Wonderful service, very friendly and helpful. Great food & delightful drinks! I am deaf so I came ahead of time to check if there was a quieter area of the restaurant where I could sit, and the staff was very accommodating and understanding, more than most restaurants I've been to! The restaurant is split into several sections that helps with noise control, and there are many seats along walls & corners. Of course it got louder/busier as the night went on, but I would highly recommend Protocol to anyone looking for a deaf-friendly spot. read more

Came here for the duck confit handheld and it did not disappoint! My partner said it was fantastic! We started with the fries which were crispy and well salted as they should be! We gobbled that generous portion right up. I had a beef sandwich made with shredded beef, formed into a patty and pan fried with swiss cheese and a calabrian chili spread. This was not a total winner for me since the calabrian chili sauce disappeared into the bun (flavorwise). But I did not leave hungry! I had a glass of wine and my partner had a beer. I thought the selections of beer and wine offered a nice variety of flavor profiles. And the service was lovely! read more

Finally got here after friends have gone and enjoyed it. The atmosphere is upbeat and vibrant. They have a very limited menu, but they do what they offer very well. The drinks were excellent! Definitely would return just for the cocktails. We ordered the cheeseburger, fried chicken sandwich and fries. Their dishes don't come with sides. But everything was cooked well and very tasty. If you're looking for a full meal, this isn't the place. It's just pub food, but it's worth a try and very good! read more

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Great dining experience! Very lovely vibe here. There's a long bar and the dining area is very spacious with 3 sections that help to split up the noise. Food was good, nothing to write home about, but prices were definitely competitive and portion sizes were perfect. They have a great drink and dessert selection. Service was prompt and the food came out fast! Overall, I'd recommend. read more

Protocol - Pork ribs - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

During Family Weekend, we headed to Protocol for dinner. Our son order the smash burger which was devoured quickly. We also had the duck confit burger over lettuce, the acorn squash soup, the fall tagine (not pictured), and the sweet corn arepas. The dishes are arranged in order of how much I enjoyed them -- The duck really was the stand out as it wasnt greasy as duck can sometimes be -- but delightfully flavorful. My husband ordered the Passionate Presbyterian because of the name alone! The server was pleasant too despite the place being quite busy on a Friday evening. read more

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The restaurant is very welcoming with so many plants throughout the restaurant. There's plenty of street parking and it's in a busy area. Seat yourself and the staff will greet you with a menu. It did take a while to get someone's attention. The fried chicken sandwich comes with chips. Order a side of fries, they are really good! The chicken is different than other places, I can't quite explain it. I think it's extra crispy while not being overcooked. This is a good place with a relaxing atmosphere. read more

Protocol - Fried Chicken Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

12 Oct 2025: 1) crispy chicken sandwich 2) smash burger 3) hand cut fries 4) classic Caesar salad. Hand cut fries is not crispy. Caesar salad is good. read more

Protocol - Menu - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Love it here! Staff is extremely friendly. Food is fantastic and the drinks are absolutely amazing! Especially the Wabi Sabi, I haven't had a drink like that in my life but it's absolutely perfect. read more

Visited with friends and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! More than anything, I was impressed that all of the food we ordered was well-executed. No, nothing was life-changing, but it feels like a rare experience in the area for all of the food to come out at the correct temperature, to be made with quality ingredients, and come in reasonable portion sizes. We ordered the dill hummus, French fries, corned beef sandwich, Spanish shrimp and chorizo special, and green curry. Every plate was but one was cleaned off and that's only because I was full! The special was the standout. The chorizo bolognese sopped up with that huge, soft and toasty piece of bread was chef's kiss. Ambience and service were both solid. The server was friendly and helpful in making our selections and kept plates moving as we finished them off. Glad to have Protocol as a local option and look forward to trying more of the menu! read more

Protocol initially drew us in to visit during the fall of last year with their the eye catching interior. As a restaurant the menu changes with the seasons and as of today I've experienced both the fall plus spring menus. Despite the beautiful atmosphere, I wish that we had better experience with the food which is a key component of the dining experience. Our most recent visit made us not want to come back, at least not for food. We ordered the Caesar Salad and Fish sandwich, which both lacked a certain amount of flavor. We had to supplement them both with more dressing and sauce. I enjoy the aioli that comes with the fries though it was difficult to pick them up since a majority of the fries were the bits. We contemplated eating it with a spoon though eventually gave up. Even the drinks were weak in spirit both in the experience and alcohol content. I think on occasions this space would be nice for a fun drink out since it has a lively atmosphere in the evenings though don't expect a memorable meal or drinks... The best part of the experience is hopefully the people you're with. Though I have appreciated that the staff is always super nice and depending on what time you go the service is fast. Update: After leaving the today restaurant we all felt sick as we drove home from our meal... We got food poisoning :( read more

