After a long winter, it's been nice to walk around and actually try the restaurants I've been meaning to! We brought an out of town friend to Harp and Bard for dinner on a Thursday night. Not too crowded and lots of TVs if you're hoping to catch the game. Out waitress was friendly and quick with the drinks (two Magners and few beers). We split fried pickles and tater tots. The pickles come with a dipping sauce and really, can you go wrong with pickles? I got a salad, as did my friend. My husband got a sandwich. They were solid but nothing to write home about. Still, looking forward to going back and exploring the extensive menu!
(3)
Libby P.
I've eaten at H&B upwards of ten times. I haven't been disappointed yet. The menu is comprised of standard bar fare, but everything is very well done. RECCOMENDATION: get something deep fried. The best things I've tried (including the fried chicken, sweet potato fries, and fried clams) have come from the deep fryer. At times they are a tad heavy handed with the onions; if this bothers you just order your salad without.
(5)
Alexandra M.
Came here after work and I don't think I'll be back. Both of our meals were something we could have easily made at home. However, the mozzarella appetizer was AMAZING. Service was fine. I got a skinny margarita to drink and it was a bit odd because they squeezed the lime in it and the pulp was just sitting in the bottom of the drink which made it hard to drink and the type of glass was too tall.
(2)
Michael C.
Good solid pub food backed by a solid pour of whiskey. The portions are gigantic if somewhat unremarkable. The atmosphere is lively but not so much that you can not carry on a conversation. Service is excellent.
(3)
Patti M.
The Harp and Bard is a great local restaurant and bar. I've been there many times over many years. The staff is great, especially Gretchen and Nicole at the bar. No matter how busy it gets, they can handle the volume. Go for dinner, drinks, or Keno. All the food is great, and I recommend the meat lovers pizza with, of course a cold beer!
(5)
Art K.
Harp and Bard is a neighborhood gem. The scene is sports bar pub perfection. My girlfriend and I recently moved to Jones hill and tried a short walk through snow to grab drinks and dinner. We weren't disappointed. The staff was friendly and efficient. We had wings and steak tips; both delicious. We have made this our spot. Pizza is excellent, as are most menu items. My college aged girls and boyfriends joined us late Friday night and HB was accommodating. The food always comes out fast and as ordered and the beer is always cold. Brunch was really great. I lived in the south end for 2 years and although the vibe and eats may not be as eclectic, but price and quality were as good or better. Happy to have bought in this developing area and HB is one of the reasons.
(5)
Brent T.
Very good neighborhood place. After 10 years of great experiences here, we had one very unpleasant experience. I have to say, I am very impressed by the managements response.
(4)
Jennifer W.
I've visited a couple times now and there is a reason I keep going back...the food is delicious. I have to rave about their pizza. I don't know how they make their crust, but I hope they never change it bc it's so darn good. Thin and crispy - just perfect. I highly recommend it!! And the tots - they're a must with any meal!!
(4)
Lucas Y.
I've really tried to like this place since I Iive very close, but each time the food has fallen flat for me. The dishes are too salty or it overall just taste like I'm eating quickly prepped cafeteria food. Nothing fresh tasting. The outdoor patio is nice during the summer with a pitcher of sangria. I suggest sticking with the drinks.
(3)
Jonathan C.
I've been here a few times. The service was good. The bartender learned my name. The food is fine. Previously, I had steak tips. I had Beef Stew tonight. The rolls came out a little late (and piping hot), but no huge deal. The only real disappointment is the Kahlua and Bailey's bread pudding. I didn't taste but a hint of Bailey's, and no Kahlua! I'm not sure it was even in there - Kahlua is a strong and unmistakable flavor. It was very dense too. Oh well. I ate half and pushed it aside.
(3)
Kayla V.
This review is just to say THANK YOU for keeping your kitchen open late on Sundays. Literally (like, really LITERALLY) ran around in the blizzard a few weeks ago on a Sunday night trying to find food and you were the only place still serving the neighborhood! Food was ready almost immediately and service was super friendly. You the real MVP, H&B.
(4)
Rebecca L.
I love this place. Walking distance from my house and from Savin hill tstop. Friendly bartenders... Though they've started this thing where they ask your name... No context for why. But they ask your name, give you there's and walk away. If you're going to try to be friendly and personal with your greetings- attempt some conversation that would give you or your guest a reason to introduce yourself. The lady down the bar from me actually said, "uhhh, why??" If you want the blond bartenders attention, be sure you keep your patience. She tends to get social with a group or caught up in her work and forgets about you.
(4)
Lauren N.
I love this place! the bartenders are always so nice and the food is amazing!
(5)
Anne B.
I love this place. It's a relaxed atmosphere, great food, large and Keno, LOL!! They have the best bartender ever, Gretchen. She introduces herself to everyone she hasn't met and greets everyone else by name.
(5)
Melinda H.
Pretty good place for takeout I prefer mckennas because they don't charge extra to substitute mixed greens for romaine but they close at 4. I like harp and bard's Cobb salad I just don't like to order based on the fact they charge me extra to swap out for a different kind of lettuce.
(2)
Ashley W.
My boyfriend and I just moved to Dorchester from NC and had no clue where to go for drinks. We walked down the street one day and found this gem! Great food, great atmosphere, great variety of drinks, and from what we have experienced so far great service! The bartenders are always extremely friendly and have even remembered us by name. Will definitely be regulars!
(5)
Robert H.
Did Sunday brunch. DRAFT BEER SELECTION: 4 Stars KENO SITUATION: 1 Star. Only one Keno screen. Printer big time ran out of ink. EYE CANDY: 4 Stars. Some nice cleavage, always appreciated. RANCHOS HUEVOS: 2.5 Stars. Nothing to get excited about. Alot of jarred banana peppers, not so much fresh cilantro or avocados. FRENCH TOAST: 1.5 Stars. Did not arrive hot enough to melt butter, criucial apparently for consumers of French Toast. She also said it was "soggy". Seeing as she herself makes excellent french toast, she knows when it is up to snuff or not.
(3)
Erin B.
Harp & Bard fits in with the new wave Dorchester. First off, I love a place with comfy chairs. The seating comfort level can really make or break a dining experience for me, and is the difference between staying for after dinner drinks and scooting out of there. Also, this place has great comfort food. The mashed potatoes are to die for! Pretty extensive beer selection too (Sam Brick Red on draft!) It really balances a fine dining atmosphere and sports bar quite nicely. I really liked our server too. She was super friendly and not too pushy with ordering more rounds of drinks. It stinks when you're trying to have a conversation and every 5 seconds someone is in your face asking if you want something. Similarly, it stinks when you can't find your server when you want something else. She was just the right amount of attentive. I came here for a Red Sox game, so it was kind of loud, but I know for brunch it's a pretty laid back atmosphere. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
C. W.
This place is a townie bar, let me say that first and foremost. I usually love townie places and the close-knit atmosphere but NOT when your waitress would rather sit and chat with her friends than serve her patrons. I've been here twice - the first time was the aforementioned moment with our "too-friendly" waitress. She sat us, and got our drink orders. Then began chatting with all her buddies, which again is fine. We got our food, and one of the orders was wrong. My friend had to wait 10 minutes for the waitress to finally realize we had been trying to get her attention to let her know and instead of doing what she should have and apologized saying "I will bring a new plate out" she said "OK, well that's not how you ordered it but I'll get you a new one". Very rude, and not at all how a skilled waitress would handle a situation. We then waited forever for her new chicken wrap to come out, most likely due to her sitting with her friends the entire time. Food was good. Service was awful. Second time was a few weeks ago. My friends out-of-state license got denied, even after trying to show her back- up. So fine, but then they wouldn't take my friends ID (from boston) or even LOOK at mine. Just overall not good customer service. Happy to say I don't think I'll be back. Which is a shame, because the atmosphere and food was good but the service is not worth it.
(2)
Joanna T.
The service here is terrible! The wait is incredibly long. Came here for brunch and took over an hour just to get our food when the restaurant was not even full. Waitresses are hard to get a hold off. Managers need to train their staff to operate more efficiently.
(1)
Destiny P.
I like Harp and Bard. I have been here a few times. At first it wasn't on my radar but I went on a Sunday during brunch, which left a completely different vibe. I gave 4 stars because of the service. It was extremely busy and they seemed short handed, so our waitress wasn't as attentive as the service I have had during lunch on a weekday. The drinks were great and the food was much better then their lunch menu. Check it out at least for yourself !
(4)
Ashton A.
I have been to this restaurant three times. The reason I give it a three is because the worst thing you can do to a customer is advertise a price on the outside. And then give them sticker shock when you order inside The waitress told me some story about they have problems getting the menu out of the glass out front :)) lol In my book that's called bait and switch I was other reviewers have said... The bartenders are great. The food is average It's a bar. Basically for locals who want to eat comfort food
(3)
Jason B.
Popped in here for a drink prior to a Scoville event next door. Nice, warm place. Plenty of local flavah, and a great big bar with plenty of seating. Our bartender was friendly and sassy, and poured our pints with aplomb. I'm looking forward to coming back for the food, since this place looks like so much fun. Cheers!
(4)
Jason M.
The one star above the minimum is awarded for the nice decor on the inside. Chic seating and bar, plenty of televisions, a nice little patio out back, and a good staff serving drinks and food. Well, good staff except for the old codger standing outside trying to bar us from getting in. One of my friends was being carried accross the street to the bar because her knee is severely sprained. Unfortunately, this utter moron decides to interpret this as her being too drunk to enter the bar. He proceeds to tell us a bunch of lies; how they're "not taking any more people" at 12:45 AM (complete bullcrap), how she can't come in (because we're nice and helpful friends). What a joke. He let us in after a needless argument, and boy did we regret his decision to do so. This place was absolutely crawling with douchebags. Backwards flat-brimmed hats, saggy jeans, chinstrap beards, earrings, tattoos, and general stupidity. I won't be back unless dragged by force.
(2)
Rosa S.
So I have been coming here at night for drinks for 2 years and I was pretty content. Last week I discovered they actually had a kitchen and a decent menu so I decided to roll up there with the after work ladies. I get here first to find no host. I get ignored by the server a couple of times until I approach her and ask for a booth. She brought me over some menus and things were fine. I wanted to order my drink so I can get a head start on the festivities. Not happening. There were about 5-6 other tables in there and the server was clearly in over her head. I wait and I wait, the server never returns. My 1st friend comes in and we say our hellos and the server appears. We place our drink orders and she asks what we want for food. I reply we aren't ready, as my friend just walked in. She rolls her eyes and walk off. Ok lets be clear this was an older woman who looked like Whitey's girlfriend. If she was near my age, I would have had a conversation about the eye roll but she's my elder so I let it roll off my back. plus, she was the only waitress on. She returns to take our food order and I ordered the nachos but requested no olives. She takes the order and fifteen minutes later she returns to tell me they premake the nachos and cannot be ordered with out the olives. Why would you do that and furthermore why would you admit that? I was grossed out and canceled that. She leaves to go tell the kitchen and she returns to say we can just get it without the olive mixture. WTF is an olive mixture and my stomach is grossed out. She kept talking about the premade nachos and it only further makes me to not want it. I felt like she was trying to guilt me into accepting it and I felt like she should guilt the bar into making it fresh. We ended up ordering a pizza and a combo platter instead. The pizza was ok, nothing amazing but not bad. Now enters another friend. The waitress comes over and asks her for a drink and my friend responds 'Ummmm......" The waitress walks off without a 'Ill be right back'. She straight up walked off like she has something better to do. Mind you, a second waitress entered the restauarmnat and our servers' tables were gone, except for us. My friend ended up ordering from bartender because the waitress was straight up rude. We got the combo platter and the wings sucked. tehy tasted old not in a sick way but in a dried out, pre-fried way. The fries were ok but the menu states 'steak fries' and they were not steak fries. Once the bill came and I tipped her, her f-ing atttitude changed. Nobody was happy, no one will return for food. Summary: Service :C- Apps: C Drinks: A
(3)
Jen M.
