Murphy’s Pub is a Great Place to Hang Out and Grab Pizza and Wings

Pan Fried Sicilian Pizza at Murphy’s Pub in Swoyersville.

Murphy’s Pub in Swoyersville has been on my list to try for some time now because people cite 3 reasons to go there: 1. The pizza; 2. The Wings; and 3. The atmosphere.  Those 3 things alone are reason for me to go almost anywhere, especially if pizza in Northeastern Pennsylvania is part of the deal!

I called in an order and made my first trip to Swoyersville, which from my brief through town is a lovely place with wonderful people.  My first interaction with people was standing in the parking lot filming my customary pre-pizza review thoughts with my cell phone “selfie-style.”  A couple who were presumably walking into Murphy’s to grab some grub spotted me doing this and rather than look at me strangely like many do with thoughts of “Look at this idiot filming himself holding up everyone” they paused and smiled until I was finished.  It was a simple interaction, but a friendly one that set the tone for my visit.

A view of the beautifully cooked pan fried Sicilian pizza at Murphy’s Pub.

I called in the order and arrived probably 15 minutes before my scheduled time so I made my way in to check the place out.  I was immediately greeted by the two bartenders who were super friendly and accommodating.  They offered me a drink while I waited, and I took my seat at one of the high top tables to check out the football games on the myriad of televisions throughout the area.  All of the patrons were also super friendly and exchanged conversation from table to table and I felt welcomed as  first timer, sort of like a recent visit I made to the Plains Pub.  A positive and inclusive atmosphere is so interesting to me because not all places have it, it is difficult to quantify, challenging to cultivate, but I can sense it before anyone speaks a word.  Murphy’s has it and in my experience it usually stems from the top.  Where I didn’t get to speak with anyone about the culture, I think it’s an important observation to make.

In a way, I was sort of disappointed that my food was ready on time because that meant my brief stay was over and I was headed on the road!  I unboxed the pizza to find it was cooked exactly as I like it with some heavy charring around the edges and significant variations in cheese color from whites to deep browns and everything in between.  The cheese went all the way to the edge with no crust or sauce visible.

A look at the crispy crust of the Pan Fried Sicilian at Murphy’s Pub.

The crust undulated greatly with bubbles large and small visible through the cheese, paving the way for differing texture of peaks and valleys that captured varying amounts of sauce to make every bite an adventure.  It was cooked thoroughly with no visible gumline and it was quite crunchy.  I’d also say the grease level was pretty low as evidenced by the small amount of oil on the wax paper.  The sauce was a little more complex than most of the simpler crushed tomato blends that I’ve come to know in this style of pizza in the area, but still tasty and a unique spin on it.  Finally, the onion flavor was quite prominent and provided a hint of bitterness to the flavor profile.

I very much enjoyed the pizza and will certainly be enjoying it again in the future.  I really loved the wings which were jumbo in size and fried to a crispy, meaty perfection.  I love when the chef executes a crispy outside and moist inside.  I also love a simple buffalo sauce like many of the local places in Luzerne County make – presumably from some type of hot sauce and butter with minimal other additives.  Executed correctly (like Murphy’s) the end result is so simple, yet so delicious and satisfying.

Jumbo mild wings from Murphy’s Pub in Swoyersville.  Great food at great prices.

Murphy’s Pub is such a charming and friendly place to visit with great food and great people.  I don’t hesitate for a second to recommend this establishment to the NEPA Nation.  Whether you want some quick takeout, a casual dinner, or to chill out and catch a game with friends it’s a great place to be!  Have you ever been to Murphy’s Pub?  Please share your experience in the comments!

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