Mollie’s Public House

I was in the area of North Riverside Mall looking at Unilocal in my phone for a suggestion that was different than the usual fare which I’ve already been to, and was lead to this hidden away place that turned out to be terrific, super and wonderful. The menu is not big, but my friend and I both had what we agreed were the best burgers in the world. I also thought the onion rings were fantastic. The owner told me they cut the onions and make their own beer batter right there. They tasted great — sort of like hot donuts! Even the diet pop, which is hit-​or-​miss at restaurants, was really tasty here. I got to meet the owner and talked with him a while, which made the experience even more special. I am looking forward to going back there very soon!

This place is adorable! We were at zoo and looked on Unilocal and got good reviews so we decided why not. It really is a hidden little gem. The burgers were awesome and staff were all so nice. The only thing missing is a little Irish band. I would and will definitely recommend.

What a hidden gem!!! First and foremost, I absolutely loved this place, wow! My boyfriend and I came across Mollie’s Public House randomly. We were on the way to the mall and decided to seek some help from Unilocal for lunch and Mollie’s just so happen to be the first thing that caught my boyfriend’s eye. Thank you Unilocal for being oh so right!!!
My boyfriend is Irish, born and raised in Belfast. That said, any chance we have to support a business with an Irish background is always such a pleasure. We live nowhere near Mollie’s and this was a chance we were so thrilled to have followed through. The first thing I noticed when we arrived at our destination was that the location is literally a hidden gem. They’ve got a serious case of «Don’t judge a book by it’s cover»!
We arrived just a little passed the lunch hour on a Tuesday. Mollie’s appeared to be a little slow, serving two other tables and that didn’t stop us from seating ourselves. The atmosphere was a little dark, warm, and genuinely welcoming! It was quiet, with soft music in the background, perfect way to enjoy the atmosphere and the company of my boyfriend. The bartender/​waitress/​server (1 woman) at the time was so nice and cheerful, she was very attentive to us and the other tables. It didn’t take long for her to take our drink orders and deliver, it took us an extra minute to order food as I really wanted to get a gauge of what they have to offer. What a variety of choices, I wished I could order everything and have a feast!
Being a vegetarian and my boyfriend being a 100% carnivore we often butt heads when it comes to finding a place that makes us both happy. Mollie’s menu is pretty amazing! More than enough options for me and even more options to satisfy my boyfriend! I went with the Portobello Sandwich and my boyfriend decided on a standard Burger. We didn’t wait long for our food to come out and when it did we were so ready to dig in!
My sandwich packed a huge punch of flavor, it was amazing! Fresh ingredients, flavorful sauces, dripping of amazingness! Wow! I couldn’t resist, I couldn’t help myself, I was no longer a lady — the sandwich was so good and I was such a mess! Just how I like it! My side salad was just as fresh and flavorful! my french fries were even better! I crossed the «I’m so full» mark the minute I finished my sandwich, I definitely had to She-​Hulk the hell out of my salad and fries and I came out victorious!!! My boyfriend’s meal, to say the least, he loved it!
Overall, if you are looking for a Pub that packs a unique punch, Mollie’s is definitely a «Taste for yourself» and you won’t be disappointed kind of place. I highly recommend this place for it’s drinks and most importantly their food! I will definitely be back and I will be taking others with me! I am totally inclined to visit in the evening, dinner hour, stay tuned!

This past Saturday we had our Salons Holiday Party here. Let me just tell you it was a great time! Food was amazing and the Bartenders did a great job making sure everyone always had a cocktail and were there if we needed anything. They even went the extra step to set up a couple of seats outside for the guys who wanted to have a cigar. I’ve gone here myself plenty of times for dinner and drinks and always had a great experience. Thank you everyone at Mollys for a great Holiday Party along with amazing food and drinks. See you again soon!

Food here is excellent. All of it seems fresh. I tried the apple and brie cheese with pita bread and it is so good. We have also tried the hot pretzel and it too is wonderful and freshly baked. Also tried the chicken tenders, which I was worried would be the frozen kind or for kids, but they were clearly made in house and were battered similar to fish and chips. They were excellent too! I’ve also tried the curry dish, and it is wonderful and similar to Indian food. The burgers are good, and the fries are obviously hand cut. This place has top notch food and very reasonable prices (most items under $ 10 I believe). Drinks are a little pricey, and the beer selection is definitely no craft beer bar, but if you go for the food you will not be disappointed.
It is a small bar though, and the lighting is kind of weird, but that’s because the building is over 100 years old and so the lighting and electrical in this place must be a nightmare (so can’t fault the business owners for that). Yeah the service is a little slow but it’s always the same two guys here and it’s a small town. Just enjoy the food, the historic building, a drink with good friends, and stop complaining! :)

My gf and I have been coming here for a few years now and this place never fails. The corned beef sandwiches are always amazing. Tonight we got the Marleigh’s Mass burger (no egg, add grilled onions) and it was possibly the best burger I’ve ever had. The bartender is always very welcoming and service is fantastic. It’s a cozy place and a hidden gem!

