Doolins grub:)

  57. Debbie H Saturday, September 13th, 2014 — 10:08am PDT

    it’s been ages since we had a night out at Doolins, this would be great 🙂

  58. carol Saturday, September 13th, 2014 — 10:19am PDT

    Would love to try the wild salmon sandwich. Yum!

  59. Donna Saturday, September 13th, 2014 — 6:42pm PDT

    the menu looks scrumptious!

  60. Paola Sunday, September 14th, 2014 — 7:35am PDT

    Pick me! 🙂

  61. Alex Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 9:50am PDT

    Beer me!

  62. Harvey H Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 1:18pm PDT

    This would be awesome!

  63. Ivy Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 3:41pm PDT

    You have cool contests miss604!

  64. Kathleen Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 4:27pm PDT

    sounds great!

  65. maria Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 5:06pm PDT

    Would love this prize!

  66. Tracy Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 10:54pm PDT

    Mm, everything looks delicious!

  67. Lori-SuperhostYVR Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 11:01pm PDT

    I’d try the salmon sandwich with some local craft beer!

  68. Darcy Monday, September 15th, 2014 — 11:05pm PDT

    Have wanted to try Doolin’s for quite awhile now…looks good!

  69. Stotes Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 6:28am PDT

    This would be great!

  70. Steve Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 9:49am PDT

    Time to revisit this place!

  71. Laura Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 9:49am PDT

    Feels like pub season is approaching,…

  72. Jeff S Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 11:58am PDT

    This would be great to use before a Whitecaps game!

  73. Dariah Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 3:45pm PDT

    Brownies and Ice Cream… oh yes please!!

  74. Kristyn Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 3:50pm PDT

    Thanks for the give away, it sounds delish!

  75. Chauchi09 Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 10:18pm PDT

    Love Doolin’s

  76. darren Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 — 10:19pm PDT

    Doolins is the best!!

  77. Brett Jackson Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 — 7:22am PDT

    have neer been

  78. Sarah M Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 — 7:49am PDT

    Nice! I would love this as a college student!!

  79. Jennifer Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 — 11:26am PDT

    You mentioned Fried Pickles…that sounds interesting and I would love to try them!! And I love places that allow you to pick your beer flights.

  80. Vince Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 — 11:27am PDT

    This would be a fun night out for sure!

  81. DB Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 — 12:13pm PDT

    this would so much fun!

  82. Jeanette Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 — 2:10pm PDT

    Sounds like a great place- would love to try on my next visit!

  83. JEFFERSON Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 — 5:56pm PDT

    DOOLINS PUB!! THIS SATURDAY NIGHT (or any night for that matter) PREPARE FOR THE TONGUE TANTALIZING EAR DAZZLING CONVERSATION INSPIRING TIME OF YOUR LIFE!! BE THERE! BE THERE! BE THERE! … and if you’re in jail …BREAK OUT!!!

  84. Robyn Friday, September 19th, 2014 — 11:55am PDT

    Beer and ice cream! I like the sound of that.

  85. Scott Thompson Sunday, September 21st, 2014 — 9:14am PDT

    Beer and ice cream, together at last!

  86. Mary Monday, September 22nd, 2014 — 7:44am PDT

    Would love to try this place out!!

  87. Steph :) Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 — 9:23pm PDT

    Yum!

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