Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro Reviews

Fabulous Easter Brunch with our family. We went on the early morning side of the serving time because we had little ones with us, but could easily have gone later. The spread was incredible with something for everyone's pallet both breakfast & lunch. The smoked salmon was delicious, made to order omelet station was a hit with my adult son, waffles a favorite with 5 yr old grand daughter. They had pastries, and the usual egg dishes bacon and sausage as well as a full lunch array including multiple carving stations. We were well attended to and the atmosphere was perfect for our holiday meal. It's a bit pricey $29.95 for adults and $12.95 for the two little ones. But it was a special occasion and we enjoyed our time there. Not sure what prices are like on non holidays.

I visited for lunch with daughter (during covid times). It's a nice, cozy restaurant - loved the fireplace. We sat in the bar area and were promptly waited on. We were sure of what to get so we ordered a bit of everything -- fried pickles, guinness mac and cheese, reuben sandwich, bread pudding -- and split everything. The fried pickles were the best I'd ever eaten...not a single soggy slice. The dipping sauce was the perfect complement. We loved all the phinger phood. Daughter fell in love with Reuben sandwiches (this was her first). So good that she ordered another one near our home and it was not where near the taste or quality of what we had at Mrs. Murphys. The bread pudding was thick (made with brioche bread), the caramel sauce had a interested flavor (maybe guinness or charred caramel, not sure). I recommend this restaurant for some great Irish meals.

The Drink selection is vast (many beers on tap and nice wine list). The menu had some many good choices it was hard to pick. We had ribs as an appetizer...great! For dinner I had the Amish chicken (large portion) delicious! My sister had some kinda bacon raped pork...she said it was wonderful! My husband (a picky eater) had the pub burger on a pretzel roll and he liked it! He also finished my chicken and he liked that too. Service was good. Prices were fair/reasonable. Free parking lot just past restaurant for restaurant customers only.

More upscale than I generally want out of my Irish pubs, but the Chicago Tribune recently rated their fish & chips the best in the city and the place has tons of charm including a huge fireplace.

I have a lot of history with this restaurant. My wife and I got married here and have been coming ever since. Now I perform here every month with my Podcast Company, Starlight Radio Dreams. We've never had a bad meal here and the menu is full of rich Irish comfort foods with a modern, high cuisine flavour profile.

Brunch at Mrs. Murphy's & Sons Irish Bistro is a special event. Reserve a table or two and be sure to invite a host of family or friends for 10 to 2:30 on a Saturday or Sunday. Located at 3905 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, south of Irving Park Road, Mrs. Murphy's opened in 2005 as the brainchild of the late JIm Murphy, owner of the legendary Wrigleyville bar Murphy's Bleachers. Now Mrs. Murphy's is establishing its own legend. Housed in a 1920s funeral home, it features memorabilia collected by Murphy through the years, including stained glass windows from the famed German restaurant Zum Deutschen Eck, nautical bric-a-brac, Guinness collectibles and old photographs of Chicago. But it's the Irish cuisine that attracts customers from near and far. Our group--there wasn't an Irishman in the bunch--vowed to sample different items on the menu. There were rave reviews for the Classic Irish breakfast with two scrambled eggs, bangers, Irish bacon and black and white pudding; Mrs. Murphy's hash benedict with a toasted English muffin, corned beef hash, poached eggs and Guinness hollandaise sauce; smoked salmon benedict with toasted English muffin, smoked salmon, poached eggs, breakfast potatoes and Guinness hollandaise sauce; fish and chips with Atlantic cod; bangers and mash with Winston's Irish sausages, mashed potatoes, caramelized onions, Guinness veal reduction with stout onion mustard; five-time Ribfest champion ribs; Irish meats omelet with bangers, bacon, corned beef, horseradish cheddar and potatoes; and banana and Bailey's French toast with cinnamon mascarpone, fresh berries and Bailey's cream. For dessert, we sampled everybody's brioche bread pudding, peanut butter pie, key lime pie, chocolate covered strawberries and Bailey's cheesecake. Believe it or not, I picked up the check. Or did I?

I'm from chicago originally and tried ribs all over the country and I have always been partial to Chicago ribs. We tried theirs at the Rib fest which they had won for the past 2 years and these are by far some of the best I ever had. I can't wait to head back into town and go to the restaurant and pig out.

