The Badger Herald

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Brocach

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by Dave McGrath

Friday, October 6, 2006

In such a Kraut town like Madison, finding a traditional Irish restaurant can be difficult for any Mick caught in Madtown. It even prompted esteemed Herald columnist Patrick Klemz to lament in a March 2005 entry: "Yet as a Madisonian, I come upon [St. Patrick's Day] with a heavy heart. For, in a town professing cultural acceptance of all, the traditions of Celtic citizens meet formidable opposition from the powers that be … Searching far and wide across the landscape of downtown, even the most vigilant of blatherskite could not find a single true Irish pub."

Well, now Klemz can return from his hiatus in California and return to Madtown because his pleas for a true Irish pub and restaurant have been answered. Damn you, Brocach.

The translation of Brocach is badger den, which is sort of ironic because you won't find any cardinal in the place at all. It is indeed an Irish haven for Badgers, not a Badger haven for the Irish.

Everything about Brocach screams authenticity from the Guinness being poured in the traditional method, right down to the Shamrock in the foam (at least if the bartender is capable of the feat) and the interior was even designed by a special order decorator who specializes in creating Irish pubs.

The Guinness Stew is spectacular, while the Shepherd's Pie is as close to the real deal as you'll get without taking a trip to the Emerald Isle, and of course the corned beef and cabbage is done right.

Besides giving Mr. Klemz reason to return to where his random rants and excessive use of the thesaurus in search of words with more letters are no longer welcome, Brocach has done no wrong to any Irishmen by proclaiming to be Irish falsely. In fact, it truly does the Isle of Erin justice.

So head on down to the Capitol Square, raise a pint of Guinness or Smithwick's and enjoy a true Irish Pub.

Sláinte!

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