state. But for people who grew up in
member from their childhood. There is
Irish Brothers menu doesn’t really
Lafayette or who attended Purdue
one particular clown that people always
change for winter, Rose says. But as fall
University, a visit back to town means a
wonder about. No worries, says Hahn.
comes around, they change things up
chance to “Meet you at Arni’s.”
It’s still there.
a bit. They introduce a Manhattan — a
Thus, a visit to Arni’s is, in and of itself, a foray into comfort good
And for those who would like to send the special flavor of Arni’s pizza
“It’s a nostalgia thing, a family tra-
to someone who has moved away, fear
dition from when they were younger,”
not — Arni’s ships its pizzas all over the
says marketing director Liz Hahn.
United States. Comfort mail delivered
The menu at Arni’s remains pretty consistent all year long. Items like pizza, salads, sandwiches and subs are always available and always popular with patrons. And people who make a visit to Arni’s at Market Square almost always want
to the front door!
Nine Irish Brothers “The first part of comfort food is that it’s literally warming as well as figu-
beef sandwich with gravy — that clearly fits the mold. “For a lot of people, it’s ‘Oh, my mom used to make this,’ ” Rose says. Entrées that are heavier and more cream-based are more popular, items like fisherman’s pie, with fish, shrimp and mussels, with the requisite mashed potatoes and cheese. And for the pièce de résistance? Irish
ratively,” says Matt Rose, a partner in
coffee: a combination of coffee, whis-
Nine Irish Brothers.
key, sugar and whipped cream.
to peek into the Toy Room. The room
And nothing is as emblematic of
has remained virtually unchanged for
comfort food as pub fare. Guinness
groups,” Rose says. “Nothing makes
years, even after renovations that have
stew, shepherd’s pie and corned beef
you feel better.
updated the restaurant, says Hahn. But
and cabbage — meat and potatoes are
guests like to pop their head in, check if
the heart of comfort food.
the toys are in the same place they re-
Manhattan beef sandwich and Irish coffee
“It’s got all the important food
“I think it’s the very definition of comfort food.” ★
About three quarters of the Nine
Fisherman’s Pie at Nine Irish Brothers 40 GREATER LAFAYETTE MAGAZINE
GREATER LAFAYETTE MAGAZINE 41
