- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bukowski Tavern
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants American (Traditional) Pubs, American (Traditional) [Edit]
50 Dalton StBoston, MA 02115
(617) 437-9999
- Nearest Transit:
-
Dalton St @ Boylston St (39, 55)
Boylston St @ Saint Cecilia St (170, 193, 55)
Massachusetts Ave @ Belvidere St (1, 170)
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
316 reviews for Bukowski Tavern
Review Highlights
"The beer selection is obviously awesome."
(in 97 reviews)
"Try the peanut butter burger -- really."
(in 14 reviews)
"The only downside is Cash only."
(in 58 reviews)
Loading...
316 reviews in English
-
Review from Pam Z.
Bukowski Tavern was exactly what I was looking for in Boston. Between their extensive draft list with plenty of local options and their endless selection of bottles (ask to join the beer club, they have 130+ beers), this dive bar was perfect for getting out of the cold and sampling some of Massachusetts' finest brews. I'm sure they rotate their draft list, but here's an idea of what we had this past weekend: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Tried the Pretty Things Jack D'Or and the Oskar Blues G'knight at the recommendation of the bartender. Oskar Blues was a little hoppy, but a little fruity with a medium body. Pretty Things is a hefty beer despite its lighter coloring, but was also a good choice.
~$6 a pop for a draft (some of the pints are standard size, some are 12oz, but I'm a slow beer drinker so I prefer smaller sizes so things don't get warm anyway). My friend had the Haverhill and the bottle special Cambridge Brewing Company Triple Threat.
Bartender was informative about the beer selection, friendly, and chill. Whatever bar food they were making in the back (I highly suspect wings, and I definitely saw some sort of rib), smelled amazing in the way only good pub fare can. For those of you who are indecisive, Bukowski has a wheel you can spin for your drink selection. The only drawback is that this place is cash only.
Also, total surprise to find out after visiting: Bukowski's made it to Draft magazine's top 100 beer bars in America! What a lucky pick! http://draftmag.com/fe...Listed in: My trip to Beantown
-
Review from Anita T.
Boston, MA
12/14/2011
This is a great dive bar in a sea of wanna be irish pubs and too-school-for-school bar scenes.
Just off of Boylston, and ironically close to Capital Grille is this tucked away gem. Its what I think a dive should be. Sort of ugly and unkempt, hardcore beer selection with cheapo standbys (hello PBR!), and food that your personal trainer would hate you for. I think some of the gastropub activity is out of control, so this a nice real bar in a nice part of town.
The hotdogs and burgers are delish. The best part is that they all can be made vegetarian, a HUGE plus for my veggie hubs (and he actually liked them). Definitely give the buffalo chicken dip a try. They have a good selection on draught, but you can also check out a MASSIVE beer menu of interesting and unique selections.
I think the service is really friendly and I have never hurted to find a space. Check it out if you need a break from the craziness. Bring cash (the motto on their tabs: "In God we trust, the rest pay cash") -
Review from Alyssa T.
Somerville, MA
12/9/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Bukowski's was certainly the best drinking-related discovery that I made during Fall 2011, and by "I made" I obviously mean "I heard someone mention it over and over again and figured it must be worth checking out" - and it was.
As many others have noted, it's a cash only place. Luckily you'll be able to tell where you ended your night when you inevitably wake up in shame the next morning because your large (and perhaps multiple) ATM withdrawal(s) will show up with the handy "BUKOWSKI BOSTON" detail on your bank statement.
I've tried more new beers since first going to Bukowski Tavern than I probably had in the past 3 years, my friends have even started to accuse me of being a beer snob - I'm okay with that. The selection of drafts is constantly evolving and always has several interesting choices.
The staff is great, especially because I like my bartenders to be no-nonsense, and you're certainly not going to have any BS handed to you here. The bathroom is gross, but what can you expect? It's a bar, it's supposed to be gross. As long as there is a working sink and a stock of TP I can't complain, and they seem to always meet these demands.
Go to Bukowski's, drink a lot of beer, be jealous of the folks with mugs named after dead authors, maybe eat something with gobs of spicy cheese on it, and make some questionable (but fun?) life decisions. You'll like it, I swear. -
Review from Tom K.
