FoodView
P. Wexford Irish Home Cooking
By Abigail Murphy
Photos by MJ Mangano
Where Everyone is Family
As a Murphy, Irish Pubs have a special place in my heart. It is amazing that all around the world, there are Irish Pubs, even when I was in Mongolia. You feel at home in an Irish Pub and we have a really special place here in Modesto. P. Wexford’s Pub has been serving up home style, family-friendly, authentic Irish eats and ambiance since 1999. We caught up with managers Stephenie and Brittni, both with the restaurant for over 10 years, to see what’s in store for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and the year to come! P. Wexford’s is known for its legendary MAMA Award winning St. Patrick’s Day Party thrown every year. But the people and traditions are serious here – no matter what day of the week the holiday falls, P. Wexford’s is ready to host the celebration of the year. This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday, but you better believe that the View Crew and the rest of Modesto will be there drinking Irish stout beers and listening to epic performances by Johnny and Kelly, Cloak & Swagger, DJ Tease and more. Rain or shine, weekend or weekday, P. Wexford’s will transform their parking lot and pub to bring the spirit and joy of Ireland to Modesto, CA for the day.
But what about the rest of the year? They often get calls from concerned patrons: “Will you have corned beef and cabbage at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration?” Stephenie and Brittni are always happy to report that they have corned beef and cabbage all year long! Chef Tony Arnebeck delivers many “Don’t Miss” items that you’ll be sure to love when you stop by: 1) Fish & Chips 2) The Ultimate Cheeseburger (not for the faint of heart!) 3) Traditional Shepherd’s Pie and our favorite 4) Corned Beef and Cabbage. Worried about healthy eating and fitness this year? P. Wex totally gets it! Their menu boasts a “Get Fit” menu with light salads, lean burgers, and healthy tacos to fit your diverse health and diet plans. In short, P. Wexford has it all, from traditional Irish plates to modern health conscious meals, ensuring the whole family has a satisfied seat at the table (or bar). Speaking of the bar, Brittni recommends coming in to try a nice Jameson cocktail or a good ol’ fashioned Black & Tan. With 26 beers on tap and a full bar, you are sure to find something perfect for your mood.
Though the food is central to the heart and success of P. Wex, the entertainment schedule and enthusiasm for local events is what sets P. Wexford’s apart from the rest. Their schedule is jam packed with live music, trivia, and magic. That’s right – MAGIC! Every Monday, P. Wex offers up tableside magic shows and performances to entertain the entire family. Plus, Tuesday night, Brittni hosts trivia night for anyone who wants to play! No teams required, you can play as long or as short as you like, plus every week has new questions and topics to keep you guessing and engaged. If you love a place with games, you’ll love the dart boards in the bar. Speaking from experience, these games of darts are intense and a great way to keep in shape after a full plate of fish and chips. Stretch before and after to avoid next morning sore muscles, just in case the game gets competitive! Neil Buettner and Johnny & Kelly are regular musical performers in the venue and the restaurant has won many Modesto Area Music Awards (MAMAs) for their support of local music in the community. Here at Modesto View, we love to support people and places that strive to support local artists and musicians and P. Wex has certainly walked the walk in its continued support of the local community.
P. Wexford’s has also a haven for sports fans, too! You won’t want to miss the fandom of the Premier League soccer matches shown here, some of the matches at 6 am. P. Wex is also the host of the American Outlaws, the unofficial supporters group of the men and women’s national soccer teams. You won’t want to miss soccer (or football, whichever you prefer…) season at this joint. Make sure you check their Facebook page @pwexfords for game and local event and music updates.
Stephenie and Brittni have watched P. Wexford’s change over the years and love what the pub has come to represent in our community and both attribute their love of P. Wexford’s to the “merriment” and warm ambiance that is felt in the restaurant. Regulars have become family to the staff and they enjoy seeing faces old and new stop in the pub every day. Even when the ladies aren’t working, P. Wexford’s is where they love to go out! That really says something about the level of quality, consistency, and entertainment at P. Wexford’s. We are so grateful to have a fun, authentic Irish pub in Modesto and appreciate P. Wexford’s consistent, loyal support of our community. So head on over, try some delicious plates and drinks, play some games, listen to music, and enjoy the beauty of P. Wexford’s! Slainte!
P. Wexford’s Pub
3313 McHenry Ave
209-576-7939
@pwexfords
