On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Nightlife, Irish, Food, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Davis SquareDavis (Red)
Loading...
I know its been said, but its true - the food is not that awesome on the whole. There's a lot to be desired of the menu, but they do have great onion rings and the only tartar sauce I like, but other than that it wouldn't be my first choice for dinner in Davis. I've only been in the backroom once before and I didn't really like it. Its huge and feels so totally different than the front room that they should be separate restaurants. The band they had that night was so bad we were happy to get out of there as soon as the check came.
That being said, they have a good beer selection, my bartender has always been pleasant to me and I like Irish music. It may be darker than some people like, but when I was out in Davis on a rainy, dreary Saturday afternoon recently, it hit the spot to be sitting at bar there drinking a stout listening to some music.
3.5 stars. I live nowhere near The Burren, yet for a period of time in my life I continuously ended up there at the end of a night of drinking. Needless to say, I'm a fan. I like that there are multiple rooms with hidden nooks and different vibes... you can go from the packed back room dancing on a jam-packed dance floor to a random live band, to the front which is a chill vibe of people sitting around with a pint having conversations and such, both of which I enjoy, especially within the scope of the same night [Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.)]
Mixed crowd, for the most part a chill vibe of people just wanting to relax and have a good beer with friends/after work, but there has been some pick-up action noted as well (perhaps even an attempted 3/4-some pick-up? and no, I was not involved myself). Bands can be hit or miss, but are always entertaining nonetheless.
The one time I had food there I was really happy... their veggie burger tastes home-made and I'm pretty sure they basically just deep-fry a tasty glob of mashed potatoes studded with various veggies... OK, that description isn't the most appetizing, but trust me, it was really delicious whatever it was, highly recommended. Fries were good too.
I've never really been here at the beginning of the night (read: not without at least a few drinks in me already), so take that for what you will (read: drunks are generally easier to please). Still, good times are always had by all, at least in my crew.
This joint is solid.
First of all, it's one of the only bars in Davis I really like. Unpretentious and unassuming, it's good for a pint if nothing else.
The bar is nice and big, and they have plenty of seating with three rooms total. Many nights they have live Irish music jams that are fun and make it an authentic experience, however, I wouldn't suggest making this a romantic destination. It gets kind of loud.
I recommend sticking with the burgers. Their food is kind of bland, and considering it's an Irish place, that shouldn't be too surprising. Their beef stew is okay, but I don't recommend their Shepard's Pie. It has a funny taste to it that I can't quite put my finger on.
One really cool aspect of this place is their back room. On any given night there are different shows going on. Music, performances, comedy... you name it. They let local groups put on shows there which is pretty awesome. They even have a bar and food service back there. Rockin.
My favorite night to go is the third Sunday of every month for their Comedy on Tap shows. It's comedy from 5:30-7:30 a perfect time to grab a show, a bite to eat, and a couple of beers.
Don't go on a weekend night. Suddenly this place becomes a destination for college kids who want to do shots more than hang out and have a good beer. They also have a cover, which gets major points taken away in my book.
If you're in Davis, check it out... as long as there is no line and a cover.
I used to LOVE the Burren. The live music and great beers on tap are 100% the reason of why I was a returning customer.
Last night I went to the Burren with my cousin, we had so much fun. I went to close my tab and the bar tender asked my name...I told her. She brought me a citizens bank debit card, I took it from the envelope and signed the bill. The bill was for one beer, which is all I had gotten on my card. ....When I got home I emptied my pockets to find the debit card reading "Stephanie Gagnon" ...not "Brianne Duffy". I called he Burren right away and there was no answer. I tried several times and finally left a mess.
My main worry was that this bartender would not be aware and someone would run up a bill on my tab...
In the morning I continued to call. I finally get a call back from a woman that was rude and snippy. I felt as though this was terrible customer service due to the fact that I did not make the mistake the bartender did. The woman continued to tell me that I ordered a newcastle ...which I in fact do not even drink. She then instructed me to come back to the Burren today to sign my bill.
