McGonagle’s Pub & Restaurant

"Dorchester, one of the most canonically Irish-American neighborhoods in the country, is not lacking in Irish pubs. So it takes a really special one to rise above the frothy head of an area drowning in Guinness and make us take notice. McGonagle’s, a new place from the team behind The Dubliner, has done just that. The sprawling spot’s menu will make you reconsider Irish pub grub, and the pints, pulled from the light-up tap handles seen throughout the UK, are the perfect fuel for an afternoon hang at the bar. Come for lunch, brunch, dinner, or just a pint. McGonagle’s feels welcoming all the time, but we especially love it for whiling away an afternoon over salty bar bites or starting a Saturday with a hearty breakfast. photo credit: McGonagle's Food Rundown photo credit: McGonagle's Irish Seafood Chowder Throw out all your preconceived notions about clam chowder before picking up your spoon. This chowder is more akin to a silken butter soup studded with all the tasty fishies. Mussels, shrimp, salmon, whitefish, and clams team up to add protein and texture, and a mighty hunk of soda bread—hearty, and on the sweeter side—is on hand to sop up what’s left at the bottom of the bowl. photo credit: McGonagle’s Prawn Crackers These light, airy crisps, typically made from prawn meat and a starch, might be our new favorite snack to pair with a hearty stout or ale. McGonagle’s serves them with a gravy boat of thick, rich curry sauce that has a nice fruity sweetness to it. The curved shape of the crisps makes for an ideal sauce-to-mouth delivery method. photo credit: McGonagle’s Full Irish Breakfast The soft, rich, and earthy black pudding in McGonagle’s full Irish is some of the best we’ve ever had. The meal also includes two eggs, thick cut bacon, white pudding (more oniony than the black), a wee dish of beans to pour on your toast, mushrooms, and hash browns fried into crunchy triangles perfect for dipping into runny eggs. photo credit: McGonagle’s Spice Bag We ordered this to share and fought over the last few bits. A takeaway dish popular in Ireland, McGonagle’s serves their version with salty, crunchy chunks of fried chicken, fries, onions, and peppers, all dusted with Chinese five spice, paprika, cumin, and more. It’s served in a brown paper bag with a side of the aforementioned curry sauce. Spill it onto your plate and dip all the crispy goodness into the sauce." - Tanya Edwards

"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