Common Pub &amp; Grille

My husband, friends, and I ventured across Narragansett Bay to Bristol for lunch. We weren't sure…read morewhere we would end up but we found this legendary saloon and decided to give it a try. Our server Sonny cheerfully greeted us, made food and drink recommendations, listened and catered to our allergies, and took our orders quickly and accurately. She went above and beyond to make sure my shellfish allergy could be accommodated by speaking with the kitchen staff and calling the owner. I was happy to hear that the smash burger and French fries were safe for my to eat, and they did not disappoint!!! I ordered a painkiller that was insanely reminiscent of the painkillers at The Soggy Dollar in the BVI. Highly recommend it! This place has many cool historical features that contribute to its charm. If you're in the area, check them out!

At first I really liked this place and probably would've left a five stars-- before I explain more,…read moreI do still think it's worth popping by for a casual bite. The burger I ordered (bacon cheeseburger with no bacon) was delicious. No complaints there and I will probably reorder. The only problem here was that I asked for sweet potato fries instead of regular fries, to which the waiter simply said okay. Turns out it was an undisclosed upcharge. Not only did he not tell me it would be $2.75 (or something like that) more, but the fries are listed as the same price online. When I told him that, he said that their online menu is really old (this is to say, don't look at it! and also, not sure why they wouldn't update it if they know it's incorrect). Sure enough, the printed menu also said nothing about an upcharge for a different fry, so ultimately I was able to remove the charge, but it was a little awkward and frustrating. My only other complaint is not particularly the fault of the restaurant, but I suppose just a side effect of the laidback vibes. A group of 7 or 8 people came in like 20 minutes after us and was so loud that I almost suggested we leave. My guess is they were drunk, but it was a Wednesday night around 6:00, so I wouldn't have expected that. They were so loud that I was yelling to my friend who was within arm's length. Totally changed the vibe and enjoyment for me.

Chilled local shellfish- Lil' Necks & Goose Island Oysters w/ Spicy Cocktail & Whiskey Mignonette. Delish!

Pork Tostada!

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Eggplant meatballs

Jack’s Bar

4.0(7 reviews)

Dive in nice area - No Parking…read more Great little place and the true meaning of what a dive bar should be. The ice cold beer is great for a great price. There's lots of history here, they opened its doors in 1941. One of the original businesses on the infamous Water Street area in beautiful Warren RI. Nice clientele with friendly bartenders to boot and always super clean. The only reason this place loses a star is that there is absolutely no parking. It's one pf my pet peeves. Thanks

Came in for a date, the bar tender was nice, the drinks strong, the price point wonderful but be…read moreaware cash only! They do have an atm on premises.

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RipTide Sports Grille

3.2(18 reviews)

This had to have been the worst chicken Mozambique I've ever had in my life. It had boxed rice and…read morea disgustingly spicy sauce. Being so close to Fall River I don't know how they fell this far off the Mark. The turkey dinner was also stove top stuffing with boxed mashed potatoes. It was all just poor quality food and an elevated price.

Second visit to the Rip Tide. I had a craving for scollops. My 1st choice was closed for…read morerenovations‍. This was near by. 1st visit was very good. Small quaint bar area. Everyone seems to know each other. Gets a little loud. Good TV views Small one room / unisex bathroom ‍. Food is good and $$. Drinks were a little weak today. One bartender handling it ALL. We were at a side table, bar was full. She came over. No napkins. Took our order. All came over. Asked if we were all set. She FORGOT to put my scollops in. WHAT???!! Only reason we ended up there . Take out box would not close on our clam cakes. Kind of a mess. Disappointed

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Lots of milk in my White Russian. Would of liked a shorter glass.

The Nest

3.8(27 reviews)

0.3 mi

Didn't eat food but a nice neighborhood spot for a beer! Cozy inside with great staff.read more

Friendly local pub in the area, the staff was quite friendly and very helpful when it came to…read moreanswering our questions. My friend and I were there on a Monday afternoon, very easy to find a seat though there were others sitting at the bar. The "lil" sized portions of the food were perfect, my friend had the lil shepard's pie and I had the lil bangers and mash. We split the Tinker Flatbread too, so tasty! Lots of street parking around as well, always a plus. Recommend this place for an easy meal with good variety.

