Long Island Food Critic

Much More Than Your Quintessential Irish Pub

As the name and logo implies, Murph’s is an Irish-inspired restaurant and bar, but with much more to offer than the stereotypical pub menu and decor. Depending on the entrance you use, you will be greeted with either an ample dining area or a full-sized bar with an impressive array of libations.

The dining area is tastefully decorated with various posters, photos and artwork of past music and film stars as well as pubs, castles and a variety of architecture unique to Ireland. The bar area features numerous TVs, making it a perfect spot to catch your favorite event. It also showcases a nice homage to law enforcement and firefighters, with various placards and others adornments celebrating these heroes.

Beer lovers would be impressed with Murph’s World Tour of Beer, which boasts over 100 beers from around the world. This is an interesting way to “travel” the globe without leaving the bar.

Needless to say, we opted for the dining area, where we were served an interesting assortment of rolls (above right). Most notable was the Irish Soda Bread, which was warm and tasty.

Our first appetizer were the Chicken Wings (below left). A staple of nearly all bar/restaurant combos, this finger-food sometimes receives little attention. However, not at Murph’s; they were cooked perfectly with a sauce that gave it a subtle heat. We also received a Salad (below right) to start our meal, which was vibrant and fresh.

Next up were the Coconut Fried Shrimp (below left). At first glance, it was apparent that these were not some pre-packaged prawns. These succulent shrimp are hand-prepared in-house and served with a sauce that we found unnecessary. While the sauce was tasty, the delicious coconut flavor and tender shrimp shone brightly on their own. When ordering this dish, make sure you try it with and without the sauce to experience both great ways that this dish can be enjoyed.

Plated before us was Murph’s Chicken (above right), a special spin on chicken rollatini. This dish was a pleasing presentation, with rolled and breaded chicken stuffed with vegetables and served over rice primavera. The “rollatini” portion was cooked to a golden brown, very tender and full of flavors that married well. This proved to be a hearty entrée and the medallion-style cuts made this a perfect sharing dish.

The Broiled Filet of Salmon (below left) can be had blackened, teriyaki-style or in a white wine & lemon butter sauce. We opted for the latter and were quite happy with the results. This is also a filling dish, served with vegetables and your choice of potato side. Expertly cooked, the salmon was juicy and fork-tender. The vegetables were fresh and crunchy and the baked potato was delicious.

The Pork Jaeger Schnitzel may not be the prettiest dish you’ll see at Murph’s, but it is certainly one of the tastiest! What it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for in aroma and flavor. Before you taste the dish, you will be overcome by a hard-to-describe scent that assures you are about to partake in a flavorful feast. The potato pancakes accompanying this meal were crispy with a moist center. The tender pork was smothered in a savory sauce, replete with onions and mushrooms. Be sure you bring your appetite when enjoying this full-bodied entrée.

Our dessert options consisted of a slice of Mississippi Mud Pie (below left) and a slice of Peanut Butter Pie (below right). The mud pie was filled with creamy chocolate under a layer of soft fudge. This smooth, substantial dessert is definitely a chocolate lovers delight. Not to be outdone, the peanut butter pie was also rich and decadent, with a creamy peanut butter filling and chocolate base. If you love peanut butter, this dessert is for you!

With dessert finished, we were left to reflect on our experience at Murph’s. We concluded that, with its wide array of options, everyone will find something to love. Consistently delicious and generously portioned, our humble advice to you is to bring your appetite when dining here, or at least bring some famished family and friends! Remember, you wont have to rely on the luck of the Irish to get a magnificent meal at Murph’s.