The staff are amazing and attentive and friendly! This is a great welcoming environment! We love the gaming options and the shows! We love how everyone is welcome to enjoy this great place! We loved them at the previous location and followed them to their current location! And we come here from New Hampshire! Love the Castle! read more

I waiter was really pushy.And the waiter didn't even come to us once when we got our food didn't even ask how our food was in the end we didn't eat because the food generally tasted horrible I do not recommend going there read more

We were looking for somewhere near the Cabot Theater for dinner and we found The Castle. We were intrigued by the concept playing board games while eating dinner. If I'm being completely honest we expected the food to be ok but not the best as that's typically how places like this are. We were so wrong!! We started with the mozzarella sticks and they were out of this world. Next up was Caesar salads; not the best but still good- they needed more dressing and it needed to be a creamier dressing but the lettuce blend was fresh and they put a ton of cheese and croutons. Unfortunately we had to take our dinners to go as we were running short on time. We should have planned to have been there longer; this was the only issue we had. Unfortunately they only had two servers and they were slammed. The food was great but the service just too long. If we didn't have somewhere to be we wouldn't have been phased by it; we wouldn't have even noticed how long everything took because we were so immersed in the environment. When we got home we had our dinners and again we were expecting them to just be ok because we were heating them up. Again we were wrong! I had the short rib sandwich and it was AMAZING, loaded with onions and mushrooms it was crazy good. My husband had the steak tips and again phenomenal. We will definitely be back when we have nothing to do afterwards. *I'd like to add the staff was great just very busy! read more

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The good: it's a very fun place with hundreds to 1000 games which you can use. Anything you could imagine is on the shelf here. Indoor and outdoor dining and fun decor. The food was pretty darn good too. The not so good: the people employed here are very nice, but the service is beyond slow. We were with a six-year-old so we ordered a pizza for him shortly after sitting down. It came about an hour and a half after we walked in. It took at least 3/4 of an hour to actually be able to put in the rest of the order and probably well over a half an hour to get it, which we did at least 20 minutes before the youngster got his pizza... there was also hardly any people in the restaurant. I would definitely recommend it but make sure that you're not in a rush and you're not starving because it will take a while. It is fun though and delicious. read more

Great place, my server Annie, was very attentive and brought my party some great hospitality. Would definitely return in the future!

This review is long overdue because I've been to the new location many times now and it's great. It's so close to the Beverly train station, and a very walkable area downtown. This location has a bar that's great for events and meeting up with friends for a drink. The larger 'upper' space is lined with literally hundreds of board games. It's a great place to hang out and try a new game, or meet up with friends. I've visited with kids, with friends, and for events - each time the staff had been friendly and laid back. The menu has changed a few times since opening, and it has a great savory snack food vibe with some options for larger plates. Reservations are a good idea, especially on the weekends. read more

The service was really good. The steak was a bit chewy but yummy. The tuna was cooked perfectly. The games were fun!!

Arrived last night at 8:10. told no games and were mislead re seating Recognized bar tender as we have been several times before. felt unwelcome and rushed read more

I stopped in to try their burger seeing as I have been craving their fries, and it was alright; not my favorite but I forgot to ask for medium-rare, and I didn't finish it. But the fries are fantastic and I'll come back for them when I have the craving, and their mac n cheese is really good. Their sangria was alright as well but no fruit; they were willing to add fresh fruit but it wouldn't be the same. Cara was great and very attentive, serving while also training a new employee. All of the staff were asking me if I wanted anything else, but I just really wanted the fries. It was a slow, early night so I'm sure they were overly attentive. I haven't tried the board games (yet), will update when/if I do. ambience: 4.5/5 food: 4/5 service: 5/5 The Castle: 4.5/5 read more

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My cousin and I needed to kill some time prior to checking into our Airbnb and stumbled upon this place. The servers were super polite. We were first timers and they explained how the cafe worked and were patient as we read through the entire menu. It was nice eating somewhere that I didn't feel rushed to get in and out. We ordered the chicken bacon ranch sandwich and chicken tenders and fries. Both were good. I was so full or else I would have ordered the basket of chocolate chip cookies. Now onto the board games. It's $5 per person for playing unlimited board games. They have a game for everyone, even crazy cat ladies. Most of the games are in great condition but we did come across a few with missing pieces. Overall it was a great a experience- will definitely return if we're ever in the area again. read more

