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The Ladies Who Lunch Review The Henry McCarty Irish Pub
One of the most-asked questions in the Tanglewood Moms group on Facebook is, “Where’s a good place to go to lunch?”
Enter The Ladies Who Lunch.
We review restaurants that serve (you guessed it) lunch. Please note, The Ladies are not professional food reviewers but are enthusiastic eaters and day drinkers who enjoy each other’s company over a good meal. We have extremely rigorous criteria for choosing restaurants to review:
- The restaurant must have either a full bar or a very good wine list. (The Ladies do enjoy a cocktail or cheeky glass of wine with their meals.)
- Lunch and drink specials are a nice bonus but are not necessary.
- The Ladies like new restaurants, but we also return to old favorites and seek out hidden gems and hole-in-the-wall spots. We are fairly catholic in our tastes, loving everything from a great burger or a big ol’ plate of enchiladas to foie gras and caviar.
- The Ladies try to always go local, and if they can find a women-owned restaurant, they give themselves an extra pat on the back.
And now, The Ladies Who Lunch review The Henry McCarty Irish Pub!
Lady the First: The Ladies were in the mood for something a little different this time – an Irish pub. Henry McCarty occupies the former Cork and Pig location off West 7th – a spot I still miss. The space appears largely unchanged and remains a beautiful setting with a beautiful bar area and nice atmosphere.
The first order of business, as per usual, was ordering dirty martinis. They were top-notch!
For a starter, we couldn’t resist trying an offering called What the Duck! These duck wings were outstanding – perfectly crispy and glazed with the most delicious, sweet yet slightly spicy marmalade glaze. Our only suggestion is that they need to be served with a side of wet naps.
I ordered the shepherd’s pie for my entrée. The presentation was impressive, and the side salad was generous and tasty. The hearty mixture of lamb, beef, carrots, and onions was rich, while mashed potatoes were beautifully piped on top of the mixture and browned to create a crispy crust.
This was certainly not a light lunch, and I was full for the rest of the day. Henry McCarty is a fun spot that I would definitely revisit. The rest of the menu looks great, but I would have a hard time diverting from these wings and pie!
Lady the Second: The Henry McCarty Irish Pub claims that they are where “the bold taste of traditional Irish cuisine and the spirit of community come together in the heart of Fort Worth, TX.” (Fun fact: Henry McCarty was the birth name of Billy the Kid, who, legend has it, may have visited the Stockyards while he was on the run from the law. Possibly. Perhaps.) The menu features an interesting fusion of Irish and American cuisines with items like fish tacos, Irish nachos (kettle potato chips with a Guiness cheese sauce, pico de gallo, and sour cream), a Monte Cristo, and a traditional Irish breakfast.
After ordering dirty martinis made with Hendrick’s gin (okay, so Hendrick’s is Scottish – sue us) that were not too dirty and perfectly chilled for a warm afternoon, we decided to take our server Sam’s advice and start with the What the Duck! duck wings. The duck was a more interesting meat than your usual chicken wings, and the sweet and spicy orange marmalade sauce was the perfect foil for the nicely-fried wings. As Lady the First says, our only complaint was that we needed wet wipes after we devoured them.
(Our server, Sam, was delightful. She’s a Libra. Be sure to ask for her when you go.)
For my main, I ordered the Spice Bag, a lunch time special. “What is a Spice Bag?” I hear you ask. Originating in Chinese take-away shops all over Ireland, a spice bag is a combination of fries, fried chicken, peppers, and onions coated in spices and served in a brown paper bag. Henry McCarty serves their Spice Bag with a side of pub-style curry sauce.
The chicken was flavorful but scanty, and I could have used more spices and more fried onions. However, as I always want more fried onions, that isn’t necessarily a drawback for others. The curry sauce was flavorful yet mild, and of course, serving the food in a paper bag is a cute concept. Be warned: this is not a light meal. This is something that will stick to your ribs.
One thing to remember: this is a pub, so there are lots of televisions, and they play the music at a level only slightly lower than a demolition crew. However, the playlist was a delightful mix of Irish musicians and bands.
The Henry McCarty Irish Pub is, as Lady the First mentioned, on Artisan Circle, which is notorious for poor parking, but fear not! Your server will happily validate your parking so that you can avoid paying through the nose.
The Henry McCarty Irish Pub: 3.5 Martinis out of 5
2869 Crockett Street
Kitchen Hours
Monday through Wednesday: 11 am to 11 pm
Thursday and Friday: 11 am to 1 am
Saturday: 10 am to 1 am
Sunday: 10 am to 11 pm
Bar Hours
Monday through Wednesday: 11 am to 12 am
Thursday and Friday: 11 am to 2 am
Saturday: 10 am to 2 am
Sunday: 10 am to 12 am
