By AMANDA FARINOS

A friend of mine recently took a trip to Ireland. Enamored with the food, upon her return she began trying out Irish recipes and ended up making beef and Guinness stew for a dinner party in June.

We shared a laugh over this, but when I planned to visit the Town Crier Pub, I had a feeling I, too, was about to eat some unseasonably hearty food. Not so. Most old pub standards like shepherd’s pie weren’t even on the menu.

Town Crier can be classified as a gastropub, a term more recently used to describe not just a pub that includes a restaurant — but one that serves up dishes a foodie really can get excited about. Even the waitstaff was enthusiastic about the menu and beers on tap.

We started with some gazpacho, cool and chunky, topped with avocado and jalapeño, which we loved ($6). Pita bread for dipping was a nice idea, but it was stale. They also had chilled carrot and ginger soup, which sounded fabulous.

Tempted more by uncommon side dishes than we were by the appetizers, we shared some asparagus and salty Manchego wrapped with Serrano ham. It made a great starter, and was priced attractively at $5.50. The white truffle macaroni and cheese also was a treat ($5.50).

For dinner, “coq au beer” was a fun twist on a classic. Half a braised chicken was served with carrots, mushrooms and onions, accompanied by a croquette ($10.50).

The Conquistador burger ($13) featured more Serrano ham and Manchego cheese, flavors that complemented the burger well. It was a bit overcooked, though, and I quickly did away with the enormous bun.

Good food led to good conversation, and dining on the patio I was once again charmed by a stunning Florida sunset using Tradition Square as its frame.

Click here for more photos and the restaurant’s hours, location and other information.