Date Night - Week 10: Molly Brannigans

Located in the heart of downtown Mt. Lebanon at 660 Washington Road, Molly Brannigans is part of a Pennslvania chain of restaurants that doesn’t feel at all “chainy.” The storefront itself looks and feels like it has been uprooted from a Dublin street and every detail from the pictures and decorations to the tables and chairs to the bar, mantle, and hearth was handmade in Ireland, shipped across the sea, and put back together on American soil by Irish craftsmen.

If you call yourself an “Irish Pub” then you’ve got to have the hops to prove it. In addition to a number of domestic and imported drafts, Molly Brannigans serves Guinness (or “Liffey Water” as it’s often called across the pond) by itself, or mixed with other brews for some interesting combinations. Guinness + Bass Ale is a Blacksmith, Guinness + Hoegarden is a Dirty Ol’ Englishman, Guinness + Yuengling is a Dirty Gardner, or try The Original – a mix of Guinness and either hard cider or Blue Moon.

If you’re going to drink like an Irishman, you’d better eat like one too. There’s a section of the menu devoted to Irish specialties: shephard’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, Guinness stew, and bangers and mash. I decided to try the boxty ($9), traditional Irish potato pancakes served with a salad and Irish soda bread.  Boxty comes omelette-style and is served around vegetables, chicken, corned beef, or steak. Obviously, I went veg. The dish is heavy and filling, but worth every calorie – the basil pesto sauce (of which I could have used a bit more) really added that last kick to the dish. Jeremy had the shepherd’s pie — ground beef and vegetables topped with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese — and loved it. 

There are plenty of American options along with the Irish fare, starting with the appetizers. Jeremy raved about his russet potato skins ($8) overflowing with bacon, cheddar and jack cheeses, scallions and sour cream, and blamed them for his not being able to finish his shepherd’s pie. 

My Guinness fondue ($8.50) was one of the best appetizers I’ve had in a long time – the cheese was addicting, made from Guinness, horseradish and melted cheese, and once the old world pretzel sticks, grapes, apples, and carrot sticks were gone, I sopped up the rest of it with Jeremy’s leftover soda bread and might have eaten the rest off of my spoon had we not been in public. Our waitress, when I ordered the dish, said that the cheese makes it on a variety of dishes behind the scenes when the staff is on break!

Thrilled with our meals, we wanted to stick around for dessert, but due to their St. Pat’s events they weren’t serving sweets. Guess we’ll just have to pay Molly’s a return visit!  Some other dishes we’re anxious to try:

-       Traditional Irish potato and leek soup

-       Madge’s Cottage Chicken- Fire-grilled chicken breasts drizzled with Guinness BBQ sauce, topped with smoked bacon, jack & cheddar cheeses

-       Irish Banger Sub – Irish sausage topped with peppers, onions, mushrooms and that delicious Guiness cheese sauce

-       LENT OPTION:  Fish sandwich with Yuengling beer battered haddock, deep friend and served on a Mancini’s Egg Kaiser with tartar sauce, American cheese and lettuce

If you’re looking for St. Patty’s Day fun, Molly Brannigans will serve a Kegs & Eggs Irish Buffet for $9.99 from 8a.m. – 11a.m. DJ Hyph-n will entertain from noon – 2p.m and Cueball from 3p.m. – 5p.m. Irish dancers will take the stage at 8 p.m. and The Bastard Bearded Irishmen will rock the crowd from 9 p.m. – close.

May the leprechauns be near you,
To spread luck along your way.
And may all the Irish angels,
Smile upon you on St. Patrick's Day.