Smithsonian Chowder House

A great cafe and equally wonderful spot for a lunch! I stopped in here on July 4th weekend…read more(actually it was July 4th) when all other spots in town were closed. We had our pup with us, so spots where we could sit down were even more limited, but luckily, a lunch at Familiars was only a very long line away. While the group waited outside at one of the sidewalk tables, I went inside to order at the counter. I got the chicken salad sandwich and have to say I was so surprised by how delicious it was. I'm not from here, so from just the outside and where you order, I thought they were a cafe first with food options, but nope. Definitely wrong, they make a great sandwich. And the coffees were also delicious! Baristas and team were all friendly, the space inside was very cool, cozy and comfortable and they had plenty of outside tables as well. You order at the counter and they will bring all of the food out to you, you also grab your own waters inside. A nice mix of casual and service. If I was local or visiting when I needed a space to bring my laptop and get some remote work done, this seems like a great option.

When I first discovered Familiars I thought: "Finally a decent place in N'Hampton (detractors and…read morerump swabs, please hold your whining). To be fair there's plenty to like about this place but the fall from grace is both unfortunate and was avoidable. It boils down to a poor decision to change coffee brands from the excellent Counter Culture to some small batch, no name mediocre choice. Perhaps when this small roaster goes out of business, they'll switch back. They've fortunately stuck with Iggy's for breads and treats and the service and vibe remain strong.

Dining room

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Inside the trolley

Woodstar Cafe

4.1(273 reviews)

3.4 mi

Loved it! We a lovely soup and sandwich for lunch. Went back…read morelater for sweets for the ride home. Cute and cozy place. Very busy. Will go back

5 stars for food and drink. 2 stars for make counter order taker that lacked patience and…read morehospitality. My food was a banger! So good and fresh and so wholesome. Pricey but worth it !

Pb chip cookie and magic bar. Both excellent and big enough to share.

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The scene as you walk into Woodstar

Jake's Restaurant

4.3(634 reviews)

3.3 mi

Two Haiku Review:…read more Came here for brunch And was very happy! I Ordered a breakfast Burrito, quite good. Excellent service. Beware The wait can be long.

I stopped in for breakfast since I was in the area. I'm honestly not much of a traditional…read morebreakfast person, so eggs, pancakes, waffles, etc. aren't usually my first choice. That said, the food was seasoned well and everything tasted good. The service was also great, and I really enjoyed the mimosa! Overall, it wasn't a bad experience at all, I just don't think I was really in the mood for breakfast today. My only hesitation was the price; breakfast for two with one coffee one mimosa came out to about $54, which felt a little pricey to me. However, this is the economy we live in. I'd definitely say it's worth trying if you're a breakfast person, especially for the good service and mimosas!

Service

Huevos rancheras

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River Valley Co-op

3.9(96 reviews)

1.4 mi

Very organized and well stocked. Foods always fresh never…read moreanything expired, the gentleman who stocks the the freezer does an excellent job making sure the freezer is clean and organized. Keep up the great work Corey

Great "fast food". Walk in. Grab a special day pick up a soda and a bag of chips. This is…read moreperfect.

Beer

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Bread Euphoria

4.1(106 reviews)

2.9 mi

Great sándwiches and brownies. Pizza looks promising and there are excellent breads to buy.read more

We used to love Bread Euphoria but lately the service has been painfully slow and the orders…read moreincomplete and the quality of the sandwiches poor. Their inability to fix or replace equipment indicates they are struggling financially. We'll miss their bread but it just isn't what it used to be

Fresh Tomato Pizza

Molasses cookie cream pie @ Bread Euphoria Cafe in Haydenville, MA

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Brunch!

Hungry Ghost Bread

4.3(220 reviews)

3.3 mi

Really impressed by Hungry Ghost Bread! My friend and I stopped in randomly and I'm very glad that…read morewe did. It was mainly a bakery, with a small counter and one employee at the front, where you place your order. All the breads looked amazing, but I decided to just go with a pretzel, since I was just looking for a little snack. I know it's hard to base a review off a pretzel alone, but wowza, that pretzel was delicious! It was clear that the ingredients were top notch. If you're looking for more of a café vibe, you're not going to find it here. But if you're looking for some great baked goods, look no further!

Is hungry ghost the best bread in New England? The argument could be made. Sort of a no frills…read morebakery but worth stopping in if you're passing through Northampton.

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Cafe Balagan

4.7(15 reviews)

3.4 mi

Had a delicious cortado made by very friendly employees ahead of the Paradise City Art Festival!…read more Highly recommend!

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I can't tell you what their main product is. My apologies! They do…read morehave boxed water for sale, and several other drinks for us non-coffee people. They also sell baked goods - they're made by a local bakery, not on sight, but they're delicious. They're also incredibly light, and I know this because after one delicious bite of the chocolate cake (like a small chocolate lava cake), one gust of wind blew it away! I was devastated, emotionally overwrought... I did pick it up so no dog found it as a treat. On a related note, there is indoor and outdoor seating.

