To start off, I had a very successful evening at Decatur Makers, and after the meeting closed, I went over the Marley House and enjoyed a few beers and Shepard pie. I was happy, so I decided to buy a round for my 2 friends that I invited. We enjoyed the beers and one had apple cider I think, and we had a big pretzel and tried some Shepards pie. We talked about Steam Punk events, Oh wow that meat potato, peas, maybe cheese, and I do not know what all, was terrific. The baked crust was crunchy and really hit the spot. I had never tried it before, but I was sure I would prolly have another one the next time I visited the Bar. Cooper, the manger was friendly and fast serve. Daniel was our server and very attentive, My friend asked about a dark lager beer, the difference with light, and Daniel went to great lengths to share the difference. The vibe in the bar lively with animated discussions, going on everywhere. My kind of bar, My Dad owned a Bar up in Ohio till his death at 93. He drank beer every day, endured back then second hand smoke, and lived a great life. so alcohol and food is a good mix, add friends and you got a match. My friends say I talk toomuch, but I have no idea where they get that? Grin...... Hee hee hee I had a great night and expect to return. I am a 77 year ole US Navy vet, I am legally Blind, and was celebrating with friends about recent patent success. We are gonna help the Blind, Deaf, and Mute. I recommend that you try out this great Place John Gutmann, aka walter-bs, Blind Sighted read more

This is by far my favorite restaurant in Downtown Decatur! It is a classic Irish styled pub, a little dark & moody but with a friendly neighborhood vibe. The food is great and the staff is better! The food is really good, their menu is not overwhelming and they came out a few items worth the season. Some of my favorites are the chicken tender basket w/chips (huge portion), blackened chicken Alfredo, and the chicken Kiev (recent addition). My fav sides include the chips and the brussel sprouts! They also make great drinks and have a decent local draft beer selection that rotates. They have a calendar of events and host an Irish band on Tuesdays and trivia night on Thursdays. There is plenty of outdoor seating for the lovely days & nights. Check them out, you will not be disappointed! read more

The Marlay House - Chicken Kiev (spring edition) - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

This place is perfect. Great outdoor patio and amazing bar inside. Beautiful woodwork. The bangers & mash are by far the best in GA. I was a little bummed on the small portion. Boy, was I wrong. Great presentation. The potatoes and gravy were so rich & decadent. Perfect char & snap on the bangers. The small cuts of sautéed onions really bring it together. I enjoyed a couple of Telamore Dew's with it. read more

Marlay's was fun. Upon walking in we met a dog belonging to a frequent patron, the dog's name was Marlay! We sat ourselves at a table just behind the bar and were quickly greeted by the waitress. She let me taste my selection before ordering. I got their red ale and it was comparable to a dark root beer, which was interesting but very enjoyable. The waitress continued to check in on us throughout our stay. Indoor paper announcements let me know that they host a variety of events including holiday celebrations and weekly live music! read more

The Marlay House - Red ale - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

After car shopping in the area, this place was recommended for its fish and chips. Fortunately, we found an outdoor table as the inside pub was chilly with loud music. We were tired and not into the bar aspect , just looking for a quick meal. Good portions, crunchy batter, fries were tasty with lots of crunchy bits. We enjoyed a lager and people watching, a few pups on the patio too. Our server mentioned the traditional Irish breakfast if you want to indulge ! Looking forward to returning when we have more time to enjoy the atmosphere. read more

The Marlay House - Fish and handcut fries plus a pint! - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

My son invited us to try out this establishment firsthand. I was very impressed with the friendly atmosphere and welcoming hospitality inside this restaurant. Traditional Irish folk musicians played in the foreground corner with violins and bass. The patrons inside singing as they enjoyed their meals. Cozy and friendly people made you feel happy. The food was excellent! I tried the house special, Mahi with steamed vegetables and delicious lemon grass sauce made my mouth water. The traditional fish and chips were also good! Crisp beer batter cod fish and flaky inside with home cut fries. Folks if you wish to feel welcome and be enjoyed by Irish music and food then this is the place to be. I will return December again here. Enjoy ! read more

