Above average bar food with good fresh ingredients and some not so typical items. Â Atmosphere is a little dark and cramped but overall fine. Â The big drawback here is that this place is cash only and management does very little to make people aware of it. Â People do not anticipate places like this being cash only, so if for whatever reason you're going to go that route, you should bend over backwards to make guests aware of it. Â When I was told that we had to pay in cash, the waiter didn't tell me where I could get any and when I asked the bartender she barely looked at me while saying "across the street." Â So I ran out in the rain, only to find that the door to the bank across the street was broken so I couldn't access the ATM, and then had to run around in the rain some more until I found another one. Â Totally ruined the dining experience and reduced this from a four star to a two star experience.
Review Source:Matt Murphy's is as "authentic" as pubs get in the area. It's a laid back atmosphere with quality food and unique drinks. The bartenders and waiters are friendly and attentive. It's a small, dark space, but it's convenient if you live in the area and great to go for a drink or a meal if you ACTUALLY WANT TO TALK TO THE PERSON YOU'RE THERE WITH. There are no TVs so it's a good place to drink and eat if you're looking to be social. Food and drinks are a little pricey, but quality makes it worth it. Small menu but still a lot of variety. They are also ALWAYS open. During the lockdown after the marathon bombings, and also during any snow storm ever, when every other place in the area was close, Matt Murphy's was open. Dedicated, reliable staff.
Review Source:Did not have good service at all and last minute the waitress said umm we don't accept credit card it says on the menu. No offense, but don't most Brookline restaurants accept credit card, and when i'm looking at the menu, i'm looking at the food, not if you don't accept credit card.
Also the service was horrible. Come on. It's a small restaurant and you're slow with getting the check and taking orders on a Tuesday night ? Never coming back to this place.
Only compliment I have is the food is decent.
Great, clean pub with quality food and drinks.
Menu showcases a large selection of quality brews and good bar food. Â Intimate ambiance that makes for a great spot for a date. Â Service was solid.
Had a chance to try the 'Top Round Lamb Sirloin Burger' and the 'Spiced Braised Boneless Shortrib Burger.' Â Both were delicious but I prefer the former. Â The lamb is clean and well-complemented by the onion jam and minted yogurt. Â Hard to go wrong with short-ribs. Â Nice portions served in between focaccia. Â
Each is served with a nice bread and butter chunk pickle and fries. Â The fries were a bit soggy and could definitely be better. Â They have a nice homemade ketchup here that has a fresh taste but I think I'll stick with my scientifically engineered Heinz. Â
Ended the meal with a Meyer Lemon Mousse which had a nice complexity to it. Â It was nothing special but a nice way to cap off the meal with some acidity. Â
Overall great experience. Â Cash only business so remember to stock up. Â Would definitely recommend.
Ambiance: Great. This is the perfect date spot.Dim lighting, intimate, small.
Food: Good! Classic fish and chips served in a basket.
Drinks: Yummy. Good drink selection, high class liquor selection, standard drink prices. Good moscow mule.
The only downside is that they are cash only. LAME.
Definitely underrated or maybe just a hidden gem which I should keep secret.
Went to this place on Sunday after the salesperson at Boston Interiors recommended it. From the outside, I pictured it being sort of like The Field - average food menu, decent beer selection, etc.
It's a little more upscale than than. Matt Murphy's has about 10 custom cocktails in the $9-12 range, what looked like a pretty good wine selection, and also a good beer selection.
The menu had a mix of bar plates, appetizers, sandwiches, and more elaborate entrees. It was around 2:30 when I sat down so I only got a sandwich since I wasn't up for a big meal. The tuna melt is really good - sweet onions, not too heavy on the mayo, and some very nice bread. Their fries are the shoestring type, very crispy. Bonus points for making their own ketchup which had a sweeter, more sugary taste than any of the bottled stuff.
Only giving it 3 stars because it seemed a bit cramped in there and you can just tell it's not at all a place you'd want to be when it starts getting crowded. I also don't like how there's no indication the place is cash only. If three of you go there and get a drink apiece you're going to spend close to $100. I live in the city and I don't carry that much cash on me so it's a pain in the ass to have that sprung on you when you go to pay the bill.
I'm going to give them a second chance, though. A lot of things on the menu sound really good. I'll make sure I go during the week before it gets busy, though. And I'll have cash in hand this time.
