3 Kilts Tavern: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Located in one the coolest niche neighborhoods on Capitol Hill, very near the corner of 11th and Ogden, sits an absolute culinary destination. Three Kilts Tavern is, in the spirit of the epic classic show Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name, and the mood is friendly and welcoming.

Co-owners Brett McNamee-Hooper, his husband, Kevin Hooper-McNamee, and their dear friend Wayne Bard say, “We have always been social butterflies. We get along with everyone. We wanted to open a place with a vibe that we would like to hang out in. Everyone is welcome unless you make someone else feel unwelcome. Simple rules to live by. It’s honestly an easy concept not enough people seem to grasp. We put out gay-owned and -operated only to inform that we do not deal with any discrimination of any kind. Other than that, come as you are! 

Foodwise, Brett grew up in a restaurant family in Wisconsin where his cousins are still in the Biz. “My cousin’s wife owns the only Lesbian bar in Milwaukee,” he expliains. “My other cousin owns and operates an award-winning supper club. He’s been in the industry for close to 28 years now, and I understand why.” He says that as a kid, he was spoiled and had access to really good food all his life, and that now, he loves having the opportunity to appreciate it from the inside out.

Brunch, lunch, and dinner! With something to wash it all down, of course. The food at 3 Kilts Tavern, is on point! For brunch, they offer delicious dishes such as a traditional Irish breakfast of eggs, bangers, rashers, grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, potatoes, black and white pudding, and a biscuit. Or for those with a sweet tooth, they offer banana bread French toast.

For lunch and dinner, you can chow down on some serious yum yums like Irish Egg Rolls stuffed with corned beef, potato, sauerkraut, cheddar jack cheese, served with 1,000 Island dressing and beer mustard. I know this sounds odd, but somehow these guys make it work. Or dine on their delicious French onion doup, a Guinness burger, or some of the best fish and chips to be found anywhere. To help you wash it down, they offer a cold pint of Guinness, snifters of fine Irish whiskey, or creative cocktails like The Green Donkey, a tasty blend of Irish gold whiskey, ginger beer, and a splash of Greenbar Ginger Liqueur. Basically, you can’t go wrong with anything on the 3 Kilts menu. 

In the three years they have been open, the guys agree that “This is our home away from home. We are not looking to expand, but we are looking to improve.” They want 3 Kilts to be the best neighborhood pub and eatery you can go to. “We want people to hear about us on vacation from wherever and say, ‘I must go there!’ We want all our food, drink, and service to be so inviting that when you go to a high-end joint and spend way too much money you are wishing you would have just come here! Our food is honestly that good, and we are more fun!”

Join the 3 Kilts for some fabulous food, drinks, and fun. I’ll see you there!

Photos courtesy of  3 Kilts Tavern