Im glad Billerica has the Rose, its become a staple for me and my friends. The reason to go is not for the food, or service but for the large bar area where you can meet and greet the entire town of Billerica on a Thursday night. Although I am giving this 3 stars I want to mention that I have had one of the worst experiances with a server here in my entire life! I was a server for 3 years so I cut a lot of them slack, but this lady was the biggest b*tch I have ever encountered, and she was horrible at her job. read more

We were really hoping to like this place... We had the Spinach Artichoke Dip for an appetizer, I had the Panko Mustard Crusted Chicken and my husband had the Pan Seared Salmon for an entree. Dip was "ok" didn't really notice any artichokes. The Chicken didnt have any mustard flavor, the "crust" was kind of soggy & was served with a big scoop of butter on top (gross)... both of us had the mashed potatoes... they were oddly greyish-yellow colored and didn't taste like mashed potatoes - tasted like they added something to it or used some sort of pre-made mix... either way it wasnt good and I didn't know it was hard to make good mashed potatoes. The vegetables were overcooked and mushy. Pretty disappointing - the dining room was definitely respectable looking, but the food was not enough to make us want to go back again. read more

Soups were delicious!!! 5stars Whipped honey butter for house bread was yummy.4 stars. Shepherds Pie and Fish and Chips were passable.3 stars Bread pudding 4 stars. read more

Emerald Rose - Interior of restaurant - Irish Near Me - Billerica, Massachusetts

We like to sit at the bar where the service is great and people are friendly. I've been in the dining room a few times, but always regret not choosing a bar seat. It's separate from the dining room, may get noisy on a busy night, but the bar service has always been better. The basket of breads and maple butter (I think it's maple) is delicious and my go-to meal here is the Glazed Salmon & Lobster Risotto while my husband enjoys the Prime Rib. read more

I love The Rose! They have GREAT beer - a nice variety on tap and in bottles. It also changes so there is always something new to taste. That said, there is also a decent wine list. When you order by the bottle, the wine list becomes even more interesting. (I would give them 5 stars if I could have Malbec by the glass.) I generally have gone here after work or late night. The appetizers are always delicious; even the nachos and spinach dip taste fresh and not at all greasy, which you might not expect at a neighborhood pub. The Rose also has a large bar area and it's generally possible to get a seat or even a table. read more

Made a reservation via opentable for 630 on a Saturday evening. Parking lot was full but we were seated quickly and received prompt service. Food is better than average. I had chili, which was better than expected for an Irish restaurant, and shepard's pie. My only complaint us that the restaurant is loud, bad acoustics. Will return again soon. read more

I have been going to the Emerald Rose for years. It used to be so consistent and lately it's spotty. Last night I was disappointed. I ordered the pork loin and it was not great and, honestly, I felt like it was a few days old. The serving size was much smaller than last time. The gravy was congealed and it looks so unappetizing on the plate. The casear salad starter had no taste. Not sure I will go back. read more

The Emerald Rose is a decent Irish restaurant/bar in the heart of picturesque Billerica. I've been there many times for lunch, dinner, and nightlife and have always been satisifed. Never blown away, but satisfied, hence, three stars. I think the food here is generally pretty good, but nothing overly memorable. The chicken pot pie is one of my favorites here, as are the fish and chips. Last time I went, they were running a special on the New York sirloin strip that I took advantage of, but unfortunately my steak came out overcooked. Meh, you win some, you lose some. I can say, however, that I've never left this restaurant with any negative feelings towards my meal--I've just never had a meal so good that I'd rave about it to my coworkers the next day. The bar scene here always seems to be lively, much of the time with some kind of live entertainment going on. They've got a decent number of beers on tap and a variety of whiskey/Scotch if that's your thing. The martini list seems to be very heavy on the sweet fruity/desserty drinks. They do have a full bar, so they can make anything you want, but I'm a sucker for the ease of choosing from the cocktail list wherever I go, so it'd be nice to see one or two specialty martinis that aren't so girly. I mean, despite its relative upscaleness, this is still an Irish bar and come on, I have an image to maintain. *Grunts and scratches himself to reaffirm manliness as he writes this* Service here is pretty good. I've encountered surly servers and sweet servers. No matter what the demeanor, though, I've always found them to be very efficient, whether I'm out with friends out for leisurely dinner and cocktails or my department of 35 or so at work descends upon them like locusts at lunchtime. Overall, a solid three stars. As long as I'm living and working in this area, I'm sure I'll be back here again. read more

