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Doyle's Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants American (Traditional) Breakfast & Brunch, Pubs, American (Traditional) [Edit]
3484 Washington St(between Gartland St & Williams St)
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
(617) 524-2345
- Nearest Transit:
-
Washington St @ Williams St (42)
Washington St @ Union Ave (42)
Washington St @ Rossmore Rd (42)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 12:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
222 reviews for Doyle's Cafe
Review Highlights
"The sweet potato fries are oh-so-good."
(in 21 reviews)
"Best deal on a Sam Adams you'll find in Boston."
(in 80 reviews)
"Now whenever I visit Boston, it's back to Doyles."
(in 62 reviews)
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222 reviews in English
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Review from Lauren D.
Colorado Springs, CO
1/20/2012
This was a wonderful little spot in Boston! My boyfriend and I were on vacation and spent the weekend in Boston. Our first stop was the Sam Adams Brewery, where they provide a "Party Trolly" for transportation to Doyles.
Doyles is supposedly the first pub ever to sell Sam Adams brew on draft, for that reason, if you go right after your brewery tour and show your stamp from the tour, you receive a free Sam Adams glass, specifically made for the Boston Lager.
Besides that little novelty of the place, the ambiance was wonderful, friendly staff, and has delicious comfort food. They boast having the best clam chowder in Boston, and as far as my boyfriend and I are concerned they might be right! We tried the chowder everywhere we went, and theirs was top notch!
It's a must stop if you are going to Boston! -
Review from Anne W.
2/2/2012
Beware.. this is NOT Tommy Doyle's.. it's just Doyle's.
We came here after the Sam Adam's tour nearby. They have a party trolley that takes you over here and back for free... the only reason why we came had to do more with the fact you get a free Sam Adam's glass valued at $9 in the gift shop for free if you ordered a glass of Sam Adam's. That was true.. each glass of beer was about $8 so you probably just ended up paying for the glass with them still making a profit.
The party bus guy told us that this place had the best onion rings, sweet potato fries, clam chowder, and reuben. I'll just tell you.. this is a lie. Not a blatant one.. but any Bostonian knows that Doyle's is not the first place that comes to mind. The onion rings are okay.. they are supposedly beer battered. I didn't think they were that good for almost $8. The clam chowder is decent.. not a lot of potatoes.. but Legal Seafood's is better. My friend complained the reuben was dry.. and I am going to guess the sweet potatoe fries were nothing special.
Supposedly.. a lot of tv shows have been taped here. Meh.. who cares.. I wanted to eat yummy food and drink beer. I'd skip this next time.. unless you're trying to get another free glass. -
Review from Kevin L.
1/21/2012
Went to Doyle's after my Sam Adams tour. They had a free shuttle bus (one of those that looks like a trolley) pick us up shortly after the end of the tour and advertised a free glass to keep with the purchase of a pint of Sam Adams. Doyle's is about a 10 minute shuttle ride from the brewery and it's a fairly fun ride, sine the bus is equipped with party gear and lights inside.
The restaurant itself looked pretty nice. It resembled a really old tavern with furniture and decorations that looked like it came from the early 20th century. Food-wise, it was a rather ordinary. They have the usual assortment of American food from nachos and wings to sandwiches for lunch hour. The bus driver recommended clam chowder so I picked a bowl of it and shared a plate of nachos with the table. Clam chowder was nothing really to call home about and the nachos were pretty ordinary. Nothing we got really stood out and were pretty ordinary. They have sizeable menu so it might have been our fault to sample some of the lower hanging fruit on the menu.
Overall, it's a nice diversion if you're hungry after the Sam Adam's tour. The food is okay and they have plenty of beer to keep you content. The shuttle bus also comes back around to drive you back to the orange line. You'd probably find better eats back in the city but it's convenient and the free glass is a nice incentive to stop by for a pint. -
Review from Kelsey M.
Boston, MA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went here after the Sam Adam's Brewery tour for lunch. The food is the standard Boston bar menu and the atmosphere is also nothing much to speak of. This place really pimps the Sam Adam's beer. Our waitress was decent but a little slow. The menu isn't geared towards the health conscious. The sweet potato fries were mediocre and dry. I picked at my friends regular fries. It's nice that you can keep the glass when you purchase SA's beer.
