This place is the absolute worst! I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life. Went there for a get together the place was having and let me tell you, the atmosphere was grotesque. Not only were the bartenders looking younger than 21 years old, but the fact that I had multiple men that wouldn't leave me alone the entire night and when I reported it to the manager, they just laughed and told me to go out and have a good time and left. I had never felt so disgusted in my entire life. The food was absolutely lousy and the drinks are overpriced. Driving 20 minutes from home was the biggest waste of my time I had ever done. Not only this, but the two people I was with also had issues. My best friend wouldn't stop being harassed either and when her guy friend defended her, it broke out into a huge fight that got dragged outside. Not only this happened, but the guy he fought pulled out a pistol he had on his waist and smacked her friend in the face. The police were contacted and ever since that day, I will never ever step foot in this place. Not only has it been reported that underage girls work there, but there has been gun fights in that bar at least twice, if not three times a month plus, and the fact of rumors going around that there's drugs being put in the alcohol ahead of time (cocaine). If you want a good bar, go to the District or go outside of Rockford to Belvidere. At least there you know you're safer than almost being shot or drugged. read more

Excellent service and excellent food! Will definitely eat at Murphy's Pub more often!

I have always had the best service at Murphy's. The owners are kind and loving, the waitresses are well trained and attentive, and the atmosphere is always top notch. I will always stop in and have lunch or dinner. The food is great! They have breakfast, too! If you want to be treated with respect and have a good time, stop in. read more

Not great to watch sports, watching end of an exciting big 10 finish and they switched for a preview for a wrestling match. They did try to go back but after 15 minutes of messing around with the channels they gave up. Food is average, fish fry is OK on friday, they have an all you can eat ribs for about $15 on saturday which is a great price but the quality is lacking. read more

Decent staff, but very rude owner. Called to ask a question and was very short- it'd be nice to feel a sense of concern about the customer, but instead he reacted like I was a bother. read more

Smokey smokey. Like trying to eat in a restaurant from the 70's. It was horrible. Was greeted by the waitress with a 'what do you want'. The staff was snippy. Won't be going back here. read more

WOW! This is one of those experiences I just couldn't wait to get back to write this review. This is an "Irish pub" as they are so named and advertise. They had ads for days about how we should join them for their St. Patrick's day festivities. Last year in 2012 we came here after the parade and had a great time. Good food, Irish music and dancers etc.. So in 2013 we brought more friends and expected more of the same. OH MY! What a colossal disappointment!! Our party of 6 will NEVER return to this place. After the town parade we went to Murphy's. We sat down and ordered our apps and drinks and were subjected to the VERY LOUD head banging metal so called music. Because THAT is EXACTLY what you are looking for at a St. Patrick's day celebration!! It started with Megadeath and got progressively worse with the festive Irish tunes by Slipknot!! We looked around at the other patrons all dressed in their St. Patrick's day garb and saw look of horror and confusion on their faces. After about three songs of this crap we decided we would have to say something because not only was it deafening it was also x-rated music. Not appropriate for anyone really. We asked our waitress if she could ask the owner to change the music to some thing more festive especially since this was their St. Patrick's day party and the young Irish dancing school dancers had just finished their show so many young kids were in the building. She informed us that she had already informed the owner quite a few times because customers had been complaining and she had 3 tables that already walked out. We told her we were also about to go and she asked if we would like to speak to him and of course we did! Instead after about 15 minutes a young manager comes over. He gives us some BS about how that is the JUKEBOX and that the JUKEBOX over rides the Irish music they are playing. I told him I was insulted that he( the owner) wouldn't come over to face us himself and that he (the manager) knows darn well his Jukebox story is BS! I wasn't born yesterday! The jukebox was off! Our poor server told us the owner just wouldn't listen to the employees.. This was quite obvious and didn't need to be explained, he obviously didn't care about his customers. However, Eventually the music was turned down and after about 10 minutes they started playing Irish music. A local radio station came in for a live remote and the music was toned down to regular pop music (not Irish) but at least not speed metal! We tried calling a couple other places to get in where they were serving corned beef and cabbage but everyone was packed. My husband walked out but the rest of us were trying to not have it ruin our night. My daughter LOVES Shepard's Pie and had been looking forward to it all year!! She ordered the Shepard's pie and last year it was HUGE! THIS time however-- it was mashed potatoes , about 4 scoops plopped into a baked potato shell topped with cheese and broccoli. WTF!!!!!! is all I can say about that. Have they even seen a recipe for Shepard's pie before? For the record the Corn beef and cabbage was fine but who cares at this point, everything else was such a train wreck! So, $140 later I decided to come home and write about my lovely St. Patrick's day 2013. Thanks Murphy's. You won't have to worry about serving our family and friends again. We are looking for a better place or will stay home if we have to. In general, if you are over the age of 24 this place is not for you. read more

