If you Google define a neighborhood dive bar, you will see a picture of the Thirsty Whale…read more This is the kind of place where locals and visitors mingle freely. On a dank spring (typical) early New England spring afternoon, we wandered in for a pre-dinner cocktail. The drinks are solid and reasonably priced. They do have a few high-end spirits and a few surprise special cocktails. There is also a good selection of local beers. We stopped by for a nightcap and were surprised that on a Wednesday night, they were packed and rocking to a live band. If you appreciate a good dive bar with personality, strong drinks, and a local crowd, this place is worth checking out.

The Thirsty Whale was one of my "dive" haunts when I lived in the area so I was curious to see if…read moreit was still a great neighborhood bar. Spoiler alert it is! We arrived on a cold damp afternoon and quickly joined a few regulars at the bar. Conversations were started and the cocktails flowed. They do have some great local craft beers and a full bar with a few high end liquors like Eagle Rare and Grey Goose. My desert dry Goose martini with a twist was perfect. Plus 1 said her Paloma was perfect as well. We could have spent the entire afternoon here hangin with the regulars and getting toasty but alas we had dinner reservations. We did stop by after dinner for a nightcap and the Whale was rocking to a live band and they were packed on a Wednesday night no less. Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar" song could have easily been written for the Whale!

Muddy Waters is great! ... The new owners are really turning this place around. What a diffence…read morefrom a few years ago. They now have lots of entertainment, they are family friendly, they have super yummy pizza, great drinks and their bartender Tracey is excellent! The new owners are really trying to make this pub a big part of our community. They have been honoring local teachers by showing their appreciation. They have invited many schools staff into their pub for free pizza and a fun night out!! They are willing to help host fundraisers, and support local children sports. Thanks Billy and John for all you do!

The food was delicious and the night that we went it was filled to capacity and they had one…read morewaitress. She was really good even though we waited a long time, it wasn't her fault. She really did her best!!

Enjoyed our dinner at Pica, was busy, food excellent, highly recommend the Shepherds Pie, was…read morebeyond delicious, salad fresh, good wine selection. The service was great, very attentive and helpful about the menu. We really enjoyed the atmosphere, busy, energy and efficient. Ron W

I like this place because it has great food options and great food. Keno, bathrooms, and ok…read moreservice! I did see my waiter talking to the other waiters and looking back at me and my family which made me feel uncomfortable. Also, I got chocolate milk and she sniffed the milk before pouring, also make me feel uncomfortable. In addition, inside is pretty small but they make the small room work and fit the perfect amount of things including bar, keno area, and bathrooms. Overall, a pretty good place to Eat with friends.

Sunday breakfast buffet worth the price food was delicious and great Bloody Mary and good service.read more

My boyfriend and I had a great meal / good time here recently for our 2nd anniversary celebration…read more Can I just say that the meal I chose (lamb lollipops) was the BEST lamb dish I EVER had (and I've had many in my lifetime). Not sure where the lamb came from ... but it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Thought I died and went to heaven ... it was that GOOD. The Guinness stout paired perfectly with my meal. My boyfriend enjoyed his fried fish and mashed potatoes as well. Kudos to the staff , the chef, and our server, Meghan (who brought me brown bread to sop up the leftover juices from my dish). Great, GREAT vibe, and meal all around! Love coming here ...

Service is great. Drinks are good and food great. The menu has a variety of appetizers and burgers…read more Have been here 2 times and all was good! We will be back!

This review is more for the out of towner. If you're local, then it course your going to eat here…read more Especially since there's not much else in this town. Walking in 7 minutes after opening, this place was already packed. Full of Patriots fans hooping and hollering to the end of the fourth quarter. Every appeared in a merry mood, and everyone knew each other it seems. Service here was great. Our waitress whipped around the room with finesse and speed, working the bar and tables all by herself. She was to the point but pleasant. The beers are ok, but they aren't anything spectacular. An average selection of nearby beers of all varieties. Going to other breweries in New Hampshire, I know that this state can produce good beers. Perhaps they just had a mediocre selection the week I was there. We ordered a medley of items and most of it was hit and miss. In the sampler, the pork cracklings were decent, although dinner pieces were hard to chew since they turned into a dense fried bit. The fries were ok, but standard. The tator tot was actual pretty good, but there's this sweetness and texture that makes me think of pumpkin? That could be upsetting to some. The chicken tenders are ok, but the breading isn't seasoned or exciting in texture. It felt like how I would fry chicken at home with only one coat of breading. The pickle chips were good, even though they were not spicy at all. If they called these paprika coated chips, then I would agree. But texture wise, they were actually crisp and not super watery. The pulled pork tacos are ok, but they rely more on sweet barbeque sauce more than anything else. The tortillas are subpar in flavor, but sturdy enough to hold everything together. The veggies slaw did add some nice acidity though. The wedge salad here is terrible. I should have looked up what others posted before I ordered it. It was a literal wedge of plain iceberg, with all the other ingredients and fixings dumped in the middle. The stuff in the middle was ok, but nothing felt harmonious. Just a bunch of salad ingredients added to a giant paper tray. It felt like a waste of 9 dollars for what was lazy preparation.

