Hands down the best food I've had in Lowell! Super fast and friendly service. Apps were crispy and tender. I ordered a medium rare burger and my husband ordered the brat. The brat had an interesting mix of flavors, and the relish had a bit of a kick to it. The burger was cooked to order and also delish. We also both ordered beer that was the cherry on top! We came here on a Friday night and were able to sit down almost right away. The only downside I would say this place has is that it doesn't have a private parking lot. We live nearby so it was a ~10 min walk for us. We'll def be back! Highly recommended!! read more

Great little pub to visit before a show at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Wait staff was lovely. Food has always been good.

I have been here about 4 or 5 times now. Figured i should at least leave them a good review. Food is great usually cooked very well, it's a small menu but I'd rather they keep it small and do everything they do well. Great cocktails and beer selection. 1 star off because our latest visit we had some issues during our meal, stuff taking a while to show up or the steak being cooked too rare (not for me but for my grandparents who prefer it on the medium side) and some toasted sliced bread being basically burnt. This was the only time this has happened however and everything else was fine during that meal so I still think it's a great restaurant. read more

I liked it, I liked it alot... I'd call it comfort food, but I don't know how comfortable you can be on the edge of your seat... Their dry rub take on chicken wings served with remoulade was absolutely amazing. And I eat alot of Ceaser salads, and I found their to be particularly delightful. I chose to have it with grilled shrimp, which were very nice I might add. However you can also have it served with chicken or grilled steak. The atmosphere in this place was very warm and inviting as well. Darker aged old school quality wood with soft intimate lighting. I believe this would be a great place to get romantic with a date, or enjoy some time reminiscing with friends. It's a great space with very satisfying food. It's also a full bar with craft beers on tap. I was just there to enjoy a nice meal, and I more than accomplished that. read more

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The Keep has one of the best playlists from the 70s and 80s that I could wish for during a meal. We came on a Fri early eve before a show and the 70-80 seat restaurant was not yet busy. We were seated on arrival and promptly helped. Our group had the vegetable coconut curry, fish & chips, and the haddock in white wine. All three dishes were quite good. The curry had a very mild spice. I'm not someone who likes hot curry but this was quite tasty, with just a hint of a kick. Total for 3 dishes and one beeer was approx. $78. The Keep often has live music/bands and also DJs. Wait staff was very friendly and helpful, and the kitchen turned out orders quickly. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Best wings in Lowell. Drinks are good. Food prices can be on the high side depending on what you order. But I'm just here for the wings. And the whisky. read more

Can't wait to return. Very tasty food and cocktails in a great-looking space. All served by friendly and attentive wait staff. Definitely a plus for Lowell. read more

Came to this quaint little place for drinks on a Sunday evening and it wasn't crowded at all. My friend and I ordered quite a bit of drinks and they were all good. Our waiter was even kind enough to pull some requests off the shelves. We also tried the wings and I'm not sure if it's because all the drinks had affected our palate but they were a little too salty for my liking. I will definitely come here again and maybe give the wings another try. Side note: the restroom was clean & aesthetically pleasing with nice little touches. read more

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So last night we went to The Keep, one of our favorite restaurants in Lowell. I was a bit chilly when I got there so I asked our server for a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, being primarily a whiskey bar, they don't serve coffee. I was offered an espresso (they use it for espresso martinis (very good, btw). Since my plans for later were sleeping, I sorrowfully declined. After ordering dinner (smash burger for me and wings & fries for my husband - all amazing!) our server came over to our table with a teapot and a couple of small mugs. She explained that she told the bartender I was cold and it was my birthday (it was) so he made us some hot mulled wine. What a delicious surprise! I'm declining to mention the names of our server and bartender because frankly, this is the level of service we get every time we come here, no matter who is waiting on us. Not only do the folks at this amazing little restaurant know how to cook a great meal and mix amazing libations, they absolutely nail the service every time! read more