Mrs. Murphy's is a great spot for tasty comfort food. We ordered carryout for a big group and it was a perfect meal. We had a few orders of ribs, a ton of their mac and cheese, which was the highlight of the meal for everyone, two shepherds pies, fried pickles and soda bread. We loved everything, but would go back for the mac and cheese over and over again!

Not a casual Irish pub, but enjoyed the food. We had an appetizer portion of the ribs...wish I had gone entree because they were good. I tested them on their shrimp and grits because I'm from Charleston, SC which is kind of the specialty. I was surprised with how good it was, so kudos. Waiter was very friendly and casual which I appreciated.

I had just 40 minutes for lunch before the theater. Walked right in and sat at the bar. Bartender sensed my hurry and stepped right up. Yikes, the beer list and menu were waaay too attractive and extensive for my timeframe .... lots of traditional Irish pub specialties and comfort food. I ordered a draft Fuller's London Pride (delicious!) and Fish & Chips. Giant portion of we'll battered and fried whitefish and a generous portion of large hand cut curry-dusted fries. I barely had time to wolf-down the F&C ... with time made for a pint of Old Speckled Hen. I'll be going back for a more relaxed exploration of food and drink menu!

My wife and I aren't Irish and we don't drink (anymore) so we aren't into pubs or bars. But Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro at 3905 North Lincoln Avenue in the NorthCenter neighborhood is something different. Yes, they are the owners of the more celebrated Murphy's Bar across the street from Wrigley Field. But this Mrs. Murphy's is like comparing Mickey Mantle to Mickey Mouse. Since its renovation in 2005, the bistro has five dining rooms, two authentic Irish bars and open fireplaces. But the big attraction is the Irish cuisine, advertised as the best in the city. Who am I to argue? Executive chef Jonathan Trubow, whose 20-year resume includes stops at Wishbone and Harry Caray's, runs a "from scratch" kitchen that produces old-time Irish favorites such as Shepherd's pie, corned beef, bangers and mash and fish and chips. Remember, this is the place that is a five-time champion at Ribfest for its Chicago-style ribs with whiskey marmalade BBQ sauce with blue cheese veggie slaw, baked beans and house-cut chips. Other tasty entrees are fisherman's stew with shrimp, salmon, mussels, Atlantic cod, new potatoes, carrots and leeks in a rich lobster saffron broth, bacon-wrapped meatloaf, Guinness mac & cheese, Mrs. Murphy's reuben sandwich, Brian's pub burger, steak and chips and Mrs. Murphy's corned beef dinner. Mrs. Murphy's also takes a lot of pride in its desserts--brioche bread pudding or peanut butter pie or Bailey's cheesecake or key lime pie or chocolate covered strawberries. Bistro or pub, Mrs. Murphy's presents a wonderful dining experience or one and all, whether you're Irish or not.

I really loved the food here. The restaurant decor is warm and inviting, and the staff is awesome. However, I would recommend eating in the bar area and not in the regular seating area. For some reason, the noise level in the regular seating area is really high and difficult to have a conversation with anyone at your table. I would definitely go back but sit in the bar area. Also, this place is super easy to get to by public transportation, which is always a plus in my book.

Eating here is like a wonderfully nostalgic trip back to Ireland. The food is fresh, healthy, creative, and delicious and the service is prompt, friendly, and delightful. On the day we went, there was also a wonderful Irish band playing. In the front of the restaurant, there is a small Irish grocery stocked with items from Ireland and Britain...a special treat.

I took my parents back here for dinner, not having been in almost three years, and it was just as good as I remembered! Crowd pleaser for the fam too. We sat outside - it's great for people watching but all the tables/chairs are a little wobbly and the tables have this weird slanty shape that made me nervous about putting drinks on top! If it isn't gorgeous weather and you don't feel absolutely compelled to sit outside, have a seat inside. There's a great atmosphere in there. My English boyfriend finds it hilarious how much this places charges for standard pub food like fish and chips, and shepherd's pie. He loves the idea that they are somehow exotic and gourmet here. Come taste the exciting food of the British Isles! Though he will never go here on principle, he is missing out because everything here is a very high quality version of a pub standard. Mom and I were so impressed by the corned beef and red cabbage, which we split. The meat was unbelievably tender, and the horseradish cream sauce added just the right kick. Dad really enjoyed his shepherd's pie too, though I took one bite and decided to focus on more corned beef - his was good, ours was better. A side of roasted veggies can easily serve two people, maybe even three - we got two sides and it was a bit too much. The root veggies are cut into shoestrings, roasted, and tossed with fresh herbs. Lovely accompaniment to food that can often be heavy. I love having this place in my neighborhood. The food, the drinks, the vibe - it's just a winner, a place where everybody can find something good. I should really come here more often.

