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Categories: Pubs, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: South EndE. Berkeley St (Silver)
Tue-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
"I've eaten at this restaurant three times. The first time I had the pork loin and the second time I ordered the BBQ pizza. Most recently, I…" read more »
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Yes, yes, and yes. Yes all around.
Yes to their food. Yes to their beer. Yes to their pub like feel, in a larger than normal pub like building. Yes to large groups and date nights. Yes to people from out of town AND locals.
YES, YES, YES to loving this place!
This review is for Saturday nights.
This place is the place to go, ladies, if you'd like numerous irish men with thick accents constantly admiring you and asking you if they can buy you a drink. The music selection is pretty decent and the guy to girl ratio is about 8:1. No lie. I've come here a few times with my roommate and it still amazes me how many irishmen pack the place.
The bathroom reminds me of high school. With girls smoking in the stalls and others applying make up, its a far cry from upscale. nonetheless, its a good place to wrap up your night of drinking.
Warning: If you don't want to get stepped on, pushed, groped or otherwise manhandled, then do not attempt the after hours JJ Foley's experience.
I am going to tell you ladies something that could change your life. Well your nightlife. Ok maybe just your night. Regardless I am going parlay my numerous experiences into solid advice for you to use on a night of drunken debauchery. This is not for the faint of heart so don't say I didn't warn you or that I didn't urge you to come prepared with sufficient birth control. When all the other bars close and your still looking for some fun then make your way to JJ's. Don't be the last ones to arrive, otherwise you'll be waiting out in the cold and you'll be in a bad mood by the time Jerry lets you in, and I want you to be your absolute hot drunken mess of a fabulous self when you enter through that banged up industrial metal door. Jerry the kind and gentlemanly owner will treat you like a lady regardless of how drunken you look or how cheep and dirty you feel.
SO in order to maximize your JJ Foley's experience I first suggest you arrive at approximately 12:30- 1AM. This is when it starts to fill up but also before it gets too crowded, and it will get crowded-sardine can crowded, coffin ship style crowded, health code violation crowded...you get the picture.
You could be dignified and arrive earlier, grab a good seat, settle in and wait for the sweaty masses to come to you, however if you want to fully experience JJ's after hours I urge you to wait it out a bit so you can experience the sausage factory in full swing (ew that didn't sound right). I'll never forget that first time I squeezed my way through and looked up to find the bar completely jam packed from wall to wall with hot boys. Perhaps all weren't as hot as I remembered, I was drunk and wearing rose colored beer goggles but I can't describe the awe and wonder I experienced at this moment. I looked up and i was in a sea of seemingly attractive, eager and very drunk young men. But most importantly all of them seemed to think i was some sort of goddess. honestly ladies, its an experience like none other, so come in, push your way through to the bar, order a drink they come cheep and strong here, and get ready for action. Lastly, do not bother coming here if your in a relationship, engaged, married or otherwise attached to someone you even remotely care about because at JJ's you will with all certainty and with any luck:
a) make a fool of yourself
b) make out with a random stranger
c)vomit on yourself and or pass out in the bathroom,
d)regret all of the above the next day.
I love Foley's. They have great food and beer on tap.
The staff is nice and it's always a good time. You can always bet that you'll be surrounded by fellow Boston sports fans!
Love love love the dark pub atmosphere! Love the tin ceiling and the dark wood and the uneven chairs. LOVE the Plymouth Turkey Burger. LOVE IT. simply love it.
did i mention I love it?
Late Lunch:
Turkey patty, buttery grilled onions, cranberry sauce, cheddar and some tango mayo. One of my favorite burgers in the world. I really was sad I only got to eat it once, but I will definitely be trying to make it at home!
ALSO I LOVE their Curry Chips....I never can resist french fries covered in curry sauce. it may be my favorite dish. If you love curry, do it!!!
Macaroni Bites were greasy, but really good....but.....drum roll please.....
..........................Stuffed Clams. Spicy sauce, corn and a creamy sauce. I never liked clams until I ate them like this.
Add a Guinness and you are set.
Let this be the underscore of my 15-year love affair with JJ Foley's.
I started coming here in college, back when you just needed to look like you belonged there to drink. We were 19, and smarter than the average asshole, so we just walked in and said two pints of Guiness please. What the hell did they care? Area B headquarters was right down the street, and no way was anyone gonna shut down the cops' watering hole.
