We had a phenomenal night of drinks, food, and legendary musicians at The Bull Run, Shirley, MA…read more(Apr 2026)! Their huge 275-seat event space was packed at tables for 4 to 8, for the two 1-hour sets of Live Dead & Brothers Band, an Allman Brothers - Grateful Dead group of legacy musicians from those bands and families!!! An authentic rockin' performance! They opened hot, with Feelin' Alright and Truckin', and ended hot with Midnight Rider, Ramblin' Man, and Jessica, with around 14 more between. The acoustics were excellent at our table, and we also took up our share of the crowded dance area :-) Their tour continues at least through Dec 2026. Our tickets were about $50 each. Service was fast and friendly, and they let us pull up one more chair for our group of nine. You can get crafted beers and cocktails. We settled in with ice cold regional beers, which honestly are just as distinctive as fancy craft beers. We got some food to share off their "concert menu", too. An entrée-size dish of rich creamy homemade Mac & Cheese, made with tasty aged Grafton Cheddar, soft slightly-al-dente curly Cavatappi pasta tubes, not-overcooked green beans, as i recall, crisply crusted with lightly-maple breadcrumbs. Very flavorful and satisfying. A sweet fresh bright Autumn Salad of greens, pecans, and bright beets, in tart vinaigrette. And juicy "Bull Run Classic" burgers with crisp lettuce, tasty firm tomato, mildly-sharp red onion, and, for one of them, an add-on of rich cheddar, all on a cloud-like brioche bun. They do ask for $20 per person food/beverage minimum for all shows, essentially an entree or a couple beverages each. That's about what we had planned to order anyway :-) This place knocked us out with their dedication to farm-to-table ingredients, sourced from more than 25 regional farms named on the dinner menu. We've never seem such an extensive list of the actual sources. Very cool! The Bull Run has been a tavern since 1741, named after the Battle of Bull Run in 1861, (or in another version, named for a brawl in the tavern at the same time :-), and has been run by the Guercios extended-family since 1946. It was a stop on the stagecoach route and a gathering place for the Revolutionary war. We loved the original wood, structure, and décor. The fireplaces were lovely. It's a huge venue. Bull Run has live music every week, and they're open Wed-Sun, but watch their schedule because dates vary, sometimes one day that week, sometimes all four! This show was in their 275-seat room. There's at least one larger room for around 400. Theres a little parking along Rt 2A, and much more out back across the covered bridge. Dont be put off by the rustic exterior. We loved this legendary performance at a legendary restaurant!

A classic American restaurant and a very old-timey atmosphere! There is something on the menu for…read moreeveryone... we love the turkey dinner, Chicken Parmesan, Reuben sandwich, and the baked stuffed haddock. The prime rib is amazing as well! The pretzels with beer cheese and the cheddar truffle popcorn are a favorite too.

The food was excellent, service was great and the ambiance was what I would expect from a local…read moretavern. Live music on a Friday night, place was packed but it didn't feel it. Definitely a gem in a small town!

We eat here 6-7 times a year, more than anywhere else. Always great food and even better service…read more Love the chicken parm. Decent beer prices. Large bar and plenty of TVs. Always accommodating as well.

Small-ish outfit near the golf course with about a dozen tables and a long bar with a few TV…read morescreens. Beer selections are minimal but just varied enough that you'll find something to your liking, whether mainstream or craft. The food menu is much deeper, nailing most of the pub food classics. As a burgers and wings guy, that was my focus, but there's enough greenery to satisfy my vegetarian wife too. GPH Burger: A well sourced blend, made into a patty of good thickness, grilled over an open flame, and housed in a potato bun with a generous allotment of toppings. Beautiful presentation, and most importantly, the flavor of the beef came through, never getting lost. You can order pink or no pink; I went pink, and on my first visit they nailed the temperature, color, and juiciness to go along with the crusty exterior. Good seasoning, and very enjoyable grill flavor. One of the best burgers I've had this year. Tried it again on a second visit, again requesting pink, but: a) not pink or juicy, and b) no flame grill flavor. Still a decent burger-- mostly because the addition of some nicely chewy and very strongly cured bacon picked up some of the slack. Third try, a repeat of the first, so two out of three ain't bad. Smashburger: Solid enough, though not as pronounced of surface crispness as a proper smashburger. Fries: Hand-cut, plentiful, dark, crispy, and just droopy enough. There's no salt on the table, but these were salted perfectly. Ketchup is an off brand, with a little more tartness than the standard, but it worked fine. Onion Rings: The thick ring, thick batter kind, and very crunchy. All depends on whether you like that style. Hot Dog: The menu lists them with fries included, but if you're already getting a burger, you can add one on without getting the extra fries. Toasted New England flat-sided bun, very juicy, grilled wiener, and toppings you can choose. Chili is a $3 add-on, but note there are beans included. I enjoyed mine and would get it again without the chili. Wings: Went Buffalo once, somewhat crisp, somewhat tender, nice sauce, with spices and seasonings, but not what I'd call Buffalo and not much coverage. These are baked, then fried, so missing a little something.went sweet chili on the next visit, and these were closer to the listed flavor and a little closer to wings that quench a wings craving.