Upfront warning: CASH ONLY
2nd Upfront warning: Must be 21 to enter (even just for food and at all hours)
And that's pretty much the only thing I considered docking a star for. But this place is fantastic and has become my go-to bar in the greater Back Bay area.
First off, big shout out to the staff here. I think first timers here might be put off by the super casual attitude and the fact they don't sugar coat things but they're all really awesome and very personable, especially to the regulars (or which, there are a ton). However, if you're standing around, attempt to order a bud light, and then try to start a tab with a credit card, they're probably going to give an answer you don't like.
The beer list here is amazing. Between the new (summer-2011) larger, cleaner, less intrusive tap lines/ well and the extensive bottle selection, there is easily something for anyone that loves good microbrews and beers in general.
The food here is surprisingly good as well. The menu fits the bar very well, with hot dogs (the special dog of the week is almost always worth trying), burgers (seriously, get the peanut butter burger with bacon. seriously. do it!), and the housemade white trash cheese dip (omg more please!) they have the basics down pretty well. But they'll also surprise you with some tasty salads, mac and cheese, and pasta.
So basically here's what you get. If you don't mind paying cash, if you can avoid the inevitable smell of the bathroom, and if you can get past the sometimes shockingly frankness of the staff, this place is a fantastic place to meet up with some friends, order a bunch of pub food and delicious beers, and just kick back and enjoy. -
Review from Josh W.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 10/25/2011
You ever be all like, walking around all day, getting all hungry and stuff? And then, you're all like, damn son, I could really go for some gravy fries?
You ever have that happen to you, walk into Bukowski Tavern only to find out that they have gravy fries and are serving them with sweet potato fries?
That happened. It was fucking awesome.Listed in: MOAR GRAVY FRIES
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/24/2010
Spin the Wheel. Don't be a bitch, just do it.
Got a tasty roast beef sandwich today, along with a… Read more »
-
-
Review from Amy B.
I've always been a sucker for the type of bar where I can plant my ass on a stool, chat with the bartenders and the dude next to me, and while away five or six hours drinking interesting beers. For that, Bukowski's certainly delivers.
For the most part the food is an excellent example of greasy bar food. My favorites include the white trash cheese dip, the steak bomb (covered in the aforementioned delicious dip), and really any of the burgers, which arrive cooked to specification. Mac and cheese was delicious, but cold, so I've shied away from ordering it again. I also tried the infamous peanut butter burger; while it was tastier than I'd have guessed, I thought the PB overpowered the other delicious burger flavors, so I probably won't order it again.
The beer list is glorious and features most of your favorite beers and another three dozen you haven't tried yet. I've been working on my entry into the Dead Author's Club, which has forced me to explore previously unknown beer sensations with mixed results. I've become fond of rye beers and Scotch ales, and curse the day the smoked beer hit my lips (like lox in a glass, I tell ya). I'm not quite halfway through my quest, so I've got some return visits scheduled to Buk's. I'm looking forward to when I win my mug and can more intensely focus on the rotating draft beers.
Bukowski's is cash-only, which is not my favorite, but I appreciate their clarity about it. They must have sixteen signs letting patrons know.
My favorite time to hang out at Bukowski's is in the late afternoon/early evening, before it gets crowded. Late nights on Friday and Saturday are a bit of a zoo and completely change the laid back vibe, in my opinion. I also find the bartenders like to crank the music when the bar gets crowded, and I'm just not fond of such loud music. Yes, I'm 700 years old.
Oddly enough, if I've been working on my beer list for a few hours already, I sometimes don't notice the loud music.Listed in: Boston Beer Thirty, Amy B's Best of Boston
-
Review from Josh K.
Albany, NY
12/3/2011
"Questions of a Boston Barfly"
by Josh K
There were a lot of uncertainties last night at Bukowski Tavern.
Named after my beloved disgruntled postal service worker turned graphically expressive and depressive poet, Bukowski Tavern had me asking myself a lot of questions.
Great draught list, but what beer shall I pick?
Should I spin the wheel to decide?
Was the Cask ale too warm?
Are the bartenders rude or just indifferent?
Can this place fit more than 30 people?