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Best fish I've eaten at an Irish Pub...very good favor...fries very originally..burgers not so good..Brussel were tasty..atmosphere dark and pale..not parking friendly.. read more

We went to the Marlay last Sunday on a gorgeous sunny Sunday that was blustery and cold. We wanted something different and comforting instead of pizza ( though we love pizza) so we went to the Marlay House dreaming of something that would feel like a hug. We had Bangers and Mash, their awesome Root Beer and house made Ginger Beer that was worth the trip in itself. We ended this great meal with their famous Blueberry Bread Pudding which is a MUST. Our server Daryl was a treasure, who not only brought everything out to us quickly, he made recommendations ( hence the ginger beer and root beer) and was friendly and professional. We plan to return at 5 pm so we can try out the dishes that are made only for dinner time. It's always a good time and a lovely vibe, especially when we miss our pubs from back home! read more

Great Irish pub but we were delighted by how excellent the food is as well! Staff was very friendly and accommodating to our group. We will be back. read more

What fun! I am new to Decatur and just discovering what's on offer. The company was delightful, the food terrific, the servers top notch but the parking was terrible. No excuse for not resurfacing the lower parking lot to make it accessible by wheelchair. read more

Eight years after my first review, I will update my comments and say that I am still a regular patron. As I stated, I'm a sucker for the English/Irish Pub vibe, with dark wood all around. I love Smithwick's, an Irish Red Ale that gets far too little credit. You'll get a 20 oz pour at the Marlay. Bar food can vary greatly in quality in this city, but I would contrast that with "pub food", which is delightful. Case in point: At the Marlay House, I highly recommend the St. James Gate -- a Guinness-braised brisket sandwich with caramelized onions served with an onion gravy. It never disappoints. Fish and chips, shepherd's pie, etc. are all well done, but one can venture off the old standbys and get more adventurous fare, too. I have yet to be disappointed at the Marlay. When it comes to service, I've always been well taken care of. Most recently, my waitress, Leah/Lea/sp?, was the absolute best, fitting me in right before closing with the energy that she brought at the beginning of her shift. She was unfailingly friendly and welcoming! She made the Marlay House feel like my own house on its best day. She may have gone above and beyond, but the service at the Marlay is always good. In short, there is little to complain about here. Parking might be the only challenging aspect. And just remember that the Post Office next door is closed at night and has a large, convenient lot. I see no reason not to go tonight. read more

This place is great! The food is good and tasty, but it can take quite awhile for food to come. The service was also good, they are welcoming and friendly. This place is also very clean, even the bathrooms. The place is very welcoming in general and is great for watching sports! read more

The service was great. Friendly and fast. My shepherd's pie was fabulous. I like my food hot and it came out very hot! My smithwick's was good but flat. I did have to fight a few gnats for it but I won in the end. One thing that bothered me was I saw the DPH cert on the wall as we were leaving and it was 76 C. Hopefully the next time we go back there they will have a better score! read more

The Marlay House - DPH Certificate - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

10/10 drinks. Attentive bartender. Great Guinness pour. It kinda feels like I was in Ireland with the decor. read more

The Marlay House - Weihenstephan Hefeweizen - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Not a shocker that I had an incredible time here for St. Patrick's Day. Definitely my kind of Irish pub where you can slam drinks and hide in a corner while fight for your life. Throw in some great food like the fish and chips and some stew that had stout (I think that's what it was), you're destined for a great time. Service was great even at its busiest and the waitress was on point. I have to come check this place out on a normal weekend. read more

The Marlay House - Fish & Chips - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

