Toad

02/11/09

Good music, good bartenders

by telliej at Citysearch

Great place for seeing free live music. The space is small. I would not recommend going here if you are looking for a quiet evening.

• Pros: Music - No cover charge
• Cons: Small and loud

01/05/09

Very cool little music club

by callmebc at Citysearch

Toad is a tiny club/bar on Mass Ave across from the Porter Sq. shopping center. The music is often stellar and there is never a cover. There is always a show at 10pm and usually an earlier act at 7 or 8pm. There is always at least one weekly residency by one of the better local acts (Google "toad calendar" for their schedule). Beer selection is modest but good, and with a couple of rotating taps. Seating means getting there early to nab a bar stool or a chair by one of the small tables with the long pew on the other side against the wall. They don't serve food directly, but they do have the menu from Christopher's, which is next door, that you can order from as takeout, but eat-in. They don't seem to mind if you bring in outside food (which I've done a lot -- usually a Honey Dijon roast beef from Wing Works, which goes rather well with a Harpoon UFO....) If the place is packed when you get there, it is a bit awkward to find a place to stand, but the people at the tables generally don't mind sharing when there is an empty chair or a space on the pew. Bartender service can be slow at times when things are jammed and noisy, but it's never annoyingly bad. Newbies should get there early to get a feel for the place as it fills up.

• Pros: Often great music with never a cover, friendly casual atmosphere, good beer
• Cons: Often packed given its small size

05/15/08

rude and bigoted bartender

by chi2 at Citysearch

the guy serves us one round of drinks and decides for himself that we are too drunk to be served another round of drinks. Mr. bartender is "uncomfortable" serving us another round of drinks!!!!! never heard that one before in all my years of living in Boston and New York......just because we dont look like the rest of his yuppie neighborhood regulars??? His definition of drunk? - ONE DRINK!!!

did we say anything to offend him??/ NO. Did we not tip him?? HELL NO...Tipped him more that his f***ing service and attitude deserved!!! People of color - DONT BOTHER!

• Cons: the bartender

08/29/07

good music, bartenders below average

by diannjohn at Citysearch

Music is great , but the bartenders act like they would rather be anywhere else in the world. When you're making that much money , do you really need to act like it's a pain to serve someone? Really guys, drop the attitude.

• Pros: Great Music, no cover
• Cons: Bad Service

08/26/06

Local musicians and live music fans crowd this tiny bar for nightly performances from an eclectic schedule.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
This live music club hosts performances seven nights a week, drawing acts from the large pool of talented musicians living around Cambridge. There's little flat-out rock, but the singer-songwriters who play here have no qualms about bringing in their electric guitars and drums. Among those who've graduated from the Toad but still turn up on its stage and in the audience are country-rocker Dennis Brennan, songwriter Laurie Sargent, and former members of Morphine and Treat Her Right.

The Draw
Choose from Guinness or 12 microbrews on tap as you listen to the local rock, folk or blues acts. Toad shares management and adjacent space with Christopher's, a more spacious eating and drinking spot with good bar food (sweet potato fries, artichoke hearts).

09/21/05

I don't know what I would do without Toad

by joneshugher at Citysearch

This place is right next to my house. I moved to Porter about 3 month ago and it's enough that you go there 3 times and your part of the family. The thing is that you can go there as often as you want. The drinks are cheap and the music is free every night. And great music too.

• Pros: music, cheap, friendly
• Cons: small

08/05/04

The best place

by andy82 at Citysearch

I've given up on weekends since it is just too crowded, but weekdays are great here. The styles of the bands differ, but they are always amazing. Just the perfect place for a drink and some music up close and personal. A good after-dinner date stop if you live nearby.