The Brazen Head

"Brazen Head is probably the only place in town where you can roll in at 11pm, and gobble up perfectly charred NY pepper steak, some cheesy french onion soup, and marinara-drenched meatballs that are the comfort equivalent of Lenny Kravitz’s blanket-scarf. The Cow Hollow steakhouse has no signage out front and everything we want in a late-night spot that looks like an 1800s Scottish pub: paintings of bearded old men, velvet curtains, a dim red glow, sports bobbleheads for kitsch, and strong cocktails that pair well with stories that begin with, “Back in the day...” No wonder Brazen Head’s been firmly rooted here since 1980. Food Rundown photo credit: Erin Ng New York Strip Pepper Steak Could this steak use more salt? Sure. But that shouldn’t deter you from passing on this perfectly cooked piece of meat with nicely charred edges and perfectly light jus. Buttery green beans and mashed potatoes complete this hearty dish. Caesar Salad This salad is roughly 50 percent shredded iceberg lettuce and 50 percent cream dressing, with some tiny croutons throughout. Unless you failed to meet your vegetable quota for the day, there’s no need for this. Lobster Ravioli Feel like gobbling down carbs and cream? You’ve zeroed in on the correct dish. These generously stuffed ravioli are drenched in thick herb sauce. photo credit: Erin Ng French Onion Gratinee We love this dish. Light yet flavorful broth, rich carmelized onions, and funky gruyere come together to create a cheesy, salty, and sweet moment. Bread Pudding A La Mode Looking for a way to saturate the blood in your veins with sugar and even more cream? End the night with this. The dense bread pudding is one of several on the long dessert menu that is actually made in-house." - Lani Conway

"From the outside, the Brazen Head has the vague look of a small castle, the crenellations at the top of the front wall designed to give the impression of a mini-medieval fortress. It makes sense, given that the Brazen Head’s claim to fame is that it dates back to 1198 A.D., which would make it Ireland’s oldest pub. But the lore isn't quite true—the first recorded license to sell ale dates from 1661, and this former coaching inn was only built in 1754. Still, that's plenty of street cred—and who cares about dates when you're name-dropped in Joyce’s Ulysses, and you've served as a backdrop for revolutionary Robert Emmett to plot his strike for Irish independence? That's what keeps the tourists coming back, after all—that, and the delightfully traditional seisiúns, informal jam ‘sessions’ that lie at the heart of the genre. Musicians gather and start playing around 9 p.m. and are joined by others as the night goes on." - Fionn Davenport

"Finally, warm up with a pint or several at storied Temple Bar, where you can see live Irish music, or at Brazen Head, the city's oldest pub." - Travel + Leisure Editors