The Food - I've only had a few items and it is above-par bar food, though the Calamari is real good... The Drinks - As stated, they have a decent selection of draft beer, not to the RFD level, but decent. The mixed drinks are hit or miss depending on the bartender and whether or not you know them. Upstairs and downstairs have two different vibes. Upstairs usually has a band on the weekends (again hit or miss) and numerous flatscreens with games on. There is a ton of room and usually enough space to move around. The staff is attentive and usually gets drinks in a timely fashion. The acoustics aren't that great and the drums seem to overpower everything else in the band. When it is 80s night, the upstairs gets a little crazy. There is usually a cover on weekends. Downstairs is more irish pub-like and a cool place to chill. They usually have on soccer or rugby or some other Irish sport on the TV downstairs when I've been there. Which of course makes sense. There is a patio which could be cool in the summer months. Overall its not a bad place at all and fun for a group read more

Went on a Tues night and it was pretty dead, but that was fine with us, as we just spent the day whittling balsa into knitting needles to send to Uganda. The service was slow, but the beers where poured well, were cold, and a good selection was available - the top choice (IMHO) being Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The food was good - I ordered a very tasty goat cheese salad, while my whittling friend enjoyed a rueben with his fries. The waiter had a fake Irish accent, which was weird and rather annoying. It was quite obvious he was from the local area, besides - ALL Irishmen have red hair and big red beards! This place is nothing special, but a good option for downtown SS. read more

The place was allrite. We sat at one of the tables stuck back in a nook near the downstairs bar. Sort of a lame crowd populated the place, but they have a nice selection of beer and a pretty decent set of options on the menu. I had the vegetable strudel,and it was quite tasty. My father-in-law had the shepherd's pie, and he's not an easy guy to please. So for him to say it was really good must mean something. I mean, I guess I'll go back at some point. I probably won't go to hang out at the bar with the sort of numbskulls who populate it (or seemed to that night)\, but if it's a nice day and we're around for lunch I might stop in for a burger and a beer before heading on. read more

They make a mean stew, fish & chips, irish breakfast plate and have a great trivia night (monday). The drinks are okay, cause you can't jack up beer... or can you... and the fare is standard pub. They have a pretty good happy hour and a consistent crowd. It's convenient and I like it. I'd recommend it, maybe not for a romantic dinner but definitely for a place to hang. Good not great. read more

We've been going to McGintys for 5 years now and have always been satisfied! We mostly visit for special occasions to have dinner or brunch, but have visited the bar once. The food is out of this world and frankly some of the best Irish cuisine I've had in Maryland. There's nothing I wouldn't recommend! It's easy to run up a substantial bill, but the portions are large and hearty - well worth the price. The lamb stew has big, meaty chunks, the shepherd's pie is cooked well and never runny. Lastly, the fish and chips order...not greasy, cooked well and nearly enough for 2. We've tried their specials during a few visits and I've never once been disappointed. Also, indulge in a dessert - I highly recommend the creme brûlée! Lastly, the upstairs dining area makes for a wonderful spot for intimate occasions. It's softly lit, rustic, and generally not overly crowded...sound in the room carries easily on busy nights and it can get noisy quick, I recommend visiting on a week night for a smaller crowd. read more

Very solid food if not a tad bit pricey. I had the Irish Sampler with more than ample servings of Shepard's Pie, Lamb Stew, and Beef Stew. All three were very good; the beef and lamb were very tender. If I were to pick one dish of the three, it would be the lamb stew. My wife had the fish and chips which was tasty. McGinty's is a great place for a meal and a drink. read more

Great price-fixe brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM - 3PM. The Crab Cake Eggs Benedict is divine as is the bread pudding. Otherwise can never go wrong with the Fish and Chips ... best in town. I'm not a drinker, but have been told the beer and whiskey selection is exceptional. Great gem in Silver Spring. read more

This is one of my go to places in the area. I find that after a movie at the AFI a few drinks and chatting are always in order. Its much quieter than the other nearby alternatives (like Quarry House) and if you are the sort of person who likes to sit back, have a few drinks, some pub food, and actually converse with your friends its a good spot to hit. During the winter I would suggest moving upstairs to avoid the occasional wind from the doors opening. Upstairs there is a dance floor and plenty of yuppy folks with their friends afraid to meet new people and pretending that cliques are still as cool as they were in high school. The food is what you expect, the kitchen is open late, the drinks are reasonable, and the service is polite. Nothing amazing, nothing bad. Go here, enjoy yourself and on second thought.... forget that I mentioned the back room on the first floor, I like to go there and prefer you not get there first. read more