Spooky entrance

Lil bangers and mash

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Bar area- notice the skillet meal

VFW

4.0(1 review)

3.3 mi

•$

if you enjoy mixed drinks or bottled beer at a price you cant beat youre in the right place! the…read morebartender was very entertaining with his Bar Tricks and I really enjoyed my time there, will definitely be back!

From the owner: Public Welcome! Come down to the VFW for mixed drinks, bottled and draft beer at price you can’t…read morebeat along with a great local crowd, new TVs to watch sports, a juke box, dart board, and pool table! All open to the public and smoke free! Contact us to book your special event in our hall!

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Thames Waterside Bar & Grill

2.6(280 reviews)

0.4 mi

Came by jet ski and docked at the town pier. Wanted upstairs but they said it was not open yet…read more Kinda crazy cause it was after 12 on the fourth weekend. Got two bar seats. Very warm. No frozen drinks served at the bar. Bartender did not know what a stuffie was. Not working at all this day.

Had a really great lunch here while visiting Bristol! My husband is from Rhode Island and we were…read morevisiting from San Francisco, he said Thames is a must, and it was. The calamari was fresh and so delicious. The fish n chips were HUGE and so delicious, tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Great fries, well seasoned, and the fish was very fresh and a huge portion for the price (literally double from sf) Shannon, our server was awesome and super friendly. We were surprised it was her first day! I'm suprised with all the negative reviews, they must be with previous server(s) or management. The views and ambiance were great, service was attentive, and the food was excellent and affordable. Worth a visit!

Margherita pizza with fries

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Water view of the Bristol Harbor

Tremblay's

4.3(75 reviews)

Owned by the same people that own Sunset Cove it's a real "locals" sort of place. Nothing fancy,…read morejust everything you'd want in a coastal bar/restaurant. Staff was friendly. Drinks were strong and delicious. And arguably the food was the best part. Both the fish and chips and the Chicken Caesar Salad were some of the best we've had in this type of place. It's a must try.

Definitely a locals place but staff is friendly they have specials and love music. Food is comfort…read morefood but delicious!

Loaded Tater Tots w/ sliced jalapeños

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Van's Spa

4.4(39 reviews)

0.1 mi

•$

Had been for breakfast a number of times but we went for lunch…read more Excellent burgers. Huge selection of burgers, hot dogs, and chili. Come and have a conversation at a unique spot.

Sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich was freshly cooked and delicious came with a decent…read moreamount of home fries for $5 and it was ready in 5min. I'll dine in the next time, and try a few more dishes on the menu. I'm curious to know how they are. There's a lot going on, on the walls but you can tell that it all holds a story and some history to go with the rest of the restaurant.

Interior from counter

Entrance

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Manny always being busy serving up great food.

Schooners Bar & Beer Garden

5.0(4 reviews)

Just a great friendly bar. We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon. It was full of friendly people…read morewho didn't know us from Adam but very receptive to conversation. The band was perfect belting out rock, blues and the occasional country tune. Perhaps the best thing about the band is they were having a blast themselves. Highly recommended.

Your classic hole in the wall dive bar. Reminds me of the bars i hung around 20 years ago. Cheap…read moredrinks and chill patrons.

Ollie's Pub

4.6(9 reviews)

6.4 mi

Food is very good and reasonably priced. The turkey club was packed with fresh sliced turkey…read more Everything was cooked to perfection and delicious. Fries were excellent. The fish was fresh caught, cooked perfectly as well. The mashed potatoes were really good and the carrots were cooked soft served with butter. Tons of TVs and friendly atmosphere, bartender was very attentive.

Dive bar favored by a local crowd. The bartender was super nice and told us about weekly events…read morethey offer like live music and bar trivia. They have a few beers on tap and in bottles plus a full bar. Food menus are available and specials on are a big blackboard on the wall near the bar. After chatting with the cook for a bit seems he can make your spicy food as spicy as you like it. Just let them know. Pro tip. Besides bar seating a few high tops are scattered around the small space. I believe there is one bathroom for all, but I did not use it, so not sure. Entrance is up a couple of steps on the front or back of the building. A small covered outdoor seating area is at the back to enjoy the beverages in fine weather. Parking is across the side street in a lot shared with another business (that building looks uninhabited, but I'm told it's an event hall) or street side. Nice staff. Lovely locals. Super casual.

