What makes it a good Irish pub?

[Kathy DeAngelo]

I know I can't be the only person in the Delaware Valley who's always on the lookout for a good Irish pub--which is not the same as a sports bar. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of going into a place for dinner (even if it's not an Irish pub) and being barraged by wall-fulls of TVs, with the closed captioning on, and the music blaring. There are a lot of places that advertise themselves as an Irish bar and mainly I see it as an issue with the decor. Maybe the food--but certainly the calling card seems to the decor and perhaps having Guinness.

What I think is great about the Irish pub, in Ireland, is that ability to sit and chat with the people you've come with--or maybe the people who are there. It's not a night out for me if I have to shout to the person I'm sitting with--and most of you know that my normal voice is pretty loud!

Don't get me started on blaring music....

[Jeff Meade]

I would probably choose McNally's in Chestnut Hill as a good example of that kind of pub. Yes, it's got Irish-American owners, but you'd be at a loss to find a shamrock or a leprechaun in the place. It's not about decor. It's about being the kind of place where, yes, you can get a pint, perfectly poured, but more that that, the atmosphere really reminds me of Irish pubs. Small, kind of rustic, a neighborhood place, families, kids. Yeah, there are a couple of sets on the wall over the bar, but they're on low. The emphasis is on the food and drink, and the overall atmosphere.

[Kathy DeAngelo]

I agree that it's not about the decor--certainly Fergie's, which I agree is a great Irish pub, doesn't have the upscale decor of some of the places that are "importing" the look from Ireland. Pub in a box, they call it. The upscale places (shall they remain nameless for the time being?) don't have the leprachaun decor but the TV thing is sooooo annoying.

I don't think I've been in McNally's. I'll have to check it out next time we're going to be up at the Irish Center and we need to go to a place for dinner. I know this post is about food and recipes--but I figured this somehow ties in!

[Denise]

I love McNally's too -- and it's a real Irish pub, but without Irish food. Great food, but not particularly Irish.

[Denise]

One place that springs to mind is Fergie's on Sansom Street in Philly. It's cozy, small, dark, has a really cool bar and very good food. And except for the times when there's live music, it's conversation-friendly.