Love this place! I've always sat in the bar. The bartenders have all been great. Attentive and friendly! Food is always good. Tried something different each time and its always great! It's really a great neighborhood chill bar and I've enjoyed each time I've been. Thanks harp & bard!!
(5)
Steve J.
Outstanding meal. Full portions. Excellent low prices. Superb service. I will come again. And don't forget the wonderful rolls.
(5)
Matt I.
Best fried pickles and fried mozzarella in the world. Awesome bloody marys too.
(5)
Arual E.
I write this as constructive criticism and out of real disappointment over the last meal. I want so much to like this place since there are not many options in the area. It seems, however, that this is a hit or miss place. Get the steak tips and you'll be delighted (they have a sweet hint to them that I can't figure out), along with good mashed potatoes or sweet potato fries, and great broccoli. And the fried fish seemed good. However, the other foods we ordered this last trip were one star quality. These include over-breaded calamari, bland over-fried steak fries, way too hot buffalo wings, and a not too fresh side salad. So disappointing. The chicken piccata was ok, not great, as was the pizza ( it is better across the street). But after this appetizer trio, I'm inclined to not try anything else on the menu. I will go back because I like the ambiance, the service has been pleasant, and I like the steak tips.
(3)
Gail H.
Dinner was great, service was great, atmosphere was great. Here for a visit, if I lived here it would be a regular stop for us.
(5)
Amy O.
I immediately loved this place because it was well decorated for Christmas with tons of Christmas lights. It was your typical pub brunch, nothing extraordinary. But again.. the Christmas lights.
(3)
Joe J.
Excellent spot for drinks/food. Service was really friendly. The bartender, Jahna, was attentive and quick to refill my drinks. Food was good too. I have the mussels diavalo special, and it was only $11. It was tasty. The other food around the bar looked delicious too!
(5)
Molly M.
fun
(3)
Johanna G.
I frequent the Harp on a regular, as my boyfriend lives in the neighborhood. The bartenders are awesome and very friendly, Drinks are decent, but seem to vary in price. It is best to have a double for ten dollars and have one drinks. Apps are great, particularly the nachos and their cream of broccoli soup is the BEST. Entrees not so much, I have had the bakes fish(too many crumbs and mushy) chicken marsala (plain not tasty), and the black and blue burger (yuck). Brunch is good there, but the cook can't seem to differentiate between over easy and over medium eggs. Overall, a great and friendly place to meet friends for drinks and apps, but not for a fin dining experience
(3)
Rosalie F.
I go to H&B when I have a tater tots craving, and it always delivers on the tots, along with a broad selection of draft beers. I've been for brunch and for dinner and had a couple of omelettes and a couple of veggie sandwiches. The food is always pretty good but nothing to write home about -- it's about as yuppie as Dorchester gets, so it's good for vegetarians and friends visiting from north of the river. It's a good place to have a beer or six while you watch a game, and in the summer they have a tiny patio out back that's a nice quiet spot to have some drinks with friends in the afternoon. I also like that despite it being a fairly sporty, bro-y bar I'm usually not the only queermo there. (Savin Hill = the new gayborhood!)
(3)
Mike P.
Avoid, avoid, avoid... Wow, I can't remember the last time I've walked out of a place because of the horrible service. The other reviews are extremely accurate about the crappy service. We went in for brunch and the place wasn't that busy (which is bad sign regardless.) After waiting 20 minutes and not having so much as a waitress come by to ask us if we had menus, we walked out. I'll never go back again. Whoever is managing the service staff needs to go back to school. If you're looking for a good brunch place, go to McKenna's right up the street (if you can handle the wait), My Diner on A Street (always a solid choice), or Mul's Diner on Broadway (where you'll get your coffee and/or OJ before you can take your jacket off - great service and food.)
(1)
Kacie M.
I've been to the Harp & Bard a few times for drinks, but only recently ate there for the first time. A friend and I had brunch there one Saturday while she was in town visiting. She got the breakfast special and enjoyed it. I got the breakfast pizza and thought it was great. Pizza's great, bacon's great, and fried eggs on anything are great, so how could it go wrong? The pizza was big enough for me to take half home, though I ate the eggs on the slices that I had at the restaurant since I didn't think they'd reheat as well. I had the rest for lunch the next day and it still tasted great.
(4)
Lauren M.
I rarely come here but it's pretty good. I like their Savin Hill Punch and French Martinis :) Foods alright too, but I usually just get bar food while I'm having a few drinks with friends
(4)
Erik L.
I went later on at night on wednesday, sat at the bar, and ordered. I must say the service I got was the best I've seen in years. If you go here, look for Katie. Most attentive server/bartender I've met hence the 5 star rating. Foodwise, I would recommend the buffalo chicken wraps, fried pickles, and fries. Haven't tried most of the menu however.
(5)
Joe F.
Good local spot. Friendly staff, decent food. Love the fried pickles here! Highlight of the place is late night when the owner makes this amazing buttery popcorn. Live close enough to walk there and crawl home without much trouble.
(4)
Sasha M.
I live right down the street so it's very convenient to go here. I haven't been here as much as I used to but it's a nice place. Great people there. I've come here for food probably only 2 or 3 times outta the 1000000 times I've come...Usually just go to get wasted haha. Food was pretty good, I always get the steak tips medium rare. I loved the Clam Chowdah tho. I'll probably come back soon. I'll be the petite asian girl with the shot of henny w/ club soda on the side at the bar =]
(5)
Kim P.
I'm adding this place to my Dorchester rotation: great service, tasty burgers, not crowded, and Whaddyaknow trivia. The prices are spot on for Dorchester, and if there is a local feel, at least it's cool enough to make you feel welcome whenever you drop in.
(4)
Donna M.
I have been here a few times. It was a lot less expensive and preppy before the renovations. I do have to say, I LOVE the fish and chips. The best I ever had. So, if you are dropping in, this meal is a sure winner.
(3)
Maureen D.
Local pub with character. Front room is best and don't miss the fried pickles
(4)
Josh S.
H&B was renovated over a year ago and now looks great; also, they are apparently adding deck space on the roof which will be amazing for beers in the summer. This is a neighborhood spot for me and is a great bar, but the food options could use some help and are overpriced for the quality you get, although the portions are big. Basically, a lot of fried or pre-made-tasting items for appetizers. They have karaoke and trivia during the week so it draws a fun crowd of locals and has the dive bar "feel" without being dumpy like most places in Dorchester... Service is usually great, and there's a lot of TV's around the bar for red Sox/Bruins/Celts/Pats games.
(4)
Luis And Nicole S.
It was not bad, it just was not that good. Horrible bloody mary, or shall I say tomato juice with a dried out lime and vodka. Disappointing wedge salad, bacon bits nearly broke a tooth! Good burger and tater tots,fried chicken sandwich needs a heartier bread, fell apart 2 bites in. Very clean establishment and nice waitress
(3)
Hank P.
So, this is my neighborhood place. I really want it to succeed. I was there last night for dinner. Baked stuff lobster 2 of them. Both were bad ammonia smell..we sent them back...yes, they took them off the bill...the owner was there...would she come over personally to apologize? No, Would they give free appetizer or free drinks? How about offering free desert? NO NO NO....I am not sure this place really wants to please customers...BUT our waitress was great. Oh, and when my new steak tip dinner arrived...they were dry and flat (see pressed in grill to get them out quicker!) Come on guys I KNOW you are better than that. I used t o manage a kitchen and 165 seat restaurant so I know my food and I know my restaurant manners. HB can hit me back if they wish to discuss these issues...I would even apply to work there and help fix this great place! Best of luck
(2)
Bree H.
drinks were cheap and the band was jumping. was a great place to ride the night out till last call.
(4)
Naeemah S.
Another hidden gem of dorchester
(4)
Karen M.
A friend and I met for drinks here and ended up ordering a pizza which was excellent. Great casual place to watch a game and have some beers. Will be back soon!
(4)
Larry B.
In the words of Toby Keith "I Love This Bar." I have been going to the Harp for years now and especially love it during NHL playoffs. Gretchen has yet to forget what I drink no matter how long it has been since I walked through the door. I am not a fish eater, but the fish and chips is an amazing meal and even if the price seems a little high for it, the amount of food you get makes you wonder how they can sell it for such a low price. And don't get me started on the haystack onion rings. I'm making myself hungry thinking about it and am going to have to make a trip soon since its right down the street!
(5)
Kristine A.
The have this tomato, spinach & goat cheese salad that is to die for. It comes out warm since they grill up the tomatoes. So damn tasty. Not alot of vegetarian options, but this place has been transformed to be way better. They do have a great space in the back for bigger parties which is great.
(3)
Bernadette S.
We went here yesterday to check out the band that performs on Sundays. We're hiring them for our wedding! They're great. This place is OK. The atmosphere isn't that cozy (bad lighting). Service was solid and the food was what you'd expect. I had shrimp scampi with a baked potato and butternut squash and that was decent. Jen liked her veggie burger. We split zucchini sticks that were solid. We were bought a round of drinks by a local drunk. Other guests were chatty with us, which may not be for everyone - ie. not for me but Jen liked it... I'm sure we'll go back to see this band again before our wedding but probably not for any other reason.
(3)
Jeffrey H.
This was the absolute cure for the fact I hadn't eaten in 36 hours. I guess work, interning, tanning, primping, and drinking take up a lot of time on my Fridays--so much so that I don't remember to eat until my stomach starts picking at my vital organs. The food here was nothing spectacular as in a MUST TRY but it was completely satisfying for those greasy desires and rumbles in my belly. I was unable to stop eating the food here. First we ordered some fried mushrooms with honey mustard for dipping. They must use the same frialator for their food because the mushrooms had a fishy taste--but that can be cured with a double dunk of the honey mustard. I ordered myself the bleu burger which I gladly inhaled. The caramelized onions were rather tasteless and kind of made the burger soggy, but the bleu cheese crumbles made up for their lack of taste. The fries were delicious and there were plenty to go around. Jenna C. ordered a club sandwich while our other friend ordered Nachos to share--so obviously I ate most of her nachos since she wasn't hungry and clearly I'd eat the table if I could. The waitress was very friendly and service was prompt. She made sure to check-in when necessary and kept our glasses full. The restaurant itself is kind of awkward. I couldn't tell if I was in a Richdale or a pub. Picture a bar, wooden booths, plasma TVs, and hanging lights--Faneuil Hall type pub, right? But then there were big bulky TVs playing Keeno, hanging advertisements for smoothies from the drop down ceiling, as well as Keeno sheets on the table--Richdale, right? Whatever the case, four stars for good service, satisfying food, and more than fair prices.