Wonderful upscale pub. Let's start with the drinks. Large and varied bar with great selection of craft beer and yummy cocktails. Next the food. Short menu that does everything (that we tried) well and is surprisingly varied. One of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Add in great service and this is a wonderful place to spend time. read more

Great drinks! This is much more than a bar and these are much more than drinks. They have a team of master mixologists that created the perfect drinks! I had a drink that was like an espresso martini and it was creamy and delicious and absolutely beautiful. I was disappointed in the food however. We ordered fries and their wings and while I have read some reviews about these being the best wings around, I have to respectfully disagree. They weren't flavorful nor were they juicy. I think it would have been better if they had been dressed in a sauce. The fries were good and were definitely the saving grace. Overall I would definitely visit again but would try another dish. read more

Top shelf cocktails - seriously aromatic and hand crafted. Nice vibe, great beer list, great service, and excellent food. Will be back!

Husband and I wanted a good meal with a good atmosphere and didn't want to drive far. Haven't been downtown for dinner in a while but came across The Keep on Yelp and decided to give it a try since it had such great reviews. We're really happy we did and will definitely go back. We chose to sit at the bar and ordered drinks first. I had an apple drink that was really good and hubby had the espresso martini which was also really good. Watching the bartender was a treat and entertaining. Haven't seen a bartender "perform" since my younger days in Boston... Reviews raved about the wings so of course we had to give them a try. Served in a small skillet with a small cup of dip, we got ten very tasty wings. Perfect serving size for two. The dip was sort of and onion sour cream dip that complimented the wings very well. For my main course, I had the steak et frites and my husband had the gumbo. He said his was very good but could have been spicer. Take that with a grain of salt though as he likes his for really spicy. My steak was cooked perfectly and the salad was very good. I really liked the fries too, just the right amount of seasoning. My only thought was that the steak could have been seasoned more. I don't know that it really had any seasoning at all other than the homemade seasoned butter. Probably a good thing since I should cut back on the salt anyway but flank steak tastes a little better with a dry rub. We loved the meal, the music, the bartenders, and the drinks. The bathroom was large and clean but only one stall. As we were leaving at a little after 8:00 on a Saturday, the bar area was SRO and the restaurant area was full, but there was plenty of seating in both when we arrived just before 7:00 pm. Parking is on street or in the lots downtown. We honestly wouldn't have ever stopped here based on the surrounding buildings. Another great find courtesy of Yelp. Thank you reviewers! You always come through. read more

Absolute gem! I drive a long way just to go. One of my favorite spots in the country. Just go

I'd give it 31/2 if I could. As everyone else has said the wings are great! The beer list is impressive, the $15.00 burger was not. Ordered medium rare, and when it came out, it was, but kept cooking and was well done and tough within minutes. Not sure I've had a burger do that before. I'd come back for a beer and wings, and that's about it. read more

My friend and I happened upon this place when the one place we were planning on going was not as expected. The drinks were crafty and delicious. I had beautiful flowers attached to the glass that the bartender cut right in front of us. This atmosphere was great. I would've given five stars, but the music was so loud, I had to yell to talk to my friend. The vibe is definitely a chill, hip bar. I definitely will check this place out again. read more

The Keep - Life Alive - house infused cucumber vodka, edelflower, basil simple syrup, lime = delicious! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Loved it here! There was parking right across the street. Our server was awesome! The food was really good!! The chicken wings were sooo good! I will definitely be back for more. The burger was delicious. I have been looking for a place with a good burger ( it's harder than you think!). And I've finally found it. The music was a bit loud, but we got used to it. I got the carrot cake to go .... It was very tasty but a bit small. This is definitely somewhere I will go again read more

Food is spectacular, ambiance is relaxing, and the service is top notch! I would highly recommend dining here. Their cocktails are excellent as well! read more

Fabulous atmosphere, great service, delicious food and outstanding cocktails! Will definitely be back. Their Old Fashioned is exceptional and the Apothecary cocktail was a wonderful surprise. read more