First was told that they couldn't turn the sound on for the TV's for a college football game even though the bar was pretty much empty except for the group of us watching the game. Then that night I stopped in for one drink. They ran my card for way more than my tab saying its policy to do so even though I was telling to bartender to close it out because I was only staying for the one. When I called the next day (9/13) to find out why I was cussed out by the manager. I will not be back. There are plenty of other bars who actually value their customers read more

Where to start, where to start? The food? Ok, the food. Being my first time here, I kept it simple. What's more simple than a burger? Perhaps cereal, alas cereal is not on the menu, so I ordered a burger. The burger was pretty run of the mill greasy flat top cooked ground beef topped w/ two slices of canadian bacon, lettuce, tomato, etc... The menu is pretty standardized american bar food, with what most dumb americans consider Irish fare twists. Corned beef this, corned beef that, blargh. The fries however, are wicked awesome. No doubt, double fried and laced with what maybe poultry seasoning. Almost tasted like fried mozz. The texture was great too. Onto the actual place. It's the old Cousins redone to be a sports bar. They've added some rich wood details as well as a stone faced bar. For a sports bar, it's kinda nice actually. Plenty of tables, I'm guessing upwards of 40-50. Not too many of which were filled, so no problem getting seated for lunch. Now, for what caught me off guard. It's a damn theme/gimic restaurant. It's a local take on the "Slanted Men's Skirt". Get my drift? Scantily clad waitresses in tartan skirts and tight fitting tanktops. Not that I mind scantily clad women, I just prefer not to surround myself with aging perverts that say to their friends as they're leaving, "Dude, that waitress was totally hitting on me". read more

I was visiting from New York City and found it to be ok before club hours. Drinks were cheap. Food was ok. However, after club hours when I came back with my sister-in-law and brother, totally different story. My brother couldn't get in because he had "Baggy" jeans on. Which let me tell you them pants were tight on him. I thought the guy aka security (ha!) was joking. So I asked to speak to the manager. The response I get was his shirts too "Baggy". My brother even said to the guy I have a complex about myself because of his big belly. They still did not let him in. I'm not from there but "Hello" we do not live in the year 1950's. Segregation does not exist anymore, get over it! read more

The DJ sucked . Another unannounced LATIN NIGHT!!!! Ughhhhhhh!!!!! I asked for one request, and the Hispanic crowd was more important!!!

Awesome food been here a few times there is a new half price food special every day it seems like. Had the corned beef and cabbage I could tell it was fresh just like the server suggested. read more

Murphy's Pub and Grill - New American Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

Came on a Thursday night to celebrate my friend's birthday. Sure, the place was dead, but to the server who walked up to me at the doorway asking to start a tab with her, come on. Let me take a few steps into the place. And you stared us down creep style while we were finishing our conversation in the doorway. That's not how it works anywhere. Since that kinda killed my vibe, that delegates the star count. One girl behind the bar was a great bartender, the other told me "I don't know how much this is" verbatim, while still taking my money to the cash register. It was a G&T and a bud light draft. Ha. Overall, pool tables weren't bad, lots of TVs for sports games, the smoking area is great, but I wouldn't suggest this bar to my suburban friends. Unless their aim was to look at the waitstaff in the short "irish" skirts while sipping on cheap, weak drinks. read more

Wish I could give less stars! This place needs to be shut down! Friends and I went on Friday for a birthday, after dealing with incredibley slow service and mediocre food, one of their regulars engaged in a verbal fight with my sister. During which he pushed her and then tried to hit her!! At this point, one of our guy friends tried to interject and stop it before it got too far. This regular, who kept shouting that this is "his bar" then punched our friend in his face. It did not stop there. Our friend was continually punched until he was knocked unconscious on the ground! The wait staff and "security" also joined the fight throwing punches at our group as we were trying to get our unconscious friend out of the bar! Our friend ended up in the emergency room with a broken nose, swollen shut eye, 3 stitches under his eyes, and swollen ear! Then found out today, they tried to bill him $200!!! Absolutely disgusting!! Ghetto, trashy, and all around horrible!! So many better places you could go in Rockford!! Spend your hard earned money at an establishment that deserves it!!! Not this place that needs to be shut down! read more

