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Mon-Thu. 3:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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I'd known about the place for years, but never knew exactly where it was located (drr). We (the SO and I, that is) have been on a quest to find a good place near our Brighton apartment for dinner and drinks after work for the past few months and haven't found exactly what we were looking for yet, after trying places on the Brighton side of the river.
This place fit the bill wonderfully. Great service, good pub food, and just a really welcoming atmosphere.
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Being a former resident and still occasional dweller of Watertown, this has been an after work, happy hour, late night kind of place that I enjoy pretty much every time I go there. It's usually filled with locals but if you buddy up with the bartenders (the only locals you need to worry about) they don't forget you the next time you visit. Usually a few people behind the bar and a table/cocktail waitress is all the place needs. The staff is quick, warm and not at all pushy. They're there with a refill but they let you chill if you're the type to nurse for a while.
Occasionally there's live music (some pretty good acts actually), there's a jukebox otherwise and the TVs always have the big games. Now, I'm a huge Boston boy, born and raised but I'm a big fan of bars who aren't afraid to play OTHER games at the same time as the local boys. Big points.
The food and beverage selection is basic, standard and not much to write about. I've never had dinner there (took me more than a few times to realize that the place had tables away from the bar on the other side of the train) but after a beer or two, a classic plate of wings or cheese sticks is a nice way to round out your well balanced diet.
The atmosphere can get a little tight and crowded on a busy night so use your Dial soap and pack some Old Spice (it's a couple of trains attached to each other so it's a narrow NY style type space). If you can get past all that on the busy nights (the back by the bathrooms and whatever video/pinball game they have is a good spot to get some breathing room), it's got a good buzz. The slower nights are good because you're not bothered, you always have what you need and you can sit at the bar without getting bumped around by a kickball team 17 Bud Lights deep.
Overall, good staff, good atmosphere, a little tight on the living space and the menu isn't anything to tell your mom about but it does what it needs to do.
I never find myself in Watertown, but I happened to have some beers and nachos here with some friends and it was alright. Sure, so-so, but a local, homey feel with good beers on tap is ok by me. Friendly staff, friendly clients and an easy vibe makes it all ok by me. If I'm in Watertown, I'd hit this local watering hole for after work drinks again.
Ehhh.
It's so-so. Grab a beer, catch up with a few friends, that sort of thing. Definitely a local hangout spot, so if you're not from the area, you'll feel alienated to say the least. What makes it interesting is the atmosphere: it's a train! Two of them, connected to each other! Whoaaaaaa.
I give it three stars because it just fails to completely "WOW" me. It's OK, but it ain't great. Come with a group if you're not from Watertown so you won't feel out of place. A pre-game destination, not to be confused with "let's hang here for the night".
People thought this was:
So much love for 21 Nickels. I've always wanted to have an awesome "local" I can walk to and savor a drink at, and enjoy an atmosphere of either quiet calmness or buzzing energy, depending on my mood. 21 Nickels is just that place for me.
My boyfriend and I ambled down to it shortly after we moved to the neighborhood. It was a Sunday night, so it was pretty dead, except for a few people watching whatever game was on TV. We sat at the bar and the bartender hooked us up with drinks right away. We both got food and were served quickly, and both really enjoyed the meal. The bartender started chatting with us, and when he found out we were new to the neighborhood, he gave us each a token for a free drink. How awesome of a welcome is that?!
We've gone back several times since then, and have yet to have a bad experience. The food has been great each time, whether it's simple grilled cheese (theirs ranks a close second to my mom's!), wild mushroom ravioli in cream sauce, specialty burgers, or steak.
Sometimes they'll be out of a drink we want if we go on a Sunday night, but that's only fair considering they get restocked Mondays or Tuesdays. One time, when both my man and I ordered drinks that were all out, the bartender gave us each a drink for free. The service at this place is definitely fantastic. I'll be sad to lose such a great local when the day comes to move away!
People thought this was:
I work and work out in the area, so I'm in here at least once a month. Never disappointing.
The staff are always friendly, and if you come here often enough they treat you like family.
The food's standard pub grub, but they mix the menu up pretty often. The little sliders aren't bad.
They don't quite achieve Superior Pour of Guinness status - a rare title in my book - but you can get a good one here.
This corner of Watertown is full of friendly establishments, but the staff at 21 Nickels has outstanding service. My office usually comes down here when we want to get a beer after work.
