Fantastic whiskey selection and food top notch !! Chicken wings best around by far!! Sad to say now closed ! Nothing on Lowell like it ., read more

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Really loved this place! Stopped in right as the DJ was starting to set up and left right before he started (Just because of the timing) My favorite part was the names of the cocktails. I got the "land before thyme" based solely off it's nostalgic name and not its ingredients (still loved it!) read more

The Keep - Land Before Thyme - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

First wanted to start by stating how great the staff was! They were so attentive and just really nice! Their condenser is broken so no beers on tap and because we went on a Sunday, they had no fish left. Kind of good because it shows that everything is super fresh, but also sad because fish and chips sounded really good today. We got the curry fries and pollo verde to start which were yummy, and I loved the kick at the end of a pollo verde bite! The menu is limited, but quality. I ate the brick chicken, albeit a little salty and a little bland, but still ate it all. The burger was a normal burger, pickles were definitely more sour than sweet. The gumbo was spicy according to the person who ate it and the coconut curry didn't have as many veggies as we'd like. Overall, very cute and intimate place, make sure to go towards the beginning of the week in case you really want fish! read more

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We've been here a couple of times with months, even years in between, hoping for yet another chance to improve. Unfortunately, I think we are giving up. The atmosphere is great and welcoming, but the last visit I was freezing and kept my coat on along with a couple of other guests. It's Friday night at 6pm and they were out of 2 items on the already small menu, which has been pretty much the same for a long while, except for specials. We started with drinks and a couple of apps. Drinks were are very creative and delicious but very small-minus the ice. Beet toast would have been great but the toast was charred black and bitter, wings were good, nothing that special flavor wise. We mentioned to our waitress that we would order entrees, but she never came back to ask or even check on apps (not very busy either...). I would have mentioned our concerns...By now we're too cold, annoyed and not very impressed, so we flag her down, ask for the bill and got our entrees elsewhere. This scenario is similar to previous experiences and not sure if we're just unlucky or too picky, but $75 later and not doing it anymore. read more

This was a nice find for the city of Lowell. Not necessarily in the best area but once you get there, you'll be happy in general. The service was extra good. We appreciated our waitress, and the bartender was successful as well. The atmosphere is very cozy and gives a Boston vibe for sure. The food was above average, but to some degree a little disappointing for the price. I was quite surprised at the cocktail cost. I ordered a Manhattan with Rye and it ended up with a $19 price tag. I can get a better Manhattan with more ounces at Capital Grille. They charged me for ordering Rye. However, that's how proper Manhattan is made. They really need to review the pricing on the drinks. Because of this, I probably will not return. It was kind of a slap in the face. A Manhattan using well should be about $12. And if you were using premium spirits, it should be about 15. This was pretty ridiculous. The pricing listed shows $$. It should be listed as $$$! read more

Visiting for work came across this little gem. I ate two things the best chicken wings I ever had in my life and the carrot cake was amazing. I got the order to go and I had to drive about 15 miles back to my hotel room. We all know food does not travel well but these wings were amazing even after sitting in my car for 15 miles out of love to have them fresh and hot in the restaurant And my carrot cake was perfect. Just perfect. read more

The Keep - Carrot Cake - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

The Keep is a Lowell GEM! The service was Outstanding. Matt took excellent care of us after a very long day of travel. My daughter had the gumbo, which was so flavorful. She loved every bite. I had the baked chicken, which was perfectly moist on the inside and crisp on the outside with little potatoes and they weren't kidding about the pan sauce. We arrived on west coast time, but the kitchen was gracious enough to dish up the carrot cake. It was AMAZING! Crisp edges with a dollop of cream cheese frosting and a side of cinnamon ice cream. WOW! The whole place made our day RIGHT. read more

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Service was attentive and accommodating. No draft beer the night I was there due to a tap issue, but the specialty drinks were fabulous. Food was enjoyed by all in my party, including a variety of appetizers and even some carrot cake. Enjoyed the Keep vibe; had a table off to the back that was fun and somewhat private. Will make my way back in the coming weeks read more

It's a great place if you drink. If you enjoy to have a cocktail maybe two then this is your place here in Mill City Lowell.