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Review from chio s.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2012
Went two years ago after the Samuel Adams Tour and the onion rings were AMAZING. I never like onion rings prior but I still think about them, non greasy , delicious. Getting the Sam Adam glass was a cool souvenir. Wish the trolley had existed then but we got there eventually.
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Review from Trish F.
Boston, MA
11/19/2011
It's a bit of a trek for me to get over to Doyle's. Commute-wise it's a combo of bus/walk or bus/train/walk, so I've only gone for events during brunch on the weekends. The food is bar/diner standard. Nothing too fancy, eggs/homefries/bread/muffins. I've always been with a large group and the waitresses have graciously handled us without rolling their eyes or any bit of sass (I'm used to that being a Jersey girl).
What I dig about Doyle's is that they're definitely supportive of the community. They lend their back room to Boston Media Makers (http://bostonmediamake...) and Mass Mouth (http://massmouth.ning....). Last BMM event I went to, folks even took up a collection to get wifi in the joint. That's some neighborly love! Watch out for it next time you're in. -
Review from Amanda A.
11/13/2011
Yay Doyle's!
I love this place. I've been here for a few meals, but mostly, my experience here has centered around post-show fun. I do shows at the Footlight Club and after at least one show during the run, we end up at Doyle's A whole mess of us take over the back room and order a crazy amount of pizza. I love their pizza. It's bar pizza.Thin with lots of goopy cheese. DELICIOUS. The staff usually assigns someone to take care of us and it's always good service.
Like I said, over the years I've visited and gotten sandwiches and entrees that were tasty, but I come back for the pizza. Always.
As a whiskey/scotch drinker, I'm always happy to see their great selection. After all, it IS a pub. -
Review from Julie D.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
The owner of this restaurant is pretty smart. They have a free shuttle from Sam Adams Brewery where the tour guides gives them a plug and tells you about the offer of a free Sam Adams glass. Then, right on queue immediately after the tour ends, the party bus shuttle arrives. Music blaring. Playing Sweet Caroline. Who can resist?
We went along. The ride itself is pretty fun. The restaurant seems like a chunk out of history. Service is about as old and moldy. BJ got clam chowder which he really likes. I got a fish sandwich which was just barely okay.
But it pretty much worked out for the amount of time that we had on our last day in Boston. Can't wait to visit the city, again! -
Review from Megan S.
12/13/2011
Go here for the history-covered walls and Sam Adams special selection. Go here for greasy food and Townie waitstaff. Do not go here for a date or to get a decent dinner.
Listed in: JP to Me
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Review from Paul S.
Concord, CA
This place was cool simply because they gave you a free Sam Adams pint glass if you came after the tour and bought a beer. So hey, better than paying $8 for one at the brewery.
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Review from Mike P.
Doyle's café is more of a pub then a café. I feel like their customer base on the weekends is larger due to the Sam Adams brewery tour. Which promises a free Sam Adams beer glass if you order a pint here.
The food I thought was pretty good, I ordered their Ruben and as I took my first bite I became a little euphoric. The sandwich was really amazing I was glad I got it, I also ordered the onion rings which were pretty good as well. I sampled there chowder and that was really fantastic although the sweet potato fries were good, not worth the extra imo.
We did wait a little while for our food but the staff was friendly and the place filled with people from the brewery.
Overall I would come back just to have another Ruben. -
Review from Sandy B.
Boston, MA
9/14/2011
I love you, Doyle's, but you're turning into a jerk. I think the Sam Adams tour is going to your head. You're just too expensive. Last night, one small entree, one cup of chowder, and one order of wings came out to $28.00. Seriously? We didn't even get anything to drink, just water! What gives? And charging a dollar per wing? That's just offensive.
I'll say it again, I love you, Doyle's! I like your surly but somehow friendly service and your neighborhood-centric atmosphere. Your chowder is delicious, most of your food is pretty good, and you're a cool place to hang out. I even love the waiter who appears to hate me for no reason.
Please deflate your ego a bit and welcome back your regulars. -
Review from Tom H.
