J. Murphy's On Main

Gand E Power

We had the most incredible lunch at J. Murphy’s on Main Street! We came in on Saturday during the snow storm. The atmosphere is exactly what you want when dining in Cold Spring—beautiful brick-lined walls, a great bar, and lighting that sets a perfect, cozy mood. The food was 10/10. We had the French onion soup, a French Dip, and a burger, and every single bite was delicious. We finished things off with the fried Oreos for dessert, and they were a total standout. The absolute highlight of our visit, however, was meeting the owner, Kostas. He was so incredibly welcoming, warm, and engaging. It’s rare to find that level of genuine hospitality, and he truly made us feel like valued guests rather than just another table. As former Bartender/servers ourselves, we were impressed! Between the amazing food and Kostas’s wonderful personality, J. Murphy’s is now a must-visit for us every time we are in town.

Kyra Krishna

we walked in with 20 minutes to spare before needing to leave to catch the train. our waitress, Sharon, was an icon. when we expressed our urgency, she helped get our food out quickly. was super sweet and friendly. very attentive when we were ready to pay the bill and brought us to-go boxes without needing to be asked. we <3 sharon! if i ever come back to this quaint town, I will be returning.

jeisy garrido

We stopped here after a long day of hiking and it was perfect! The staff were super friendly and made us feel welcome right away. They were happy to fit our group in and even handled last-minute changes with no problem. The food was amazing — fresh, flavorful, and exactly what we needed to refuel. Portions were great and there’s something on the menu for everyone. The vibe is just right too — relaxed, cozy, and fun. It felt like the perfect spot to kick back, have a great meal, and unwind. Definitely coming back next time!

Nathaniel Terpening

This is the causal pub you feel comfortable in getting all the regular things you might find but with an upscale twist to them all. They are generous with portions. The Cobb salad was full of meats and eggs, avocado, and one of the best house salad dressings my dining partner has ever had. "Not sweet, not overly vinegary, just savory and right. Fresh." I had an impossible burger. It was more flavorful than most places I get one. Far better than when I make my own! And the cheese, onions, pickles, tomato, and lettuce was overflowing into the tray it came on along with great sweet potatoe fries that my baby loved trying for the first time ever. Speaking of, we wanted to sit outside. They looked along one side of the patio and decided there was too much sun for the baby so they put us at a table in the shade even though the stroller and things took up some extra space. They were very accommodating, generous, and personable. We have a regular place to stop whenever we come to town in this place. Very much enjoyed it.

Jen L

After a five hour hike, we had pre-planned to eat at Murphy's for lunch/dinner. To start off our meal, we ordered Artichoke dip and nachos, and it was truly so delicious. The portions are incredibly large even for a group of 5 people. It was my first time having artichoke dip and it definitely did not disappoint! However, the fries were overly salted and the burger was a bit lacking. The fish and chips with the tartar sauce was quite tasty though. I'd love to try more items on their menu when I'm back to hike! The staff are kind and energetic but we had to constantly ask for water, utensils, and other necessities.

Mayra Upegui

The place was fine, but it didn’t really stand out. The food was average and the atmosphere was okay, just not memorable

Andrew Blake

It pains me to give J. Murphy’s on Main a 2 star review, but I hope this leaves some space for introspection on behalf of a bartender named “Mike”. Let me start off by saying that the food was excellent. The mozzarella sticks were hot and crispy on the outside with a thin, golden-brown breading that actually stays on when you bite, instead of sliding off in one sad sheet. The wings were properly cooked so the skin was rendered and crisp, not rubbery, while the meat inside was still juicy and came off the bone with a gentle pull. The customers were genuinely pleasant, and most of the service staff reflected that same positive energy. The one exception was “Mike,” who unfortunately accounted for the majority of our interactions and did not provide the same level of warmth or professionalism. While there were plenty of opportunities to simply be pleasant, there were too many missteps to ignore. It was the equivalent of interacting with a TSA agent at Newark Airport at 8am on a Monday morning. The lack of eye contact was off putting, the Guinness was poured with the precision of a toddler who somehow missed the memo about pausing before the second half, and every question earned a grumble in response as if our existence on earth was a personal inconvenience to him. His despondency resembled someone still bitter about blowing his audition for a third-tier Smash Mouth cover band that only books county fairs on Tuesday afternoons. Honestly, a quick look in the mirror to fix the attitude would go a long way. **Edit: changed review from 2 stars to 4 stars given the owner’s thoughtful response below — we’ll be back again for those awesome wings and mozz sticks!

Marco P

Normal pub vibe. Good drinks, Fish & Chips were soggy and unseasoned. Not worth the $25 or 4% CC Fee on a Mastercard.

KR

After an exhausting hike, we were ravenous and decided to hunt for burgers, stumbling upon this establishment. It's your quintessential American diner with a bar. Arriving around 1 pm, the place had a decent crowd, so we opted to sit by the bar. The ambiance was tidy and well-kept. Regarding the food, I'd rate it 3/5. I ordered a fried chicken burger with sweet potato fries (which incurred an additional charge). While the fries were delightful, I found the chicken to be lacking in seasoning, resulting in a rather bland taste. Conversely, my friend enjoyed their beef burger. Service, unfortunately, also gets a 3/5. It was exceptionally slow; we waited for 45 minutes just to receive our order, noticing that those who came in after us were served sooner. On a positive note, the bathrooms were well maintained. Overall, this spot might be a convenient choice for a bustling lunch hour, especially considering its distance from downtown, where many hikers tend to converge after their adventures.

Donia Elgamal

My burger wasn't seasoned at all and was dry and lacked sauce to compensate for those. The service at the bar was cold and off-putting.