When I needed someplace to watch my brother appear on MSNBC (I have no cable), I ran over to 21 Nickels. After explaining the situation, they set me up in the back room with a tv and a remote. I had a delicious burger and a fabulous beer. The waitstaff couldn't have been nicer to me, and I got to see my brother on tv!
People thought this was:
Ooooo I lurve you, 21 Nickels.
The food is great. The tomatoes in my tomato and mozzarella salad were so wonderfully ripe and yummy. Perfect.
I love the atmosphere and the christmas lights. The staff is super friendly, and I felt at home on my first visit. Love, love, love.
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I am a native to these parts. I have been here only a few times, but every time I have gotten what I wanted, when I wanted it - with the exception of a clean bathroom.
The only reason I haven't been back here as of late is because it's kinda out of the way for me. I used to be more of an Arlington/Watertown kind of a kid... Turns out things are always better in Cambridge, and so I returned to the homeland and haven't really looked back since.
I have always had a good drink when I've been here though. The food is above average for a pub style bar. The game is always on. The staff is accommodating.
I feel like I should at least bring one person here to pass it on to somebody new who will appreciate it as well. Like I do with every hole-in-the-wall that I enjoy.
People thought this was:
I could sit at your bar for hours and drink your delicious drinks and eat your delicious food. Wait...I do sit at your bar for hours....every Sunday for the past few months come to think of it...oh....
I have no idea how many times I've been back here since my first review, but I love this place. The service is awesome and everything I've had on the menu has been great.
Several flat screen TV's, a good jukebox and a chill atmosphere.
I like the slightly different take on regular pub grub and they make a good dark and stormy. I like… Read more »
I love 21 Nickels. It really feels like you are chilling with 50 of your closest friends.
It has a nice long bar and high tables for people to eat at. Their food is EXCELLENT and I love the atmosphere! t is like a little hole in the wall bar with above average food!!! I really wish I lived closer.
Monday nights, they have free pizza and Thursday night they have acoustic music. :HEART:
People thought this was:
There is nothing all that spectacular about the place but I also do not have anything bad to say about it. The only time I have been here is for after work functions when someone is leaving the company. Good place to grab a quick drink. Wouldn't plan a night around coming here though.
Cheers.
People thought this was:
Many people first became familiar with 21 Nickels when Rob Courdry from the Jon Stewart Show did some interviews here. It's a great little pub, off the beaten path in Watertown. You probably wouldn't even know it was there unless you were a native or someone took you there. Finally after living in the area for a couple of years we stopped in.
Part bar with a cool greenouse roof/part train car, this little pub has a lot of atmosphere and decent food. Good beer on tap and a large selection of bottled beer as well. A full bar compliments the tasty sandwiches and low-cost entrees. The honey mustard chicken sandwich is VERY good and messy. The mashed potatoes would have been excellent if they weren't cold, however.
Will definitely be going back here more often to sample more and to soak up the atmosphere. Great place to hang with friends, I imagine or to watch a game on the many flat screen TVs.
People thought this was:
21 Nickels is one of those bars that has the potential to be the bar where everyone knows your name. The staff is friendly and one of the two owners is there almost every night.
The beer is reasonable priced, they pour a great pint of Guinness and the food is pretty good and always a large portion.
Nickels also has multiple HD TVs and is a great place to watch sports.
A few interesting facts. The reason Rob Corrdry did a Daily Show piece from there is that he grew up in Watertown and is friends with one of the bartenders.
Also, if you look at the shades that are sometimes pulled down to keep the "greenhouse" from heating up too much, you'll notice they appear to have some stains on them. The stains are champagne, and date to October 27th, 2004.
People thought this was:
Even though I know that good reviews can be somewhat boring, I can't say enough good things about 21 Nickels. I've been a semi-regular there for the past four years, and for a long time, it was my weekly trivia stop (Team Frostilicus won many a gift certificate at trivia night). It is a small space (and for all of my years of going there, I've never been in the dining car), so on a Thursday or Friday night, it definitely pays to get there on the earlier side. One of my recent visits was on a Saturday for an early dinner, and the bar was pretty empty, which meant that service was attentive and our food came out extremely fast.
I've always had great food at 21 Nickels - I tend to stick to burgers, sandwiches, and apps, but my friends who have gotten the dinners all rave about them as well. They rotate in specials (like a yummy turkey melt) regularly and are always accomodating with substitutions and special requests (yes, I am sometimes 'that guy'). The drinks are always strong, and the service is low pressure, although on busy nights, you may have to flag someone down for refills.
