Been here a few times and the food is pretty good but unfortunately the vibe from the owner is the same every time . I asked for a recommendation for a IPA and he said just look at the menu and figure it out. The guy should not work with the public and I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

We take a trip to Arnold about once a month and The Watering Hole has become one of our must stop places, most often we're there twice on our way up and on our way home. They have a delicious always changing seasonal menu and a wonderful selection of beers/ales/sours/stouts/etc on tap and in cans ready to go. Tip: They also have a Todd's Bread stand (on the honor system) with fresh loaves that are really good and we are still waiting to try his pizza dough but it's always gone before we get there. read more

We loved this new wonderful space in Murphys, it's open with high ceilings and a fantastic outdoor patio and TV's to watch sports if they ever come back. They run specials daily so the menu seems to change a lot so don't get too attached to things. We had a Poke Bowl that was Fresh and so good we came back two days later for it and they no longer had it on the menu. I had the Waldorf Salad the was one of the best I've ever had and lucky that stays on the menu because i did get it a second time. My husband had the burger, he loved it. The second time we went we also had the turkey Meatloaf special which was very very good. Don't forget to get the Lemon Pepper Fries they're addicting. Only negative thing i have to say is, for a wine town their Wine Selection doesn't exist. Basically they feature a wine a month. We're in a wine town that's all about wine and their should be a much bigger selection of various wines featured. Other than that we love it. read more

The Watering Hole - Ahi, Salmon Poke Bowl - New American Near Me - Murphys, California

Great food, fast service, great beers, and some great advice picking out some beers to go. Would definitely recommend.

The chef here is amazing and creative. Delicious beer and great ambiance. The ordering system they do is the only reason for not giving a 5th star. read more

The place looks great inside and out but they have no servers have to go to the register to get fodder or drinks Food was horrible so sad great setup bad product read more

Visited yesterday for lunch with my family. On first impression the image is great, new beautiful building, clean, stylish, but ordering was really difficult. The older woman behind the register was impatient, and somewhat condescending which made us feel stressed about not knowing what to order. The menus were a bit overwhelming and her demeanor made it even more uncomfortable. We ordered minimally to satisfy her impatience. We sat outside at a picnic table and listened to a group next to us discussing this same worker ( who I suspect was an owner) they too were very put off and shocked that she was rolling her eyes at them. Overall, this made for a very poor impression and likely a permanent decision never to return. read more

We swung into Murphys for a quick bite and we're surprised to see this new place (haven't been there is a few years). I had a burger and the Asian cucumber salad. Both were delish!! No beer consumed on this trip due to needing to drive to Bay Area. We sat outside on the patio enjoying some live music and watching the babbling brook. A perfect place to enjoy an afternoon. Best of luck to them during this difficult time of COVID. We will definitely be back with friends on our next trip! read more

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Let me start by saying the atmosphere upon entering was not very inviting at all. God forbid you ask a question about the menu or have a name that's too much trouble to "even try to spell out". Even after the initial negative introduction my group continued to dine there because it's a place we had been excited to visit for awhile. Being that we were a big group we did try to put together two tables so we could be with each other. Honestly they're not very heavy and we didn't want to bother the staff since they obviously have a bad attitude towards their customers. This was further proven correct when the bartender aggressively yelled at us to put the table back. Let me emphasize AGGRESSIVE. After we put the table back he continued to talk about our party to other employees making it very obvious by gesturing towards us ,making us feel even more uncomfortable.I'm definitely not one to leave negative reviews but this place obviously needs to incorporate some type of workshop for their employees on how to correctly and politely address/interact with their customers if they are doing something that isn't allowed instead of yelling at them. How you talk to people can change the outcome of a lot of situations. Also,based off responses to reviews similar to mine the owner needs some lessons as well. Don't own restaurant if you don't know how to take accountability for disrespectful employees. read more