Since he had no idea where anything was, was our server really from Boston?
Was the clientele a bunch of corporate jack***es in the guise of wannabe hipsters?
I devoured it all, but is creamy peanut butter, instead of ketchup, actually good on top of a hamburger?
Was I brainwashed into actually thinking Peanut Butter, Bacon, and Burger is a tasty combo?
Do I like this place?
One thing that is for sure is that I want to come back to Bukowski Tavern.
Perhaps only then can I begin to try to answer some of these questions. -
Review from Maggie P.
San Luis Obispo, CA
11/9/2011
Great beer selection. Different from the one across the river. This is a plus. But like the other one, music too loud. Oh, and cigarette smoke came through the windows at both locations.
I tried the fries this time and they were indeed lovely.
Good location. The atmosphere is in great contrast to the rest of the Prudential. I guess you might call this place a dive bar for the atmosphere, but with that beer selection it becomes a hipster bar.
TV played the baseball game. Good music selection, though loud.
Despite all the negatives, I would visit again just for the beer. -
Review from Joe G.
10/23/2011
Bukowski Tavern was a great find in downtown that I'd somehow never heard of. Obviously the reason why you go here is the giant beer selection, and it is very very comprehensive. I had a raspberry IPA, a german-style wheat beer made in Massachusetts, and a chocolate stout during my trip. They also have good food: my friend and I split barbeque chicken fingers, which were pretty good, and pecked at my friend's cheese dippers, which were excellent.
The crowd is pretty laid back and the music playing is fantastic. My only real gripe was that the music was a little too loud, given that bar like this, to me, should be a great place to sit or stand around and have conversations with friends. -
Review from Lisa B.
Boston, MA
10/30/2011
Ah, Bukowski. Cash only, typical bar food, and normally-priced beers.
My only gripe is about the service. I've had more than a few surly servers, which is weird, because I'm a pretty "easy" customer.
I go here fairly often because of its proximity to my boyfriend's house, but I've learned to expect a dirty look every other time I request another beer.
If you want great service and outstanding food, this is not the place for you. If you're looking for something not-good/not-bad (and conveniently located), check out Bukowski. -
Review from CK R.
Brooklyn, NY
So we went postgame. I was impressed with the beer selection but the food was just average. By average, I mean that the white trash dip was tasty and the medium rare burger came out very dark and crunchy (inedible). If there is one item you shouldn't mess up, it's a burger (well, maybe a hotdog is easier to get it right).
Normally, I go to a beer bar for beer so I'll keep this review at a 4 star. If this place were a restaurant, it would warrant 2 stars. If strictly a bar, all 5. Since it pretends to be one when really doing a good job at the other, I give it a 4 star.
Hire more beer servers, retrain your cooks! -
Review from Rocky H.
Boston, MA
11/2/2011
saw the 5 star review on yelp and walked over to have a couple pops after my haircut.
Kind of a dive bar -- cool location but feels like a train inside.
Nice cold beer... really cool bartender.
They gave me a little troube going into the bar cause I only had my passport and they said they need a MASS ID. Showed them my credit cards, etc and that I am 42 and they let me in
had a hot dog too and it was pretty good. -
Review from Jennifer H.
Cumberland, RI
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Bukowski Tavern is the type of place that quickly becomes your place -- where you head after work for a wind-down beer, the meetup place between you and your friends before heading out on the town, the place for a casual Saturday night when you don't want to go too crazy, maybe even the place you take someone on your third date... once you've impressed them and you're starting to really get to know each other. I'm sure part of this has to do with their beer challenge: 100+ beers will get you a 22-oz. beer stein over the bar with the name of a dead author of your choosing -- and they will fill your glass every time you come in for the price of a pint.
Beer is the star here. The menu was astounding, and the bar staff seems extremely knowledgeable in all of the brews.
However, the food was also... there are no words really. It was delicious. I skeptically tried the peanut butter burger with bacon, and oh my what a wonderful leap of faith it was! The burger itself was perfect, but the addition of crunchy peanut butter and crispy bacon made my palatte scream in ecstasy. And, after I downed the burger, I noticed there were the most amazing fries underneath it that really should not have been a second thought. Highly recommended, my friends.
