New Scruffy Murphy's has a dollop of sophistication

Just thought I would post my column on the new Scruffy Murphy's that ran today in the Orlando Sentinel:

"Scruffy Murphy's is back, just not exactly the way you may remember it.

Gone are the gorilla out front, those horrid restrooms inside and its downtown Orlando location. Now on Edgewater Drive in College Park, the reincarnated Scruffy's is a more polished and beautiful pub, from its hardwood floors to its cozy booth seating. And the restrooms? I can speak only for the ladies room: There was granite tile and a brass sink, for crying out loud. Not sure if it was real brass, but, still, talk about a 180!

And the gorilla, according to co-owner Brian Milmoe, is returning as well.     

I spent most of my time on the outside front patio that serves as a huge welcome mat -- it just looks like a good time. When co-owner Donie Burke told me he was concerned they don't have a sign out front yet, I told him between the college kids packing the front of the place the first time I stopped by and the bikers celebrating a birthday on my second visit, a sign is really not missed. The folks eating dinner or drinking out front are marketing enough.

At first, I did miss the old back room with its pool tables and dartboards; however, after taking a walk around, there really is no place to put a dartboard except possibly out on the front patio, which may look a bit tacky. But the pool table was sitting in the back corner across from the stage on my return visit. There were no bands either time I stopped by, but Burke says it's another part of the old Scruffy's that will be coming back.

For anyone who had been to Gio's or Adair's, the restaurants that formerly inhabited the space, you know this place is big. Now with two bars, one in the front room and one in the back part of the pub, plus tons of seating, it gives off a similar vibe to the new Cricketers Arms on I-Drive.

In fact, the pub is adding to the nightlife landscape in College Park already set in motion by Jax 5th Avenue Deli & Ale House, Alfonso's Pizza & More, Taste and Harmoni Market. Burke and Milmoe, who also own a Scruffy Murphy's in Columbus, Ga., along with Breda Gleeson, hope that landscape keeps growing.

The inclusion of food means no smoking inside, but with that large outdoor patio, no one is really suffering. Plus, there may be more outside seating in the back, according to Burke, in the months ahead. But really, the front area is quite nice and serves everyone's needs. The prices are about what they used to be, a smidge higher than I would normally pay but not highway robbery by any means, with Guinness drafts coming in at $5.25 a pint and Murphy's Irish Red at $5.

I'm curious to see if much of the old Scruffy's crowd returns to its new location or if it finds a new crowd with its College Park neighbors -- either way I don't see the bar suffering from a lack of business.

Scruffy Murphy's is at 2625 Edgewater Drive in Orlando. Call 407-835-7158."