Murphy's, Caffrey's, and Hegarty's have succeeded in bringing a piece of Irish pride to Marquette's campus, but only a few blocks away at 142 West Wisconsin Ave., Mo's Irish Pub has succeeded in bringing Ireland straight to Milwaukee.

Johnny Vassallo, owner and founder of all Mo's restaurants, traveled to Ireland in an attempt to bring back to Milwaukee that same feeling he acquired while abroad, a comfortable atmosphere while still maintaining the same Irish traditions. Upon his return, he was followed by 11 immigrant workers and thousands of pounds' worth of woodwork handmade in Ireland. Thus was the beginning of Mo's Irish Pub.

Voted "Best Bar Food" in Milwaukee by CitySearch.com and one of the Top 100 Pubs in the United States by Guinness, Mo's Irish Pub continues to bring a sense of Ireland to Milwaukee. Irish citizens travel to the United States on 18-month work visas through their local community colleges as a study abroad program to learn how an American-style Irish pub works.

Traditional Irish dishes are at the top of the menu with American favorites as well. An entire section devoted to these traditional dishes contains favorites like Mo's Irish stew (beef, potatoes and carrots with sourdough bread), corned beef and cabbage, Mo's Reuben boxty (a traditional potato dish) and a Guinness BBQ chicken and shrimp boxty. The bar offers imported Irish beers, ciders and whiskeys for those who are truly Irish at heart.

Live entertainment is offered every Wednesday through Saturday on the main floor with no cover charge. Food is served until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday. During football season, the kitchen will be open until approximately 7 p.m. on Sundays. Unfortunately, those who are not 21 have to leave when the kitchen closes.

Prices range from approximately $6.99 to $19.99.

Street parking is available and free after 6 p.m. The $5 valet service located in front of Mo's — A Place for Steaks is available for all Mo's restaurants located on the corner of Wisconsin and Plankinton. The structure at Grand Avenue Mall is also available for parking. Buses running up and down Wisconsin Avenue stop nearby, and walking is always an option as well.

For those who are Irish and even for those who are not, Mo's Irish Pub offers an excellent flavor of what Ireland has to offer.