(4)
Kendra S.
The Hahhp and Bahhhd got a facelift. We're all excited about the new polished look as it elevates Dorchester Ave. to the classy Main Street we all know it is capable of becoming (or restoring once more). If you haven't wandered into the new! improved! H&B, let the Dottie Hottie recommend Sunday or Monday evenings for a buffalo wing smorgasbord. The wings - which come in an array of flavors including honey buffalo, buffalo, and barbecue - are a mere $.50/piece on Sunday and Monday nights. They're not only cheap, but they're quite meaty and mos def delicious. The Dottie Hottie has been in search of an establishment to offer wings at a reasonable price that would make Buffalo proud. But Boston bars, it seems, are wont to charge much too much for the pint and the poultry. The Harp & Bard gets the recipe just right. Those with kiddies, here's a tip - go 'round about 6p on Monday evenings and have the run of the place. If your child is anything like mine (who thinks booths are made for being obnoxious and peeking over at the connecting booth), this time is to your advantage
(4)
Dr. Indiana J.
I'm giving this place 5 stars because I have yet to be disappointed when I come in here. The renovations have made a big difference and the bar has a great ambiance. The bar itself is large and offers a view of a beautiful Samsung HDTV from anywhere you sit. I watched the US vs. Ghana World Cup game here and it was a fantastic setting. The food is great and reliable, with enormous portions. I ordered fried whole belly oysters from the daily specials menu and got a mountain of food. The oysters were extremely fresh and came with fries, onion strings, home-made coleslaw and a hot roll and it was only 12 dollars! I'd highly recommend this place to anyone in the neighborhood who's tired of the date rape scene at the Banshee or the old man scene at Tom English. The food is fresh, the service is good, and the prices are low. Can you ask for anything more?
(5)
Jonathan F.
Decent selection of liquor, but no Don Julio Tequila, no Cirroc Vodka, no high end Whiskey's - if you want to come off as high end, and charge astronomical prices (5 bucks for a ship yard) then carry the high end stuff, or are you just pretending and don't know your head from your a**hole, i'm going with that because your "high end" is Grey Goose. If you like Grey Goose, I'd bet the house you've never compared vodkas head to head... and you belong at this place. I go here often (unfortunately) because its close to my school and convenient for many of us. I am 30, i'm not some crazy college student, so I'm not real sure why everyone there is so f**king Cunty towards the customers. YOU WORK AT A BAR! You are no better than anyone else. On the bright side... Thursday nights start early, 9pm karaoke starts and is a blast, and the more I drink, the more tolerable the staff are, and the less I notice the outrageous prices. Best turkey club I've ever had. Parking is street parking, not terrible in this part of town, but i wouldn't park a nice car here. Your best bet is taking the T and walking a few blocks, between here and the T its not a real bad neighborhood.
(3)
Brian B.
The space was in need of a major upgrade and that was done. It is now clean, fresh and inviting with a more quiet eating room separated from the larger bar/tavern space filled with flat screens. The sad news is that the new menu is limited compared with the old, you get less for more money and everything is swimming in oils and sauces. The old favorites like steak tips, fresh broiled seafoods are unrecognizable. You no longer get a soup or salad with your meal and substitutions will cost you extra. Overall a very sad experience. If you want to hang around the bar have a few drinks and enjoy grease buried veggies and meats you'll like the new Harp. But if you looking for fresh nicely prepared veggies and meats this is no longer the place to go.
(2)
Tommy B.
First, let me say that this review is for the drinks/bar only - I haven't tried the food. For an Irish place, they make a damn good margarita (albeit served in a fruity glass, but I can't really complain, because the glass is huge). My girlfriend asked the bartender to make a lemondrop martini (based on the Cheesecake Factory martini) and the bartender nailed it. Bottom line - the drinks are good, the prices are reasonable, the bar itself is stylish (nice flat screens), the bartenders do a good job and the crowd is pretty cool, too.
(4)
Ryan B.
The Harp and Bard has been remodled and is again open for business. During the construction, I stopped by and read the Building Permit - They put $450k in renovations into the place. New exterior, new entrance, they remodled the bar area with new lighting and new TVs. New menu items, I tried the Schezwan Pork Dumplings were pretty good. Unfortunatly - same mediocre service. After we sat down at the bar, the bartenders walked by us several times with out even acknowledge us. It was probably 5-10 minutes before she finally stopped to take a drink order - and it wasn't really that busy. I'll probably go back (begrudgingly) because its close and the food is decent.
(3)
Katia M.
I went here last week and the bartender immediately said, "Oh no! We're out of Newcastle." I think I need to vary my drinking habits some. Also: Thursday night karaoke. It's fun.
(4)
Steph D.
So there were only 3 things wrong with this place. 1. It was clear no one had ever, ever thrown up in the bathroom, and there was toilet paper - ON the holder. Too weird. That's just too much self control from a bar's patrons for me to handle. 2. The waitress was wicked nice. Really attentive and super apologetic about the fact that she was the only one there. We didn't even notice, she was totally on her game. C'mon where's that attitude? 3. Food had been cooked by someone who knows what they're doing. The fish didn't come off the back of a truck it was ammmmazingly fresh. The clams were as good as you'd get in one of those authentic shacks on the beach and the fish and chips were a pile of pure oceanic goodness. Seriously? Seriously? I seriously just ate fresh fish at a bar? So if this would weird you out as much as it did me - Fresh Fish/Keno combo was very difficult to reconcile, still, check this place out. It's pretty damn good...
(4)
Jen H.
The Harp & Bard service can be hit or miss, the locals are either there or they're not, and it's either hopping or it's dead. I've never seen it in between. The decor was really run down, but they've just re-opened after some MUCH NEEDED renovations! The new decor is somewhat swanky, I was surprised. Swanky, Harp & Bard, in Dorchester??!! Seriously?! They had a band playing, somewhat loudly, so it was hard for my date and I to hear each other... but I like it a lot more than I did before. Why did it go down a star if I like it better? Well, the initial 5 star rating was in '07, I had been meaning to bump that down to a 3 star but had just never gotten around to doing it... so they're up from 3 to 4 stars. Temporarily, they are cash only until they get everything up and running again post renovations.
(4)
DJ C.
I did not have drinks here, but that won't stop me. My girlfriend, her Mom and I were going out to lunch but first wanted to stop by Rite Aid. So there we were leaving and right across the street was a beacon of shining light in the rain. The Harp and Bard. Since it was the middle of the day, and I didn't want to get banged up with my girlfriends mom with us, I had a pepsi, no coke. It was cool though, I know that sometime soon, I'll be back for what looks like a pretty extensive beer list. I had the fish and chips and it was great. So good. Loved it. My girl had the turkey club, so good, Loved it. Her mom had the buffalo burger, not made with buffalo! So good, she loved it. All three of us had a great meal. The girl and I will back to tear it up soon!
(4)
Molly S.
The last four times I've been into Harp & Bard it's been dead. I do enjoy the food and the location, but it's been such a bummer in there. I didn't notice it at first, on a first date - it was me and the dude and two hours of conversation, beers and zucchini sticks. Date #2 was before karaoke night switched on. At 9pm, when the place was still E-M-P-T-Y, we were driven out by the ridiculously loud music. I can respect wanting to get the party started, but not letting my date come to a quiet and natural end really bakes my chicken. After that, was the quick stop on Ryan B's birthday pub-crawl: Dead at 11pm on a Saturday night (and I'm starting to notice a pattern here). And today, for brunch... yeck. I'm kicking myself for not going to McKenna's instead. The menu was boring, the place was dead as usual, and I just can't do this anymore... Sorry Harp & Bard, I'm a social animal... I want to see you kick it up a notch.
(3)
Tracey N.
Psst...all you people waiting on line at McKenna's...Sure, I love McKenna's too, but down the street? There's no wait for a table. Yes, it's true: Harp & Bard serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4. My whole family came here on a Sunday morning and we had the whole back room to ourselves. (Wait, you didn't know there was a back room, either?) The pancakes are huge, the corned beef is made from *real* shredded beef brisket, and the coffee cups are color-coded for decaf or full caf. While I didn't get a solid answer on whether or not they take reservations, the host knew we were coming and was really nice about it. BTW, the phone number listed here must be old; use 617.265.2893 instead. I've been here a few times for dinner, and it's good solid comfort pub food served by friendly people. It's a great neighborhood spot that compliments the other fine dining establishments. And if you need a Golden Tee fix, they have it. update: extra points for being open on the 4th of July!
(4)
Dot D.
Kind of slipping in recent years. Kinda wants to be a sports bar. Too bad, it used to be a nice neighborhood place.
(2)
Lila S.
Golden Tee!! Well Thats not the only great thing about this place. The people who work here are nice and the place is far from pretentious but not a total dive... think the correct word is a neighborhood bar/ grill!! yayy!! I swear by the Blue Cheese burger, especially if you are into carmalized onions! and the club sandwiches. On a snowy day my bf and I trudge or drive over Jones hill for those burgers and sometimes, ( dare I say) get a salad from these folks and I have yet to be let down. Oh yeah they have a patio!! Can't wait to smoke a cancer stick out back there this summer!
(4)
Charlene F.
Place was really quiet for a Saturday night. Dirty tables, really poor service. Our waitress spent the whole time talking to her friends at the bar. There was bacon on my sandwich and it was nearly raw! GROSS!! When I told the waitress, she just said"Huh? they precook the bacon" then took it off my plate with silverware from another table. wtf? On the plus side, the bartender Joe is awesome!
(2)
Ben H.
I went for dinner with my girlfriend, and we both had veggie burgers. The place has quite a nice atmosphere. Not only is the interior nice, but the people were cool too with a lot of local color. In other words, I heard a lot of people dropping their "R"s, so there were a lot of locals around. I know that's kind of a silly thing to notice, but not being from Boston I enjoyed it. Anyway, the food was perfectly good but didn't blow me away. If you are a vegetarian, this is a good place to come for a drink or if you want some decent bar food in Savin Hill. There is pizza, salad, and veggie burgers, but otherwise not a ton of vegetarian options. The people seemed so nice, I wanted to give them repeat business. I could see going back to watch a game at the bar.
(3)
Shannon H.
Went here on Friday nite for a bite to eat with a girlfriend after a little retail therapy. It wasnt very busy but the noise level was still a little loud to conversate at our table. I ordered the H&B steak tips (came with brocolli and mashed potato). My friend ordered a 12oz sirlion steak with brocolli and carrots. we started by sharing a salad whereas they only have "large" salads not a side salad. The salad was pretty small and lacking. My tips where very good. I was very pleased with them. But my sides were cold. No really the middle of my mashed where completely cold. But our waitressed seemed preoccupied by im not sure what, so i just focused on my tips and some of the brocolli and left the potatoes. My friends steak was good but a bit over cooked. She enjoyed her meal despite the fact. Our waitress was pleasant but not super attentive. Service was just ok. Food was just OK. But the restaurant does look much nicer since the renovations that they did. Now if the food and service could be as good as it all looks then we would have a great place to eat!
