I was in no hurry to visit this being one of last bars at Forest Park's Madison strip. From the outside it looks just like another Irish Pub. The inside looks like just another Irish Pub, but they spent some money on an old authentic European pub like place. The place was pretty nice inside and I liked the old wood tables. They also have booths and I found the place pretty charming. Good beer on serve but the food looked like typical boring pub eatery. A nice outdoor patio as well.
Review Source:I am so happy to live close to this awesome Irish pub! They play live, authentic Irish music on Thursday nights and it is such a great atmosphere. They have good Irish beer on tap and I always try to get something new and they have a good selection.
Also, my friend was visiting and we took her there because her name is Mollie Malone. They were nice enough to put her drink on the house and I will now be a customer for life. We take everyone that visits us there because the service is great and you can't beat the ambiance.
Tonight was my first time visiting Molly Malone's. Â Everything about the evening was excellent. Â Excellent service. Our waiter did everything right. Â Our food came out quickly and it was delicious. Â We can recommend the potato leek soup, the shrimp with Panko bread crumbs (that was on special tonight), the chicken fingers and fries and the bacon club sandwich. Â I will definitely make the effort to come back.
Review Source:I found out about this place due to a local article on Super Bowl specials. Â The bar was offering free chili, so I figured, why not?
When I entered, the member of staff did confirm that there was chili available. Â The setup area was rather minimal (with chili and five different condiments) but I can't complain. Â The chili was actually very tasty for bar food. Â I had two bowls of chili, sat at the bar, and enjoyed the game.
The only complaint that I have is that the bartender disappeared multiple times during my visit. Â I didn't order any drinks, but when I decided to leave a tip, I had to wait about 60 seconds until he arrived back at the bar.
Still, I enjoyed my visit, and I'll probably be back for trivia night on Wednesday.
4 stars/5
This place has been my place since i transplanted from the oak park area. Mollys has great staff and when I say great staff theese are the people you envision you would like to just sit down and converse with. If you want a good drink this is the place to go in river forrest, oak park and the surrounding areas. The bartenders remember you and your drink, i dont know about you but for me this is a big thing, it only makes me wanna spend my money here and guilty when i spend it anywhere else. There are other drinking spots down madison but I havent found this type of customer service anywhere. Now lets talk food, the burgers are where i visit and repeat  every thing else is good like the chicken sandwich and the guinness stew is wondermous, but the angus burger is awesome with american cheese and a1 steak sauce mmmmm, i may just go over there to have one right now. But if you are over 25 and you wanna get out and not feel old, spend your friday,saturday or sunday night at molly malones. oh yeah for all of the military personnel this place consistantly has had a military friendly staff and patrons.  Thanks Molly.
Review Source:This place is awesome! It doesn't look it from the outside, but Molly Malone's is actually gigantic. And they're a great music vent with their own parking. (Honestly) what more can you ask for?!
On top of these perks, they have drink/dinner specials and a huge martini menu. I'd recommend the Key Lime Pie. It's delicious. Their pizza is also good, and it's extra cheap on Tuesdays (or Thursdays. I can't remember).
I love Molly Malones. I don't know how else to put that besides with 5 stars. I just love it here, the atmosphere is cute, the service has always been great, and the food is awesome.
My boyfriend or I always get the southwest chicken sandwich it is amazing! I highly recommend that! The buffalo mushroom appetizer is killer as well. Love the corned beef and cabbage. They serve cold beefs and hot food just like I like it!! This place is hidden gem people!
I've been going here off and on since day one. Â When they first opened the doors a decade or so ago, it was really, really good. Â A couple Irish folk owned/managed it and it really was as close to a true Irish pub as I've been. Â And I've been to Ireland. Â But then slowly throughout the years, they sadly have faded from their glory days.
Food: Â They changed the menu. Â Took away some of the traditional Irish fare. Â What they still have, is not the same. Â They must have changed chefs and where they buy the ingredients from. Â It's all too bland now and really Americanized.
The atmosphere: Â Still cool, but now more resembles a typical sports bar with TV's everywhere. Â Still love the stage area with fireplace though.
All in all, it's OK. Â They have a good selection of beers, but the food is just OK. Â Kind bland and not very Irish. Â Prices went up quite a bit too.
