Walking in, you're greeted with the widest array of signage. At first the restaurant/bar seems small, unassuming even. Walking into the back, you realize just how massive the space is. The front area is more of a dive bar feel, the back room more of a restaurant feel, with a sweet little courtyard adding to the diversity of space. Upstaris there are pool tables, both rented hourly as well as coin operated. I was disappointed that the cider was no longer on tap, but C'est La Vie. The cocktails were refreshing, and man, let me tell you... the steak skewers... YUM. I had zero expectation of what my tastebuds were going to feel, once the bartender put a bottle of A-1 on the bar. That's NEVER a good sign. Why anyone would sully these little morsels of deliciousness with A-1 is beyond me. They were freaking awesome. read more

Packards - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

I grabbed dinner here with a friend. It's a very funky environment that uses its space well. I liked that we got a little table tucked into a corner. My food was OK. My cheeseburger was a little bland and rubbery, but fine. The bun was good as was the lettuce, which are two little things I appreciate on a burger. I can't stand getting a slimy bedsheet of old lettuce over my burger. The cornbread was really good, very sweet. I ordered a Juice Bomb as well, always a solid choice. Service was good. I thought the burger was pricy for what I got, but it is an expensive little town in general. read more

Packards - Cornbread and burger - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

The service was fantastic. However, the food was below par. Cheeseburger was undercooked. BLT- little to no bacon... Great server! read more

Service was bad, I felt like they were being dismissive of me and also ignored me and served over patrons at the bar when they had looked at me and seen me trying to catch their eye. When I finally was able to ask for some help, they didn't try and help fix it but just asked me to purchase another drink instead. Saw them talking about me as I walked away, whispering to each other and glancing at me read more

Do not be scared away by the bad reviews. I'm not sure what expectations those folks had of a dive bar restaurant but I went in with low hopes and left pleasantly surprised. Despite the mixed reviews, we chose to eat here due to the proximity of Packards to The Academy of Music Theatre where we saw a comedy show. We were sat quickly. Our server was on top of everything (we put in quite a few rounds of food and drinks). The food came out quickly and was super fresh. I can't confirm but I believe they might cut and bread everything themselves (or at least that's how it tasted!). We got the hot dog w/ kraut, fries, BLTAC, onion rings, chicken strips, burger and one of the specials. I think parts of the food and drink specials were a little 'try-hard' --- meaning a bit fancier than needed for this type of place. But they are probably trying to keep in line with the all the craft places in the area. Regardless, everything was delicious and reasonably priced. The place was unexpectedly big -- classic bar set up in the front (gave me Cheers vibes) in front w/ dining area in the rear and unique 'outdoor' area. The decor is a collection of old signage from other bars and restaurants. Super cool. We will be back if we are ever in the area again! Thanks Packards! read more

Always a good place to drop by for some pool or a drinks. They have a really fun selection of cocktails and beer. The third floor is a perfect space for hanging out with some friends after work. My only misgiving is that the servers seemed suspicious of my companions and I. read more

Your neighborhood bar/restaurant that has been consistently great for so many years, amazing memorabilia all over the place, plenty of pool tables, great bar fair and drinks. It's where you meet your old or new friends. Lunch or late night, love that place! read more

Love this spot. Cold beer, great vibes. Food late. Barry is a great bartender. Pool tables upstairs. Eclectic decor. If ur in town, this place is a must-visit. read more

Packards - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

Great local bar with great service and a great bar menu. Old style pub with wood interior and signs from local businesses that have closed as decor. Warm and friendly. Prices are moderate. Great stop off after a local concert. read more

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came here for an after wedding party. PLENTY of parking on the street or at the parking lot across the building. Packards itself is pretty spacious. we started off downstairs for drinks and finger food and then headed upstairs to play some billards. the staff is super sweet. drinks are decent and the food wasn't bad either. good vibes. definitely recommend if you're in the area and want to chill ! read more