Odd, that.
Anyway, over the years we saw Jack Hines in here, Chet Curtis drank his ever-loving face off in this place more than once that we saw. I witnessed my first bar brawl (between cops and firefighters), and saw Jerry come over the counter with a sawed-off baseball bat a few times. (pop, pop and the offender went right out into the alley) They used to close the shutters and turn the lights on at 1:30, call last call, and wait for some people to leave. Then they'd turn the lights back down and start serving again. At 4, they'd finally kick everyone out. It was like being in a special, naughty club. Fulla cops.
When I turned 21, I started coming here less and less; having a city full of bars to choose from will do that to you.
Having returned after a long hiatus, I found that these days, Foley's has gone legit. The cops don't spend as much time here, since HQ is elsewhere. Foley's expanded into the next building, and now, like Jen S. said, there's a light side and a dark side.
The food is impeccably prepared pub food. The drink prices are still pretty low, the beer and scotch selection is great, and Jerry's still behind the bar. Haven't seen the baseball bat since I've been back. Hopefully I won't anytime soon.
PS I love you Foley's.
Sometimes I want to be on the dark side and sometimes I want to be on the light side. Foley's lets me make a new choice every time I go in, if only between sides of the room. When I want a safe, comforting experience in the company of my fellow white collar professionals, I choose the light, shiny side. When I want material for some serious people watching, I choose the dark, scruffy side.
As a South Ender, I desperately wish there were more bars like Foley's in the neighborhood. I have nothing against trendier spots, but one sometimes gets tired of the effort required to be out amongst all the pretty people.
If you get there early enough (before ten), you can have the dartboard to yourself. Don't forget to bring your own darts. The bartender will give you paper and pencil if you didn't remember to bring your own. There is a juke box that can be an entertaining way to waste some time.
I love this bar and wish I drank more so I would spend more time there.
10pm on a Saturday, and half the bar already looked like it was Sunday morning: you know the look - the stylin' clothes that started out pressed, now disheveled, tired eyes, hair mussed up (is that a twig?) - and tons of people ordering water (with no tips, I might add). Just a very interesting assortment of folks at such an early hour.
But no worries - walk through a swinging door and you are in another bar entirely, it seems.
food looked good (didn't try), beers were reasonably priced, bartenders were attentive and patient with all the water and spritzer orders.
it's located pretty much on the taint of the South End, and if it weren't for my parking spot, I probably wouldn't have even popped in here for an after dinner drink. Not bummed that I did - but not bummed that it's unlikely I will pop in again for a while
Tucked away on a side street in the south end, this pretty large tavern sits. The area has changed quite a bit despite the Pine Steet Inn homeless shelter across the street. Now its galleries and high end restaurants and lofts. This place looks like it has been through a major renovation. What I liked about the interior was it is roomy. The ceiling is pretty cool looking. It is your typical Irish bar, but it seems to have some character. Lots of beer choices, full bar. I wouldn't go here for the food though. It is a collection of Irish creations and appetizers. The appetizers we ordered were fried Mac and cheese and something called curry fries both which were terrible. The curry fires were drwoned in a gravy of horrible curry sauce. The service was very slow but the place was crowded and pretty loud. In all this is what it is, a bar. Nothing more.
So I might be a little biased because I work around the corner and this is my favorite after-work hangout... but Foley's is my favorite bar. This is a family owned & operated joint that isn't fancy or anything, but is still proper - you can't wear your hat backwards, and the bartenders wear white shirts, aprons and ties even at 3am! Jerry just opened the restaurant side last year, so you can choose from the quieter dining room, or the sometimes jam-packed bar, depending on your mood :) You can order food from either side, which I suggest after sucking down a few strong Captain Morgans! Find parking somewhere on the street and stroll in - they have an ATM and even accept credit cards, which is a huge plus! And tell Jerry I said hello!
What's not to like at J.J. Foley's? The bartender looks as though he walked right off of a Norman Rockwell picture set- in his neat white shirt and tie. The drinks are very moderately priced, given you're in Boston. There's a jukebox and games and the bathrooms aren't horrible. And although the space is large, the dark wood gives the bar a warm, pub-like, New England-y feel.