(3)
Julie L.
Love the new decor and new menu. Nice lighting, nice TVs, new bar with good variety. Went on Friday night at about 8:30pm and the front room was nearly full, but we were seated right away. They seem to have plenty of waitstaff to serve everyone promptly. All very friendly. Yum! I had the goat cheese, tomato, and spinach salad ($10). The fresh tomatoes were lightly sauteed in garlic and balsamic and poured over the goat cheese and spinach to make it a melty, cheesy, delicious salad. I got the cheesecake for dessert ($8), it was served with little whipped cream puff and drizzled with raspberry sauce. Nice presentation and a huge portion! Unfortunately, they were cash only on Friday night (9/18/09).
(4)
Jenna C.
After driving around looking for some place to eat the sky opened up and a little ray of sunshine led us here! Is it wrong that sometimes I judged places by their honey mustard? Whatevs... theirs is GOOOOOOOOOD. Especially when smothered on something fried like mushrooms or french fries or my double bacon cheeseburger club. Ok that's not fried but it was still delicious. The burger was a little under cooked but edible and the french fries were just kind of blah. It's really the honey mustard that brought it up to 4 stars. oh and I was STARVING! The only thing that stopped me from devouring everything on the table was that my 5 year reunion was that night and I didn't want to ruin MONTHS of not eating! The service was great and out waitress wasn't even sketched out by the fact that we were taking pictures of EVERYTHING! If I'm ever lost in Dot again I would not hesitate to come here!
(4)
Ilya Jacob R.
A few hours ago I sent the following text: "I love this place. a bloody fistfight broke out a bit ago. Sweet." Okay, I'm not one for bloodlust, but it was a rare sight - even for this bar. It didn't seem that this was a common occurrence like at some bars, I'm sure. Beyond the fight, the bar/restaurant was actually pretty good. Waitstaff and bartenders were genuinely helpful and attentive. The steak tips were pretty juicy and huge. The mashed was a bit weak so you should probably get a different side. Best of all there's a trivia night on Thursdays at 9! Update: No fights...but some darn good chicken fingers.
(4)
Wayne D.
I work in the restaurant and bars industry and I cringe when I walk into this place. However, I feel at ease once I realize that you can have a great view from any seat in the house of one of thier flat screen tv's to watch any game thats on (this time it was the Celtics who shamefully suffered their 5th loss of the year to the Washington WIzards). They pour a mean Blue Moon and make a meaner brownie Sundae. Don't believe me? You can ask my friend who sat next to me dripping in fudge and ice cream. I've been to this place before because one of my great industry friends used to bartend there but sadly I don't see myself venturing out there just for the Harp & Bard. It's no destination place but when your there you can enjoy the BBQ roasted chicken and thier tucked-away patio which quickly turns into one of those rooms you see at airports designated for smokers. Trivia night is on Thurdays @ 9pm and Bekah darlin' I swear I'll make it one of these days. 4 stars...
(4)
Michelle J.
I usually sit at the bar at Harp & Bard because the people there and bartenders are very friendly. The crowd at the bar is usually middle aged local Dots who all know each other and are more than willing to talk to us and even buy a round! If you're bringing kids there is booth seating as well and a huge room in the back. The beer selection is decent, red wine tends to be a bit warm and served "bar" style in a huge short glass filled to the top. I just really like the atmosphere more than anything. Plus they served me a bloody mary at 11am after a bad breakup - Bartender: "you need to order food to get alcohol before noon" Me : "give me a pancake!!!" That bloody mary was great and I was gone before the pancake even showed up.That's my kind of place! The food is also decent. Wings are excellent. Huge and loads of them.
(3)
Jeffrey F.
This was our first time back to the H&B since the renovation, and we thought the outside looked great. Inside had the same layout, but new facing. Took down the half wall between the bar and dining tables, which I'm not sure if I would like if I wanted to go in there to eat at a table. Nice big Flat screen TV's. Bartender service was inconsistent as usual. Not very friendly either. Food was decent, about the same as it was before the renovation, but prices seem to have jumped significantly. Would be nice to see a step up in food quality and selection for the price jump.
(3)
Aaron W.
This was our easy burger place with the kids. It's good pub-food. Burgers are good, fish & chips are pretty good. They renovated a while back and prices went up a bit - now feels a bit over-priced for what it is, but not overly so. There are still some good deals and a nice atmosphere.
(3)
Bill T.
I watch most Celtics games here, everywhere you tilt your head there is a TV. Wish they offered more options on the menu, like a variety of sandwiches and burger. If I'm ordering a meal I prefer the Fish & Chips, and the wings are some of the best I've had. They come in honey and buffalo. The portions are huge, and you can get by splitting something. If you are into Trivia Nights, seems like they draw a pretty good crowd on Tuesday nights. Nothing amazing about this place, but I keep coming back, mostly because it's across the street.
(3)
Nicholas G.
I have to at least give this place 2 stars as i use to go to this place alot until one sour experience in the past, then that did it for me. It's a nice family restaurant nicely divided between bar and restaurant. Their menu is pretty good and the prices are spot on for what it is. Every time i went there i never had any troubles with service. Ok, onto the bad part, the manager is an ass. In the past i use to go here a couple of times a month. The last time we went, the fried haddock/cod whatever the dish was with fries were ordered. Got the fish and they said it tasted weird, i said no way, tasted it myself. Yup, definitely a bad piece of fish, no questions asked, doesn't matter if it was fried or not. We complained and the manager comes over and i explain the situation and tell him we come here often and this has never happened to us. He gets a fork and actually tastes the fish himself. With us being appalled, he says the fish is fine. We then go no it isn't, we took a bite each and thought not and asked for another piece of fish or at least another order of something. He proceeds to say, "its always like you kids to want a free meal its always something free, the fish is cooked perfectly and i will not take it back or off of the check and no substitutes" I don't know what foot pole was shoved inside of him, but i know i will never go back here....
(2)
Jordan S.
I really like this place. We usually go for Sunday brunch or dinner. The food is always great! I like their omelets, Thanksgiving Day turkey burger, chicken parmasian and baked haddock - everything I've tried! Hahaha. The service is always spectacular. Whether we're dining in or taking out, we are always greeted with warm smiles and given the best customer service. It's the best neighborhood spot!!
(5)
Mike D.
I stopped in the other day for a quick bite to eat and it was anything but quick. The service was very slow. I sat there for almost 10 minutes before I was able to get a drink and it wasn't busy. I ordered the burger and it was ok. Not bad, but I have had better. Over all I probably wouldn't go there again unless necessary.
(2)
Cecilia L.
This is your typical friendly neighborhood bar and family restaurant that serves pleasant, dull all-American food. Buffalo wings are ok, not very spicy. Fish and chips are decent, not too flavorful. Pulled pork sandwich is nice, but the burger is bland, and I left the fries on my plate. The one standout is clam chowder, creamy and well-seasoned with large clams and soft potatoes. The decor would make grandpa feel right at home.
(3)
Connor D.
I've eaten here for years, and while it's had ups and downs, it is currently on an upswing. This is a real neighborhood place, unpretentious and friendly. Pours a decent martini - although the price for the Sapphire just headed north of what you'll pay at the Blarney Stone, and that's a tad hard to justify. Regular standouts: - The BLT - best I've had. Get it on dark rye. - The cole slaw - they put in, something spicy, maybe horseradish, maybe CRACK. I can't stop eating it. - French onion soup - unfancy and hearty The must-have: - the 'chicken fingers'. These are not fingers, they are WHOLE BONELESS BREAST portions, fried perfectly with an amazing wing sauce (if you get the hot variety), and the large order has about a freakin' dozen of them, with great blue cheese dressing. Save some for tomorrow's hangover.
(4)
Michael M.
The Harp & Bard Four stars, Decently priced beers, like 3.50 for a bud bottle, 5.00 for a classy draft. Great food they serve until 9 or 10. plently of TV's and who could forget Keno. Good jukebox but thier is usually an older crowd there. I''ve been told to leave a couple of times, maybe for having too good of a time but besides that great place to go if your just looking for a drink and a tasty reasonably priced meal.
(4)
Kurt M.
I'll admit; the Harp & Bard is a shitty bar. And not shitty as in "cool." Shitty as in generic, uninteresting and boring. The crowd is a lot of regular neighborhood folks and I only end up going here with people from my grad program since a lot of us live in the neighborhood. The alcohol isn't outrageously expensive but it's not as cheap as some other places (say, the Banshee). The one saving grace of the Harp & Bard (besides their slightly above average food, which is by most definitions just bar food) is Thursday night karaoke. If you want to do karaoke and have multiple chances to sing in the course of the four hours, this is the place to do it. You won't be singing every other song per se, but you will probably be able to get in twice in an hour. And while it is nice to be able to have those opportunities, the crowd has been rather slim the past few months which definitely takes some of the energy out of performing.
(3)
Jess M.
Good bar good food good times. The steak tips are really good. I get the lobster in the summer once a week with my daughter. I sit at the bar and watch games and have a good time. The bar always has a regular sitting there. Its a local place. A lot of older neighborhood folks eat here on sunday. I like that I can bring my kid for lunch or dinner too. The younger "american college" crowd pretty much stays out of here, so thats a plus. (in my book) I'va always met the kindest people here and had good drinks and conversations with old local drunks and smart hotties.
(5)
Victoria D.
still not sold on the re-fit. Youre not D- Bar and nobody wants you to be. Stop being fancy, get back to proper grub and we'll all be happy!
(3)
David M.
I go here all the time. This is a great neighborhood bar and restaurant where pretty much everyone knows your name. The staff and food are equally awesome. I usually get the steak tips or the cheeseburger. Both are the best. You can never go wrong ordering anything else on the menu like the chicken fingers. They also make the best French fries. They use the thick cut steak fries which I always appreciate. Pretty much every seat at the bar gets its own plasma TV. The Harp and Bard is the place to go for great food with excellent service at low prices.
(5)
Tammi M.
Good drinks, decent food and usually a good time.
(3)
susana c.
Granted I have not been to the Harp and Bard in about 3 years, but I would just like to add that they also have a great breakfast. Rolling out of bed and heading out for French toast served by friendly Irish waitresses is a damned good way to wake up.
(4)
Food S.
Nice place. Went here tonight, friendly Irish waitresses here, very accommodating, fast service, decent prices, clean, local type restaurant and bar. One of the only problems I had with the place was the Keno screens. They take away from the whole atmosphere. Other than that, my experience was good overall. I do recommend the restaurant, (I didn't check out any alcoholic beverages, so I can't say how they are.) Not one of those hidden treasures, but, I had a good time there and good meal.
(3)
Kaitlyn M.
This place has great drinks for lower than your average prices. I am also something of a buffalo wing/buffalo chicken tenders connoisseur and their buffalo chicken tenders are amazing! By far, my number one favorite. If you're not big on blue cheese, order them with ranch dressing...so good...
