J.J. Landers Irish Pub: Eat, drink and be merry!

J.J. “Purty” Landers Irish Pub is still a great place to experience the frothy along with a good robust meal. But this pub is not just a place to find satisfying food and drink; it’s also a place of camaraderie where you can meet friends, spend some leisurely time and forget the rest of the world.

After three years the pub that revolutionized the dining experience in Fallbrook is still as popular as ever. When guests walk through the door they feel like they have just stepped into a Dublin pub or a Maeve Binchy novel. The happy chatter, cushy row seats, delicious scent of hearty food and equally hearty ale greet guests with a robust Irish hello.

Owners Ned and Brenda Giblin feel that J.J. Landers fits in with the Fallbrook arts town atmosphere. “It’s good to have an Irish pub for people who are looking for a multicultural experience with food and drink,” Ned commented.

The establishment was named after Brenda’s uncle, J.J. “Purty” Landers, a celebrated football (soccer) player from Ireland who won five “All Ireland” medals as well as many other awards and titles.

Pub food in the Emerald Isle, as well as in the British Isles, has been known for its savory and generous portions at reasonable prices. J.J. Landers is no exception. The portions, which are offered inexpensively, fill up the large plates to the edges. In addition to traditional Irish fare, the pub offers a variety of dishes including dinner entrees such as “Blackened Salmon with Pineapple Salsa.”

Luncheon specials are offered on Saturdays, and if a Sunday visit is on your schedule, you will happily discover a Champagne Brunch. Diners will also find kid-friendly items, as well as hamburgers, sandwiches and a full complement of appetizers.

Become a frequent lunch card holder and your eighth lunch is free. Early bird specials are available from 4 to 6 p.m.

I have never traveled to Ireland, but have enjoyed plenty of pub meals in England, and I have to say that the food at J.J. Landers ranks among the best.

Since the pub opened, I have enjoyed several items on the traditional menu, but my favorite remains the “Irish Whiskey Chicken Boxty.” A “boxty” is an Irish potato pancake, and J.J. Landers’ version is a savory pancake stuffed with sautéed chicken chunks, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes, then drenched with a creamy Irish whiskey sauce. At first glance the boxty looks like any ordinary pancake, but with the first forkful you will discover the delightful difference. The whiskey crème sauce ties all the ingredients together and elevates this Irish potato pancake above the ordinary.

Speaking of forks, at J.J. Landers they are large, but need to be, in order to capture that marvelous mélange of ingredients in one bite! This is not a place to practice dainty eating. One must tackle the food with passion.

The servers know a secret: desserts are offered, but they are just not listed on the menu. Be sure to ask your server what desserts are available. Blueberry cheesecake and a scrumptious chocolate two-layer cake were offered at my last visit.

We can’t forget the beer, and J.J. Landers has both draught and bottled beer. Approximately 18 draught beers and 10 bottled labels are available. The full-bodied Guinness (brewed since 1759) and the rich Smithwicks Imported Irish Ale (brewed since 1710) are among the most popular.

Pubs are known as gathering places to eat, drink and be merry, and part of being merry is listening to spirited music. J.J. Landers offers live and lively music from Thursday through Sunday beginning at 8:30 p.m. Thursday nights are “Celtic Nights” featuring Ned Giblin’s own band, Brehon Law.

Try your hand at a game of darts any night; or cheer for your favorite team during Monday Night Football, shown each week on an 11-foot satellite projection screen.

J.J. Landers is “Committed to serving good food for a good value during these hard times.”

So, visit J.J. Landers, where you can expect a great meal along with a robust serving of Irish hospitality!

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J.J. “Purty” Landers Irish Pub

125 South Main

Fallbrook

Jessica Cinnamon, manager

(760) 731-0839