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| - Always a fan of an Irish bar. That isn't quite true. I'm always a fan of an Irish pub, which has a distinctly different feel. Murphy's is somewhere between the two. It's a bit more upscale than a pub, but it isn't quite a bar either, though you can certainly lay the blame on some of that on the clientele, so that can be forgiven.
One of the downfalls of the place is the location - if Charlotte were more of a walkable city, then this would not be a problem. But because it is not, there are not too many times where you can simply pop in for a drink or a bite. And that means that you have to get there, and that can be a challenge, unless you are already in the area (there are games, and you can park, and...). It's not horrible, it just is - and it is not just Murphy's, as most places Uptown have the same issue, but it's worth pointing out.
On the inside, the staff is friendly, but not overly so, and this could go either way. The problem is not that they are not helpful, because they are - when they are around. The problem is that they have a tendency to congregate around the front, except when you come in the door. Then they are nowhere to be found. It is a bit odd, really. Friendly, sure, but helpful? Probably not.
When it comes to food, the menu sounds amazing. Unfortunately it seems that they are trying a bit too hard. The boxties are tasty and the "pretzels" are good, but they are more like rolls than pretzels. The pudding had a decent flavor but really could have done with more texture rather than being quite so fancy. Everything just seemed to be more about substance than anything else. The good news is that the Guinness was a very nice pour.
All in all a solid visit if not a spectacular one.
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