The Keep - French Onion Soup - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Came here after reading they have the best wings. I read right. They do have awesome wings. And just the way we like them. Cooked just long enough, so inside they are not juicy like they are in other places (in my opinion, that juice gives them a raw-chicken smell, I don't like that), nor they get dry. They were marinated and spiced to provide really good flavor. I'll come back here for these wings. We also tried the burger and pork belly sliders. Sliders came in three, each about the size of a fist. Really good. The burger came with fresh tomato and lettuce, crispy bacon and thick nicely cooked patty. The only thing missing is a little salt in the patty, like maybe marinate it in brine or something. Good burger, but a little salt would make great. read more

Watching the bar tender make my drink was like watching a performance. I'm pretty sure that my drink tasted better from just seeing him make it. 5 Stars for that! I came in once for food during a live music event. The food was good, but didn't amaze me and the music was so loud that my date and I started texting back and forth. 3 Stars for that. Over all, I would go back for a fancy drink but would skip the food. read more

When I was looking for a place to go out I saw the reviews about The Keep and one of the yelpers captioned one of the pictures saying: "presentation is everything" and this is all and exactly what I have to talk about this place. Here presentation IS everything! Drinks come out perfect, tasty and well decorated. The bartender was able to give suggestions and make up drinks for us, so great! Food is also amazing! The small plates are tasty and well presented, and the server was so courteous. We had the gnocchi, grilled cauliflower and pork belly, all cooked and tasting like heaven. For the main dish we splitted the pork with mashed potato. They brought us two plates presented as perfection, and it was so thoughtful to do once we were splitting one dish. Totally recommend this place! My boyfriend lives around Lowell, and as a cosmopolitan person I find hard to find nice places around here, but The Keep totally attended my expectations. read more

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This is a small restaurant with a long bar area. We got there on a Sunday early evening. We were greeted immediately with a friendly smile. They have small plates with a limited menu for entrees. My husband had the sausage and shrimp, I ordered the brick chicken and we split the salad. The salad was fresh with cherry tomatoes that exploded in my mouth! It could have had a bit more dressing. My husband enjoyed his meal and my chicken was delicious, even the greens were good. The few potatoes with the chicken were slightly overcooked but still yummy. They were getting ready for a party in the back but that didn't interfere with our service. The staff were delightful and relaxed , stopping by to chat. I got the Luna cocktail, which was a party in a glass! I recommend having just one as it could sneak up on you. read more

My mother and I stopped by The Keep a few weeks ago and were pleasantly surprised by this new spot. I'd say it had a really comfortable, casual, yet inviting atmosphere. We decided to grab two seats at the bar. I ordered a cocktail called "Life Alive," and I loved it. If you enjoy refreshing cucumber/basil cocktail with vodka and elderflower I would highly recommend this drink. It came in this cool glass and the drink was topped with a flower. We ordered the cheese plate and the pork belly sliders. Personally I thought that $15 for the very small portion of cheeses was a little steep, but after trying them, I'd probably order it again. They were delicious. Pork belly sliders are another must-try! Next time we return, we will be trying the wings because I've heard nothing but great things about them. read more

The Keep gets so many little things right. Things that other reviews have astutely expounded upon. My angle on this is singular and simple, but vast in its implications: I don't like craft beer. I said it and I'm neither proud nor ashamed, it simply IS. A place like this with it's expansive tap list, could leave me out in the cold. But on the contrary: they stock Coors Banquet! In the little brown chubby bottle no less. It is THE underlying plot catalyst to the Burt Reynolds classic trucker flick, "Smokey and the Bandit." And like the back drop of late 70s America east of the Mississippi, this City has a dearth of Banquet. Until now. As of the writing of this review I have visited The Keep a total of four times. The steak and fries are solid. The burger is on the money. The beer brat is an interesting and stand up addition to the menu. And I adore the pickle plate. It has a side of herb infused honey to drizzle on the perfectly soured, crispy veg medley, which curls my socks! But I saddled up the trough on this particular occasion because I had had a dream about the wings. A sexy, sexy dream. Take a minute, if you've read this far and check yourself. I know this doesn't seem exactly revelatory. Yellow 'Merican beer and chicken wings. It is hard to impress on a road this regularly travelled. But I want to stop you from being a jaded, snob and missing out on an honest to goodness gem. These dry rub, crispy, savory, sweet, succulent, chicken wings with that dipping remoulade are some of the consistently best tasting and satisfying food objects I have ever ingested. Served heaping in a seasoned cast iron on a plank of charred wood; they are a sight to behold. A stranger pointed at me and yelled, "YEAH WINGS!" while I was eating the wings in question; and they were right. Cool people run The Keep. Cool people like The Keep. You are cool too, ya dig? read more