After all of this I am still getting charged...and for a beer I do not even drink! Not to mention I work two jobs and Saturday is my only day off which I did not want to schedule around finding time to drive to Somerville to fix a problem that should have never occurred.
3.5 stars. Has a traditional Boston-irish-bar feel in front. They pour an excellent guiness, and have irish pub food, complete with steak-cut fries with malt vinegar. No sweet potato fries. I saw a veggie burger on the menu, but it may or may not be vegan. The bartenders are friendly and prompt.
The back room is dark, crowded, and has a bar and tables with benches. They have a stage and have bands play, which I'm told require a cover sometimes. I visited on a Sunday and they apparently had an open mike night. Drinking in the back room strongly reminds me of middle school camp, only with higher quality alcohol and more flannel.
I'm going to be honest: I come here to drink massive quantities of beer, and get hit on by Tufts Dental Students - that's all.
Beer is sometimes fresh, but always does the trick. The food leaves far too much to be desired, but will also do the trick in a pinch. And the decor is something that I've never really had a chance to explore, seeing that it's usually so dark in there, that I can't even see my hand in front of my face.
Uh oh, are those Tufts Dental Students hitting on me, or lecherous monsters from the deep?
Meh. I'll still go back.
It's not too often that I get up to Davis Square but next time I'm there I wouldn't mind checking out The Burren again. It's a typical Irish pub type place with the usual beer selection and crowd. Definitely more of a dive than a classy place. I was here over the weekend and they had a nice little bluegrass band playing in the corner with a woman on the banjo that could really shred! Good music, good beer, and decent food.
One thing, if you're not an American you have to bring your passport to order a beer. My Canadian friend (he's 30) had to settle for a Coke.
The Burren is an okay bar at best.
They have okay beer, but bad food, and worse service. I've had eyes rolled at me every time I go there. Really boring burgers, acceptable fries. I haven't tried any of their more "Irish" dishes; maybe they're good, but I won't be going back to check anytime soon.
They don't have any amazing deals, they charge too much for cover, it frequently gets overcrowded... Basically, I can't see any reason to go here. Just hit up Underbones at Redbones instead.
Okay, my last experience at the Burren was so bad that I have to dock them a star.
I'm fairly forgiving of slow service on weekend nights at a bar, but on a quiet weekday, there's no excuse for vigorously ignoring our table.
The dinner prices have gone way up since the last time I was here. My friend had a tomato mozzarella salad that was possibly the saddest thing I've ever seen. We also didn't think the mozzarella was fresh - not bad, just not worth $8.75. The bread that came with my soup was cold, and tasted more like wheat bread than the "Irish brown bread" advertised.
I have had good nights at this bar - but it's a shame that this one night kinda killed it for me. Sorry, Burren.
The Burren is convenient and affordable, with good food and a good beer selection (mmm tasty imports… Read more »
Definitely not. I don't like Irish music, it's depressing to me and can't dance to it. It's dark and gloomy in here and makes me sleepy.
Too crowded in back room. Bad Bon Jovi cover band (I don't like Bon Jovi anyways). $5 cover is ridiculous for how gross it is in here.
*Review is for beer/live music only*
The Burren is kind of a hole-in-the-wall that pulls in some strange patrons. I have gone a few times for open mic night (to watch a friend play) and have always found myself in the over-crowded back room paying too much for bottled beer in addition to a $5 cover charge.
meh - not worth it.
I've been to the Burren so many times, and it's as if each time I forget just how bad it was the last time and think, well maybe today it will be okay. And every time, I regret the decision....
The place is definitely more of the early 20's college crowd, so if you are older than that (like I am) then you will feel like you are back in college. I guess for some that is good because I know many people who wish they could party it up like college for the rest of their life.
But if you are one of those who have grown to appreciate more in life than drunken debauchery and meat-markets, then this bar will seem way too loud and way too "been there, done that, over it." I have even tried going back in the summer when college wasn't in session, but it's still the same tired scene.
If you do go here, don't wear nice shoes because you can tell from the super sticky floors just how often people spill beer here.
I've also eaten both breakfast and dinner here, and all my meals have been mediocre at best.
