07/27/09

better have lots of cash, barfly

by FMuler

when i feel like a bigshot and wanna reward myself, i try one of each and swim home

• Pros: good beer choices, crappy food
• Cons: expensive

05/09/09

Decent Bar

by ElBombero

I went here on the strength of its reputation as a good dive bar. The bartender was friendly, and pretty quick with service. The burger I had was cooked perfectly. The reason I gave three stars...is that while it was a pleasant overall experience...it wasn't what the hype of the other reviews would have you think. It's not outrageously priced...but too expensive to be considered a dive. Food's good...beer selection is good, service is good......but I just didn't see what was memorable about the place.

• Pros: Beer Selection
• Cons: too pricey to be considered a true "dive"

12/31/08

Great food, specials, and a Ridiculous Beer Selection!

by harmonyb

This is a tiny, dark, wonderful pub... great for the beer snob. Happy hours offer buck burgers - and they're delicious!

• Pros: great food, expansive beer selection, food specials
• Cons: limited seating, cash only

12/05/08

Good Beer, Good Atmosphere

by ThirstyInBoston

Bukowski's is a little hole in the wall with an exhaustive selection of beers that may or may not be in stock when you order.

The atmosphere is always lively and the "Dead Authors Club" neon sign in the window, when paired with its red facade, almost make it worth the trip alone.

• Pros: Amazing beer list
• Cons: Small, often crowded. Almost too many beers to choose from.

10/26/08

Good last call Bar

by DanTheAccountant

They serve very late. The service is fast. Not a place to bring people your trying to impress, but a cool dive bar with no frills. Much better than most of the Boylston St. bars with drunken 21 year old kids. I would return here.

• Pros: Serve late and fast service
• Cons: smells like a gerbil cage

09/03/08

Beer lovers only need apply

by Sinestress

Freakin fantastic selection of beer! Plus the beer menu gives a good education on the difference between all of the categories of beer. The food is quite good for the munchies, but don't expect 5-star food. I had a pretty darn good turkey burger.

Service is good if you go during prime time (after work or in the evening). We caught an off-hour bartender (4:00pm or so) at the end of her shift and it was obvious why she didn't work when there's a crowd - she was a total flake who paid no attention to us. However, the good bartenders came in afterwards and took good care of our refill & stuffing-face needs. They were easy to talk to as well, but not the boisterous cheery or suave type (if that's what you're into). I love a good dive, and this is pretty much what I expect out of one.

Interesting fact: If you have every beer on the menu within 6 months, they engrave a large mug for you that you can use whenever you come in. [I would've loved to have done this if I lived in the Boston area.]

• Pros: BEER! decent food for munchies, down-to-earth crowd
• Cons: somewhat small place, the off-hours staff

05/15/08

Iconic Boston Bar

by Pema007

If you haven't been here, what are you waiting for? The hot dogs, the fries.. everything is great. Only place I know you can get Black Label in a can. Love it. I have had many a great afternoon, evening, late night here. Great atmosphere. Be ready to show your ID to a surly door man, but they have to keep the peace. This place isn't all light and roses, it's dark, and a little dirty, but delicious beer selection... this place is classic, and iconic Boston.

• Pros: everything is awesome here
• Cons: gets crowded

12/13/07

worst bar in Boston

by dmac02215

overpriced beer, inedible food, terrible music, rude/moronic batenders - this place is not a dive bar, it's a tourist trap...

04/25/07

Bukowski's: It's got what Beer Lovers crave...

by ladyhawke78

Speaking as an out of towner (from Eastern Pennsylvania, actually...) I'll not hesitate in saying that whenever I come to the city of Boston, I consider Bukowski's Tavern to be "my Local Dive."

As a long-time beer enthusiast, I can say for a fact that the beer selection at Bukowski's tavern is one of the finest I've seen. (Right up there with Brickskellars' in downtown D.C.) I have encountered a lot of unique beers here that I had never had the pleasure of tasting before, and I have turned my friends on to Bukowski's "unique" menu items-- such as Peanut Butter Burgers. Trust me on this one. It is a very good thing.

As a veteran Staff member of a 'certain' large Japanese art and culture convention held annually at the Hynes Convention Center, I am happy to crown Bukowski's Tavern as our Staff's "unofficial hangout bar." You guys have helped us battle many post-staff-meeting jitters, and have kept us company on those long nights during the convention. Thanks to all of the Bukowski's staff ro being friendly and welcoming. I always look forward to coming back when I'm in Baaah-stin. See you again in a few weeks!

• Pros: Beer selection, unique atmosphere
• Cons: gets crowded, hard to gather with a large number of people

01/27/07

Excrutiating Experience

by kara13

I've never felt less welcome at a bar. True they have an excellent beer selection and you can get a burger for a $1 (of course you will make up the difference in what you pay for your beer), but the bartenders were so rude and the music was painfully loud. There was the obscene wannabe hipster attitude and my group of about 30 people were being shot dirty looks (from the staff). Instead of appreciating the business, they were doing their best to get us out of there and it worked. I will not be going back.