Bukowski's is small, hidden away next to the Summer Shack, but the music is blasting and the vibe is old-time neighborhood bar. The only reason I am not giving them 5 stars is because they don't accept credit cards, and this girl doesn't carry cash often. -
Review from Brad B.
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I want this place to be magically transported to....across the street from my house.
Yes, I liked it that much. Great beers, excellent atmosphere, very cool (and damn good looking) bartender / waitstaff chicks and the food was good too.
I definitely will be visiting this place each time I'm in Boston. -
Review from Zach W.
Boston, MA
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ooooh Bukowski's.....I want to love you soooo much but I can't seem to get over my other crushes. It's not you, it's me....
You can sit in solitude at the bar, drinking like a lonely alcoholic douche bag or bring in your loud and rowdy friends for a good time. Basically, whatever your speed, whatever your pleasure, Bukowski's is okay with it.
But don't spin the damn wheel!!! Make a decision and choose your own beer.....I'm just bitter because I spun the wheel once and it gave me PBR....what do I look like a freakin' hipster!?!?!?!
If you like small, dive bar settings with a solid selection of craft beer this is your spot. They have a book, a freaking BOOK of beer. And if you manage to finish every beer in the book, toiling away a couple thousand dollars and countless lonely hours drinking yourself into oblivion like a true alcoholic......well then you get a glass mug with a number and your name on it! CONGRATS YOU HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM.
Here's some more advice, try the freaking burger with the egg and peanut butter!!! Ignore your tastebuds screaming for mercy and the little voice in the back of your head saying WWHHHHHHYYYYY!!!!! It's delicious, peanut butter just works with it.....trust me....that's what I always tell ladies.Listed in: Booze in the Bean
-
Review from Kate T.
Boston, MA
7/25/2011
Who doesn't dream of a pub with a phenomenal beer selection and knock-your-socks-off burgers all tucked into the side of a parking garage? You don't? Sheesh, you snob. Get with the program!
I ordered the gut-busting pb-and-bacon burger and clean-plate-clubbed it, too. (For reference, I'm a slight, 130-lb chick....with an unhinging jaw, evidently). The monster was tasty but left my arteries feeling clogged and my heart beating just a little faster. I'm not one to shy away from a greasy meal, but this was beyond even my vast, vast penchant for junk food. The next time I had the will to touch a bite of food was 4pm the following day.
That said, Bukowski's was a total treat. The atmosphere was lively, the beer was fresh and, had I only eaten half the burger, I'd have nothing but praise for it, too. The pub came highly recommended by a friend (a Berkelee grad) and I pass along her high recommendation. Go hungry, leave happy. -
Review from Carmen Y.
San Diego, CA
10/4/2011
Its been a while but I cant wait to go back. It was a lazy Sunday. I had just lost my wallet at an open air market and had freaked out because I was afraid I wouldnt be able to fly home without my ID. Luckily, i retraced my steps and found it and we needed a drink to calm my panics!
Great beers, great food - hurray for vegetarian options. Kinda chill dive and we went during the day so it was relaxed and not a bunch of way too cool hipsters. -
Review from Jeffrey G.
Springfield, MA
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Peanut butter burger, with the red onion.
One of my favorite locations in Boston. It's such a hole-in-the-wall spot, with a ton of charector.
I don't know what happened. Either my tastes for good craft beer have increased to an all-time high snob level, or the level of their beer selection had declined. There was a time I would come here and be in complete awe. Now, I am spending more time looking for something that interests me. Don't get me wrong - I am still going.
Food is everything and then some for what you could ever imagine to come out of a tiny closet of a kitchen. White trash cheese dip is killer. Burgers are great (especially the peanut butter burger). Soups - dogs - etc. Great late night, where most other kitchens in the area are long closed. -
Review from Lisa R.
ZOMG!!
I went to Buk's for lunch last Saturday for the first time in weeks. It was my diet "cheat" day, meaning I could have whatever I wanted, but I had no idea what I wanted to eat. Nicole, who was working the bar at the time recommended the hot dog special, which had peanut butter and sliced pickles on it. That's right. A grilled HOT DOG WITH PEANUT BUTTER AND PICKLES. I think it was called "The Pregnant Lady Special" or something. I was going to pass on it, and NO, I'm not pregnant. But Nicole had a certain sparkle in her eye, and was like, "That guy over there was skeptical, and he thinks it's great." I thought, "What the hell . . . you only live once". So I ordered it.
