I guess we’ve been on a bit of a pub kick lately, maybe because the weather is starting to turn, maybe because work has been busy and we need something comforting, or maybe just because it’s football season.  Anyway, we recently took advantage of another Groupon, this time to McCreary’s Irish Pub in downtown Franklin, TN.  Sarah has always been partial to this place since they carry Woodchuck on draught, while it reminds me of a few of the places frequented when I made a trip to Europe while in college.

To go with the relaxed vibe at McCreary’s, the food is equally relaxed, but does feature some Irish staples.  Not being able to interest Sarah in a deep fried, bacon-wrapped egg, we ended up settling on the Irish Cheese Fries.  While nothing was particularly special about this appetizer, McCreary’s may have stumbled upon a wonderful trick that keeps each bite a crispy, crunchy, cheesy amalgamation.  Basically, whether they meant to or not, the fries for the cheese fries were slightly over-done, resulting in that dark color you see above and fries that were able to stand up to the toppings.

The fish and chips features 3 or 4 cod fillets that are coated in a beer-y, crunchy coating.  The fries are your standard issue steak fries, but all of the items meld well when hit with a hefty shot of malt vinegar.  The tartar sauce is not your standard issue, relish and mayo sauce, but has a few other bits and pieces and spices to add to the overall flavor.  Myself, just give me a good deal of vinegar and I’m good to go.

The corned beef and cabbage featured 4 slices of tender corned beef with a side of creamy mashed potatoes.  The cabbage was tender and delicious.

When we finished with our comfort meal, we wandered down to CeCe’s frozen yogurt for some sweeter fare.  McCreary’s straddles the line as a good date night place that could also be a night out with the boys type of place, so give it a try.