McCarthy's Restaurant & Pub

I find reviews helpful. There are so many options in many places, and being unfamiliar with the local turf, a tip from a fellow traveler is welcomed. I issue this recommendation in that light.

Right off the bat, upon entering this pub, one gets the sense that it is a fun place. Lots of Irish atmosphere, decor, high energy music, plenty of TVs (mostly with sports). My wife and I were traveling and selected this establishment based upon reviews and the fact that they offered a favorite of mine - fish & chips. The menu was fairly extensive and included plenty of types of dishes for almost any taste. The prices were fair for what was described, but one never knows until the food shows up. Right?

Well, don't worry. The food showed up in great plenty and quality. I rated my fish and chips up there with the best I've ever enjoyed and even gave the fish a slight edge to the front in its preparation. Crispy, crispy golden on the outside and a steaming hot fresh, perfectly seasoned fillet of cod within. One tip I'll offer fish & chip lovers who consider 'upgrading' to the french fries or tots - save your money! The home-made potato chips accompanying the fish were unbelievable! I would have paid extra for those!! Plus, the potato chips come with a generous serving of grandma's special chip dip served on the side.

My wife's dish was a bountiful serving of 'potato pucks'. We had never heard of these, but they proved to be a yummy excursion of delight. They consisted of havarti cheese, mashed potatoes, parmesan cheese, bread crumb coating and were deep fried, served with house-made bacon jam and chopped scallion greens. Yikes! 3 Pucks and yer out! She could only eat two, so should you order this - be hungry.

I've saved the best for last. Our wait person, Veronica, was incredibly delightful. I'm not sure what we did to deserve such marvelous service, but we felt special. She was thorough, professional, and light-hearted while showing that she truly cared about our experience. My wife and I felt that even as great as the atmosphere was, and the wonderful food - that it would be Veronica's special attitude that we would take with us as we loaded up the car and headed on down the road.