A nice restaurant with a soothing, pub-esque ambience. It's very small, and if there's only two of you, expect to share a table with two others. That was a little awkward, but well worth it since the food and drinks were good. My boyfriend and I both had the lamb sirloin burger; I was a little creeped out at how pink it was in the middle, but I ate and thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. I had the vodka gimlet too, which was sweet (not too sweet) and refreshing. Great location for a calm Sunday or weeknight!
Review Source:Very cool place. I was there with a high school friend, expecting more of a pub atmosphere, but it turned out to be all candlelit. I guess better for our mandate?
Anyway, got a cocktail and the fish and chips. Both were very good, and the fish and chips were definitely really unique. Only real downside was it was a little expensive, so I can't really come here regularly. Would like to though...
One star for my bartender and one for serving my wife chicken soup that made her cold ease for a few minutes.
Negative one star for a place that is cash only without a sign...and that has entrees over $20 and draft beers between $7-8.
Negative a million stars for $7-8 pints. WTF? Not cool guys. Especially if you are pocketing all that change from the absence of credit card fees. Why not at least get LevelUp?
Not impressed. Not disgusted either. Just won't leave my hood to go there,
Skip it and head down the road to the Haven.
Matt Murphy's is classy, cozy and used to have a fun, small family vibe, but but over the past year (2012), the management has become noticably snobby and rude, the menu has gotten more limited and less interesting. Â Their beer list needs variety and especially could use some Boston-based beer. Â The last time I went there after a mistake in my order that was never corrected on the bill, I left saying it would be my last time.
I too was fooled by the free oysters. Â Never again. Â I'd rather pay for oysters and get them in a timely fashion and not be subjected to such surly service.
Our waitress, Michaela, was consistently rude and abrupt. Â Avoid her at all costs.
It's not like we didn't also order food that we paid for, not to mention a copious consumption of their overpriced beer.
And cash only. Â Meh.
So. Â I've been a regular (about once a month) at Matt Murphy's over the past 4 years or so (I remember the purple paint and bunnies on the walls). Â
Over all this time- the food is reliably well done and better than what such simple dishes are expected to taste and, largely, this makes up for the relative over-pricing of menu items. The lamburger and fish & chips are especially noteworthy. As are the fries. Â Stay far away from the ketchup--it's home made and, well, I would say an "acquired" taste. Â I recommend ordering the curry sauce for dipping the fries if you must have something. Â
One thing that has not remained the same over all this time, however, is the service. Just tonite I had my second bout of terrible service (last time was in mid-december and yes, I actually think the server is the same). Â So, service began with me and my friend being told to take any seat down towards the kitchen by the server girl. Â We sat in the corner. Â Then were told by bartending guy that it was reserved for a large party that was coming in and could we move over. Â Ok, no problem. Â Next, I order a diet coke only to be told they have no soda/soft drinks. Â I ask what else they have, inquire about lemonade and they say sure. Â What end up getting is more like lemon juice muddled with selzter (interesting they have selzter and that wasn't offered as something to drink...). Â Later on during my meal, I see some people sit at the bar and I see two things: one, a soda gun being used to spray out liquids of varying shades (water and another something white for sure), secondly I see a Jones soda bottle being brought out and opened for another customer. Â Okay. Â Guess I didn't ask correctly about soft drinks?
Move on to another 45 min later (service the last few months is significantly slow--there is no check in with how food is and even in the cramped space the waitress will doggedly avoid a diner's pointed stare) and I'm ordering coffee. I get my coffee with my little jug of what appears to cream only to pour it and discover it's skim milk. Â I know coffee here is typically served with cream- I wouldn't order it if it was not. Â Plus, it's Boston. Â We like our regulah coffee. Â I ask the waitress for cream and she informs me they have none. Â Not that they are out but that they have none. Â (Note, they are approximately 15 seconds away from a Dunkin's.... where they give away creamers....) Â My dining partner then orders a dessert which is to be served with chantilly (which is cream beaten until fluffy and sweetened). Â Her dessert arrives. Â Not only is it served with the chantilly but also with a second side of redi-whip. Â At this point I peer back towards the kitchen and I actually see a full red Hood dairy quart carton of heavy cream. Â Two of them. Â (Note heavy cream mixed with milk is a perfect half-half cream for coffee.) Â
Also, the entire time we were there--90 minutes in total, no one ever came to fill up that corner table. Â At all. Â
So, I don't know if this server is particularly unhappy with her job or what the case may be but I can say that after tonite's dinner there, I am positive that her lack of commitment to pleasing a customer affected my dining enjoyment. Â
It will be far longer than a month before I go back for another round of this.
Two words: Simply Incredible.