This is a favorite spot of my boyfriend and I. We started going to it in the last year and now are regular fans. Why? Because the food is good and if you're beer snobs like we are there's a lot on the menu here to choose from. Keep in mind that they own the infamous Mrs. Murphy's over by Wrigley, but the food here is a lot better. Their ribs have placed in the top three, typically at rib fest here in Chicago. They are amazing! The shepard's pie, especially the seafood version is great along with the fish and chips. I also love the burger over the reuben, which I don't usually do, and their housemade pickles which are savory and sweet. (The reuben has an odd after taste, I think cinnamon or nutmeg that I don't really care for.) We also discovered there is a secret upstairs banquet area that a lot of wedding use for receptions.It's beautiful with the old wooden Irish bar just like downstairs.

It's understood that restaurants usually don't or can't put their best foot forward on event holidays like, Mothers Day or Easter, mostly due to large overwhelming crowds that all show up within an abbreviated window of time. Take it from me a retired restaurant owner, it ain't easy. Lost the argument with myself about being fair & posting this sort of "EH "! review for a couple of reasons so here we go....... Its St. Patrick's Day for God's sake and you are an Irish Pub/Bistro........the place is busy but not packed and you have enough staff on hand to handle Prince Harry' & Meghan's wedding reception if you had to......so whats the problem ? First....when someone orders a shot of Tullamore Dew you don't serve it in a plastic disposable thimble size shot glass that probably only holds a half ounce for $8. I want you to make a profit but this pour is insulting. Then you have another with a Harp lager, back cause....well because its St. Patrick's day and you want a decent drink. So now its time to order some food.....you've run out of fish & chips and its not even 1 O'Clock in the afternoon (what you didn't know you might be busy?).....So we settle for a Reuben sandwich & chips (FF)......then you server/ bartender seems to have disappeared or gone on her break.....so now you are really hungry and you watch the trays of food coming out of the kitchen and did I tell you we are really hungry....finally after 20 minutes or so when you see food being served to folks who ordered after you did.....you shanghai another waitress & see if they can check on your sandwich.....another 3 or 4 minutes passes by and a totally different waitress brings out your food.....(our server still among the missing)....Now the final coup de gras'...This sucker has been sitting under a heat lamp for some time.....the fries aren't even luke warm ditto the sandwich and where are the slices of corned beef ? The sandwich is made with bits & pieces & shreds of the meat and there isn't even much of that......very disappointing Mrs. Murphy....Oh did I mention our server finally came back some half hour later....... Yes they made the mistake in asking how our food was.....we told them nicely....and in fairness to them they did comp us one round of shots......but probably won't be back.....on St.Patrick's day or any other.....Erin Go Bragh !

I met a friend here for dinner recently and we both enjoyed our meals and experience very much. I have been here a few times now, and the food has been consistently good. We started with cocktails. She had the ginger pineapple mojito, which was very tasty. She felt it had too little alcohol, I thought it was just right. I had the blood orange press and though a tad bitter (I prefer sweet over bitter usually), I finished every drop. It was good, but I would order the mojito next time. Our dinners were very good. She had the fish and chips and the portions were HUGE! LOTS of fish. Good flavor, very moist. I chose the bacon wrapped meatloaf and it was yummy! Moist, flavorful and accompanied by some tasty mashed potatoes and sauteed carrots/green beans. The portions are very good here, the prices reasonable and the service efficient and friendly. I'll be back for sure!

This Irish pub was highly recommended by people we met in New York to a couple of visiting Aussies in search of good Irish music & hospitality. Friendly staff, great music, food & atmosphere. We had a fabulous time!