First time here at Mollie’s. We called and picked up our order. I got the corned beef sandwich and my husband ordered the roast beef and cheddar. We split them and all we can say is WOW! melt in your mouth delicious! Definitely see ourselves returning for some brew and that Gouda Burger!

Wonderful outdoor seating and great food!

I’m very lucky to have this place within an easy walk. I try to patronize it every chance I get. I love the chicken curry although I’m not sure how Irish it is. Good honest folks with good honest food.

I almost missed the place. Thank goodness for Google Maps. I am glad that I didn’t. As I walked in, the first thing I noticed was the very country aire to the décor. A very comfortable, lived in feel, authentic in execution, but not garish. A Shrimp Cocktail that had huge shrimp and a great sauce got me ready for what was to come. Shepherds Pie was my main course choice, and I could not have chosen better. Like Arnold said, «I’ll be back!»

Mollie’s definitely deserves a review update! Mollie’s has been a wonderful go-​to for me over the last few years. It’s the perfect place to walk to for a quality lunch, dinner, or drink. The service has been consistently fantastic and I’m especially partial to the amazing portobello mushroom burger! Even though it’s a traditional Irish pub, there are still some great vegetarian/​pescetarian friendly foods, which I greatly appreciate. I’ve brought people from out of town here and they’ve also enjoyed it.
When I first dined here, I was a little put off by the (relatively) high prices because, I told myself, «This isn’t Chicago!» However, I do feel the prices are fair for the quality and quantity of food received. The atmosphere is really cool, also, because it’s dimly lit like a bar, but it also has interesting décor on the walls, plenty of great food, and it’s open for all ages!

I’ve been here a handful of times now and I’ve never been disappointed. My girlfriend lives nearby, so Mollie’s was an easy choice for dinner. I ordered the chicken pot pie and a Guinness. They pour a great Guinness here, which I totally appreciated. Our food came out pretty quickly, which I also appreciated because I was very hungry. I really enjoyed the chicken pot pie and also thought it was very visually appealing.
I also chose to watch the final Blackhawks game before they won the Stanley Cup (the most recent 2015 win!) and the atmosphere was just fantastic! There were fans of all ages cheering on the Hawks. It was the ideal situation for watching a high stakes sports game. We watched from the big projector screen on the wall, but there were also two big flat-​screen TVs from which to choose. Score! The service was really great, too. Our server made several rounds during the game to check in on us and to see if we wanted to order anything else. They have a pretty good selection of drinks, too.
I will absolutely be back here to try more of the menu. I’ve never been to Ireland, but I feel like I have given the cozy pub authentic vibe Mollie’s gives off. What a great addition to the dining scene in Riverside!

The fam and I went to Brookfield zoo for a few hours (we’re members) can went to find a restaurant close by for lunch. We ran into some good reviews for Mollie’s Public House and decided to stop by. I was a little skeptical when we walked in because we were the only ones there, but than hubby had to remind me that it was a Monday… for lunch… and people work: P (we’re teachers). We were greeted by Brian, who turned out to be the pub owner. The menu is pretty simple, a few staple Irish items, but nothing too crazy. What really impressed me about this place was Brian! We came with the kiddo and completely catered to her! Since husband and I were pretty indecisive about what we wanted he offered to put in her meal first since shew as being your average impatient 3 year old. She ordered her staple mac and cheese, and when it came out, it was HUGE! No kid would go home hungry from here! The mac and cheese was even pretty scrumptious, with a side of apples. Honestly, they should put it (or some adult variation of it) on the menu! I would have probably ordered it for lunch :)
Husband decided to have the crab cake appetizer as a meal, and they were good as well. There were large chunks of crab and a good balance between the breading and the crab itself.
I had the Big Bad John, which is as big as it sounds! It’s a corned beef stuffed pork loin, wrapped in bacon and topped with cheese on a pretzel bun! It’s a meat eater’s sandwich, but cooked very well! It was juicy, with a light layer of creamy horseradish sauce inside the stuffing. It also comes with a side of cole slaw (delish!) and probably the best hand cut fries I’ve had. I do have to comment further on the fries because let’s start off with the fact that I HATE hand cut fries. Some people love them, and good for you, but I love the super crispy fries that you can hear when they crunch. When I saw that the came with hand cut fries, I was a little skeptical, but I figured husband and kiddo would eat them anyways so no big deal. I did ask them to be prepared extra crispy, in hopes that there would be a few pieces that we crunchy enough for me to enjoy. Color me suprised when my fries came out (still hand cut) but as crispy as some of the best fries I’ve had! Between husband and I we polished off both my sides, and I found more than enough crispy fries for my liking ;)
Oh…did I also mention that since kiddo finished her meal early, Brian came out with coloring books AND oreo cookies??? This is why I love going to mom and pop places… it’s the little things that make you really appreciate all that they do and the work they put in to make your experience worth their time and effort.

