Matt Murphys

This Brookline Village pub has consistently bucked conventional wisdom by proving that "Irish cuisine" is not an oxymoron. Spicy pork sandwiches and divine French fries (with homemade anise-tinged ketchup) are some of the unexpected twists. The traditional is also nicely represented: extraordinarily flavorful beef stew, and fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. The authentic country-pub atmosphere includes mismatched wooden tables, perfectly out-of-place British dance music, and the sardonic publican behind the love-worn bar. Of course, the real test of any Irish pub is the Guinness. And Matt Murphy's passes with flying green and orange colors.