Nice atmosphere, parking, seating, etc. First 'Sports Bar' type location that I didn't feel packed in. Service was good, time from ordering to receiving food was a little slow. Seemed to be a lot of regulars. Lots of ink. Food was OK, nothing over the top, nothing to complain about. read more

Good Nachos and Guinness, nice pretty waitresses. But hiphop/dance music after the live band made me realize why I was glad the 80's and 90's is GONE. Nice Irish touches to it though. I'd go back earlier in night for live music again. read more

New uniforms, same shitty service! The waitresses are too busy flirting with old dudes trying to get tips instead of paying attention to customers. If you're a woman, don't expect to get any good service read more

Great music and it wasn't packed! Fun indoor dart game and the bathrooms were very clean. Maybe because it wasn't a full house more then likely. Good bar assortment and ample seating. WARNING watch out for your bill. They seem to charge you for things you didn't order or stuff you already paid for. Waitresses were nice... It was a quiet Friday night from what I kept hearing, so my experience here wasn't bad. Except that paying part (I wasn't drunk + why I gave it 3 stars) I had 2 drinks and she wanted to charge my friend for drinks I had already paid for. Not cool! read more

My boyfriend and I met another couple for dinner on a Friday night recently. He had the fried walleye and I had the baked cod. The walleye was greasy and mostly batter. His baked potato was OK. My baked cod was overcooked and dry. I requested drawn butter and tarter sauce and the waitress told me there was a charge ($0.50 I think). When I balked at paying for what I thought should be a normal condiment with baked fish like ketchup is with fries, the waitress relented and said she wouldn't charge me. I ordered the Irish Mashed Potatoes which the waitress described as homemade mashed potatoes with onion, cream and cabbage. The potatoes were actually orange colored on my plate, cold and greasy. There were no detectable traces of cabbage, onion, or cream to be found. I wondered if the orange color was from cheese so I asked the waitress who checked with the cook. Apparently, the mashed potatoes didn't have any cheese, onions, or cabbage in them so it's anyone's guess why they were orange. All four of us tasted them and thought they were awful but the waitress made no offer to exchange them for a baker or fries. Clearly, the waitress didn't know the menu item and the kitchen shouldn't have sent them out to be served. In addition, our waitress seemed to spend more time watching the tube and chatting with other waitresses than she did waiting on the customers. Another $20 something tab plus tip for less than mediocre fare/service. My boyfriend and I won't return...... read more

Went for lunch. Place was pretty empty. Slow service and mediocre food. Had the rueben and hubby had the burger. They were okay but nothing spectacular. The fries were good though. The $25 I spent on lunch here would have been better spent somewhere else. read more

Servers are to busy talking with other servers and the cook..you get stared at by everyone in the bar as you walk in. The only thing they have going is Guinness on draft. Service is practically nonexistent. Forget playing the gaming machines here. I dont know how they are set but i promise you that you will NEVER win..i will avoid this place from here on out and been coming here for past 2 yrs..downhill and picking up serious speed read more

Overall experience was excellent. The food is above-average and you can't go wrong getting the special of the day. I had their tacos and tried all three types of variety chicken beef and Irish. And all above average. The atmosphere is more leaning towards a bar feel not a family feel. But then again it is Pub. read more

Avoid like the Plauge, been coming to this establishment bi weekly for about 3 months since I am in town for business and was close to hotel. POOREST service I have ever seen, Waitresses are always new and never know any thing about what they are serving. Can't describe what Beers are on Draft and was offered a sample first few times in to make shure I would be satisfied with my Drink of choice. But my last visit in was the worst; a dish that kept me coming back was the drunken osters they must have changed cooks too as this was the worst dish I have ever been served. Supossed to be served Near boiling hot but was ice cold and the flavor was off as if they did not clean claims and then over pepered to cover bad taste. Instead of a sample to confirm my beer (on draft) I was harshly told off by Bar keep? owner? waitress had them come over and harrase me and my dinner guest. they stated "mcdonalds doesn't give free drink samples and neither do we" Wich is not entirly true since many McDonalds would provide drink samples to those who are unfamiliar to the drinks, pluse hot fresh food and much better service. I am only one person but I am one person who will not be eating there again and I advise you to spend your money some place else. read more

I have lived in Rockford my whole life and have never been treated the way I was the other night at any bar in town. As I was walking into the establishment, a bouncer asked me to step aside. He said he couldn't let me in because of my Old Navy jeans were to baggy. I weigh 280 pounds and have a big build, so the jeans I purchase are loose-fit Old Navy jeans. They are not baggy-- but they are no nut huggers. I am sure my baggy jeans, brown tweed jacket and short beard was just too much for the bouncer to handle, especially since his gauges in his ears, made them "too baggy." If you want to hang out with dooches, go to this bar. By the way, the bar claims to be "Irish pub". Let me tell you, I am Irish, and that place is nothing like an Irish pub. I had to give it one star, but otherwise I would have given none. read more

