(Credit: Jack Coraggio)
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In spite of all this, Molly Darcy’s manages to separate itself from the hackneyed, TGI Friday’s-with-an-Irish-theme chain restaurants. In other words, you aren’t going to find “Super X-treme Beer Battered Corned Beef and Cabbage Poppers” on the bar menu. And the wait staff isn’t forced to wear ridiculously verdant outfits covered in “Kiss Me I’m Irish” pins and buttons.
Even with its size and proclivity for average-at-best cover acts, Molly Darcy’s does a fair job of staying authentically shamrock. The owners and a good part of its staff hail from the Emerald Isle don’t you know. Indeed, Gaelic accents, a foreign draught selection (it actually has hard cider on tap) and an Irish fare dinner menu prevalently permeate the atmosphere (they even serve bangers and mash, whatever that is)
Décor: Molly Darcy’s keeps away from those loud, green hues. The interior, heavy on the timber and mirrors, is divided into sections. There is a front bar and a back bar, with said stage and dance floor abutting the latter. Tables for dining are scattered throughout the whole restaurant, but for privacy, there is an upstairs dining room, perfect for peering down at the crowd.
Eats: As previously stressed, the menu is legitimately Irish. Indeed, the typical bar fare exists—buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, etc.—but the menu includes such pseudo-exotic platters as shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and a traditional Irish breakfast, which comes with fried blood sausage (they call it black pudding.) Oh, and the aforementioned bangers and mash—it’s sausage and gravy over mashed potatoes.
Booze: Like any bar, all the standard liquors apply. But the draughts are as Irish as one can get, such as Magner’s Hard Cider, Smithwick, Killian’s Irish Red and, of course, Guinness Stout.
Crowd: Depends on the night. Molly Darcy’s is truly a place for people of all ages, over 21 that is. But Sunday through Thursday tends to attract a slightly older demographic, while Fridays and Saturdays are equally popular with the kids.
Service: Two types of people work at Molly Darcy’s—young and attractive females and old, gray Irishmen. Each makes equal contributions to the atmosphere.
Dress Code: At least casual, at most business casual. The gentleman cruising through in a t-shirt and jeans shouldn’t feel any more or less comfortable than the guy in slacks, a button-up and a tie.
Bottom Line: It’s fun. The food is good, as far as Irish cuisine goes. The bar is plenty stocked. Rarely does anyone have trouble finding a place to sit. And when the bands get going, there is nary a negative vibe to be found.
Molly Darcy's
39-A Mill Plain Road, Danbury
203-794-0449
