Bars, Food, Restaurants, Sana Nasa South

Murphy’s - A place where everyone knows your name

Remember Cheers, that 70’s show (no, not That 70’s Show, just a show from the 70’s) old sitcom (to defuse any more rabid corrections, hahaha) with the bar that was a place where everyone knew your name? There’s a place in Makati near my sister’s office that reminds me of that: a restaurant, a bar, a pub, a hangout (and like many other places in Makati, it’s always full of expats, which for me, adds to the whole Cheers vibe—all you need is Ted Danson behind the bar). It’s called Murphy’s.

Murphy’s, as its name connotes, serves good old fashioned Irish food, and is the sort of place where the waitresses greet the patrons by name (they know their names, we discovered, because they ask). My sister speaks very highly of it; whenever we eat at an Irish restaurant or order any variant of fish and chips, she will inevitably make a comparison with Murphy’s.

A few weeks ago I was finally able to check it out; on one of my bawal car days, I needed to get to an appointment in Makati, so I hitched a ride with her and waited out the hours before my meeting there (the place has free wifi, by the way, a big plus). Since I was there early, I had no problem getting one of the plum tables inside; by the time my sister joined me for lunch, the place was packed, and we were thankful we had a claim staked on our spot well in advance.

I ordered Cheese Sticks (P145) while waiting, classic bar food (it was a toss up between that and the nachos), and, unfortunately, as the place is a pub after all, a single can of Coke (no bottomless drinks here). Although the menu said they were made of cheddar, the cheese sticks were unusually chewy, like they used mozzarella instead (or that may have been what real cheddar cheese tastes like, a sad testament to the adulterated nature of the kind of cheddar cheese we’re locally exposed to).

When my sister arrived, we ordered Spicy Chipolatas (P175; I still can’t have these without thinking of Harry Potter and his pumpkin juice) the oft-lauded Fish and Chips. The Chipolatas were out of stock though, so we ended up getting Bangers and Mash instead.

The fish part (John Dory fillet) of the Fish and Chips (P245) was absolutely huge; it was thoroughly coated with beer breading, after all. It was a bit too starchy because of the breading, but the fish was excellent: fresh, tasty, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. We had to ask for extra helpings of the tartare sauce, which had lots and lots of fresh dill and capers. My verdict, after the tremendous build-up: almost oversold, but thankfully good enough to meet its reputation.

The big surprise was the Bangers and Mash (P265). We seriously had a brief scuffle over who would get to eat it. The sausages were tightly packed and very yummy (sorry, words fail me), and the strong gravy was so good, at some point I was dipping fish and chips in it. Technically, we had Bangers and Colcannon (the traditional Irish preparation of mashed potatoes with cabbage, spring onions, and garnish), and Baked Beans, which tasted more like canned pork and beans. The Mushy Peas that came with the Fish and Chips were more interesting, like a cross between veggies and toothpaste. All in all we were stuffed to the gills: talk about your nourishing meat and potatoes.

Even as full as we were, we just had to order their Sticky Toffee Pudding (P105), another thing my sister constantly raves about. It had the damp dense texture of a pudding and the delicate crumb of chocolate cake combined, and was topped off with a grainy not-too-sweet toffee caramel sauce and a dollop of cream on the side. Absolutely delicious!

Murphy’s was an excellent treat for me and the sort of thing that Madrigal Business Park (or maybe Northgate in a few years’ time) sorely needs for more character (though I can’t say if the expat and business community we have in the South would be able to sustain it). It’s pleasant and homey, and a perfect place for large boisterous gatherings (in fact, they already have live bands playing in the evenings). Now I have the comfort of knowing that the next time I find myself stranded in the Makati CBD with nothing to do, I can always hang out in Murphy’s, enjoying free wifi and a sinful pile of pudding. Yum.

Murphy’s Makati
Cityland Condominium, V.A. Rufino (formerly Herrera) corner Esteban Sts.,
Legaspi Village, Makati
894-1884

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