Michiana's Menu: Customers enter a 'community living room' at Fiddler's Hearth

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- “This is the community living room, this is the community room that is how it is treated in Ireland and Scotland, you get out to the rural areas, and they have a church and a pub and nothing else,” says Carol Hamilton Meehan, owner of Fiddler’s Hearth. “The school board meets in the pub, the post office is in the pub, that’s it.”

And they do not call it the living room here in Michiana for nothing! Located in downtown South Bend, Fiddler’s Hearth is a social hub for Celtic food, traditions…and of course, beverages.

The pub has the certification directly from Guinness for mastering the perfect pour. They also offer imported brews and drafted ciders – all on tap. Of course, you cannot forget about their scotch selection or Irish whiskey. But the Celtic roots continue past the drinks, but the dishes, too.  From the shepherd’s pie, to the salmon of knowledge or the traditional Irish stew.

Carol Meehan and her husband first started Fiddler’s Hearth with 3 components in mind: the drinks, food, and of course music. After throwing several fundraisers for their church, the Meehan’s saw a desire for live, Celtic music in the community and nowhere to go.

“We had gotten to know all of the Celtic musicians through town, and came to realize except at St. Patrick’s Day or football parties there was no play for them to play, no place was booking that kind of music,” says Meehan.  

Now, live music remains an important component to the pub’s culture. This St. Patrick’s Day, a total of 5 different musicians and groups will pass through Fiddler’s Hearth. The Celtic music paired with the food and beverages transports visitors straight to the Celtic region!

But even beyond the Celtic experience, at the pub, you might be able to find a friend, too.

“The primary difference, when you go into a proper pub, it is more about that, that fellowship, people know each other, they join tables, they might not know each other, introduce each other, there are only a few seats,” says Meehan.

The festivities and music on St. Patrick's Day at Fiddler’s Hearth will start at 11 am and go until 11 pm. There will be $5 cover charge starting at 4.

Plan your visit here.