Stumbled on to this place prior to a Concert at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Glad I did. Great Service, Excellent food. We had the Gumbo and it was phenomenal! Great selection of Draft Beer. Just a cool eclectic place. I will be back and think it may be the best place in the area. A real urban gem I would expect to find in BackBay/South End in Boston. Downtown Lowell is getting cooler and cooler. read more

I was there with my friends. The Host was friendly and very enthusiastic. I had the Steak Frites. It was good and cooked perfectly and they finished it with their own butter mix on top. However, there was a tiny piece of plastic foil on top of my steak which was very hard to notice unless you dig in. The steak and the sides were delicious and the host insisted that my food is on them due to that little mistake. I really appreciated that moment. Quick tip to enjoy the steak, while cutting your steak, try to go against the grain. Thank you guys at the Keep! If you are reading this Keep it up read more

I was planning on attending dinner tonight but was told as I was pulling in by another friend that Ryan was refusing to serve me/us due to his outside personal issues with me. If you cannot handle maturity and professionalism in that type of setting, please have a conversation with your staff. It was incredibly disappointing as it's been over a year since being there last / made the drive which is over an hour. read more

Yes. Thank the culinary gods, yes. This is exactly what Lowell needed. Where to start. OK - anyone who has previously been to Ricardo's (RIP) knows the layout. Busy-ass bar on one side, dining set ups on the other side. The Keep runs a long wooden bench across the entire dining room with tables and chairs maximizing the space. It's loud (at least on busy nights) which is great for the socialite. The staff were all professionals, from the hostess to the wait staff, the chef and the owner - they are approachable and friendly, not stuffy. Now, the food and cocktails. The cocktails are legit. With a familiar All-Star cast, the drinks are slung with flare and precission. Very smooth and dangerously sneaky. The food is quality. I've been pining for fresh local ingredients (especially grass fed) and although the menu is concise, it delivers on execution. The wings are delish, the pickled veggies are plentiful, the local cheese is flavorful without being gamey, and the burgers were cooked perfectly with simplicity of cheese and bacon. The only dish I wasn't crazy about was the cauliflower; I think I'd prefer the romesco hot, instead of cold (which, to their credit, it plainly states). I'm pumped to come back over and over again. Hopefully after a good initial run, they will add specials and extend the menu. I'll be back soon! Can I recommend some outdoor seating for the summer? read more

The Keep is a keeper for sure !! No doubt these are the best wings in Lowell and every other app & entree I've tried has been money !! The classic cocktails are exquisitely crafted and the imported & craft beer on tap is top shelf. All served up by an amazingly talented collection of bartenders & servers in a very casual comfortable atmosphere. Hands down this is my new favorite place in Lowell. read more

This place is pretty damn good. Impressive whisky selection, good cocktails (if a little overpriced). The food is good, though also overpriced, imo. The burger--which was good-- came on what looked like a hamburger bun from the grocery store... The game can be upped in that regard. The burgers meat was good, but the whole dish was just lacking a certain something to justify the $15+ price tag. Last time I was in, my friend got the steak frites, which was a great looking dish; a giant portion of food, and the meat was cooked well. I didn't try it, but will order it next time The pork belly sliders are in my opinion the best value on the menu, I do recommend them. All said, it's a cool little place with decent ambiance and high quality drink. I don't have any complaints, really, aside from the "value" standpoint. Oh, and I think it would be better with no televisions around the bat, but that's just me being pretentious. read more

