Out of town friends want to see a few typical "Boston" bars. okay.jpg. I can supply that. Doorman: $10 cover to get in to the bar. Me: What if we are here to eat? Doorman: No cover, but the wait is 45 minutes. You can go to the bar in the meantime. Me: Well I'll be damned, turns out we are here to eat. We were not there to eat. Keep that in your back pocket. read more

After seeing the lines at Faneuil Hall for food we decided to get out of touristville and find somewhere to eat and get a drink. Whipped out the old handy dandy Yelp app and we were off. We we walking to a restaurant when we passed by the Black Rose and noticed the signs outside "1 1/4 pound lobster for $12.99", we were sold. Walked into a typical Irish bar. Took a seat at the bar and ordered a Guinness. Bartender was sort of grumpy. Got a menu and noticed that the first appetizer on the menu was a 20 oz. Guinness because every good meal should start with a Guinness. I knew this was the place for me. Great chalkboard showing all of the whiskeys that they carried at the time. Ordered two lobsters and the trio of dips (pub cut fries, curry, garlic aioli, warm bleu cheese sauce) which were good. The lobsters were cooked to perfection. While waiting Walt introduced himself and asked where we were from. We commiserated over our baseball teams and he said how much he enjoyed watching our Eagles. He was really friendly because Boston and Philadelphia are so similar and we hate all New York teams..lol. He asked the couple next to us where they were from and they were from North Jersey. He asked if they were Giants fans. When they responded yes he said "that;s it, you're cut off, get the Fawk outta my baar. aint that right Philly". We all had a good laugh and next thing you know we are doing shots of Jameson with Giants fans. The vibe was so fun that we came back for a lobster lunch the next day. Next time we are in Boston we will return and hope to spend some time with Walt. If you see him tell him Philly says hi! read more

You'll have to throw an elbow to get a drink at the bar downstairs, so I recommend that you take yo ass upstairs and get you a drink without having to knock some skinny little thing on her ass. Because I'll tell you what, no skinny little chick is gonna get in between me and some top shelf booze. The live Irish music tickled my fancy! Loved it. Upstairs they have a lounge area with a big fireplace, I plopped down with my friends and we made ourselves comfortable and enjoyed the live music and comfy seating! read more

I don't know what it looks like during the week, but I can tell you that on Saturdays this is not the place to go if you're looking for a quiet night out. The place is in a very busy location and has a very good local reputation so it is always crowded. We went around 4:00 after a Bruins game figuring that we'd have no problem getting in so far after lunch and so long before dinner. There were empty seats when we arrived, but not too many. The bar was full of people watching the Sox get slaughtered on tv and there were plenty of diners listening to the guy up on stage belting out traditional Irish songs. After a couple of years of hearing me claim that my hometown's fish and chip place makes the greatest fish and chips in the world, my girlfriend got sick of hearing it and demanded that I try the dish at The Black Rose which is her favorite place to get them. I have to admit, they were very good. The batter is perfectly crisp without being greasy and the fish is fresh. The fries were nothing spectacular, but with a good fish, they don't have to be. The girlfriend ordered the bangers and mashed, another of her favorite dishes. I always like a large beer selection and while this place was stocked with most of the usuals, it did have several uncommon options. I ordered one of the beers from the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series, something I've only seen in liquor stores before. The crowds here would keep me away on most occasions so I probably wouldn't come here for dinner. It seems like a great place to go for a drink or two though. read more

This is a tiny Irish bar in the middle of the tourist district that's real crowded. The beer was $6 a pint. Not awesome. It is supposed to have live music every night at 9:30 and the night we went it was supposed to be Irish pub music/drinking songs. However once they started playing it was clear that the band had an affinity for country western covers, because every other tune was a slow, sad, I'm crying in my beer because my wife cheated on my song. WTF? Plus when he got to the Irish sing along songs, I couldn't understand a thing that came out of his mouth and had no idea how to participate. This is when I came to the realization that I may actually be too white for an Irish bar... read more

