01/21/09

Named after a boozing ex-postal carrier turned writer, Bukowski Tavern offers the largest beer selection in Boston.

by hardinghouseinncambrdge

Named after a boozing ex-postal carrier turned writer, Bukowski Tavern offers the largest beer selection in Boston. With over 15 taps and ?99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall,? (from a $3 Pabst Blue Ribbon to a $13 Lindemans Lambic), the choices are dizzying. Bartenders help overwhelmed patrons choose by spinning their dial-a-beer wheel. But beware, because wherever it lands, the brew ? and the bill ? will end up on your table. Besides the drinks, Bukowski also has semi-decent bar food. Favorites include their famous six-ounce burger with chunky peanut butter; the ?white trash? cheese dip with jalapenos, diced tomatoes and tortilla chips; and the sweet potato fries. Vegetarian options are on the menu as well, but I don?t recommend them. They also have one of Cambridge?s best bargains: $1.69 burgers on weekdays before 8pm. Located in a lofty former garage, this sparse, all-black space has comfortable red leather booths and offers great people watching on Cambridge Street. On the far wall is a large mural of ol? Charles Bukowski ? the tavern?s namesake - drinking alone with his pen as rock music blares from the speakers. For a great bar that serves late night food, Bukowski?s is the spot.

03/20/08

Mostly good people, allways good food and beer.

by notabarfly

Don't get meen just because your poor Inman Sq is changing and young people are taking over the area. Change happens. I do understand that there are problems with the place. The bar staff is great, Liz one of the bartenders is a great bartender and a nice woman. Actually all the bartenders are good at their jobs. I have always found them to be friendly, and if you don?t like people with tattoos or if you want to comment on how people dress go someplace else. I often go there after getting out of work wearing suits and I don?t have any tattoos or punk cred of any sort but the bartenders and patrons are friendly and will talk with you about beer and even make the occasional joke about your beer selection(don't take it so personally). Unfortunately the same cannot be said for some of the wait staff. I think most of them are good but there are one or two who can make that an awful experience.

Yes the beer is a little expensive, but PBR is 3 dollars and if I want a huge selection of over one hundred and thirty beers from around the world I expect to pay for it.

The music can get loud on the weekends, but I mostly avoid going to bars on the weekends for that reason. Make no mistake; this is not a restaurant on the weekends, It is a bar it is packed full of loud people and loud music.

Next is the smell. Yes, sometimes in the summer there is a small sewage problem below the street and the open garage doors let the smell waft right into the bar, I can?t deny that. All I can say is that it is not allways there.

My recommendation is to sit at the bar when you go and avoid most bars in the city if you don?t like a loud atmosphere. The general rules of social situations apply; the bartenders can talk with you and have alittle fun with you, if you can't take that in good spirits go somewhere that you can be anonymous I think that there is an Uno's in porter.

09/14/07

Staff leaves a bad taste in my mouth

by writingareview

Ok so they hire a bunch of girls that look like their all strung oput on heroine. They serve their food in plastic buckets of sorts. Damn near anti american with the beer seection!!!! now that gets my gord. Yeah they got this bartender named liz, wow what a waste of life she is. Before that place was there, there was a beautiful restaraunt names Jaes, fish tanks and good food and a really nice atmosphere. When Jaes left the area Bukowskis moved in. Now that was the worst thng to happen to inman sq since the original legal seafood burned down. Ok the atmosphere of Bukowskis is the atmosphere of a drugg den. The walls have some horrid display of bokowski and his typerwriter. the Music they play is just rediculous, Its always some song that you have never heard played way to loud. Is it cool to play music that no one has ever heard of? does that make you a better person? Is that why you staff members act like your gods gift to cambridge st? Cause you look horrid....... If your going to this place to meet people, I would try another spot. cause the atmosphere is not encouraging in that aspect. Ok im done with this..... HIRE BETTER STAFF BUKOWSKIS

• Pros: garage doors
• Cons: atmosphere

11/03/06

Great beer selection, decent food, not crowded for mid-week lunch

by cmrobin21

Food is decent (Fries are exceptional). I've had a few specials and a few things off the regular menu and you can generally expect a decent fare. Don't expect to be wowed.

Beer selection is excellent. I think they advertise 99, but I've never counted. Either way you'll find something to cool you off.

Serivce is usually too lax so stay on your server. Great for mid-week lunch when it's not crowded.

• Pros: Great beer selection, good burgers and sandwiches, atmosphere is ok
• Cons: Service, cash only

06/15/06

This place s@cks.

by saltydawg06

Ok, I got there once: food s@cks- cold, bland, unoriginal, kinda gross looking... The server s@cks - rude, unfriendly, slams the beers and food down in front of you... Atmosphere s@cks - why have tons of booths so people can talk when the music is so loud you can't hear anything? I can understand in a place where it's standing room, people are moving and stuff, but....boothes? And it's cash only - with a $2.50 per charge ATM in the back. Yeah, really awesome. I wouldn't go to this place if this and McDonald's were the last places on Earth. And even then I'd go to McDonalds.

• Pros: Open air, tons of beer
• Cons: Service, food, atmosphere

01/27/06

great cheap food and 99 beers!

by bostonoffice2

go for the weekday dining specials, cheap burgers and fries. top beer selection in inman sq. friendly bartenders.

• Pros: prices, chill peeps
• Cons: empty sometimes

07/09/04

This Cambridge sibling to the Back Bay's popular beer bar updates the original's formula with stellar results.

by Eric Grossman

The Scene
Located in a long, dark room that once housed a Jae's Cafe, Bukowski's Inman Square outpost delivers the same satisfying menu and unrivaled beer selection of the original cramped Back Bay location. But tourist-free crowds and roomier environs yield a far more relaxed vibe here. A hipster soundtrack (Pavement, Neil Young), strategically placed TV sets and a view of busy Cambridge Street contribute to an eclectic, carefree atmosphere.

The Draw
The focus forever remains on the sudsy stuff; beer aficionados have 14 taps and dozens of obscure bottles to choose from. Couples and professionals with different palates enjoy a fully stocked bar, an improvement on the original's lack of a liquor license. A solid pub-grub menu holds its own against the impressive beer list with one of the city's best bargains, the rightfully famous "Buck Burger" ($1.69 on weekdays before 8pm).

05/23/03

Foamy Beers and Bad Attitudes

by dudebro

Not too happy with this place. Service is poor and the beers are poorly poured.

Room for improvment.

• Pros: lots of beers, good tunes, location
• Cons: expensive beers, attitude