C.F. McCarthy’s
This may LOOK like a typical Irish pub. The name SOUNDS like a typical Irish pub. But it’s much more than just any Irish pub.
“We try and make innovative dishes, not just you know, typical Irish Pub fare. And…we focus on the details. We focus on fresh ingredients.”
And you’re sure to feel lucky, when you’re at CF McCarthys
Located in Canton, Massachusetts, C.F. McCarthy’s the type of place you’d want to have in your own neighborhood, with friendly faces, a warm cozy atmosphere, charming décor, and a fun bar at the center of it all.
“You'll feel like family when you walk through the door, and you won't leave disappointed. The food ,we really put a lot of effort into. We take our time trying to make sure we get everything right.”
The place is a dream come true for owners, Steve Carey and Gilmar Cassiano. The two met while bartending in Boston with Steve’s cousin, the late, great Chris McCarthy- for whom the restaurant is named. And while they joked about opening a place back in the day after Chris’s passing, they knew they had to follow through.
“That was our plan. That was a joke back then. But today, it's a reality. And obviously, it's me and Steve was not just me and see as the three of us. It’s me, Chris and Steve.”
The menu offers things that you wouldn’t find in your ordinary pub. With options like stick to your ribs poutine featuring hand cut French fries with a rich gravy, gooey cheese curds, and lots and lots of short ribs.
“It's been a staple and a hit since we put it on the menu. It's something that when you come in on a Sunday and want to watch football. It’s the perfect way to start off.”
There are light bites like the Ahi Tuna Bombs- presented over cucumbers. Or you could share a CF Mac pizza. This crispy pie is mouth watering, loaded up with slow braised short rib, poblano peppers, and caramelized onions.
“With a little bit of heat from the poblano peppers and then the sweetness from the caramelized onions, and then the flavor from the short rib is just great combination. You gotta try the CFMac pizza.”
CF McCarthy’s also offers a long list of tasty sandwiches like the wildly popular Short Rib Grilled Cheese, a sandwich that is absolutely addictive.
“I've been told by a lot of people over the years. It took me 10 visits to try something different. I just kept getting short rib grilled cheese, short rib grilled cheese. It's melty, gooey cheese goodness with the short rib flavor. It’s definitely something that we love and our customers love.”
And for some Italian eats in an Irish looking spot, try the Meatball Ficelle. A sub with meatballs, just like nonnas.
“One of the people that works here. His mom's Italian from the Bronx. And he said that wow, this tastes like when I was when I was growing up.”
If your need for Italian has you craving pasta, try their Braised Short Rib Gnocchi.
“We start with really good short rib and we cook it overnight. And it's just fall apart goodness bursting with flavor. And then when you add the brown sauce over gnocchi its a winner. There are larger plates like this Herb Roasted Chicken, seasoned with fresh rosemary and thyme served with potatoes and veg. And fish and chips, this Irish owner’s personal fave.
“I am a fish and chips connoisseur. And I love it. I wish I could eat it every day. We use two different batters that go into it. And we use fresh haddock.
It takes up the whole plate.”
While most Irish pubs are known for their rather hearty fare, CJ McCarthy’s offers a variety of bowls that are healthy AND tasty.
“The bowls have been an absolutely massive hit for us. The Mediterranean bowl is healthy and delicious. The Korean chicken bowl is fantastic. I never get it and don't want to eat every single last grain of rice. That's how good the flavor is.”
And while a wedge technically qualifies as a salad, this one eats more like a meal because it’s topped with Brazilian style sirloin called ‘picanha’ something Gilmar grew up on.
“The picanha is very famous in Brazil and it is the traditional Brazilian way, how we marinade so it's flavorful. It's tender and I love it.”
“It's just a sirloin cap grilled with just sea salt. We do the traditional wedge salad with blue cheese crumbles, bleu cheese dressing bacon, tomatoes, and then we have the picanha. People try it. They're shocked how good it is.”
And when it comes to dessert, customers are also surprised to find Tres Leches on the menu.
“Sticking with our tradition of doing stuff that's not typical for Irish pubs. The tres leches, We started with on our menu when we opened and it's not going anywhere because people absolutely love it.”
And for these two owners, a fantasy has become one delicious reality at CF McCarthy’s.
“Our dream has certainly come true. We opened less than a year before the pandemic and we just kept grinding and with the help of the our staff, we just kept getting better.”