Great Guinness. Great atmosphere. I'd give it 5 stars but this is my first review of anything on Yelp and I don't want to over-shoot.
Quintessential shepards pie. Feels like many of the pubs that I frequented in Eire long ago.
Disrespectful college students
Floor so sticky you swear you stepped on gum
A bartender that compaired the lip stick around a straw to the remnants of a BJ
Live Irish music
Bathroom that makes me want to hold it till I get a UTI
and the list goes on...
Eek! Methinks not.
This place exceed my first impressions and I ended up having a blast in this dive, Irish-themed bar. Partially because of the excellent live music and the size of the place, but also because the beers are fairly cheap. The staff is effective and I never had to wait more than 20 seconds for a drink which is uncommon for most bars, especially on a busy Saturday night!
The bar is composed of two rooms. The first, frontal one is where people can sit and have a meal or have drinks. A musical group played some live Irish music to everyone's delight and it was just superb.
The room in the back is a bit bigger and usually featured a much louder, live band.
Overall I've had a great experience and it looks like I've found my go-to place for the Davis square area. The only negative thing I can point out is the fact that there's a $5 cover fee. Then again, it was worth it.
Maybe I am just lucky but the two times I went here were GREAT.
Time 1 - dinner for my big brother. Comedian in the back room and a perfectly good dinner. I had pasta, he had shepherd's pie, we both had Sam Adam's seasonal, the service was friendly and prompt and the place was relatively empty. We both liked it a lot.
Time 2 - Late night with a gal-pal. The first cocktail could have had a little less mixer in it, but still decent especially when I saw the price later on. There was a great folk-style band playing old classics including "Goodnight Irene." The music was good and a bit loud, the people were friendly, and the crowd average age was somewhere around 25. Had to give the bartender a come-hither look for refills the first time, but he was good the rest of the night. People were friendly and forward.
I used the *clean* toilet, walked on the *not sticky* floor, drank the *decently priced* drinks (beer and cocktail), and ate *average food.*
I can see being bummed if you came here with expectations, but I was completely happy with my experience and plan to return.
The Burren is a bar lover's bar. Plenty of space to sit or stand, great beers on tap, Irish fare and customers, no nonsense staff. It's a great spot for Davis Square or otherwise. Had brunch here once and while we enjoyed ourselves and there was plenty of room, my eggs Benedict was way overdone. Homefries rocked, though! Hard to resist this place anytime.
Love the Irish music at the bar. The bartender was a geniune deal. I had a portebella mushroom sandwich which was good. Beautiful outside seating with flowers galore.
Can I have the cheese nachos please?
***
Plate arrives....I see....a pile of chips, three small dishes on the side with the salsa, sour cream and guacamole....and what don't I see? CHEESE!!!
I swear, they put the word "cheese" with the word nachos on their menu here, just in case you didn't know that nachos come with cheese on it, but then they bring you NO CHEESE! I know I shouldn't have ordered nachos at an Irish pub, but I just moved here from California and I was missing mexican food, okay? And how hard can it be to melt cheese on some chips!! And nachos are supposed to come with mountains on fun piled on top, not on the side!!!
So ya...that's my vent for the nachos....but they have a great beer selection on tap, it is around $5 a beer which is pretty average, and the rest of their food sandwich wise looked to be pretty good. And this place is HUGE!! When you walk back to the bathroom you soon learn that there is a whole back room with another bar! I guess they have two types of music in here at a time some nights which is awesome! They also have a comedy night, and I heard they had trivia but the lady was mean so they stopped it ha.
Sometimes there is a cover to get in, but let me tell you that since I've lived here, which is still under 2 weeks, I have seen so many people going into this bar, so it is definitely a popular spot! Can't wait to come here for one of their live shows!
Reasons to go the Burren:
(1) You have a deep love of loud Celtic music.
(2) You want to drink yourself silly.
(3) You want to see the bar that Next Stop Wonderland immortalized.
(4) You want a laid back atmosphere to hang out with friends.
But, please, do not go to the Burren if you are interested in (good) food. The food here is well below basic -- it's not bad, but it's nowhere near good (except for the french fries which are terrific). If you want a basic fish and chips to line your stomach while you drink your beer, then the Burren is your place.