Came here last night for the first Time despite being warned by our family about the food. Wish we would have listened! Everything was horrible. I ordered a filet that was tremendously overcooked and dry. The crab stuffed shrimp was also beyond overcooked, crunchy and hard, the stuffing on top was clearly a very fishy, canned crab meat. The lamb was undercooked, almost completely raw. They forgot part of our meal and still charhed us for everything. Everything was just terrible... and the worst part was our bill was $175 For two of us and minimal alcohol. Ridiculously overpriced for sub bar food , if that read more

Points for having a huge bar area. The exterior is clean, nicely updated, and well-lit (more on that later). The bar's counter-top is enormous and is nearly the full length of the major room. There was a bachelorette party going on and many guys from the neighborhood. Now imagine two Asian girls chilling by themselves and huge muscular guys trying to buy them drinks, and then moments later, inviting them to a pool hall/party afterward. Okay, that was me and a friend. Apparently they haven't seen Asian girls before because these guys circled around the restaurant 4 times as my friend and I said our goodbyes. Trust me, I jumped into my car tout de suite. The apricot beer was yummy. read more

The food was all delicious we all got our own and shared. The flat bread and meatballs are to die for. I myself tried the clam chowder and it was yummy:) The building was nice and clean & the staff was patient and always made sure to check up on us. read more

Emerald Rose has delicious food and is always packed with people on weekends. I actually wouldn't even recommend going there on the weekends unless you get there early for a seat at the bar or a table because if not it is next to impossible to get near the bar to order a drink. Drinks are good but on the more expensive side. Fun atmosphere and good music playing. read more

This place is like 3.5 stars, because it's slightly better than 3, but I'm not sure it totally deserves a 4. I'm feeling indecisive so I will go with 3 to be on the safe side. When I was younger and worked for what is now a failed .com company nearby - my co-workers and I spent many, many lunches/dinners here drinking several pints and eating pretty tasty food. Maybe that's why the company failed? we were too busy eating and drinking? ha ha But seriously it was fantastic then. They had homemade potato chips, awesome apps, decent meals, and Guinness ice cream - which was sooooo good. After that company went under I ate there less because it wasn't as close to where I work now. About once a month or so (maybe slightly less frequent now) I meet up with old friends for a drink and dinner here. They have Murphy's Amber on Tap (which is fantastic!!), great Guinness, Smithwicks, as well as all the standards. I feel like it's not quite as good as I remember it, but it's not bad either. For apps: potato skins, nachos, and the spinach and artichoke dip are great. For dinner usually I get the lobster roll or the emerald rose salad topped with lobster meat and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. But hey for the 'burbs, this place isn't bad at all. I've frequently eaten here on a Friday night too and have always gotten a seat with minimal wait (if any) - which is great in the 'burbs. The places closer to the Burlington Mall get 2 hour waits (insane!) This is a good place for after work on Friday for a few drinks / apps with friends (if you work nearby). In the winter the bar has a cozy fireplace you can sit and eat in front of - and in the warmer months they have outdoor seating. read more

Bar: Great place to meet after work. Slightly more expensive, but far and above any bar in the area. I recommend a Smithwicks (pronounced 'Smitticks') with a Guinness head. Restaurant: Irish soada bread is no where near the real thing (think raisin bread)..but it might be that way on purpose, I'm not sure. Appetizers are all good, nachos are amazing. For dinner the Shepard's Pie is a well prepared dish...just watch out because it is extremely hot. They also have a late night menu, which serves food until 12 if you are out late. Also as an "Irish guy", I'd say this passes the test. Some room for improvement, but overall great drinks atmosphere and food. read more

A nice place with good food and service, but hardly an Irish pub. The menu offers only a small handful of Irish fare amid a mix of typical pub food and more upscale offerings. All in all, a worthwhile place for food, drinks and maybe some live music. However, if you're looking for an Irish pub, this isn't the place. read more