Rear area inside

Burekas

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Seating area

Pulse Cafe

4.6(249 reviews)

3.8 mi

Love this place. Everytime we visit my Mom in Easthampton we drive to Hadley to eat at Pulse. It's…read moregreat for both vegans and non vegans because they offer items that are so good my family can barely tell the difference. This time we ordered a Large Blanco pizza which was great because there was plenty to take home for lunches throughout the week. I had the Tex-Mex burger for the first time. It came with a choice of house-made black bean burger, Impossible patty or Beyond patty. I chose the Beyond and I'm really happy I did because it was so good. Normally I would suggest a Cubano sandwich but they were out chick'n and waffles is great too. But today the burger really hit the spot. I had my choice of fresh greens or roasted potatoes which was a no-brainer. These potatoes are the best. I ordered a second order for my Mom to take home. She loves them. Imagine biting into a firm roasted potato skin with a velvety buttery mashed potato inside. Yeah, it's that kind of good! Today was a bonus, I accumulated enough points for a free small pizza of my choice! Heck yeah, that heats up nicely back home for lunches at work during the week. We might have loaded up on desserts... cookies, chocolate mousse, cupcakes, rice pudding, pastries. Oh yes, it's dangerous! There is seating inside and outside in nicer weather. Order at the counter and pay, take a number, find a table and they will deliver your meal to the table. Don't forget to tip your servers! Also check out their grocery and refrigerated section!

Large restaurant; order at counter; they bring food to table…read more Roasted yams are fantastic; sweet and tasty. Black bean burger was fine; patty on the small side and dry; glad I added sauteed onions. I didnt want to use the aioli sauce; wouldnt be dry if you use the sauce. Bun was terribly dry; I took one bite and decided not to eat the rest of the bun (was it a GF bun?). I'm thankful to have found this vegan restaurant. If you order the black bean burger, get a lot of toppings.

Dining area

Blueberry pancakes, chicken and waffles

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Service area

Jersey Mike's Subs

3.0(8 reviews)

4.5 mi

This Hadley Jersey Mike's subs seem to be cheap wirh their meats now. Won't order a Jersey Shore…read moregiant for $20+ cause it resembles the meat you find in a Subway sub. Thin layer, not like they used to be. We will see if the rest of their subs are just as chintzy. I used to crave their subs but our last one ended that love. Be wary.

Honestly I had higher expectations but like nonetheless it was a classic turkey sub and I would get…read moreagain. I went on a date with w a weird little man and like we both liked our subs. Rosemary parm bread on top but I need a little more. Everyone working there was so sweet and charming and I'd go back #jerseyfordays #mikesjuice

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Lichter and Levin Delicatessen

3.2(35 reviews)

3.2 mi

It wasn't quick, but damn was it tasty! Kept it simple with a white fish salad on toasted sesame,…read morepastrami knish, and a Dr. Brown's cream soda. All hit the spot. The fish was delightfully salted and greasy with a gorgeous lemon flavor. Knish was a nice surprise savory and tender, though could use a little more potato to fill it out and make it a meal rather than a snack. I went the carnivorous route, but was very impressed by the spread of vegan offerings. Will definitely be back.

While fam enjoyed L and L Deli on Sat!! I tried the vegan pastrami for the first time anywhere. I…read morecouldn't believe how good it was!!! Bro had it on their Rye and I tried sourdough. While it was good, the rye bread looked so much better!! Pastrami vegan as it was amazingly delicious taste and mouth feel. Vinegar based Potato Salad had dill and also delicious. Others wished for mayo type base which wasn't offered. Not included, I missed having a pickle slice to go with it. I noticed they offer 3 types but not new dill, my fav. They offer real meat but, I'll say again, my first vegan pastrami was very nice!!

Pretty thin for a $22+ Jewish deli pastrami sandwich. Aforementioned schmekel of a pickled

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Smooooooth black coffee

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Emi H.

2 years ago

Best chowder house in Massachusetts. This iconic establishment combines the quintessential charm of a classic New England seafood joint with an unbeatable family oriented atmosphere. This establishment is a culinary triumph, featuring an indulgent blend of succulent clams, hearty potatoes, and a creamy, flavorful broth that has become a hallmark of excellence. With a dedication to using the freshest local ingredients and a recipe perfected over generations, every bowl promises a taste of authenticity and comfort. The vibrant, welcoming atmosphere and spectacular staff make this chowder house a must-visit destination for chowder aficionados and tourists alike visiting this neck of the woods. read more

Tomm G.