I was here at 3:30 on a Wednesday so it wasn't exactly peak hours, but even at time there was a good (albeit small) mix of people. The group I was with were all young professionals, but we saw people in their 20s, 30s and 40s as well as a carbon copy of the Monopoly man. (He did not give us $200 for passing Go.)
From what I saw, it seems an ideal place to grab a relaxing drink (or two or three) after work and chill with some friends. Maybe make some new ones.
Given the opportunity, I'd go back again.
A true old-school tavern. Great drinks, great staff. You'll find everyone from lawyers to construction workers, police officers, doctors, students, paramedics and nurses here. Always a blast!
This is where we all head after Final Fridays at Space 242 (Weekly Dig offices). The first time we went, back in February of convenience,it was a matter of being just a block away. We head back month after month for the reasons listed below:
Atmosphere: The decor is that of a homey English pub. The size of the space is ample and they can easily accommodate a party of ten or more.
Service: They falter here on occasion. While they are always pleasant and helpful, they often neglect to check in, and there can be a substantial wait for your order (45min-an hour). If you are in a hurry there is a tacqueria next door.
Food: I've had the burgers, sandwiches and salads. I've been satisfied with the portions and thrilled with the taste and quality. They are open to tweaks and menu substitution which is always a plus. I have a friend who swears by their mac and cheese. They also offer fried mac and cheese bites as an appetizer that is a decedent guilty pleasure.
I say, if you are looking for comfort food in an excellent classic pub space with a group of friends- JJ's is the place for you!
A soul survivor in the South End, last of the old-school taverns, with surprisingly good food.
One by one, the South End's great old watering holes have vanished. Tim's Tavern is now the sleek new Coda. The DEA shuttered the Waltham Tavern: where am I going to get my dollar billiards and OxyContin now? Live-jazz haunt Wally's and gay dive Boston Eagle are still standing: otherwise, all you've got is J.J. Foley's, a family-run saloon that has been in business since 1909, including a Prohibition-era stint as a suspiciously popular shoe store. Its rail has long been favored by off-duty cops, newspapermen and Gillette workers to swap stories and toss back shots and beers. (Cocktail glasses mostly gather dust here.) For locals like me, it's a godsend: a no-frills, casual neighborhood hangout with cheap pints, no suits, and space on the floor for my big, smelly dog.
I've often wished I could get a sandwich or pickled egg here to go with my brew and BoSox. So I hooted with joy last year upon learning that Foley's was repurposing its seldom-used private room as a restaurant, leasing a gleaming new kitchen to Katie Grealish of Costello's Tavern in JP. Her food is everything a South Ender sick of trendy eateries could want: well-executed, rib-sticking fare in generous portions, attractively priced for regular weeknight visits.
The owners began sprucing up this well-worn local institution a few years ago. The result is clean and retro, befitting a century-old establishment: pressed tin ceilings, dark wood, exposed brick, stone tile. The dining room's bar seats are comfy, the TV placed high where the whole room can see it. Widely spaced tables and banquettes fill the rest of the space. Some of the bar food isn't wowing (ok wings, pretty bad nachos), but the British Isles pub fare is quite fine: a bowl of mussels is huge and served with good skin-on fries (like many dishes here), topped with aioli. "Stuffies", quahogs with their meat chopped and mixed with chorizo and bread crumbs, are delicious even without much clam flavor shining through. Salads are ample, fresh, and not overdressed.
Sandwiches are oversized and rocking: a sub-sized BLT on a good baguette, a very good half-pound beef burger and turkey burger, properly cooked to order, served on a sturdy egg-brushed roll with fries. The house pizza is better than I'd imagined, a very thin, barely crisp, almost bubble-free crust sliced into squares: two cheeses, a drizzle of pesto, and a sweetish red sauce -- easy to destroy single-handedly. (Skip the steak and mashed potatoes version.)
Shepherd's pie has a beautiful layer of coarsely minced beef and lamb topped with mashed potatoes that must have a stick of butter in them: how anyone finishes this richness in one sitting is a wonder to me. Steak tips are another winner, five large pieces of flap steak barely tenderized by a sweet Long Island-style marinade, grilled to order and flanked with mashed potatoes and terrific grilled zucchini rounds. Fish and chips is also superb: two or three giant haddock fillets in thick beer batter, fried crisp (almost to the point of scorching) with little residual grease, plus tartar sauce, lemon wedges and malt vinegar for seasoning.