Full disclosure: I'm from Ireland. Was pleasantly surprised by the menu at Mrs. Murphy's. It definitely fall on the "more authentic" side of Irish cuisine. Our server was friendly and talkative and was able to explain the menu and our vegetarian options very well. Food was delicious and filling. Only negative comment would be the price of some of their beers, but if that's all I have to worry about I'm happy!

The staff here are super, from the hostess to the delivery guys, they always have a smile and service is first. I have always found the food to be good, hot and flavourful - whether fish and chips, ribs, burger. Also, the little store front is amazing - they have Tayto, what more could you ask for!

When you think of an Irish pub a certain set of images come to mind. Mrs Murphy's does have a huge active bar. However, in the back room (which is really in the front) you will find a tastefully decorated restaurant with great food. While there are traditional Irish favorites on the menu there are also some great finds including award winning ribs. Guinness is part of a number of receipies including onion soup which is great. The beef stew is great as is the BBQ salmon salad. Deserts are wonderful..

I went there with eight friends on a Saturday night and the place was packed. Luckily we had reservations. The pub area is set up just like a traditional Irish pub, which was quite pleasant to hang out in with the interesting mix of patrons. There were hipsters, mods, rock- a- billies, olds (of which I am one...) preppy college kids and families, all eating and drinking in the establishment, so it looked like it was going to be a lot of fun. We were seated immediately and had ample time to review the menu. We ordered a variety of appetizers from: the Boxtys - not like any boxty I'm familiar with, but it was good, it was more like a flat samosa, or a fried, potato stuffed tater tot as opposed to a crepe- like dosa. Comparing Irish food to Indian food, anyway. It was still good, just not what I had expected, the Rarebit - "too cheesy" said one diner, "and they seemed to have used stale french bread" we observed. The bread that came out as we were seated, however, was excellent Irish brown bread served with bacon butter. We ate it all. We also ordered the bbq rib appitizers, which were wonderful. The meat fell off of the bone and the Guinness bbq sauce was flavorful. As my main, I ordered the bbq salmon salad. I'd asked about the size of it and the helpful waiter told me that it was large enough to be a main course, so I took his advice. The salmon was done to my specification (medium) and was perfect. Essentially the same bbq sauce, as used on the ribs, was on the salmon and that was great. What wasn't great was the idea to char the greens (romaine lettuce and chopped iceberg) with a propane torch. The taste was all propane and the romaine looked burned and ugly as opposed to charred, and the iceberg bits looked brown and bruised. I didn't order dessert but several in our party did and they were mildly disappointed by the strange texture of the molten chocolate cake. All in all, it wasn't a terrible meal, but it wasn't anything I would write home about. The appetizers were great, and if I return, I would go to the pub side and have a few pints while enjoying the ribs and the game. I'd probably eat here again but wouldn't go out of my way to do it.

There are more than a few Irish restaurants in Chicago, but this seems to be one of the best. We went later in the evening, so the dinner crowd had definitely died down. Our waitress was excellent and helped in choosing from the menu. The spinach salad was excellent and we also tried as an appetizer - the baked cheese rarebit. We finished off with the rib sampler and there was enough for two. A great location and even better food!

I know their place was mobbed for a performance of storytellers that night, but I ordered a Peach Crunch, made of peaches and oatmeal, baked and topped with a scoop of ice cream. Given that the performance was starting in forty-five minutes, I didn't worry. How long would it take to mix peaches, oatmeal, bake it and plop a scoop of ice cream on top? Except, fifteen minutes passed. People around me got their dinner orders, much more complicated than my dessert. Then thirty minutes, and I was informed that the server couldn't enter the performance room. About a minute before the show started, one of the staff came looking for me with an oval white ceramic plate. It was my Peach Crunch. She turned and walked into a crowd before I could advise her that the ice cream was missing. And then the master of ceremonies asked everyone to take their seats. So I ate the mixture of sliced up peach bits and oatmeal which was soggy, not crunchy, without the smooth cold vanilla ice cream I craved. As I was leaving, I joined a stream of disappointed guests who'd all had food issues that night. I added mine to the list. No offer to compensate me in any way. Just another "I'm sorry" and a scribbled note she might or might not share with the overwhelmed kitchen staff.

