Gardner Ale House
74 Parker St, Gardner, MA, 01440
Gardner Ale House Menu
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Address :
74 Parker St
Gardner, MA, 01440 - Phone (978) 669-0122
- Website https://gardnerale.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Matt P.
It's Gardner's local restaurant at its best. Good little gem if you're passing by. The atmosphere is welcoming - great paintings and pictures on the walls, brick walls, wide bar area, darts, live music. Their mother's day breakfast is top notch. Great variety of local beers. Steak tips are amazing. I'd have to say my favorite though is the pulled pork sandwich. If you like a chatty hub with great local flavor, check out the Alehouse.
(5)Sally D.
Everything is great here. The Hog Wings (bbq pork on the bone) are delicious. I order their Nacho's a lot but you really have to ask them not to burn them (even my last waitress admitted that they over-cook them every time). I'd say I come here fairly often when I'm looking for a tasty dinner or to come see live music.
(4)John A.
Stopped by on our way through town. Had never even heard of the place. Small wait for a table on a Thursday night but well worth it. Wish I could remember what home made beers we ordered but they were all excellent. The Mediterenean appetizer was a meal in itself. I had the mixed grill; chicken, steak and shrimp. Now, based on Boston prices and restaurants, I was expecting a small serving of chicken and steak and maybe 2-3 shrimp. Wrong. these were full meal sized servings and about 8 shrimp. Food was cooked right, served hot and by friendly waitstaff. I dont get through Gardner very often but I do recommend the Ale House to friends and will stop by again next time trhough town.
(4)Eileen R.
Went for lunch on a Wednesday. Waitress was super friendly. We got exactly what we were looking for - something fast and delicious. We had the ham and broccoli stromboli and the chicken florentine panini, both excellent. Would go here again if I'm in the area.
(4)Scott M.
Great food and good beer @ a nice price. Nice little gem deep in the heart of a not-so-great city. Like the idea that they exclusively sell their own brew.
(4)Christa H.
Awesome beer selection! Blackened salmon caesar salad is amazing. Pizzas are really good too!
(5)Vincenzo C.
Went for lunch on a Monday. Super friendly bartender and a waitress sat next to me who was equally nice. I have had bad server experiences here but it was great on that Monday. Try the ale house winter seasonal, very tasty. I also had the chicken club, shrimp tempura ap, two beers and a coke. Total bill was in the mid twenties. Great experience
(4)Kate V.
Sorry but I have to disagree with other Yelpers on this one!! Been here 3 times, and it has progressively gotten worse each time. I may be a food snob, but I love a good brew, and have recently moved away from Northampton (the mecca of good food and tasty brews in Western MA ) and wanted to start trying new places. First time was ehh.. came with my boyfriend and I's mothers on a Sunday to try this place out. Second time we went alone, sat at the bar and were starving.. ordered the surf and turf which is supposed to come with lobster. It showed up awhile later,with shrimp on the plate. Come on! You can't give 2 shrimp and charge them for lobster?! I had to bring this to the servers attention, and only then did they take 2 dollars off the bill. Third time... Walked in and was sat in the VERY EMPTY dining room, and we politely asked our waitress about the RED SOX SPECIAL.. free nachos sounded great to us! She told us we couldn't have that in the dining room, only the bar. Thank you, dip shit hostess for letting us know that BEFORE seating us in the dining room, we had asked when we came in about the special, probably her job to know that information. We didn't want to move and upset our waitress so we stayed. I asked for more time on our drink order, not being ready, I guess that's not acceptable here, because she rolled her eyes and said " I guess" Really? We were one of the only tables!! After ordering lots of food, and our drinks, the hostess came over to our table, and asked me to hand her our flowers on our table, now my boyfriend who is extremely laid back and easy says to her in jest "Really, our flowers?" She immedietly sniped at him saying that they, "weren't his flowers they were the restaurants." Really? Our food tasted like it was out of a can, and the service was beyond lousy! Stay away!!
(1)Mike S.
Beer: good. Food: bad. Service: atrocious. I can't remember the last time I have had to wait this long for a meal to be served. They acknowledged the problem, and adjusted our bill, but I can't think of any reason why I would ever go there again.
(1)Ani J.
Fair but service very slow. Took two hours to get food, eat and get bill
(3)Ade B.
The Ale House is always a hood time, particularly if you enjoy fresh, hand-crafted beer. The atmosphere is comfortable and the staff is friendly and courteous. Would certainly recommend the Gardner Ale House.
(4)Richard L.
Just had cheeseburger, fries and a beer. Food was made to order and burger was char broiled to perfection. Service was great. Has it's own beers too.
(4)Cee W.
