McKennas>>>>Brown Street Pub

**Moonraker** · 11-26-2011, 10:32 PM

We had our second meal at the Brown Street Pub, formerly McKennas. The owner purchased it in September, which is a risky undertaking. Soups, salads and entrees are excellent. Soup is served hot and stays hot in those thick ceramic bowls. Drinks are just as reasonable as the meals. You'll need more than 2 to chow down the $6 Fries w/cheese, jalepenos, spinach etc. Fish and Chips, (and the crab cakes) are perfect, but ask for the malt vinegar. My recollection is the most expensive entree is $12 or $14.

BTW, the restaurant is in the far rear towards Bucknell, enter via the front or Ladies entrance.

**FMT** · 11-27-2011, 07:53 AM

Saw this change and also some food items advertised on a chalkboard outside. McKenna's used to be my go to spot for a cheap beer and to sit and watch a game. I hope that this aspect of it will not change.

**#1MetsFan** · 11-27-2011, 10:23 AM

You have to be kidding me. McKennas is what it is -- a place to get a cheap beer and score some drugs. McKennas is not and will never be a legit restaurant. The seating area is a joke. So is changing the name to Brown Street Pub.

**RonMcNasty** · 11-27-2011, 10:43 AM

Its not even that cheap anymore. No longer is it my go-to take out spot.

**Moonraker** · 11-27-2011, 08:35 PM

Greetings gang, all I suggest is to give the new owner and new chef a try or two.

Two visits, 6 people and we all gave it a thumbs up. Seemed to be a cut above the bar menu at Lucky 7.
Honestly, despite 327 years of Fairmount life between us, none of us ever recalled stepping into the place, while having been to the VFW, American Legion, Ukrainian club etc. The other First for us was to use a Ladies Entrance.

Seating for ~24, seems about as much as Bridget's first floor. First Saturday night saw 6 in the bar, second Saturday night saw 10 in the bar. Both times were were alone in the restaurant. Is $3 domestic and $6 foreign a change from before?

**phillysleuth** · 11-27-2011, 10:00 PM

Haven't eaten there but it looks nicer on the outside. Bright and inviting.

**#1MetsFan** · 11-27-2011, 11:19 PM

It looks exactly the same on the outside. What are you people smoking?

I live a few doors down from McKennas and I walk my dog by there several times a day. I have probably seen people in the "dining room" maybe twice since they removed the pool table. I'm guessing both times were moonraker.

**ndebergerac** · 11-28-2011, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by #1MetsFan

You have to be kidding me. McKennas is what it is -- a place to get a cheap beer and score some drugs. McKennas is not and will never be a legit restaurant. The seating area is a joke. So is changing the name to Brown Street Pub.

Yup.

**eldondre** · 11-28-2011, 08:37 AM

Mckennas never looked bad from the outside. there was no need to change the look of the place

**CityMaps** · 11-28-2011, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by #1MetsFan

McKennas is what it is -- a place to get a cheap beer and score some drugs.

I've been going for years and never got offered anything. I must really look like a NARC!

I think you're all overreacting. The change is cosmetic, and the food quality changes there all the time...up and down.

**#1MetsFan** · 11-28-2011, 11:25 AM

The drug dealing is not a myth. I assure you.

They have made two changes:

1. They added a "Brown Street Pub" sign.
2. They replaced the pool table with crappy tables and chairs.

Otherwise, the place is exactly the same as it has always been.

Like I said, I live a few doors down from McKennas. I would love for that place to be transformed into a nice, respectable establishment like others in the neighborhood. I just don't see it happening any time soon.

**CityMaps** · 11-28-2011, 12:40 PM

I know it is not...neither was the prostitution.

**#1MetsFan** · 11-28-2011, 01:42 PM

It's a classy place.

**RonMcNasty** · 11-28-2011, 03:06 PM

Some of you may not know that a cook from McKenna's was on Hell's Kitchen a few years back. She was only at mckennas for a short time, and she did not last long on the show. She was just terrible. She had dreadlocks and her name was Siobahn (or something like that).

**#1MetsFan** · 11-28-2011, 03:23 PM

**guzzijason** · 11-28-2011, 04:42 PM

I have to admit, I've never even been in there, but this thread has me intrigued. So, the O.P. indicated that the joint changed ownership in September. If that's the case, doesn't that mean there's a chance that the changes may end up being more than just cosmetic?

__Jason

**Big Irish** · 11-28-2011, 10:51 PM

The bar at 24th & Fairmount was called the 99 West before it was The Bishop's Collar. It was worse than Mckenna's ever was. It was hands down the worst bar in Fairmount. It took very little time for Jeff to turn that around so it can be done, and done quickly, if one has the will.

Get rid of the $1 & $2 beer, hire a bouncer, let the riff-raff know they're not wanted and you can turn that place around relatively quickly.

**CityMaps** · 11-28-2011, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by RonMcNasty

Some of you may not know that a cook from McKenna's was on Hell's Kitchen a few years back. She was only at mckennas for a short time, and she did not last long on the show. She was just terrible. She had dreadlocks and her name was Siobahn (or something like that).

Her tenure at McKenna's was a high point, though...although brief. There have been 78 cooks since then, of varying degrees of mediocrity, separated by dead periods without any food. I'm looking forward to seeing what the new owners do.

**RonMcNasty** · 11-29-2011, 09:14 AM

Can anyone actually confirm that there are new owners, and not some reincarnation/rebranding of old McKenna's? For example, are the bartenders new? Any redecorating? If new "owners" are really the same owners, then nothing will change. If there are truly new owners I would expect that they cleaned house if they want the business to amount to anything other than sleazy corner bar.