I have been here before, both to play pool and to eat. This is the first time I have been here in a while, and certainly the first time with kids. While we were a bit early for dinner, the service was slow, and it seemed like a promising meal was going to become a questionable one. They were out of "regular" fries, and the food we received was rather sub far from what I remembered. The generic salsa tasted like it was from a bottle, and I attached a copy of the veggie burger that I had. Perhaps some frozen thing. So, you walk in and expect this exciting experience with all of this cool memorabilia, and then it is like a disappointing theme park experience, where the pizzazz is a facade and Captain Yuck is the evil chef ruining your hopes and expectations. They even have one of the original Big Boy statues from Abdows back in my town. That place knew had to do it up right. Fresh soup, homemade pies, and a Breakfast bar with these awesome cinnamon sticks. By the way, that is not this place. Not at all. read more

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I went in last night to try the NY Strip Steak served with crispy house cut frites. Awesome, a perfect medium rare covered with a rosemary infused butter to die for. Something you would pay twice the amount for in a Steak house. I sat at the bar, servers were very attentive game on the TV some subtle hip jazz on the sound system, it's Definitely worth the trip. read more

The atmosphere and ambience is great. Feels like a place where you can go to get good drinks and watch a game. But the food not so much. The wings tasted crispy on the outside but undercooked on the inside. And it was really oily on the inside. The BLT was not much better either. Bread was too oily too. read more

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We walked in, took about 10 minutes to be greeted and sat. We finally get a table, across from the bar and our server walked by a handful of times not even glancing at us or acknowledging we were there. Finally we get waters and put in an appetizer, and decided after eating the overpriced nachos we got, we were going to head out. Overall just disappointed at the service, especially because there were maybe 5 tables in the entire restaurant, but the ambiance was cool. read more

i don't drink alcohol anymore but when i was this was my go-to spot. shout out to barry and meg - best bartenders in western mass!

Whenever I want pub food and comfort this is the spot. Great for people watching and conversation. The food is solid. Not upscale by any means, but there are good solid options, and surprisingly MANY things for vegetarians. They've NEVER had a problem customizing anything for us. The beer is good, nothing really crazy here, they pour a solid Guinness. I usually ask them to make me a snakebite/blackjack whatever you call it. (It's like a black and tan, but with cider instead of harp.) They don't have cider on draught, but they do have bottles, which usually ends up with me getting 2, which is no incredible hardship. Sadly, this is the least consistent part of my experience here. (One waitress who got it right said she had her own spoon.) Yes, sometimes the service is a little slow. But I've never had a BAD experience with the waitstaff there. Everyone has been nice. read more

Packards - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

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(Only rating the food, not the bar.) Can I tell you, the french onion soup is a REVELATION. Last night I went to a French place in eastern MA I really like but haven't been to in a while, and ordered the french onion, And Packard's is way better. It's piping hot, a full meal in itself, practically. Om freaking nom. And sandwiches are good too. I've had a few options off the menu, including the burger - all good. Also all messy, as pub food should be. Only reason we're at 4 stars is that the service can be hit or miss, depending on how busy - you can wait a while sometimes. Bar is obvs the priority - as it probably should be. But GO GET THE SOUP. read more

Great service, friendly staff, and good food. I highly recommend their burgers because it's so huge and juicy. Will visit again when in town. read more

Nice atmosphere, even during COVID. Reasonable menu. Nice staff. The 5 stars specifically is for the Hard Cider Sangria... It. Is. Delicious! read more

Packards - Apple cider sangria - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

i went to shoot pool. very disappointing. not going back. the pool room is nice, upstairs and away from all the noise and distraction. 4 full size tables. staff was nice. patrons friendly, that is all good. the table cloth ruins everything good. the cloth is cheap, possibly even installed wrong-side-up. the result is a super slow table. way to slow for any serious play. it's clear no one in control cares about these tables or the folks who want some pool fun. these are the only full size tables in Massachusetts west of Holyoke. it is a dam shame they suck. a real missed business opportunity. read more

Where do I start....service was great, I cannot complain at all about that!!! The food was terrible.. so bad we went to McDonald's which I have not eaten in 6 years!! To get food on our way home. I know things are different but this was awful. Kick the new chef and get the old menu back read more

This place is a Northampton classic and has been around a long time. It might be one of my faves for the "Noho institutions". It's a casual bar with good bar food options. The decor is filled with regional + Cape memorabilia including a moose head over looking the center of the bar. I rarely make it past the bar area and order a burger and beers 1/2 the times I am there. They have good wings and other types of sandwiches also. They make home made chips that are great and the spicy fries and onion rings are good too. The beer selection on tap is better than average. The service is friendly and good. Bottom line: good drinks, comfort bar food and a neighborhood bar experience. read more