Newton, MA
1/23/2012
Some bars take on personalities of there own, their legend passed down for generations. In a city where the political landscape had been dominated by rosy-faced Irishmen (up until the last decade) for over a century, Doyle's, which first opened its doors in the 1880's, has been the watering hole of choice for local and national politicians ever since. While its been said that every good Irish-American pub (and home) should have a picture of JFK somewhere, Doyle's takes it a step further, with the dedication of an entire room to the late president on St. Patty's day 1988. Doyle's also benefits greatly from their long-standing relationship with Sam Adams, as the first bar to purchase a keg of the original Boston Lager for resale; Doyle's is the official lunch spot of the Sam Adams brewery tour (shuttle provided) and enjoys first-access privileges to their newest brews. Their menu is a mix of Irish dishes and pub food, and is brought to you courtesy of the notoriously gruff wait staff.
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Review from Cassy H.
9/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The only reason I went to Doyle's Cafe was by taking the "party bus" from the Sam Adams Brewery, which is like 5 minutes away. After the brewery tour, this party bus was waiting outside and giving rides to customers who were craving some bar food. So, my friends and I went.
The actual place is your typical bar restaurant, but the service was pretty nice -- very attentive, down to earth ladies. We were craving bar food to go with our Sam Adams, so we ordered garlic bread, chicken tenders, and fries.... Oh, you get to keep the Sam Adams glass if you order a Sam Adams. :o)
Overall, it's a nice place.. nothing to fancy, but definitely a fun place to watch sports. :o) -
Review from Mike O.
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've always held a certain element of disdain for Doyle's, partly because it's called a "cafe", partly because it is regarded as a St. Patrick's Day go-to spot, neither of which hold very much validity in my book. First, it's not a cafe; it's a pub, and an above average sized one at that. There's no getting around that. Second, as old and historic as this venue is (c.1882), I can't help but regard it as just that: a historic Boston tavern that neighborhood peoples had latched onto, which eventually caught the attention of some politicos, birthing its notoriety. Put that within close proximity to the old brewing facility for Sam Adams and you've got yourself another Boston icon.
The truth is that they have some pretty decent food; it's really much better than most pub food you'd expect at the same price, and it is leaps and bounds more appetizing than the pictures on their menus would lead you to believe. They do serve some Irish staples and with a good selection of beer, it becomes one of the more reasonable destinations in the area. All in all there is nothing troubling to report about Doyle's. Sure the decor is a little drab; it really isn't trying to embrace the whole dive-bar vibe, but most likely holding on to a more nostalgic feel, and the waitstaff are generally kind and attentive.
Again, I am partial to more authentic Irish establishments (one of which is right down the street), but for the value, Doyle's is not that bad... -
Review from Ashley D.
Boston, MA
12/11/2011 1 photo
3.5 stars
the novelty of doyle's is definitely the free party trolly ride and free pint glass from the sam adams brewery tour. they do market themselves well in this aspect because the food and drinks are actually really good. and the trolly guy is a great time. they have a bunch of sam beers on tap (one of the first bars to serve sam adams in the city) and for $5.50 and a brewery tour ticket you buy the beer and keep the glass as a souvenir. the food is great too. sweet potato fries and boston lager beer battered onion rings are my favorites, especially after drinking. my friends have also tried the clam chowder and say it's pretty decent.
i wouldn't come out here on my own but for a pre or post-game for the brewery tour down the street it's a great time. friendly bartenders and pretty good service but it does get crazy crowded early afternoons on fridays/saturdays. -
Review from Paul L.
East Syracuse, NY
1/21/2012
Nice little pub, Food is very good. Go great after the Sam Adams tour, which if you will get a free Sam Adams Glass. Do yourself a favor and get onion rings with your order, they are AMAZING
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Review from Amanda B.
Chicago, IL
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Rating: 3.5 stars.
The best thing about Doyle's is their great selection of beer. We came here right after the Sam Adam's brewery tour. The free trolley and promise of more beer was all we needed to hear.
I had the grilled cheese with tomato and sweet potato fries and the cherry wheat sam adams. The grilled cheese was good - a diner version of the grilled cheese I know and love from childhood. But the sweet potato fries - wow. just wow. LOVED those. I think they're somewhat common in Boston, but this was my introduction to them - and I'm so glad we finally met! The cherry wheat ale was also really great. They paired well together too. I haven't been able to find the cherry wheat ale since then.