This place use to awesome on Thursday nights, but the new band they have is nowhere as good as the Swinging Johnsons. The venue is small and intimate, so when the band is good it rocks out, but defiantly a lot of hit and misses. The Burren is a mix of college kids and locals.
People are very approachable here and it is easy to meet people. The dance floor can get pretty crazy because it's so small.
They don't serve Bud Lights which is a huge negative. I will take the $3.50 High Life's all night though.
Most of the staff has been here forever and are pretty quick with a drink. Also, it is open till 2am now a few nights a week, but they usually start shutting down at 1am.
It can be pretty loud, so not a good idea for a date.
They serve food here? I had no idea.
Heard there was a cover band playing here, and once I checked out the set list wasn't about to miss it! Cute Irish Pub that's much bigger than I imagined...two rooms with different music even. Loved the little tucked in booth in the back room, definitely want to sit there sometime... and the Irish music in the front. Fun place to meet up with friends, have a drink, and dance and sing all night long...well until close!
Glad I met up with a friend on my way here since there were a bunch of bouncers standing in front of some door that had a hallway leading to nowhere and I probably would have walked right by. But I get lost ALL THE TIME! Oh, and this review is for a pub, not a restaurant. I'm Irish, so I know Irish food is usually overcooked and bland. But I don't go to an Irish bar to eat.
The Burren makes me happy.
It's one of the few places t-accessible that hosts coverbands, and they have this 2x/week. and i love me some good coverbands.
food here is standard irish pub fair - i've had fish and chips here which were pretty good, and yesterday with yelp book club had the banana pancakes for brunch. also delicious.
it's the vibe of this place, though, that i'm really stoked on. i mean, it's not the cleanest joint and i've only been here a handful of times because it's so far from me (an hour by T), but if i lived closer i would probably be here 2-3x/week. down to earth friendly crowd, music i want to listen and dance to, food i want to eat, unpretentious and lively. i can see why the crowd and atmosphere wouldn't be for everyone, but if you're a mid-20s or 30s (or maybe even 40s) aging hipster, you wear threadless tshirts (i've spotted quite a few here), or you just have a great appreciation for great local music, give the burren a shot! i have yet to be disappointed.
I like this place, but only during the day. It's a great place to go for a few beers in the afternoon and just chill out. There are no TVs, and no fancy decor, but I still wouldn't call it a "hole-in-the-wall". Hugh is a great bartender (and musician!). Every time I've tried to go here in the evenings, there is a $5 cover charge. Other than that, this place seems okay.
Pub - straight out of England in terms of furnishings and menu. Food so so. Beer great. It is dark but that is what a pub is like :)
If you're lazy and must have Irish pub NOW, then fine, go. But yeah, the place kinda sucks from a vibe standpoint. Some of the bar staff kind of suck at life as well. Food is nothing to write home about. Admit it, you never venture beyond Davis Sq when you go out, so this place rules your face.
the first thing i noticed when i walked in was a table playing quarters. ha. :) and my friend and i played a little game of "what in the hell kind of GD outfit is that." always a good time.
the drink prices aren't bad, and there is live music! i am a very serious sucker for string players. the bartender has quite the dishy irish accent too. my friend and i were drinking well drinks and not paying an absurd amount, which is also a plus. i would probably be back, but only with a buddy. otherwise it might be a bit on the awkward side.
I've read the bad reviews.. but having come straight from Galway, Ireland... I have to say walking into this pub is like walking into a pub in Galway. Everything from the benches to the picture frames on the walls is reminiscent of a classic Irish pub and I had to shed a tear at finding a 'home away from home'. Actually walked in and ordered a cup of tea. ;)
Good food, good drinks, good company, good atmosphere.
Try the Irish breakfast on weekends, or the Irish music during the week. If you want a good time that NEVER fails, go to Open Mic on Tuesday nights, hosted by Hugh McGowan.
