Mollies Restaurant
622 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA
☆ ☆ ☆ 3/5 stars
As mentioned, we are always seeking good dining options in the Poconos area. Also, keep in mind our ratings aren't just about quality of food (we aren't high brow, self-righteous critics), they also reflect prices and environment. Because, like most working people in this area, we are looking for the best option for the price.
Moving on. We visited Mollies in Stroudsburg on Friday, November 18. Going all out on a Friday night is tough so we were initially seeking pizza but, on our way to Goomba's on Main Street, we decided we should sit down and enjoy our meal. Among the row of restaurants, I chose Mollie's for two reasons: 1 it was rated as the second best dining option in the Poconos by Urbanspoon and 2 the live music that filled the street lured us in.
Walking in was a bit confusing - there wasn't a hostess stand so I had to walk up to the bar where a woman greeted me and then showed us to a table by the live music. I don't know who was playing but I have to say, the female lead singer sounded very much like Alanis Morrisette. Oddly enough, it was extremely loud (the crowd that is) and the decor doesn't hint at toward a drunken-college-bar environment. Either way, the music was still enjoyable.
Menu-wise, I am not sure if it was the time of night or if there are additional menus that we didn't see, but we were able to choose from a menu titled, "Wine Handles." It was a small menu with mostly appetizer-sized portions.
We had two appetizers, the baked brie and the pork empanadas. Neither were particularly impressive but were adequate in flavor. For our "entrees," we ordered the Tuna Nicoise Salad and the Margherita flat bread, which were quite fitting because Margherita pizza is my absolute favorite pizza and Ahi Tuna is my partner's favorite fish. I can't say either were phenomenal, however. The tuna was sliced a bit too thick and was a little over-seared (that is a matter of preference but personally, I like my tuna as raw as you can get) and the flat bread was a little off - but again, it is my preference that margherita-style anything should use sliced fresh mozzerella rather than shredded. The flatbread itself was crunchy and delightful (if only the pizza places around here could get the hint and use thin crusts).
Okay, the bad. As mentioned, the food was decent, but nothing to write home about but, my real problem, was the wine list. While the selection was good for all (from pinot grigio to pinot noir), having about 4 choices per - the pricing was WAY OFF. I had two glasses of Santa Margherita pinot grigio, each glass was $12.00. A $12 glass of wine should come from a $30+ bottle of wine not from a $20 bottle of wine. My choice was, of course, the most expensive pinot grigio on the list - which says a lot. Restaurants around here need to understand the value of good wine. All too often wine selection includes brands like Sutterhome or Cavit and charge between $7-12 per glass. These are low-grade brands and should not even be on menus.
Okay, my wine gripe aside, Mollie's was pleasant in that it offered a nice decor with good live music. I must add that it is a wise decision to put your stage by the street/sidewalk entrance - it allows the music to travel outdoors and attracts potential diners. Great environment and decent pricing (besides the wine).