I've been here quite a few times before, but it was the visit last night that finally convinced me to write this review for Matt Murphy's.
Food: 5/5. A bit pricy ($7 for fries, $12-15 for sandwiches/small plates, and ~$20 for entrees) but well worth it. Personal favorites are the fries, which are fried perfectly (as good as Russell House in Cambridge or even, dare I say, Saus at Haymarket) and sprinkled with sea salt and chopped parsley, then served with three addictive sauces (truffle oil aiolo, a mild horseradish sour cream, and creamy curry) and the absolute best ketchup I have ever had in my life. The short rib sandwich is also delicious-big, full of flavor, and braised till it fall apart to your gentlest bite like Lindsay Lohan's sobriety on any given Friday night. For dessert, when the menu lists 'a few scoops of vanilla ice cream?' These are full sized, generous scoops of pure deliciousness, not skimpy little plinks of frozen cream and sugar.
Drinks: 5/5. Again, pricier than what you would expect for an Irish bar, but the quality makes this an undeniably good deal. The cocktails are made with pride and precision, the beer list is damn good, and the drinks are well-portioned. My personal favorites here were The Immigrant, which ANY self-proclaimed whiskey lover should drink at least once in their lifetime (mango and spice-infused whiskey served over the rocks with orange and lemon zest), and the Old Cuban, which takes what we perceive to be the questissential Cuban drinks (the Mojito) and gives it an old-world ass-kicking, taking the sugar out and using citrus, bitters, and sparkling wine to give the drink a beefier feel.
Service/Ambience/Space: 4.5/5. Beautifully decorated, with plenty of attention to detail and great lighting, though it can get VERY cramped when this place fills up. Service was wonderful and the bartenders know their stuff extremely well. Keep in mind, however, that this place only takes cash-leaves your cards in your pockets and either bring some green or head to the Bank of America ATM a block away to get some.
Overall, this is a wonderful place, a hidden gem in the heart of Brookline Village that easily stacks up against such luminaries as Russell House, Meadhall, Tory Row, and other more well-known places scattered around Cambridge and Downtown. If you haven't been here yet, its just a short ride on the Green Line to Brookline Village.
Cheers,
Jin
I simply love this place. Â It feels like stepping into a dear friends' library and whiskey den, it's all Irish hospitality and oozes a welcoming vibe. Â The food is well above average and often excellent, the beer list is carefully curated and interesting, and they can mix a proper cocktail.
Be warned that if you get too friendly with Siobhan you will get much free food and more cocktails than your bargained for and might have to walk home.
Heaven in Pub format.
As much for a change of pace and for my equal love of lamb, I decided to venture over to Matt Murphy's for a taste of their Lamb Burger. A charming little restaurant where you instantly feel at home and comfort is the key. The menu is driven by (mostly) classic Irish Pub fare, but a few notches above your typical neighborhood establishment, and the price reflects that too. You pay for the upgrade, certainly not phenomenally high, but when was the last time you paid $19 for a Shepherd's Pie? I suppose you could make the same argument for a high priced burger too, but I digress. The aforementioned Top Round Lamb Sirloin Burger is topped with feta, red onion jam, and minted yogurt and sits in between a fluffy Focaccia "bun." Yes, I said fluffy. A house-made ketchup sits alongside the burger and fries, a noble attempt but it's much too watery and lacking any flavor to speak of. The burger is hit-or-miss; some elements work well, while others are lackluster.
The star of the burger is indeed the lamb, which is luckily the predominant flavor throughout. If you don't like lamb then this certainly isn't the burger for you, and the fact that they use Focaccia as a bun only begs to bring up the debate of whether it's actually a burger or not. But the meat and the bun work in its favor, something that the majority of meat and bun combinations can't claim. The lamb is cooked to medium, although I was never asked how I wanted it cooked. It's juicy and well seasoned but I can't help but think how much juicier it could have been had it been cooked slightly less, there also isn't quite enough fat to keep it juicy from start to finish. The Focaccia should have been too large and too airy but it's really just right. With good flavor from garlic and herbs, it is an unorthodox but successful bun that makes the Matt Murphy's burger stand-out even more. They do miss the mark on mostly everything else. The cheese, Â Â red onion jam and yogurt sauce are so scarce they are barely detectable. What I do pick out and try separately is bland, and the promise of a great supporting cast is not realized. The fries are uneventful as well; thick with the skin-on, they are dry and completely lack salt.