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Clare F.
After a long winter, it's been nice to walk around and actually try the restaurants I've been meaning to! We brought an out of town friend to Harp and Bard for dinner on a Thursday night. Not too crowded and lots of TVs if you're hoping to catch the game. Out waitress was friendly and quick with the drinks (two Magners and few beers). We split fried pickles and tater tots. The pickles come with a dipping sauce and really, can you go wrong with pickles? I got a salad, as did my friend. My husband got a sandwich. They were solid but nothing to write home about. Still, looking forward to going back and exploring the extensive menu!
(3)Libby P.
I've eaten at H&B upwards of ten times. I haven't been disappointed yet. The menu is comprised of standard bar fare, but everything is very well done. RECCOMENDATION: get something deep fried. The best things I've tried (including the fried chicken, sweet potato fries, and fried clams) have come from the deep fryer. At times they are a tad heavy handed with the onions; if this bothers you just order your salad without.
(5)Alexandra M.
Came here after work and I don't think I'll be back. Both of our meals were something we could have easily made at home. However, the mozzarella appetizer was AMAZING. Service was fine. I got a skinny margarita to drink and it was a bit odd because they squeezed the lime in it and the pulp was just sitting in the bottom of the drink which made it hard to drink and the type of glass was too tall.
(2)Michael C.
Good solid pub food backed by a solid pour of whiskey. The portions are gigantic if somewhat unremarkable. The atmosphere is lively but not so much that you can not carry on a conversation. Service is excellent.
(3)Patti M.
The Harp and Bard is a great local restaurant and bar. I've been there many times over many years. The staff is great, especially Gretchen and Nicole at the bar. No matter how busy it gets, they can handle the volume. Go for dinner, drinks, or Keno. All the food is great, and I recommend the meat lovers pizza with, of course a cold beer!
(5)Art K.
Harp and Bard is a neighborhood gem. The scene is sports bar pub perfection. My girlfriend and I recently moved to Jones hill and tried a short walk through snow to grab drinks and dinner. We weren't disappointed. The staff was friendly and efficient. We had wings and steak tips; both delicious. We have made this our spot. Pizza is excellent, as are most menu items. My college aged girls and boyfriends joined us late Friday night and HB was accommodating. The food always comes out fast and as ordered and the beer is always cold. Brunch was really great. I lived in the south end for 2 years and although the vibe and eats may not be as eclectic, but price and quality were as good or better. Happy to have bought in this developing area and HB is one of the reasons.
(5)Brent T.
Very good neighborhood place. After 10 years of great experiences here, we had one very unpleasant experience. I have to say, I am very impressed by the managements response.
(4)Jennifer W.
I've visited a couple times now and there is a reason I keep going back...the food is delicious. I have to rave about their pizza. I don't know how they make their crust, but I hope they never change it bc it's so darn good. Thin and crispy - just perfect. I highly recommend it!! And the tots - they're a must with any meal!!
(4)Lucas Y.
I've really tried to like this place since I Iive very close, but each time the food has fallen flat for me. The dishes are too salty or it overall just taste like I'm eating quickly prepped cafeteria food. Nothing fresh tasting. The outdoor patio is nice during the summer with a pitcher of sangria. I suggest sticking with the drinks.
(3)Jonathan C.
I've been here a few times. The service was good. The bartender learned my name. The food is fine. Previously, I had steak tips. I had Beef Stew tonight. The rolls came out a little late (and piping hot), but no huge deal. The only real disappointment is the Kahlua and Bailey's bread pudding. I didn't taste but a hint of Bailey's, and no Kahlua! I'm not sure it was even in there - Kahlua is a strong and unmistakable flavor. It was very dense too. Oh well. I ate half and pushed it aside.
(3)Kayla V.
This review is just to say THANK YOU for keeping your kitchen open late on Sundays. Literally (like, really LITERALLY) ran around in the blizzard a few weeks ago on a Sunday night trying to find food and you were the only place still serving the neighborhood! Food was ready almost immediately and service was super friendly. You the real MVP, H&B.
(4)Rebecca L.
I love this place. Walking distance from my house and from Savin hill tstop. Friendly bartenders... Though they've started this thing where they ask your name... No context for why. But they ask your name, give you there's and walk away. If you're going to try to be friendly and personal with your greetings- attempt some conversation that would give you or your guest a reason to introduce yourself. The lady down the bar from me actually said, "uhhh, why??" If you want the blond bartenders attention, be sure you keep your patience. She tends to get social with a group or caught up in her work and forgets about you.
(4)Lauren N.
I love this place! the bartenders are always so nice and the food is amazing!
(5)Anne B.
I love this place. It's a relaxed atmosphere, great food, large and Keno, LOL!! They have the best bartender ever, Gretchen. She introduces herself to everyone she hasn't met and greets everyone else by name.
(5)Melinda H.
Pretty good place for takeout I prefer mckennas because they don't charge extra to substitute mixed greens for romaine but they close at 4. I like harp and bard's Cobb salad I just don't like to order based on the fact they charge me extra to swap out for a different kind of lettuce.
(2)Ashley W.
My boyfriend and I just moved to Dorchester from NC and had no clue where to go for drinks. We walked down the street one day and found this gem! Great food, great atmosphere, great variety of drinks, and from what we have experienced so far great service! The bartenders are always extremely friendly and have even remembered us by name. Will definitely be regulars!
(5)Robert H.
Did Sunday brunch. DRAFT BEER SELECTION: 4 Stars KENO SITUATION: 1 Star. Only one Keno screen. Printer big time ran out of ink. EYE CANDY: 4 Stars. Some nice cleavage, always appreciated. RANCHOS HUEVOS: 2.5 Stars. Nothing to get excited about. Alot of jarred banana peppers, not so much fresh cilantro or avocados. FRENCH TOAST: 1.5 Stars. Did not arrive hot enough to melt butter, criucial apparently for consumers of French Toast. She also said it was "soggy". Seeing as she herself makes excellent french toast, she knows when it is up to snuff or not.
(3)Erin B.
Harp & Bard fits in with the new wave Dorchester. First off, I love a place with comfy chairs. The seating comfort level can really make or break a dining experience for me, and is the difference between staying for after dinner drinks and scooting out of there. Also, this place has great comfort food. The mashed potatoes are to die for! Pretty extensive beer selection too (Sam Brick Red on draft!) It really balances a fine dining atmosphere and sports bar quite nicely. I really liked our server too. She was super friendly and not too pushy with ordering more rounds of drinks. It stinks when you're trying to have a conversation and every 5 seconds someone is in your face asking if you want something. Similarly, it stinks when you can't find your server when you want something else. She was just the right amount of attentive. I came here for a Red Sox game, so it was kind of loud, but I know for brunch it's a pretty laid back atmosphere. Can't wait to go back!
(4)C. W.
This place is a townie bar, let me say that first and foremost. I usually love townie places and the close-knit atmosphere but NOT when your waitress would rather sit and chat with her friends than serve her patrons. I've been here twice - the first time was the aforementioned moment with our "too-friendly" waitress. She sat us, and got our drink orders. Then began chatting with all her buddies, which again is fine. We got our food, and one of the orders was wrong. My friend had to wait 10 minutes for the waitress to finally realize we had been trying to get her attention to let her know and instead of doing what she should have and apologized saying "I will bring a new plate out" she said "OK, well that's not how you ordered it but I'll get you a new one". Very rude, and not at all how a skilled waitress would handle a situation. We then waited forever for her new chicken wrap to come out, most likely due to her sitting with her friends the entire time. Food was good. Service was awful. Second time was a few weeks ago. My friends out-of-state license got denied, even after trying to show her back- up. So fine, but then they wouldn't take my friends ID (from boston) or even LOOK at mine. Just overall not good customer service. Happy to say I don't think I'll be back. Which is a shame, because the atmosphere and food was good but the service is not worth it.
(2)Joanna T.
The service here is terrible! The wait is incredibly long. Came here for brunch and took over an hour just to get our food when the restaurant was not even full. Waitresses are hard to get a hold off. Managers need to train their staff to operate more efficiently.
(1)Destiny P.
I like Harp and Bard. I have been here a few times. At first it wasn't on my radar but I went on a Sunday during brunch, which left a completely different vibe. I gave 4 stars because of the service. It was extremely busy and they seemed short handed, so our waitress wasn't as attentive as the service I have had during lunch on a weekday. The drinks were great and the food was much better then their lunch menu. Check it out at least for yourself !
(4)Ashton A.
I have been to this restaurant three times. The reason I give it a three is because the worst thing you can do to a customer is advertise a price on the outside. And then give them sticker shock when you order inside The waitress told me some story about they have problems getting the menu out of the glass out front :)) lol In my book that's called bait and switch I was other reviewers have said... The bartenders are great. The food is average It's a bar. Basically for locals who want to eat comfort food
(3)Jason B.
Popped in here for a drink prior to a Scoville event next door. Nice, warm place. Plenty of local flavah, and a great big bar with plenty of seating. Our bartender was friendly and sassy, and poured our pints with aplomb. I'm looking forward to coming back for the food, since this place looks like so much fun. Cheers!
(4)Jason M.
The one star above the minimum is awarded for the nice decor on the inside. Chic seating and bar, plenty of televisions, a nice little patio out back, and a good staff serving drinks and food. Well, good staff except for the old codger standing outside trying to bar us from getting in. One of my friends was being carried accross the street to the bar because her knee is severely sprained. Unfortunately, this utter moron decides to interpret this as her being too drunk to enter the bar. He proceeds to tell us a bunch of lies; how they're "not taking any more people" at 12:45 AM (complete bullcrap), how she can't come in (because we're nice and helpful friends). What a joke. He let us in after a needless argument, and boy did we regret his decision to do so. This place was absolutely crawling with douchebags. Backwards flat-brimmed hats, saggy jeans, chinstrap beards, earrings, tattoos, and general stupidity. I won't be back unless dragged by force.
(2)Rosa S.
So I have been coming here at night for drinks for 2 years and I was pretty content. Last week I discovered they actually had a kitchen and a decent menu so I decided to roll up there with the after work ladies. I get here first to find no host. I get ignored by the server a couple of times until I approach her and ask for a booth. She brought me over some menus and things were fine. I wanted to order my drink so I can get a head start on the festivities. Not happening. There were about 5-6 other tables in there and the server was clearly in over her head. I wait and I wait, the server never returns. My 1st friend comes in and we say our hellos and the server appears. We place our drink orders and she asks what we want for food. I reply we aren't ready, as my friend just walked in. She rolls her eyes and walk off. Ok lets be clear this was an older woman who looked like Whitey's girlfriend. If she was near my age, I would have had a conversation about the eye roll but she's my elder so I let it roll off my back. plus, she was the only waitress on. She returns to take our food order and I ordered the nachos but requested no olives. She takes the order and fifteen minutes later she returns to tell me they premake the nachos and cannot be ordered with out the olives. Why would you do that and furthermore why would you admit that? I was grossed out and canceled that. She leaves to go tell the kitchen and she returns to say we can just get it without the olive mixture. WTF is an olive mixture and my stomach is grossed out. She kept talking about the premade nachos and it only further makes me to not want it. I felt like she was trying to guilt me into accepting it and I felt like she should guilt the bar into making it fresh. We ended up ordering a pizza and a combo platter instead. The pizza was ok, nothing amazing but not bad. Now enters another friend. The waitress comes over and asks her for a drink and my friend responds 'Ummmm......" The waitress walks off without a 'Ill be right back'. She straight up walked off like she has something better to do. Mind you, a second waitress entered the restauarmnat and our servers' tables were gone, except for us. My friend ended up ordering from bartender because the waitress was straight up rude. We got the combo platter and the wings sucked. tehy tasted old not in a sick way but in a dried out, pre-fried way. The fries were ok but the menu states 'steak fries' and they were not steak fries. Once the bill came and I tipped her, her f-ing atttitude changed. Nobody was happy, no one will return for food. Summary: Service :C- Apps: C Drinks: A
(3)Jen M.