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The Castle should be on every must-visit list for Beverly or Salem. Since moving to their new location across from Odell Park, they've added a dedicated cafe and bar area that slings iced lattes and breakfast tacos in the morning and bespoke cocktails in the evening. As the famed librarian Hemingway Miller once wrote, "Why decide between an Old Fashioned and a sausage breakfast taco with sriracha aoili when life affords us both options in spades?" Evening noms are really where they flex their culinary chops. You won't find a better hand-formed burger nearby for $15. FRANK tried to charge $22 for theirs and they went out of business. There's a rotating selection of local draft beers that vary from $8-12, but if you're feeling the pinch you can grab a Bud Light, pop your collar, and then go sit alone outside and whine about the "good ol' days" Why pay $70 to wheel throw a janky clay cup when a $6 game fee lets you laugh for hours playing Hive Mentality with your friends? read more

The Castle - Bacon breakfast taco - Cafes Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

This place is amazing! The vibes are so cozy, the game selection is amazing, and the food and drinks are so good!!

I'm so happy I popped in tonight! I wasn't so sure what to expect because I really only know how to play a few basic games and I left with a new game in my Amazon cart! I came in with my boyfriend and the staff was so welcoming. All of the games were a little intimidating but our server showed us the two player games and made recommendations. We ordered the nachos and they accidentally made quesadillas. They acknowledged the mistake and allowed us to keep the quesadillas on them as well as delivering us the nachos. We also ordered a few drinks each. Honestly, the food and drinks were so good. Sometimes I feel like if I go to a place where the fun is primary and the food is secondary the food is "good enough". This was not the case here. I would come here for the food without the games. I recently moved near by and will absolutely be making this a regular place. 11/10. Come here. L read more

Unfortunately overpriced food and lackluster service for its quality. Burgers came out well done after requested rare, and had to ask twice for the ketchup to make them edible. $5 per person to play games is also dismal considering the obvious up charge on all of their food and drinks already. Unless you're going here for an event or to play a specific, unowned board game (that you'd probably just be better off buying yourself!), I'd avoid it. read more

Thought this would be a cool place to try out. Wait staff was extremely inattentive. Food was mediocre. Paid 20+ for a few slices of steak and a giant plate of fries. Took over 20 minutes for my partner to get her drink. Not to mention the food took over an hour and 20 minutes to get. Would not recommend. read more

I left a review . The report back from the restaurant was not accurate and implies I was unreasonable. I never mentioned long wait times. My concern was lack of communication so we would receive good service. As I mentioned, it was not busy when I watched our food sitting in the window for three minutes . I was not exaggerating about the Mac and cheese. I didn't exaggerate any part of my review. We received no apology for cold food or lack of server, had to do seek our check too. Yes ketchup was brought but we hadn't started eating to have the chance to see if we enjoyed the meal. No one ever returned after that. I've read other reviews and responses from owner. Appears that there is more finger pointing at the guest . Not cool. I will also add that I never complained that any employee wasn't friendly and polite. Yes everyone was. I gave a clear, honest review without being disrespectful or rude. Remember we drove 50 min to check you out. No apology nor compensation.... Just excuses. One and done. read more

Nerd fest! Poutine is amazing. Service is slow but you aren't there for fine dining. I think it's cool this place is popular for nerdy gamers. I don't care for this place - but Beverly needs it to succeed. read more

Boomshakalaka yummy fish taco and the poke bowl was good too but the tuna was a bit too salty for my liking. Anyways good date because BOARDGAMES R amazing and I love them. Also rlly LGBTQ friendly which is a plus in my book (Im gay) read more

Food: Best black bean burgers I have EVER had! My companion's caprese sandwich was delicious. Service: so friendly, so efficient, so helpful! We came at such a busy time that they had to call in extra staff. Even so, we were well attended to and got our food really quickly. Games: only $5 per person for unlimited game time and they have a LOT of games. It makes it a super fun environment to be in too because there's fun laughter and engaged groups all around. I highly recommend The Castle for the atmosphere, service, and flavor! read more

The Castle - Black bean burgers, house chips, and Labrynth - Cafes Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

Fun idea on board games, especially on a cold winter day. Great to hear kids laughing while playing games :) The food was average, but that's not what you would go for. read more

The Castle really is a 4.75, but I'm rounding up. A board game cafe you say, how can that be anything other than a geek filled oasis with a train wreck of a menu. Au Contraire I say. The Castle actually has a sophisticated menu - with a very good charcuterie board, artisan sandwiches, and endless freshly made popcorn that can come with different flavors if you wish Also, the clientele were of all ages, and they had hundreds of games to entice one's fancy - not a geek in sight If they had these types of places when I was a teenager, I would never have frequented fast food joints Great food - great concept - great service A wonderful experience Only reason they don't get a 5 is that their heating system left something to be desired read more