The burger rings in at $13, not a bad value for a pretty substantial meal. While the fries and sauces are underwhelming, the meat and the bun are the two stars of this dish. Something different from all the ordinary beef burgers out there and worth checking out, Matt Murphy's burger is only held back from greatness by their own limitations.
Many moons ago, like a ton of moons ago, I frequented a little pub in Brookline Village called Matt Murphy's. This was a strange time and much whiskey and ale was consumed. As a direct result, my distant memories of this pub are hazy and perhaps faulty on the facts. I recall the following:
-having to walk through the kitchen in order to get to the bathroom
-wearing a lot of heavy wool sweaters
-drinking a lot of Spaten and Bushmills
-hanging out at the bar with all sorts of creatures, women and people with exotic accents
Several years later I have dared to step off the 66 and once again enter this strange and mythical bar. To that point, there is actually nothing mythical about Matt Murphy's. In fact, Matt's is sort of a regular ol' pub. But please, read that 'regular' as follows:
-comfortable
-perfect for a date or a small party or just a quiet dinner
-a place with near perfect mussels
-the type of restaurant that is so Ok with it's self that it has no problem with serving you fish and chips wrapped up in the New York Times
Why haven't I been here for well over five years? Why do they only take cash? When can I come back again?
With repeated business trips to Boston, you want a place you know can't miss, especially on a Monday night (although Tuesday and Wednesday were a blast too). Solid food (Lamb Burger), oyster Mondays, great service, good place to just wind down after and long day, and wind it back up before a long night.
Thank you yelp for the rec.
I came here on a Monday night, tricked by "FREE OYSTERS"5-7. Why not, gave it a shot. Free Oysters are for when you sit at the bar, get a drink get free oysters.
You can only sit at a table if you buy dinner. There are 9 tables in the entire establishment. When we got there 5 tables were empty. But we got our oysters second to last, because the guy said its first come first served.. I'm pretty sure we were seated and took our orders before those other 4 tables but SURE, I guess you know best. BTW it took us an hour to get our oysters in which there were only 6 oysters on it.
They had 1 shucker at the bar. Who shucked for the entire restaurant. We can understand that it's a small place. The age group is late 20s to late 30s Irish Pub-people..
We ordered dinner. Kind of pricey for a pub, but we had the cheapest things on the menu which are their sandwiches, that's probably what everyone orders when they go there. Everything else is in their high $20s for entrees.
I had the lamb sirloin sandwich. It was pretty tasty! The bread was toasted.
The fries smelled good when you placed it down on the table. The ketchup is homemade. I believe I like fake Heinz ketchup now, homemade tasted really plain and didn't have any flavor to it.
The flaky fish sandwich had a soaky bread texture to it. The fish itself it pretty decent, (pretty plain, needs more salt). But the bread wasn't toasted and felt mushy by the time you ate it. Maybe too much sauce?
I'd probably hit up this place for lunch, not dinner. The atmosphere is really loud and the waitress didn't know anything about the Oysters. She just merely said, it had nothing to do with her and walked away. I should have expected free anything would have been a scam to get you in, it definitely worked on us! Haha. Save your time and just go buy 1$ oysters elsewhere.
If you're going to go JUST for oysters, fight your way and sit at the bar. They only have 12 seats or so at the bar, but I'm pretty sure they didn't have to wait as long to get them than the tables did.
ALSO this place is CASH ONLY.
What a wonderful place to eat!
I just went to this place for the first time because of the free oysters on monday, which is an amazing deal in itself, but was pleasantly surprised by how awesome the staff, food, and overall ambiance of the restaurant turned out to be.
This is definitely a must-go. I had the fries with truffle aioli, curry, and horseradish cream along with the veal dish from the bar and it was phenomenal.
The location is also great: not too far from Coolidge Corner but just enough that you don't experience the sometimes overwhelming crowds that tend form around the Coolidge area.
I wanted to give 5 stars, but I've only been once. Â If the second time I go is as good as the first, it's 5 stars for sure. Â I had a lamb burger for my entree, and it was amazing. Â So flavorful and juicy. Â With just the right amount of goat cheese and sauteed onions to compliment the deliciousness. Â Also, I loved the homemade ketchup.
Also, the service and the atmosphere were top notch.
Matt Muprhy's service, food, ambiance was sooo good, it pulled me out of a yearlong yelp-hibernation. Â For nearly 2 years, I've frequented restaurants between Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue. Â Only recently did I start to explore eateries south of Beacon Street. So happy to learn Brookline Village is full of amazing litlte jewels, with Matt Murphy's standing among the best. Â
Location: My best-friend and I took an hour walk around the JP reservoir and stood famished near the Brookline Village T stop. 5 min walk later, we found a quaint and traditional Irish Pub along Harvard Street, next to a Dunkin Donuts.