Very tasty addition to Lowell's dining scene Great chicken wings We loved the cheese plate Our waiter was excellent recommended a good Whiskey 100% will return read more

Great bar with tasty drinks. Perfect place to top off a long work day. They have clever twists to classic cocktails that won't disappoint: I tried The Apothecary, Thyme After Thyme, and Death by Agave and thought they were all good. read more

The Keep - Cocktails menu (March 2022) - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Cool, classy, vibey bar. Friendly bartenders made it a nice place to hang out while waiting in the evening. Huge selection of beers and specialty cocktails was really cool, though I didn't get to try even half of what sounded great. For how good it was it was very reasonably price. Ambiance was excellent, with nice lowlight and a cool yet classy feeling. Strikes me like it would be a good date spot--and in fact, most of the other patrons appeared to be there on dates. Come check it out for a fun and/or romantic evening! read more

The Keep - Drinks menu - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

I'm not sure I agree with the description of The Keep as a Whiskey Bar (unless, of course, the owners put that there). On their own website, they bill themselves as a "Restaurant and Pub" - which just happens to have a pretty decent selection of whiskies too. I did scowl a bit when I asked our waitress if there was a whiskey list, and she said there wasn't, but one was in the works. But all is forgiven after the delicious food and drink! The cocktails were interesting and varied, in the $10-$15 range. I almost wanted to take the garnish (in bloom!) from my first drink - a Jude the Dude - home and plant it, or at least muddle the mint leaves into a julep or something. On our second round of drinks we did order one scotch, and it felt like a good pour for the price. Many thanks to our waitress who worked with us through our questions on what scotches and bourbons were in their inventory. Many reviews raved about the wings, so I said we had to try them. You may now count me among those who will rave more. They were unbelievable, cooked to perfection with a unique spice rub, like nothing I've ever had before. Why aren't they entering these at local wing fests? We ordered a burger medium-well which came out well but was otherwise fine. I ordered the gumbo and was again ready to rave, enjoying the kick, the large shrimp and the andouille. Who knew you could get Southern charm out of a meal in Lowell? This was a very enjoyable visit and I hope to come back more often. read more

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This is a really nice place - the waitress was great. The menu was small, and I've learned that places with small menus often have great food, and this we definitely the case here. Everything was great, and make sure to try the carrot cake - oh my god read more

The food, drinks and service here are all excellent. We started with the cheese board and wings, both were delicious. I had the coconut curry for my main, it was a tad on the sour side, but I like that. My friends got their gumbo and loved it. I will definitely be coming back to try something new. They had several delicious cocktails and even made me an amazing mocktail . Our server was super nice and very attentive. The ambiance is really cool there as well. I would definitely recommend coming here for drinks or food 10/10. The area has limited parking, so just give yourself a little time for that. read more

Saw this place on Phantom Gourmet, went to get Gumbo, man it kicked, no weak sauce here. Steak was Excellent and big, fries, I wish I hadnt eaten so much, so I could have enjoyed more of them homemade fries. Got takeout and it worked well, I really loved the Gumbo read more

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Amazing food. Nice place for a first date or 500th date night. Huge selection of top shelf bourbons for myself and gins for my lady.

So much potential. I really love the vibe of this place but still needs some fine-tuning with food + drink. Will def go back tho!