Love this place! I've always sat in the bar. The bartenders have all been great. Attentive and friendly! Food is always good. Tried something different each time and its always great! It's really a great neighborhood chill bar and I've enjoyed each time I've been. Thanks harp & bard!!
(5)Steve J.
Outstanding meal. Full portions. Excellent low prices. Superb service. I will come again. And don't forget the wonderful rolls.
(5)Matt I.
Best fried pickles and fried mozzarella in the world. Awesome bloody marys too.
(5)Arual E.
I write this as constructive criticism and out of real disappointment over the last meal. I want so much to like this place since there are not many options in the area. It seems, however, that this is a hit or miss place. Get the steak tips and you'll be delighted (they have a sweet hint to them that I can't figure out), along with good mashed potatoes or sweet potato fries, and great broccoli. And the fried fish seemed good. However, the other foods we ordered this last trip were one star quality. These include over-breaded calamari, bland over-fried steak fries, way too hot buffalo wings, and a not too fresh side salad. So disappointing. The chicken piccata was ok, not great, as was the pizza ( it is better across the street). But after this appetizer trio, I'm inclined to not try anything else on the menu. I will go back because I like the ambiance, the service has been pleasant, and I like the steak tips.
(3)Gail H.
Dinner was great, service was great, atmosphere was great. Here for a visit, if I lived here it would be a regular stop for us.
(5)Amy O.
I immediately loved this place because it was well decorated for Christmas with tons of Christmas lights. It was your typical pub brunch, nothing extraordinary. But again.. the Christmas lights.
(3)Joe J.
Excellent spot for drinks/food. Service was really friendly. The bartender, Jahna, was attentive and quick to refill my drinks. Food was good too. I have the mussels diavalo special, and it was only $11. It was tasty. The other food around the bar looked delicious too!
(5)Molly M.
fun
(3)Johanna G.
I frequent the Harp on a regular, as my boyfriend lives in the neighborhood. The bartenders are awesome and very friendly, Drinks are decent, but seem to vary in price. It is best to have a double for ten dollars and have one drinks. Apps are great, particularly the nachos and their cream of broccoli soup is the BEST. Entrees not so much, I have had the bakes fish(too many crumbs and mushy) chicken marsala (plain not tasty), and the black and blue burger (yuck). Brunch is good there, but the cook can't seem to differentiate between over easy and over medium eggs. Overall, a great and friendly place to meet friends for drinks and apps, but not for a fin dining experience
(3)Rosalie F.
I go to H&B when I have a tater tots craving, and it always delivers on the tots, along with a broad selection of draft beers. I've been for brunch and for dinner and had a couple of omelettes and a couple of veggie sandwiches. The food is always pretty good but nothing to write home about -- it's about as yuppie as Dorchester gets, so it's good for vegetarians and friends visiting from north of the river. It's a good place to have a beer or six while you watch a game, and in the summer they have a tiny patio out back that's a nice quiet spot to have some drinks with friends in the afternoon. I also like that despite it being a fairly sporty, bro-y bar I'm usually not the only queermo there. (Savin Hill = the new gayborhood!)
(3)Mike P.
Avoid, avoid, avoid... Wow, I can't remember the last time I've walked out of a place because of the horrible service. The other reviews are extremely accurate about the crappy service. We went in for brunch and the place wasn't that busy (which is bad sign regardless.) After waiting 20 minutes and not having so much as a waitress come by to ask us if we had menus, we walked out. I'll never go back again. Whoever is managing the service staff needs to go back to school. If you're looking for a good brunch place, go to McKenna's right up the street (if you can handle the wait), My Diner on A Street (always a solid choice), or Mul's Diner on Broadway (where you'll get your coffee and/or OJ before you can take your jacket off - great service and food.)
(1)Kacie M.
I've been to the Harp & Bard a few times for drinks, but only recently ate there for the first time. A friend and I had brunch there one Saturday while she was in town visiting. She got the breakfast special and enjoyed it. I got the breakfast pizza and thought it was great. Pizza's great, bacon's great, and fried eggs on anything are great, so how could it go wrong? The pizza was big enough for me to take half home, though I ate the eggs on the slices that I had at the restaurant since I didn't think they'd reheat as well. I had the rest for lunch the next day and it still tasted great.
(4)Lauren M.
I rarely come here but it's pretty good. I like their Savin Hill Punch and French Martinis :) Foods alright too, but I usually just get bar food while I'm having a few drinks with friends
(4)Erik L.
I went later on at night on wednesday, sat at the bar, and ordered. I must say the service I got was the best I've seen in years. If you go here, look for Katie. Most attentive server/bartender I've met hence the 5 star rating. Foodwise, I would recommend the buffalo chicken wraps, fried pickles, and fries. Haven't tried most of the menu however.
(5)Joe F.
Good local spot. Friendly staff, decent food. Love the fried pickles here! Highlight of the place is late night when the owner makes this amazing buttery popcorn. Live close enough to walk there and crawl home without much trouble.
(4)Sasha M.
I live right down the street so it's very convenient to go here. I haven't been here as much as I used to but it's a nice place. Great people there. I've come here for food probably only 2 or 3 times outta the 1000000 times I've come...Usually just go to get wasted haha. Food was pretty good, I always get the steak tips medium rare. I loved the Clam Chowdah tho. I'll probably come back soon. I'll be the petite asian girl with the shot of henny w/ club soda on the side at the bar =]
(5)Kim P.
I'm adding this place to my Dorchester rotation: great service, tasty burgers, not crowded, and Whaddyaknow trivia. The prices are spot on for Dorchester, and if there is a local feel, at least it's cool enough to make you feel welcome whenever you drop in.
(4)Donna M.
I have been here a few times. It was a lot less expensive and preppy before the renovations. I do have to say, I LOVE the fish and chips. The best I ever had. So, if you are dropping in, this meal is a sure winner.
(3)Maureen D.
Local pub with character. Front room is best and don't miss the fried pickles
(4)Josh S.
H&B was renovated over a year ago and now looks great; also, they are apparently adding deck space on the roof which will be amazing for beers in the summer. This is a neighborhood spot for me and is a great bar, but the food options could use some help and are overpriced for the quality you get, although the portions are big. Basically, a lot of fried or pre-made-tasting items for appetizers. They have karaoke and trivia during the week so it draws a fun crowd of locals and has the dive bar "feel" without being dumpy like most places in Dorchester... Service is usually great, and there's a lot of TV's around the bar for red Sox/Bruins/Celts/Pats games.
(4)Luis And Nicole S.
It was not bad, it just was not that good. Horrible bloody mary, or shall I say tomato juice with a dried out lime and vodka. Disappointing wedge salad, bacon bits nearly broke a tooth! Good burger and tater tots,fried chicken sandwich needs a heartier bread, fell apart 2 bites in. Very clean establishment and nice waitress
(3)Hank P.
So, this is my neighborhood place. I really want it to succeed. I was there last night for dinner. Baked stuff lobster 2 of them. Both were bad ammonia smell..we sent them back...yes, they took them off the bill...the owner was there...would she come over personally to apologize? No, Would they give free appetizer or free drinks? How about offering free desert? NO NO NO....I am not sure this place really wants to please customers...BUT our waitress was great. Oh, and when my new steak tip dinner arrived...they were dry and flat (see pressed in grill to get them out quicker!) Come on guys I KNOW you are better than that. I used t o manage a kitchen and 165 seat restaurant so I know my food and I know my restaurant manners. HB can hit me back if they wish to discuss these issues...I would even apply to work there and help fix this great place! Best of luck
(2)Bree H.
drinks were cheap and the band was jumping. was a great place to ride the night out till last call.
(4)Naeemah S.
Another hidden gem of dorchester
(4)Karen M.
A friend and I met for drinks here and ended up ordering a pizza which was excellent. Great casual place to watch a game and have some beers. Will be back soon!
(4)Larry B.
In the words of Toby Keith "I Love This Bar." I have been going to the Harp for years now and especially love it during NHL playoffs. Gretchen has yet to forget what I drink no matter how long it has been since I walked through the door. I am not a fish eater, but the fish and chips is an amazing meal and even if the price seems a little high for it, the amount of food you get makes you wonder how they can sell it for such a low price. And don't get me started on the haystack onion rings. I'm making myself hungry thinking about it and am going to have to make a trip soon since its right down the street!
(5)Kristine A.
The have this tomato, spinach & goat cheese salad that is to die for. It comes out warm since they grill up the tomatoes. So damn tasty. Not alot of vegetarian options, but this place has been transformed to be way better. They do have a great space in the back for bigger parties which is great.
(3)Bernadette S.
We went here yesterday to check out the band that performs on Sundays. We're hiring them for our wedding! They're great. This place is OK. The atmosphere isn't that cozy (bad lighting). Service was solid and the food was what you'd expect. I had shrimp scampi with a baked potato and butternut squash and that was decent. Jen liked her veggie burger. We split zucchini sticks that were solid. We were bought a round of drinks by a local drunk. Other guests were chatty with us, which may not be for everyone - ie. not for me but Jen liked it... I'm sure we'll go back to see this band again before our wedding but probably not for any other reason.
(3)Jeffrey H.
This was the absolute cure for the fact I hadn't eaten in 36 hours. I guess work, interning, tanning, primping, and drinking take up a lot of time on my Fridays--so much so that I don't remember to eat until my stomach starts picking at my vital organs. The food here was nothing spectacular as in a MUST TRY but it was completely satisfying for those greasy desires and rumbles in my belly. I was unable to stop eating the food here. First we ordered some fried mushrooms with honey mustard for dipping. They must use the same frialator for their food because the mushrooms had a fishy taste--but that can be cured with a double dunk of the honey mustard. I ordered myself the bleu burger which I gladly inhaled. The caramelized onions were rather tasteless and kind of made the burger soggy, but the bleu cheese crumbles made up for their lack of taste. The fries were delicious and there were plenty to go around. Jenna C. ordered a club sandwich while our other friend ordered Nachos to share--so obviously I ate most of her nachos since she wasn't hungry and clearly I'd eat the table if I could. The waitress was very friendly and service was prompt. She made sure to check-in when necessary and kept our glasses full. The restaurant itself is kind of awkward. I couldn't tell if I was in a Richdale or a pub. Picture a bar, wooden booths, plasma TVs, and hanging lights--Faneuil Hall type pub, right? But then there were big bulky TVs playing Keeno, hanging advertisements for smoothies from the drop down ceiling, as well as Keeno sheets on the table--Richdale, right? Whatever the case, four stars for good service, satisfying food, and more than fair prices.