Packards - Where does a moose head overlook the bar? Packards. - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

Consistency is often associated with a positive quality. Butstrictly speaking it has connotations like: predictable, invariant, and conformity not necessarily good in certain contexts. The greater Springfield area has two things that conform to these less favorable distinctions. The first is a proliferation of positive restaurant reviews and the second is a ubiquity of mediocre watering holes and food joints. both make one wonder what a place would need to do the reliably receive informed and honest reviews. Food poisoning? Belligerent waitstaff? Uncooked or inedible offerings? Just makes one wonder. The unique things about Packard's it is a double whammy both food and billiards. One being mediocre and the otner being dramatically substandard Was at this place today (Saturday 4/20...hey, get high day!) and partook of a sandwich and an hour (actually 40 mins) of pool. I will debate from the normal Zagat ratings here simply because I don't have the desire of energy to waste. So, let me be up front: The food was not terrible. It was not lacking in quantity, doneness or accuracy. It was just "ok". The sandwich was quite utilitarian and the "famous" fries were so-so. But less so-so given the apparent 40 years tradition they have backing them up. They were certainly substantially better than miserable fries but at least as lacking in comparison with top notch one What was note worthy was that even though the weather was on and off rainy the streets and parking lots were full but entering the bar at lunch time -it was wide open. No wait, sit where you want. A warning? Not necessarily. At any rate, I wouldn't say avoid this place in a pinch but it is by no means a destination. On the pool hall / billiards side of things, this was a immense disappointment.I had been led to believe the tables were in excellent condition and ready for action. Indeed intuition made me believe they would be worth the drive given they host a number of pool clubs and such. I was told they had been re-felted recently and so I figured "at least I'll have some fun knocking the balls around. Well the questions I hadn't asked should have been how old are they?and are they regulation size? The tables were not in great shape, were extremely old (maybe the last time Packard cars were driving around they were new) and kiddie sized. Compared to a true pool hall like Smith's in Springfield this place was a joke. The balls were not in great shape, the felt seemed cheap and the bumpers acted like they took the day off.After 40 mins of frustration I packed it in and checked out. And speaking of checking out I would encourage anyone shooting to confirm time they are clocking in and clocking out. It was a small monetary difference but I ended up paying 50% more for my time than I should have. The billiards here were for novices and people looking to just kid around. It's hard to imagine how they have leagues here. Food - 5 out of 10 Pool - 3 out of 10 read more

When spending time in Northampton there are only a few bars I enjoy going to, and Packards has to be on top of that list. The reason I love this bar and restaurant so much is because you can seriously spend the whole evening here. You can start out your night by sitting and having dinner with friends in multiple dining rooms. Their food is pretty decent and the prices are average to the area. Once you're done with your meal you can either sit at the bar or take your group upstairs to play some pool and continue drinking. This place has multiple rooms that assure that you won't feel crowded while hanging out here. The last time I was here was to grab some dinner before going out for my bachelor party and I have to say that it was awesome to hang out in their library room. This is definitely a hot spot in Northampton. read more

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Stopped in for a drink and to watch the Final of the Women's World Cup. Very fitting to watch in the town of a women's college, and my alma mater, Smith College! There's a long bar counter with stools as well as booths on the opposite side. It looked like the people's choice of drinks were bloody Mary's and Irish coffees. So New England. Great ambiance and fun decor! read more

Dirty Restaurant, and strict rules didn't let me go upstairs to play pool because I was under 21 yet I've been up there many times. Negative feedback well deserved. read more

