Fort Hill Brewery

We have LOVED the Iron Horse for years but although I am certain the show will be excellent tonight…read more the overall experience is way below par. Food was mediocre , you had to order by app but you had to go up to the bar to order drinks As usual the tables are very crowded together which makes getting up very difficult. We will come again because of the music but won't eat here again unless they figure a better way to food and drink service.

Renovated, beautiful music hall, all table seating, great vibe. Feels like the Community gathers…read morehere to enjoy the shows.

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Can't wait for Mates of State to start.

The Basement

3.0(16 reviews)

•$

Truly awful. Horrible smell, rapey vibes and crappy sound system. Why anyone would go there…read morewillingly is beyond me. Steer clear!

This is what someone who I assume really likes the basement said to me regarding my thoughts on how…read moreuncomfortable this place can make me: "i would offer to dislodge the urban outfitters brand stick from your ass but it seems to be firmly wedged in there with a mixture of smug elitism and yearning for your "college radio days". the effort you put into this backhanded review is off putting to say the least and leaves one to wonder why you continue to patronize establishments that you deem to be so mainstream and played out. Unfortunately, the air of hipsterdom supposedly affected by the basement pales in comparison to that in which you seem to languish."

Pearl Street Nightclub

1.9(57 reviews)

Pearl Street, you have found a way to ruin the Hold Steady. I'm not even mad, I'm amazed…read more Stuffy, overpriced beer (cheapest beer a $5.50 bud? methinksnot), TERRIBLE sound and a butt ugly look. I love GA rooms, but Pearl Street is an insult to music venues everywhere

My experience at this venue has more to do with the unacceptable behavior of the crowd, vs. the…read morevenue itself. That being said--I believe the management and security need to take some measures to better ensure the safety of concert goers. I don't mind an exuberant crowd, I enjoy the energy of the shared experience. I don't mind dancing and pogoing up and down or a little crowd surfing so long as nobody kicks me in the face. What I do mind is people that mistake moshing with slam dancing and use it to violently hurt people. It seems to attract a big college crowd, and among them was a faction of young men behaving badly. The men seemed set on improving their line of sight and proximity to the stage by literally slamming themselves into the people in front of them, in some cases knocking them down, while trying to pretend that it was some socially acceptable form of moshing. It was violence pure and simple and aimed at physically bullying people that had arrived earlier to ensure a good viewing spot. I came away from this concert literally bruised and battered and feeling like I had suffered the kind of whiplash usually experienced in a car accident. I'm a petite five foot tall woman--had I been less physically fit and able to stand my ground, I would have had to have moved off to the dark recesses of this place where I wouldn't have stood a blind man's chance of seeing anything on stage. I had to shove people off of me and brace myself so as not to be knocked to the floor. Repeatedly. Maybe I am used to Boston clubs where security does not allow crowd surfing or moshing. Perhaps concertgoers in the city are just better behaved. The mood on the floor was ugly. I did not feel able to go to the bar for a drink or to visit the rest rooms as I feared I would be unable to make my way back to join the rest of my party. It can't be good for a venues business if patrons are not able to make it to the bar and back. The friend of a girl near us went to the bathroom and was never seen again--unable to make it back through the crowds. I can't say much about the venue. It was so dark and packed with people that I could not see much. The sound quality for the opening band sounded like crap and I feared that would be the case for the headliner, but fortunately it was not. I found no faults with the quality of the sound. The ticket takers and employees that I saw at the front when I entered all seemed like genuine people, friendly and professional. I'd have like to have seen some security inside putting the kibosh on some of the physicality on the floor. I really didn't need guys the size of football linebackers trying to launch me repeatedly. I made it quite clear to them that they were hurting me and they could not have cared less. I have no plans to return to this venue again. I did not feel safe. At all.

This is the fan in the bathroom

It was like a sweat lodge in there, but Beach House delivered.

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There are over a dozen "not recommended" reviews on Yelp and they are pretty much all the same. One star. Same gripes.