I give The Watering Hole 1 star only because they have air conditioning. The rest is a mirage. $15 bucks for ribs? Yes. Oh wait, the sauce was so salty I could feel me arteries hardening with every bite. Good thing they were so terrible I stopped eating them. Drinks come out fast? Yes. But wait. They just set them on the service counter, giving you no clue if those are your drinks. You might be stealing somebody else's beer, who knows? Great "system". Friendly counter person? Yes. But that's where it ends. The bartender has a personality that was formed in a car crash. He acts like he lost a bet with God and now has to serve beer as his eternal punishment. Why would anybody go into the service industry if they hate people so much? Great question. But I'll never find out because I wouldn't go back to the Watering Hole at gunpoint. Do yourself a favor and head to Alchemy or The Pour House, both in Murphys. Or consider root canal as an option to this abuse factory masquerading as a restaurant. read more

My family went there a couple of weeks ago. My husband and son went to the counter to place the order while my daughter in law (DIL) with my two grandkids (both under six) sat down at a table. A member of the staff came over and yelled at them and told them they had to leave since they didn't have food. My DIL explained that her husband was at the counter ordering. He then told them that they had to get up from the table until their food was ready. BTW: According to my husband, there were lots of open tables that day. My DIL was so upset that she couldn't eat her lunch when it finally arrived and they were then able to sit at a table. I just heard this story today when I suggested to my husband that we have lunch there. He told me the story and said he would NEVER eat there again. I was appalled when I heard what happened. read more

guy at bar was very rude to me, he was sarcastic and overall extremely mean, would not recommend ordering from the bar bc of this guy, the food is gas tho mcdonalds workers running on half an hour of sleep are more nice than this guy. this man has black and gray hair, been working here a while, kind of a big forehead and what not, this guy pmo read more

Came in while we waited for our cavern tour time frame. Amazing choice of ciders and beers. Didn't have the food(hence 4 stars),but plan to and will update. Nice decor and owned by mom and pop type. Bartender(is that correct?) was super nice. They Sell fresh breads/focaccia/pizza dough as well,from a separate vendor. We will be back. Ample parking. Clean big bathrooms. read more

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Had a great experience at this place! Friendly staff, food was done quickly & great outdoor atmosphere! They have ice water on tap as a help-yourself kind of deal, which we appreciated as dog owners because our pup was thirsty! Amazing beer selection with great prices too - $6 for 12oz or $7 for 16oz draft! read more

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Very disappointed in our experience at the Watering Hole today. We came in with my parents, sister and husband, a newborn and two dogs so we searched for a table in the shade for OUR NEWBORN before ordering.... one of the servers came out and yelled at us for not ordering before sitting down. God forbid. We have two dogs, we can't sit inside, we needed shade. The way they spoke to us was extremely unprofessional and rude. Our group no longer wanted to eat here after being spoken to the way we did. Very disappointing! read more

Outstanding. We first came here shortly after they opened in early 2020, right before COVID hit, and have been coming here constantly since. The food is excellent, with the menu changing daily and always interesting (they have pub-style food, but also fantastic inventive dishes as well). I often check the menu in the morning and we decide to run down for lunch because some dish popped up on the menu we had to try. The tap selection is huge and changes frequently. And the staff is fantastic. This was one of the only restaurants we would eat at during the pandemic due to the spacious indoor and outdoor dining areas and the attentive staff that was strict about safety protocols. So yeah this place quickly became our go-to in Murphys. Highly recommended. read more

Great atmosphere, awesome assortment of beers on tap and in cans and bottles, and really great food. I recommend the barbecue macaroni salad. Very yummy! read more

The Watering Hole - BBQ macaroni salad with an Allagash White. - New American Near Me - Murphys, California

Visited this place for lunch. We had a party of 9 people. The process of ordering our food and getting it to our table was absolutely atrotious!! The staff had a demeaning attitude and made us feel like we were trying to steal from them when we accidentally picked up a similar order. The server was terrible and continued to have a negative attitude even as we were leaving. They need to change their process in ordering and delivering food. And to have a more accommodating attitude towards their customer that is actually paying their bills. read more

