Terry O'Reilly's Irish Pub to Open in Newton Soon

Terry O'Reilly at the Dutch door of soon-to-open Terry O'Reilly's Irish Pub in Newton Centre

By Naomi Kooker

Terry O’Reilly, a real estate developer and restaurateur, is putting the finishing touches on his Irish pub in Newton Centre. Terry O’Reilly’s Irish Pub is slated to open in about three weeks at 45 Union Street, right across from the MBTA station. “Just waiting for the plumbers to finish it off,” says O’Reilly, a native of County Cavan in Ireland.

The space, formerly occupied by Sabra, a Middle Eastern restaurant, is divided into two sections, each with its own bar. The interior also includes a “snug” - a small, semi-private alcove with a gas fireplace and church pews for seating that’s just big enough to fit up to 10 or 12 people. The Dutch doors at the entrances also have significance, as they hail from his grandmother's house. They "kept the hens and chickens from getting in, [leaving the] top part open for ventilation," O'Reilly recalls.


The menu will be mostly Irish pub fare -  think bangers and mash, Shepherd’s pie - with a nod toward the Middle East: Elie Saroufim, the former owner of Sabra, is a partner. There will be multiple beers on tap as well as cocktails.

When it comes to star power, O’Reilly, who also owns and operates Trinity Bar & Restaurant in Norton, MA, doesn’t miss a beat to connect his homeland with local celeb Tom Brady, the New England Patriots’ starring QB. His grandfather’s family is from County Cavan, explains O’Reilly. “The town goes all blue and white [when the Patriots play],” he says. “We hold onto anything we can get our hands on, and Tom Brady is certainly a big fish.” We're just taking a guess, but sounds like once the season starts,  you'll have a new place to watch the game.