In general I've had decent experiences here. The beer is priced in competition with DC area bars. They have a really tasty black bean veggie burger that's made in house (not out of a box)! Besides one time (a terrible waitress), I've had average to good service from the bartenders/servers. Sometimes they have live bands, and they really need to learn to turn the volume down a bit on that. It is sooo loud in there with the live band that you can't carry on any conversation without screaming. It's just annoying. If it's nice outside (a rarity in the DMV!) they have a small outside seating area to hang out in. read more

I do not intend on throwing around five stars loosely on any of my reviews. A place must have every facet spot on in order to achieve such a rating. McGinty's is deserving of that privilege. I was in Silver Spring for a month working and training at a local hospital in Bethesda and I must have ate at this place at least 2 or 3 nights out of the week. Their menu has a lot to offer and there was nothing I ordered that I did not enjoy. My favorite was the corn beef and cabbage. It was unbelievably good! I also really enjoyed was the wide selection of Irish whiskeys they had available. Even more surprising was the knowledge of the bar staff had of the various beers on tap and the whiskey's they had to offer. If you have never tried Boddington's, you have got to give it a try. It is on tap with nitrous just like Guinness which really opens it up and gives it a great, light flavor. I will admit that I always sat at the bar and never was waited on by the wait staff, but the place was always busy and everyone seemed to be keeping up with the pace. The upstairs area is huge as is the bar. They have a stage set up and I listened to a variety of types of music while eating there. It's a great restaurant and pub. If you're in the Silver Spring area, it really would be a travesty to not visit it for a drink or a meal. This review is making me want to drive back to MD now...ugh..... If nothing else, go for me.... read more

Always great food and drinks. The black bean burger is my favorite! Paired with a glass of Malbec and I'm happy! The atmosphere is awesome, too. It's always lively. I used to go to trivia night every week and that was fun, too! read more

Thought this place was just for hang out and drinks but came here for lunch and Loved the food! Great deserts too! Been looking for a place with great fish and chips. Found it here! read more

See all

I haven't tried anything at this place except drinks and mussels.. BUT, it def deserves a 5 for it's amazingggggg mussels. read more

McGinty's Public House - PEI Mussels, $12, best mussels ever. - Irish Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

See all

I have come here a few times and am always pleased with the food, service, and atmosphere. They have great outdoor seating!

Decided to step into this pub for a drink and I think it has become a favorite of mine. I love the bartenders they are so friendly and very attentive. Also, the decor is average pretty old school. Only got a few drinks after happy hour and they were fairly priced. Will try the food next time I visit. read more

In the past I've only attended this restaurant during happy hour time. I decided to go here off happy hour for a full dinner and was very pleased! I was compelled to give them a rating. My shepherds pie was a delight! The veggies were steamed remarkably and my prayers were mashed to perfection! I would definitely recommend this bar for it's Irish food, and as you can tell by my name, I know good Irish cuisine when I see it! read more

Brunch brunch brunch, you MUST come here for brunch. What more can I say? Tons of options, the pre-fixed menu is absolutely awesome as are all the other choices. Love it so much! Fast friendly service and delicious food makes for a wonderful time. read more

McGinty's Public House - Banana custard French toast, wild mushrooms kale omelette, salmon smoked eggs Benedict - Irish Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Good place for lunch. I've been there a couple of times. I've had the Fish and Chips with the Caesar salad. The Caesar salad is always good, taste fresh, the fish and chips are good, definitely worth a try. Not crowded at all for lunch. Good spot for lunch. Also if you're looking for Irish whisky they have a good selection. Anybody try this place for Happy Hour? read more

Went for Saturday brunch & it was awesome! Their black bean burger is phenomenal + very filling. I've been trotting around DC looking for vegan eats & this was definitely a win. My friend ordered off the Prix Fixe menu and swears everything is amazing! The servers are friendly and very attentive. Atmosphere is better than most "pubs". It was cozy. Truly enjoyed this experience! Will definitely come back. read more

McGinty's Public House - Black Bean Burger w/ Salad + Side of Fruit - Irish Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

We had a great brunch: Irish Benedict and Scampi-sausage-polenta-grilled tomatos-eggs. And wonderful service from Ronny! read more

McGinty's Public House - Irish Benedict and Scampi-sausage-polenta-grilled tomatos-eggs. And wonderful service from Ronny! - Irish Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Ambiance is amazing. The staff is Irish, the place feels Irish, and the menu is Irish with a hint of American. However, the food is just decent and it's overpriced quite a bit. Without a doubt, the bartender hasn't been trained in the proper way to poor a Guiness. Go for a drink, not the food. read more