We were here for a birthday, and we had a blast. Â Good food, good service, and good drink specials. Â
For food, we had the potato skins (delish), potato leek soup (even on a 97 degree day it was awesome), pepperoni & buffalo chicken & make your own pizzas (they were pretty good), sweet potato fries (the way to go! Â better when dipped in soup), and a whole lotta drinks. Â Specials made it easier on the wallet, $3 svedka and $2 PBR. Â And someone was always coming by to check on us.
So yay for this place, we will be back!
So I went here yesterday for girl's night since my sis bought a groupon...the food again was very good, except for the appetizers. The potatoe skins and BBQ chicken wings were blah. My cobb salad was very good though! Each of us had a couple of specialty drinks that I thought were good because they were STRONG! If you aren't a fan of strong drinks you may not like it though. Overall, everyone seemed to enjoy their food and drinks. I would come back again, but just not on a weekend...maybe just on a weekday for dinner or something. It was pretty dead on a friday night, but I guess that explains the groupon and living social deals so I shouldn't have been too surprised.
Review Source:What a total and enjoyable surprise this place was on a weekend afternoon for me and my husband. We live SO close we could practically walk there and had never been there before. An Amazon coupon for $20 off got us in there and what a delight.
First off, Shelby, our server, was amazing. Sweet, helpful, friendly and had an excellent knowledge of the food/menu/drinks, etc. They were 100% accommodating when it came to Steve's lactose intolerance, even switching the buns on 2 of the 4 mini Angus burger appetizer plate. And so nice about it... wow. It really made us feel welcome.
Now for the ambiance, a wonderful place to go if you like a good Irish pub, this is THE PLACE! It's clean, dark and warm (in my opinion) and looks like they have an awesome beer garden outside. More on that in a couple of months...
Food was nothing less than terrific. The buffalo mushrooms were amazing. Delicious and better than any buffalo chicken wing I ever had. The Angus and pulled pork appetizers were excellent too. Everything we had was great.
I couldn't find one bad thing to say about Molly Malone's if I tried and now that we are in the know we'll be back again VERY soon. After all HALF PRICE APPETIZERS on Saturday (and either Friday or Sunday, can't remember which one).
Happy Hour? Check.
Happy Hour that includes Argus IPA? Check.
Happy Hour that includes 1/2 price appetizers? Check.
Plenty of seating throughout the bar? Check.
Plenty of TVs to catch the game on? Check.
Friendly waitstaff? Check.
Clean bathrooms? Check.
Dear Molly,
What don't you have?
Love,
Heather
Dear Heather,
A location in New York City.
Love,
Molly
Oh. :( .. If only Molly's was in my neighborhood. I'd be an overweight lush, that's for sure. But at least I wouldn't be broke!
Loved the happy hour special that our waiter informed us of when he sat us. I also loved his honesty regarding items on the menu and his recommendation of the Thai Pizza (not 1/2 price) was different, yet delicious.
Cute little fireplace adds to the standard "Look at me, I'm an Irish pub!" decor.
Ugh, I really wish Molly's was in Brooklyn.
Came here last week for a reunion with some friends from high school. A few of us made sure to get here early to sample the food and we were not disappointed. A definite highlight: a HUGE basket of tater tots :)
The atmosphere was cozy, a great place for old friends to gather and comfortably chat. We had plenty of room to mingle around the bar and got a great surprise when the live band started to set up. Their set was great with a ton of songs we could all sing along to.
Molly's was the favorite bar for me and all my college friends. The atmosphere is mega cozy. Every thursday night they have live Irish music. I mean, this is legit. It's just a group of people who want to play Irish music together. They often seem to forget that there's other people in the world, much less in the same pub as them. It's beautiful.
They also make a Scooby Snack drink, which is one of my favs. Most places only know it as a shot, which is annoying. I want the yummy drink from Molly's!
Their food is delicious and just like a pub. If you're looking for friend veggies, buffalo wings or a fish and chips, you'll find all that here!
There are plenty of decent restaurants on Madison that will be easier on both your wallet and your taste buds.
BOTTOM LINE: Too expensive for mediocre food.
Food: The menu looks impressive, but turns out the food is disappointing.
Service: It's fine. Friendly, attentive, but unmemorable.