Hubby & I used to live in Burlington and we went to the Emerald Rose pretty frequently for dinner. We've now moved up toward Lowell so it's a longer drive, but we still go occasionally. When we were in Burlington, it was a great neighborhood option for us on a Friday or Saturday night when we were hungry, wanted a decent meal and didn't wanna wait for 1-3 hours at some restaurant with a buzzer in hand. The bar side of the Rose can get crowded on the weekends, but the dining room usually has little to no wait. I think the longest we ever waited was 15 minutes for a table...and that was a particularly busy night for them. Interestingly, for a traditional 'Irish Bar', it's nothing of what would come to mind. It's actually very nicely decorated (esp. the dining room) with hard wood all over and is cozy. Almost everytime we go, there's a multi-generational family meal going on which says a lot about the restaurant's ability to make everyone comfortable. Service is okay - sometimes great and sometimes mediocre would be a compliment. It seems to be hit or miss. I think they've had some turnover lately and have hired some servers with little or no restaurant experience so our last few times haven't been 'great', but not horrible either. Something that impresses me is their ability to have a menu that isn't crazy overwhelming (like, say, Cheesecake Factory which is ridiculously huge), but they still manage to have something for everyone. They've got the traditional Irish fare, but also a lot of other options. I almost always get the Emerald Rose salad (with chicken) which is my perfect salad if I were to design one. Hubby has tried all kinds of things from the prime rib to lamb to seafood and rarely has any complaint. read more

Amazing food. Definitely homemade cooking. My family of 4 all got something different and all of it was great. The artichoke dip and chips as well as the pretzel and pub cheese appetizers were the best we have had. We got the whiskey burger, California burgers, fish and chips and the shepherds pie. All were unique and full of flavor. I feel like these dishes can usually lack and are not homemade but you could tell these were. You have to try the the deserts as well! Great service and we will definitely be going back if we find ourselves in this area again. read more

Came by on Labor Day for lunch. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside. We had a great server (Donna) although her name tag said Jessica (haha). I had the chicken avocado sandwich and my SO had the nachos (with chili). All very good and excellent mojitos. We'll definitely come back. read more

Fun place to go outside of Boston This is my second time here. I am from San Diego but travel frequently to Boston usually staying around Burlington and Billerica. The GM is very friendly, wait staff adequate. And food had a nice Irish New England flare. Some colleagues of mine came for lobster rolls and thoroughly enjoyed them. I got the baked haddock which was nice. If you like a nice beer selection (including some west coast brews!) and some comfort food for a reasonable price then this is the place to go. read more

First time at this restaurant. The food was amazing and new waitress Linda was awesome.

Great burgers and OK tap selection. Service is consistently quick and friendly. Only complaint is that the beer selection could greatly improve. I realize it is supposed to be an Irish restaurant, but some German and Belgian beers on tap couldn't hurt! read more

After a couple of people enjoyed dinner at the Emerald Rose, I decided to take my family there for Mother's Day. The place is kid friendly and staff seemed to enjoy having little ones in. The food was really very good. My table started off with Irish Bread with the house butter sweetened with a hint of Maple. We had the Baked Haddock, Baked Lobster Pie, and two Pan seared Atlantic Salmon with Lobster Risotto. The latter dish was the star offering for sure. We were all very pleased with our dishes. They have a good number of taps. I ordered a "Black and Tan" (Guinness and Bass). I intend to try their late night menu with a few drinks soon. I would highly recommend the Emerald Rose. read more

My family visits this restaurant often. The staff is polite and friendly. My husband loves the chicken pot pie and roast beef sandwich. The boiled dinner is delicious. They have a great bread basket. They are always great with my toddler, bringing her over oyster crackers and spoons to play with. This is a great place to grab a meal. read more

The last time we visited Emerald Rose in Billerica I ordered the fish and chips - a great and value meal (approximately 10" filet of an estimated 6-8 oz). Most in adjacent tables had the same choice, equally generous, as if the Rose was known for this tasty choice. Mine was cooked perfectly hot and tender. On my next visit to the Rose, me with great expectations for this delectable dish, I was greatly disappointed by a considerably smaller portion (too small to be a reasonable meal, maybe 2 curled filets of 5" and 3" each, and an estimated 4-5 oz). The side order included steak fries, also few, maybe 6 or 7 of long and short pieces. It was not a meal size and not a value at $18.00. Furthermore, the fish was overcooked, rubbery, and stiff in cutting. Other dishes not the fish at our table were more reasonable in portion. Otherwise, the matradee and server staff were very pleasant and responsive and worthy of praise; reminding me that I could have returned the meal at the beginning of the meal for its tough preparation. read more