(4)Kendra S.
The Hahhp and Bahhhd got a facelift. We're all excited about the new polished look as it elevates Dorchester Ave. to the classy Main Street we all know it is capable of becoming (or restoring once more). If you haven't wandered into the new! improved! H&B, let the Dottie Hottie recommend Sunday or Monday evenings for a buffalo wing smorgasbord. The wings - which come in an array of flavors including honey buffalo, buffalo, and barbecue - are a mere $.50/piece on Sunday and Monday nights. They're not only cheap, but they're quite meaty and mos def delicious. The Dottie Hottie has been in search of an establishment to offer wings at a reasonable price that would make Buffalo proud. But Boston bars, it seems, are wont to charge much too much for the pint and the poultry. The Harp & Bard gets the recipe just right. Those with kiddies, here's a tip - go 'round about 6p on Monday evenings and have the run of the place. If your child is anything like mine (who thinks booths are made for being obnoxious and peeking over at the connecting booth), this time is to your advantage
(4)Dr. Indiana J.
I'm giving this place 5 stars because I have yet to be disappointed when I come in here. The renovations have made a big difference and the bar has a great ambiance. The bar itself is large and offers a view of a beautiful Samsung HDTV from anywhere you sit. I watched the US vs. Ghana World Cup game here and it was a fantastic setting. The food is great and reliable, with enormous portions. I ordered fried whole belly oysters from the daily specials menu and got a mountain of food. The oysters were extremely fresh and came with fries, onion strings, home-made coleslaw and a hot roll and it was only 12 dollars! I'd highly recommend this place to anyone in the neighborhood who's tired of the date rape scene at the Banshee or the old man scene at Tom English. The food is fresh, the service is good, and the prices are low. Can you ask for anything more?
(5)Jonathan F.
Decent selection of liquor, but no Don Julio Tequila, no Cirroc Vodka, no high end Whiskey's - if you want to come off as high end, and charge astronomical prices (5 bucks for a ship yard) then carry the high end stuff, or are you just pretending and don't know your head from your a**hole, i'm going with that because your "high end" is Grey Goose. If you like Grey Goose, I'd bet the house you've never compared vodkas head to head... and you belong at this place. I go here often (unfortunately) because its close to my school and convenient for many of us. I am 30, i'm not some crazy college student, so I'm not real sure why everyone there is so f**king Cunty towards the customers. YOU WORK AT A BAR! You are no better than anyone else. On the bright side... Thursday nights start early, 9pm karaoke starts and is a blast, and the more I drink, the more tolerable the staff are, and the less I notice the outrageous prices. Best turkey club I've ever had. Parking is street parking, not terrible in this part of town, but i wouldn't park a nice car here. Your best bet is taking the T and walking a few blocks, between here and the T its not a real bad neighborhood.
(3)Brian B.
The space was in need of a major upgrade and that was done. It is now clean, fresh and inviting with a more quiet eating room separated from the larger bar/tavern space filled with flat screens. The sad news is that the new menu is limited compared with the old, you get less for more money and everything is swimming in oils and sauces. The old favorites like steak tips, fresh broiled seafoods are unrecognizable. You no longer get a soup or salad with your meal and substitutions will cost you extra. Overall a very sad experience. If you want to hang around the bar have a few drinks and enjoy grease buried veggies and meats you'll like the new Harp. But if you looking for fresh nicely prepared veggies and meats this is no longer the place to go.
(2)Tommy B.
First, let me say that this review is for the drinks/bar only - I haven't tried the food. For an Irish place, they make a damn good margarita (albeit served in a fruity glass, but I can't really complain, because the glass is huge). My girlfriend asked the bartender to make a lemondrop martini (based on the Cheesecake Factory martini) and the bartender nailed it. Bottom line - the drinks are good, the prices are reasonable, the bar itself is stylish (nice flat screens), the bartenders do a good job and the crowd is pretty cool, too.
(4)Ryan B.
The Harp and Bard has been remodled and is again open for business. During the construction, I stopped by and read the Building Permit - They put $450k in renovations into the place. New exterior, new entrance, they remodled the bar area with new lighting and new TVs. New menu items, I tried the Schezwan Pork Dumplings were pretty good. Unfortunatly - same mediocre service. After we sat down at the bar, the bartenders walked by us several times with out even acknowledge us. It was probably 5-10 minutes before she finally stopped to take a drink order - and it wasn't really that busy. I'll probably go back (begrudgingly) because its close and the food is decent.
(3)Katia M.
I went here last week and the bartender immediately said, "Oh no! We're out of Newcastle." I think I need to vary my drinking habits some. Also: Thursday night karaoke. It's fun.
(4)Steph D.
So there were only 3 things wrong with this place. 1. It was clear no one had ever, ever thrown up in the bathroom, and there was toilet paper - ON the holder. Too weird. That's just too much self control from a bar's patrons for me to handle. 2. The waitress was wicked nice. Really attentive and super apologetic about the fact that she was the only one there. We didn't even notice, she was totally on her game. C'mon where's that attitude? 3. Food had been cooked by someone who knows what they're doing. The fish didn't come off the back of a truck it was ammmmazingly fresh. The clams were as good as you'd get in one of those authentic shacks on the beach and the fish and chips were a pile of pure oceanic goodness. Seriously? Seriously? I seriously just ate fresh fish at a bar? So if this would weird you out as much as it did me - Fresh Fish/Keno combo was very difficult to reconcile, still, check this place out. It's pretty damn good...
(4)Jen H.
The Harp & Bard service can be hit or miss, the locals are either there or they're not, and it's either hopping or it's dead. I've never seen it in between. The decor was really run down, but they've just re-opened after some MUCH NEEDED renovations! The new decor is somewhat swanky, I was surprised. Swanky, Harp & Bard, in Dorchester??!! Seriously?! They had a band playing, somewhat loudly, so it was hard for my date and I to hear each other... but I like it a lot more than I did before. Why did it go down a star if I like it better? Well, the initial 5 star rating was in '07, I had been meaning to bump that down to a 3 star but had just never gotten around to doing it... so they're up from 3 to 4 stars. Temporarily, they are cash only until they get everything up and running again post renovations.
(4)DJ C.
I did not have drinks here, but that won't stop me. My girlfriend, her Mom and I were going out to lunch but first wanted to stop by Rite Aid. So there we were leaving and right across the street was a beacon of shining light in the rain. The Harp and Bard. Since it was the middle of the day, and I didn't want to get banged up with my girlfriends mom with us, I had a pepsi, no coke. It was cool though, I know that sometime soon, I'll be back for what looks like a pretty extensive beer list. I had the fish and chips and it was great. So good. Loved it. My girl had the turkey club, so good, Loved it. Her mom had the buffalo burger, not made with buffalo! So good, she loved it. All three of us had a great meal. The girl and I will back to tear it up soon!
(4)Molly S.
The last four times I've been into Harp & Bard it's been dead. I do enjoy the food and the location, but it's been such a bummer in there. I didn't notice it at first, on a first date - it was me and the dude and two hours of conversation, beers and zucchini sticks. Date #2 was before karaoke night switched on. At 9pm, when the place was still E-M-P-T-Y, we were driven out by the ridiculously loud music. I can respect wanting to get the party started, but not letting my date come to a quiet and natural end really bakes my chicken. After that, was the quick stop on Ryan B's birthday pub-crawl: Dead at 11pm on a Saturday night (and I'm starting to notice a pattern here). And today, for brunch... yeck. I'm kicking myself for not going to McKenna's instead. The menu was boring, the place was dead as usual, and I just can't do this anymore... Sorry Harp & Bard, I'm a social animal... I want to see you kick it up a notch.
(3)Tracey N.
Psst...all you people waiting on line at McKenna's...Sure, I love McKenna's too, but down the street? There's no wait for a table. Yes, it's true: Harp & Bard serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4. My whole family came here on a Sunday morning and we had the whole back room to ourselves. (Wait, you didn't know there was a back room, either?) The pancakes are huge, the corned beef is made from *real* shredded beef brisket, and the coffee cups are color-coded for decaf or full caf. While I didn't get a solid answer on whether or not they take reservations, the host knew we were coming and was really nice about it. BTW, the phone number listed here must be old; use 617.265.2893 instead. I've been here a few times for dinner, and it's good solid comfort pub food served by friendly people. It's a great neighborhood spot that compliments the other fine dining establishments. And if you need a Golden Tee fix, they have it. update: extra points for being open on the 4th of July!
(4)Dot D.
Kind of slipping in recent years. Kinda wants to be a sports bar. Too bad, it used to be a nice neighborhood place.
(2)Lila S.
Golden Tee!! Well Thats not the only great thing about this place. The people who work here are nice and the place is far from pretentious but not a total dive... think the correct word is a neighborhood bar/ grill!! yayy!! I swear by the Blue Cheese burger, especially if you are into carmalized onions! and the club sandwiches. On a snowy day my bf and I trudge or drive over Jones hill for those burgers and sometimes, ( dare I say) get a salad from these folks and I have yet to be let down. Oh yeah they have a patio!! Can't wait to smoke a cancer stick out back there this summer!
(4)Charlene F.
Place was really quiet for a Saturday night. Dirty tables, really poor service. Our waitress spent the whole time talking to her friends at the bar. There was bacon on my sandwich and it was nearly raw! GROSS!! When I told the waitress, she just said"Huh? they precook the bacon" then took it off my plate with silverware from another table. wtf? On the plus side, the bartender Joe is awesome!
(2)Ben H.
I went for dinner with my girlfriend, and we both had veggie burgers. The place has quite a nice atmosphere. Not only is the interior nice, but the people were cool too with a lot of local color. In other words, I heard a lot of people dropping their "R"s, so there were a lot of locals around. I know that's kind of a silly thing to notice, but not being from Boston I enjoyed it. Anyway, the food was perfectly good but didn't blow me away. If you are a vegetarian, this is a good place to come for a drink or if you want some decent bar food in Savin Hill. There is pizza, salad, and veggie burgers, but otherwise not a ton of vegetarian options. The people seemed so nice, I wanted to give them repeat business. I could see going back to watch a game at the bar.
(3)Shannon H.
Went here on Friday nite for a bite to eat with a girlfriend after a little retail therapy. It wasnt very busy but the noise level was still a little loud to conversate at our table. I ordered the H&B steak tips (came with brocolli and mashed potato). My friend ordered a 12oz sirlion steak with brocolli and carrots. we started by sharing a salad whereas they only have "large" salads not a side salad. The salad was pretty small and lacking. My tips where very good. I was very pleased with them. But my sides were cold. No really the middle of my mashed where completely cold. But our waitressed seemed preoccupied by im not sure what, so i just focused on my tips and some of the brocolli and left the potatoes. My friends steak was good but a bit over cooked. She enjoyed her meal despite the fact. Our waitress was pleasant but not super attentive. Service was just ok. Food was just OK. But the restaurant does look much nicer since the renovations that they did. Now if the food and service could be as good as it all looks then we would have a great place to eat!
