McSwiggan’s Irish Pub is Decidedly “Bawwston”, That’s Just How They (Lobster) Roll

McSwiggan’s Irish Pub is Decidedly “Bawwston”, That’s Just How They (Lobster) Roll

I got some feedback the other day from an expatriate New England Patriot fan. After reading my Rugby House review here on the Squawker, she suggested I stop by McSwiggan’s for the lobster roll.

Now I have to be honest here, I am a bit of a fish snob. Dallas is not exactly known for its fish, but more for its beef, for obvious reasons. It’s like that old adage, “Ya don’t order steak at a chicken shack, or fish at a steakhouse.” Why? You’ll usually end up disappointed.

Now this transplanted, aforementioned Yankee is from the Boston area, and she too knows her way around a bowl of ‘chowdah’, so I headed over to Austin Ranch to see for myself. Austin Ranch – a medium density, upscale residential area west of the Tollway on Windhaven – is, for all intents and purposes, in The Colony / West Plano. When the footprint for the development went in, the entire area was riding the “Tech Boom” and real estate was burning hot. By the time the concrete had cured, the bubble had burst and Austin Ranch was an odd development quite literally in the middle of nowhere. Many of the initial ground floor retail sites fizzled, but today long time anchors of Zen Bar and Lounge and Geko, across the street, are about to be joined by a number of new nightlife spots. The tiny 1800 square foot Irish-American Pub, next door to Zen, is in a long shuttered Daily Grind Coffee House. It’s been vacant for a couple of years but has now been reconfigured into a Boston centric, Irish American tavern, McSwiggan’s.

Upon opening, McSwiggan’s made a conscious decision to become a non-smoking pub right from the get go. The main reason for this is the existence of real Irish relics amongst the fairly typical bar décor. Relics like old oak church pews imported from Europe and doors from the old Powers Distillery from Dublin, Ireland boasting vintage, stained glass windows. The small space is cozy and snug like many Irish taverns in New England and once inside, you might think you’ve just stumbled into a spot in Boston’s Back Bay area. The walls are full of sports memorabilia centered on the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox and for some unexplained reason, an autographed picture of Quincy Carter.

McSwiggan’s has become the place to watch Pats games for dozens of transplanted New Englander’s in North Dallas. As Jill pointed out, the lobster roll is really quite good, as good as any I have had in Texas, and combining it with a very nice bowl of chowder makes a great combination. Inside the tiny kitchen they prepare the lobster roll with a creamy sauce and diced celery and dill. Most places around here are way too heavy with the mayo, but McSwiggan’s has the right balance that gives the New England authentic taste just the right bite. The menu even calls the Chowder “Chowdah” and is also a faithful clam based creamy blending of diced potato and needs just a splash of pepper to add for taste. Keeping with the Boston theme, the pub also offers some brews that will keep their transplanted customers happy. Magic Hat #9, Harpoon and a bottled brew called UFO are joined by an excellent group of local taps. Offering many choices instead of just the run-of-the-mill Coors and Miller allows the bar to give its patrons a chance to try something new from over forty choices to go with the food they remember from home.

For this trip I might suggest leaving the Dallas Cowboys stuff at home. This is the kind of place where Tom Brady’s arm is revered and you might find someone who sounds a little like Peter Griffin from Family Guy. Funny thing is, I ran into Jill the other night and told her I had stopped by to have the lobster roll. Her response? “I just had one today.”