We went here for lunch today on a wet and pretty miserable day and it was definitely reflected in the staff working at this place!!! Wow, cheer up people! We ordered chips with curry, the burger and a sandwich plus two kids meals, food was pretty ok and it was ample but the service was WOEFUL. The food took ages, we had to ask twice for water and even then it wasn't delivered, the waitress looked like she hated working in the place and so did the rest of the staff, lol! Every question was met with a grunt. Tip - do not work in hospitality if you obviously begrudge doing it as it shows. Lighten up and crack a smile especially when running an Irish bar, sheesh! read more

Great food and very very friendly staff. Escaped into here on a rainy Saturday to escape the clouds. Was very impressed by the array of beers & food Sat upstairs at the bar & had so beer & ordered a club sandwich. Food was a little slow but the staff were lovely & the beer helped. An excellent place to pop in & have a cheeky pint & food! read more

Food wasn't great / wasn't bad but the service was subpar. It seems to be more of a drinking place than a restaurant at night so they don't pay you much attention if you're ordering food. We got no refills on waters, we had to ask for silverware after ordering. Had to ask multiple times for our check. The shepherds pie was good. Fish and chips was good but nothing special. The sirloin is a bit chewy. If you want to drink in an Irish themed pub and listen to live music, this is the place. If you want to sit down and eat, this may be a good lunch spot but I wouldn't recommend coming on a Sunday night to eat. read more

Dude, I heart the Black Rose - it's always a great place to get together to pregame before really going out with friends! It's an Irish pub, so you get what you get at an Irish pub. Cute bartenders with great Irish accents. And a huge crowd on the weekends. 'Nuff said. read more

Ahhh, The Black Rose. I love this place. What's not to love about a very typical Irish pub with very typical irish fare. The food is good, not great. But it's the atmosphere that keeps me coming back. After a day of shopping around Boston what better thing to do than sit back with a Smithwick's and some friends listening to someone play guitar and laughing the night away. Irish Rose....I heart you. read more

Funny how most of these places start to look alike and I'm not even drunk yet. The Black Rose IS just like every other Irish pub in Boston, dark wood everywhere, friendly staff, and a heart attack waiting to happen menu. So then why come here?!? Why, because of all those thing I just said, why else?!?! It was mid day of our tour of Boston and I needed some liquid motivation. Drinks were a little expensive but overall things were cool. I would visit again and check out their menu. It looks like they have live music too. read more

The Black Rose - American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Fun lively entertainment on Christmas Night! Great crowd- bartenders were fast! No table service-not sure if it's always like that at night or if it was because it was a holiday. Had a great time- will be back! read more

I understand that all places in Boston have to close at 2 AM. What I don't understand, is why this means last call is before 1 AM and you start kicking customers out at 1:15 AM, all while glaring while they finish their beer. There are many Irish pubs in Boston, go anywhere else and get better service. read more

Super fun place with lots of energy. Met so many really friendly Bostonians. Band was awesome and created a great atmosphere. Definitely will be back next time I'm in Boston read more

This is the spot to go if you want a shot and a beer. Their burgers are ok. I think Black Rose is more of a nostalgia place for me. I went there for the first time when I was in my early 20's and I thought it was the best place I've ever been to. I went there not too long ago in my 30's and the only thing I could think of was "wow, it's really dark in here" and "hmm, kind of smells like sewage". read more

As a visitor and a 3rd generation irish lad, I felt at home here. The music was great, the beer was cold, and the staff was attentive. Yes, it was crowded...but that adds to the essence of the bar. No reason this bar should not get at least 4 stars! Lots of irish people there straight off the boat too, makes it a true experience read more

The food was below average, over fried greasy fish, nasty fries ... the table was sticky :((( a couple of weeks ago Boston Now wrote about Black Rose getting some sanitary violations (ice machine dirty, dirt bar etc.) 2* for decor read more

Looking for something different than Quincy Market. We found it 1 block away at the Black Rose. Good food drink and atmosphere

