"Dorchester will soon have another reason to lift a glass of perfectly poured Guinness. This November, McGonagle’s Pub & Restaurant will welcome diners for both classic Irish dishes and more modern meals that celebrate the cuisine found in Dublin today. Oran McGonagle, William Mc Carthy, and chef Aidan Mc Gee (an alum of several Michelin-starred restaurants in Great Britain, and currently the executive chef at the Dubliner) are behind the 235-seat spot, which was once the home of Dorset Hall and is currently undergoing a million-dollar renovation. The menu might feel familiar to fans of the Dubliner, the trio’s refined Irish pub that opened in Government Center in June 2022 and serves “pubby” dishes like fish and chips, a stellar seafood chowder, and traditional Sunday roasts with all the fixings. Besides the cuisine, the Dubliner’s convivial atmosphere has earned nods from Boston magazine as the city’s best Irish bar in both 2023 and 2024. At McGonagle’s, expect a similar mix of traditional meals — shepherd’s pie with minced lamb, a savory chicken pie, fish and chips with hand-cut fries — and less familiar finds like the “spiced bag.” That dish, popularized by Chinese restaurants in Ireland, is a punchy mix of French fries, pieces of chicken, sliced peppers, onions, and a ton of spices. “We want McGonagle’s to be your go-to for all things friends and family, a proper neighborhood Irish Pub,” says McGonagle via a release. And while “pizza” might not spring to mind when thinking of Irish cuisine, expect pies cooked on a custom wood-burning stove to grace the menu. “The pizza game is very strong in Ireland today, with my brother owning one of Ireland’s best pizza shops, Mani Pizza,” McGonagle says. Irish spins on the favorite food will include a rosemary roast potato pie, and a pizza that combines ricotta cream and confit garlic. The restaurant will serve lunch (including American and Irish sandwiches), dinner, weekend brunch, and Sunday roasts with meat and traditional sides. Like the Dubliner, McGonagle’s will feature live music, with a stage and space for dancing in the lower-level of the multi-floor spot. Deirdre Doherty, who moved to Dorchester from her native Donegal, Ireland, will helm the bar program, which will include unusual whiskeys (and lockers for diners to store bottles in), plus Guinness draft lines that are installed to the same specifications as bars in Ireland — a first in Boston. Of course, McGonagle’s will serve perfect pours of Guinness in custom 20-ounce tulip-glasses that are etched with the name of its new neighborhood. Keep an eye out on Instagram for more." - Nathan Tavares