I had to make up my mom's belated birthday lunch, so I let her choose where she wanted to go. She lives in the city of Decatur, so she chose. The Marlay House on this blustery (but sunny) Saturday afternoon. Mom has been here before wanted comfort & apparently she craved fish & chips?! By the way, her birthday was OCTOBER, lol Tiny little parking lot & it is NOT a drive around. One way in & one way out, on an odd corner just down from the Post Office, at a traffic light. Walked in & wow! LOTS of that OLD, rustic, Irish Pub wood- chunky with the bar at center stage. I didn't feel comfortable taking pics b/c there was a solo guy eating at the bar & I didn't wanna be awkward. Anyway, sat down at a cozy booth/table set up on the far side from the entrance door. Very nice server gave menus (Sat is Brunch too) & got our drinks. I felt like a beer was worthy of such a joint & mom got wine. A VERY sweet server took care of us the rest of the visit- funny & attentive! She told us they have live music on (oh gosh did she say) Tues or a Thurs nights? Sorry.. I got a Cod Sandwich with Chips & mom got her Fish & Chips. Mine needed a little salt on the fish itself, but they have tarter, vinegar, ketchup & mustard if you need to juj it up. The chips actually tasted like potatoes, not greasy or over salted- really great!! I'll bring my hubby & children next time. I think they would enjoy. OK- that's all for now! I am very full & am on my sofa now stretching out. Enjoy your weekend!!! read more

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Decatur/Atlanta's longest running Irish / Old Time music gathering in a convivial setting, featuring folk music masters, every Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 9:00. read more

Marlay House is our go to neighborhood pub. We're very disappointed they'd close for a private event on Friday night. It'll be a while before we try to visit again. read more

I think they were just having a bad day when we went. I say this based on the other reviews I am seeing. BUT this review was our experience. It is very important that an establishment be transparent when there issues: Very friendly waitress let us know the frier was down, but there were other options which was cool. What was disappointing was the following: -Bar cooler on the fritz, so I was served warm chardonnay. -Smoked wings were habenero hot, so I could only eat 2. No, it wasn't the end of the world, but we weren't told BEFORE ordering. Just let the customers know, so they can make an informed decision. I felt it was a little deceitful, but I will say that my salad was really good, and the outdoor patio is very inviting. read more

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I am have driven past this place for years but never had the opportunity to dine here. The few times that we did consider going, we discovered a lack of parking at their dedicated lot and surrounding street parking already full, so we never actually had success to patronize the business. A client of mine lives near the restaurant and suggested that we arrive at 6pm for dinner on Thursday evening and this would give us the best opportunity to find parking onsite. We arrived at 5:50pm and secured one of the last parking spaces behind the building. It was a challenge parking my large SUV as well as departing when we finished our meal. If you are lucky enough to live nearby and walk, then this place is a gem. It's a charming building with covered terrace at the entrance plus indoor dining with decor that resembles the pubs in Ireland and the UK. My client and I had both spent a long day working indoors so we chose the terrace. The ceiling fans kept the temperature pleasant. The picnic tables are spacious, however my client is older and had some difficulty getting into the seat because the bench is attached closely to the table. Something to consider if you are dining with older people. The staff was super friendly and efficient from the moment we arrived until departure. I am pescatarian and found plenty of seafood as well as vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. I considered getting the brussel sprouts salad with the vegan chicken added as a protein, however the server highly recommended that I go with the smoked salmon instead. It was a great suggestion and I loved the complete meal. Every component of the salad was fresh and executed to perfection. It paired nicely with the blood orange ginger mule cocktail. My client had the D14 burger meal with the pimento cheese and proclaimed it excellent. She enjoyed her burger with the house Cabernet wine and found it delicious. Originally we both had planned to consume only half our meals and save the rest for later but we ended up eating everything! No room for dessert! During our visit it was trivia night and there's a separate tent set up adjacent to the covered terrace where we dined. The trivia event was a little loud at times but never bothersome. If you dine on a Thursday maybe use the indoor space or the terrace. Other than the parking challenge, we loved our dining experience here and look forward to going back to split the fish and chips meal and order a variety of the appetizers and beer. It's a great value for the money. We recommend this place!! read more