13th Floor Music Lounge

4.0(1 review)

4.1 mi

Very cool place! Definitely a small, intimate venue with a good sound and lighting systems. They…read moreget some pretty good local bands here. I would definitely go back here to see a show!

Red Velvet Ribbon at 13th Floor Music Lounge (October, 2014) Photo Credit to Rebel Shot Photography

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Bishop's Lounge

3.9(22 reviews)

Super cool vibey place, we had a ball on I think either a Friday or Saturday night when we went?…read moreThere was a $10 cover that was completely worth it, saw an awesome band there and had a blast. The bathroom situation is a little fraught but other than that it's such a cool space and such a fun bar. Stepping out on the terrace was so cool and the back lounge is nice if you'd rather sit and chat instead of dancing to the band or music in the main room with the bar. Overall would recommend

Absolutely the BEST any night of the week but truly superior on Thunder Thursdays, when I-Ganic…read moreSound spins all-vinyl reggae and dancehall, and you get in for three bucks. The decor is upgraded and the management is ultra-cool, you just can't beat Bishop's.

Bishop's Lounge - More from the deck....

Academy of Music Theatre

3.3(16 reviews)

2.5 mi

The Academy of Music is a lovely, historic and intimate venue. There is so much history here, there…read moreare so many stories--I think my favorite is Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton attending a James Bond film here. The truth is, I attended a show here by accident. It was the weekend of The Back Porch music festival and I intended to see the show of Maine musician Griffin William Sherry. It was super difficult to get anyone on the phone, but I finally did, and was told that Griffin would be among the musicians playing at the Friday night show at the Academy of Music, which was also going to be a tribute to Willie Nelson! How exciting! So I hung up the phone, bought tickets, booked a room at Hotel Northampton, and then drove down from Maine on a Friday after work. It was a beautiful venue, and a marvelous show, performed by a who's who of western Mass musicians. The only downside was that Griffin William Sherry did *not* play in the Willie Nelson tribute. His show was at The Parlor Room, at the same time as the Willie Nelson Tribute, so we missed it. Very disappointing *and* although I wish the person I spoke to on the phone gave accurate information, we saw a pretty amazing show at a lovely venue, so four stars.

I loved the historical and classic vibe of the Theatre. The upper section gave me a bit of vertigo…read morebut it's a pretty common set up. It was big but still felt intimate. Great location - so many awesome bars and restaurants in the area (shout out to Packards and The Tunnel Bar). Parking was easy to find (and free since it was Sunday!). Minus one star because the traffic flow wasn't super well organized - you have to wait in line for drinks where people are shuffling around to find their seat section. It also did not feel accessible for those with mobility issues. Not sure if they have an elevator (didn't see signage) but the basement was a bit of a haul down the stairs (especially coming from the upper level).

Academy of Music entrance

AOM

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The Tunnel Bar

3.9(297 reviews)

I like this place, I go there all the time for delicious cocktails, atmosphere, and friendly staff…read more But don't go for the food, it's surprisingly bad. I had the hummus trio recently and it's not hummus; it's like the baby food version of hummus. It includes an olive tapenade which also tastes like baby food and hardly a taste of olive. Plus some mystery tasteless red sauce. There's also a pork confit which looks like a microwaved pork chop for $16. There's also pizza which I'm sure is microwaved. The only thing decent is the raw bar such as oysters, shrimp cocktail, etc. But it's expensive (on par with other places). The tuna tartar is passable. Hard to say if it's worth it. In sum, go for the cocktails but not the food.

Great place to meet up with friends for an unique experience. This bar is loud though as it's an…read moreold train tunnel that has been converted. The bar is in the middle with 2 and 4 top seating areas around. The drinks were really good and different. The tuna tartar was really nice and fresh. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Just be mindful this place can get busy at opening time.

Martinis are our specialty!