I work in the area, so it would be great if they were open for lunch during the week (I think they open at 3), but a girl can dream right?
There is nothing better than an evening at the Nick for trivia, steak tips, a nice beer and good people. The atmosphere is laid back and the bartenders are always friendly.
Of note: the owner is way into helping injured vets returning from the war in Iraq and is always doing fundraisers to help these guys out. You don't get that sense of community everywhere.
People thought this was:
A solid four-star restaurant. The atmosphere is great. Relaxed and filled with locals, but not to the point that it makes a non-local feel uncomfortable. The greenhouse decor is definitely cool, and the staff are really friendly.
The food is great too, and the prices are right. We had very tasty steak and turkey tips. If you like spicy, try the cajun spice rub on your tips. I like to think of myself as having a high spice tolerance, but these made my mouth catch fire. The mac n' cheese was really, really outstanding (you can get it as an entree or a side), best I've had in a long time. It was perfectly gooey and cheesy, with a nice breadcrumb topping.
The location is a little wierd. They were having bingo night or something at the Armenian Hall next door, and there was no parking. We were pretty shocked given that this is a little neighborhood in Watertown and is filled with parking spots. We managed to find one after gaping at the unbelievably full parking lots lining the street.
LOVE this bar/restaurant. My husband and I go there all the time. Food is always tasty, imaginative, and the bartenders are fantastic! They always remember us. They changed up the menu recently, and usually do with seasons. I'm a big fan of this place, and would highly recommend you try it out!!
I like 21 Nickels a ton and they'd attract more business if Donahue's wasn't so close next door. The space they occupy just isn't as good. The burgers there are fantastic. The service is good.
Comfortable, good food, friendly service. The dining car could use a little work...it felt a little uninviting, but the bar side is great. Yummy mac and cheese. Fun place to grab a drink and some chow.
People thought this was:
I was pleasantly surprised by this joint. Nice long bar with a decent selection of beer and booze. High top tables with enough space to enjoy a meal. The dining car next to the bar I was a little put off by. Could be that no one was in there when we went to sit or the super small tables around the room. We weren't sure how kid friendly the bar side would be, but it turned out fine. We sat at a high top table with enough space to enjoy a meal.
I was super happy to see the bartender make our drinks with generosity. My boyfriend got a dark and stormy and I got a don Julio and soda water. Both came in PINT glasses! Maybe we have been dining at the wrong places, cause the only place I get a tequila and soda in a pint is at home. It was love at first sight. That bartender holds a piece of my heart for sure.
The server was friendly and nice. She wasn't pushy at all. She checked back when the drinks got to the lower half of the glass and seemed to care that we liked our food. The bartender asked across the bar how we liked everything, you can't expect more than that.
Their menu is pub food (and beyond) with good prices and portions. My guy got a salmon burger with fries and mac and cheese, I got a chicken, pesto, mozzarella with a Cesar salad. My son got a half order of fish and chips and we all were happy. The half order was huge and Delicious. The macaroni didn't look great, but he seemed to like it. I prefer my mac to be a bit more gooey, but it wasn't for me, so there.
Jute box, an arcade hunting game, a poker game on the bar, plenty of parking.
The best part? It's not trying to be anything it's not. It knows it is a good, friendly pub and it fits that perfectly.
People thought this was:
Hugely underrated and overlooked! It's easy to miss from the outside, but really quite cozy and nice on the inside. The food here is excellent - way better than your average pub grub - and the service is great, too. The crowd is good for 20s-40s, and people are generally friendly.
People thought this was:
What more could you want: Good beer selection, great tasting food, and excellent service from very cool people. Why the heck would you go anywhere else?
21 Nickels is a neighborhood bar with outstanding food. More than typical pub fare, but not without your favorite standards. The turkey tips, nachos and mac n cheese are excellent, as are the drinks and the people who serve them. (Best bartenders around!) The wings are fabulous too. The ambiance is very laid back and dimmed but clean, welcoming and with everything you need - beverages, great and reasonably priced food, several big televisions and Golden T. It's great for grabbing a drink or a snack with friends. Also, check it out for big sports events - Celtics, Boxing, Bruins and more. Live bands on many evenings too!
Winter Delight
Neighborhood: Back Bay
25% OFF 1st Time Customers!
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Watertown, MA
Category: Pubs
Watertown, MA
Category: Irish
Watertown, MA
Category: Burgers
Watertown, MA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Watertown, MA
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
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