After reading pleasing reviews here on Citysearch, I opted to give McCreary's a try. I was looking for some place that was as close to authentic Irish cuisine as possible, and the reviews really talked this place up. What a mistake. Portions are small, but expensive. My boyfriend & I both ordered the Shepherd's Pie at $9.25 each. They were nothing more than mashed potatoes, corn, peas, tomato sauce, and ground beef with a slice of cheese melted over the top. It tasted like mediocre beef stew covered in cheese, honestly, and it came out in a tiny bowl (not the amount of food I was expecting for ten bucks). It was also served with their "homemade Irish soda bread" that was dry and disgusting, and a small side salad that was flavorless and bland. The "sweet tea" I ordered was sugarless, even upon refill. This "meal" left us wanting more, but with the high prices at McCreary's for such a small amount of food, we opted to go elsewhere instead.
And as for the atmosphere that is so highly spoken of.....HA. It's poorly decorated with cheap-looking Ireland-themed items, very tiny, and EXTREMELY loud. The pub was only about half-full, and my boyfriend & I couldn't even hear each other from across our table because the other people were so loud and obnoxious. I have been to some nice pubs with a much more fun, quaint atmosphere, but this place surely wasn't one of them. The one plus about McCreary's: The waiter was extremely friendly, and was willing to answer whatever questions we had about the menu (if only we'd asked what size the Shepherd's Pie was before ordering it!), and he made sure we never had an empty glass. Such a good waiter, he should consider waiting tables at a place more suitable to his skill. Despite the great service, this was a first and a last visit for me to McCreary's.
Pros: Great service.
Cons: Overpriced, very small portions of food, mediocre to tasteless food, VERY loud atmosphere, low-class decorating (even for a pub!), very uncomfortable seating (ouch!)
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