**NOTE: business is cash-only. There's a Soverign/Bank of America ATM nearby** Â
Ambiance: It was as if we had traveled back in time - early 20th century wood tables and small kitchen in the back. Soundtrack is a mix of patrons and kitchen bustle. Ideal place to catch up with friends or grab a drink at the bar on your own. Parties ranged from couples to groups of 4. Â We arrived at 7 pm on a Thursday, there was no wait.
The food: Â I ordered a terrific grilled cheese sandwich served with pickle (amazing), bacon, and nicely cut french fries (REAL natural potatoes!). Â Instead of the usual Heinz bottle, I was treated to HOMEMADE ketchup with a hint of tamarind sweetness. Â My iced-tea was served unsweetened with a small carafe carrying LIQUID simple syrup - so it dissolves quickly. Â Matt Murphy, you're a genius. Â Â My friend ordered the goat cheese/beats/squash salad. Â She ate every morsel, and nearly licked the plate. She's a chef, so I imagine that's a sign she enjoyed her meal. Â Their drink menu is extensive: beer, spirits, and signature cocktails. Â
Next visit, I'll like to order fish n chips, fresh baked pretzels with cheese fondue, and poutine. Â It really pleases my cynical heart to experience great service and amazing food at reasonable prices.
My experience with the food here is as narrow as the pub itself (inhale before you walk in).
I've only had the fish n chips, but it's been delicious each time. Fresh flaky white fish with a crisp batter. What really stands out is the homemade ketchup. It's fresh and delicious, with a marinara flavor to it. Sometimes you'll find a tomato chunk in the squeeze bottle, so beware if nothing is coming out. If you keep trying to force it, you'll wind up with ketchup all over your white shirt and the awkward break up date next to you. (Note: You're way too needy, and he's a douchebag).
Both times I've been here, we got free dessert and coffee. Woohoo! A really nice touch.
The bartenders tend to be snotty pricks, so watch out for that. Cead mile fuck you's too, buddy.
The food was ranging from okay to good, but the service was horrible.
Long story short, the wait staff and bartenders were extremely arrogant and rude. They also don't take credit cards.
Long story:
I came here with a group of friends (6 people total) on Saturday night for a quick dinner/drinks before heading to a show.
The waitress never checked on how things were. When we got the check, we put down one credit card to simplify (instead of 3). When she came back, she looked down and told us they don't accept credit cards (really? in 2012???) and there's an ATM across the street. She wasn't apologetic, acted like we should automatically know this, and were generally a bother to her. Her demeanor was extremely rude the entire time.
We had initially walked in with just 3 of us while the others searched for parking. We were told to "take a seat" at the bar, and we would get a table once everyone arrived. They had 2-3 empty tables at the time, and no empty seats at the bar. Slightly annoying, but not a big deal.
We were given menus at the bar, and one of us asked for a cocktail that was not on the menu. The bartender said they only serve drinks that are on the menu (and he wasn't nice or apologetic about it). Between ordering drinks and them being made, the rest of my friends walked in, and we sat down. By that time, they couldn't remember the beer my boyfriend ordered (and we only ended up ordering 2 drinks at the bar).
The menu was very overpriced, all the soups were over $10. Four of us ordered food, and the waitress also forgot what we ordered. When she came back to confirm, she didn't apologize, but just pointed at us saying our orders. When she got to mine, she pointed and just waited for me to repeat it to her (since she didn't remember). I'm ok with waiters not writing down orders, but you have to write things down if you're not going to remember it.
The tables were generally small, and it was a tight fit for 6. I wouldn't recommend coming here in general, but definitely wouldn't recommend coming here with more than 4 people.
Another confusing thing, their door says Public House. The actual name is only on the sign above eye level. We walked right by it when were were looking for the place.
Not what I'd expect from a Brookline establishment, in a good way. Though not at all fancy, or anything special, I enjoyed the decor/environment of the bar...it was comfy. Unlike recent reviews, I thought the service was good and pretty quick, however most complaints seemed to be lunch-time or after-work. I came for Sunday brunch and the place was half empty.
Good bread assortment, and decent coffee. Didn't get to try any adult beverages, but would love to if I come back! The strawberry infused vodka sounds delish.