Good beer selection. Great whiskey selection. Menu is limited but reliably tasty. One of the best burgers in Lowell. Brick chicken is amazing. read more

Epic!! Just discovered this bar/restaurant. Great service. Great food. AWESOME cocktails. If you are in Lowell, The Keep is a place you should check out. Great vibe. read more

A gem In the heart of downtown Lowell. Parking could be limited depends on what time you go. As you enter the place has a chill relax ambient light feel. It's hard to tell what you think until you sit down and enjoy the drinks. We tried the time after thyme drink and enjoyed it! , pretty good !!! We tried a whiskey shot which was also good . If you ask they do have a whiskey list, a lot to choose from. We ordered the hand cut fries which was good as well !!! We enjoyed the place , definitely will be coming back Are You looking for a place to have drinks that has a unique atmosphere, low lighting relaxed atmosphere with some good bumping tunes in the background? try this place ! You won't be disappointed, a good selection of whiskey, mix drinks and appetizers. All thumbs up here read more

Excellent service, good food. A great place for inclusiveness, diversity and belonging. Good music, although acoustics can be too loud at times. Always a good time. read more

We love The Keep for amazing cocktails and refined pub eats. The wings and curry fries are my faves, and the carrot cake is out this world amazing. Really friendly service every time. I'm more of a cocktail girl but the German beers I've tried have all been delicious too. read more

Great hidden gem in downtown Lowell. Favorite entrees of mine include the Brick Chicken and the Coconut Curry Vegetables. Super cool bar scene as well! read more

Went in for the first time tonight with 5 people. It's a great vibe..dark, loud and eclectic. The goods: the food was great and came out so fast. Our apps came out before our first drink..not a "good" in my book but the good part is quick kitchen service. The wings were spectacular! The cheeseboard was great as well but I would have LOVED to have my cocktail while eating those!! Once the cocktails arrived they were tasty as well and beautifully presented although the coup glasses were not even close to full. To my knowledge alcohol costs haven't yet risen due to inflation so I would have appreciated a full cocktail for the cost. Three of us ordered brick chicken, the others ordered steak frites and gumbo. We tried to get beer with dinner but one partially filled glass came out and we were told it was kicked. We did ask if there was an alternative darker porter or stout but our waitress was just too busy to deal with that. That brings me to the bad..horribly understaffed. I know this is a common theme in restaurants now, that is why I still gave a 4 star review and our waitress got a giant tip. The drinks were so painfully slow but I think there was one poor soul behind the bar and I saw him running food as well for our waitress who was all alone in a pretty packed restaurant on a Friday evening. There was a hostess who sat us but we never saw her again so idk what she was up to all night, perhaps cooking the food? I feel compassion for the staff but I am also sad because we spent over $400 for dinner and were left sitting for long stretches, no cocktails and no more water all night. Again, I can't really be mad given the situation but I am still disappointed I spent the money and did not have a great experience. All the elements are there, they just need staff. I almost forgot..We ordered the carrot cake dessert which was untraditional, very cinnamony and totally fabulous. Whomever was in the kitchen was killing it! The food was so good and came out so fast. I hope they can get fully staffed and be a perfectly awesome restaurant! read more

Cute little gem in downtown lowell . Some of the best chicken wings and they even have pickle plates! The cocktails are amazing, and the variety of liquors are both delicious and rare. The bartenders are always friendly and can make anyone feel like a regular. The Asian one with the long hair always has an upbeat attitude and makes you enjoy running your tab up read more

Gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo, gumbo. Seriously, try the gumbo. The spice is perfect. Not dumbed down for people who really wouldn't like gumbo. Local ingredients, too. It's kind of perfect. Also, *the* place to go for Scotch whisky in Lowell. The staff is top notch. The beer selection is well curated. This place really cares and it shows. read more

This was a great spot to go for dinner and drinks before a comedy show at the Lowell Auditorium. The restaurant itself is a bit tough to find as it is tucked in and the signage is not obvious. The drinks were fantastic with great presentation. Food menu was a bit limited, but I enjoyed the chicken entree and my boyfriend raved about his Gumbo. Overall great spot! read more

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The space was cozy, the decor was on point, the food was delicious (shoutout to the dry rub wings and easily the best carrot cake I've ever had), the staff was friendly, and the drinks (cocktails, whiskey, and beer) were excellent and there was a wide selection. I would highly recommend The Keep, and we'll definitely be back! read more