Keep an eye out for specials: I recall a so-called pot roast that was more like four giant, slow-braised beef short ribs with an intensely-flavored gravy over a mound of mashed potatoes: spectacular. They could serve this dish at Hamersley's for $30; here, I think it was $18, which made it the priciest dish on the menu.
The dozen drafts run to the usual Irish suspects (properly pulled Guinness, Harp, Smithwick's), locals (Harpoon Summer Beer and IPA), Americans (Long Trail Ale, Blue Moon, Pabst) and continentals (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois) at a wallet-friendly $4 per pint. Another dozen bottles are available. Wine drinkers can choose from eight economical New World entries, better for night-long quaffing than impressing your wine-snob friends.
Sweet, friendly, efficient service that focuses on keeping the drinks flowing: it's a tavern first, a restaurant second. If you just stand at the bar side's rail and toss back a few, you may come to appreciate Foley's great old-school barmen: cordial but not too gabby, with neatly knotted neckties and crisp white shirts and aprons, who might actually remember your usual after a few visits. The great-grandson of the founder, the fourth Mr. Foley to man the stick here, is behind the bar most nights.
The South End Foley's is a throwback, a hand-built model in an assembly-line world. The addition of very solid pub fare has made it indispensable in a neighborhood overflowing with overpriced, underdelivering menus. It's comfortable enough, cheap enough, and real enough to make you mourn all the others of its kind that have been bulldozed and gentrified away.
I used to live right across the street from Foley's and it was awesome. If not for my over-priced apartment and awful management company I would've stayed just to be within walking distance from their mac and cheese. Mmmm....
Almost never crowded, waitstaff is always friendly, and great ambiance. Highly reccommended!
Ok, so I was here with Rachele the other night for "one drink" drinks after the retirement party ran down. Typical weeknight for Foley's before 11:30, in other words quiet. Yup, thats right I'm the kinda gal that knows the flow of traffic thru Foley's. Real quiet weeknights till 11:30p when the "civil servants" get off the evening shift and roll in for "one" before heading home for the night. Quiet till 11p on weekends getting steadily busier till a frigging flash MOB appears at 12:30a and by 1:30a you are lucky if you can move cause the place is so packed. Love it!! Heaven forbid you might have enjoyed yourself a little too much and had "one" too many; stumble outside and you will find a impromptu cab stand with a line of cabs all to willing to wisk you home.
Anyway we ( the group that rolled in after the retirement party) decided to meet up (again) here for dinner after work the other night In the Cafe part of Foley's. Loved the big booth we got to sit in, and if you are here and sober, look up!!! Foley's has one of the nicest pressed tin ceilings I have ever seen. So pretty, and what craftmanship! Anyway the drinks were good, the waitress was attentive but not hovering. The nachos were great!! I know your thinking how can they eff up nachos? But if you read my review of Salsa's you'd understand.... my faith in nachos have been restored!! I had risotto with pineapple and spicy shrimp (I'm an adventurous gal) which was good; wish the risotto had been a little more creamy then it would have been perfect. Anyway great nights both times, two completely different vibes ( both enjoyable), but the same great company.
I love bars that serve patrons who are obviously near to death, but still standing, drunk. J.J.'s granted me one of the best, hurty, ouchy, hilarious drunks that I've had in a long time.
I will do a public service and issue a couple of warnings about J.J.'s:
- J.J.'s will make you lose stuff like your wallet, glasses, sense of direction etc
- street signs outside of J.J.'s are dangerously low and will try to kill you
- gravity does weird stuff at J.J.'s, like helping you to stumble backwards
-the bartenders have no problem at all with giving you a whiskey chaser for a round of shots, in fact they laugh at you and egg you on
All in all, this place is really fun and pretty cheap. It's not for scenesters, hipsters, jocks or townies - it's a barfly's bar - enjoy!
The only true bar in the South End, as far as I'm concerned. Deluxe is too small, and Clery's is...well, Clery's.
This place goes for the traditional Irish look. Complete with white shirts and ties behind the bar. There are 2 sides. One is a nicely redone pub, with a big plasma and lots of dark wood. The other is more of a dive bar setting. There is a hallway with video games that connects the two sides.
