By Catherine Twing, Contributing Writer
Photo/Catherine Twing
Marlborough – As Marlborough’s downtown food scene continues to grow, few places match the entertainment and value patrons will find at Funky Murphys.
Opened in 2014 by owner Dessie McKane, Funky Murphys Marlboro, McKane’s second location, offers food, popular weeknight and weekend specials, drinks, live music and more.
“It’s a good value. Good food, good drinks, good entertainment, all for a good price,” McKane said.
After being open in Worcester for a few years McKane recognized an opportunity for a second location.
“We felt there was a market in Marlborough for what we provide,” he said. The Marlborough location offers nearly the same menu and weekly specials as the Worcester location.
The unique name, “Funky Murphys” reflects the mix of modern and traditional elements of an Irish bar, from decor to menu which are found when you walk through the doors. .
Their website describes the menu as a “fusion of new and old,” calling themselves “a new era for the Irish Bar and Grille.”
They offer everything you’d expect from an Irish pub with fish and chips, Shepard’s pie and Guinness on tap, along with American favorites like burgers, pizza and chicken wings – served for just 10 cents a wing on Sundays.
One of their more unique weekly specials is $9.99 Mondays where every item on the menu is $9.99 or less. If you miss out on Monday’s deal, Tuesday is $9.99 Prime Rib and Friday is $9.99 Fish and Chips.
Other specials include a Wednesday $5 build your own burger and a Thursday $5 build your own pizza.
The Sunday breakfast buffet is popular, offering a bloody Mary bar and hot and cold breakfast items. The breakfast buffet is also offered at the original Funky Murphys location in Worcester.
During the warmer months, customers can enjoy open air dining on the patio with views of Marlborough’s Union Common and the John Brown Bell.
Beyond the food and drink, something that sets Funky Murphys apart from neighboring restaurants is the almost nightly entertainment, and their late hours, open until 2 a.m. every night of the week.
Tuesdays are trivia night, Wednesdays and Thursdays boast live acoustic sets, on Fridays there is a DJ and on Sundays patrons can perform karaoke.
Funky Murphys also screens MLB, NFL, Gaelic Football, and pay per view UFC fights on their nine, 60” television screens and 135” projector screen.
The UFC fights draw a particularly large crowd as not many places in the area screen the events.
“There was a demand in the area, and people were asking,” McKane said of the screenings which he began offering a few years ago.
You can visit Funky Murphys seven days a week at 31 Main St. in Marlborough and check out their menu at funkymurphys.com/marlboro.