Atmosphere: It's really trying to give you that traditional Irish pub feeling--lots of wood. But it's just kind of dark and drabby.
Prices: WAY WAY WAY too expensive for food that is just meh. Fish & chips is a whopping $13. And it gets even more ridiculous from there...
Kid-Friendliness: It has a kids menu and highchairs/boosters, so yeah, I guess it's kid-friendly.
This is a super-cozy Irish pub on the Madison Street strip of Forest Park. Â I've gone several times over the last few years and would probably go more often if they were open for lunch. Â It's been a tradition over the last few years to leave work early on St Patrick's day to get there before the main crowd and grab a table.with some friends. Â The party they have is always fun.
I do not go to this place for food. Â While they have a nice menu which includes the standard Irish fare, I just find it a little lacking in quality and flavor. Â The corned beef and cabbage is a bit dry. Â The fish and chips can be chewy and not really flaky. Â
If you want to just grab a couple of beers and an appetizer though after work this is a really nice place to go and meet with friends.
I stopped here with a girlfriend for lunch on a Saturday. We were one of only two tables. The bartender was our server, which I didn't think would be a problem b/c there were only 4 customers. Well, a couple came in and sat down at the bar and our service went out the window. Apparently the bartender knew these people; I don't know if they worked at the bar or owned it. In any event I had to flag the bartender down for another drink. My friend also sat without a drink at one point during our lunch.
Once we finished eating I had to ask for a to-go box 3 TIMES. I also noticed that the bartender was ignoring the other table too. She clearly couldn't multitask, which makes me wonder how she tends bar.
Anyway, the food was pretty good. The service sucked balls. There are plenty of other places to eat in Forest Park where I'm sure you get better service. Bars like Molly's are a dime a dozen. Go where your business would be appreciated.
I have been to Molly Malones numerous times and was never disappointed until my most recent visit last night. Â I'll save the negative for later though. Â The service was outstanding. Â We had the nicest server, I wish i could remember her name. Â
Here's what we ordered that was very tasty: Â Potato skins for an app. Â The flank steak sandwich, sweet potato fries, cole slaw and the regular fries.
What we had that was horrid: The fish and chips. Â The fish was chewy and hard. Â It must have been old or overcooked or something. Â Also, the breading, etc was flavorless. Â Quite gross actually. Â I really wanted it to be good because everything else I've had has always been so good.
Past items I've had that were top notch: Â The burgers, the southwest chicken sandwich and the pot pie. Â Yummy Yum Yum.
I really like the cozy atmosphere here, it is a bar and restaurant both, but really works for just a dinner out if you don't want that bar feel. Â None of the ketchup bottles were full, which I found odd, but that kind of stuff happens.
I've been before and I'll come again, but those fish and chips will never be ordered again.
With a string of Irish Bars lining the Madison strip West of Harlem, this one is not bad. Â The place has a good atmosphere and decent food. Â
I had the chicken pot pie which was a solid a-ok. Â My friend had the Dover Sole special and it was really anything but. Â Just a nice reminder that there's a reason you can price a fish like this at $15...you *really* want to pull the trigger and get it (like my friend did) but the reality is it's just not gonna deliver. Â
Stick with what they do right, the Bangers, the Mash, the Pot Pie or any comfort food lovers delight and you'll be ok. Â
1/2 price bottles of wine on certain weeknights a nice bonus.
Anyone who strolls the "Madison Strip" on a Friday night knows that Molly Malone's is a safe haven from the mayhem on Madison.
I love this cozy little corner tucked far beyond the reaches of the meat market that is known for this strip.
The food is not all that great in my opinion but the comfort and nice servers are hard to come by. I like hanging out at this pub because you can come in and hear live music depending on the night, as well as sit down with some friends and play board games (located in the cabinets by the stage).
I've been going to Molly's for years, and it's always a hit or miss for me. I have a few friends that absolutely love it. It's better to know the bartender if you want quick service.
I like the set up. When you walk in, you can go to the left and sit at the bar or some high tables. You can go right and sit by the stage (generally really loud). Walk to the right and back for some cozy booths (that's cozy, not comfy - it's hard wood, no cushions). Or, if you have a group, walk to the left and back for a larger table section with normal sized chairs. There's also a large party room upstairs which does have an elevator (yay for ADA compliance!!!), a tented beer garden, and a "snug" or smaller bar area which is normally closed. Â Beware the tiny parking lot can be a bit of a nightmare.