My husband, two kids and I had an early dinner here a few weeks ago. It was great - very…read morereasonably priced, quick service, good drinks, fun games, and a popcorn machine! It's casual but an easy walk-in option, especially if you can't get a reservation at other spots. On main street and right downtown, so easy to get to and a lot going on around it. We'll be back!

Superb food! The kitchen was open until 10pm, which was great for a Monday night as a lot of places…read moreare closed. Friendly staff. The bartender was super friendly and attentive, she really helped us pick some great items. Small space though, so it would be crowded on Fridays and Saturdays at prime time.

J Brian's is one of my favorite local spots! The wings are absolutely delicious, and the beer is…read morealways ice cold exactly how it should be. The food is consistently good, the service is friendly, and it's a great place to relax, grab a drink, and enjoy a meal with friends or family. I've had great experiences every time I've been there. Definitely recommend

Come down and see Crystal & Brittany!! - Great drinks and an OUTSTANDING Roast Beef 3 way!…read more Thinly sliced roast beef with mayo Cheese drizzled with James River BBQ sauce.

I went to try Choate Bridge Pub in Ipswich with a couple of friends last week. I hadn't been for a…read morefew years. It's just as great as it always was. The food was great, fresh, and hot. Even the coleslaw and tartar sauce were made with care. The servers hustle like crazy. They treat you like good friends. Some diners may have frowned on service. Those girls never stopped, and they smiled and laughed. (Who doesn't need that these days?) It's sea scallop season, so even those scallops are expensive I had to do it. The scallop dinner w/fries and onion strings was a bit over $35, but there were 14 huge, right off the boat succulent scallops. The burgers also looked great. Get on over there.

**Classic local watering hole with solid food and atmosphere**…read more The Chote Pub is definitely a neighborhood spot through and through. You can tell the regulars get priority attention from the bartenders, but we eventually got taken care of too - just be prepared to be patient if it's busy and you're a new face. The food was good with very generous portions that definitely give you your money's worth. Drinks were well-made and hit the spot. We loved the setup for watching football - great views of the games from multiple angles around the bar. **Important heads-up: This is a CASH ONLY establishment.** Make sure you stop at an ATM before you arrive, or you'll be making a quick exit to find one. The vibe here is very much old-school local pub - if that's your scene, you'll love it. If you're looking for something more polished or trendy, this might not be your spot. We enjoyed the unpretentious atmosphere and will likely be back, but it's definitely worth knowing what you're walking into first. Bottom line: Come for honest pub fare, generous portions, cold drinks, and a genuine local experience. Just bring cash!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The bar is in the middle of two different rooms and they also have pool tables available with…read moreoutstanding service the food was very good steak and cheese sub was very tasty blt was pretty good too drinks were just as good everything was excellent casual dress good for a date if you like good music and shoot pool

I walked into this...when was the last time they cleaned the restroom? Sundays???…read more No way Jose!

Rolf's pub is a quaint local bar in North Andover with all the bells and whistles. There are games…read morefor entertainment such as Golden Tee, darts, and pool. I've also often times seen groups get together and play cards. The drinks are reasonably priced and the bartenders are attentive and helpful. There's even a jukebox you can play music through an app on your phone. They also have keno, scratch tickets, and free popcorn machine to top it all off. Many locals frequent this pub and if you strike up a conversation with one of them you'd be surprised at how friendly and welcoming they are. I've often gone here with friends and we always have a great time!

My wife and I were looking for a local place to hang out and watch the Celtics on my birthday. We…read morewere referred to Rolf's Pub by a friend that is a regular there. We pulled up and the lot was packed with cars. We could hear the band playing as we approached. When we opened the door we were greeted by several people. We grabbed a hightop, ordered our drinks and thoroughly enjoyed the band. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive and the prices were fair. Both my wife and I agree that we will go back. Everyone was friendly and seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was a perfect way to end the week and celebrate my birthday.