Dranks

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Espresso Martini

Gombo Nola Kitchen & Oyster Bar

4.1(63 reviews)

2.6 mi

So delicious!!! Been here twice now, first time only for drinks, second time for the prix fixe…read moreValentine's Day night dinner. $125 for couples for SO much food. And it was all so incredibly delicious. Props to the chef, hands down. I opted for the high tops when making the 8:00P reservation and it was still busy at that time which was great for them. I do wish I'd have known the size of their high top as I might have chosen a different table but it was still great. Our server was very nice, I wish I remembered her name! The food again, was so delicious. I think my favorite dishes were the grilled miso scallops and definitely the bananas foster crème brûlée.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and as someone who loves oysters, that was enough…read moreto get me in the door. I went with my best friend for lunch. We got there around 1:40 p.m. and they closed at 2, so my friend was a little worried, but we were still welcomed and the staff was very friendly. It's a small place, but I actually liked that it felt cozy. We ordered 12 oysters, two orders of gumbo, a kale Caesar salad, the catfish special to split, and a bourbon-based drink. The oysters were $2 each, which I thought was a pretty good deal. The gumbo was really, really good. It came out a little lukewarm, but the flavor was absolutely there 10/10. The oysters were fresh and also 10/10. The bourbon drink was another standout. The presentation was beautiful, the little flower was such a nice touch, and it tasted just as good as it looked. The kale Caesar was where things dipped a little. It was pretty dry, so we asked for extra dressing, but the dressing didn't really add much flavor. When our waitress checked in, we were honest and said it just wasn't our favorite. I hate sending food back or complaining. I'll usually just stop eating it but she was so kind and apologetic. What really stood out was how they handled it. They told us they were taking the salad off the bill, which they absolutely did not have to do. We had planned to just take the one we had already eaten from home and fix it ourselves, but one of the staff members made us a completely new salad to go. She even massaged the kale so it was actually tender and enjoyable. That was such a thoughtful touch. The catfish was a hit for my friend. It wasn't my favorite, but I still ate it. Overall, I would definitely come back. Next time I'd probably keep it simple; oysters, gumbo, and a drink and I'd be happy. The service was phenomenal, and honestly, service really makes a place. Feeling welcomed and comfortable matters, and this place absolutely gave that.

Restaurant View

Chicken & Sweet Potato Waffles

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Shrimp Po Boy

The Green Room

4.4(78 reviews)

2.6 mi

I love this spot, and frankly don't want to tell you about it because I don't want it to be busier…read more The mood is moody, and the cocktails are next level. If you aren't feeling anything on the menu, ask Kyle (the bartender) for suggestions and you will not be disappointed. Food options are limited, but they make a good pizza. Can't wait to visit again.

A must try! We went here on a whim before supper and were so glad we did. It is a gorgeous bar,…read morewith a super unique experience. You can choose a cocktail from their menu OR they have Bartenders choice where you can tell them a flavor profile and your preferred spirits and they'll create something for you. The bartenders were very personable and made some delicious drinks. We also noticed on their menu that they gave FREE cheese pizza.

Bar

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The Dirty Truth

3.2(271 reviews)

I went back to the dirty truth for the first time in years. I think that the last time I had been…read morethere was when it was still a sister bar to the moan and dove. They have a very well curated selection of beers on tap. I had a Saison Dupont and a Foam collab. They also have food and I got an order of fries with some garlic aioli. Amazing!!! I heard that the chicken sandwich there is very good. I'd like to come back and try it sometime.

I've been here a few times. Service is very pleasant and oddly slow, so it's kind of like dining…read morein the south. You just have to accept the pace. The beer selection is the best I've ever seen in terms of quality breweries. Hill Farmstead is on the menu today (four different ones!) and there are so many others! The wine selection is ok. This is a beer place in my view. Food options are limited and all excellent. Some dishes can be made vegan if that's your preference but there's something for everyone and the quality is spot on. Tonight I had a tofu sandwich that was excellent another person had a kale salad and raved about it. There's something to be said for a place that limits itself to things it does perfectly and The Dirty Truth seems to be that kind of place. It also focuses on beer and food that are interesting and of the highest possible quality. IT's affordable and unpretentious and very comfortable for large and small groups alike. I think I'm coming here on every trip to Northampton. It's that good! See for yourself!