The Marlay House

Awesome Irish breakfasts on St. Pat's.

May the sun forever shine on this absolute gem of a place. While it can get a bit noisy on the weekends, hit it on a mid-week evening and you're guaranteed a nice time.

Hand's down - my favorite spot to grab a drink in Decatur. The food is top-tier "pub food"  as well - especially the D14.

Man you guys, I should have reviewed the Marlay House before last night because now I'm kinda over them and I feel mean doing this, but the world has to know!

I went in last night, which to be fair, was a holiday.  I went at 9pm though, so imagine my surprise when the place was chock full o' children.  There were kids running around and screaming, throwing piles of cushions on the floor and then taking running leaps into them, banging on the piano and then playing "Heart and Soul" and "Chopsticks" throughout my hour stay.  I know, I know, this has more to do with the parents of these children than the actual bar, but it made my dining experience pretty unpleasant.  At some point the manager or server or bartender should have said, "Hey the piano isn't for playing and the cushions aren't for building forts--this is a bar."  

At one point a child was actually sitting AT THE BAR which I'm pretty sure is illegal, or at least bad business.  I go to bars to be around adults and I'm running out of places that are for adults that aren't like, titty bars.  Ugh. I noticed multiple adults moving away from that section of the restaurant, and one gentleman remarked, "It is Kid Central over here!"

I will say that their food is usually good.  I love their burger and fries, and the fish n' chips are pretty delicious too.  But they've apparently recently changed their menu and took away some tasty options (no more chicken tacos?!?! WHYYYY???) and also raised their prices (a pimento cheese & bacon burger with fries will set you back $16!  At Parker's the same item is only $15 and you'll get some free bread while you wait! And isn't a basic Farmburger about $6?).  Between the new menu and the new (literally new to this earth) clientele, I'll probably be dining elsewhere when I want a beer and a burger, and it'll be a place with a conspicuously absent kids' menu.