McGrath's Pub, Christina's Cocina rise from the ashes
Pub Date: 11/1/2006
By Roger Porter
It certainly is a pleasure to see success rise out of the ashes of tragedy. And, that is literally the case with Mike McGrath, owner of McGrath' Pub and Christina' Cocina Café.
Anyone who has lived in Butte for any length of time can no doubt remember the spectacular fire that leveled McGrath' Speedway Tavern on Front Street a number of years ago.
To many, the experience of seeing your business go up in smoke and vanish in a few short hours would be enough to knock them down for the count. However, this wasn't the case with McGrath, a Butte native and 28-year veteran of the bar and restaurant business.
After shedding a tear or two Mike and his wife, Chrisy, set out to find a new location to offer the city's residents a great place to meet friends for a drink and then indulge their cravings for some great Mexican food.
After a two-year search the couple the purchased the Racetrack located in northeast Butte. Long a Butte favorite, the Racetrack was known for their broasted chicken and live bingo games.
The building was well suited to the needs of the McGraths as they envisioned the possibilities of converting the large bingo hall into an attractive Mexican restaurant.
As it turned out the whole process of finding a location and then completely renovating the bingo hall took around two years until they once more opened their doors to the public.
Today' customer would have a difficult time envisioning that where this beautiful restaurant with its arched doorways and magnificent fountain now sit, there was once a rather sterile bingo hall.
The main restaurant itself will seat 100 guests with the banquet room able to accommodate 50.
In the five short years they have been in business Christina' has garnered the local People' Choice Awards for best kept inside, best Mexican restaurant, best lunch and best restaurant service. They have indeed become a true jewel on the Butte restaurant scene.
Enter the bar itself where Mike holds court and you'll find the man himself behind the plank most days, a true rarity in today' tavern scene.
Where the Speedway was more a neighborhood tavern, the new McGrath' draws them for all over eager to relax, chat with Mike and enjoy his laid back personality.
One advantage the McGraths enjoy in their new location is, should they desire a family meeting, all they need do is adjourn to the back room since two of the McGrath offspring also work in the café with son Marty running the kitchen and his brother Marc handling the night shift. The third son, Mike, Jr. is in construction and did all the material work in the restaurant renovation.
Owing to their reputation as a Mexican restaurant of excellence, you can bet McGrath' is well stocked up on Mexican beer together with a wide selection of micros. If a margarita or other exotic drink is your cup of tea, order a specialty drink straight from the Island Oasis machine. Mike says he' been told that he is the state's leading seller of Island Oasis drinks.
In addition to being a fun place to enjoy a cold one or sample the great Mexican food, the McGrath complex also helps the Butte economy by providing 15 full-time and 30-plus part-time jobs.
When you make your first trek to McGrath', remember it' not on the main thoroughfare. You simply get on Continental Drive and turn at Howard Street and in a couple of blocks you're there.
And, once there, savor the moment.
[i]Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Nov., 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.[/i