The booths seemed old - I could tell Doyle's had been around for while. The ladies room was older too. The toilets took a minute to flush - and the whole place felt a little muggy. But overall, it was a pleasant ambiance with a wide variety of people there. Families with small children, as well as business lunches. And although they weren't the friendliest, the waitstaff never kept us waiting for very long. -
Review from Kelsy S.
Rockville, MD
9/19/2011
I really enjoyed Doyle's. It's nice that they have the free shuttle from the Sam Adams Brewery and it's even nicer that you get a free Sam Adams glass with your first beer purchase (after having gone to the tour). The shuttle ride has a colored disco ball and the driver makes it seem like it's a party bus, which is funny.
The clam chowder was REALLY tasty and creamy (but not too heavy), my husband and I loved it. I had the tuna melt and it was very good with a good amount of flavor (not bland like some tuna melts I've had). The "garlic" fries were good...except that they didn't really taste like garlic at all. I asked the waitress about it and she said they just sprinkle garlic salt to make them garlic fries. It doesn't really work in my opinion. A sweet potato fry got mixed in on accident and it was very good :) My husband had the mozzarella garlic bread. The marinara sauce that came with it was pretty gross, but the bread was good dipped in the chowder. -
Review from lyndi s.
7/21/2011
BUY THE GLASS! RENT THE BEER! DOYLE'S!!
Oh yeah, that happened. The party bus from Sam Adams to Doyle's was a total trip. The trolley driver was a roided out, incredibly funny mix of hyper, music, yelling and well, just LOUDness. It was awesome.
I can't tell you how incredibly thrilled and surprised I was to see all of my dreams come true at once. Doyle's was a pretty chill pub/old style cafe with delicious Sam Adams beer options, and boasted what looked to be a pretty tasty menu. Not to mention our server was really nice and took great care of us.
I'm sad I didn't stay longer, but I guess I was in town for a wedding or something ridiculous that I had to attend. If you want the true Doyle's Experience, I highly recommend taking the Sam Adams brew tour first. Seriously. Do it.
This place DID NOT disappoint.Listed in: Travel, I'd Tap That
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Review from Jennifer E.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2011
This place was recommended by the Sam Adams Brewery folks. We were starving and buzzed after the tour so we decided to come here for dinner.
Usually there is a free trolley that takes your from the Sam Adams Brewery to Doyle's. Unfortunately, the trolley stopped at 5pm and our tour started at 4:40pm so we had to walk our happy asses to Doyles which was not the most pleasant thing to do for tourists like us.
Fortunately, we are good with directions and made it to Doyles and we loved the fact that its historical and I guess the food is too. I got the clam chowder and it was as good as a soup in a can. My hubby got the german plate and it was ok.
I don't think I'll come back to this place again but I do recommend it if you're coming from the Sam Adams Brewery (with the free trolley). -
Review from Celeste C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
Updated - 6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Doyle's has some thngs going for it. It's near the Sam Adams Brewery in case you want some more beer after their tour. It's across from English High and teenagers sometimes make you want to drink. It's got Magners on tap. They have lots of space and can accommodate big groups. They take credit cards now.
But I have become increasingly disappointed with their food. Their sweet potato fries are really good but my turkey burger was pretty charred the last two times I came in.
Come there to drink and enjoy your friends' company.Listed in: My JP Haunts
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2008
Doyle's is one of those places that various types of people gravitate to. I"m pretty sure that… Read more »
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Review from C D.
Boston, MA
9/5/2011
Dear Doyles,
How do I even begin to review you? It was love at first sight the first time I stepped inside your cavernous old timey Irish pub walls and sat at the bar where one of the opening scenes from "Mystic River" was filmed. The beer is always cold, the bartenders are friendly and the food is affordable and delicious. Breakfast served every day of the week and late night pizza are additional perks not to mention that they serve PITCHERS of bloody marys, pitchers! They also sponsor an annual 5 mile road race each March that cuts through Franklin Park and ends at Doyle's complete with 2 live bands and free beer. Sigh. This is true love. -
Review from Andrew N.