A group of us went and it got "mixed" reviews. The steaks were so-so, flavorful not top cuts of beef though. The appetizers were great all around, but they need to do a far better job of DEVEINING the shrimp, pretty inexusable to find that in your shrimp, unappetizing for sure, and I didn't even order that.Despite pointing that out, no offer to bring a properly prepared replacement was made, nor was a price adjustment offered. That soured things for one of our party. My meal was great. The place was very crowded when we got there, the wait was reasonable, the waitress seemed too busy to care much about it when we had the problem with the one appetizer, wasn't rude, but definitely wasn't offering anything to make things right. Overall it was a positive experience, I'd go again, but it probably would be someone else suggesting the place.
(3)Kim G.
A solid place to stop for a meal. I mostly came here because I love brewpubs, and I love ale...and was disappointed to find they only had two of their own brews available. However, they had a decent selection of outside beers, including magner's irish cider which is not commonly found in small US towns. I tried one of their ale's but didn't love it, so I stuck with cider. Food was decent--I had the tortillini which was tasty and had many complex flavors--veggie, white wine, cream, caramelized onions and mushrooms. Pretty crowded for a Wed. night, which speaks well for the place.
(3)Rue B.
This place is awesome and much needed for the area! I grew up between Fitchburg & Gardner. North Central Mass has always been a hub of food mediocrity. Hard to get much besides soggy pizza, soggy grinders, soggy Chinese Food (exception of Gardner's own Yen Yen, which is awesome!), donut shops, and pubs built on menus of prime rib/potatoes/Anheuser-Busch products. Gardner Ale House comes along and builds A) a fine beer establishment. Even bigger cities Worcester and Fitch/Leominster don't have brewpubs for some reason. Hey brewers - come to these places and fill the market gap!! B) takes the simple but rare-round-those-parts step of using fresh, non-canned ingredients. Puts these into a hearty pub plus steaks & pizza menu that still manages to be vegetarian-friendly. D) Keeps the prices reasonable! Mostly $10-20 entrees, under $10 for sandwiches. Filet mignon is the only thing over $20 here. D) A non-dive space for local bands to play in. Way to take a big step toward pulling G-Vegas and the general North Central area out of its culinary voidness. Gardner Ale House is proof that good beer and a true quality semi-upscale restaurant can succeed even in the land of half-dead Central Mass mill towns. Favorites on recent visit in early February were Dave's Double (strong ale 8.5%!), FaceLift IPA, and guest beer BBC Holidale on draft. Sweet potato fries and a damn good Smokehouse pizza (BBQ sauce, bacon, smoked gouda cheese, ham, caramelized onions).
(5)jJohnna D.
The food is hit or miss, the beer is good but the service is TERRIBLE. The wait staff is lazy, rude, not knowledgeable and SLOW. We have been here countless times and are always frustrated with service. On our last visit, I ordered the French onion soup that is usually decent, this time, the onions were RAW. I sent it back with the waitress who was not happy about it, waited for my pizza with CARAMELIZED onion to find they were also RAW. tried to get the waitress' attention to send it back as well, and she totally avoided us. She would not come to get the pizza, refill the drinks or anything. We got a manager, paid for our drinks and I wrote them the next day. The manager wrote back and said that the soup did have a problem that night, but no apology, no offer to come back, and basically said "If you don't like it, you can go somewhere else" and that is EXACTLY what we do.The place SHOULD be packed, there are not a lot of choices in Gardner, but as you can see from other reviews, no one likes the service and would rather go out of town than be treated the way you are at Ale House. Service is ALWAYS slow, even when the waitress isn't rude. We just don't bother anymore.
(1)Amanda L.
My family and I stopped in here as we were in town visiting a sick relative at the hospital. This was the only place on Yelp, in the area, that we thought was worth our time for a late lunch. It was Sunday so they had a brunch going on, which my mother seemed to enjoy. The rest of us ordered from the menu. Our server was very friendly but I will say that my mom was done her brunch and then some (after eating very slowly) before we even got our appetizer ( Crab dip, very yummy). There were people who came in after us and also ordered from the menu who received their meals before we did which is very irritating especially when the restaurant was not that busy. Boyfriend had one of their house brews which he said was OK. My meal was average at best. I would have given this establishment 3 stars except that I had to use the restroom before I left. You have your choice of the stall that looks normal and the one with the handwritten sign that states "follow the directions using the sensitive toilet". No thank you, I'd rather you get that toilet fixed.
(2)Rick P.
Great restaurant and brewery. My wife and I have been there for dinner as well as a private holiday party. Each time the food was good and the beer was great. We have had the onion soup and chowder, pizza, a quesadilla and sandwiches over the three or four times we've been there. Everything was good, but I would have preferred to have the quesadilla pan seared instead of oven baked. The exterior was a little too soft with a mild (bland) cheese on the inside. Good service every time we have been there. Best choice for dinner in Gardner!