It was one of the best things I EVER ATE IN MY LIFE, and I'd do it again! I really wanted a second one, but decided to drink more beers instead.
The end.Listed in: Did someone say BEER?
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
6/1/2009
Now that I've been a regular here for over a year, I thought I should update my review a bit. I… Read more »
-
-
Review from Stephen L.
San Rafael, CA
8/27/2011
great place to come for lunch if you work at the PRU if you want something that will make you warm and fuzzy and dying for a nap.
But the best thing about this hole in the wall is the BEER I mean they have a shitload of freaking beer. -
Review from Julie B.
Trying to become a beer connoisseur is costing me quite the pretty penny, especially when I'm going strong with a college level tolerance. But I just can't help myself in places like Bukowski Tavern. This place is a true dive bar in every sense of the word -- small, dark, and blasting indie rock. It can get a bit overwhelming when there's no where to sit because there's very little room for standing, but once you can snag a table you're set for the night.
I came here on Friday night to try out some new beers and was very happy was the extensive selection. The bartender was friendly and gave me some good beer info despite the crowded bar. I ended up ordering a Pretty Things Fluffy White Rabbit, a Unibroue La Fin du Monde (which was AWESOME) and a Magic Hat #9. At the wise advice of Ms. Rachel Ray we tried the white trash dip which was pretty good (but certainly not "the best thing I ever ate") and came with burning hot chips -- seriously, I burnt my fingers on them. We also ordered some fries, mashed potatoes, and I stole a few bites of my friend's California burger which was really tasty.
Everyone at the bar was nice and seemed happy to be there. I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Debbie E.
5/22/2011
Where to start.....well, in summary, I came in in the middle of the day, sat and drank beers and ate 2 dinners until after the sun went down.
Service - sat at the bar for hours and the bartenders were all very attentive and prompt. They were also very good to allow beer tastes and recommend a beer you may like.
Food - tried the Mad Dog with mashed potatoes (basic hot dog which was good; the mashed was also good), the White Trash Cheese Dip (yummy but spicy with all of the jalapenos), Mac and cheese (meh), and the grilled cheese (good ratio of cheese to bread).
Atmosphere - didn't love the music. There are TVs. People coming and going at the bar.
Other - that bathrooms consist of just one toilet for each. Humid inside the bathroom and kinda on the gross side.
All in all, an excellent dive bar. BTW - it is CASH ONLY. -
Review from Josef S.
7/14/2011
Three definite virtues: an excellent range of beer (and nothing stronger than wine); a more than adequate vegetarian selection (including a pretty tasty "meatball" sandwich); and fine tunes (ranging from country to soul while I was there). Strangely, Bukowski himself might have grumbled about these things. As I recall, he preferred hard liquor, meat, and classical music. But you can't please everyone all the time. Or the likes of Bukowski... ever.
The service was sharp and friendly, too. So, I'll happily return... -
Review from April C.
6/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Total dive bar with an exciting beer selection and decent food.
Bukowski's is the kind of place you can go and either not know anyone, or run into everyone you know. Nobody else cares why you're there or what you're doing. There's a guy at the bar reading a book and sipping a pint. And there's a couple of hipsters on a first date, deciding on an app. And there's a bunch of regulars, chatting up Boston with the bartender.
You can carry on conversation uninterrupted because the music isn't turned up too loud and there isn't a hoard of drunk college girls stumbling by and spilling mixed drink all over you (cue: Dillons). There's almost always enough seating without a wait.
Servers are right there when you're empty, but out of sight when you don't need them. Cordial and knowledgeable of the menu. Perfect.
Only qualm - cash only. It would be so much easier for me if I could just pay with my debit card. Pleeeeeease? But that can't keep me away!Listed in: "CASH ONLY"
-
Review from Corey H.
7/14/2011
This place was pretty cool. Seems like a pretty decent locals hangout.
Things I liked....