This place was recommended to me while I was visiting Boston and it did not disappoint! The food was great, I got a turkey club sandwich with fries and it was scrumptious. It was pretty busy but the staff was prompt and catered to our needs. A cool bonus was the live band. Try to swing by if you're in the area! read more

The Black Rose - Yummy turkey club sandwich with fries - American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came by here for a couple of drinks after a few of the bartenders at Granary Tavern recommend we head over for some live Irish music and to visit one of the best bartenders in Boston whose name is Packie. And after encountering Packie we have to agree that he is probably one of the best bartenders in Boston. Very friendly, attentive, and accommodating! We will definitely be back to the Black Rose for some more live Irish music and some more Packie, definitely! read more

The Black Rose - Outside of the Black Rose at night - American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I liked this place. First, the look of the bar - It's a mix of authentic and what Americans think an authentic Irish bar looks like. Does that make sense? The dark woods, cozy corners, ledges for leaning and drinking. But I challenge you to find a bar in Ireland with all those flags hanging from the ceiling :) The bartender was Irish and friendly. Knowledgeable of the beers they carried. Beers were cold! Decent selection also. Food was good. I got the RLT - it's a take on the BLT, but with rashers (Irish bacon, more like ham, or Canadian bacon). It came with a big mound of fries and for $8 was a good deal. Girly got the pub burger, which was a decent size with cheese for $10. She upgraded to sweet potato fries for an additional $1 and reported back that they were great. Didn't get a chance to listen to the music as the band didn't start until 9:30, which personally I though was a bit too late for a Wednesday night, but that's just me. I really liked the demographic of this place's patrons. It was reminiscent of British/Irish pubs, where you would find your granddad in one corner of the bar talking and drinking with his pals, while in the other corner would be your niece who just turned 18 (ok, 21 here) yukking it up with her lot. I'll be back! read more

I went here for St. Patrick's day by myself. I get it. I am old, and unhip, but wanted to go hang someplace Irish. after I stood outside in freezing wind for 25 minutes, and paid a $20 cover, it was impossible to order any food or find a place to sit. The doormen were rude and made comments about guests. To be fair, this was probably not the best night to judge them on as it was total chaos, but I won't be going back. read more

My husband and I were walking around Boston and stumbled across this gem. We only had a drink each (I had a glass of the Malbec and my husband a Boston Lager) and shared onion rings as an appetizer. There was a live band playing and they were pretty good. Not too loud but enough to keep a lively vibe. The Black Rose has a nice vibe to it and we thought it was the perfect spot to stop in for a quick drink and have an appetizer. The onion rings were well made (homemade) and I loved the dipping sauce. read more

I, like Jenn B, purchased New Years Eve tickets and ended up waiting in line. There were people who were able to get right in... apparently these people were eating dinner. When I asked the bouncer how these people were able to get in before me, he was extremely rude, and told me I wasn't going to be able to get in at all. We went into the line anyway. Even more disappointing, there were people in the same line that hadn't purchased tickets in advance and were able to buy entrance at the front. That is a ridiculous system. Once we got in, it was overcrowded and not even very fun! Definitely not worth the money or the wait. I am giving the Black Rose two stars because I have had one pleasant experience there and I liked sitting around the fireplace upstairs. read more

So my friend Meghan is obsessed with this place. She has a desperate desire to actually be Irish (sadly she is Eastern European). So I've gone here a few times. Sadly I can't say I share her passion. I mean it's a fun idea, but the reality doesn't so much live up to expectation. The food is meh--it's bar food, and not done astoundingly well. The nachos were the biggest disappointment, but the spinach dip was pretty darn good. The music on the weekends is also fun, but no one in the bar really seems into it. Our group was singing along and clapping but everyone else sat stoically in their seats. Sad. read more