Food: TRY THE WINGS. They do a great job with their wings. They remove most of the bone, so it's like eating lamb lollipops (for those of you who know what I'm referring to). They are spicy and delicious. They also offer some standard pub food, but is has always been good. Potato pancakes are outrageously good.
The beer selection is pretty standard, and they do make a good drink.
I was asked to turn my hat around the last time I was in there. Apparently they don't like people wearing backwards baseball caps. Maybe this was just because we were in the nice bar? Who knows. Thought it was kind of strange, but I gladly just took my hat off. Kind of got some dirty looks from the staff after that, but whatever.
This is a great watering hole for anyone that lives in the south end and needs a bar where they can forget that they are in the south end and just drink and watch sports on TV.
Going to Foley's after 12:30am is like going through some weird cultural warp. On more than one occasion I've left Foley's with an Irish accent (T-rish accent). Whoever said this isn't an Irish bar is very wrong. The guys at Foley's got nothing but love for the Irish population of Boston and they love their Foley's. AND they know that a city like Boston shouldn't shut down at 12am. Amen.
I used to live across the street, so saying that Foley's was my "jam" is pretty accurate. I still go in from time to time and things haven't changed. The bartenders still dress up with crisp white shirts and ties. Jerry always makes sure we have coasters under our pretty well priced beers. Oh Jerry. He was always so nice to us. Jerry's like that uncle that gives you beer..but in this instance you have to pay for it. Whenever we'd run across the street from our apartment he would ask where our sweaters were, "You don't want to catch a cold, do you?" He also made sure that guys weren't bothering us. Aww.. the good times.
The jukebox is great. I feel like "Under Pressure" is following me because it plays every other time I'm there. There's usually someone crying in the bathroom. People don't smoke inside the bar, Jerry wouldn't have that. Sometimes they smoke pretty damn close to the door though. It's pretty slow most nights.. but on the weekends every one piles in after 12:30am. Foley's is the last bar that everyone hits. Oh and Golden Tee. Not for me.. maybe you?
Oh wow, was this place fun times!
The bartenders were so nicely dressed in their black ties and white shirts. A little too dressy for this divey place, but awesome nonetheless. Plus, they seemed to be extremely well-mannered and patient, considering the increased rowdiness of the clientele over the course of the night.
Just as my entourage were leaving (what time was it anyway? It must have been past 2am at that point...), a swarm of people came by and went inside to continue their partying 'til the break of dawn. Amazing.
I would totally come here again, if only to drink highballs all night for ONLY $6 and kick ass at video game bowling again.
Yeah... I also love bars that kick two guys out for kissing. UMM YOU ARE IN THE SOUTH END ASSHOLES! If you don't like the gays, why'd you open your bar here. I mean, granted this place opened before the South End became a gay neighborhood, but give me a break. Move your effing bar if you don't like gays. It's 2007, not 1909 anymore. I hate this place... its owners and its other location in downtown crossing. It's run by a bunch of disgusting homophobic bigots. All the south end gays should get together and get this place shut down. If you have any decency... I suggest that you not only ban this place but piss on it whenever passing it by.
Here's a little quote from one of the owners. This is extracted from an article in the Globe:
He said he occasionally has to remove patrons for "inappropriate behavior," but he did not recall the two men kissing. Asked whether he would allow two men to kiss in one of his establishments, Foley said: "Hell no. What would you think?"
Where I used to work, this place was our official heavy drinking hole. I'll forever associate it with rowdy packs of soused journalists (I among them) growling under their breaths and bemoaning the state of the written word. Also the Big Buck Hunter game in the back, where I've given myself plenty a wrist cramp.
Foley's is a non-bullshit establishment. The Guinness is well-poured, the tables are pleasantly sticky, and the bartenders are old-school.
It's also a great place to come if you've got a hankering for English football--it's often on the TV over the bar. I hear they've got food now, too--back in the day, I'd just order from Emilio's and eat a pizza with my pint.
Any place that allows smoking in the bathrooms, sticky floors that will steal your shoes and Irish accents to fill several rooms is ok in my book.
JJ Foley's is not a classy joint. It is not clean. It does not smell good.
However, it is fun. The beer is cheap. The people are amazing.
The best part...its open past 2!
