I have to agree that this is a fantastic new Irish pub and restaurant, especially since it offers an angle not found at many places around Rochester.
My husband and I always said that if we owned an Irish pub one day, it would combine the traditions of outstanding Guinness (short travel from keg to glass, clean lines, correct pours), traditional music, great craic and home-cooked food with the selection of nicely curated craft beers. Well damn. McColley's just did that. So sneaky. The pub is on the Main Street in Spencerport - another one of those cute canal "port" towns - and because of its location, really takes on the traditional meaning of a pub or "public house." There are no televisions and the entryway is marked by a hewn dry thatch ceiling that the owner imported and assembled himself to create a cottage-like feel. It works. A massive painting of verdant pastures and an old mill covers the far wall. A gas-lit fireplace flickers cozily across from the bar. It's a place of gathering, of convivial chatter, of sharing ideas and life experiences. It's clear that the emphasis here is on a form of socialization that has suffered a decline in the busy American life. A place like this is sorely needed.
While the bar space here is quite limited and narrow, the place does open up in the back to charming dining room complete with its own fireplace. There's even a small event room in the back called the Guinness Room, complete with a darts board, benches and large flat-screen TV. Nice! So you can have a private party back here and still have a taste of the Irish-American sports bar, Guinness paraphernalia and all.
As for the products, their tap lines change frequently, but are certainly chosen by someone with a keen eye for taste and popularity amongst the microbrew market. Think Founders, Smuttynose, Otter Creek, Goose Island. They even had the bourbon county stout on draft awhile back! And their Guinness is FRESH with excellent pours each time. The food menu is simple but well-executed. It's rather small for a "bar" because they don't have a fryer and made that decision purposely. They bake and hand-fry everything instead. The oxtail pot pie is not to be missed, and their daily specials ranging from stuffed meatloaf to salmon wellington look creative and delicious.
I almost didn't want to write this review because I've been there several times now and want the place to myself because it's so small. It's a shame I don't live closer to Spencerport, but I like the place all the same. All the ingredients of a stellar community pub are there. read more