I got the smoked salmon omelet. It was decent, but lacked in overall flavor. Home-fries were good, but I was not  a fan of their "ketchup" which tasted more like marinara to me. However, the rest of my table loved it....so don't go on my judgement alone. My boyfriend says his grilled cheese was the best he's had in the entire area...and trust me, he gets it everywhere.
While I overall wasn't wowed by my visit, I was intrigued enough to come back. I will either come back for brunch to get the grilled cheese or to try their dinner with their specialty gimlet.
I am sure I will be back...
I was such a fan. Â I loved Murphy's. Â I loved the rabbit-themed artwork. Â I loved the ketchup. Â I loved the cheap wine, the bread, the fish and chips, the delicious salads, and the desserts so much that I didn't mind that it was cash only and that it was difficult to get a table on a weekend. Â It was a place that I had literally written home about.
So much has changed. Â The service was inattentive at best; it took ten minutes to get the bartender's attention on a Tuesday evening and we were one of two couples sitting at the bar. Â Food-wise, the ketchup recipe may the same, but the general quality of the food has suffered. Â The menu has changed and the salads are completely commonplace and uninspired. Â The addition of bar plates initially excited me and so I ordered the pretzel bits with Welsh rarebit ($13). Â What I got for thirteen dollars was of less quality than what I could've ordered at Auntie Anne's for $2.50. Â I got a previously frozen hacked apart pretzel with a two-ounce pan of clumpy, flavorless cheese sauce. Â My husband's tuna "melt" (also $13) was just a tuna sandwich with a slice of cold, unmelted cheese atop it. Â
Needless to say, no second drink, no dessert--for two beers, a cocktail, a frozen pretzel and a tuna sandwich, it was $60 (plus the $3 I paid at the Sovereign Bank ATM to pay the check). Â I could've gone to Brookline Spa and been way less frustrated and paid with my card. Â What a disappointment.
My wife was excited for me to try MMP last Friday. Â She has been there before for lunch and had a great meal. Â We arrived at 7:30 and didn't have to wait long to be seated. Â It did take quite awhile to get someone to take our drink order, Someone kept saying, "One moment please" every 5 minutes for about 15 after we sat.
Now here comes the kicker.... Â We are on a small intimate 4 person table.. then we hear the hostess say "you are sharing a table" with this couple to two women behind us. Â
Let me tell you we all looked at each other like "What the F*%#?". Â We had to share a little table with four people and we couldn't even have a personal conversation. Â The other couple at the table concurred; If we were told BEFORE we sat down that we were going to share a table, that would have been all the difference in the world, NOT "oh by the way"... Â It was one the rudest possible thing you could to to a patron.
The food was very good. Â I had Ox tail soup and the mussels
Three stars for the food
I will not go back
Vegetarian review
Drinks were great.
Fries were substandard.
Beet salad was fantastic!
The goat cheese tart was really mediocre. The fried component was not impressive.
Thanks for the free chocolate cake!!
**they only take cash!!**. Really annoying, since 1) it's written in tiny font in the menu and 2) it's a nice place and a bit expensive, so they really should take credit card (or at least LevelUp).
The fundamental problem with this place is that it does a poor job defining itself. Â It used to be a cool pub, apparently. Â Now's it's a "pub" with fancy cocktails, $11 salads and an eclectic, expensive menu. Â Not really a pub at all.
Not a total bust, but damn close.
After reading of the best fish & chips in the city, I jumped at the opportunity to feast upon the fried cod and vinegary frites with house-made ketchup. Yay for oily, battered behemoth for one! Yay for a full me on a freezing, overcast day!
Yay for a pub that's... not a pub at all? The name instills a sense of unbridled warmth, dark wood runners and sketchy locals. But no, Brookline Village bares its rough side by offering a gray, artistically nouveau bistro with $7 draft beers and $18-28 entrées.
There's nothing wrong with Matt Murphy's; it's just that there's nothing right. It's not a bar, it's not comfortable, it's not a happening spot to meet with friends and kill a few pints of shite (ie available) brew. It's just a lackluster space gunning to keep the 40+ crowd happy they opted to live here over Back Bay.
Fish and chips were limp and flavorless, requiring heaps of the tinny tartar sawce to even know it was in the show. The pickled onions dominated, and the rest is mystery, as in, "I'm baffled as to how these got named Best in Show by so many." No crunch, no zip, no thanks.
Service was fine and dandy, but if I just wanted a catered experience, I'd hire a caterer. Matt Murphy's offers absolutely nothing compelling me back through the door, actually painting the completely wrong image for anyone looking to find a rustic, harbor town experience. I'm not a fan at all.