The drinks were perfect. The espresso martini was exactly like I had in Italy. The menu is curated to only serve the best and their list of spirits is impressive. Get the olde fashioned. read more

The food was fantastic although a limited small menu. My husband said the beer choice was fantastic, we ordered a beer that's very rare and hard to get. The server was great, very friendly and thorough and everything was perfectly timed. It was darker and a bit cooler than I like but it was a great find. It's a little out of our area but we'll definitely be back when we pass through that way again. read more

This place is amazing - the brick chicken was soooo good! But only giving it 4 stars as we went here specifically for the french onion soup listed on the menu...only to find out they changed it out for the summer and weren't offering it. Please update your online menu, so french onion soup seekers like us aren't lead down the garden path and disappointed... read more

Nice Whiskey Bar with Good German Beer. I recommend the wings. The remoulade makes a great dipping sauce.

When I read the astounding reviews on Yelp, I knew I wanted this on my "must visit" list. Almost all of the reviews are 5 stars, and some described the steak entrée as "Wow". I noticed on the menu the steak was described as flank. Flank steak is a rather tough cut of meat. It's from the cow's belly area therefore the meat is really tough. Generally, flank is marinated, cooked on a high heat. Then it is advised to cut against the grain in very thin slices. Where the reviews were so good, I had to find out what they were doing to this otherwise tough cut of meat, to make some say "wow"! So, we went the other night. We were greeted by a very pleasant hostess and the owner and even though it was pretty busy, they seated us promptly. This place is very loud, so I wouldn't say it would be a place to go on a date and talk. Not on the weekend anyway. The ceilings are really high and there's wood floors, the bar is open to the dining area, so the noise just bounces around. It appears to be newly remodeled, and is very comforting and inviting inside. Bar on one side and dining on the other. The waitress came over almost immediately, and took our drink order. I wasn't able to get my usual apple martini, but they were able to make a Cosmo instead. It was very good, but very small and not full. I thought $10.00 would have brought a larger portion. Taking into consideration it has fresh lime juice and cranberry, there mustn't have been very much liquor in the glass. And anyone who knows me, knows not getting enough alcohol in a drink is a pet peeve of mine. It was very tasty though, and made with fresh lime juice...I just nursed it a bit. No bread was automatically brought out, so if you just order dinner, you have to wait out the made-to-order wait time. It really wasn't very long though, and most people looked like they were getting appetizers as well. We did ask for bread, which they did bring us. The dinners came out (we both got the Steak & Frites). The plates looked fantastic. That being said, the steak was on top of the frites, and all were on a rectangular dish which left no room to spare, so cutting the steak without all your food going all over the table would prove to be a challenge. The frites (fresh cut fries) were delicious. The salad was very tasty as well. The steak, well that's another story. It was about 1-1/2" thick, super tough, dry, and not very appealing. I guess my question was answered as to what they do to the steak. It is natural from a Newengland farm, but that's its only accolade. Not for me. I have no idea whatsoever, why anyone would call that "wow". I don't get it. It wasn't cheap either...$22.00. If they like steak on their menu, they should really do something about that tough cut of meat. I don't know anyone who would want to return after getting that steak. That being said, I don't want to judge the entire restaurant by just this entrée. As we both got the same thing I cannot attest to the other items on the menu. This is a great spot to meet friends for drinks and appetizers, I just wouldn't recommend the steak, unless you don't mind chewing for hours. If the steak was good, it would have been a 5 star review, everything else was excellent, and my intention in making these comments isn't meant to be cruel, but to be constructive. read more

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Why wasn't I aware of this SUPER AWESOME new place in downtown Lowell? We were just looking for a place to have a late night dinner and this place came through for us! They literally have the BEST wings I have ever eaten. I wish I knew more about seasonings because I would like to recreate them and live off them for the rest of my life. The dip for it was good too, it tasted like the Sour Cream and Onion chips. I ordered the Gumbo as the main dish, loved the shrimp and spice in it. read more