Lobster rolls on Fridays and Saturdays, delicious every time

Turkey club

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Bar

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9 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ken L.

6 years ago

Awful again! Classless owner see's me at a "great establishment in Bristol today", Aidens, as she is walking out with her family member, and says " there's the a-hole." I gave C-Pub a bad review in the past after her trailer trash worker made a scene when I visited this 2nd-class establishment, since I do not wear a mask) etc. Then, this classless owner of C-Pub continues to flip me off through the window as she walk to her car leaving Aiden's. Classlessness and has no common decency. Save your money, or spend it at a road side truck stop in Arkansas. Much better. Waaaay more classy and I would guarantee friendly. I think the owner has major human interaction issues. Aiden's in Bristol? A+++ in food, customer service, environment, and great bartenders. read more

John W.

7 years ago

Searched for seafood in Bristol RI and was surprised to see the Common Pub &Grille appear as a choice. We have been coming to Bristol for years and never knew about this local pub. It's a few streets away from Main St. We decided to give it a try around 6 o'clock on Friday night. The place was very busy but the hostess took care of us. We ordered the Frickles (fried pickles) to start. Our waitress was friendly and got our order placed quickly. I got a chicken parm special which came with tons of penne. Two people got the fish and chips which arrived with a huge piece of fish. My wife got baked haddock which was good too. The atmosphere of the pub was good for a local spot. Glad we ventured a few blocks away from the waterfront. read more

Bob J.

11 years ago

Good band playing and fun road house atmosphere wi attentive bartenders even when busy...but thats where the good stops. This is a cocaine pit. The local biker club who is very present runs coke out of the men's room. The blonde heavyset biker with the "prospect" tag on his jacket was selling coke openly. Usage was obvious all around. A leader of the club or at least one wi authority kept coming to the men's room to supervise the sales. Management MUST know about this. This is a dark little place for the local coke heads to do their thing. I would just spend your money elsewhere and stay away from the trouble. read more

Sam D.

15 years ago

My friend and i went the other night, i can't remember what night...some kid at school told me he didn't get carded so we went for drinks ...it was kinda dead and we wanted to talk to some chics but all we saw were some randow locals at the bar and some big kid going on about respect so we left. Drinks were cheap though. Oh yeah whatever smell came from the kitchen was not food...smelled like someone was burning a fake leg. I can't wait to get back to Jersey...this town sucks...all the bars suck...so glad school is over in a month. Sam D. read more

Claudia T P.

11 years ago

Went with 10 people, the food was outstanding! From the garlic calamari with banana peppers, to the sweet potato won-ton's our apps were excellent! The entree's were "Hugh" and absolutely fresh and delicious! The drinks were quite good and the prices are GREAT!! This place it such a deal, one not to miss!! read more

C A.

9 years ago

Don't go here unless you want to get harassed by a red haired bouncer for having a legal ID, as well as another proper form of ID. Common Pub and Grille: find less horrible bouncers to work at your establishment who do not harass women about their weight. So not cool. Not coming here again. read more

Anthony J.

8 years ago

Excellent food and service!!! Had great live music and real nice atmosphere!!! Food portions were awesome and filling. No complaints I would definitely recommend this place to everyone and enjoy the food. read more

Kate A.

8 years ago

Common Pub is one of Bristol's best hidden gems. Quality food, exceptional service (especially Josh on the bar), and a good cocktail. Plus, you can't beat industry night and karaoke on Sundays! read more

George P.

147

5 years ago

Great place, great food, and reasonable prices. Love the fish and chips! And love the employees here.