(3)Julie L.
Love the new decor and new menu. Nice lighting, nice TVs, new bar with good variety. Went on Friday night at about 8:30pm and the front room was nearly full, but we were seated right away. They seem to have plenty of waitstaff to serve everyone promptly. All very friendly. Yum! I had the goat cheese, tomato, and spinach salad ($10). The fresh tomatoes were lightly sauteed in garlic and balsamic and poured over the goat cheese and spinach to make it a melty, cheesy, delicious salad. I got the cheesecake for dessert ($8), it was served with little whipped cream puff and drizzled with raspberry sauce. Nice presentation and a huge portion! Unfortunately, they were cash only on Friday night (9/18/09).
(4)Jenna C.
After driving around looking for some place to eat the sky opened up and a little ray of sunshine led us here! Is it wrong that sometimes I judged places by their honey mustard? Whatevs... theirs is GOOOOOOOOOD. Especially when smothered on something fried like mushrooms or french fries or my double bacon cheeseburger club. Ok that's not fried but it was still delicious. The burger was a little under cooked but edible and the french fries were just kind of blah. It's really the honey mustard that brought it up to 4 stars. oh and I was STARVING! The only thing that stopped me from devouring everything on the table was that my 5 year reunion was that night and I didn't want to ruin MONTHS of not eating! The service was great and out waitress wasn't even sketched out by the fact that we were taking pictures of EVERYTHING! If I'm ever lost in Dot again I would not hesitate to come here!
(4)Ilya Jacob R.
A few hours ago I sent the following text: "I love this place. a bloody fistfight broke out a bit ago. Sweet." Okay, I'm not one for bloodlust, but it was a rare sight - even for this bar. It didn't seem that this was a common occurrence like at some bars, I'm sure. Beyond the fight, the bar/restaurant was actually pretty good. Waitstaff and bartenders were genuinely helpful and attentive. The steak tips were pretty juicy and huge. The mashed was a bit weak so you should probably get a different side. Best of all there's a trivia night on Thursdays at 9! Update: No fights...but some darn good chicken fingers.
(4)Wayne D.
I work in the restaurant and bars industry and I cringe when I walk into this place. However, I feel at ease once I realize that you can have a great view from any seat in the house of one of thier flat screen tv's to watch any game thats on (this time it was the Celtics who shamefully suffered their 5th loss of the year to the Washington WIzards). They pour a mean Blue Moon and make a meaner brownie Sundae. Don't believe me? You can ask my friend who sat next to me dripping in fudge and ice cream. I've been to this place before because one of my great industry friends used to bartend there but sadly I don't see myself venturing out there just for the Harp & Bard. It's no destination place but when your there you can enjoy the BBQ roasted chicken and thier tucked-away patio which quickly turns into one of those rooms you see at airports designated for smokers. Trivia night is on Thurdays @ 9pm and Bekah darlin' I swear I'll make it one of these days. 4 stars...
(4)Michelle J.
I usually sit at the bar at Harp & Bard because the people there and bartenders are very friendly. The crowd at the bar is usually middle aged local Dots who all know each other and are more than willing to talk to us and even buy a round! If you're bringing kids there is booth seating as well and a huge room in the back. The beer selection is decent, red wine tends to be a bit warm and served "bar" style in a huge short glass filled to the top. I just really like the atmosphere more than anything. Plus they served me a bloody mary at 11am after a bad breakup - Bartender: "you need to order food to get alcohol before noon" Me : "give me a pancake!!!" That bloody mary was great and I was gone before the pancake even showed up.That's my kind of place! The food is also decent. Wings are excellent. Huge and loads of them.
(3)Jeffrey F.
This was our first time back to the H&B since the renovation, and we thought the outside looked great. Inside had the same layout, but new facing. Took down the half wall between the bar and dining tables, which I'm not sure if I would like if I wanted to go in there to eat at a table. Nice big Flat screen TV's. Bartender service was inconsistent as usual. Not very friendly either. Food was decent, about the same as it was before the renovation, but prices seem to have jumped significantly. Would be nice to see a step up in food quality and selection for the price jump.
(3)Aaron W.
This was our easy burger place with the kids. It's good pub-food. Burgers are good, fish & chips are pretty good. They renovated a while back and prices went up a bit - now feels a bit over-priced for what it is, but not overly so. There are still some good deals and a nice atmosphere.
(3)Bill T.
I watch most Celtics games here, everywhere you tilt your head there is a TV. Wish they offered more options on the menu, like a variety of sandwiches and burger. If I'm ordering a meal I prefer the Fish & Chips, and the wings are some of the best I've had. They come in honey and buffalo. The portions are huge, and you can get by splitting something. If you are into Trivia Nights, seems like they draw a pretty good crowd on Tuesday nights. Nothing amazing about this place, but I keep coming back, mostly because it's across the street.
(3)Nicholas G.
I have to at least give this place 2 stars as i use to go to this place alot until one sour experience in the past, then that did it for me. It's a nice family restaurant nicely divided between bar and restaurant. Their menu is pretty good and the prices are spot on for what it is. Every time i went there i never had any troubles with service. Ok, onto the bad part, the manager is an ass. In the past i use to go here a couple of times a month. The last time we went, the fried haddock/cod whatever the dish was with fries were ordered. Got the fish and they said it tasted weird, i said no way, tasted it myself. Yup, definitely a bad piece of fish, no questions asked, doesn't matter if it was fried or not. We complained and the manager comes over and i explain the situation and tell him we come here often and this has never happened to us. He gets a fork and actually tastes the fish himself. With us being appalled, he says the fish is fine. We then go no it isn't, we took a bite each and thought not and asked for another piece of fish or at least another order of something. He proceeds to say, "its always like you kids to want a free meal its always something free, the fish is cooked perfectly and i will not take it back or off of the check and no substitutes" I don't know what foot pole was shoved inside of him, but i know i will never go back here....
(2)Jordan S.
I really like this place. We usually go for Sunday brunch or dinner. The food is always great! I like their omelets, Thanksgiving Day turkey burger, chicken parmasian and baked haddock - everything I've tried! Hahaha. The service is always spectacular. Whether we're dining in or taking out, we are always greeted with warm smiles and given the best customer service. It's the best neighborhood spot!!
(5)Mike D.
I stopped in the other day for a quick bite to eat and it was anything but quick. The service was very slow. I sat there for almost 10 minutes before I was able to get a drink and it wasn't busy. I ordered the burger and it was ok. Not bad, but I have had better. Over all I probably wouldn't go there again unless necessary.
(2)Cecilia L.
This is your typical friendly neighborhood bar and family restaurant that serves pleasant, dull all-American food. Buffalo wings are ok, not very spicy. Fish and chips are decent, not too flavorful. Pulled pork sandwich is nice, but the burger is bland, and I left the fries on my plate. The one standout is clam chowder, creamy and well-seasoned with large clams and soft potatoes. The decor would make grandpa feel right at home.
(3)Connor D.
I've eaten here for years, and while it's had ups and downs, it is currently on an upswing. This is a real neighborhood place, unpretentious and friendly. Pours a decent martini - although the price for the Sapphire just headed north of what you'll pay at the Blarney Stone, and that's a tad hard to justify. Regular standouts: - The BLT - best I've had. Get it on dark rye. - The cole slaw - they put in, something spicy, maybe horseradish, maybe CRACK. I can't stop eating it. - French onion soup - unfancy and hearty The must-have: - the 'chicken fingers'. These are not fingers, they are WHOLE BONELESS BREAST portions, fried perfectly with an amazing wing sauce (if you get the hot variety), and the large order has about a freakin' dozen of them, with great blue cheese dressing. Save some for tomorrow's hangover.
(4)Michael M.
The Harp & Bard Four stars, Decently priced beers, like 3.50 for a bud bottle, 5.00 for a classy draft. Great food they serve until 9 or 10. plently of TV's and who could forget Keno. Good jukebox but thier is usually an older crowd there. I''ve been told to leave a couple of times, maybe for having too good of a time but besides that great place to go if your just looking for a drink and a tasty reasonably priced meal.
(4)Kurt M.
I'll admit; the Harp & Bard is a shitty bar. And not shitty as in "cool." Shitty as in generic, uninteresting and boring. The crowd is a lot of regular neighborhood folks and I only end up going here with people from my grad program since a lot of us live in the neighborhood. The alcohol isn't outrageously expensive but it's not as cheap as some other places (say, the Banshee). The one saving grace of the Harp & Bard (besides their slightly above average food, which is by most definitions just bar food) is Thursday night karaoke. If you want to do karaoke and have multiple chances to sing in the course of the four hours, this is the place to do it. You won't be singing every other song per se, but you will probably be able to get in twice in an hour. And while it is nice to be able to have those opportunities, the crowd has been rather slim the past few months which definitely takes some of the energy out of performing.
(3)Jess M.
Good bar good food good times. The steak tips are really good. I get the lobster in the summer once a week with my daughter. I sit at the bar and watch games and have a good time. The bar always has a regular sitting there. Its a local place. A lot of older neighborhood folks eat here on sunday. I like that I can bring my kid for lunch or dinner too. The younger "american college" crowd pretty much stays out of here, so thats a plus. (in my book) I'va always met the kindest people here and had good drinks and conversations with old local drunks and smart hotties.
(5)Victoria D.
still not sold on the re-fit. Youre not D- Bar and nobody wants you to be. Stop being fancy, get back to proper grub and we'll all be happy!
(3)David M.
I go here all the time. This is a great neighborhood bar and restaurant where pretty much everyone knows your name. The staff and food are equally awesome. I usually get the steak tips or the cheeseburger. Both are the best. You can never go wrong ordering anything else on the menu like the chicken fingers. They also make the best French fries. They use the thick cut steak fries which I always appreciate. Pretty much every seat at the bar gets its own plasma TV. The Harp and Bard is the place to go for great food with excellent service at low prices.
(5)Tammi M.
Good drinks, decent food and usually a good time.
(3)susana c.
Granted I have not been to the Harp and Bard in about 3 years, but I would just like to add that they also have a great breakfast. Rolling out of bed and heading out for French toast served by friendly Irish waitresses is a damned good way to wake up.
(4)Food S.
Nice place. Went here tonight, friendly Irish waitresses here, very accommodating, fast service, decent prices, clean, local type restaurant and bar. One of the only problems I had with the place was the Keno screens. They take away from the whole atmosphere. Other than that, my experience was good overall. I do recommend the restaurant, (I didn't check out any alcoholic beverages, so I can't say how they are.) Not one of those hidden treasures, but, I had a good time there and good meal.
(3)Kaitlyn M.
This place has great drinks for lower than your average prices. I am also something of a buffalo wing/buffalo chicken tenders connoisseur and their buffalo chicken tenders are amazing! By far, my number one favorite. If you're not big on blue cheese, order them with ranch dressing...so good...
(5)