Irish pub in Fort Myers goes beyond beer with creative and crafty new menu — JLB

McGregor’s Public House is going through phases.

When Tom and Meagan McGregor opened the Irish-flavored Fort Myers restaurant in Bell Tower on Aug. 1, only beer and wine were offered.

A fitting start considering it took over the space formerly occupied by World of Beer (WOB). The fact that Meagan was part of the WOB management team in that exact spot for nine years made it doubly fitting.

“It’s a serendipitous moment,” she said at the time.

While the brickwork and long, winding indoor and patio bars are still there, the couple has put their own stamp on the place. They did some painting, removed the old stage to gain kitchen space and gave it a homey pub feel with photos Meagan took, tchotchkes, plants and books.

Seating is mostly on stools, both stationary and swiveling, at the bar and tables inside and out. There’s one padded booth at the far end of the inside dining room and chairs with backs can be found at three or four outside tables.

Eventually, walls will be knocked down and they’ll take over the unit behind McGregor’s which once housed Cache, but that's not until phase 3 or 4.

For now though, the dog-friendly restaurant is cozy, inviting and perfectly pubish.

And it got off to a flying start in the first phase with 39 total taps, plus 100 more bottled and canned beers.

Guinness was and continues to be the top seller according to Tom, followed by Breakin’ Brick — an Irish red collaboration with Palm City Brewing.

With live music nightly and a mix of Irish imports, other styles of imports and a rotation of American craft beer, they quickly built up a loyal following of regulars. And even more were gained at "halfway to" and "practice for" St. Patrick's Day events.

Phase two introduced food

But it’s phase two that really piqued our interest. That kicked in mid-August when McGregor’s began opening at 11 a.m. for lunch.

At first, one or two items were introduced for a couple of days, then one or two more would follow the next week.

“Our whole idea is to take traditional dishes you see in pubs, like shepherd’s and meat pies, and put a unique twist on them,” Meagan said.

Chef Christa Thurber, the previous owner/chef of 11:Eleven Café (acknowledged by Food Network chef Alton Brown), is the force behind the evolving menu and she’s been creatively busy indeed.

Those one or two introductory items have grown into 20 —  from shareables and sammies to large, lush, fresh salads and sides (oh, those brekkie beans!).

The simple four-ingredient, fresh-baked Irish soda bread has a nice texture outside and great chew inside and is a worthy base for all the shareables and sammies.

It’s with the Totes McGoats, a table favorite with Marcona almond-topped goat cheese that pairs well with the honey and honeycomb.

And it’s there in the hefty Dill Murray — with thick sliced turkey breast, dill Havarti and arugula topped with sweet pepper aioli and house relish, all piled high between the thick bread slices.

Irish items are the stars

But the Irish dishes are the best-sellers here, as they should be.

“The Irish Twins and A Stitch in Thyme with our Irish sausage are popular,” Tom said.

We can see why. The creativity comes soaring through with the Irish Twins — basically hand-held lamb-based shepherd’s pies, lovingly wrapped in a flakey puff pastry sturdy enough to hold it all together.

That pastry also cradles the mild, well-flavored sausage in the Stitch in Thyme.

With the recent additions of the award-winning Ballymac — mac & cheese that’s suddenly a hearty meal topped with bacon and banger —  and the added-this-week bangers with purple cabbage mash, Guinness gravy and Kerrygold butter, the menu is “almost to where we want it,” according to Tom.

“We’re just going to add specials, but keep what we have,” he said.

It’s a food phase we’re happy to be in over and over again.

McGregor’s Public House

In Bell Tower at 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 111, Fort Myers

Price: $$

Call: (239) 990-3336

Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.(ish) Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday (with special Brekky Board from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Web: mcgregorspublichouse.com on Facebook and Instagram

Sample menu

Throw Bread on Me, $9

The Willingboro (ham sammie), $16

Irish Twins, $23

Beer & Cheese Flight, $19

Letterkenny cobb, $17

Guinness stout, $8

*Hours and prices subject to change

What the symbols mean

$: Average entree is less than $15

$$: $15-$25

$$$: $25-$35

$$$$: $35-$45

$$$$$: $45 and up

Jean Le Boeuf is the brand under which our restaurant critics have written for more than 40 years. This article came from staff writer Robyn George. Connect: rhgeorge@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: McGregor's Public House in Bell Tower boasts creative new menu — JLB