I've passed this place 100 times over the years, but finally went in. I was certainly missing out…read more Absolutely fast and friendly service. The food is tremendous. Very cozy bar area definitely will be back. Not a ton of seating, but it works for this area. Great place to grab drinks after work or just a quick bite to eat

My sister and I recently went to lunch here with our mom who recently turned 89. Just for fun, we…read moretook the commuter rail as it is a very short walk and my mom has mobility issues. The waitress was so kind and personable and it really made the experience so nice for my mom. The portions were enormous and I would say a good value. The restaurant is immaculate as well.

Another few years, another handful of visits, and pretty much the same deal as before, with pretty…read moremuch the same strengths and weaknesses. -- Outstanding wings. The sauces are sharp, the skins are just crisp enough, the marinade runs deep, and the interiors are juicy. The whole package with the ranch or blue cheese works very well. -- Good burger. They're loyal members of the smash brigade, and while I prefer a thicker burger, their double smash is very good. The meat is seasoned, it has a nice texture, the bun is soft and pliable, and the condiments add flavor galore. The bacon aioli is rich, creamy, and provides a salty dimension. My one criticism (aside from whether they're truly textbook smashburgers or in name only) is that the beef sometimes gets lost in the generously applied condiments and pillowy bun. But I'll say it again: good burger. -- Superb onion rings. This is a new one, and you can get them as a $5 side or as a $2.00 upgrade from fries with your burger. Thin, crisp, well browned and a little bit greasy. Oh, and a generous allotment with your burger. -- Good beer selection. They don't have all the latest sexy IPAs, but they do have a bunch, plus good deals on some of the more traditional bottles. -- High prices. Everything's still more expensive than it really ought to be, even by today's restaurant pricing standards, but lately maybe less so, only because others have caught up to them, but it is noticeable. -- Shaky service. It's not so much that the servers are slow, error-prone or rude (although I had one very rude moment), but more a matter of being consistently undermanned. Typically one person handles both bar and tables during weekday lunches, and two plus a bartender at night. Lots of waiting and empty glasses.

Update after a few more visits has them down to a 4 based on inconsistency…read more -- Roast Chicken: Hearty fall/winter dish with crisp skin, herbs aplenty, and gravy underneath, with roasted carrots and mashed potatoes. A little dry in the interior. No longer on the menu as of last week. -- Grilled Shrimp: Plump shrimp whose paprika-heavy rub and grill flavor balanced the butteriness, with a pepper aioli joining as well. On top, pickled fennel. Underneath, grilled sourdough that soaked in the grill, butter, and seafood flavors. Fantastic but no longer on the menu as of last week. -- Forge & Vine Cheeseburger: All the same ingredients as on a Big Mac, only of much higher quality, on a thick burger of high quality. I've been hoping to relive the glory of my first burger here (see previous review), but it's been rocky. Good grill flavor and outer crusting, but medium to medium well when I ordered medium rare. (Yes, I mentioned it to the server and manager.) Still a pretty good burger, and the bacon I added this time was thick and walking the tightrope between crispy and bendy. But a big miss on hitting greatness again. So I gave it another chance the next visit, and it was again overdone. But this time I sent it back, and the one they sent out was very good. The most recent visit only required one try: excellent, with the right crust outside and proper pink and juicy inside, along with a solid assortment of vegetables and condiments. An exemplary burger-- when they cook it right. -- Calamari: An eye-catching appetizer with the mostly thin rings pretty much treated like chicken wings, with a spicy tangy glaze, an aïoli underneath, and some kimchi on top for presentation. Very good crunch and flavor, but thicker pieces would have allowed a better tasting of the seafood itself. Still very enjoyable and I'd get it again. -- Shrimp Cocktail: Solid job, good size, presented in ice with lemon wedges and a cocktail sauce a little light on the horseradish. -- Grilled Swordfish Meunière: A thick slab, lightly grilled, fairly. A thin brown butter sauce, capers, and sautéed mustard greens added some much needed moisture and oomph. No longer on the menu as of last week. -- Jimmy Nardello Peppers: Long, bright red, no heat, slightly sour, and somewhat fruity like peppadew, dressed up with garlic aioli, chimichurri, and coriander seed. Outstanding. Great beer pairing. Beautiful space. Good to outstanding service. Cody pours his heart and soul into the experience, exuding enthusiasm from the greeting through the check. Some might find it a little overdramatic, but after enduring too many AWOL and near-comatose servers elsewhere, I can't get enough of it. I like this place, and consider it good to very good, but it seems like the proteins (especially the grilled items) turn up a little too dry a little too often to consider them great. Their pricing is high but well worth it when the execution is there. When it's not, it's a too-expensive just-okay. Despite the inconsistency, going with a 4 based on the most recent visit being problem-free.

