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    Thirsty Whale

    3.6 (94 reviews)
    InexpensiveNew American, Pubs
    Open 12:00 pm - 12:30 am (Next day)

    Thirsty Whale Photos

    THIRSTY WHALE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Good for groups

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    Pastrami sandwich with fries
    MacKenzie B.

    Finally got the chance to go (it was closed during Covid for a while) and we were so impressed! The bartender was so nice, the food was amazing, cook was kind, and the atmosphere was awesome. We'll definitely be back. We love the idea of ordering food at the kitchen and drinks at the bar - it's a fun dive bar vibe. We brought our 14 month old on Friday for lunch and she had so much fun in the window booth. Highly recommend the pastrami sandwich and the fries were delicious!

    Front window alcove
    Robert P.

    Best dive bar in Newburyport. Dark and loaded with townies, super friendly. The vibe is good.

    Shrimp Scampi Appetizer!  Yum.
    Mardi B.

    The food is EXCELLENT! KITCHEN under new management. Reasonable prices,something for everyone. Fun pub atmosphere, grrat jukebox. I highly recommend it!!

    This is what we got when we asked for the check - thought it was awesome!

    Stopped in for a beer and lunch yesterday and loved it. I don't think it's fair to classify the whale as a dive, for what it is it's a great little spot. The atmosphere was relaxed, the beer selection was top notch, and the classic rock music was the good stuff you want to hear rather than the crap you're sick of hearing everywhere else. The bartender was very friendly and attentive, but not overbearing either - perfect service for this type of place. I had a grilled cheese and fries for $3.75 and the Mrs. had a tuna melt with fries for $5.75, both were better than expected and certainly a great value for the money. Our favorite part was when we asked for the tab and the bartender wrote the number "12" on a beverage napkin and slid it across the bar. We got a kick out of that and will definitely be back. Great spot for a quick beer in downtown Newburyport.

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    2 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Every town needs a basic dive like this. Drinks only: a good cosmo and decent choices on tap. Bartender was very nice.

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    1 year ago

    What a great bar! Has live music at times and is very good. Haven't tried the food but it looks good. Highly recommend.

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    8 years ago

    Great place for cheap drinks around newburyport. Friendly towny atmosphere. Never had the food but 3 dollar cocktails can't beat it

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Thirsty Whale

    Review Highlights - Thirsty Whale

    I like big chunks of haddock and a smattering of potatoes in a not-too-thick chowder.

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    The Winner's Circle - Haddock sandwich, fried clam bellies and clam strip sandwich

    The Winner's Circle

    3.6(67 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    Visited the area and popped in to grab a bite and of course indulged in my go-to of seafood…read moreoptions. I had the seafood platter which definitely comes with your monies worth of fresh seafood. The service was great, and the ambiance is a chill casual come as you are vibe. The seafood quality is great. The flavors on the other hand were a bit bland, and I needed to add lemon Tabasco, cocktail and, tartar sauce, but par for the area as I imagine that's how the residence of the area prefer their seafood. Overall it was good and I'd eat it again, and would add some Old Bay seasoning at least.

    Better option than Sylvan Street. Have been here before and always liked the atmosphere. Fun…read moreBar area. The unlimited TVs on with every game on the planet showing. I'm sure if there is some obscure game on. They could find it for you Plenty of tables with waiter service (it used to be order at the counter). When I saw the amount of different items on the menu, I was skeptical. Usually when a restaurant has too many options, none of them are great. But they pulled it off. Everything was fresh. Cooked perfectly. And tasted great. Burger was perfect. Fries were excellent. Side order of shrimp also good. Friends were pleased with their choices as well.... Kid friendly atmosphere. Games available to play. And plenty of options on the menu for little ones. All reasonably priced. In fact I was surprised by the prices of everything on the menu. Great choice if you're in the area....