I was excited to see what Murphy's had to offer set aside from the rest. I wasn't impressed. The waitresses were crowded and sitting around the entrance the whole time we were there. As another review pointed out, after our drinks were ordered, the service went downhill. Our waitress wasn't very knowledgeable or conversational. We ordered shots of Hennessey, which turned out to be $12 PER SHOT! The waitress checked on us every five minutes, then would disappear when we needed something. My group went out to the patio and more waitresses were just sitting around. Our waitress checked on us even more freguently, making us feel that we were suspicious of something. The chicken wings were over cooked and had barely any meat inside. The dipping sauce was runny. We asked for extra napkins and never got them. The waitress did a poor job all around. Come time we were ready to leave, we had finished eating and our drinks empty for at least 10-15 minutes and we had to ask for the bill. This is when we realize our shots cost $12 a piece. We had our check split for each couple and what they ordered. She had the tickets all messed up and had to fix them. We asked if she could split a particular item and she wasn't sure how to or knowledgeable on how to. We let her know it would have been nice to know that the shots were so expensive and she replied with "I don't know how much shots cost and that's why I don't drink at work! But there is a guy that comes in and orders Hennessey on the rocks and that drink cost $26." She doesn't apologize. We were a little confused. How do you know that but don't know how much each shot costs? Anyway, she takes our payments and comes back with nothing to say. Not a thanks or have a good day! The other couple paid cash, the waitress comes back and couldn't remember how much change to give them. She pulled the money out of her bra! She runs away and comes back and pretty much throws the money at them. She didn't give him his exact change, she kept the loose change. Probably because she didn't have pockets?!? As they realize they got jipped, our waitress went M.I.A. Needless to say, that was her tip from both parties. I would never go there again! read more

I recently became employed at an office complex near Murphy's and decided to stop in because it was close to the office, and the sign out front said that their Tuesday lunch special was half price burgers. I'm always up for a bargain!! I walked in and sat at the bar. I didn't have to fight for a spot because there only eight people in the place....at noon on a Tuesday. I ordered my soda and out of curiosity, took a look at the menu. It was your standard bar fare with an Irish twist, so I stuck with the special. It took the waitress awhile to get back to me too take my order. When the food arrived, it was actually very good. The burger was hot, juicy not greasy, and done just the way that I had ordered it. The only thing I can say anything negative about is the service. I don't have a problem with the kilts like some other women might, but seeing as I was on my lunch break, it would be nice if I didn't have to ask for or wait for the check. I was clearly dressed in my office attire. I was there by myself, so it would have been nice if my waitress would have made some small talk (the weather, the news or how I was doing). I'm a female...sitting at the bar on my lunch break....by myself....but I don't want to feel like one....ya know? I left her a dollar tip. It would have been more if she would have tried to make me feel more, I dont know...at home. It wasn't like she was busy. Overall, the food was good, the place was clean (and didn't smell like a bar or a grease trap) and the bathrooms were clean. And you certainly don't have to fight for a parking spot or a place at the bar, which is a shame because the food is really good. read more

Waitress was nice but slow. Had asked for our appetizer before the meal. It was before, but only by about 2 minutes and they were barely warm so they had been sitting for a while. My wife and I ordered the Jacketed Potatoes. Mine said it was supposed to be broccoli and bacon but I had 4 small florets and a few crumbs of bacon. Summed up, there are too many other options in town to try this more than once. read more

I'm honestly not a big fan of this place. It's a decent bar, but for some reason, every male employee I've had contact with, whether it was in person or over the phone, has been a confrontational piece of shit. My friends have also had issues, notably with the guy running their pool tournaments trying to make up rules as he goes along. I avoid this bar as much as possible. read more

AWFUL. all 21 year kids that know nothing and do nothing. To expensive drink prices and I was doubled charged. I will never go again. just AWFUL, read more

I am a professional Black man in my forties and residing temporarily in Rockford, IL. I have gone to Murphy's Irish Pub numerous times. Not because of the food because it is horrible. I go because there is a lot of parking and always a place to sit and enjoy a beverage. I went there to have cocktails on Saturday March 24th. The owner mouthed something to the bouncer as I walked up. The bouncer asked for my ID. I gave it to him. He looked at it then without looking at me said, I cannot let you in. I asked why. He said, your shirt is too big. My shirt is a $60.00 shirt I bought at Buckle which hugs my body for the most part. I believe they were turning Black people away last night. I will not go back and I will tell everyone I know why they should not go either. This is blatant racism and profiling. I experienced it at Murphy's Irish Pub in Rockford. not by an employee but by the owner. read more