So, I guess I go here for a different reason then the other reviews I've seen. To have a damn good time. Go on friday or saturday night, bring friends, go to the back room and be ready to sing like crazy. Generally its a cover band playing, and you know what thats exactly what you need. They play all the songs you know, and once you've got a few in you the dancing and singing starts. The bar in the back tends to move faster than the one out front, as all the people who believe they are too cool are out there sitting around, when the raging party is in the back. This bar is a top pick for my friends and I when we want to go somewhere we know we can enjoy and unwind on the weekend.
And isn't that what its all about? A good time?
Plenty of space and plenty of beers for a great night out.
This is the Saturday lunchtime review, everyone still wearing soccer gear from the morning's game, did change the cleats to flip-flops though.
(If you do the BSSC thing, Union Street in Newton also a good after-sports stop.)
Good selection of beers (Anchor Steam, nice), hearty breakfast sandwiches with fried eggs and pork product, good staff, being able to get all the lads round a couple of tables and enjoy the craic.
No, no, no.
There are several qualities that warrant a decent review, but the Burren jumped on the failboat with the first drink I ordered.
They watered down my martini. That's it, game over, sorry, but the princess is in another castle. I actually watched them add water.
To some of us, the martini is a sacred thing. I call foul!
I first came here a few weeks ago with a friend. Much to the waitress's chagrin we grabbed a table simply because the bar was packed even though we were just grabbing a drink but at the time there was no one waiting for a table for food service so we did not see a huge problem with it. Although we did end up ordering onion rings (amazing, by the way) despite having just eaten dinner elsewhere the service was still rather cold and we were kicked out of the table after a while. It was still a fairly good experience for my first time at the Burren with the great Irish music playing and non-overwhelming crowd.
The second time I went to the Burren, which really gets the place to four stars, was New Year's Day after my friends and I absolutely refused to wait an hour for Johnny D's brunch around 1 pm. Off we wandered through our home turf of Davis Square and remembered The Burren. Sadly, the doors were locked even though we tried and tried to get them open. After a minute, they opened and an adorably accented young man tells us that they were not open yet and would start serving food in about 15 minutes but he would let us in then to let us get out of the cold. SCORE!
The nine of us walked in and had the whole place to ourselves for at least half an hour, if not more. Service was fairly attentive considering the few staff members there were still cleaning up and settling things from New Year's Eve, and the food was very good (not amazing, but it was all definitely fresh). I had vegetable soup, which was all liquid and definitely suspect looking but yummy so I won't complain, and a honey ham & cheddar sandwich.
Everyone enjoyed the environment and what they ordered. We could not believe how long we had the place to ourselves and that we did not have to wait all that long to get anything. However, I ordered soup and somehow could never convey to the waiter/bartender when I wanted it cleared. It was not that much of a nuisance though.
Just for that kindness and experience alone I would come back but combined with the friendliness of the crowd (not the service) from my first visit (the people sitting next to my friend and I wanted to "make friends" with people in a bar since they never had before...it was endearing) I know I want to make the trip.
I am a big fan of the Burren. I I like the atmosphere and the Irish-American feel. The menu has a nice selection of traditional Irish foods as well as standard pub food. I have had no problems ordering vegetarian meals at The Burren, they have a few options that are all very good.
I think The Burren pours a really nice pint of Guinness. They have good selection of drinks , and I have found the bartenders to be really efficient and friendly.
The Burren is a great place for live music. They have a huge front bar area and then a back room where bands play every weekend. There is also another bar located in the back room.
The Burren is a bar that tends to get pretty crowded, so getting there early is a good idea, especially if you have a big group. I have had small gatherings at The Burren and have been able to use the back room area.
The Burren has a nice St. Patrick's Day celebration (if you can even get in!!) All in all, a great place for food, beer, and live music with Friends.
I've been here a couple times, but not last Thursday, when I got a late afternoon text message from friend saying there would be FREE BEER from 6-7 pm there.
Sadly, my dog has training classes on Thursdays and I could not attend to confirm or deny this rumor.
Buuut, I've been to the Burren on Halloween (got proposed to on the street, booyah!) and for a friend's birthday. There's usually a cover because of the live music thing, which is lame, but I just make a friend pay, since I'm generally here because someone drags me out. They have some beer, and some mixed drinks, and are usually crowded with college kids and young professionals. It's mostly a standing room only type place, which isn't really my scene.
