Newton's Neighborhood Irish Pub
I think everyone should have a neighborhood pub. A friendly place to go for a warm and plentiful home cooked meal, a nice selection of regional brews, staff who genuinely care about your day and some quirky touches that make you smile. If you are like me and don’t live near any such place, Dunn Gaherin’s in Newton is happy to have you whenever you are passing through.
I spent many an afternoon and evening at Dunn’s in my post-college years when my future husband’s apartment was just a short stumble up the hill. I spend many an afternoon and a handful of evenings at Dunn’s now with my office located a short ride down the road. And more recently, I can make the 20 minute drive from my house on late Sunday mornings since they have premiered a brunch menu in the past year.
First and foremost, I like the food at Dunn’s. Talk about your comfort food. The best is their Shepherd’s Pie – jam packed with warm veggies, beef and creamy potatoes. It isn’t a regular menu item so you have to be lucky to arrive when it is one of the specials but that happens regularly enough. In fact, I get so enthralled with their specials of the day that I rarely even get to the full menu fare. But it is all tremendous. Thick and juicy burgers with creative toppings, such as the Dubliner with smokehouse ham, egg salad and cheddar. You can try the corned beef Rueben and get a side of my favorite sweet potato fries on the planet. Or stay healthy and try one of their many salad concoctions like the Four Nation Arugula Salad with apples, oranges, cranberries, walnuts, gorgonzola and balsamic, topped with optional scallops, salmon, shrimp, chicken or sirloin. There’s also seafood, pasta, meatloaf, lamb, sandwiches, and on and on and on.
Try Some Beef Barley For A Snack
For beers and a snack you can choose from New England craft brews and UK drafts or bottles to accompany a cup of sweet corn chili with colby jack, clam chowder, spicy nachos, calamari, eggplant fries or mussels. They have a nice selection of premium scotch and whisky along with domestic bottled beers and standard wine options. For chilly days get an Irish Coffee and on warm ones order up a Raspberry Lime Ricky cocktail. Or just stop in for a bite of Irish Pudding.
Kiddos have more than just chicken fingers and mac & cheese to work with. They can get ravioli, french bread pizza, fish nuggets or the ever popular hot dog in a pita. And this is a family spot – don’t let the pub atmosphere fool you. Regulars of all ages come by from the area right along with suits at lunch and after work, college kids and softball teams.
Eggs Benedict On The Brunch Menu
Dunn’s is a neighborhood restaurant that employs servers with lovely Irish lilts who know their job well. The owners, Robert and Seana, are always around, checking on the crowd and saying hello. The barkeeps manage the bustling bar keeping customers’ pints filled and conversations going. The entire staff is so accommodating to such things as dietary restrictions or delayed party seating and one time even served us brunch before they were officially open for business when we arrived early.
Dunn’s underwent a renovation in the past year and the rearrangement has opened up the dining area into a big and bright area that is open to the bar and feels like eating in an old country inn. It is so inviting that the parking is never easy and the waits are frequently long. However, you can park at the large lot at the corner of Elliot and Chestnut and walk across the street and you can call ahead to have your name put on the waiting list rather than waiting for when you actually arrive.
Comfort Food In A Comfortable Environment
This little neighborhood Irish Pub is a local favorite supporting their little league teams, hosting weekly cribbage tournaments and making sure the game is always on. They serve up a tasty dinner for St. Patrick’s Day too so get there early. It is always worth the trip. And any place adopting the following as their slogan and mantra is a place I’ll always consider my home away from home: “There are no strangers. Just friends we’ve yet to meet.”
Dunn Gaherin’s Food & Spirits
344 Elliot Street
Newton, MA 02464
(617) 527-6271
www.dunngaherins.com
Post by and photos credited to Molly G.
Find out what Molly is doing when she’s not eating @ The Bumbles Blog.