One of the better local bars in the Northampton area. At least on the surface, there isn't really anything especially notable or outstanding about Packards, but it a pretty decent local bar with decent bar food and a few really good beers on draft (hint, hint- Harpoon) and a friendly ambiance. I've hung out here a few times with friends who live in the area and the first time they took me here, they said it was the "place to be" in Northampton. Well, at least they felt it was that way. To be honest, they weren't wrong. Of all the pubs in the area, Packards was one of the more low-key local watering holes, one that was neither pretentious nor a straight dive. It is what it is- a decent Northampton bar with pool tables, pub grub, good service, and great drinks. The best thing about Packards? Hello, they have Harpoon IPA on tap! It's essentially my favorite beer of all-time and the fact that I can't actually get any of it back in Michigan is a real bummer, so whenever I've had the opportunity to come on out to Massachusetts (thank you for friends and family that live in the area and make for a convenient excuse to travel back here), I make a point of hitting up the local pubs, particularly Packards, to snap up some of those great Harpoon brews. So, yes, the biggest selling point for me when it comes to Packards is the fact that they always have Harpoon IPA on tap, but I must say they usually have a pretty decent stable of other beers on draft as well, but for me, it will always be Harpoon. I've had their onion rings, which were actually pretty good fare for a bar. They were better than I expected and less soaked in grease than most of the versions passed off by typical fast food chains and other pubs. They were actually pretty tasty and hit the spot. I've had the fries before and they were okay, but could've used a tad more seasoning or something, even though they were supposed to have more of a kick to them. They were just alright. As for the service, Packards has been pretty decent. We managed to get waited on quickly, even when the place was jam-packed. It's true, the food did take a bit longer than expected, but the drinks always hit the table quickly, whether we ordered up at the bar or from our table. I've never found the service to be anything less than friendly and prompt. For me, when in the area, this will probably always be the default watering hole for grabbing a quick drink, at least as long as they don't change things too much. read more

Big but cramped, smoke free but dingy, tons of waitresses but no service... Decent draft selection of watered down beers and a bar with most standard liquors... 50/50 chance you'll get a decent pull of BBC vs an atrocious one... and equal odds of a 1oz jack 8oz coke mix vs 8 jack 1 coke... they have pool upstairs (2nd and 3rd floors) and a semi-isolated backroom eating area... Packard's would be three stars were it located elsewhere... but in Northampton there exists a myriad of better and equivalently priced choices... why go here when there's infinitely better options mere feet down the block? Wander around Northampton, you'll bump into something better, cheaper and more reliable... read more

Packards - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

Really bad experience tonight with both the service and food. Fries were soggy and cold. Burgers were over done and dry. Corned beef was so tough, couldn't cut it let alone chew it. So disappointing. read more

It's okay. Food is okay too. Came here for trivia on a Tuesday night and the company that put it on was just okay too. Very average over all. read more

This is an updated review. When I lived in Springfield I loved this place. When I returned and visited it was always a stop. I was in town late last year, and I was very disappointed with the changes that had been made, mainly to the menu. Packards' menu was unique. It was one of the things that really set it apart. The redo now looks more like a cheap diner menu. One of my favorite spaces in the place was the Library Room. I had some parties there over the years, including my going away party when I left in 2012. Again, it was unique, and really set Packards apart. Today, on Facebook, they announced that the Library Room had been completely redone, and now was just a room. Nothing special, nothing unique. Painted walls, and just unoriginal furniture. I will probably pick somewhere else next time I'm in town. It's a shame. read more

Wow, haven't been treated this rudely in a while. Avoid this place, they treat you like crap and have a terrible attitude.

Drinks were weak and purely sugar. Got a margarita and just tasted like lime juice. Food was way overpriced for quality. Only good thing this place has going for them is the pool tables upstairs. Other than that theres no reason to come here. read more

If you've been in Western Mass for an extended period of time and haven't been to karaoke night at Packard's, you basically haven't lived. There are good times to be had here, and they are yours for the taking. C'mon, you get: $3 beer specials, MAGIC HAT, the legendary blooming onion, pool tables upstrais, the chicken "tendas" that you would sell your grandmother for ... plus all the servers are sassypants and will rag on you like you're family. One summer I made Packard's my unofficial headquarters and I am still recovering, but happily so. Trust me, check it out and before long they will recognize you and you won't even have to open the menu anymore. read more

