When Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro on North Lincoln Avenue opened
in September, many first-timers didn't know quite what to expect from
Irish fine dining.
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"First of all people think it's funny. They think it's an oxymoron.
But people ask, so you're serving corned beef and cabbage? I like
corned beef and cabbage but no we're not serving corned beef and
cabbage," said Beth Murphy, Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro Owner.
"Everyone thinks it's boil some water, throw some potatoes and
cabbage in it, which it's come so far, people just don't realize
that yet," said Brian Murphy, Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro
General Manager.
"Irish food is characterized by fresh ingredients, fresh fish,
wonderful vegetables, a warmth to the service and that's what we're
trying to deliver in our food," said Beth Murphy.
Lamb sausage, prepared fresh in-house, and salmon on a cedar plank
are just a couple of the offerings cooked in the wood-burning oven.
So in just a few short months, Irish food is winning its share of
Chicago converts.
"We've had great positive response. Business has been up astronomically
the last few weeks and diners seem pretty happy when they leave,"
said Brian Murphy.
As its name suggests, Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro is really
about food and family. The original idea was conceived by Jim Murphy,
the late owner of Murphy's Bleachers near Wrigley Field. After Jim
passed away in 2003, his wife and two sons carried out his dream.
"I think basically if Jim came back or if he looks down on this,
he's seeing what he had in mind, what his vision was. I think he'd
be very proud of it," said Beth Murphy.
From the upscale Irish dining experience, we now head for a late-night
pint at another high-end Irish spot that is not your average, run-of-the-mill
pub.
At the corner of Clark and Erie, the Kerryman might not look like
an Irish bar unless you catch the tell-tale Guinness sign near the
door. But it's actually the first U.S. venture for a group of Irishmen.
"You'll find an Irish bar in nearly every city in the world and
most are portrayed by a lot of wood, but old Irish, a real knick-knack
bar, bicycles hanging from the ceiling. We said we wanted to do
a bar you'd actually find in Ireland as opposed to the dream of
it. This is like a real bar in Ireland at the moment, so it's more
up-to-date," said Mick O'Donoghue, The Kerryman Co-owner.
"The architect is a an architect from Ireland so this is exactly
how somebody would build a bar in Ireland right now. It was like
it was picked up from home and landed here in Chicago," said Martin
Cournane, The Kerryman General Manager.
While Chicagoans can now experience this taste of modern Ireland,
the Irish owners are likewise enjoying their stay here across the
pond.
"It's much more fun doing a bar here than it is in Ireland. In
Ireland, you're basically making your trade on a Friday and Saturday,
the weekend. Over here, you have a strong trade pretty much seven
days a week, especially in the city," said Trevor O'Donoghue.
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