Chicago is host to dozens of Irish pubs. But one of the newest and perhaps the best of all is Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro. Located at 3905 North Lincoln Avenue, south of Irving Park Road, in the North Center neighborhood, it opened in 2005 and immediately became a go-to destination for traditional Irish pub favorites in a full-service restaurant plus brews and whiskey poured at two bars in an elegant but laid-back space. The location also features facilities for private parties of up to 300. And there is free parking in a lot at Lincoln and Byron. On this weekend, my wife and I decided to join the crowd for an Irish breakfast while watching English Premier League football and rugby matches on the telly. We didn't stay around long enough to enjoy the live music that is featured on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Yes, Mrs. Murphy's is a lively and friendly venue. The fun begins at 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. We have visited several Irish pubs in Chicago but few can measure up to Mrs. Murphy's when it comes to food. We started with bowls of stout onion soup with Irish cheddar and home-made brown bread and potato leek soup with green onions and home-made brown bread, banger sausage rolls with rosemary, garlic, puff pastry and stout mustard and Caesar salad with romaine, croutons, reggiano, Caesar dressing and grilled chicken. Later, we had corned beef hash with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce and an Irish breakfast with two eggs, banger sausages, Irish bacon, black and white pudding, baked beans and mushrooms. Before we left, I was tempted to order a pub burger, a beef patty with Irish cheddar, bacon, tomato, bacon and mayo on a pretzel roll. Instead, I settled for dessert. We shared portions of cinnamon cream bread pudding and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream. Let the music begin.

I attended dinner with friends and if you enjoy a lively atmosphere, great food, great beer selections, outstanding service at fair prices with a Irish twist. You will love this place. Highly recommended. I should know as I am Irish.

Visited numerous times on our trip to Chicago. Guinness is very good. Had various food also, great full irish, lovely soup and beautiful stew, really was delicious. Great , clean efficient pub .

Friendly staff. Good menu - has a reputation for ribs, which I had. They are different, in that they don't seem to be vinegar-based nor tomato-sauce based. Not too spicy nor too sweet. I was a bit nonplussed when we were asked if we had reservations, when there weren't 10 other customers in the place.

The bistro is a very interesting place that has a great selection of beers and cocktails. The menu looks interesting as do the deserts. The staff was not very helpful, and the simple slice of desert could not be served at 5 minutes past the closing of the kitchen. I will give it another try.

We attended a wedding here last weekend and really enjoyed it. The restaurant has an upstairs area and this is where the wedding and reception were held. The decor is very nice with beautiful wood floors, lots of windows and stained glass. The food and service were both excellent. The main room has a beautiful bar and the entire area had a nice ambiance to it. It was elegant in an understated way. Perfect for a smaller wedding. And there is a small parking lot with free parking.

These guys were amazing. We had our wedding here and rented out the whole upstairs to have the ceremony and reception. It was absolutely beautiful and they were very accommodating. They did so much to help us with set up and made sure we were happy. The food was amazing. We got the roasted chicken with the stew buffet menu and everything tastes amazing.we could not have asked for anything more from them!

I've been going to this place for years. It's consistently one of my favorite places to eat, the drinks are great, and I love the atmosphere. The bar is really cool (careful not to sit where you can bang your knees on the design), and if you get a chance to check out the upstairs, be sure to do so. Oddly for it being an Irish pub, the ribs are great.

Fantastic Shepherd's pie - lamb and veal! Fiancé had the corned beef and cabbage. Lean and tender. Good service. Beware the brunch section with the families with young kids. Noisy.

My wife and I just got back from a trip to Europe which included a few days in Dublin...and we had a hankering for another Irish experience. As we live on the north side of Chicago, we looked up a couple of places with live Irish music nearby and ended up here. What delightful surprise!!! First of all, the music was just as good as in Dublin, but thankfully not as loud: we could actually carry on a conversation. Secondly, the food (we had the Onion Soup and the Beef Stew) was actually better than the food we had in Dublin! Lastly, despite how busy the place was, the service was great. Enjoy!

I've been to the Bistro several times (evening drinks during the World Series, Sunday brunch, weekend supper, family event in the upstairs party room) and it's been consistently excellent. Their BBQ ribs are the best in Chicago and they have the awards to prove it. They're also great at real Irish food. Wonderful atmosphere and we were treated like friends. We're looking forward to our next visit!

Great stained glass at the front door. Great ribs, service excellent. Would go there again for dinner