This bar/restaurant is pretty cool. One side of the 1st floor is a restaurant cooking up some delicious food on the grill. I had the "Chicken Tendas", and I must say they are some of the greatest chicken tenders I have ever had : ) made with real chicken!!! The selection of beers on tap is freaking excellent! The spicy fries are really good too! There are billiard tables up on the second and third floors. Watch what you do, because they are video taped, and if you spill a drink on the table not only did you lose all that precious alcohol, but Packard's is going to charge you $250.00!!! Keep in mind that this is also a good thing, because the tables are in good condition. If you plan on playing on the billiard tables be sure to bring more than a few dollars in quarters, because it will run you $10/hour. I hate the diamond plate walls on the bathrooms... it is ridiculous. It is seriously all over, even in front of the urinal... which is odd, because I could see the reflection of my junk while I was taking a leak. The touch-tunes machine upstairs is awesome! Tons of music such as the Dillinger Escape Plan, Misfits, Dead Kennedys, and others!!! They don't get five stars because of the diamond plate bathrooms... if you don't know what diamond plate is check out this link - http://www.pickuptrucktoolboxes.com/Delta/JOBOX/jobox_aluminum_crossover_tool_boxes.htm it's just like a freaking truck box!!! read more

I've been here many times when I was at Smith (graduated in 2013) and it's still pretty much the same place. Not amazing, but good enough when you're a poor college student. The drinks are cheap (though not that strong) and they have a decent beer selection. The food is pretty good but takes a long time to come out. One of my late night favorites is the dragon fries- fries with spicy nacho cheese. If you're looking for an easy, drinkable cocktail, I recommend the Packard's Punch or the Pink n Fun. FYI- they no longer give you a free drink on your birthday :( read more

Packard's has shitty burgers, shitty service, and even shitter drink choices. Screw this place. It's a nasty local watering hole anyway. read more

In the 70's, I would sit quietly and watch my dad play chess with other regulars who gathered in the dining room at Packards on Wednesday afternoons, my half of our shared sandwich so large that it would be cut into three pieces, one of which I would always take home for later. I would order my usual ginger ale with lime, and the waitresses would surprise me by bringing it in a stem glass with maraschino cherries. That's how they hooked me. Any place with fancy glasses and maraschino cherries was magical and worth tolerating the brooding-over-wooden-pieces-and-clicking-timers business of chess. Much of the art was (and still is) local, and I took great delight in identifying the familiar faces of my dad's friends and acquaintances that artist Greg Stone would paint into his strip-bar scenes that hung on the largest and most prominent walls. And later, as Packards' collection of local business signage grew, it was an ever-changing walk down memory lane as we recognized the signs that used to hang over downtown storefronts. It seems that when Northampton businesses shut down, their signage goes to Packards...where they adorn the walls, ceilings, nooks and crannies and create something of a life-size time capsule. In the 80's, it was all about trying to look cool and see how long into the changeover from dinner-crowd to night-life we could linger before one of our parents appeared and brought an abrupt -- and usually embarrassing -- end to our delusions of adulthood. All the worse if we had managed to sneak upstairs to the pool tables without getting carded. Early 90's were lean college years, and my roommates and I knew that the jumbo hot dog was the best deal on the menu. $3.75, massive and heaped with chili. And if you subbed a baked potato for the fries, you could take that home as a second meal. If we were particularly broke, we'd skip the chili. Burgers were the best in town and well worth the occasional budget bust. Once we were of legal drinking age, Packards' Thursday-night booze promos kept us outfitted in t-shirts. In fact, I can remember several occasions when my roommate and I decided to hit Packards on a Thursday night just so that we could put off doing laundry for another day or two. And I specifically recall folding clothes in the laundromat one afternoon and breaking into hysterical laughter as we realized that we must look like complete alcoholics...such an impressive mountain of t-shirts emblazoned with the likes of Harpoon, Captain Morgan, Bass and similar had we amassed. Packards has seen us through blind dates, first dates, breakups, birthdays, family dinners, girls nights out, reunions with old friends, and hours upon hours of shooting pool and memorizing the juke box. Great food, great staff, pool tables, a private library room for small group gatherings, a patio... Packards is, simply put, everything you want from a local pub. read more

Packards - Packard burger...shrooms, horseradish sauce, heaven. - Pubs Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

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Pretty terrible place. Won't serve you some drinks. Old guy isn't on top of anything but runs the bar.

Great local spot- really awesome american food menu- pay attention to the detailed, illustrated menu- REALLY cool touch. The decor is awesome if you just have a look at all the interesting doodads on the walls. Excellent draft beer selection- reasonably priced. They always have a big crowd... mix of all sorts of people... this place has been around forever and that is definitely for a reason! Stop in -try the nachos or a burger or just have a brew! I love this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more