Excellent restaurant! The menu is ever-changing and uses fresh ingredients with flair. The Watering Hole has a vast beer selection, it's always fun to try something new. This is our favorite spot in town and we enjoy bringing family and friends were visiting from the bay area here. The ambiance is open beam, rustic and mountain-esque. This place never disappoints! read more

This is a TOP NOTCH place for a great beer! I was not able to have a draft as we were not there long enough, but I did buy a few of their canned beers and they have a vast selection! Men will enjoy the use of a Budweiser keg as a urinal in the bathroom. Best use for a Bud keg I have ever seen! I am planning to come back here after the plandemic to have a meal and a pitcher of great beer. Awesome place!! read more

We LOVE this place. Don't let the little bartender guy turn you off...he's a total A-hole but it's kinda his thing...his shtick if you will. Oh and the rotating food menu is bomb diggity!! One complaint...we went to watch a World Cup game, along with every single other person in the place, and while I understand it's not a sports bar, would it have killed you to turn on the sound? Several patrons asked...overall we dig this place and will be back read more

The beer selection was overwhelming. Just a couple of wines to choose from. The food selection was small, but quite varied. The steak and Ale pie was on the dry side, but the pastry was tasty. I think the have-the-guests-bus-their-own-tables was a bit over the top, but chalk it up to COVID 19. I did see the most interesting sign; I'm sure useful in nonCOVID times. read more

The Watering Hole - New American Near Me - Murphys, California

Definitely our new favorite spot in Murphys...very nice woodwork throughout with Long thick slab communal tables...nice outdoor area and a cozy fireplace area with seating...would be a great spot on a rainy day...they have a great selection of beers on tap and appreciate the option of a taster before you purchase one...excellent selection. The food we ordered was good ...had a burger ...will be getting that again and the spicy green beans and fried cheese curds were very tasty ...headed back today ! read more

I've eaten there three times now. Each time we found that the food was, if not bad, definitely not good. I a pastrami sandwich, which was dry and salty. In the past I've had the veggie burger and the pork ribs, equally unimpressive. I REALLY want to eat here and like the place. Nice folks, beautiful setting. But the food needs attention, and it's not that hard to serve great food at a beer spot. read more

This place has great beer, ambiance and excellent free WiFi. I love the AC indoors and the sound of the river outside. Nice people working at the counter and nice music :) read more

The Watering Hole - Beer and free WiFi - New American Near Me - Murphys, California

Doesn't accept some forms of VALID state identification. Food was good and so was the beer, at least *from what I was told.* We left a good tip, and weren't causing a scene. We asked the manager about the ID just to confirm, but we weren't loud or disruptive at all. Then they came and hassled me for leaving a low-star review. So, y'know, don't leave a low-star review or they'll harass you while you try to finish your fries. Might have given a higher review in the end if they hadn't come and confronted me mid-meal about it. read more

The Watering Hole is a fantastic place for lunch. Unbelievable selection of international and local California beers. Great food! Quick service! Great ambiance! Indoor or outdoor seating next to the creek! Outstanding! Highly recommend The Watering Hole! Jason, the owner, is a professional chef who only puts out quality food! read more

Beautiful atmosphere. Very clean. Very new. Tasty, reasonably priced bar snacks and entrees. Great local and European beer selection. Also ciders, kombucha and other non beer choices for the losers in your group. Staff is friendly and adhering to Covid guidelines. Sweet river in the back. Sadly no elephants. read more

The Watering Hole - Wildlife found at watering hole - New American Near Me - Murphys, California

