Girls About Town – Murphy’s PubHouse

If you haven’t already discovered the gem of a place called Murphy’s PubHouse, nestled in the strip mall on the northeast corner of 116th Street and Olio Road, you’re in for a surprise! First off, let’s just say NO SMOKING. No need to worry about your hair or clothes reeking of smoke when you get home! You can’t help but notice the friendly owners, Ryan & Craig Stonebraker, whose philosophy is “get to know your customers, embrace the community, and treat your employees like family.” They possess a boyish enthusiasm about everything from the food they serve to the customers who visit them. You’ll meet these owners once, and they’ll remember you the next time you stop in – guaranteed – or your next meal is on the house. Okay, we exaggerated that a tad!

We’ve noticed the customers here are really varied. On one side of this PubHouse you’ll find the family-friendly restaurant, and on the other side you’ll find the bar. It’s at the bar where we noticed the eclectic clientele. At one table, you might find Lacrosse moms discussing the night’s game. At another table, you might find a group of neighbors discussing politics. At the bar, you’ll find people who came in with others or by themselves. The one thing you’ll appreciate is being able to hang out at a place where you can hear yourself talk because there’s no blaring music. And you might like a place that doesn’t make you feel like you’re in the middle of a pick-up zone. To you singles out there – don’t let that keep you away…lol! This place is homey, fun, and comfortable – a neighborhood hangout serving up great food and spirits.

On the night we visited, we were bellied up to the bar chatting away with the ever-so-funny bartender Dennis Bowling. If you’ve ever met Dennis, you’re sure to remember him and his signature deep hearty laugh. He’s an outgoing character with a sarcastic flare always ready to engage in conversation. We asked him to fix us up with some specialties, and he served some beautiful martinis that were unforgettable! The first was his Salted Caramel Martini drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauces on the inside and outside of the glass rimmed with salt. Drinking this martini, OMG nothing like it! Your top lip tastes the salt and your bottom one tastes the caramel – now give me a drink! DELICIOUSNESS!! Oh wait! Were we not supposed to have dessert first?! Oopsie – well how about the next martini, The Drunk Shrimp. It’s an appetizer in a glass! The seasoned salted rim welcomes you to a martini that somewhat tastes like a Bloody Mary. The kicker with this martini is the jumbo horseradish-stuffed shrimp skewered along side a jalapeño-stuffed green olive. Wow! This drink really should be classified as an appetizer – YUM!

While enjoying our cocktails, we couldn’t help but notice the older gentleman sitting next to us in the big red IU jacket. He was watching the #1 Hoosiers on one of the bar’s many TV screens. As we struck up a conversation with Frank, we learned that his son had just passed away the day prior. Frank didn’t want to be home alone. Murphy’s seemed to be the best place for him that night. He spoke to us about his son and seemed to appreciate being able to share a few stories with strangers. On the other side of us was a girl who had just graduated from Ball State in December. She had just learned that day that she had gotten a job, and she wanted to celebrate!

We also met Gary Politan a 25-year patron of the local Murphy’s restaurants, enjoying a spinach salad with a beautiful piece of grilled salmon laden with bacon bits and pecans. We wanted to dive right into that salad, but unfortunately, Gary wasn’t offering us even a bite. Fortunately, the luck of the Irish was with us and the owner brought us some food of our own: Char Grilled North Atlantic Salmon, 4 ounces of mmm mmm good with sautéed teriyaki veggies. This large appetizer could easily be a no-guilt dinner! We’ve never seen a salmon teriyaki appetizer anywhere. It was tender and flaky, and we would definitely get it again. We also tried two of Murphy’s favorites – their Portabella Panini Melt and their Ham and Cheese Pretzel Panini. We had eaten the Portabella Panini here before, and we had already recommended it to friends. It’s a grilled wheat panini with seasoned and grilled Portabella mushrooms, tomato, red onion, and provolone cheese served with a teriyaki Parmesan sauce. The Ham and Cheese Pretzel Panini…WOW, we could have that every day!!

As if the great food, great atmosphere, and great drinks weren’t enough to get you to try this new establishment, Murphy’s has a three-day St. Patrick’s Day event coming to you March 15-17. Would you expect any less from a place called Murphy’s?!? There will be a huge tent party, beer trucks galore, kid-friendly by day, and adult party by night. Nashville recording artist and Indiana’s own Corey Cox will be performing, too! For more details, check out Murphy’s PubHouse on Facebook or go to www.murphyspubhouse.com.

A quick little note about us. We’ve been friends for twelve years. Our families have traveled together and spent holidays together. We know we’re lucky that we have husbands who support our social calendars (of course, they really don’t have much of a choice). We love the Geist area, and we look forward to sharing our experiences with you! If you know of a place that you think should be featured in atGeist, contact us at girls@atGeist.com. Consider joining us the night we cover your suggestion! See you next month, and remember to follow us if you want to know where it’s @!!!