The drinks though they deserve a five star for the drinks! We've been here twice now, first time was amazing but we only ordered a lot of the appetizers and drinks! Second time we got entrees, drinks and a few appetizers. And the entrees were very bland, I couldn't even finish my dish it was so gross. Maybe it was just one bad day and I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Service is pretty good! Except one waiter brought me a drink and said it was on the house and then came back and took it from me, which was kinda awkward but I laughed it off. Also this place is great for kids if you get the booth in the back, they have a wooden castle for kids to play with- it entertains my three year old. read more

The drinks are obviously the star here. Ordered off the list of specialty cocktails and not a single one disappointed. The wings are insane - they have a dry rub of spice and brown sugar that makes them really delicious and unique to The Keep. The burger is made plain but... honestly this is the only time I've had a burger and was thankful there was no sauce or condiments on it. It was delicious and juicy enough to stand on its own. The decor is high-end and pristine, to the point of being perhaps a bit out of place in Lowell. The service was good, though slightly slow - the bar was busy but there appeared to only be one server. Our food was fresh and warm, so no major complaints here. read more

Excellent food and drink! Service is always spot on 100% fantastic! Ambiance also fantastic!

I've been wanting to check this place out for a while, and last night (12/27/19) I met up with an old college friend at The Keep. I am ecstatic that we agreed to meet here. The atmosphere is comfortable, the decor is modern, and laid back. The interior is extremely nice & relaxing...a lot better than the photos I've seen online. To make things even better Kylie & Alex were very friendly & attentive to our choices. They picked out bar favorites & dishes that they're known for. Very patient with us as we were chatting catching up with one another. Due to the holiday season eating everything in sight, I chose a chicken salad to stay the course of healthy, and my friend had a salmon plate which looked scrumptious. We both cleaned our plates, and continued to pick on the olives we ordered as an appetizer. So glad we picked the keep as a spot to hang out. Will definitely be back again soon to try new dishes & cocktails. I'm very picky about my cocktails, and am very thrilled Kylie makes an excellent old fashion. read more

Updated review of the Keep. Have been back several times since my first review. Couldn't stay away from the pork belly sliders :) Have since met one of the other owners, very nice guy. Food is really good and I have to admit I'm a sucker for a nice (different) beer selection. Although I was put off on my first experience, I'm glad I tried it again (and again)! Good job guys :) read more

The Keep - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

The food is pretty good and they have a great beer selection. The burger was awesome the first time I went. Perfectly cooked and delicious. The second time I got a creamy pasta with pork in it that was wayyyy too salty. It made me a bit sick to my stomach and I ended up barely eating it. I also think it's a bit pricey. My final issue is that the acoustics aren't great. Both times I've been the music has been cranked and other diners talking or laughing ends up sounding like screaming. I understand the bar atmosphere but during lunch hours- is the bar atmosphere music necessary? read more

Wow! What an amazing find! We were just passing through from CT to NH (ski trip) and thought the menu on Yelp was intriguing so we went. So glad we did! Very trendy but not pretentious. Service was fast and excellent. Many local craft beers and a great wine and cocktail list. The food was all locally sourced and fresh. The dishes were artistically prepared and artistically presented. We did not get dessert because we were all full. We will make this our go-to stop on all of our ski trips! read more

Great spot for shareables, craft cocktails and beer. For the venue size, the decor did wonders for the lighting and openness. We had the wings, pork sliders and fries with curry sauce. All were delicous! read more

The Keep - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Best wings around! I'm not usually crazy about dry rub, but The Keep has changed my mind about that! Also, their burgers are the best around by far. I've never gotten a bad meal here! read more