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Love Love Love This place. We tried nearly every appetizer, all which were fantastic but the wings were out of this world !!! I ordered the brick chicken - it was the most moist, delicious, flavorful chicken I have ever received at a restaurant. The staff was warm, friendly and inviting. The atmosphere was very relaxing. Drinks were delicious and looked like a pic out of a magazine, real flowers were used as garnish. We will definitely go back again !!! read more

The Keep - Mai Tai and Beetlejuice - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

So last night we went to The Keep, one of our favorite restaurants in Lowell. I was a bit chilly when I got there so I asked our server for a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, being primarily a whiskey bar, they don't serve coffee. I was offered an espresso (they use it for espresso martinis (very good, btw). Since my plans for later were sleeping, I sorrowfully declined. After ordering dinner (smash burger for me and wings & fries for my husband - all amazing!) our server came over to our table with a teapot and a couple of small mugs. She explained that she told the bartender I was cold and it was my birthday (it was) so he made us some hot mulled wine. What a delicious surprise! I'm declining to mention the names of our server and bartender because frankly, this is the level of service we get every time we come here, no matter who is waiting on us. Not only do the folks at this amazing little restaurant know how to cook a great meal and mix amazing libations, they absolutely nail the service every time! read more

My fiance and I saw the Keep on Instagram and went for the first time on Friday night for a date night. When we walked in we were impressed by the atmosphere of the bar and attention to detail. The gentle flicker of candles against the metal printed facade illuminated the bar and restaurant, and the soft music created an intimate vibe that supported the well crafted menu and cocktail list, as well as an impressive assortment of whiskey options. We sat at a high table in the bar area and enjoyed whiskey and the best dry rubbed wings I've had in a long time. We ordered a round of cocktails and were discussing ordering more food as we observed a variety of mouthwatering perfectly plated dishes leave the kitchen. Then.... the Red Sox game came on. The ambient music was turned off in the bar area and amplified in the restaurant area, and the volume of the two TVs in the bar was turned up. We asked our lovely waitress if it was possible to turn down the game slightly. What I assume was a manager came back and let us know that they would not turn down the volume and it was going to be loud. He said we could move to the restaurant with a complimentary desert if that was a problem. The demeanor in which he spoke to us made us feel like we were being scolded, and we declined his offer. If they had turned down the volume and left the game on, we would have stayed to enjoy another round of drinks and ordered entrees. Instead, the volume stayed loud, increasingly louder during commercial breaks, and we hastily finished our $12 cocktails, paid, and left. When we left, only three patrons were watching the game, and everyone else's conversations had increased in volume to be heard over the game and louder music. If we wanted that vibe, we would have gone to the beerworks, or another of Lowell's endless establishments to watch sports, drink beers, and eat wings. Overall, we enjoyed the Keep and think it offers fresh, trendy mixology--something that was missing from Lowell. We hope that our bad experience with the game/volume was a World Series anomaly, and otherwise the Keep maintains stays true to the essence of an elevated whiskey bar and restaurant. read more

The Keep - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Great selection of bourbon! Reasonably priced pours of hard-to-find bourbons. The food was excellent as well..we started with the stuffed clams and Bavarian pretzel with mustard. The clams were so flavorful!! For entrees, we got the steak frites and chicken. The menu is somewhat small, but what they do, they do well! We will be back soon read more

DRINKS ONLY. The drinks here are phenomenal. Their selection of cocktails is unique, interesting and fun. However, myself, and my family that have eaten here agree that their food is nothing special. Tonight my boyfriend and I got the chicken wings, those are SO good. We also each got our own caesar salad. Mine with shrimp. The shrimp was so overcooked and burnt that it felt like slow motion sticking my fork into it. The lettuce tasted like wet fish. The lettuce was wet with was seemed like just an anchovy flavored water. We aren't the type to send food back but after many attempts at trying to have a meal here, I can honestly say only the wings and the burger (from a previous visit) are worth it. I think the other menu items are over priced for the quality. It's unfortunate because it really is a great go to drink spot. read more