The Emerald Rose warm, inviting Irish pub. There is a large bar in which live bands can play and there is also a dining room. We went on a Saturday night and there was a cover band playing. It wasn't that bad. Kinda cheesy but not horrible. The beer selection is great. They had my two favorite beers on tap, Sea dog and New Castle and they even scooped blueberries in the Sea Dog. The bread was yummy. They had white roll and raisin rolls and a sweet cream butter. We got the nachos as a starter and they were pretty decent nachos. Melty cheese and salsa. The salsa could have been a bit spicier but other than that it was good. What makes this a 4 star review is the Fried Calamari. It was really bad... so bad that the person who ordered it had to send it back. However, my dish was really good. I got the Irish Seafood Stew. There were big sea scallops, shrimp and haddock in a leek, tomato, and fennel broth. It reminded me of something my Irish Nana would have made. It was wicked yummy. read more

Great food! love the menu options ... Next time we will hang out in the bar and listen to live music. Reasonable pricing as well, read more

One of our go to spots for a nice casual non-chain dining experience with family and friends. When the two of us go out alone we sit in or at the bar. Service and food is always spot on. The staff is very attentive especially if we sit at the bar even when very busy. Try the Emerald Rose and I believe you will become a fan as well. read more

I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews on here. I went here with a party of 20, so obviously we put them to the test. I thought the food was very good, I had a Lamb special they were offering and I thought the Lamb was of the finest quality, and cooked to perfection. Everything from the appetizers to the main course, to the desert was exceptional. I thought the staff did an excellent job considering the size of our party, everyone got there food at the same time, and no one complained of it being cold. I thought they had a very good bar area, with a good list of beers, I do think for an Irish Bar/Restaurant, they should step up their list of craft beers. All in all, I had a good experience, and would defiantly go back read more

We took my mother there for dinner last night. Food was okay...not bad, not great, just okay. Drinks were good. We had an expired coupon...spend over $60, get a $20 gift card for a future visit. I told the waitress it was expired and asked her to check with the manager to see if they would honor the coupon. He came by our table and said no. Now, I know that he was not obligated to honor it but my 83 year old mom would have appreciated the gesture. She was not happy. Will think twice before returning. read more

Tasted their food this time. Very tasty and fresh, no frozen food. Variety of dishes. read more

I absolutely LOVE this place. Been here 3-4 times and have Always gotten the Maple Chicken. It is To Die For. I hardly get any grissel in the chicken. The risotto is perfect and asparagus cooked (grilled) through just right. I haven't tried anything else bc why mess with this amazing meal? Plus I don't eat seafood and they have a fair selection of it. Good for those with a desire for a seafood choice but not for me. The nachos are good, nothing to write home about but something I'll order if in the mood to eat. Price can be a little high but it's a kinda fancy place without feeling like you Need to dress up to go. Cloth on tables and cloth napkins. Love this place!!!!! Highly recommend. read more

Guinness is not a pint! What a ripoff! Very disappointing. I think I'll try a real Irish pub.

Was in here one afternoon with family from over seas , The woman working behind the bar, insisted on giving my step father a hard time about drinking and driving. Even after telling her that I was the designated driver and drinking water, she kept on and on she even at one point went on to state and I quote " he has been here all afternoon and has been drinking a lot!!" My step father was sat quietly at the bar. This was very embarrassing for me, my family were on vacation and wanted to enjoy a few drinks in the pub. They did not expect to be given a lecture!!! It was an older lady working in the day time. Will never go again or recommend it to anyone else. Completely spoiled our family day out to the pub. read more