Common Pub & Grille - divebars - Updated September 2026

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We stopped in during Appy Hour for some appetizers and cocktails, which is our go to at Waterdog…read more They have a great app selection and it rarely disappoints. We ordered the mini stuffies, the hummus plate, and the fried pickles. The mini stuffies were a highlight. Loaded with Mello's chouriço and packed with flavor, they're a solid little bite. My grandfather set the bar pretty high for me on stuffies, and these came close. They have a different profile than what I grew up with; a little less bready, more chouriço forward, and the clam flavor takes a back seat. Not necessarily a complaint, they were just different from what I'm used to and were genuinely tasty. The lemon aioli on top was also a nice touch. The fried pickles were exactly what you want them to be. Crispy, well fried, and the breading actually stayed put while you ate them, which is more than I can say for a lot of fried pickles. They came with the same lemon aioli as the stuffies, which worked just as well here. The hummus plate was a bit of a letdown. We've had it many times before and it used to be a standout. This time the hummus itself was thick and pretty flavorless, more like a dense chickpea paste than anything else. The accompaniments were nice though and consisted of heirloom carrots, cucumbers, olives, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, pickled cauliflower, carrot, and a pepperoncini, all served alongside some buttery round crackers that were like a Ritz cracker's more refined cousin. The veggies saved the plate, but the hummus needs to find its way back. I suppose it could have just been an off batch and won't prevent us from trying it again. Cocktails were great, as usual. I had the Anana with scotch. I love pineapple and this has muddled pineapple and basil, pineapple juice, cracked black pepper. It's my go-to here and it delivered again. My partner went adventurous and ordered the Jungle Booby, which is built around tequila blanco and mezcal with campari, pineapple, grapefruit, lime, orgeat, and an absinthe spritz. The flavors were genuinely good, but the smokiness from the mezcal was a bit much for her taste. She followed it up with a glass of rosé and had no complaints after that. The cocktail wasn't the problem, it just wasn't her style. One of our favorite spots in Warren for a quick nibble, for a good reason.

AMAZING brunch! This was my first time trying the Shrimp Rangoon's which were absolutely delicious…read more The poutine is always my favorite. Everything is so favorable and the portion sizes are great! The only negative is I found the mimosas to be very pricey. Wouldn't order those again, but otherwise everything was delicious and service is always great!

Portside Tavern

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One of our favorite restaurants, hands down. The food is consistently delicious, and the drinks are…read morevery good. Haven't had a bad waitress there. Highly recommend!

Deserves a solid 2.5 stars, but that is not an option…read more Atmosphere was very noisy and crowded. Waitress did not check in to see how we liked our food after it was delivered, but otherwise gave great service with a smile. Menu is small and very meat and seafood centric - not especially ideal for picky eaters or vegetarians/vegans. The Thai wrap appetizer tasted exactly like the Asian salad you can buy in a bag at the grocery store for $3. They were not really 'wraps' but this pre-made salad tossed upon some leaves of lettuce, difficult to eat, and had only the smallest dallop of peanut sauce on them (which was the best part!) My partner's General Al's Chicken took you on a journey from savory to sweet to spicy flavor-wise, but there was something off about the taste that he did not care for (and I've never seen him dislike food at a restaurant. Ever.) My side salad was lettuce only doused in the same aforementioned Asian salad grocery store mix dressing, with lots of wilted/old lettuce that I had to pick out. My entree was good but tasted generic, like something I've had at other chain restaurants a million times before with no unique twist put on it. It had a sauce but it had little to no flavor - couldn't figure out what it even was and didn't remember it being on the menu - so it added nothing to the dish. There are lots of rave reviews here, but we just don't get it. We've ordered takeout from here before and that time, too, we were not overwhelmed with joy, just kind of 'whelmed.' Very 'meh,' and with so many other incredible food establishments within a 25 minute drive in Providence or in between, or even great local spots in town, this place just doesn't hold a candle. Not worth going back. It felt like a very novice chef was at the helm and dishes lacked inspiration and new, exciting flavors that we haven't seen before.

Tremblay's

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Definitely a locals place but staff is friendly they have specials and love music. Food is comfort…read morefood but delicious!

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great service, atmosphere, food, and people! came with my family and will definitely be returning…read morenext time we are in the area!!

One of my new fav spots on Aquidneck!…read more The views are beautiful, the sunset was lovely and there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Morgan was an excellent waitress-- attentive and kind and answered all my questions. One of my questions was if the pulled pork would taste like coca-cola (which it's marinated in) and she assured me it doesn't but would get me something else if I didn't like it. Pricing is fair and the vibes are great. I totally didn't realize it was nestled into an actual marina but their signage was pretty good (don't let the railroad tracks throw you off). Will definitely be back!