This place has the BEST chicken tenders I have ever had. Ask for all 3 sauces. They are cut and breaded and prepared to order which is what makes them so awesome! The pulled pork is also some of the best I have ever tasted. The burgers are amazing! They are meaty tasting and almost always cooked perfectly to order. Hand-​cut fries and a great beer selection. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because sometimes it is closed for a private party during lunch on the weekends, so you may want to call first. This place is at the top of our list for a burger and a beer.

You know that scene in Ratatouille in which the cranky old food critic starts picking at his plate of ratatouille at Gusteau’s, and he has this sudden flashback to his childhood, when his mother lovingly served him the same dish? And he is instantly transformed into a happy, benevolent being? Okay. So maybe not on the same level of ecstasy, but that’s the experience I had with the burgers here. When I was in college, the main campus bar had one redeeming quality: It had perfectly seasoned, expertly grilled burgers. All these years after, I had never eaten a burger that had quite that flavor. My levels of food sophistication have risen considerably since college, and it wasn’t like I was on the Holy Grail of Hamburger quest. But still…
I wasn’t expecting more than your basic pub food at Mollie’s and the service was kind of slow. Then the Gouda Burger arrived. Oh. My. I had a «Ratatouille» revelation. Flawless. Cooked just to the right temperature. Seasoned perfectly. Adorned with sauteed mushrooms, melted Gouda, fat tomatoes and fresh lettuce. For just a moment, I was 20 again, biting into that perfect sandwich in an otherwise dirty, smelly campus bar. Okayfine, I’m in love. As I’d noticed there was a curry dish on the menu, I also made a special request for some curry sauce to dip the generously cut fries. The sauce, prepared on-​site, was fabulous.
Oh yes, there’s a great beer selection, a congenial Irish pub atmosphere, and two of the managers are named Brian. So chances are, if you shout out, «Hey Brian, I’ll have me another Guinness,» you’ll get a fast response.
I’ll be back. A lot.

This is a nice small bar and restaurant with classic irish pub feel. It has an awesome wood bar and dark décor. The server wasn’t that great but he was friendly and got everything we requested eventually. Burgers are highly recommended. Friend got the pulled pork which she said was good but the bread got all soggy. Also highly recommend the BEER. They have both guinness and smithwicks, harp, sam addams, etc. Street parking was pretty easy. Looks like they have a nice patio for when the weather cooperates.

Love this place
Best things I enjoy here are the baked Brie which is served with roasted garlic and apple slices and pita
And my all time fave hummas platter which is by far amazing!!!
My kids are in love with their chicken tenders and fish and chips!!!

I’ll just come out and say this. This place has the best burger I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of burgers. The first time I came and had the Black and Blue burger. It was very good, the burger was cooked correctly, it wasn’t packed into a stiff hockey puck, the bun was well toasted and the toppings were great. A good solid burger.
However, the second trip I had what they call «Marleigh’s Mess». This creation is everything you need in a burger and a couple things you didn’t know you need. First off, the roasted red peppers. I thought they might be strange on a burger. They aren’t. They are amazing. The bacon? Perfectly crispy and plenty of it. The egg? Perfectly medium fried to leave some of that oozy goodness. How good was this burger? I didn’t speak the entire time I was eating it.
Aside from the burger love, this place is nicely located in Riverside with plenty of street parking. It has the feel of a cozy neighborhood pub and has some how managed to not adopt the pretentiousness of many places in Chicagoland. Very relaxed and enjoyable. Went with a group of 10 and with just my wife and had a great time. The baked brie is a good appetizer. The fries were well cooked. Good beer selection as well.

I decided to be adventurous and try the Guinness Lamb Burger, even tho my weekend consisted of copious amounts of barbecue food– still totally worth it! The lamb marinated with Guinness stout was savory, and the mint sauce on top was perfectly proportioned, not too overpowering, but you knew it was there. And again, those FRIES, mmmmm and the coleslaw had a bit of a hot kick to it. Fantastic overall.

Well, we were able to enjoy the patio seating, and I think that was a good thing, because the inside was very «pubby» feeling, almost claustrophobic. Indoor seating was mostly high top table seating. If that’s your thing, you will be most happy.
The menu was varied with a most delectable corned beef sandwich.
As long as I can eat outside, I’ll return, it was A-​OK.