Went to this bar to simply have a good time, on the date 08-13-2017. At about 1-1:30 a.m. i arrived to the bar which i have been to a few times prior. Upon arriving i noticed a large crowd in the parking lot. I went up to a group of people to ask what was going on and was told they werent allowing anyone in for some reason. After talking with people in the parking lot me and my 2 friends attempted to enter the bar. I was told by one of the bouncers that they werent letting anyone in because they were "closed" after speaking with them for a few minutes telling them i knew they didnt close til later i observed 2 people walking past them into the bar (they tried to say something to them but they did not catch them in time and they got in) After that the bouncers did not follow them so i asked why they were allowed in. I was shown nothing but disrespect after that and still told i could not enter even though i knew they were still open for another 30 minutes to an hour. I started running my mouth because i had consumed a can of beer before my friends took me to the bar with them. After arguing with the bouncers for a few minutes and telling them they were all talk and wouldnt do anything they proceeded to come out to where i was in the parking lot and assault me. It was 4-7 of them and i allowed them to come to me in the parking lot and "try to jump me" i got ready to defend myself and was knocked to the ground where they proceeded to attack me (i was punched, kicked, and stomped on, on the ground.) Immediatly afterwards my friends wanted to leave because the police had been called, they were my only ride so i went with them. I havent had the best experience with the law so calling the police to report the crime at the time wasnt something i thought about. I did not drive there so when my friends were ready to leave because the police were there, i had no choice but to leave. After a few hours thinking about the injustice that was done to me i decided I am going to take legal action and report this crime which happened about 4 hours and 40 minutes ago. Do not go here they treated me like crap over things that happened prior to me coming into the bar and then on top of that assualted me for speaking my mind. As employees of Murphy's pub and grill i didnt expect they would assualt me in the parking lot for speaking my mind about them not allowing me in after i came 30 minutes away to relax and have a drink there. I am currently contacting attorneys and the police department to report the assault that happened merely hours ago. I will be following up with this and im hoping there were cameras pointed towards the parking lot or that someone has video evidence of what happened to me. This place is terrible DO NOT GO HERE BECAUSE YOU COULD BE ASSAULTED BY THE EMPLOYEES (bouncers) that work there. I will be getting a lawyer and sueing this bar for the injustice done to me. I would encourage anyone that might have video proof, or might have witnessed this, to come forward and speak with law enforcement in my defense if they havent already. If anyone was there please contact Rockford police department so this doesnt happen to some other U.S. citizen. My name is Jordan Meinert, and my telephone number is 815-297-5860 if anyone witnessed this i urge you to come forward in my defense. read more

If you are black please don't go here if looking forward to getting any type of buzz. All I hear is bad things about this place toward blacks. A group of ladies and myself went there to celebrate. I had two shots and three drinks and didn't even get a buzz. After all this drinking I was so sober I could have been the designated driver. If you're black and don't drink this is the place for you. You can come bring your kids and drink all night,because you will be served virgin drinks that taste like alcohol. Didn't want to give any stars but had to give at least a one read more

Went here a few times this year and all my experiences were great! I love the atmosphere, it's definitely great for a drink after work or party with friends. I went here for my Bachelorette party and all my friends had a great time! Will definitely be coming again! read more

love the place came on a sunday to see a show got the corn beef it was real good. the waitress was great and I was surprised beer prices didn't go up when the show is on and had a lot of waitress walking around to get a drink.i would go there for a show again or if im ever in Rockford this will be the meeting place. read more

What a total disaster for St. Patrick's Day. We were subjected to a guy smoking right by the DJ in a very crowed bar. Others were smoking inside as well. Our clothes reeked of smoke, our food also had. The smell in it. We were there for about 4 hours! We really don't know today why we stayed that long. Must have been the beer, and the company. The music was so loud. The only good music was fromZOK, the Irish Pipe bag band, and the young Irish dancers. My friend was overcharged for his drinks when it was clearly posted one price. He asked to talk to the owner which took awhile, who yelled at my friend because the price was from yesterday. ( clearly their mistake). He was very vulgar, continued to scream in a threatening manner , and threw two dollars at him to cover one of the drinks. Too top it off he had lifted his skirt earlier in the night with only a thong underneath. That was enough to vomit! They. WILL NEVER get our business again! read more