The new Magpie Irish Pub at 653 Park Avenue opened quietly back on April 4, sans advertising and sans phone. Even so, the pub's been busy every day since, likely because of all the foot traffic the area gets - Jines and Charlie's Frog Pond are across the street, Camille's is next door, and the pub's located in the spot where First Taste used to be - and because of the inviting exterior.
"As soon as we opened the doors, we had people streaming in," says Billy Turcott, the pub's manager. Turcott says the owner, John Diamantopoulos, who also runs Lola and J.D. Oxfords, among other area bars, opened Magpie to fill what he saw as an empty niche.
That niche, explains Turcott, is that of a "real" pub, which he describes as "Somewhere for adults to go to have a beer."
The idea is that you won't find a bunch of frat guys pounding Jager bombs, or even games or a jukebox; instead, Magpie is meant to be "laid back, relaxed, sophisticated," Turcott says.
What you will find at the pub is a tasteful interior, totally transformed indoor and out since its days as First Taste. What used to be First Taste's large kitchen is now a dim lounge area with amber lighting and earth-toned walls. It's tucked away from the rest of the bar, and you can hang out back there to eat or drink. A table at the front of the pub (where two men were sitting, sipping pints of Guinness when I visited on a recent Wednesday) overlooks Park Ave, a prime people-watching perch, while the bar itself is long and handsome, complete with an array of 15 draft beers (Harp, Blue Moon, Smithwicks, and Wood Chuck are just a few), and 60 more kinds (Erie Railbender, Victory Hop Devil, Bear Republic Racer 5, and others you may have actually heard of) in bottles. The bar's glassware is encased in glass-front wooden cabinets, and even the friendly bartender looks polished in his black Guinness polo.
Though the pub prides itself on its whiskeys and beer, there's also a wine list with a selection of 20 or so wines (these include chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, chianti, zinfandel, shiraz, and cabernet choices, among others). The modest menu is available all day long, and consists of sandwiches of roast beef, turkey, corned beef, or egg and olive salad, on white bread, a Kimmelwick roll, or Guinness rye bread. There's also a soup of the day, and sides like potato and pasta salads.
And soccer fans, listen up: Turcott says the pub will play international sports on the pub's four screens, making this the place to watch the World Cup. Turcott says the pub will also air the Olympics this summer.
Keep an eye out for more from Magpie: a grand opening party is in the works ("Right now we're just trying to keep up with everyone that comes in here," Turcott says), and soon, a website (magpiepub.com), and phone line will be in place.
Magpie follows the Irish tradition of opening early in the day, so pub-goers can swing by as early as 10 or 11 a.m. Its current hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 a.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Check rochestercitynewspaper.com/nightlife for updates on Magpie and other area bars and clubs.