Had our 3rd dining experience at this restaurant tonight. Was interesting that we walked right in…read morewith no wait. Not as busy as it used to be to be. Still a beautiful place with lovely atmosphere. The food is still disappointing. I had a scallop starter. It looked like 2 scollops that was cut in half. Smaller than a quarter, served on a shell on a bed of very Fishy smelling seaweed for $24. Drinks were good and service was great. If you are going to sell your protein based on size, like you do with your steaks, then maybe start doing the same with weight size for seafood products. Quantity and quality is important.

Wonderful food! Excellent staff! Love the atmosphere. My husband and I stopped by this evening…read more It's been a few months. The quality is very consistent. We started with cocktails, arugula salad and bread service. Everything was fresh and bread was yummy, drizzled with honey butter. For our mains, I had the tuna poke bowl and my husband had the pork Milanese. The tuna was fresh, over a bed of perfectly cooke rice, avocado, edamame and lots of healthy goodness. My husband said his pork was as good as his German Schnitzel! I really love the small pours of high end wines. I had a Barolo to wrap up my meal. I always enjoy eating at Great Riad Kitchen and look forward to our next visit.

What another amazing experience!! We day at the Oyster Bar and was greeted by Executive Chef Ben…read moreWoffe. it took is all a minute to recognize eachother, but this moment made for a fantastic dinner. The place was quiet, which allowed Ben to sirens time talking to us and giving is the ones and outs of his creations. Our server was Sienna, who was bright and personable, and worked side by side with Chef Ben to make our meal memorable. We started our meal with oysters. Chef gave us his recommendations and they were has delicious as he hyped them up to be. Then we tried the lobster guacamole, which the star of the shows was actually the bacon lardon that's layered in. A must try for anyone who loves this dip. I had the pineapple braised pulled pork tacos. I could barely finish two, yet alone the 3 healthy sized tacos. And my girlfriend was treated to both the crab cake and the specialty salmon cakes. She proclaimed the salmon the winner of that cake battle. For desert, which we didn't finish either, was the berry cobbler. I compared it to an oversized toaster strudel, but homemade and much more flavorful. Overall, we love it here. This is our 2nd trip and we'll be sure to come again soon! Pro Tip: sit at the Oyster Bar, watching the kitchen working is a phenomenal experience. Thank you again to Chef Ben and Sienna! And look, they also have events coming up!!

What a locals place! Great food, super Massachusetts vibe…read more We had a great meal and drinks at this place. One of our party was a dishwasher here as a kid, and is still treated like family as an adult. Our bartender/ order taker was so great and had a super attitude. We felt at home and had a great time. I apologize for lack of pictures but believe me the food we had was excellent. I would eat and hear again. The menu is extensive and they had Oktoberfest food and beer specials.

The food is great! Service is always on point! The ambiance is very classy and sultry!!read more

Finally decided to check out this place. These guys have taken over the former location of…read moreSingapore and have really livened up the area with its welcoming lighting and outdoor seating. The primary reason I chose to eat here was because they have a full menu that's available all the way up until 11:00PM. This is perfect for me because I typically arrive home around 10:30PM and there are no good options open!! Parking is incrediblyly easy. If their specific parking lot is packed, you have the entire rest of the plaza to park in; especially the nearby Sherwin-Williams and Kappy's lots. This place is one of many locations in their chain and I am very familiar with them. They have great interior design that makes them an easy spot for a quick date or somewhere to chill and watch some kinda sport (like the World Cup right now!) I decided to order a feast with my wife; Bang Bang Broccoli ; I ALWAYS order this dish. It's always perfectly lightly crispy and the chili garlic sauce is perfect. It even stays crispy as a fridge leftover! Cornflake Fried Chicken Tenders (maple gochujang) ; my wife's funny. she thought this was legit Korean Fried Chicken because of how great the crispiness and the flavors were. This is a top pick if you're craving Bonchon or bb.Q Chicken but you don't want to make the long drive Korean Crispy Chicken ; I ordered this for my wife but she actually filled up on everything before taking a bite. This tastes great and the glaze used is actually the same sauce we chose on the chicken tenders mentioned above. Can't go wrong with this if you're more of a chicken sandwich than a chicken tendies person. Mac + Cheese ; I am actually not a big fan of Mac and Cheese and I ordered this specifically to go with the tenders. But honestly, this may have changed my opinion. Very delicious and cheesy and great for sharing in a group. One of the few Mac and Cheese in a restaurant I actually enjoy. Hot Honey Chicken Stack ; very very good!! but the hot honey glaze becomes nauseatingly sweet as you become more and more full, and as you reach the end of your plate and you're trying to finish off the rice that's been soaking in the glaze for the past half hour. The chicken itself was borderline dry which isn't a surprise since it appeared be thinly sliced breasts with a nice char. I probably won't ever get this again since I prefer the other chicken dishes above were more juicy. We didn't do any bar service, and the waitress did her expected job of making sure we had filled glasses and checking if the food was good. Nothing stand outs to complain or compliment. We had a great experience here and I am totally going to come back the next time I am craving dinner at 10:30PM.

Great food and food ambience. Not sure if there's a better consistent food option in Fitchburg.read more