Joe Jr. and Jimmy McGrath grew up around the bar and restaurant industry. Now they are happily engulfed in it.
The brothers have owned and operated McGrath's Pub & Eatery in Dalton since taking it over two-and-a-half years ago.
The pub was established on Main Avenue in West Scranton in 1997 by the brothers' parents, Joe and Paula McGrath. The couple expanded the business in 2000 by adding the Dalton location. Eventually they sold the West Scranton site to focus on the new establishment full time.
Since taking over the reins, co-owner Joe McGrath Jr. said, he and his brother have prided themselves on serving delicious bar food in a great atmosphere.
"We serve bar food, but we also offer a lot of food that most bars wouldn't have," Mr. McGrath said.
For instance, every Thursday, customers are offered New York strip steaks and clams, paired with beer specials. That night is "always packed" according to Mr. McGrath.
Other specials include the popular wing night on Mondays, when the eatery offers 40-cent chicken wings, including its special "better than sex" wings.
Perhaps the most unique special runs every Friday at happy hour when, from 5 to 7 p.m., the eatery offers a free buffet with a rotating menu.
The buffet isn't the only weekend draw, however.
Thursdays through Saturdays, McGrath's features live music by local bands, resulting in big crowds. Bands take to the stage in a corner of the dining room, leaving lots of space for customers to listen and enjoy.
The everyday menu at McGrath's offers pizza, wings, hot and cold hoagies, sandwiches, a variety of appetizers, soups and salads, plus all the various daily specials.
McGrath's somewhat out-of-the-way location in Dalton doesn't seem to limit customers. In fact, the opposite seems to be true.
"It's off the beaten path, but we always get great crowds," said Mr. McGrath, attributing this popularity in part to the fact that there isn't an abundance of bars in the Abingtons.
The eatery is open seven days a week, and the kitchen is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 p.m. on Sunday. The bar stays open each night until 2 a.m.
The brothers put in long hours, so it helps that it's a great place to work, Mr. McGrath said.
"You love coming to work. You love meeting everybody and seeing all the people. You make a lot of friends this way," he said. "If I'm not at work, I feel like I'm missing something."
The food, and atmosphere, paired with the bar's six large flat screen televisions, make McGrath's a destination for sports fans to watch their favorite teams. This can lead to some friendly rivalries and good-natured ribbing, Mr. McGrath said.
"We're a big Yankee bar, and we have a lot of Boston fans, so when it gets down to Boston-Yankees, it's hard to get a seat in here. A lot of busting chops going on," said Mr. McGrath, who hopes to add an outdoor patio to the business at some point.
All in all, Mr. McGrath said, McGrath's is the perfect place to get a good bite to eat, and have a good time, for a reasonable price.
"We have great food, great specials. We always have great bands, and it's always busy," he said. "You should try it out sometime."
Contact the writer: knoone@timesshamrock.com
McGrath's Pub & Eatery
Address: 112 E. Main St., Dalton
Phone: 563-2668
Owners: Joe Jr. and Jimmy McGrath
Established: 2000
Cuisine: American/ Bar food
Prices: $2.50-$13.50
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 to 2 a.m. Kitchen open until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and until 8 p.m. on Sunday.
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