There is live music a few nights a week. It's best to call ahead and find out what type of music to make sure it fits the type of atmosphere you're looking for. I went this past Tues to meet up with a friend for a drink who needed to talk about some things going on in her life. There was a latin jazz band playing, and they were really, really good. But they were really, really loud. We were sitting in the back corner and still had to shout to try to hear each other. I also had a birthday party here in early 2010, thinking it would be a fun venue, but there was a boring acoustic set up that put the party to sleep. This is the best St. Patty's party around, though. And it's Madison, so the whole street is really a party.
The food is good. I like their grilled cheese with multiple cheeses - but ask for the bread to be well-buttered, or it's served dry. They have sweet potato fries, which make me happy. And I'm generally not a fan of Asian food, but I really like their Thai pizza with the peanut sauce. Â
Unless you're sitting at the bar, expect a wait. If you're at a table, don't be surprised if you find you're asking yourself "Is my waiter brewing my beer in the back himself?"
Been to Molly's a few times recently. Both occasions I was impressed with the service and the food. Â They have a good selection of beer to choose from. Menu is well balanced with a nice selection of authentic irish food. The nightly specials are worth trying.
On both occasions the staff was attentive and accommodating. The atmosphere is casual. They have a covered patio for those who like the alfresco dining. It does look at the parking lot but it is outside. I would definitely recommend Molly's to anyone.
This one star is for our waitress. Â She did a good job. Â Unfortunately, she didn't have any support on the food end. Â Â
Went against my better judgment and bought the <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FRestaurant.com&s=0aab4cbd731f3d3b0d1453050d3abc56a8c80bd214e25469c7555b750dca8a51" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://Restaurant.com</a> certificate (I feel that a majority of the establishments are likely next stops for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares). Â
We had to spend $35 so we ordered a few apps to start....
Buffalo Mushrooms (should have known better) = Soggy fried mushrooms covered in hot sauce.
Potato Skins - Bland city. Â Just not good.
On to Entrees...
Burger - Pretty simple one would think.  The frozen patty left a film in my  mouth that would not go away.
Reuben - Should be excellent at an Irish Pub...near flavorless and looked old enough to start offering me hard candy.
Beer - Coors Lite slight skunk...but the Rockies were cold.
Overall, our experience was poor.
There was one bright spot....Found Paciugo Gelateria on the way back to the car and finally got rid of the above mentioned grease-like film in my mouth.
Great, another "Irish pub." Let me guess: they serve Guinness and Killians Irish Red in bottles, it's covered in shamrock wallpaper, the urinals are green, the staff dresses like leprechauns every alternate Thursday, U2 always blares at full volume, and the bartender vaguely resembles Pierce Brosnan?
I'll be honest; those were my expectations when I first heard about Molly Malone's (or Molly's as it's called). The reality is that a lot of places say they're "authentic Irish pubs" when they're about as Irish as Henry VIII playing a didgeridoo while collecting the malt tax. In other words, they completely miss the idea. The owners of Molly's did something that no other bar owner in this city has ever done before. They went to Ireland.
So what makes an Irish pub actually Irish? The term "pub" stands for "public house." The idea is that in a village full of houses, one of them would be the public house where anyone can walk in, have a pint, and socialize with the "lads." So basically the interior of an Irish pub looks like a (usually rustic) living room, and that's the look Molly's has successfully pulled off.
I know that having Guinness on tap is pretty common even in places that don't claim to be Irish at all. The problem is that their idea of pouring it is to fill it up all the way, dump the head, fill it up again and keep repeating this process until the glass looks like the one on the poster. While the proper way to do it is really not that hard, Molly's and a few other places are the only ones who bother to learn it. Believe it or not, the way a Guinness is poured DOES affect that way it will taste. So not only does Molly's look like an Irish pub, it tastes like it too (I don't know about literally. I haven't licked the tables yet). They keep a pretty decent draft (draught) beer selection, and in addition to the usual Guinness and Harp, Molly's keeps its Irish profile by selling Bulmers cider and Boddington's in bottles and cans respectively. Their food menu also includes some typical Irish meals like battered cod & chips and shepherd's pie. Pair either of those with a pint of Guinness and you'll know where those extra few dollars are going.
