Highly Seasoned Opinions: St. Paddy’s Shenanigans at Saints & Scholars

For the second installment of Highly Seasoned Opinions, Sheetal and I followed the sounds of laughter, live music, and clinking glasses to Saints & Scholars in Snoqualmie for a bit of St. Paddy’s Day fun.

I’ve never been someone who celebrates St. Patrick’s Day—despite being about 70% British/Irish—so when Sheetal suggested we go, I figured it was time to see what an actual celebration looked like. And wow, the place was packed on that snowy Monday night.

Happy people were dancing and clapping to the live music and Irish dancers. I spotted some familiar faces and plenty of new ones, but everyone seemed to be having a great time. Sheetal called it “a St. Patrick’s Day to remember with a one-of-a-kind experience that goes beyond green beer and shamrocks,” I agree—there was something truly charming about the way Saints & Scholars brought it all together.

Our $25 reservation got us booth seating in the upper dining area, our choice of a welcome drink or shared appetizer, raffle entry, and a front-row seat for two festive performances. The King County Firefighters Pipes & Drums kicked things off with a bold, lively set with kilts and glowing green neon drum rims (I LOVE a man in a kilt; it must be genetic), followed by the Hayley Prendergast Irish Dancers. The youngest dancers were adorable, while the teens wowed with impossibly high kicks and fast, intricate footwork.

I’m usually noise sensitive (constantly nagging my husband to turn that damned TV down), but even I got swept up in the energy. Sheetal said the show “filled the air with the rich and stirring notes of traditional Irish music” and that the dancers “blended elegance with energy that captivated every diner to clap along to the beats.” That felt exactly right.

We started the evening with cocktails—I chose the Italicus Spritz, a citrusy blend of bergamot and elderflower liqueurs, prosecco, and soda water with an orange slice. It was cool, refreshing, and beautifully balanced. My favorite drink at The Grange also had elderflower, so I might be forming a trend.

Sheetal had the Pear & Petal, a floral, lightly sweet combination of Glendalough Rose gin, elderflower, and pear juice. She called it “a refreshing and floral delight,” and we both agreed it was as pretty as it was tasty—Instagram-worthy but too good to leave untouched.

For our appetizer, we went with the kettle crisps and cucumber dip. We both thought the chips were okay, but the dip was a hit. Sheetal described it as “cool and tangy,” I agreed—it was very good. The Corned Beef and Cabbage Egg Rolls were also fun—crispy and inventive, even though we were both hoping for a stronger corned beef flavor.

Still, we polished them off. The Bacon and Blue Salad was a split decision. I loved it—if there’s a heaven, all they serve is bacon and blue cheese. Sheetal found it underwhelming, noting that “a stronger blue cheese dressing could have made the salad more outstanding.”

The real standout came next. As we were eyeing the table for our main course, Chef Brad White stepped out of the kitchen to personally deliver our plates—a thoughtful touch that stood out on such a busy night. “He personally dropped off our delicious dinner to help with the crowd,” Sheetal said. “We enjoyed chatting with him about the preparation of this cheesy favorite!”

That dish? The Tipperary Trotter Mac. It arrived piping hot and loaded with gooey cheese, pulled pork, bacon, crispy prosciutto, and a BBQ drizzle. “It was unapologetically indulgent,” said Sheetal. “Picture gooey three-cheese mornay sauce clinging to every noodle… comfort food at its finest.”

I’m usually a boxed mac and cheese purist (I know, I know), but this blew me away. The cheese had an incredible pull, and all the salty, smoky meat bits gave it perfect balance. We shared one and couldn’t even finish it—it was that rich—but if I were picking a last meal, this would be in my top ten.

From bagpipes and kilts to cocktails and corned beef egg rolls, Saints & Scholars delivered a festive, high-spirited St. Paddy’s celebration that exceeded expectations—even for someone like me who doesn’t usually celebrate it.

Do you have a favorite local dish or hidden gem we should try? We’re all ears—and appetites. Drop your recommendations in the comments, message us, or tag us on social. From crave-worthy classics to off-the-radar bites, we’ll add your picks to our list and see if they live up to the love.

[Featured Image Chef Brad’s Tipperary Trotter Mac]

Disclaimer – Welcome to our Highly Seasoned Opinions! Just a heads-up: we’re not professional food critics—think of us more as enthusiastic food explorers on a quest to savor every bite the Snoqualmie Valley offers. Our musings are all in good fun, aiming to celebrate the vibrant culinary scene around us. So, no harsh critiques here—just genuine, lighthearted tales from our taste buds to yours. And for transparency’s sake, we always pay for our own food.