After a loooooong day of sightseeing while my little sister was in town, we stopped into The Black Rose for a quick bite to eat before heading to a party to watch the Pat's game. This put us in The Black Rose at around 4:30pm on a Saturday. Lots of families, large groups, a jovial eating-and-drinking crowd. No drunken college kids, no one trying to pick us up, no one bumping into me and spilling their drink on my new shirt! A man with a guitar up on the stage provided a little entertainment, belting out some of my favorite Johnny Cash songs. For these reasons, I liked my experience at The Black Rose. Perhaps we got lucky and missed the busy crowd, which allowed the service to be quick and friendly, plus, the food was good and the prices were reasonable. I had Clam Chowder in a breadbowl and a Sam Winter. My sister's choice was some kind of cheese fries that did not look as good as she claimed it was! Taking a look at other's reviews, I think I would recommend a day time visit and look at the beer menu to make sure you sit where the brand you love is served. read more

For a famous place I expected better. Place was packed and when I asked about getting on the list, the hostesses (who were pretty clueless) said they didn't take reservations. When I clarified that we (party of 5) simply wanted to get on the list they said they didn't do lists, that it was first come, first serve. When I asked what that meant, they said when I see a table starting to clear up, to let them know. Then, immediately to our delight, they said, wait we have a table opening now, let us clean it up for you. When they said it was ready, the table was still dirty, it was cleared off but they did a terrible job wiping it down. I had to summon a hostess who then did a thorough job. Atmosphere was great, festive, with live music, a native Irishman guitar/singer doing all the classics and telling stories. Felt like St. Patrick's Day. The service was pretty good too. Although our sever was very busy she did a very good job. Now for the disappointment - the so called award winning Clam Chowder was horrendous. I got a cup, and besides being lukewarm it consisted of two oversized pieces of half cooked potatoes, and maybe two clams. Zero flavor.The fish and chips were OK but nothing to rave about. Good homemade tarter and decent coleslaw were the highlights. To be fair, the others in my group were satisfied with their meals. Beef Stew, Shepherds Pie, & Burgers. Overall experience was OK but it was the terrible chowder that was hard to overcome. read more

after a crazy St. Patty's evening with the Dropkick Murphys, my guests and I hit the Freedom Trail (which, by the way, is a great way to check out the city). we had been hitting pubs all morning, and with the hangover going strong along with the urban hiking, our bodies began quaking with weakness. we came across the Black Rose, just off the trail, on State St. one of my companions had been there about a decade ago for $5 lobster. was it a memoryanic embellishment? who knows. there was no lobster. I was very comfortable here. an Irish pub with beautiful and uber-friendly Hispanic waitresses and hostesses. the place is genuine, though, despite the foreign help. we ate some decent appetizers. the mussels were a quite a bit too mealy. there was a great stage which, supposedly, hosts live Irish music every night. Jameson went down nicely. that's all I have to say about that. read more

A bar that proudly advertises itself as an Irish pub should be able to acceptably fry a freshly battered cod filet and some fries for its fish & chips offering. The fish I received for lunch hadn't seen a fryer since it left the factory floor, I suspect. Certainly it never was fried in this establishment, but simply re-heated until warm. The coating--I can't call it a batter--was dry, thin and leathery, with no hint of crunch or glisten of oil. Overall just an embarrassment and strictly for tourists. read more

Solid drinks and service even on busy nights and if you're lucky enough to catch some live Irish music you won't be disappointed. I've had lunch here several times and the food was always good especially the lobster special. It's one of those places that has both a fair amount of tourist and locals. read more

Nice pub, haven't sampled the food yet but menu looks reasonable. It actually has real Irish people in it, which is more than can be said for most of Boston's "Irish" pubs, and they know how to pour the Guinness correctly. However, the real clincher ( and true sign of authenticity ), is that they've got Setanta on the telly. So if you're dying to catch that Heineken Cup game or All-Ireland hurling final, this is the place to come. Update: it seems every time I go to this place I end up updating my review and docking another star. I went here with some colleagues for the France-Portugal semi-final and the service was atrocious. The bartender acted like any request was a major hassle and the waitress who took one of our orders never returned - nor did our drinks... read more