Doyle's! Was shuttled here from Sam Adams Brewery after the tour. Kind of a tourist trap I think, but still they had good food.
The most memorable items I had were:
Clam Chowder: Thick, creamy, hearty, fresh, delicious
Potato skins: very hot, perfect amount of crispness, great with sour cream
Order a beer here after the tour and you get to keep the glass. -
Review from Justin R.
6/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
STROBE LIGHTS! STRIPPER POLES! FOG MACHINES! KARAOKE! DISCO BALLS! PARTY MUSIC! DOYLE'S!!!!!!!!!!
That's exactly how our party bus driver greeted us. Really, it was! It sounds ridiculous, but its true. We took the bus from the Sam Adams Brewery over to Doyle's, because why not? It was free and they were giving us a ride to a bar. Sounds like winning to me.
After starting the party bus, he (who I forgot his name) floored it while simultaneously pumping the breaks! This made for an interesting ride over to Doyle's to say the least. Some fellow riders, had a look of fear in there eyes. But now us, we embrace our ride.
Once you get to Doyle's you can buy a pint of Sam Adams for $5.50 and keep the awesome Sam Adams glass. Deal? More like steal! The food looked delicious, but we had just eaten, so nothing but beer filled our bellies.
If you are at Sam Adams, a ride on the party bus to Doyle's is a must do. Don't worry, if you fly out of your seat there is always a stripper pole to grab onto.Listed in: Beer Me!
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Review from Steven R.
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'll give it a not bad.
Apparently Doyle's is renown for for its cinematic reputation but it isn't too bad. Free pint glass after the Sam Adams brewery tour which gets you in the door, but it really isn't the worst place to have a fresh pint o' Sam or have a bowl of chowder. I had both and was pretty happy I came by. Best part is that if you're making a day out of it, you can easily get on Orange and get back to the city since given this area I was somewhat inclined to hang out near the cops (which is a first).
Service was somewhat non-existent but given a busy Wednesday afternoon I'll discount that and accept it is a potentially awesome place. -
Review from Mike S.
Huron, OH
8/25/2011
Go on the FREE Sam Adams brewery tour before you go here.
1. There's a FREE trolley that takes you from the brewery to Doyle's.
2. With the purchase of a Sam Adams draft you get the "Sam Adams" glass for free (drafts were $5.50. Best deal on a Sam Adams you'll find in Boston.)
3. Reuben's are the best I've ever had. Burgers were really good and I was told they have the best chowdah in Boston.
4. Sweet potato French fries are really good.
5. Onion rings are battered in a Sam Adams Boston lager batter. AMAZING!
Place is a typical old dive bar in Boston. It's pretty good size compared to most. Priced pretty reasonably, and like I mentioned before, if you go after the tour you get a free Sam Adams glass (which they even tell you at Sam Adams not to buy it from them for $8.50). Definitely worth the trip. -
Review from Chas K.
Updated - 3/27/2011
REALLY (underscore and BOLD) disappointed by my visit last Sunday. Stopped in with my usual crew in tow (wife, Lisa, and son, Charlie) for dinner after spending the day at the Southie St. Patrick's Day Parade. The food was OK. Lisa liked her trout. Charlie enjoyed his French Dip. And my steak tips weren't bad at all. And it was great to run into two fellow hockey fathers from Parkway Youth Hockey at the bar.
Several things bummed me out BIG time:
- The hostess who stared at me in silence when I greeted her. Maybe my green eyebrows and beads threw her off, but still...When I asked if she was in a bad mood (my wife blanches when I do this, but I always ask service staff what their issue is if they don't greet me or forget their manners), she told me that she was tired. Well, sorry honey, you're working now. Force out a "hello" and "welcome to Doyle's" for me, huh?
- Only barely more enthusiastic server who was slow as could be.
- Complete lack of St. Patty's Day spirit. Yes, the actual holiday was 3 days prior, but you're friggin' Doyle's; humor me.
- Bruins got trounced by Toronto. OK. That wasn't Doyle's fault, but since they were such St. Patty's Day buzz kills, I hold them responsible.
