Muldoon's On Main Review

Date: 06/25/25

Restaurant Name: Muldoon's On Main

Address: 111 W Main St, Carmel, IN 46032

Phone Number: (317) 571-1116

Email Address:  muldoons.net

About: Muldoon's attributes its success to the craic, a term that they say describes the atmosphere of fun and fellowship often found in a true Irish pub. That laid-back vibe has paid off: Muldoon's has been crowned Best Neighborhood Bar by City Voter for 5 years running. Washed down with an extensive beer selection, the hearty food menu stocks such Irish classics as shepherd's pie, Irish beef-and-potato stew with Guinness broth, and hand-breaded fried-cod fish ‘n’ chips. Chefs also prepare more local favorites, such as a classic Midwest breaded tenderloin that has been voted the best in the state many times over. In our case, we headed down to check out their "Paddy Melt," hoping to find a hidden gem.

Authenticity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️★

Muldoon's Paddy Melt had American and Swiss cheese and sautéed onions on rye bread. We assumed from the name "Paddy" Melt that it would feature Muldoon's take on the classic recipe, so it came as no surprise that the result was a few degrees off for its authenticity. If we were judging cheeseburgers, it would have been a winner. As a patty melt, we had to dock it points.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️★

The taste was very good; with the caveat noted above. The onions' flavor were not as pronounced as on other patty melts, likely because the onions were not prepared the same way as a traditional patty melt. Nonetheless, the beef patty was of high quality and the overall taste was enjoyable.

Value: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️★

The cost of the meal was $15, which also came with a side. Not bad, but not exceptional either. Additionally, the side dishes were limited and we ended up paying for fries.

Ambiance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The ambiance was quite good. We were able to be seated outside, and since the restaurant is located in the Carmel Arts and Design District, there was pleasant scenery and atmosphere that we could enjoy during the meal.

Total Experience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️★

The food was great, our server was pleasant, and the overall experience made us want to return soon- to try something besides their patty melt.

Summary: Muldoon's is a fine establishment, but if you have your heart set on a great patty melt, you may be disappointed. We found that it was more or less a cheeseburger served on rye bread, which is not what you want a patty melt to be. While the overall result was enjoyable, we recommend that you get something else, as this falls short of true patty melt perfection.

Leadership Lessons: Josh and I have enjoyed Logan Blomberg’s company on some recent adventures. He describes himself as “more of a chicken guy” and indeed chickened out on ordering a patty melt on our first Quest together. Although we enjoyed poking some fun at him, we didn’t pressure him. As time went on, and when he saw how much we enjoyed patty melts, his curiosity was piqued and this time he was ready to join us. Logan’s experience reminded me of a recent insight from my colleague, Diane Brown. In her June 19, 2025 blog she notes: “This simple supply-and-demand principle is a helpful analogy for organizations navigating change. When the pace or volume of change exceeds capacity, the system falters—and so do people.” By respecting Logan’s capacity to change, he gracefully shifted his thinking to begin identifying himself as being “more of a chicken guy – and an occasional patty melt.”