One of the only places in Faneuil that I find tolerable, so thats why it gets the 4 stars- typically it would be in the three range, but the Black Rose is a borderline staple and deserves it's props. If you don't like irish music and loud carousing, then you shouldn't be in an irish pub in Faneiul hall. Nuff Ced. The food is OK, but you're not here for that- the guiness is typically poured correctly, and the staff has been friendly at most encounters. With the lack of other civilized locations in the 'Hall area, this is one of your best bets. I do loathe the fact that they find it appropriate to have a cover charge on the weekends, but I can't blame them if they can generate hte revenue and keep patrons coming back again and again. The rose gets a thumbs up! read more

This is a great place to entertain out-of-towners visiting you... or an easy choice if you're in a large group of people (this place has tons of space). This is NOT a place you go if you're a local. The place is full of tourist and BU/BC undergrads. On Friday/Saturday nights they feature live irish music both downstairs and upstairs... Drinks aren't too expensive and the food is your standard pub grub with an irish twist. There's a mythical rumor that some of the original tea party members congregated in the upstairs area near one of the fireplaces to plan out their boston harbor escapades... No clue if this is true, but it's always a fun story to tell friends/relatives visiting. read more

We came here on a recommendation from a work friend the first day we were in Boston. It certainly has the authentic Irish Pub down pat. We stopped in for a late lunch and drinks. We tried a soup and the fish and chips. The fish and chips were pretty good - a nice batter without it being too heavy. The fish inside was very flaky and they had a nice sauce. I think the fish and chips were a 4 star quality. The drinks were good and strong (but balanced). The problem was getting drinks took forever. We would have ordered another round, but our waitress never came to see us until we were done with our meal. Service was pretty poor considering that it wasn't busy at all. Our waitress seemed to have a indifferent attitude and preferred to be in the corner chatting with other employees. I know it's a bar and my expectations on service are different, but I would think they'd want to keep pouring us drinks too! If I was in the area, this would be a place to stop-in here, but I wouldn't go out of my way just to come here. read more

OK, so I made the mistake of stopping in here for a late lunch, so in no way does this review reflect on the quality of this place as a drinking establishment. I walked in, and sat down at a table and ordered myself the bangers and mash, the menu even made it sound like the baked beans on the side was a plus. What I got was a couple of charred Oscar myer wieners, watery mashed potatoes, that were borderline from a box, and a little platter of what tasted like canned pork and beans. I guess this could be considered home cooking if you are a 21 year old frat boy with a can opener. read more

Really fun large bar. Great Irish music, irish bands, irish beer, irish crowd, etc. Memorable spot. Definitely check it out if you just moved here or have never been. Fish and chips are excellent read more

The Black Rose - American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Very rude hostess! Cannot make a black & tan - no Irish beer to mix with Guinness The Black & Tan was Stella with a float of Guinness.

Now here's a relief: an Irish bar that actually has some sort of Irish quality! I LOVE the live Irish music. It makes the place feel really authentic. It's also a more aesthetically pleasing place than most of the bars in the... area. HOWWWWEVER. Beers are expensive (almost $7 for a Sam Summer draft), and the service was kind of rude. The waitress came over and told me it would be six bucks and change for my beer, so I gave her six and started fishing for change (was gonna leave a tip on the table later). Instead she shoved the six in her pocket and gave me a smug look and said, "See? I didn't even charge you the whole cost." I told her I had my hand on my change and would give it to her, but she just made a face and shook her head and said, "Nope, it's okay. I'll get it myself," and walked away. She acted like I was stealing from her. I immediately got up and went downstairs where there was no table service. The other star was taken away because of... well... okay, listen, it's Faneuil Hall. Clientele is not one of its strong points. Moving on... read more

Quaint name remenisent of the old country but right on State near Long Wharf. Good for drinks and occasional Irish music; food is about what you'd expect. Convenient for drinks if browsing near Quincy. Appears to be part of Central Wharf on Milk nearby:read reviews especially the Irish nachos....need I say more. read more

I went on a week night and during the day on saturday and the staff were nice and attentive both times. Dont trust the board or the menu as they often run out of things. Can get packed on the weekends, so if you want to eat id make a reservation. Old man crowd during the week...who were both upset at what I ordered (jameson and ginger, very strong) and insisted theyd try it. read more