I don't want to write anymore about this. I'll be back. But Doyle's had better *be* better.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/25/2009
Been going to Doyle's since about 1993. Their pizza is excellent - among the best in town. And this… Read more »
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Review from J. F.
San Diego, CA
6/25/2011
Getting here was so fun, the crazy free bus ride, from San Adams Brewery tour. The bus driver really made the trip to Doyle's extra interesting, loud music, disc lights, strip pole and the way he braked OMG better hang on to your seats.
They were busy and I had my heart set on the Bison Burger but they were all sold out!
So Cheeseburger it was, and it was juicy and cooked just right. The fries were still hot! / http://i1221.photobuck...
Hubby ordered Grilled Reuben Sandwich, wow after a few bites of his sandwich I think I ate most of his, very tasty. / http://i1221.photobuck...
Fast & Friendly service. -
Review from Anthony M.
Chicago, IL
The only reason I came here was because of the Sam Adams Tour. Go to Doyle's...bring your Sam Adams tour ticket, order a Sam Adams and you get to keep your pint glass. This bar was the first bar to ever carry Sam Adams, so it has a special place in Jim Cook's Heart. I would have never gone here unless the tour told me. (I'm such a follower or a sucker for a free beer glass)
I ordered a salad and onion rings. The Onion Rings were really good too!!! It says each order is made fresh. They were so yummy! But there was no dipping sauce though. I used my leftover blue cheese dressing.
Nice old bar...has been here since the late 1800's according to the sign. It is worth a trip for the free pint glass. There is a trolley on the weekend that shuttles people. Also a parking lot in back...big plus!!! -
Review from Jessica F.
Columbia, MD
5/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Like most people we came here on the "Party Bus" from the Sam Adams Tour lured in by the free glass with a beer promotion. The food was good and I liked the sweet potato fries. Our server was friendly enough although I felt like we could have seen her more.
I was expecting the glass and beer to be very marked considering that is what often happens with these tours but was pleasantly surprised to find that it only cost $5 for the beer and the glass. I am not sure if there was an error there but I didn't question it! -
Review from Elizabeth L.
Bayside, Queens, NY
7/12/2011 6 photos
first "bar" in Boston....
Food 4*s - we got the onion rings (good), clam chowder (average) and the reuben was awesome
service 1* - try not to get the old senile lady lol it took us 25 mins to get our beer and twice as long for our food and check that we asked for at least twice.
Note: Trolley ride there from the Sam Adams factory was crazy!! Lol -
Review from Justin S.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2011
Prices are kind of steep for the quality of food....Also 5.50 for a Sam Adams that is brewed right down the street is also pretty pricey....I can get Sam Adams for cheaper in Chicago which is 900 miles away from the brewery.
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Review from Ryan W.
Collingswood, NJ
3/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
For drinks and apps, you can't beat it. For a free Sam Adams glass if you've gone through the free Sam Adams tour- it doesn't get much better.
It's a few blocks from the Sam Adams Brewery and they talked it up during the tour. My fiance and I went here for a drink and some onion rings after our tour. For less than $20, we had two beers (Sam Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock, TRY IT!), an order of onion rings- and we got to take home two Sam Adams glasses. Pretty awesome.
Service was nice. Atmosphere was nice. Price wasn't bad. I don't have many complaints about this place. Not sure i'd go here to drink as its more of a restaurant-type pub.
If you're doing the Sam Adams tour, make sure you take the free shuttle here to get your Sam Adams glass. -
Review from Jacqueline C.
New York County, NY
6/28/2011
DOYLES. DOYLES. DOYLES.
came here to get some grub, and discovered a whole new experience.
one thing: best bloody marys? come on guys. not even close. I'll let it slide because....
SAM ADAMS BREWERY TOUR!
come here early, park your car, get some food, and get ready to ride the awesome party trolley to the brewery. there, you get to sample beers, learn about sam adams brewery, and then come back to Doyles for A FREE SAM ADAMS BEER GLASS.
all 5 stars go towards this amazing curvy... shiny...beautiful.. (can i get your number?) glass.
great tourist attraction! -
Review from James W.
Mesa, AZ
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good food
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Review from Matt W.