Just had a great brunch with delicious food and reasonably priced ($4) strong mimosas. I had the corned beef hash which was exceptional, and my girlfriend really enjoyed her Frittata. Coffee was average. Service was great too. We have been in the evenings and they have free darts which are fun and sometimes live bands. This place is way way better than you'd expect for it technically being in a mall - give it a chance. I'm told it is locally owned despite what you might assume since it's surrounded by mostly chain stuff. read more

I live really close to Downtown Silver Spring and I had heard of McGuinty's but had never been there until this last weekend. I enjoy my experience. I ordered a chickpea veggie burger and I have to say it was by far the best veggie burger I have ever had (and I am always looking for a good veggie burger). The waiter was very nice, made small talk and helped me pick out a beer since I am not a big fan of beer. Side note: I sat in the bar area (first area if you enter from the mall) and had no idea there was a much nicer restaurant area that I could have sat at. So it's good to make a not that you have options for the atmosphere. read more

I am not a beer drinker so I can only comment about the food...which was delicious! I had the herb crusted lamb chops, cauliflower "steak", and sauteed kale with tomatoes. Everything was well seasoned and simply delicious! For appetizer, I had some kind of potato hash brown topped with sour cream and balsamic vinegar drizzled on my plate...yummy! For dessert I had the Espresso Ceme Brulee. One of my friends had the salmon encrusted with black sesame seeds on a bed of spinach, I tasted it, it was great,perfectly cooked, slightly pink in the center, moist and tender; another in my party had Fish and Chips, the portion was so big, she could not eat it all and took a big chunk of it home. All in all most of us cleaned our plates, except me, I saved some of my lamb chops for a midnight snack, because I wanted to save room for dessert. My dessert included Espresso Ceme Brulee, and an Irish coffee....I thought how apropos at an Irish Pub! The service was great! Our server Grace was most gracious and tended to our every request. We even requested to speak to the manager to give him our kudos! I highly recommend this restaurant to friends who want authentic Irish food in a warm neighborhood friendly place for good food and of course the beers....which I don't drink so, you'd have to judge that for yourself. It's the only reason I did not give 5 stars! read more

A good, solid Irish bar with traditional Irish pub food. Usually a bit loud with an aggressive DJ upstairs or live performer. Regardless, it's a staple of down town silver spring for a pint of beer and some food. Never have been disappointed by the food - nachos, fish and chips, and more that I'm simply not thinking of. A bit greasy, but that's to be expected at a joint like this. A good place for happy hours, catching up with friends, the occasional date night (not early in a relationship - unless you can snag some of the outdoor seating) or even the solitary pint. read more

Love the food, location, and service of the staff. The manager is especially caring and attentive to my needs when I was there. I just wish the entertainment was better. The place has an awesome dance area upstairs which is under utilized. Suggestions: 1) get a good DJ who spins danceable, up beat, club music from the 80, 90's, present. His only goal is to get folks on the dance floor and keep them there. Get rid of the weak live bands. 2) have DJ start early like 9pm 3) turn off the TV's when DJ starts read more

Service is ridiculously SLOW! The manager and waiter chased down a group of four people for leaving (they were heading to a concert at the Fillmore) before they were served because it was taking forever... When we questioned the waiter he stated they were only waiting 10 minutes... (I guess 10 minutes is acceptable time to wait. I would be curious to know how long it took to be waited on before they were were helped.) WTF! They ran out of Bullet ,which is in thier specialty drink. They put didn't know how to make a Malibu bay breeze (they used grapefruit juice and there was no coconut rum in it). I was told that's how they make them. Can you say Management problems... read more

Classic Irish pub feel, they have have a happy hour. Traditional Irish fare on the menu, i went with the shepherds pie, fantastic. They give you a side of veggies that are also great, i think they were steamed with garlic. Nothing fancy here just good beer, great food, friendly staff. **My only comment to the ownership would be to make the bathrooms bigger downstairs, they are singles.** read more

We had a great time at this place. Our server Kaleem (sp?) was on point. He was very personable and efficient. We had people coming and going and joining our party. We were also randomly ordering food and apps as we sat and drank. Kaleem was very accommodating. The appetizers were so-so (that's the reason for 4 stars and not 5), but they were only 5 bucks during happy hour so can't really complain about that. My daughter had the Green Lasagna from the vegetarian section. It was delicious! read more

Terry is fantastic. I have been going to McGintys for quite some time, but Terry's customer service is beyond great.