Decided to give this pub a try. Upon arriving the parking lot was full and we had to wait for someone to leave. Once inside the establishment, we checked in at the hostess podium for our reservation. Much to our dismay , the woman standing there ( I believe she was the owner) never welcomed us or even smiled! Not a warm welcome! We were nonchalantly brought to our table by a not so happy young woman. Our waitress was smiley and bubbly, and this was a plus!The warm artichoke and spinach dip was very good! We ordered the steak tips and roasted duck for our dinner. Unfortunately we were both very disappointed with out dishes. For $24 the portion of duck breast and accompaniments was not even close to a dinner portion. The steak tips were mediocre for $20. The mashed potatoes were barely warm and very paste-like. Onion rings were also part of the steak tip dinner - however they were so thickly coated with grease- laden batter that you couldn't even taste the onion!!! For what we paid for these meals we should have stuck with a restaurant we know and enjoy! Leaving the Emerald Rose was just as impersonal and cold as our welcome! Again the "owner lady" who was at the podium again, chose NOT to say "Have a great evening", or even "thank you for coming" let alone a smile of any kind - just watched us leave! Well I hope you enjoyed out exit Mrs Owner Lady...because we will NOT visit your over-priced, unfriendly pub ever again! read more

Billerica has some gems for good dining. The Emerald Rose has Irish and British pub food with Boston seafood. Not pictured was the best clam chowder I had north of the city. Dinner was baked haddock and steamed broccoli. Haddock was flaky, hot and well seasoned. Even the house made table bread was noteworthy. Italian style and a raisin walnut with maple butter. Look forward to coming back. read more

wow are they busy on st patrick's day, line out side waiting for them to open,,,,,,,big bar on one side a more reserved dining area on the other, they did a great job on st pats, seemed well staffed and had lots of music. lot of help who were running their butts off......food WAS GOOD, especially considering how busy they were, wife thought the haddock sandwich was excellent and the reuben was certainly very good...decor is attractive.....nice place, we were here a while ago but this is the first time on a st pats day and they handled everything well!!!! read more

I have been here a few times and I always enjoy coming in and seeing what's on the menu and on tap. I got the French onion soup for an appetizer and it was delicious. They also have amazing desserts! read more

Emerald Rose - Irish Near Me - Billerica, Massachusetts

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This pub restaurant is a great place for a nice meal with the family and even your kids! It has Irish pub food and some American fare, and a pretty large menu to choose from. Their fish and chips dish is amazing!! We don't go here a often as I'd like, but when we do make it down, we always have a great experience! read more

The wife and I went there today because of their "buy one turkey dinner for 16.95 and get one free" coupon. So we sit down at the bar at 6:30 and when the server asked about menus we said we were going to have the turkey special. She says, "We're all out of turkey." I said, "You're out of turkey on a Thursday night at 6:30?" So, does a manager come over and say this is our fault so you can use the coupon on another entree? Nope. Does a manager come over and say, "We're so sorry?" Nope. Does anybody say they are sorry? Nope. So now I'm starting to wonder if this is a bait and switch deal by design. I mean....who's going to leave after they've driven all the way to the restaurant? So I ask a server if they run out of turkey often and she said that she only works two days a week but that they ran out yesterday, too. Hmmmm. A couple that came in after us also asked for the turkey special and guess what? They stayed, too, and ordered something else. This owner may think he's smart by bringing in all the extra business with his free turkey dinner scam but diners aren't stupid. If you want to use this coupon call ahead...even if its 5:00 on a Tuesday evening. UPDATE 2/29 I received an email from the general manager today. In it he thanked me for my feedback, apologized for our bad experience, outlined how the problem should have been handled and mentioned what changes have been made to reduce the chances of this happening again. He also told me about some circumstances that contributed to their running out of turkey so soon. He also asked me to contact him for some sort of reimbursement for our experience but I told him that wasn't necessary. It seemed to be an honest and extremely sincere effort. read more

Two stars for the bar area that's about it. The food is bland at best most food is frozen garbage like the chicken fingers which are gross. Deserts are good but you have to be an idiot to screw up deserts. Staff is friendly and on par with a good restaurant. Also the beer ok tap is not cold enough, the glasses usually are warm or hot and sometimes they taste like dish detergent. Note to bar staff and management take a ride to Burlington and get a beer on tap at the tavern in the square notice a difference? Well if you don't let me give you a tip, keep your kegs cooler, clean your beer taps regularly, glasses should always be cold and frosty. Do that and I would be there regularly for beer after work. On the food well, Irish people are not known for cooking anything particularly good, at least that's the impression I get when I eat the food. I can tell the kitchen standards are not up to par and the cooks are paid crap hence the food is lousy. I feel like there is a lack of caring with this place. It could be so much more if only somebody would pay attention. My advice is improve or shut down. It takes more than local townies to make money in this business. read more