Updated - 8/25/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I love this place. I have for a long time, and I'm not going to give it a bad review. But prices have gone up and it's pretty annoying when it's loaded with party bus tourists from Sam Adams brewery. I don't fault them for making the changes - it's a solid business model. But my neighborhood bar for the past decade has been turned into a tourist destination, and that kind of hurts.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2009
Hands down my favorite bar in the world. The service is surly and quick, the staff is suiting to the… Read more »
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Review from D. B.
Westfield, MA
3/29/2011
Gourmet food this is not, but Doyle's is a great place to go to grab a bite to eat and a couple of drinks. It's got neighborhood-pub-charm, and that's enough for me!
My friends and I used to frequent the place for lunch during the work week or dinner and drinks. (Once a week Doyle's offers STUMP trivia... it's free to play and the winners usually win gift certificates to Doyle's -- runners up win free shirts, mugs, etc.)
I've never been disappointed with my food at Doyle's. Over the years I've tried a bunch of pub classics: turkey club, salads, turkey burger, all manner of appetizers (nachos, potato skins, etc.), sweet potato fries, the pizza, and even some of the "fancier" dishes that occasionally grace the menu. My friends favorites also include the BLT, the German plate, the Reuben, and a few of the dinner specials.
The service isn't particularly great, nor is the atmosphere anything to write home about. That being said, Doyle's can (and does) easily accommodate large parties with virtually no notice. They're willing to let us sit around for a few hours having dinner, playing trivia, and having a drink. In fact, if you're looking for somewhere to loiter, I'd vote for Doyle's -- I've never felt like I'm getting the boot.
The food is reasonably priced, the drinks are good, and it's a good place to gather with a group of friends. -
Review from Chris L.
Manchester, NH
12/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
Doyle's existed and was a local institution before it became a stop on the Sam Adams brewery tour and before Mystic River. My grandfather brought my parents to Doyle's in the late 1940s and 1950s. My uncle is in the 1955 Mary Curley School class picture hanging outside the bathrooms. When I was born in 1960 I was brought home to a house a few doors down on Williams Street and my parents brought me in to Doyle's. When my kids were little I brought them to Doyle's.
Recently my girlfriend and I visited on a Thursday afternoon. The place was packed. The bartender was hustling filling drink orders for the waitresses, taking orders from the patrons at the bar, and washing the Sam Adams MIT engineered beer glasses as fast as he could. We found a couple seats at the bar. When the bartender came over, He apologized, "I'm good at my job, but I tell you, I'm getting my ass kicked. I'll get to you as soon as get these glasses cleared." In a few minutes, as promised, he took our drink orders: Sam Adams Chocolate Bock and a Sam Adams Brick Red Irish Ale. That's one of the benefits of the Sam Adams/Doyle's alliance: you can find hard to get, if not impossible to find elsewhere, Sam Adams brews. The downside is the Sam Adams party trolley that arrives full of new customers looking for their free MIT engineered Sam Adams glass full of beer.
In a bit, the waitress came over. The bartenders don't do food. We ordered New England Boiled Dinner and fish sandwich. Both came quickly and were excellent.
I hope Doyle's popularity as a destination on the Sam Adams tour doesn't wreck it as a great place to grab a beer and food. I want it to be around when my kids have kids. And by the way, any real clam chowder worth eating has pork fat in it - smokey, smokey, pork fat. -
Review from Christopher W.
Boston, MA
5/23/2011
Overall terrible experience here. Incredibly loud due to the fact that the place was packed with tour groups (which was to be expected), but the hostess made no effort to speak over the volume, and disappeared for minutes at a time while "allegedly" preparing tables.
We then waited about 15 minutes for someone to serve us, but to no avail. Finally flagged down a waitress who notified a rather grouchy lady with pour hygiene that we had been seated in her section.
I ordered a burger which was mediocre, and the rest of my group ordered a flavorless chowder, a sub-par pastrami sandwich and a "non-traditional" Caesar salad that came with eggs and tomatoes and showed up as a Greek salad on the bill. We didn't even bother ordering beers from our waitress; it would have taken longer to eat our meal than to actually get our drink orders filled.
The whole ordeal took about an hour and a half, during which we saw our waitress twice. Good riddance Doyle's. You have successfully lowered my standards for dive bars.