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Approaching the Marlay House, I noticed they had a small parking lot right next to the restaurant, along with a sign pointing to additional parking in the rear. I quickly found a spot in the side parking lot and headed to the outside seating area where I saw my group of friends. I joined them, and our server quickly came by to check on us.  I reviewed the beer and food menus. The beer selection was okay--about ten options to choose from,including offerings from some local Atlanta breweries. I started with a Three Taverns Night on Ponce IPA. We were chatting it up, and after a while, I started to get hungry. I ordered the grilled mahi tacos and a Creature Comforts Bigger Dreams Hazy IPA as my second beer. The tacos came out pretty quickly, and they were good--went well with the beer, too. A friend of mine ordered the fried fish tacos and really enjoyed them. I walked through the restaurant's interior, and it was dimly lit, really living up to the Irish pub motif. Everything looked very clean and overall I enjoyed my first visit to Marlay House and would return to try some other items. read more

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Had lunch at The Marlay today and it was delicious. Never had Irish food before so it was interesting. We ordered the smoked salmon, smoked wings, and chips for appetizers. The wings were very spicy but tasty, the salmon was really good with the aioli sauce (the bread wasn't my favorite), and the chips were very good. For the main course we had the Sheppards Pie that came out steaming, it was a large portion that could definitely be shared. That was tasty. We also had the Orange Chick'n (vegetarian) that came with cauliflower rice. A great tasty option if you don't eat meat. Finally we had the Banker & Mash, it was just a sausage and potato's, not a lot of flavor but the potatoes were pretty good. If you save room for dessert, the bread pudding was soooo good! It was just the right amount of sweet and soft, you have to try it. The restaurant had a good amount of space, indoor and outdoor. The booths are very spacious and the outdoor area looked really nice. Our server was okay, didn't come around much, but overall we enjoyed our lunch and would go back. read more

The Marlay House - Blueberry Bread Pudding - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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I come here for trivia on Thursdays. Staff is always very friendly. There are great beers on draft and they do rotate. The food is great too. They do seasonal items/ weekly specials. The staples like their fish and chips or kerrygold pimento cheese are perfect. The right amount of batter, not too heavy, and their fries are crispy and salty. Of note, their condiments are great too. The chips come with a blue cheese and it's so yummy, not too pungent or overly blue cheesy. The honey mustard dip is also really good. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a simple pub with elevated food. read more

Parking is a challenge. Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff. Not an Irish voice to be heard. Only basket ball no football or Rugby. Had lamb stew. Food was good. Had Irish South African and American food items. Worthy of a visit tasted just like my Gran used to make. read more

Great fish and chips! I have driven by this place for years but it took a British friend to drag me in. Hilarious because I had no idea it was a proper Irish pub. As soon as you step across the threshold you know where you are, yumminess. Great fish and chips means fresh oil, thick tasty slices of fish, everything came out hot, and the fries weren't too greasy. I will be back. read more

The food takes me back to my time in Dublin! It's a brief getaway from the hustle and bustle as it reminds me of the laidback nature of Ireland. The atmosphere is laid back and unique. The servers have been chill and quick! The Guinness pours have been spot on! This is my fav restaurant in Decatur! Check it out! read more

Delicious food, excellent service . Their version of pimento cheese is very tasty. The best Shepherd's pie I've had in a long time. We each had something different and all enjoyed their choices. read more

We friggin' love this place! Funnest place in town. Make a point to put it in your travel plans. Brantliegh and Cooper taking great care of their patrons. read more

The Marlay House - Brantleigh and me! - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Starting to go to Marlay House often. They have some great food and drinks. The atmosphere is just right. Some will probably disagree but the wings here have become my favorite wings ever! They're smoked on their green egg and have the perfect sauce/ crisp to them. On top of that their beer choices are perfect to pair with the wings. I have also tried the fish sandwhich and that didn't disappoint. And last but not least the service has been great everytime we have been. read more

The Marlay House - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Marley is in a great location right downtown in Decatur. They do offer some parking which is a bonus. The ambience is nice, warm and inviting with booths as well as tables and chairs. But here comes the BIG HOWEVER. The food is nothing special and the prices are a bit high. The fish and chips is good but some other items, not so much. I had their Falafel Gyro, which by the way they misspell on their website, at a pricey $18. The falafels were too big for the size of the pita they used so it made it difficult to eat. In addition, the falafels were dried out and overcooked and you can see they were just thrown into a deep fat fryer for far too long. The menu description mentions tzatziki that was very skimpy and you can hardly taste it at all. I clearly did not taste any love or care. Even my brother's hamburger, which is pretty much all he eats, had no love or care placed on it at all, and looked rather gray with no sear... a very disappointing experience. The server was friendly and efficient though. read more

