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!!

Food was delicious, inside was clean, and server (Kennedi) was amazing…read more I wish every town had a fun little sports bar with very good food and service like this one.

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.

No kidding!! After eating the Reuben, I can honestly say, without a doubt the best Reuben I have…read moreever eaten, BY A LONG SHOT!!! My favorite sandwich and the Irish Cottage spoiled it for me. I can't order a Reuben anywhere else.

My boyfriend and I are frin out of town and we decided on this place…read more Amazing all around. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting, they had a live singer tonight. The waiter, Trevor, was chill and down to earth, we found him very friendly and relatable. Definitely like that. The food was absolutely yummy. I order the Salmon dinner with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The salmon melted in my mouth. The asparagus was cooked to perfection and the mashed potatoes werr moist and delicious. My boyfriend order the steak with fries and onion rings. He said it was iffy only because of the way it was made. The flavor wasn't exactly to his liking but thats also becuse of how we make it back home. Otherwise he was happy with it filled him up. The bar itself is very Irish, super cultural, and a warm feeling. Its a very down to earth place. Other than the live music not super loud. Would come again.

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.

Great atmosphere and delicious food! It's as if a I walked into a small town business where…read moreeveryone knew each other. The bartender knew all the local customers coming in, there was a woman in the back hand shaping burger patties. At one point, one of the waitress brought in 3 big bags of tortillas. You can tell this establishment is a small, local business. The food was SO GOOD too. Honestly some of the best nachos I have ever had. They hand fry their own tortillas which meant the chips didn't get soggy. The clam chowder and mac n cheese tasted gourmet. And my partner said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had. Definitely a must go to spot if you are ever in Gloucester.

"The Best" burger on Cape Ann hands down. All the burgers are 1/2 pound of angus beef and served…read moreon various rolls from local Vigillios bakery. I really like the Barnyard Burger with bacon, pulled pork, cheese & fried egg. The French fries regular or sweet potato are great too. Friends had the chicken salad which was very good and another had the bar b que which tasty Randy the bartender makes a great drink and pours a good beer... she is the best in my book and Hope and Ashley have a good grip on that small kitchen Give it a try

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.

Great wings! Good place to see sports on tv have a few drinks and hang out friends. Their is a…read morekaraoke night and also DJ's

We used to visit The Choate quite regularly however our last 2 visits have not been the great…read moreexperience we are used to. We sat at the bar both times and it just wasn't up to par compared to the Choate before new ownership took over. The service was great but... The baked haddock did not have the same delicious crumbs and the portion was too huge to finish and we know seafood doesn't really make for good leftovers. The fried haddock was done a little too much; the coating was too dark and again so much of it! The salads have grown to twice their size but served in the same tiny dish; much of our salad ended up in our laps and on the floor... The broccoli and squash were just okay but again the portions are HUGE! A bit disappointing really...we both would have preferred less, more delicious food of yore rather than the enormous portions of sub-par flavors. A lot of food doesn't necessarily mean delicious... Both visits left us feeling a little sad and nostalgic for the way the Choate used to be.

**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.