Here's the snobby part: I've been to Dublin and have drank at some of Ireland's most famous pubs: Doheny & Nesbitt, The Brazen Head, and O'Neills. Drinking at Molly's isn't too much different. An Irish pub isn't really about the décor, at least not wholly. What makes it unique is its comfortable atmosphere, nice people, and an overly friendly staff. This is why I feel Molly Malone's has actually earned the term "Irish Pub" in its name. I don't drink here to pretend that I'm in Dublin for two hours; I do it because it's an inviting place to have a few rounds with some friends and chat -yes, you can actually hold a conversation in here! But whether you want a glimpse of a real Irish pub or just looking for a comfortable and sophisticated place in the area, Molly's would be, and always is, my first choice.
I've been to Molly's a few times and have always been a big fan of the pub atmosphere and the yummy food. Â The fish and chips are quite good, and for anyone who loves sweet potato fries like I do, I would recommend subbing those in with any dish. Â Servers are nice, but seem more attentive if you are sitting closer to the bar. Â
Had a fantastic time during the week of St. Patrick's  when they had Irish dancers come in and festive music playing as well.  It was loud and kinda crazy in there, but it fit perfectly for a St Patty's Day celebration!
Three stars for the classy Irish pub look, but Molly's, I'm really unhappy with your food lately. Â What's up? Â Did you change owners? Â My friend even got sick last time when she ate the Guinness Stew. Â I still like your mini Reuben appetizers and I appreciate that your kitchen stays open a little bit late.
Open mic on Sundays is a nice treat, and the only one I know of in the area.
Seriously though, I want you to knock a few cents of the drink prices and crack the whip in the kitchen. Â You can do better.
Looking for a nice cozy spot to meet a friend for a drink? Molly Malone's was a pleasant surprise. The rich wood interior, cozy fireplace and intimate lighting make it a perfect hangout on a chilly night to grab a brew and relax with good friends and conversation. The waitstaff was very pleasant and not too intrusive. The prices were very fair compared to what you would pay for the same beer in downtown Chicago. We ordered the Chicken Quesadillas which were actually very good. The green salsa on the side was especially yummy.
A very welcome surprise. I will be back for the atmosphere and hospitality. It also looks like a fun spot to have a party. Recommended!
it wasnt the best and it wasnt the worst. Our server was great - attentive and cheerful. The atmosphere was very Irish Pub. The menu was all over the place with only a few irish dishes which might be a good thing because pub food in Ireland isnt the most exciting. I was really looking forward to some Irish stew on this cold dreary day but no such luck.
I had the corned beef sandwich - hot. I should have asked for cheese or other garnishments because I wasnt asked. I did get a little cup of horseradish on the side. Maybe that's the difference between corned beef from an Irish pub as oppossed to a Jewish deli - the extras. I asked for the fruit instead of fries and to please remove the melon. I got the melon anyway. The corned beef was good. savory and not over salted or heavily spiced. Â The fried veggie basket was pretty good too. The veggies were battered in a light and flaky breading and came with a yummy ranch dip.
I ate at Molly Malone's for the first time yesterday. Â My friend insisted on treating me to dinner there, and I have to say, I wasn't disappointed.
  We were promptly seated and our waitress was decent, but not the most attentive waitress, as we had to ask another wait staff member for some water.
  The food was good...not exactly outstanding, but nice comfort food for me.  I had the grilled cheese sandwich, which is stuffed with American cheese and toasted to a golden brown. The bread is buttery and crisp at the same time.  The slaw that came with it had a bit of a kick, which I prefer any time I have cole slaw. Â
  My friend ordered the steak sandwich with bleu cheese and it looked amazing.
I'm between a 3 and 4 star review now that I'm looking back on my experience but I distinctly remember walking out of here and saying I'd likely give it 4 stars.
I didn't have any food here but I did have some sort Pale Ale on tap that at first tasted like a foot but got much better towards the bottom... or my buzz got better the more I drank- either way, towards the end I was debating a second drink. We got our drinks at the bar and sat down only to realize it was karaoke night. I used to think I hated karaoke nights until I went to a few quality ones... this was one of those. Everyone was a great singer, people were all friendly- only giving love, not judgemental at all. I almost wanted to get up... except I didn't want to ruin the streak of great singers. Oh- and they play the last letter game for karaoke so that makes it a little more interesting.