Good vibe here, although I haven't been impressed with the menu beyond those damn green beans. The last time we went, our server was Henouch (?) and he was awesome--attentive but not intrusive, friendly but not overbearing, genuine and awesome. read more

Whilst out on Saturday my family and I stopped into McGinty's Public House - we'd tried most of the restaurants in the area and McGintys was close to last on the list. Let me be frank - we will never be patronizing this place again. The evening began on a high note - the atmosphere and ambiance reeked of the typical American Irish Pub. Then came the menu - whoever created that diatribe of awful needs to scale back to the classics and cook them well. We started off with three appetizers: Buffalo wings, Oysters on the Half shell and finally the crab dip. Everything was fine - except for the crab dip, which was sub par to say the least. A motley blend of cheeses and canned crab meat paired with a buttery baguette. Heavy on cream and cheese - so I could barely taste the meat. What was the point? My Mother ordered a special sampler - cooked spinach greens tossed lightly in pesto that came with three small pieces of lobster, flank steak and duck. This was the best thing on the table. The duck and flank steak were succulent and didn't even require the sauces that came on the side. It was amazing. My brother and I both ordered a burger - his was excellent cooked well done, and still juicy. On the other hand - there was mine - cooked to a unhealthy medium rare, while I ordered well done (it's a ground beef burger folks). On a different note, the fries were great. Finally, there's the pièce de résistance the stew sampler. Which featured Shepard's Pie (superb), lamb stew, and beef stew. My mother likened the beef stew to Denty Moore... except worse. The Lamb stew was something else of a disaster - drowning in broth, frozen carrots and something I can't quite name - it was one of the most disgusting things I've ever tasted, I gagged. Overall - Some items on their menus shine and are well developed flavor wise. But for every one that's delicious, there seem to be two that is poorly planned, flavored, and executed. We'll be sticking to Fado's for an Irish Pub in the future. read more

As this is my local haunt, where I at least pop in once or twice a week I obviously rate it highly. This bar distinguishes itself from anywhere nearby, chiefly on account of the great staff they have. There is good food and a nice selection of drinks, though I mostly stick to Guinness, which is poured well here. read more

The host that greeted me was friendly and welcoming... I am sorry to say that I can not say the same for the bartender. I would have liked the opportunity to judge the food and drinks but the bartender that was working thought that cleaning the glasses and making small talk with the other waitstaff was more important than acknowledging me. No Lie, I sat there for 20 minutes before I walked out. I saw the other great reviews about the food and drinks but my experience was terrible and I seriously hope that bartender is no longer working there. Honestly, If you don't like people or your job then QUIT! Needless to say, I will NOT go back there. The only saving grace was the kind host, he gave a great first impression but the lasting one was of a VERY rude bartender. read more

While I think it would be great to provide a review of the food here, I can't say that I was able to experience the food menu. However, after a long day of work this was one of the few places near my hotel that I could grab a quick beer. Great atmosphere, nice patio outside, decent draft beer selection, and the staff was super friendly. I would come back to try their food, though - seems like a a solid menu. read more

Staying in Silver Spring while on vacation, and I have to say this was a great choice as a first meal here. I had what is arguably the best cheeseburger of my life, and my husband had the corned beef and cabbage. In both of our meals, the meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection, but still deliciously juicy. We were both very happy with the friendly service, the wonderful atmosphere, and most importantly the food. Even though we are only here for a few days, I would love to go back! read more

I've never had a bad experience here. Even when it is crowded, the service is great and friendly. The overall atmosphere of the place is fantastic. Even when they are busy or having some event upstairs, there is usually some place where a group of friends can hang out and talk. The food is very good and the drink prices are reasonable, especially during the happy hour (4-7pm) or after 10pm. They have a delicious Reuben and the Shepherd's Pie is a great full meal. read more

Just got crushed by a health inspection. Rats and roaches. Cold prep area unsanitary. Last time I was there I saw a roach crawling on the freaking bar. The entire block needs to be shut down for infestation. read more

My friend and i had a not do gd experience, other than the guy with the Duck shirt Ryan who was a sweet heart who really helped us and everything the bartender Matt was rude arrogant and didn't want to help us out because he made the wrong drink and we paid for the wrong drink and other drinks it was my 1st time there and the last read more

Happy hour is 3-7pm, inside only, $4 Yuengling and Miller, $5 cocktail special, $4 rotating draft beer special (has been Goose Island IPA for a couple years now, though), $4.50 wine, and $5 food specials (wings, chicken tenders, chicken quesadilla, etc.). The $5 food special is great, atmosphere is good. Just wish the rotating draft beer actually rotated. read more