- Kitchen is open late with lots of different food. (1am ish)
- Tons of different beers. Literally they have a book.
- Not full of tourists
Things I didn't like...
- They are a cash only bar
- Its very small
- beer only
This place was decent. Nothing too special but an alright place to grab a quick beer but I wouldn't make this my final destination. -
Review from Dave F.
Grand Island, NE
6/23/2011
If you are one of the crazy, the drunk. or the damned, and find yerself in boston, this is the place for you. It is also near a bridge if you find even beer won't help your situation.
Oh yeah, before I jump offa that bridge, the staff is mothafuckin on top of things, very cool bartenders. In fact very cool crowd, I never bothered noticing cos it is such a small place but no one is in your face. I cannot recommend this enough to any alcoholic who finds himself in this part of Boston. Seriously I think it was 1999 and I was lookin to get offa Boylston and just hopped on over here did not even know it had the Buk name back then just needed a beeya. -
Review from Sarah M.
Brighton, MA
4/24/2011
This is by far my all time favorite bar. It has character without pretention, solid service, tasty bar food and I've always been able to get a seat whenever I've arrived. I've gone with dates and with groups of friends, and we've always been able to drink and cavort and - shockingly - hear each other!
I've never had a truly terrible wheel spin (it's what I always do). When you're an adventurous beer drink, you gotta love letting fate pick.
My only gripe is that I hear the men's bathroom is substantially more...interesting...than the women's.
Wait, I have a second gripe - cash only is awful. Also it always makes me feel like I'm helping someone launder money ;) At least they have an ATM, but who keeps enough cash around to support their alcoholism? -
Review from bob m.
Cambridge, MA
12/30/2011
Finally made it there for lunch. Exactly as advertised--dive bar with a great beer selection and an array of tasty burgers. Three of us got out for about $10/each, compared to our usual $20 Friday damage. And we left happy. Damned good burger at a damned good price.
-
Review from Tracy M.
9/20/2011
A CASH-ONLY divey bar that serves food. Never had the food here so I can only speak to the beer. The beer selection here is LARGE: bottles, drafts, cask, microbrews, etc. They do not serve alcohol, only beer and wine. Could be a damper on some peoples hearts. Also, move to the back of the bar, it's usually less crowded.
-
Review from Jason B.
Winchendon, MA
Incredible beer selection with plenty of local & regional brews.
The food was varied and quite tasty.
A unique, trendy bar that won't blow your budget. There are higher priced options in beer and food but also reasonable choices.
Cash only. -
Review from Colleen C.
Quincy, MA
7/28/2011
What do you do when a bunch of your friends are at Dillons and you need to get away? Grab someone else who wants out and head across the street to Bukowski's. Their beer list is huge, with all the Belgian/German classics and more, over 100 in all. The food is good and cheap. It's way more laid back than other places in the area.
I don't mind that there's no liquor license since I have plenty of beers to choose from, but that is something others may want to know. Cash only, so if you don't want to deal with the ATM be sure to bring some with you. -
Review from Grover M.
Atlanta, GA
7/23/2011
Beer was plentiful salad ok
Hanging with tradeshow friend. Anyplace named for Buk gets 3 stars without doing anything more. -
Review from Adam C.
2/22/2011
I'm surprised I've never reviewed Bukowski's, or as I've been known to call it in various texts, "Buk's" (How quaint and efficient!), before. Anyway, it's pretty much my favorite (non-bullshit, non-townie-shithole) bar in Boston. And I don't even go to Buk's (see, I just used it again!) all that often, but I was there last night for a quick beer and a bite to eat with my wife and it reminded me of how much I like the place. You will never enjoy a better view of I-90 with better tasting food and brew unless you've slept your way onto the Daughtry tour bus after a sold out show at the Garden. The point is: Daughtry dines WELL. And OFTEN. And ON THE ROAD. ???
EWAYYYYYY, it's a beer snob's bar, but they're not complete dicks about it. They have the "swill" selection of PBR and High Life and shit like that in addition to all the hobnobbery. And the menu is cool as well. It's simple, dogs and burgers, brah! I like the peanut butter burger (peanut butter on a burger??? oh my ghahhalbllfllflffl!!! Shut up!), because it reminds me of the Duane Purvis burger at Triple XXX diner at Purdue University (where I went to school). Honestly, the Duane Purvis is better than the peanut butter burger at Buk's (and AGAIN!) but it's still coo, man!