We've been here a few times and it has always been pretty good. But we had a weird experience today when we went with another family with a little one along with our 4 year old. We asked if they had any kids items and we were told "this isn't a fast food restaurant, but we can make some chicken stripes". Hmm okay. Then we sat out on the patio next to the grass area and our two kids were checking out the giant connect 4. Then an employee came and took away both corn hole sets because they said "they didn't want to kids to mess them up". And they hadn't even gone near them and they were well behaved. Odd experience--not child friendly. read more

Nice new beer-first restaurant. Food is limited and what we had was only so-so. Fish and chips was decent with waffle chips kinda fun but salty. Rock shrimp bisque was too watery with micro shrimp. And the carbonara sounded good but lacked enough alfredo sauce so was too dry. Noodles were good. Mega selection of beers on top and bottled. Will be a fun place when the weather warms and you sit outside near the stream that flows by. They probably need more time to get their menu right. Stick to burger and ribs to be safe for now. read more

Limited menu and bartender is extremely rude. We moved our table 6 inches because the sun was in our eyes and he yelled "what are you doing!" across the room. He was so loud and obnoxious. Don't go. read more

Good selection of beers Burger and fries were very good Great outdoor seating The gentleman working behind the bar was quite rude read more

This is my go to bar restaurant because awesome staff,great food, and the fact that I can come in to get water while im going for a walk and chat with staff and the people right next to me and the ambiance is amazing read more

Awesome beer selection! I could (and do) spend hours here. Plus they've got wine and NA options. The food is very innovative and fresh.

Wish we lived closer so we could frequent more often. Everything on the menu is tasty. Today we all ordered the double cheeseburgers and fries. They never disappoint. read more

Forty beers and a menu that has meat AND veggie entrees?? Yes please! This newly constructed building and concept is exactly what Murphy's needs to stay ahead of the same old same old. read more

My friends and I came from Sacramento to hike in Big Trees State Park. We usually stop at Snowshoe Brewing on our way home, but today they were closed. And boy am I glad they were! We discovered this gem in Murphys. Exceptionally clean inside, the staff were friendly & informative, a HUGE beer/cider selection (both cans & draft), and the food was to die for. I got the chicken & mushroom fettuccine, my brother got the burger and my cousin got the birria. It was all fantastic. This will be our new go-to spot whenever we visit the area! read more

The Watering Hole - Chicken & mushroom fettuccine - New American Near Me - Murphys, California

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I would give this restaurant zero stars if I could. Most of the staff is friendly, but twice we have entered and asked a food or beer related question and was treated rudely by the male owner. They have a nice variety of beer and the food is decent. However, customer service is key, and this guy doesn't have any. In fact he is condescending and rude. And, to be fair, we have eaten there on four occasions, and when he is not there, the mood is lighter and more professional. read more

Not a bad spot. Very clean and not busy at all for a Saturday afternoon. Kinda odd how they have bar style seating but you can't order directly from the bar tender employee. You have to order from the register. Another weird thing, there is music playing inside, which is fine. But when I asked to have the TV volume turned up, I was told, "We don't do TV volume. It's to noisy." This confuses me a little bit. If your coming to have a beer or whatever, that's cool. But don't expect to be able to hear the commentary of a football game on the television. read more

It may be due in part to the govt. shutdown of businesses and the ridiculous rules restaurants are required to follow, but we were disappointed when we visited. It's a beautiful location and building, with indoor and outdoor seating adjacent to a flowing creek. Entering the restaurant, you will see a large bank of refrigerators stocked with a huge variety of beers, some cider, and soft drinks. The digital menu listed some interesting items but mostly what we would term 'bar food'. There were just a few 'dinner' items so that indicates that this really isn't geared towards dining but more toward enjoying beer with some food options. Again, this may be a trimmed down menu due to the supply shortages. While we enjoyed the food we ordered, it was prepared in a very basic and plain manner, lacking in the typical accompaniments of other dining places. There was no service at all. Customers were expected to clean their tables after use and we did not see any customers doing so. We will probably try this place again in case our experience was not typical. read more