We found Marley house when searching for dog friendly restaurants. They allow dogs outside, which is a little close to the road (my dog was a little freaked) but otherwise very dog friendly. The menu has plenty for the vegetarian and general pub food. We ordered the dog a side of grilled chicken.. she was happy. The warm brussels salad was very good. French fries were awesome. Service was great! read more

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We've been coming here for 6 years. Didn't realize I had never reviewed this place. Let's start by saying, it's a great Irish Pub. In 6 years, I've NEVER had bad food, drinks, and most importantly, service. I went off my usual fish and chips (which are stellar btw) and tried the caprese sandwich. I'm not a vegetarian but I do like dishes without meat sometimes. It was way more than I expected. The cibatta was crisp on the outside and tender and delicious on the inside. Fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinaigrette. Served with their skin on lovely hand cut fries. Just fabulous. The hubby always gets the cottage pie. It also never disappoints. Try this place out. You'll be glad you did. read more

A real neat looking place inside. Excellent staff and mgt. 5 of us with a baby and they really took care of us. Two of us had the shepherd pie, which when I've had it before had a pastry top, but this was cream potatoes, which was excellent. Fries / blue cheese appetizer was excellent. Wife's salmon sandwich was OK. Son's fish/chips was excellent. A real treat and again, great waitress and staff. read more

I have been to the Marlay House a few times and decided to check it out again recently. It was a Monday night and a little rainy but we still wanted to sit on the patio and the server still came out to serve us which I appreciated. We got the pretzel as a starter and it was good, a very classic pub pretzel. I got the fish and chips which I thought was good but could use a little less batter. I wish that the fish flavor was a little stronger but it was still good. The fries were so good! They are thicker fries but still crispy and taste great. It was also a huge portion and I could not finish all of it. We also tried the Brunswick stew and it wasn't the best Brunswick stew ever but it was okay, it had a very strong tomato taste and tasted a little like ketchup. Overall it was a good meal but having had some other things from them, I would probably go back and get a sandwich. I also prefer sitting outside because it is a nice patio and the inside looks a little dusty to me. Still, I would go back and try some other things. read more

The Marlay House - Fish and Chips - Irish Pub Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Solid choice. Great Irish bar with good food I was able took get a hamburger that was gluten-free and they had gluten-free beer. The staff was super cool too. I heard they have good music on fridays and I wish it was Friday now. Thanks for a good night. read more

It was a beautiful day out and my boyfriend and I wanted to take our dog out to enjoy a nice meal. We decided to stop at Marlay House since we just recently moved to the area. Our server was so kind and accommodating for my pup. We asked for a side order of grilled chicken for Mira (my dog) and they happily brought it out to us. We started with the Chicken Curry Skewers, they smelled amazing but it lacked in curry flavor when eating it. I think they should be marinated longer so you get that true curry taste. For my main dish, I ordered fish and chips. Uhhh yum! The fish was so good, the breading was awesome, and the tartar sauce was the 'icing on the cake'. I'd happily return to try more dishes! read more

A fairly new menu and ordered the falafel and lentil salad to go. The lentils were undercooked, hard A d inedible. The falafel patty was charred black a d aside from the small center portion, also inedible. Very disappointing. Where is the quality control in allowing such a poorly prepared dish to be served? Or since it was a to go order, did the cook think it didn't matter. JM - Decatur read more

Good pub, good people, food is quite decent (but lacking enthusiasm IMO). Service is generally hit or miss. GM Michelle is a downer-- I literally turn around and walk out if I see that she's working, she puts the wait staff on edge. I find it hard to relax with such thick tension. read more

The outdoor fan blows smoke into the tent. Multiple smokers. Multiple times. This is a problem with non-smokers.

amazing fish and chips and i'm not even a big fan of them. i loved the laidback vibe and the service was great. definitely give it a try!