We brought our 2 granddaughters here to celebrate her birthday. -Reserved a table online, quick & easy -I arrived first and Oswald quickly greeted me, showed me the game area & explained everything to me. - He had reserved a table in the back for us -I mentioned that we may be pressed for time since it was a school night. No worries, the food would come out within 15 minutes & they weren't very busy at 5:00. - Kids had chicken fingers & grilled cheese, adults Caprese Panini, Portobello burger and I had Monte Cristo. The fries were awesome and my Monte Cristo was EXCELLENT! -Dessert was a delicious strawberry/vanilla cake and since Oswald knew it was a birthday celebration, he added ice cream for the girls. -Oswald was a great host and server, very attentive throughout our night. -We played LIFE and that kind of took up the two hours we were there so we have to go back and play another game. -They were out of 2 out of 4 desserts, which was disappointing, BUT the fact that Oswald added ice cream totally made up for this. We will definitely come back again & we hope Oswald is there because he totally made our night. No time for photos with all the food and fun! read more

The Castle - a bookshelf full of board games - Cafes Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

Friendly and attentive staff, an amazing vibe, and the orptoulnity to play some games makes this a great place to reconnect with old friends, or make some new ones read more

Unfortunately I have not gone before the pandemic. My wife however has gone here with friends, and she loves The Castle. I imagine stepping in here at night, enjoying board games with friends. I did stop in for a curbside pickup. We ordered drinks, meals, dessert, and a board game (Pandemic, ironically enough). They also included two additional games. Not popular ones, but it's a nice promotion nonetheless. Food was great, I ordered a cheeseburger with pulled pork (oh damn was it good). For dessert I ordered the pecan pie. An individual pecan pie, delightful and sweet, I had ice cream at home, which went perfect. For fun I ordered a beer, which doesn't make sense, I could pick up beer for less at the packy, but I did so to support the establishment. My wife ordered a coffee drink, which she enjoyed. I am hoping the owners will weather this pandemic, and once this passes I hope to visit in the future. I plan on doing what I can to support small business in my area. read more

The Castle - Curbside pick up - Cafes Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

Love The Castle! This kind of gathering space is just what we needed in the area. For health reasons I'm not gathering indoors currently but have enjoyed their to-go services regularly. For a not-food-first place, I was shocked at how yummy meals from their kitchen have been! I've gotten their beyond burger a few times and enjoyed it. They have a good selection of dishes to try. Also lovely is their game selection for purchase. I prefer to shop local for these items and have gotten many games here for gifts. Ordering them online for pickup was super easy too! read more

Super fun. 6$ game fee is very reasonable. Seems like they updated their game selection when they moved locations as well so thats really cool. Lots of fun two player games. The drinks are a good price for the quality- they don't leave you lacking when you add a shot to something. Our waiter was really nice and attentive while also giving us space to play the game! Also love that they support locals during these trying times ;) we got the Caprese salad, poutine fries, and pretzel bites. All were delicious. hope to be back soon. read more

Been here twice and think it's an amazing spot to hangout. They seat you and you pay $5 per person for as long as you stay. Then you go and grab some games! I would take anywhere here from friends to family! They have cocktails and beer which is great. I've had food twice and it was really yummy! Definitely will keep coming back. read more

The Castle - Stuffed pretzels! - Cafes Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

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I just hosted an event for around 50 people here, and it was fantastic. Ryn and Kevin were amazing to work with and every single one of my guests had a wonderful time. The food was fabulous and the cocktail menu was great!! I would highly recommend booking this place for your small to midsized gatherings. read more

Love this neighborhood joint! We enjoy their take out (and, previously, we enjoyed dining in). Very relaxed space with so so so many fun game choices. For food, we love their Bacon Chicken Ranch salad, the Dragon Burger and the Cuban Panini. We did a "take home" game a while back (Wingspan) and loved being able to have dinner and a new board game, and the pickup and return was super easy. read more

The Castle! What fun! What a great concept! Board games and great food and drinks. Got to love it. High marks for this place. I will definitely go back. read more

This is my favorite board game cafe! My wife and I drive up from Boston whenever we get a new board game. There's something amazing about hanging out, playing a game with your friends, and having some solid food service. Staff are always polite and check in often to refresh drinks or take new orders. Parking is pretty straightforward, always go for the spots in the back so you can avoid searching for a curb spot out front. I've been to The Castle about a dozen times both before and during the pandemic, and the service has never faltered. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

The Castle - Cafes Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

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A great place in Beverly. I've never thought of this concept, but it's a really great idea, a bunch of like minded people getting together to enjoy drinks, food and hangs with company. Everyone is really in their own world being able to choose from a wall of games. Games were great, many were missing pieces which is why I gave the 4 star. If only they'd audit the games. Sucks there are people who would even steal. (Zelda Clue, 3 weapons missing, limited edition game) $5 per person at table to play as long any game. I loved I got to live a childhood game of boogle here. Food was DELISH and service was amazing. I would definitely recommend with friends or date. Parking is street and pay until 8pm. read more

It's the best restaurant ever. Awesome food mixed with great games for all ages, and of all genres. Would definitely recommend to anyone!