OK - so I do believe their Smash Burger is the best hamburger I have ever had in my life. It's just bursting with flavor. Very impressed. Staff was friendly and helpful. Beer selection decent but not amazing. Other food and sides were all a 9 or 10. Cocktail selection so so but they are willing to go off menu for drinks. Overall high marks in terms of being a great bar and restaurant in the area. The bar itself is also LOOONG and pretty cool. Nice job! read more

Protocol - Smash burger amazing-ness!! - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Great ambience, hot food, friendly wait staff. This place feels like you're in a city in a small college town.

The food was decently priced and tasty, but it was a bit loud and dark where we were sitting. Overall, a nice place to have a meal and a drink, our servers were very attentive. read more

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Great good and drink. Sat at the bar and service was excellent. Had the duck tacos and fries. Would return.

"Hadley" asparagus was really thick and past its prime. Since it's the peak of asparagus season I don't understand why they would serve less flavorful thick stalks. Disappointing . The 2 sandwiches we ordered were ok and the fries were good . The decor is nice but I know many many places in the areas where I like the food more. read more

We've been here twice now and it's fine. Amherst needs more restaurants for sure and this is pretty good. The smash burger is delicious and the arepa was also good. The acorn squash soup was just ok. The duck is also very good. Drinks are very exotic sounding although not necessarily good in taste. No special desserts here either. read more

The summer menu is out and the zucchini corn fritters are delightful! Don't pass them by!! read more

Liked the modern vibe of this place. The hummus was bland; but the chicken sandwich was really good and crispy. The pricing seemed a bit above average. Good service and I would return. read more

The service was immaculate! I was a bit of a nightmare customer with my special requests & questions, but Imani & team were graceful, kind, & helpful. The aesthetic vibe is sexy date night & the food seems to be very carefully designed. The smashburger is excellent with vibrant seeds (sesame, poppy, & possibly grains of salt?) on the roll & a picklish blended sauce. The patties are thin & the burger comes with 2. The fries were excellent on their own but the aioli was to die for. We asked for extra. It was yummy & I'd come back. read more

Wonderful atmosphere! The food and drinks are always amazing. The chef's creativity shows in the meals we have tried. The staff is always friendly. Daniela and Victoria always make a point to talk to us. We love it and will definitely keep going. read more

Great vibe and food with good service. I'll definitely be going back to try their regular menu as my family and I went for a Sunday brunch. read more

Protocol - White Bean Tapenade - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

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This is the best bloody Mary and eggs Benedict I've had. The Bloody Mary was delicious and spicy, they have a bunch of topping options and we got them all - 3 shrimps, a piece of candied bacon, 3 bleu cheese stuffed olives, and an antipasto skewer. You can choose which toppings you want in it, but for all the toppings it's only like $20 which is a great price. The eggs Benedict was amazing, the biscuits are made in house and are so good, they use a Brie sauce instead of hollandaise and it was such an upgrade from any other brunch spot in the area. Everything came out very quick too and the bartender was very attentive. We will definitely be back again. We loved the atmosphere as well, it's loaded with real plants and plenty of seating, overall really nice place to be. read more

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Really friendly service and an awesome cosmopolitan vibe to the place. A truly great setting. Craft cocktails were interesting and excellent. Unfortunately, the food was a soft spot in the experience: -- Whipped ricotta app was excellent, and the accompanying flatbread sticks were a perfect accompaniment and well seasoned. -- Caesar salad had no perceptible croutons, cheese, or dressing. (We like a salad that's very lightly dressed, but there was just nothing here...) -- Chicken sandwich was swimming in mayo. No discernible seasoning on the chicken. The mayo completely overwhelmed the pickles and chicken and made the sandwich both flavorless and a sloppy mess to eat; shredded (iceberg?) lettuce added no flavor and didn't help the sandwich hold together. The bun fell apart mid-meal, which meant that it could no longer benefit from the pickles since they fell out. Overall, the menu is quite small, so it's important that every piece hit the mark--and in theory a small menu should be easy to perfect. Protocol is still new, and I hope the work out the kinks. The cocktail and lounge experience is great, and with a little stronger food offering, it could be an awesome place to spend the whole evening. read more

First, let me say both the drinks and the choices for drinks were excellent. Also, this is one of the few places in Amherst that serves food and is open after 9pm. It's ok inside, clean and cute even though the bathroom has some paint peeling on the door. Sadly this last visit, my food (bruschetta) came out black and fully burnt. I waited over 30 mins for a server to even come to my area to let them know. Eventually another server came to clear and I shared the situation. They did not offer a redo or a comp or even really apologize. I share this incident because I have visited 4-5 times now and each time is similar - great drinks but service and food quality are less so. read more