(4)Gary W.
When starting out, the beer was a tad 'off' as it hadn't been aged to quite that level yet (as I'd expect). Service was slow, and menu was limited. Now that they have been open for a while, their beer is very good to excellent. Their food, while mostly pub fare, has the occasional diamond. I absolutely adore their Chocolate Porter. I hope they make more soon. I have to say, this is probably the best place in town (not much competition around). They have done a great job with the place, and I can see them getting better and better. Service is quite good now too. Occasional live music which is nice.
(4)Sara M.
Before finally making it to the Gardner Ale House this Friday, I had been checking in on their website periodically, mainly because I was impressed with their philosophy of creating a community meeting place to share ideas, music and art. Their calendar is well maintained and updated, and they even have a newsletter! Located in the quaint downtown area of Gardner, the Gardner Ale House brings a much-needed vitality to the area. On top of all that- they brew their own beer! I tried a sample of their Summer's End beer, which had been infused with strawberries as the weekly experiment. The restaurant area filled up quickly, as did the bar where we sat. Luckily we snagged two seats. I ordered the blackened mahi mahi sandwich with red pepper remoulade from the pub menu- it was quite tasty, as were the seasoned fries that accompanied it. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the menu is reasonably priced. Unfortunately we left before the entertainment, but it appears to be quite a draw. Looking forward to going back soon!
(4)Tara B.
This is an amazing brewhouse! We've been going for 2 years now and they just keep getting better. The building is gorgeous inside and the staff is fun and welcoming. The owner, Rick, is often seen chatting with customers and trying to find new ways to improve the place. The Brewmaster, Dave is also very accessible and loves to talk about beer how they brew it. He gives great tours of the brewery too! They use local products as much as possible and work hard to elevate not just the pub but the community as a whole. They host artwork from local artists, throw fundraisers etc. The beer and food are fantastic and they have lots of great music too (thurs thru sat nights). We especially love the Sat. night Blues music. Hoping to make it to one of their seasonal Beer Dinners, where they pair their beers with goumet food. They even have a Mug Club. You pay a yearly fee and get your own numbered mug (24 oz) hanging over the bar. You get a pint and a half for the price of a pint, monthly specials, tshirt and an annual party just for members.
(5)A Z.
My mom is always trying to get me to come here when I visit her in Hubbardston, she loves this place. I've been a few times now and enjoyed the buffalo wings, chicken club and some rib tenders once. We also got some pumpkin dessert that was amazing. My mom raves about the desserts, so save room! Overall, the food was pretty good, but it's bar so look out for the very busy and loud atmosphere that happens later on in the evening.
(4)Nick P.
The Gardner Ale House snagged a 4-Star from me almost solely based on A.) THE CRAFT-BEER THEY BREW! They have a great line-up of hand-crafted brews, a few which have been awarded medals at the Great International Beerfest. B.) The location of this beer is relatively close to my domain. The menu is pretty decent, and they seem to offer frequent events for the patrons. Everyone else that reviewed pretty much covered how crap-ass the service can be. The girls at the bar approach you with an attitude that let's you know that they expect to be hit on by you and your bar-mates, and are already unimpressed! Lucky for them, the beer totally overshadows their bitchy attitudes. The beer. I should have just wrote "The beer."
(4)Jason B.
Been coming here for several years now. A fantastic, but small local brewhouse. The staff and owners are super-friendly. Dave, the brewmaster, is frequently walking around and chatting with the patrons, spreading his knowledge and love of beer. Quick ratings: Drinks - 5 Food - 3 Entertainment - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Some of the food is really excellent. The pizzas, salads, soups and sandwiches are all quite good. Some of the entrees are hit-and-miss. Not necessarily "bad", but if you want good pasta, go to an italian restaurant, for example. The specials are usually worth trying. I would not recommend the desserts. Back to the good stuff - the BEER. There is always a constantly rotating variety of locally-made beer (literally brewed at the back of the restaurant). They have won multiple awards and the brewmaster is always tweaking and trying new things. There is also usually a cask beer on tap, especially in the cooler months. The Ale House has a great selection of regional live music, starting around 8 or 9 most nights. Tip: It can get quite crowded in here, especially on the weekend nights and/or if there is a popular band playing. The entire front bar area, including the little tables on the side is first-come/first-serve seating. Also, there is a free public lot directly across the street.
(4)Chris T.
We tried this place due to Yelp rating and really enjoyed it. Casual setting, lots of "regulars" and the food was excellent.
(5)Ken A.
First impressions were it was dark and loud. The staff was very attentive and helpful with the menu items. Large flat screen abound and plenty of interesting art on the exposed brick and post walls, for a nice pub type atmosphere. All meals were great at our table, I had Mediterrean Plate, Awesome!. Try to get Jessica for a server.
