Date: Fri 03-Nov-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

McNally-restaurant-Sand-Hill

Full Text:

with cut: Steak And Ale House Brings Ireland To Sand Hill Plaza

About three months ago, the McNally family began improving the interior of a

commercial space at Sand Hill Plaza which was to become McNally's Steak and

Ale House.

Festooned with colorful artifacts reminiscent of the Emerald Isle, McNally's

opened for business in mid-October, offering a range of moderately-priced menu

items including steaks, Irish specialities, pub fare, children's meals, and

many beers on draught.

"If you work at it, you will succeed," said Mac McNally, manager of the new

business, which seeks to attract customers in the age range of 25 to 40, plus

their children. Mr McNally's son, Michael, is the business's proprietor.

The McNallys wanted to create something different than what had been in the

restaurant space which adjoins Sand Hill Plaza's mall, so they got permission

from the landlords to remodel the interior using materials such as brick and

oak.

The McNallys keep the Irish motif of their restaurant right down to their

specially-priced children's menu that includes items such as The Eating of The

Green and The Blarney Burger.

Adults can savor other fare including a one-half pound Black Angus hamburger,

Irish lamb stew, fish and chips, chowder, and filet mignon.

One of the house specialties is Duffy's Irish Stew which includes lamb,

potatoes, parsnips, turnips, parsley and chives.

Another special item is known as The Mixed-Up Irishman. It combines pastrami,

corned beef and melted Swiss cheese on rye bread topped with Russian dressing.

A Belfast burger also adorns the menu.

Beer on draught includes: Guinness Stout, Murphy's Irish Stout, Bass Ale,

Killian's Red, Michael Shea's, McSorley's Ale, Samuel Adams, Budweiser and

Miller Lite.

McNally's plans to stock a wide variety of specialty microbrew beers in

bottles, Mac McNally said.

Mr McNally said he believes providing patrons with good meals and an enjoyable

experience will keep them returning to the ale house located at the northern

end of Sand Hill Plaza. Satisfying customers is a key to success, he said.

Making women feel comfortable in the ale house is an important component of

such success, he said.

On Friday nights, live jazz is perfomed in the plaza's mall. The McNallys plan

to offer live Irish music on Saturday nights.

The ale house has a 10-foot-wide television screen for entertainment. It has

smoking and non-smoking areas. Recorded Irish music and Irish videotapes are

played for atmosphere. The establishment currently is open from 11 am to 1 am

on Mondays through Thursdays, and from 11 am to 2 am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Mr McNally said he expects Newtown will be a good place for the McNally family

to do business.

"The response has been good," he said.