8 years ago

Delicious seafood chowder! I live several hours away and make the pilgrimage at least once a year for the chowder. The service is always great! My wife speaks highly of their sandwiches, as well! Highly recommended! read more

Joan B.

7 years ago

I used to really love their soups but more and more they are way too salty. This distracts from the overall flavor.

Bing M.

5 years ago

very suprised to find this place. Everything we ordered tasted great, especially the especially the seafood soup.

Lynn M.

4 years ago

Great service! Came in almost at closing and they were still happy to serve us! Food was awesome!

Michael A.

5 years ago

Chowder is great, after that the menu is a bit thin. The chili's good too, nice people.

Frank K.

5 years ago

Awesome Fish Chowder! Great Clam Chowder! AND Great Cupcakes too! Can't wait to go back read more

Katherine P.

10 years ago

You have to try the galumpki stew. They best thing ever!

Cheryl B.

15 years ago

Excellent stop for lunch! They just need more tables!

Raeann M.

13 years ago

Loved it...corn chowder spot on

Smithsonian Chowder House - seafood - Updated October 2026

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Blue Heron Restaurant

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A pleasant day with the family. The brunch was good. I enjoyed poached salmon. Others raved about…read morethe waffles. Eggs Benedict was good. Cauloflower soup and beet salad appetizers were terrific. Our server was fantastic! Always a terrific place for a special occasion.

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Amherst Oyster Bar

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We headed back to the Amherst Oyster bar for a meal on Sunday night. Lately I've been leery of…read moregoing to restaurants as typically I'm the person that gets the 'bad' meal. It didn't happen this time and for this I'm eternally grateful! There were several people in our party so we started with the seafood tower. It was very good and included 1 dozen oysters (pick 2 on the oyster list), 6 shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare, crab salad, and a small cup of seaweed salad. Along with came several lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, minionette, and some crispy flatbread. I didn't try the shrimp but had some of the rest and it was all excellent. For my main I opted for the Casarecce Vongole which was similar to linguini and clams (with casarecce). I'd typically think of the ridge on casarecce as holding a heavier sauce (this was olive oil based) but what the heck right? This was served with manila clams which are a little small but they were very good. The sauce was loaded with sliced garlic, some parsley, and a little red pepper flake. The meal was very good. One of the members of our party had some dietary restrictions and the staff was very good about working with her to assemble a meal that she could eat. She really enjoyed her meal as well.

First timer coming here. Not sure why I waited so long! We had a reservation for four at 7:15P on a…read moreSaturday night. Surprisingly, we wouldn't have actually needed the reservation; the place was pretty quiet for a Saturday night. Though, the college students are all gone for summer so that might play a part in it. Nonetheless. The food was DELICIOUS. The drinks were FABULOUS. We each had a few drinks and everyone seemed to enjoy what they had. I ordered the Don't Text Your Ex and that was so yummy. I loved the dragonfruit dusting on top. Our server, Scotty, kept us fed and hydrated all night. We started with 16 oysters, tried 4 different kinds, of all sizes. I wish I remembered which we did but they were all very good. Next came the calamari with hot honey. That was eaten up pretty quickly as well! Highly recommend. Entree wise, I ordered the Seared Scallops for myself, and the other party goers had the Lobster Roll (which comes hot, not cold), the Seared Tuna, and the Casarecce Vongole. Everyone was part of the clean plate club that night. All the dishes were so good I know I keep repeating myself! The bill can get pretty pricey if you're not paying attention. We will definitely be going back!

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I stopped in on a Wednesday early afternoon as a single diner. It was not busy. You order at the…read morecounter, pay and wait for your food. They serve it in to go wrapping and offer packets of condiments. I ordered the French Dip and an order of French fries. $16 + $8 so it's essential $25 for lunch. The sandwich contained a bit less beef than I would have expected for the price, as you can see in the photo. It came with a pint container of au jus for dipping. The sandwich was a bit greasy and fatty, not really a bad thing for umami, but a tad more greasy than I would have liked. The roll held up to the at jus. Excellent! The sandwich was dying for seasoning along with the au jus . Salt and pepper at minimum. It made a big difference. It was ok but bland. The French fries were a very large portion served in a paper bag ala Five Guys. You can tell they are trying to produce a good product. Sadly the fries had ZERO crisp and were limp and borderline soggy. I think they need to double fry if they continue to use the same cooking method. An almost good, but a miss. Here's my biggest issue. The menu is not conducive to eating solo. I tossed well over half of my fries, wasting food and money. They really should consider offering a side portion of fries with sandwiches that is half the current size at a reduced cost. It was enough of an issue to stop me from returning unless I go with other folks. I think they are trying. Reviews are good. Normally I'd come again and try something else. A few days ago they posted a photo of a chicken parm special sandwich that had looked phenomenal. But unless they adjust their menu to make portion choices more conducive for solo consumers, I won't return.

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