Lucky's Irish Pub

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(204 reviews)

Came here for Saint Patrick's day. While I'm more of an upscale bar girl, this spot was fine. I was…read moredisappointed by their limited menu, but get that it was due to the holiday and a very common thing on 3.17! I would be interested to see what it would be like on a normal night. Service was slow, but it was packed. All staff was dressed festively and super nice! It was a good touch! They had a guitarist who was super talented and an Irish drum and bag pipe special show. All very cute. My biggest concern however was how packed it was! It seemed like there were too many people in the joint and it got a bit rowdy.

I have been to Lucky's on several occasions and it was a favorite of my mom's as well over the…read moreyears. It's a friendly place with a chill vibe a pretty decent menu and it's wonderful to hear live music. I especially love the outdoor patio in the summertime.

Black Duck Tavern

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First time here. A date night with my wife. I read the recent reviews. It was good enough for…read moremost of them - 4 on the average to commit coming here. There were a few 1s and 3s, and if you dig deep, they were not reliable reviews. Anyways, if you come here knowing that it is a bar and lounge with limited menu for food, but good selection of canned and draft beer, plus full bar, then you will be happy. We had the nachos with BBQ pulled bork, and lemon pepper dry rub wings. The rating for these are solid 4, not like the 3s some folks left. The only thing that prevents them from attaining 5 is the attention to details and care that it takes to make them true 5 stars. But again, this a a bar and lounge. I think it would not matter much if come here later in the evening, after you have been to dinner elsewhere, and want to hang out with your friends with late night snack and drinks. I thought the service was friendly but a bit relaxed, but again, if you come here to chill, being the "relaxed" atmosphere will not upset you. If you want a speedy and attentive service, this place is not it. We did enjoy the vibe though. Probably a good place to come before or after the show at Comedy Connection next door.

The Admiral English Pub

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Service is terrible! It's impossible ton get in and out of there in under 2 hours. Waitstaff are…read moreextremely slow. Seems to be a very high turnover over rate in that place for employees. Why isn't there a bartender on? Servers are taking orders and making their down drinks. STOP USING THE POURERS to measure alcohol! Not a good look when a customer watches your drink being made with those. Staff does not wear a uniform either.. zits just odd. And we wonder why the bar is always empty! I will say, There was a decent woman in her 40's working there for a few weeks on Saturday nights . She was wonderful!, and could actually make a drink! I haven't seen her in months. I can't lie, one evening we couldn't help but watch her try to pretty much jug the entire restaurant and make everyone's drinks because the other staff were clueless. One waitress was working with a surgical boot on her foot that went all the way up to her knee! Talk about a Liability! . I haven't seen that other server there in quite some time. I could only guess that she took her experience elsewhere. She was way too overqualified to be working in that establishment. She could handle that entire restaurant by herself. . Either that, or she ran out that restaurant door because she saw how the place was run! It's unfortunate because the food is delicious. But we just can't go there anymore. It's a nightmare.

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Ivy Tavern

4.2

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Rating: 3.5 stars…read more The food was good, but not worth the price. The burger didn't taste like anything special and the bun just tasted like it was pulled right from the store-bought bag. Similarly, the fries were definitely from a freezer bag of french fries and barely had salt or pepper. Basically it tasted like what you'd have at like a backyard cookout? TLDR: fine, but it shouldn't cost $18 + tip. For this price I expect a nice toasted bun & homemade fries & a bit more flavor. They also messed up my order which is not a big deal but the waiter came back to the table to confirm my order and when he repeated it back, he had the temperature and the cheese wrong. It was then brought to me with tomato but no lettuce-- I had asked for lettuce with no tomato. The waiter was nice though!

I was visiting my cousin and this is where we went for the one dinner I had in town. Good food,…read morebeer, and service. It seemed liked there's some locals that fill up the bar. The bibibap is delicious and the best value on the menu. I wish I had split it. It's a good size and served in a beyond scalding hot calderon. My cousin wanted something light and enjoyed her Greek salad. Her partner liked his chicken sandwich. I felt bad for the bartender. He was a one man show. Somehow he did it all though.

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