I can't believe I have yet to review Protocol. This is my favorite place in Amherst. It is not a college bar! I love the warm copper tones and abundant foliage, long bar, friendly staff and neighborhood feel. I often run into people I know. I would describe the food as elevated bar food. Delicious, smaller portions. Everything delicious. Cocktails are excellent and the wine list has something for everyone and some surprises too. The only bummer is no windows that open or outside seating, so I tend to go less often in nice weather. read more

I travel to NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, sometimes SF every year. Protocol is the best restaurant I've tried in the past year and half. The escargot was out of this world, it transported me to new dimensions and helped me cope with the difficulties of life and wild headlines (are aliens real?). Even the bread with the escargot went the extra mile--so flavorful, buttery, perfectly toasted. The drinks were exquisite. I wanted to try more but did not have the time. I got the mezcal based drink--so tasty. Chocolate coffee cake dessert was not ideal, $12 for something really basic. Would have been better to order the smash burger which gets rave reviews. Service was intuitive and helpful and gave me good recommendations for wine. Weren't pushy or trying to upsell. read more

This place is so so good! You must try the Dear John snd the duck confit sandwich!!! read more

Protocol - Dear John - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Craft cocktails are absolutely amazing. Ordered a Caesar salad and pork ribs, and the portion was insane. Ambiance is very nice. Great service during my visit. Highly recommend. Owners are lovely people. read more

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Amazing food Great service A real find in Amherst Great drink selection as well Every time I go, I'm more and more impressed read more

Great food and drinks are totally affordable open late but not on Monday's / tuesdays

Finally, a real cosmopolitan restaurant in Amherst with a modern interior and farm to table type menu. Great environment and great food. Best restaurant in Amherst! read more

Would recommend getting the Smash Burger, which was extremely moist, flavorful, and well-balanced. The Fried Chicken Sandwich had a generous-sized piece of chicken, but didn't strike me as anything extraordinary. read more

Protocol - Smash Burger - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

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A bit more upscale than most other Amherst bars. Drinks are unique and food choices are eclectic. Bartenders were friendly and willing to offer suggestions. read more

The food is excellent, very good service (and not pretentious at all, even with the urban feel of the space), very nice feel and design. The ribs were delicious, craft beers were good (need a little diversification and could be colder), this is a nice new addition to the Amherst area! read more

If you haven't tried this new and exceptional cocktail bar/restaurant, then you are missing out! Great vibe and decor as well as fresh and delicious salads... (will have to try other options there on next visit) and bonus of delicious and beautiful cocktails!!! I am known for being rather high maintenance when it comes to food, beverage and details in general, but was thrilled with the friendly and prompt service, the creativity of the food (BLT salad in particular) and the delectable cocktails (mine, the Lady Hendricks, served in a large Riedel glass - gorgeous!) Beware!!! When I returned to car in parking garage behind restaurant, my car was chained up to tow truck (despite no signage or "reserved" markings in the front row where I parked). I was only inside for 30-45min d/t show shortly thereafter. read more

I went on opening night last week and loved my experience. I ordered the poutine, burger, and blondie sundae for dessert--all delicious. My drink, Thalia's Runt, was one of my favorite cocktails ever! The interior design of this place is gorgeous. Servers were super friendly. Overall, I feel like Protocol is a perfect addition to Downtown Amherst. read more

I have to say, I don't understand. For decades, I loved dining in college towns because the focus was on the food - college kids couldn't afford to waste money on atmosphere. I have had amazing interesting food (albeit in some questionable locations). This is the complete opposite. It's not that the food was bad, it was fine. And the staff was so nice that they deserve better. But for the price, the food was tiny, unimpressive and self indulgent. If you don't enjoy paying for food, but would rather pay for clean bathrooms and open modern atmosphere, this is the place for you. But if going out involves actually focusing on food, there are SO MANY better options nearby. I just don't get how this place can exist in a college town. It is the absolute anthesis of a college-town restaurant. read more

Excellent service, the food is spectacular and I love the vibe. Music and drinks amazing. read more

Protocol - Empress . I highly recommend. - Bars Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

The cocktails were fun and tasty. The ambiance is fairly relaxed and meant for the 30s and older crowd. The food was okay for small plates but no one was particularly wowed at the table. My dish came out super late, but these things happen from time to time. It can get pricey - don't expect quantity for what you pay, that's not what this place is. read more

This place is a vibe! Yummy apps, can't wait to try drinks. Friendly and fresh staff.