7:15 pm on a Saturday night at JJ Foley's
Me, visibly intoxicated and a bit wobbly on my feet after 4 shots of Irish whiskey and 6 beers (what? I'd been drinking since noon): Excuse me, Bartender, can I get two shots of Jameson?
Bartender: Uh... no.
Me: oh. I'm too drunk, huh?
Bartender: Uh... yeah. But you can have a beer.
Four stars and a toast: TO BEING HALF-WAY CUT OFF AT JJ FOLEYS!
Decidedly BOSTON, this place is not for the faint of heart, or for the snob who feels out of place in any area which doesn't contain all the lovely trappings and suburban attitude of an urban professional neighborhood. It's a city bar.....and if you don't want to hang at a CITY BAR, don't go there.
I used to frequent this place back in the day before it expanded and renovated.......it used to be all locals, cops and firemen, and the occasional gangster. It's come up a bit, but still has the old Boston CHARM.
My band used to practice in the South End, so this was often a stop on the way to the practice space. I've written songs here, written letters here, and read books here -- usually in the early evening when the working-class after-work crowd is hanging out... and before things get really hopping.
There's a pool table, a golf or hunting video game (last time I was there a couple of years ago), televisions tuned into local sports or news, and inexpensive pints.
But J.J. Foley's is mostly known for its political clout. Not only has it played host to leaders of the Sinn Fein, it's played host to any number of Boston politicos, as well as many journalists from the Boston Herald, which is located nearby. This might also be one of the last great newspaper bars -- every town worth its salt used to have one -- and it's a great place for eavesdropping.
Worth a walk.
All i remember is "DON'T GET THE CURRY FRIES." They do not taste like curry but some other and unknown substance...
Looking for the last pint of the night? For a sloppy drunken good time, Foley's is the best. Note, I said For A Sloppy Drunken Good Time. Not dinner, not a drink, not to start your night, and not for the comfy bar stools. If you're up for a crowded, beer-swilling good time, then Foley's is the place to be. The owner will move you around to get through the crowd, and he might turn your hat around if it's backwards, but this place beats any crowded bar in Boston.
What a strange place.
One half of it has got to be the most rundown bar I've been to in years. The other half is a gorgeous little dinning room, with a lovely hard wood bar. There is a doorway in the back wall of each half of the bar, which leads to the other side, so the bartenders can bop back and forth.
Having some self respect, we sat on the nicer side of things and had dinner. The stuffed clams, shepard's pie with lamb, and a steak sandwich, all partnered with some Magners made for a perfect dinner.
Now, if we were sitting on the other side of this place, it might well be a different story.
Thankfully, I can't tell that story.
This bar is TRAGIC.
I went there after my friends Bachelorette party. I was looking forward to it originally because I love Irish bars. I'm all for rocking it and love having a great time drinking Guinness and Jamison's. This place is not a good ol' Irish Pub. It is overcrowded (I literally had to punch my way though to the bar), reeks (somehow they are above the law and let people smoke), Dangerous (they lock you into the bar) and over serve so there are aggressive, stupid frat boys trying to pick fights with over inebriated Irish natives over the sloppy beer covered girl.
Once freed from the prison, my friends mom who is from Ireland had to pick up guys who had fallen face first into signs, cars and trash cans and was embarrassed for this hellhole being the best known Irish bar in town.
I would love nothing more than for this place to disappear.
JJ Foley's is a great bar- and it's a welcome change from the usual South End drinking establishments. There is no food at this JJ's- only tasty, tasty, liquor.
JJ's has an ecelectic crowd- a little bit working class, a little bit yuppy, and a little bit alternative (the weekly dig is right across the street so some of those fools stop by for liquor after a hard day of working on Boston's best independent newspaper). The juke box is one of those new-fangled electronic ones, which means lots of selection, but not a lot of character. The place is pretty good sized but incredibly dark- don't try reading in there.
The bartenders put up with a lot of crap (I know I've been obnoxiously drunk there more than once) but they are cool with it- they are super nice guys and the drinks are well mixed (and reasonably priced).
And, for a semi-dive bar, the women's bathroom is pretty clean. I dig that.
Good old J.J. Foley's. I love this place. The waiters have accents, there is a back room that you can get for parties, they have a jukebox, and you can also play this cool hunting game and bowling.
Watch out for the midget stop sign outside.
