Before looking at anything Murphy, let us start with Murphy’s Law – “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” The law has its origins dating back to 1866 when Mathematician Augustus De Morgan wrote on June 23, 1866, “The first experiment already illustrates a truth of the theory, well confirmed by practice, whatever can happen – will happen.” In later publications this “law” was termed “Murphy’s law,” as documented by Stephen Goranson of the American Dialect Society.
Fast forward to 1951 when Anne Roe gave a transcript of an interview with a Theoretical Physicist, “As for himself he realized that this was the inexorable working of the second law of the thermodynamics which stated Murphy’s law ‘If anything can go wrong it will’.”
The waitresses were always happy.
Having now understood the history behind the “law”, with great trepidation the Dining Out team set forth to Soi Khao Noi to find Murphy’s Pub. Now if the “law” was correct we would not be able to find the place, but this was not so. Murphy’s Pub was easily found 1.6 km along Soi Khao Noi from the Railway Road and opposite Soi 12. The “law” could be overcome.
The pub is easily recognizable with Murphy signs everywhere and several lashings of green paint, imported all the way from the emerald isle. Owned by a real life Murphy (Steve), his pub oozes an Irish ethos, with happy banter and the more than occasional Irish brogue.
The lighting is subdued, dark wood paneling is everywhere and there is a central oval bar. At one end is a pool table on which they play their own in-house competition, as well as being in the inter-bar pool league.
At the rear of the building are swimming pools for the use of families, and Steve M has designed his pub with the family market in mind. That being the case, we enlarged the Dining Out team to include two junior tasters for the evening.
The pool table for competitions.
The menu begins with assorted beers (it is a pub after all) with six locals (B. 55-70) and three draught (B. 65-100) and many ciders (B. 160). Still in the first pages, house wines are B. 80 a glass and a tempting bottle of Nadin Cabernet Sauvignon at B. 680 on the table.
And so to breakfast, and there are 10 of them (B. 75-195), followed by Daily Specials at B. 195, which are also on blackboards dotted around the walls.
Like most pubs, Murphy’s offers roasts on Sundays, with pork (B. 295), beef (B. 325), four meats (B. 350) and lamb (B. 375). Children under 12 are half price.
A large plate of cod and chips. (Photo by Marisa Corness)
From there, the menu takes you into Starters and Snacks ranging from garlic bread to salmon (B. 225).
Soups are B. 120, Sandwiches B. 125-135 and Wraps B. 130-170.
It doesn’t stop there. Melts are B. 130-170, jacket potatoes B. 120, burgers B. 235, Tex-Mex B. 130-360, pasta B. 235-260, “Pub Classics” include lamb shank B. 450 and cottage pie B. 235.
There are dedicated kids’ meals (B. 150) and then a couple of pages of Thai items.
With all those choices, we took our time in selection with Junior taster 1 going for the Massaman curry, Junior taster 2 the daily special of ham off the bone, and for myself it was cod and chips.
Junior tasters gave the evening the thumbs up, as did I. The cod batter was very new, the portion size was very large, and it was most enjoyable.
The best description of Murphy’s Pub is that it is a pub that in addition sells food, not a restaurant that sells beer. It has a very warm (Irish) ambience and everyone there that evening considered it to be their “local”. A good addition to the Dark Side (East Pattaya). Do try if you are out that way. We are sure you won’t be disappointed.
Murphy’s Pub, 136/54, Moo 10, Soi Khao Noi, (Pattaya Dark Side) 1.6 km from the railway bypass road, open seven days, hours 10.30 a.m. till late (but kitchen closes 9.45 p.m.) telephone 084 100 9016, on-street parking or 30 m down soi 12 opposite.