What a comfortable, fun place to have in our little city! I'm so happy that The Castle is here in Beverly. It really made our family birthday special. My college student suggested The Castle as a venue for our younger teen's birthday. At the last minute (a few days ahead), we booked the back room for our private event. (Our household includes a high risk elder; COVID isn't over for us, so we are still cautious halfway through 2023.) Most people won't care anymore, but there is a window in the back room which opens for ventilation. My family appreciated that. I really love how easy it was to reserve the room online. We only made a phone call to confirm it was okay to bring in our own birthday cake, which we'd already ordered from a local baker before deciding on a visit to The Castle. Bringing our outside cake to the private back room was no problem. They even provided us with plates to use for our cake when we asked. We reserved a weekday evening from 5-9pm. The $120 fee (for the private back room) is paid up front, but what your group orders off the menu is deducted from that total until you exceed it, so there is really no extra cost to use the room unless you are very light eaters. Our immediate family of four arrived together, and a few friends joined us after work. Six people played games; seven people ate dinner. You only pay the game fee for the people who play. I'm particularly impressed by The Castle calling out gluten free (GF) items on their menu. That was important for two members of our party. We tried many of their food items from appetizers (pickles, mozzarella sticks) to mains (chicken fingers, sandwiches, a salad, a burger), and I think the birthday kid had one of every mocktail. There was no bad food item, and the menu seemed to offer something for everyone. If we hadn't arrived with a cake, I would have tried one of their milkshakes, which sound delicious. Though the wine list is short, my friend and I enjoyed trying a mead flight, and the offered pinot noir worked for me. I couldn't find every game from the online list actually on the shelf, but I never asked for help to search for anything. There were plenty of great titles to choose from just by browsing. In the end, we exceeded our four hour booking by about an hour when a game of Everdell ran long, but it was no problem for the staff. They informed us when the kitchen closed, but didn't hurry anyone out of the space on a not-too-busy weeknight. The young person at the cash register told me The Castle will move across the street next month, and I only hope the new space includes a great private room like the current one. We're thinking of booking it once a month to host some friends in a still-COVID-careful manner. We are really glad we came. read more

service ok ---not great, Not very interested. took a long time to get food and the restaurant was empty....2 other people and me. Portions small, prices too high for the poritions. Cocktail was not made properly, tasted bitter. I wont go back. read more

I got a burger it was really good, the Mac and cheese tastes sus, but otherwise it was 10/10. I would get again. I also then ordered takeout so the experience may be different at the restaurant. read more

Came in with a 7:00PM reservation. our drinks and lemonade didn't not come out for another 45 minutes and our food came out at 8. I get the night was busy but it was excessive. won't be returning. read more

The Castle is the best. They serve awesome elevated pub food and they have every game you want - what could be better? The new location is really nice - right off the train and across from Odell Park - great light and an awesome patio. The bar is the hidden gem though - super good cocktails and a really cool place to hang. They play great music and weird movies and you can watch the commuter line roll by. Jake makes a SOLID margarita. read more

A couple weeks ago I hosted a birthday party for my daughter for about 50 people at the castle. It was easy working with the owners to get all the logistics set up, the food was great and the staff were incredibly helpful and welcoming to the guests. It was awesome having built in entertainment with all the games - appealed to everyone. I highly recommend The Castle for event hosting and will again in the future myself. read more

~7pm on a Friday, the place stayed fairly busy (~75% of tables full) right up until close at 11pm. $5 fee per person to play games, paid at the end at the register. Pros: -Fantastic game selection, organized by category to make it easy to narrow down! -Staff are funny and helpful, offering tips on how to play games differently and making every effort not to interrupt games -Fairly spacious, with a smaller room in front with the bar and a larger room in back. -Parking lot (though it's super hard to find! It's supposedly on the street beind the Castle and apparently there is a small sign on the building near the lot with the business name) -Full service bar/restaurant, though I didn't try the food Would highly recommend this cafe if you're in the Beverly area! Great group or date night idea. read more