I would go back with a group. It was fun and was great environment to catch a buzz in.
Seriously, I wouldn't know an authentic Irish bar if I tripped over one. I hope I never do trip over one because that would hurt, but if I did this would come pretty close to the real thing in my opinion ;). I do like the dark wood paneling and the cozy booths in the rear of the place. I also liked that fact that it wasn't too packed, especially for a Friday evening.
The food was good, the mister and I shared a platter of veggie quesadillas which had plenty o' melted cheese (get it  *O'* melted cheese?  How Irish is that haha?) and delicious grilled veggies. Our server was friendly and even let us set up a tab with a credit card.
Drinks are cheap here, which is a good thing because we came on a kareoke night (Friday) and it made the crowd a bit *ahem* lively. Sometimes TOO lively as some of the music selected (Disney movie tunes???) left something to be desired. Maybe next time I come I'll be drunk, er brave enough to do kareoke myself ;).
Only annoying thing is that their parking lot seemed to be valet-only, perhaps this is just a weekend thing?
Mugsy's has made great strides in improving their food menu, and I'm always amazed at their drink specials. This is a great place to go when you want a filling meal. As this bar is close to home, I have always wanted to make it my local watering hole. What I love about it is the wood seating and wainscoting, and even with the Irish artifacts and the scent of fresh-slung brews it doesn't feel pretentious at all. The drinks have always been quite reasonably priced, however on my most recent visit they seemed to go up a bit. Maybe as its near St Paddy's Day....
Review Source:Thank you Molly Malone's Irish Pub for serving Guinness the right way in 20oz glasses! Â
Also, thank you for having the best Ruben ever with thinly sliced warm corned beef smothered in sauerkraut and swiss cheese, served on light rye bread with a side of 1,000 Island dressing. Â I'm drooling just thinking about it. Â
Oh yeah and your sweet potato fries are awesome too!
Thank you for great customer service and for keeping your taps clean, unlike some of the other bars on Madison Street that I won't mention here.
Most of all thank you for a fun, chill atmosphere, which is the main reason why I keep returning here .
Lets go three stars here. Â How and why do I get all the way out here from Lincoln Square? Â Well, because Erik and Danya live around here that's why, and so this is where Grease (Erik) and I go to shoot the shit about the married life in Oak Park. Â We've had slow service on a few occasions, but nothing unforgivable. Â Every meal I've had has been above average to very good. Â The mini Reuben appetizers are delicious, and I've also had their full on Corned Beef dinner, complete with cabbage and potatoes. Â It was comforting, and the portion cup of horseradish served on the side clears a dull head and keeps a very basic meal interesting. Â The beer selection is wide enough, they have specials every week night which is a plus for a place like this.
The last time we were here there was a group of musicians playing Celtic music while a girl danced to it. Â It wasn't as annoying as it sounds, they sat in a half circle and didn't really expect anyone to pay attention to them. Â The Irish dancing girl was cute, and when she wasn't trotting around she was earnestly involved with something on her laptop. Â I remember envying her passion, and then ordering another Smithwick's.
The food here is not the greatest, and I feel like it's getting progressively worse; nevertheless, the service is always great, and the drinks are right on. Â
I normally shun tap beers, but MM's pours an excellent pint of Guinness, and all of their tap beers come out good. Â They must clean the lines on a regular basis, unlike most bars.
This is a nice place to go, as stated by others, it's a cozy Irish Bar with decent prices on drinks and there is often live music. Â The staff is also nice, and I have liked everything I have tried on the food menu, although some things are a little expensive. Â My favorites are the Veggie Fries (really like an appetizer combo) and the buffalo chicken tenders. Â They do have less fast-food like items too of course that are good.
I also have heard good things about renting out the upstairs rooms for large parties. Â I actually talked to the owner about it and she was more than willing to work with me with my budget and the room is very nice. Â Unfortunately I couldn't get the scheduling right since I was trying to put something together very fast. Â There's even an elevator bringing you up there if you need it.