WHile this isn't really a "kilt night" YET, it will be, so I figured this could go here...

Well, Molly McGuires FINALLY opened 1 block from our shop. Guys and gals... let me say that I've been to an Irish pub or two in my day. This REALLY trumps them all.

I was VERY plesantly surprised with how nice it is. It was designed (interior designer) by a woman who has set up 12 Guiness pubs. She has since quit guiness and moved to Canada and struck out on her own. She designed the inside of the pub and WOW... it's like stepping over the Atlantic by crossing the street.

The food was spectacular. I am a VERY picky eater, but saw 10 things on the menu I would like to try. Since they just opened, the menu was "abreviated", but Kelly had a Guiness stew ($12) and potatoe pancake appetisers ($6) while I had Onion soup ($5) and one of the BEST black angus burgers ($8) I ever had.

The music was a mix... but it fit in perfect. They played everything from traditional Irish music (about 50%) to bands like U2 (25%) and some relaxing music like Johnnny Cash (25%). It wasn't overkill on any 1 genre, but it seemed to flow nicely... all very relaxing. There are 2 small stages... 1 downstairs and 1 smaller one upstairs.

The Beer is comparably priced to other similar pubs... Murphys Red is about $5 per pint. A pint of Yeungling Lager ("lager" to those of us near Philly) is $3.50. Not sure of the prices, but they had lots of other beers on tap... Smithwicks, Guiness, Bass and some domestics...

All in all, this is a VERY dangerous thing. I no longer have to drive 45 minutes to Brittinghams for good Irish music and a reasonable pint with good food. It's also a GOOD thing b/c I won't have to drive home "one eyed" at 3 AM. The only thing that would make it the PERFECT bar for me would be if it had a pool table, but I'll be enjoying the music so much that I won't care.

This is going to be a VERY cool place for Kilt Nights or even for us to refer customers to when they come to the shop and ask "where's a good place to get a bite and a pint?".

Overall rating: 2 VERY enthusiastic thumbs up.