Just as your kindergarten teacher once said, “It’s what’s inside that counts.” Same goes for boxty, the traditional Irish potato cakes made of grilled spuds, both shredded and mashed. Alone, they’re nothing more than glorified hash browns, but when stuffed and rolled with ingredients like corned beef, cabbage and even shrimp, they become delectable-yet-hearty fork-and-knifers great for lunch or dinner.
Fado
The several varieties of boxty served at this popular multi-level pub are stuffed, rolled and grilled and served alongside steamed veggies. Try the Trinity steak boxty ($12.95), filled with grilled steak, sauteed mushrooms and onions and topped with a creamy whiskey and garlic sauce. 100 W. Grand Ave. 312-836-0066.
Chief O’Neill’s Pub
Rather than rolling and stuffing it, the boxty at this festive pub is placed underneath the entree, kind of like an edible plate. Go for the baked salmon dinner covered in a blanket of bearnaise blanc sauce, with a crisp potato cake nestled below. Gaelic steak boxty ($15) with red wine sauce is also available. 3471 N. Elston Ave. 773-473-5263.
The Kerry Piper Irish Pub and Restaurant
It’s worth a trip to the ‘burbs for boxty served omelet-style, folded and stuffed ($9.95). Traditional corned beef and cabbage comes with creamy horseradish sauce on the side. Otherwise, there’s turkey and white cheddar cheese with stone-ground mustard or vegetarian boxty with carrots, peas and rutabaga. 7900 Joliet Rd., Willowbrook, 630-325-3732.
Galway Arms
The menu, like the crowd, is slightly more sophisticated here than at other Lincoln Park pubs. The seafood boxty (served St. Patty’s Day only for $17.95) is packed with scallops, shrimp, Irish bacon and Irish sausage and then pan-seared to a nice crisp. Served over rice pilaf with a drizzle of double-sherry cream reduction, this upscale rendition is worth the wait. Other boxtys frequently appear as daily specials, so give a call or try your luck in person. 2442 N. Clark St. 773-472-5555.
Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Pub
Boxty for breakfast? You bet. A plate of scrambled eggs, cherry tomatoes, bacon and cheddar cheese is topped with a grilled potato cake ($8.95). It’s so good, you’ll never miss the bread. For lunch and dinner, an elegant seafood boxty is served with shrimp, scallops and salmon and topped with lemon-dill sauce ($14.95). 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights, 847-577-7733.
McNally’s Traditional Irish Pub
Try a Guinness-steak boxty, rolled with strips of Black Angus steak, peppers and onions grilled to a golden crisp. The finished product is topped with sweet-and-spicy Guinness-barbecue sauce and served alongside carrot puree ($8.95). 122 S. York St., Elmhurst, 630-941-7100.
Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant
Chilled, day-old mashed potatoes are mixed with freshly pureed spuds and pan-fried to make a smooth, crepe-like boxty. The thin cakes are folded in half, stuffed with one of four fillings and garnished with chopped chives. Your choice of fillings include curry chicken; Irish sausage with caramelized onions, roasted peppers and Irish cheddar cheese; asparagus and wild mushroom with cream sauce; shrimp and scallops with leeks, dill and a light cream sauce. Order the appetizer portion ($8.95) for two boxty; the entree portion includes three ($10.95). Served all day. 5157 Main St., Downers Grove, 630-969-0600.