First of all, I'd like to take this moment to address the fact that we walked in at 10:55 pm on a Friday night, and we were informed (quite testily, I might add) that it was last call. What kind of city is this?
Boston. Ugh.
That aside, I was completely convinced that I was going to love Matt Murphy's. It's a beautiful space, and a glance at the menu got me drooling like my 7th grade substitute science teacher.* As we were there for a drink (just one, the angry woman at the door insisted), we appreciated that the house cocktails all sounded stellar as well.
Personally though, I'd just spent three days with my family, and I just needed a lot of bourbon. So I ordered a Manhattan. On the rocks. It arrived up. But that's not a big deal at all, especially since it was delicious and bourbony. Unfortunately, my two companions were not so lucky.
Companion 1 ordered a Sazerac. Despite having lived in New Orleans for several years, I am admittedly not a Sazerac expert.** However, Companion 1 drinks entirely too many Sazeracs, and this was simply...not. I don't expect most bars to be able to mix a perfect Sazerac, but when they have a legit cocktail menu, a classic such as this should be part of the repertoire.
Companion 2 ordered a vodka soda. Sounds perfectly simple, but what arrived was what I am absolutely convinced was a gin and water. Maybe their soda is flat, and their vodka tastes like gin. I don't know. All I know is that this tasted like gin and water.
Now, ordinarily I would've let the bartender or waitress know about these issues, but my companions insisted I not make a fuss, and it had already been made abundantly clear that we were less than welcome.
I still regret not saying anything, as I'm sure Mr. Murphy would've liked to know what was going on in his establishment. And most importantly, because I think we deserve to get what we ordered. Especially considering this joint charges $8 for well vodka, AND THEN an additional $2 for the soda.
When your specialty cocktails are also $10, this is a bit galling.
___________
*Sometimes I make references that nobody understands. But the woman drooled on me. It was scarring.
** Most of my alcoholic beverages during that period of my life fell under the category of "whatever was unguarded," rather than "classic cocktails."
Let me write a new review. This place is delicious first off! But, I have beef with the vibes now. After renovating my favorite little cozy, local pub in ALL of boston...this place has turned into a DATE place. Okay, okay, maybe this makes more money on large orders, and maybe the decor is cleaner and brighter looking but I'm sorry...doesn't everyone just want a little pub next door to go over in jeans and a t shirt and get a beer!?
And also....I used to love how carefree and fun all the employee's were. They would know your drink and treat you like a local. Now, they wear matching clothes and look like they work at a corporate chain.
Matt Murphy's....there is a reason you are not Starbucks. You're food is bomb and your drinks are amazing...but I will choose to go to the Publick House now, I don't want to put on heels and go out with a boyfriend to eat salmon.
I want a beer, as a townie, and I want my sassy bartenders back!
I'm really struggling with this review. Â I live in Brookline Village so this is essentially the only bar in my immediate vicinity, and I still don't come here that often. Â Matt Murphy's is like one big frustrating premature ejaculation - you're happy you came, but in the end you're still disappointed!
Start with the good - the atmosphere is nice with the new look, they have a good beer and wine list and good food served til midnight.
But I have some major problems with this place too. Â
Why oh why does it always smell like cleaning products? Â I mean, I'm glad they keep the place clean, but I feel like every time I step in they are mopping the floors, or spraying down the bar, or otherwise using a bleach-containing product. Â Yuck.
Why oh why is it cash only? Â Get with the times.
Why oh why is a cash-only Irish pub that smells like bleach too pretentious to carry mass market liquors and soft drinks? Â If you want a bacardi and diet coke, you'll have to go somewhere else...
Why oh why are the bar stools so top heavy that they can barely remain upright when you hang a jacket off them?
Why oh why does the bartender have to be a jackass to my out of town friends when I'm trying to show them a good time? Â Specifically, to my friend from Pittsburgh, he said, "How's your rapist quarterback doing?" Â C'mon man, be professional.
The attitude in here from the bartender and most patrons just reeks so bad, I mostly avoid Murphy's unless it's a blizzard out and I can't get anywhere else!
I've been a regular at Matt Murphy's Pub for well over 7 years. I've brought friends here, I've brought my Mum here, always good food.
I came here last week and discovered that they're in the middle of a complete renovation and it looks good!
The bar is almost the full length of the restaurant and it now has seating, which it didn't before and I love it! Â I could totally see myself coming here after work some evening and sitting at the bar and having a drink and an appetizer and chatting with the bartender. Â It still has the same menu, a few changes but not much. Â Their sandwiches are always toasted just right and so tasty. Â The cheese plate is great with a glass of wine and a wonderful way to start your meal.
