The Field Irish Pub & Eatery

-Reviewed by Tim Slivinski

Most of us in the area are well-aware and well-acquainted with the usual dining  destinations around town. We can head to Las Olas, maybe check out the beachfront, stroll Wilton Drive, or head to South Beach. But there are some other amazing and long-established restaurants that are tucked away in unknown areas along less obvious streets. One recent evening, some good friends suggested just such a place to me and to my partner. After a quick drive down I-95 to Griffin Road, we soon pulled in to The Field. If you are not sure where it is, a large Publix is just across the road, and the front of the pub is anchored by a very large banyan tree that is over 100 years old.

While there are other so-called pubs in the area, the Field is the real deal and it makes no pretense about being anything other than that—and the place is all the better for it. There are outdoor seating areas along the front and a spacious side patio that, in less humid weather, would be extremely inviting. As you enter the field, it almost like entering someone’s farmhouse. Wood predominates the venue in the rustic wooden tables and benches. Old wooden barrels have found a second life as cocktail tables. The bar is rustic, weathered, and wooden. The floors, too, tap tap as your shoes cross the well-worn wood. An amazing collection of antiques and memorabilia line the walls. Somehow it all works together to create an inviting, cozy, intimate environment while at the same time lending itself to a great birthday gathering with good friends.

Once we were seated in the spacious dining area, three in the group began to discuss—in true Irish pub fashion—which beers to order. When Steph, our most gracious and charming server arrived, she was well-versed in helping to pick out just the right selections, even offering to bring a taste of one of the beers to the table to help ease the decision. Once everyone had selected a beer (I chose a cocktail.) , it was time to consider our growling stomachs.

As you might expect, much of the fare reflects traditional dishes from across the Atlantic. But if Irish or English pub fare is not your palate, never fear as the Field also offers more traditional entrees, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Feeling very taken in by the pub atmosphere, we decided to focus on pub-style food. My partner opted for stuffed cabbage rolls, I selected fish and chips, one friend decided on chicken pot pie and the other chose a feature called drunken chicken. Deciding we wanted a little something to get us started before our entrees arrived, we ordered some steamed mussels as a starter.

When Steph placed the steaming mussels in front of us, all eyes were wide. We have all eaten steamed mussels, usually in a white wine-garlic-butter sauce. At the Field, the mussels come dripping and swimming in a creamy sauce that is smooth with garlic and thyme and unlike any other sauce we have ever tasted with mussels. The bowl was topped with four generous slices of garlic toast and it did not take us long to dig in. No one complained. The mussels were tender, and the sauce was velvety and savory and oh-so–good. We requested more bread so the remaining sauce would not be wasted. Steph told us that one lady requested a straw for the remaining sauce, and then as she walked away from the table, she could hear the woman slurping through the straw! That’s how good the mussel broth is.

When our entrees arrived, everyone was pleased with his own selected dish. My fish and chips were crispy with tender, moist exterior. I liked that malt vinegar was brought with the order without my requesting it.  My partner’s stuffed cabbage was rich with chopped sirloin, seasoning, and rice and he pronounced them just like homemade. The chicken pot pie was crowned by an enormous puff of pastry while the pie itself was chock full of large chunks—not processed cubes—of tender chicken. The drunken chicken offered a sautéed boneless breast in an Irish Whiskey sauce and a comforting dollop of mashed potatoes.  We were all busy eating and busy getting full.

In addition to a great pub atmosphere, delicious food, and friendly, helpful service, the Field also offers live entertainment on select nights. On the night we were enjoying ourselves, a young man named Paul Baker was paying acoustic guitar and singing a mixture of originals and covers. It was pleasant and not at all overpowering. Quite simply, we loved the Field and cannot wait to return. Sometimes you just need to get off the beaten path.