But to get at what I really like about the place is the atmosphere, which is also simple, but it's chill and they tend to play complete albums start to finish, and more often than not, they're good albums. Like yesterday, when I was in there, they were playing "Songs in the Key of Life" and it fit perfectly with the chillness of the place.
Oh, yeah, as per UGZE, cash only! But of course, they have everybody's favorite piece of shit genero-"ATM" on hand for you to cope! -
Review from Hannah M.
9/27/2011
stumbled upon this bar during a weekend trip to boston.
great beer selection. decent food (actually, i got chili cheese fries and didn't really eat them). friendly patrons. helpful bartenders and servers.
best part is the wheel o' beer.
indecisive? haven't heard of the beers? just plain old slow? spin the wheel and let the beer gods decide your fate. beware, some of these beers are pretty strong and it'll creep up on you.
great night out. -
Review from Jenn T.
New York, NY
3/9/2011
i saw Rachel Ray feature this place on"the best thing i ever ate" for their "white trash dip" and my boyf has memories of going to the one in Camb so when i saw it was ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOTEL at 330 pm when we got in from a long (foodless) morning train ride, i was psyched. Say what you want about Raytard, but the woman knows her way with traveling and eating.
It's totally adorable and divey. bartendress was super sweet and played some awesome dolly parton tunes.
Really decent beer selection and $3 pabst on tap!
and then...the dip...the dip....was perfect... scrumptiously spicy and silky. For a dive they had a BUNCH of vegetarian options to the point where it was really hard to JUST get the dip. I really enjoyed my time here.
Walking past it on the way home WAY later, i could see it was really busy...
I liked it so much I made my boyf cancel our dinner plans at the posh gastropub Russels in Harvard Square so we could walk the 20 mins to innman to visit their other location and I could get the dip again. Innman location not as fun. It stank of puke and though larger, was less friendly. Tomato bisque in a bread bowl was also tasty though a bit too creamy for me. -
Review from Ross N.
Suffolk, MA
2/21/2011
Bukowski's Tavern is a bar themed after the writer/poet Charles Bukowski. You would think by that fact that it is a pretentious asshole hangout where hipsters are sitting, drinking, and clanking away at their typewriters, writing the most insignificant shit you could imagine but it's really not that type of place. I'm not saying hipsters don't go there cause that would be a blatant lie, but the rest of us are definitely welcomed to dine there. Aside from that stupid rant that I just went on, it's probably my favorite back bay bar. It is a red shoebox that is located around the corner from the Hynes Convention Center T-stop off the green line, so it is pretty easy to get to. That being said, it is at times packed, usually later in the week at evenings, and other times a place to you and your group to enjoy at peace aside from the people sipping away at the bar.
The food is always something that I'm happy with. It's always made well. Here is a link to the menu is you would like to take a look. It is mainly a burger and sandwich type of place. http://www.bukowskitav...
My usual there is just a burger, so it wouldn't be much help to tell you that they never screwed up my burger order, but nevertheless they have never screwed up my burger order. If you looked at the menu is can be somewhat pricey for things like appetizers, but the rest is on par with other places. The most expensive item is a Mac and Cheese at $11, and the burgers float around the $9-10.50 area.
The beer there is pretty damn good. I'm a beer drinker and that is what usually brings my back here. The draft list usually has something like twelves beers that you'll enjoy on it. They also have a bottle list if for some reason you aren't digging the drafts. That being said, if you are bringing a girl here, make sure she likes beer because they won't have other alcohol to keep her here, or happy. Prices can be about $3.50 for a PBR, $5-7 for a draft, and sometimes a bit more expensive or equally expensive for a beer off the bottle list.
The waitstaff is usually pretty good. It can be said that sometimes they may need an extra person to wait tables if it's packed but they do a pretty good job. They are also very knowledgeable of the beers they serve there. I've taken a few recommendations and liked what I got, not that I have drank a beer that I haven't liked, but anyway. They do a good job of keeping an eye out to see if you need another drink and making sure everything is all good in the hood.