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    The Winner's Circle - Wow... awesome wings

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    Wow... awesome wings

    Hideaway Pub

    Hideaway Pub

    3.7(16 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    A group of us met up here on a weeknight for drinks & to play Music Bingo. I was early & decided…read moreto go in by myself & get a table (s). Entering I was greeted by the friendly owner who was also tending the bar. From what I saw upon entering the bar is very clean and neat. It may be because now is considered off-season, it was busy but low key & people who were there were obviously enjoying it. I decided on a table & within minutes my friends showed up. The bar does not serve food. So I stopped and got 2 pizzas for us all to share. We ordered drinks & walked up to the bar to pay. We were prepared knowing beforehand that they only take cash...so no issues with that. I did not order an alcoholic beverage... Others did & liked them very much. It seems like they are priced . moderately. My drink was a diet coke in a tall glass.. just right. So it became time to play and the nice DJ came over to explain the game and pass out cards and markers. One of my group won the first round! They brought her over a bag loaded with swag .. I don't know about you, but winning is exciting & gives an adrenaline pump - usually no matter what the prize is. So on came the 2nd round & a winner from the other side of the venue. The next and last round ended up being a coverall! We thought .. no one will win this one. She played 50 song bits & no one was winning. So she cheered us on and asked if we wanted 5 more. Otherwise without a winner the pot grows. So we said yes! And low & behold... I ended up winning! I won __ in cash!!! It was decided between us that we will definitely return : - )

    Great local place. We were in Hampton Beach for 4 days and stopped here for drinks and karaoke…read more Can definitely tell it's a go to place for locals and a gem off the main drag not far from Hampton Breach. The place is quaint and clean. Everyone was awesome, welcoming and fun and pleasant and made us feel like locals. The karaoke crowd was great and the bartender was awesome. The owner was there and attentive to helping out behind the bars whenever needed. Would go back here in a second when back in the area.

    Photos
    Hideaway Pub - #coldestbeeratthebeach
#coldestproseccoatthebeach

    #coldestbeeratthebeach #coldestproseccoatthebeach

    Hideaway Pub
    Hideaway Pub

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    99 Restaurants - Ribeye Steak* done well, my sides were salads and I didn't get both.

    99 Restaurants

    2.7(27 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    I've eaten in house and had little trouble getting the food right. Recently, I had a large tab for…read morea delivery order for myself and a guest. The meal was a disaster and I was so embarrassed to have little backup food on hand (I'm disabled currently homebound). I was upset with the situation but the manager there reached out to me about the situation. She was very polite, genuine about how she would have felt if she were in my place, and said that she hoped they'd be able to do better for me next time. Still homebound, I gave them another chance and they did a good job with the meals. Try the Banana Foster cheesecake before it goes away!! Having a successful night, I was happy to order another steak dinner. The steak was well prepared and the other entree was fine. The appetizer was pretty basic (2 celery sticks is stingy for a wings order...). But I didn't receive one of the dinner salads that was a side with the meal. The receipt shows it and I called the restaurant after I opened the bag. The restaurant phone had a recording and then it would just disconnect. So I never got to tell them about the problem. At this point, I don't think I can trust them to get a delivery order correct -- statistically it has been proven.... So if you can go to the restaurant to dine in or pick up the order to make sure it's correct, I would say go for it. Otherwise, I've got to say don't bother with delivery. (If you do, know that they have left the food outside on my steps and never rang the bell to let me know it was delivered. They don't call or text to let you know that they have dropped it off either. Which means that you either need to watch your door, have a camera on your house or hope you get it before it is too cold. With my disability, I can't even get outside by myself to get to where they leave the bags. So I have to get someone else to help me bring it in. (I tip drivers extra for handing it off to me bc I get hot food. Never have had a delivery from them actually bring my food to the door.) I feel like they look at the wheelchair ramp and just decide to leave it in the middle of that. (Which is the equivalent of leaving it in the driveway bc it is through a porch, across a deck and then goes down to the one of two driveways.)

    Gotta be one of the worst Nines . Ordered here a few times and every time it's not good . Last…read moresalad I ordered looked liked it was scraped off someone's plate. Steak tips were cold to the touch

    Photos
    99 Restaurants - Mango mai Thai

    Mango mai Thai

    99 Restaurants - Flat bread chicken

    Flat bread chicken

    99 Restaurants - Plain Burger* with a side of broccoli

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    Plain Burger* with a side of broccoli

    Thirsty Whale - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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