Comments on: Burger Quest 2009: McGinty’s Public House

By: lilkunta

lilkunta — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:30:41 +0000

Perhaps Im cheap, a $12 hamburger.
& no it isnt that Im used to eating Wendys, mcd, bk,checkers as I HATE all fast food. mcd irks me alot.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:44:39 +0000

McGinty’s has had some interesting events, I recall a fundraiser for my favorite public servant. And didn’t they join in that hastily-organized Harry Potter thing a few months ago? So it is a bit more of a “public house” than a bar? And if so, isn’t that a good thing?
Jen, thanx for the info about the veggie burger! If I get one there, I may skip those toppings. They sound yummy, but things cooked on a grill usually have meat essence, in my experience. So I will do lettuce & tomato.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:51:49 +0000

If you really want to explore burgers, and do it from the comfort of home, check out http://www.cheeseandburger.com

By: Woodsider

Woodsider — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:01:19 +0000

How does the burger compare with Quarry House?

By: Vagrarian

Vagrarian — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:00:10 +0000

I’m with Steve and JG…McGinty’s has good food and good beer, but the atmosphere there is too plastic and jumbled. I just don’t feel comfortable there as I do at other places, and that detracts a bit from the experience.

By: JG

JG — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:53:40 +0000

I agree with Steve, I think their food is suprisingly good but it’s a very weird place to hangout in, and I’ve rarely gone there just to have a few beers or for happy our, only to eat.

By: jen

jen — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:40:54 +0000

They have a really delicious veggie burger, which if I remember correctly is topped with grilled mushrooms and carmelized onions (along with lettuce & tomato).

By: Easley Does It

Easley Does It — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:51:04 +0000

Burger Quest ‘09 is service journalism at its finest! I hope the Pulitzer judges take note.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:25:32 +0000

But do they have a veggie burger? If they do, I hope they don’t top it with fake bacon.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:03:44 +0000

Yep, that’s generally been my take on McGinty’s. Their food is a notch above the usual pub fare, and certainly better than some well known irish pubs in the area, like the Dubliner. I’d recommend their salads and their half portion of fish & chips.
However, and this is a BIG problem for an irish pub, I still can’t get past how un-cozy the whole place feels. The downstairs just feels wrong somehow, while the upstairs has that weird pairing of a fake irish cottage with a sports bar/music venue. I realize Fado is a bit (or even a lot!) Disney-esque, however their pubs do convey a certain cozy element that is lacking from McGinty’s.
My advice to McGinty’s: close for a few weeks while you overhaul the interior, but when you do re-open keep doing what you’re doing in the kitchen.