It's not too dirty, but also not a location I'd really frequent on my own. I do dig the dim lighting, and when people buy me free drinks.
I arrived on a Saturday night at 9:20pm to beat the cover charge, which begins at 9:30. The bouncers charged me anyway, informing me that it in fact starts at "9:15...ish". When I suggested that they would claim it started five minutes before whatever time I might have gotten there, I got a snicker in response. Impressive. Strike one.
At the bar, I ordered Jack Daniels, neat. It was $6 -- no big deal, except that what I got was no more than an ounce of whiskey. Fantastic. After observing a few mixed drinks being poured, I discovered mixed drinks were the only way to go here. Apparently if you like your alcohol sans fruit, ice, and a straw, you're SOL at the Burren. Strike two.
After waiting an hour for the band to set up as the crowd filled in a bit, I hoped that maybe the music would liven up the experience. Sadly, my last hope was dashed as the band led off with Uncle Kracker's "Follow Me." I cut my losses and left immediately.
So to recap... I paid a cover to some douchey bouncers for the opportunity to get ripped off at the bar and listen to an Uncle Kracker cover band. Can't wait to do it again.
This is going to be a shocking review to those who actually know me and the kinds of places I like to hang out... but please note, as well, that my review is for the venue/band/place itself ONLY, because if I started reviewing the people/guys here, it would be a 2 star.
I love a good cover band..I love a good bar that only charges a $5 cover for a good cover band. I love a place where you can get to the bar easily. I love a dive that is just divey enough where you still trust that the glasses are clean. The beer is cheap, but it's a great selection. The bartenders are attentive. There was an irish band in the front room, the cover band in the back. When everyone got drunk, there was some pushing and shoving sans "excuse me", but I'm gonna let that slide, because it still wasn't as bad as a lot of other places.
I do wish there was somewhere to put coats...and I wish there was an easier way to get to Sommerville so I didn't have to drive, since this is the kind of place where it is definitely best to be as drunk as possible :)
After my first visit to the Burren I am 100% sure i will trek out to Davis to go again!
-There's a great selection of beers on tap, all for $5 aside from Guinness, which is $6.
-Awesome traditional Irish folk music in the front room
-Really cool "back bar" area with picnic bench style tables and a stage for live music (although the singer/songwriter that was performing when I was there shouldn't have been..eeek!)
-Let's be honest here, the Burren has the most gorgeous Irish bartenders I have ever seen. I'm never one to drool over bartenders, but seriously ladies, if you go at all, at least go to see them. seriously.
-Minus points for their appetizers.
Nachos were just Tostitos with melted shredded cheese. I can make them better in my microwave
Mozzarella Sticks were the frozen kind. GROSS.
-Plus points again for the bartender with the black beard. It wasn't beer goggles. You are beautiful.
I like The Burren for a simple fact that it's really great for a group of people. There's a big back room for live bands, like the Swinging Johnsons, and the front foyer is a little more calm with their Irish Session music going on.
You can't find Bud Light here, but you can find High Life, Guinness, and an assortment of other beers.
It gets crowded, and depending on the time of year, it can be a big college age group. That being said, it's a good Irish pub in an area of many options.
It's a beer bar, really. I cannot imagine ordering a martini at The Burren. The place for a martini is across the street at the bubble bar. The Burren is the kind of place you'd bring your dad on a Saturday afternoon to raise a pint or 6.
Our Current Sale
Somerville, MA
Join our Coffee Club !
Newton Center, MA
Neighborhood: Davis Square
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Davis Square
Category: Pubs
Framingham, MA
Category: Pet Stores
Neighborhood: Davis Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Porter Square
Category: Music Venues
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Best food, drinks and services in the Davis Square…
so, i noticed i seem to pride places on being…
The 1st place is home. The 2nd place is work.…
I love to be entertained. I wrote a blog once…
You love 'em, I love 'em. There's no need to deny…
These places generally don't require you to get…
I'd avoid going to these places for a whole slew…