The bathrooms, as other people have written about are a bit dirty, and somewhat small. But, I never thought enough to care about it since all that I was doing was taking a piss, which in itself is a bit dirty, so I feel like it somehow cancels out. If you are a guy, you probably won't care but I imagine some girls might. Also, the bathrooms are located in the front, as the sign in the back kind of rudely, but humorously points out.
If you liked what you read, then try it out. I've seen all ages (above 21) and types of people here (hipsters, johnny wallstreets, joe the plumbers). -
Review from christin d.
Columbus, OH
4/22/2011
Bukowski's is everything a dive bar should aspire to be. Dark & cramped, with an epic beer selection, good music overhead, and a bathroom that is still tolerably clean. I must confess I did absolutely zero eating. Also, I'm not sure who picked this particular song selection, but Lucero is kind of a buzzkill. By that I mean, saddest drinking music ever. At one point I felt like crying after a few beers for ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD REASON.
This is no fault of Bukowski's, but I really cannot get down with Beantown's drinking laws. I was shot down around 12:30 when I tried to order a beer and a bourbon. Really? Homie don't play that.
I'll certainly come back here next time I visit Boston, despite the sad music. I'll just know to come earlier. -
Review from Jason B.
10/18/2010
Over the years, I've noticed that there are two kinds of "We don't give a f*ck attitudes" in the world of bars. There's the 'happy-go-lucky-hey-why-not-let-the-guy-do-a-jig-a nd-we'll-laugh-with-him!" kind of place, the kind of place where they treat you nice, and let you get away with non-illegal (yeah so I made a double negative, wanna fightabout it?) shenaniganry, and they'll join you and smile and maybe buy you a beer.
Then there's the kind of place that straight up, looks you in the eye with deadface, and just...doesn't...give a f*ck. Bukowski on Dalton, well that's them. They don't give a f*ck about you, your money, your beer, your experience, being nice to you, not being nice to you, whether your food is any good, and really anything else about your experience inside their dark hall of meticulously constructed hipness. You're a face on top of a body, the ass of which is sitting on a stool on the other side of a long plank of wood who pours beer into one hole, and every now and then the whole package gets up and goes behind a door to make pee come out another hole.
Spinning the wheel of beer at the Dalton street Bukowski is about as entertaining as watching a blurry colonoscopy video, or hearing someone tell you about a recent tax audit.
"OK, here's your spin. {clickety clickety} Ok, here's your overpriced Delerium Tremens. I'm going to go over to the other end of the bar and ignore you for a while."
They don't even bother cleaning at least some of their beer lines properly. It takes a lot to make a PBR line sour, but they managed it.
Let's be clear - they don't care about you. Just bring cash, keep drinking their overpriced beer, and get the fudge out. -
Review from L J.
Boston, MA
9/28/2010
I think if Charles Bukoski saw this place, he would punch out all the windows and scream like a lunatic.
I've been dragged here a number of times by my shameless lit-hipster friends. Beer snobs tend to love it. I, on the other hand, just want Bass ale and the option of drinking one or two weird bottled novelty. Not hundreds of them.
The Inman square location is way better, with garage windows and less of a rich-f*ck population, but I'll keep my yelping of this disgusting chain to this one location.
If you're interested, check it out. If you're down for the gimmick of the beer wheel, give it a spin. But don't fool yourself into thinking this place is unique.
It's as cheesy as an outback steak house, but the worst part is the name. It's a worse mismatch than a John Lennon's Gun Shoppe, or a Robert Frost Tanning Salon. The spirit of the artist is sullied as bad in the actual existence of this place, even more so than my lame fictional examples.
Reasons why Chinanski would never stick around:
- it's too crowded
- it's too expensive
- it's too bright
- it's too loud
and there are bukowski quotes littering the wall paper, like some sort of children's library.
really now, what's going on? -
Review from amanda s.
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
bartender was friendly, service was quick, but boy was that waitress kind of a trick.
bukowski is dive-y and the food bell rings clear, but the best part of bukowski is hands down pretty things beer.
didn't try and didn't desire the food, but happy i had cash because cards here are no good.Listed in: bountiful boston.
