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Friday, March 20, 2009

McGrath's Pub

McGrath's Pub, Harrisburg Pennsylvania © Susqueats.com 2009

In 2002 Tom and Amy Scott looked around the landscape of what would soon be known as Restaurant Row in Harrisburg and noticed a distinct deficiency. There was no authentic Irish pub. This deficiency was rectified by them when they opened McGrath's Pub on Locust Street, just off Second Street.

The family run business has a family atmosphere on both sides of the bar. Family has a lot to do with this pub, as McGrath was the maiden name of Tom Scott's mother. And like any mother wants their food served, McGrath's strives to offer "comfort food in a comfortable setting."

Guinness has a special home in any Irish pub and here as well. In fact the first item on the menu is A Pint of Guinness because "every great Irish meal should start and end with the perfect pint O'Guinness!" McGrath's complements their Guinness with 20 beers on draft and another 75 in bottles.

When you think Irish you think green, but I'm guessing that Salads aren't exactly what you're picturing. At McGrath's though, maybe you should. They offer eight different salads and if you include all of the options the number goes up to fifteen.

For appetizers, they put an Irish spin on a lot of your favorites. The Celtic Wings have sauce choices of Celtic, Guinness Honey BBQ, Hot Garlic Habanero or Dublin. The Pot O' Gold is crab, roasted artichokes and creamy melted cheeses baked in a bread bowl. The Blarney Bread, pictured here, is Mozzarella, Parmesan and Cheddar cheeses mixed with Irish Mist Liqueur and smeared on a Cuban roll and broiled until golden brown.

Most of the entrees are either Irish favorites like Fish and Chips, Irish Lamb Stew, Bangers and Mash or this Shepherds Pie, or offer a nod to the land of the green like Bridget's Irish Meatloaf, Salmon Kilpatrick or the Emerald Isle Fisherman's Platter.

If you are looking for sandwiches, McGrath's offers four wraps, five burgers and another eight sandwiches, including a Batter Dipped Fish Sandwich, a Crab Cake Sandwich, and Irish Roast Beef Dip and this Pub Club, which is three slices of toasted thick cut sourdough bread layered with slow roasted sirloin, smoked turkey, lettuce, tomato, bacon, Pepper Jack cheese and a good helping of mayonnaise.

McGrath's has a banquet room for private parties of 25-75 that also becomes a second bar area during busy nights. Stop in to find out why they say that "McGrath's is always greener."