The fish and chips are served in a newspaper, Dublin style, which is a nice touch and their tomato ketchup is homemade and delicious.
We had rice pudding for dessert and it was yummy. Â
I love this place and my family and I have been coming here every Christmas eve for dinner and a hot port to get ready for Santa's arrival and I always go home feeling all Christmassy and happy.
I want to try their brunch so I'm looking forward to this and will be back soon.
Desperate for food, but well past the time when most people are munching on brunch (listen, it was a late night, okay?)...I found myself in here, hoping to god that they could make me something I could eat and that the kitchen was still open. After the initial pang of fear when the (adorable!) server said, "I'm sure the salads are fine," things went swimmingly. There was actually only one salad on the menu and I just wasn't in the mood for healthy rabbit food that afternoon, so I asked if the kitchen could do two sides: roasted potatoes and scrambled eggs. "No problem!" the server assures me.
My god, those eggs and potatoes were the best things I've ever tasted! And I wasn't even hungover, honest. You know how you can go in for crazy expensive brunches and are then served somewhat unappetizing rubber eggs? This was the opposite of that. They were cooked just enough to hold together and have thoroughly cooked whites, infused with cheesy and butter gorgeousness and served in an insanely generous portion. The potatoes? Warm and cozy like reading your favorite book in your grandpa's worn-out armchair during a rainy day. They were cooked up with caramalized onions, salt, and pepper, and that's it. Nothing fancy...just straight up comfort food done shockingly well.
They've also got two types of Original Sin cider and any of you who know me know about my deep, deep affection for that elixir of life.
In short, if you're ever in Brookline, head over here to get yourself some cheap, delicious eats. Also, bring cash...they don't take cards. There are ATMs across the street, if necessary.
They also have some great, eclectic live music that's worth checking out at night.
Matt Murphy's Pub can now be counted among the many businesses that speak to me and say, "You must come to this area of the city more often!" an interior like an old farm house, service reminiscent of what service was meant to be (helpful, timely, familiar) and simple food with prices congruent to portion size and taste.
At Matt Murphy's on a weekday evening, you'll notice regulars, newbs, dates, families and friends, commiserating at scattered tables, drinking cocktails and brews, filling the atmosphere with warm and welcome conversation. Though we contributed more than our fill of talk to the soundtrack that evening, the staff allowed us to linger without a hint of rush or a mention of the check until we were ready.
When I was a kid in Haiti, I didn't have many friends. Kids I played with at school were simply acquaintances. I didn't have play dates or sleepovers. That's why I was so surprised when my friend Richard's parents came to visit mine one day. Richard and I weren't used to seeing each other out of our school uniforms, so we barely said a word to each other as we climbed a tree and just sat there.
Matt Murphy's Pub threw me for a similar curveball. At pubs, even for brunch, I expect chicken wings, burgers, mac and cheese, and fries to headline the menu. Instead, I was staring at a menu with a selection so healthy, it could have been the weekly ad for Whole Foods.
Not to be outdone by regular pubs, or snubbed by Haitian clientele, Matt Murphy's had a chicken sandwich unlike any other. Served with arugula and roasted tomatoes, it was a healthy yet delicious alternative to chicken-on-the-bone, drenched with barbecue sauce.
That particular day, I was with my nephew and while I had been looking forward to introducing him to deep-fried mozzarella sticks, he shared and enjoyed a bowl of chicken soup with my wife. All in all, this pub was a unique experience in atmosphere (although it was empty, I could sense that it was not the place college kids come to get drunk and eat 10-cent wings) and culinary offerings.
I love Matt Murphy's. I love their Irish brunch, the service, and even the homemade ketchup. I must say that I have only been here during brunch, but never have I been disappointed.
The food today was phenomenal, better than I remembered. The lovely waiter brought us two steamy cups of coffee along with artisan raisin bread and full flavor butter.
I had their fluffy smoked salmon omelet ($9) Â with roasted asparagus, slow cooked tomatoes, chives, and sour cream. My Irish bf appropriately got the Irish breakfast ($10) with sausage, hand cut fries, bacon, black in white pudding (sausage) and scrambled eggs with ample amounts of cooked root vegetables. Even though, the portions were huge it was difficult for me to stop eating.
Matt Murphy's is my favorite brunch location. It makes me very happy that I live in Boston and have this unique and wonderful gem of a restaurant. I recommend this place to anyone who has a love for food, drink, or Irish culture.
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