MCGIRK'S IRISH PUB OFFERS MUSIC, FOOD, AND SOME DAMN GOOD WHISKEY
There’s a twinkle in Tim Ward’s eyes. It’s the twinkle of a man that’s done alright for himself. Or maybe it’s whiskey. He’s got a lot of whiskey.
“I’ve got over 190 brown liquors at the back bar. Bourbons, Irish Whiskeys, blended Whiskeys, single malt Scotch. I have over 80 bourbons right now. I love bourbon.”
Be still, my heart. I love bourbon, too!
We’re seated in a back corner of McGirk’s Irish Pub, the Chenango Bridge establishment Ward bought in 2009. It’s early on a Friday afternoon and I’ve got a rule about drinking brown liquor before 3:30pm, so I opt out of libations. Not that I’m not tempted; Ward’s impeccably curated liquor collection is an alcoholic’s enthusiast’s dream:
“We carry all nine marks of Jameson, including a very rare, $80 a shot, Vintage Reserve. I go through at least two bottles of that a year. Same thing with our Pappy Van Winkle. I’ve got all four of the Van Winkles. I’m on my third bottle of the 23 Year Family Reserve and that’s over $100 a shot. That’d be $600 in New York City!”
Now that I think of it, maybe I could have just one shot. A round of Pappy on the house, eh?
(Nay.)
I could spend all day talking to Ward about brown liquor. People drive from all over New York State to do just that. Dude knows his stuff. But this is not a story about brown liquor. This is a story about music.
McGirk’s has made quite a name for itself as a regional music destination as of late, hosting local and touring bands seven times a week, including every Friday afternoon for a “Lunchbox” series. Today’s entertainment is provided by local folk favorites Milkweed. I usually have a rule about folk bands before 3:30pm, but today I’ll make an exception.
Says Ward, “It’s a warm room. The way the stage caters to the bar and the restaurant; it’s good for the musicians. The people really appreciate the music, they really respond to the music. It’s not like you’re stuck somewhere where only half the people can hear you.”
Word about that vibe has gotten out, too. McGirk’s is a regular stop for both regional touring musicians and international talent. The names of many of these bands adorn a brightly decorated ‘Wall of Fame’ adjacent to the stage.
Last September, Dirt Farm’s Rob Stachyra approached Ward about hosting a performance series in the style of long-running television series “Austin City Limits.” Within two days there was a big banner behind the stage, and Binghamton City Limits was born.
Every Sunday afternoon, Ward picks a different musician to play host, and that musician invites along whichever special guests they choose. The goal is live collaborative performances in an intimate location. Immediate and unrehearsed, the series allows audiences a chance to see a revolving case of local favorites perform in a stripped back, almost home -like setting. Stachyra hosts once a month, as does singer/songwriter Pat Kane.
And it’s been a rousing success. The last three times I showed up on a Sunday afternoon the place has been packed. And yet no matter how packed it gets, there’s always one more seat to be had. McGirk’s is just that kind of place.
“This is basically my family room,” muses Ward. “It’s like everybody here is an invited guest. I treat people – musicians, staff, everybody – like they are part of my own family in my home. I think that’s what’s made me really successful here. It’s relaxed. There’s no bullshit.”
Surely there’s food for all these invited guests, right? Right! The McGirk’s kitchen is, unsurprisingly, just as well run as the rest of the place. The food is fresh, made to order. Servings are generous, prices are super reasonable, and the food is to die for.
“My favorite thing? I’ve got to say the salmon. The salmon salad. And the skirt steak. And the corned beef – our corned beef, each brisket is roasted with Smithwick’s Beer for six hours. It gives it a flavor that nobody else has.”
The Fish & Chips is no joke, either. Sells out every Friday, even when it’s not Lent!
Great food. Check. A great performance space full of great musicians. Check. 190 freakin’ bottles of brown liquor. Check. Is there anything McGirk’s can’t do?
“Karaoke,” says Ward without missing a beat. “We tried it.”
I’ll write that one off as a plus in my book.
McGirk’s Irish Pub is located at 1 Kattelville Rd. in Chenango Bridge. Well, technically in Binghamton, but it might as well be in Chenango Bridge. The kitchen’s open daily, there’s music daily, there’s whiskey daily. Bring a friend. Stay a while. More info, menu, and calednar of events available at mcgirks.com.