JJ Foley's is AMAZING. Bartenders wear white shirts and ties, beer is dirt cheap ($3.50 for a pint of Newcastle, fantastic!), and the juke box is very impressive. Believe it or not, I've yet to get to the best part -- the bowling video game!!!!! It is awesome and $2 provides entertainment for at least 15 minutes! There are also darts, unfortunately I was not able to play as some duchebags hogged the board the entire time I was there... but whatevs. Clientele was cool enough, though I do have a foggy memory from a few years ago of a fight breaking out over some inappropriate touching of a female patron. Bartender was super nice.
Word of caution, despite the South End location, this might not be the best place to have a gay make-out session.
"576" That's all I have to say. If you know what that means then I don't have to tell you why J.J. Foley's rocks.
Hands down, THE BEST BAR EVER!!! Jerry and his boys run the best bar in town. There's more history in the bathroom of this place than all of Harvard Yard. If you want to learn something about Boston, this is where you go.
It's night and day from the other JJ's. This one's sandwiched sort of between Southie and the South End near Washington Street. It's somewhat of a legend; supposedly it's open late. I myself have definitely been there after two before.
There's plenty of room and the beer is inexpensive.
UPDATE: There is an above-average pub-chow menu on the other side of the bar. The curry fries make me cry with joy. I'm 50/50 on whether there is meat in the curry sauce. I've decided that they are just too freaking good and I don't want to know. Generally, they come with a respectable amount of sauce, but last time I was there (see Hugh's review; I was there with him), the fries were swimming in the curry. It was still good, but it was EXTREMELY sloppy. That said, I would have licked the bowl if I'd been at home. No doubt about that.
JJ's gets four stars just on the mere fact that they stay open way later then they should!!! Like 3:30 late.
I will only go to JJ's if I want to drink and every other lame bar with a 2am liqour licence has had last call at 12:15. JJ's is PACKED!!! Be prepared to be bumped, elbowed, maybe even pushed here.
The service is great when you can get someone to come over to you... and I love when they stand at the doors waiting for someone to pick a fight with someone. I've seen a couple fights breakout here at JJ's, they let it go usually til someone throws a punch and then all you see are guys in white shirts and black ties tackling people and tossing them out the side doors.
JJ's when everything else is closed!!!
I love Foley's. Every time in either this one or the one on Kingston St. has been the beginning or the end of a long night of drinking. Early-ish (for Foley's) this place was pretty clean and not too crowded. That changed around 12:30, when it was time for us to go anyway. The juke box is excellent and filled with all kinds of good & bad things to play. They've finally started serving food & I've heard good things.
The bartenders are some of the best in Boston. They find seats for the ladies, and as previously noted, wear ties and white shirts. They will make some strong-ass drinks. They can also call a cab for you. Now's that's service!
Can't speak for the nightlife...came here on a Saturday afternoon to watch a football game. Nice decor, respectable clientele, and DELICIOUS curry fries. Would fail my "first date food" rule - far too sloppy as they're basically a bunch of fries thrown into a bowl of dripping curry sauce - but they are oh so good. Also tried the meatloaf sandwich a bit later. Also very tasty. Essentially a slab of meatloaf covered in onions and served between two pieces of toast with fries [no curry, but still tasty] on the side.
Not drinking this particular afternoon, but an impressive tap selection as well, not so much for the quantity of brews but rather for the particular brews on tap.
Super fun dive bar!
I first heard of this joint when on Martha's Vineyard for a weekend and 2 separate people asked me if I ever went when I said I lived in the South End...with this in mind I had to check it out!
The juke box and other party favors were my personal favorite, and relatively cheap drinks!
The boys who first turned me on to this place also let me in on some local knowledge, apparently it's a hang out for a few red sox players, who knew!
If I could give this bar zero stars I would. This is the one bar in Boston I flat out refuse to go to. I have been there twice and both times I was absolutely miserable. Packed way beyond capacity, surrounded by people so drunk they could hardly stand up, 20 minutes to get a drink, terrible music, people grabbing me everywhere I went. Ech. Never again. I hated it the first time but decided to give it one more chance and went again. The second time just confirmed my INTENSE dislike for this bar.
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Newton Center, MA
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: South End
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: South End
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Dorchester
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: South End
Category: Bars
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