(3)Ashley S.
You will serve me beer-battered fried pickle spears after 10pm - YES PLEASE. Seriously. I've been here twice so far, once for regular dinner and once where I could only order off the late night menu. The hostess said this like it was a bad thing. Um, NO. I would argue that the late night menu is better than the regular menu. I'm from the South and swear by fried pickle slices, but entire spears had me more than excited. Pair them with an amazing honey mustard sauce and I'm sold. I also strongly recommend the spinach and artichoke rangoons. Melty goodness at its best. I know that I will be returning to the Ale House many, many, many times. The only reason for four stars instead of five is the piss-poor live music I've had to endure while trying to enjoy my yummy food.
(4)Andrea H.
Great food. Beer is OK, but the guest taps are great.
(4)Jane C.
Great food. Great beer choices. Very friendly and capable waitstaff.
(5)Jeremy R.
I love the G-Vegas Ale House. First of all, there's basically nothing else of note to eat in Gahdhah-Hey, so it makes it the default choice for eating out. That said, the food does not disappoint. I also know that the beer is exceptional and made on-site. There's a cool vibe with live music, sports on the tvs, etc. Service is good in general. I would recommend the G-Vegas Nachos, the Chicken Monterrey sandwich, and the Thai Chicken Salad. I am not a huge fan of the pizza but would say the Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a winner. Desserts are very good and the Dean's Beans Coffee always hot and fresh. Get to the Ale House if you happen to be in Gardner.
(5)Bob T.
Ate in the bar area...service was great, food even better. Even if there were other great restuarants around ( which there aren't) this would get 4 stars.
(4)JIm B.
We drove an hour to check this place out. When we walked in I was surprised at how big and nice it was. They had a nice list of beers up on the chalk board (about 6 house brewed beers and some guest beers). When we sat down and ordered drinks we were informed that they only had 2 house beers on tap, Major bummer. A brew house with only 2 house brewed beers on tap come on now... good thing for the guest brews... The Menu had lots to choose from and everything sounded good. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, a steak sandwich, and boneless wings. Portions were big, but they seem to nickle and dime ya... a buck for sweet potato fries, a buck for cheese, ect. The sandwiches were very good, the wings were overcooked and dry, it was a workout to chew them... Go here hungry! Would I go back? Yes.
(3)Courtney B.
I visited the gardner ale house tonight around 6 30 with my boyfriend and his friend. We were seated and the waitress came over a few minutes later. She never introduced herself. She asked what we would like to drink, and I said I would like an Arnold Palmer, and my boyfriend ordered something on tap. She then asked for our id's and I pulled mine out and showed it to her. My boyfriend couldn't find his in his wallet, and must have misplaced it, so he decided to just order a soda. Our friend ordered the same beer as my boyfriend, and our waitress decided to start to yell at us and told us she would kick us out if we gave my boyfriend any alcohol. We are 31 years old. We came in to have a nice meal, not sneak my boyfriend booze. This was not a warm welcome at all!! We decided to leave, and I am highly offended. There was no need for her to lecture us like little children. This is no way to run a business!!! Treat the customer with some respect. 7/14/13
(1)Kelli P.
I have to say this place really has done a good job improving itself from when they first opened. Our first visit was not the greatest, but we gave it a chance and it progressed in a better direction. I'm not a beer/lager/ale drinker BUT man they are awesome with the martini's had just about every one and they are all awesome! The swedish fish martini is delightful, the key-lime martini refreshing! We've been for dinner, lunch and brunch. The crab dip is great. The Asian salad was wonderful. Lobster pie...yummy! The brunch is incredible (not your average dried up scrambled eggs)...must have nap after. For a little town of Gardner they do a fantastic job with brunch. We've been on Friday nights for dinner, although extremely busy, the service has for the most part pretty good. The atmosphere is the best you'll find in Gardner. Love the display of local art which is rotated and displayed against exposed brick. The only down side is if you are going for entertainment, they could use a larger area, but overall I give them a thumbs up!
(4)Hugh H.
The charm and energy at the ale house is undeniable. They are without a doubt the front runners in a downtown that you can see is just a few years away from turning a really positive corner. The food is good, the beer is great and the staff is phenomenal (If you come during a special event you may even see some of them in German beer maid outfits.) You can tell that the folks that run the ale house really care about the town they're in and for that Gardner should be thankful. If you find yourself in central mass drop a few shekels at the ale house and enjoy an evening at a great small town establishment.
(5)Michelle S.
All I can write about at the Gardner Ale House is the food. It's decent most times but we've found that it can be pretty hit or miss. Some days it's really a great meal and then other times we'd wished we gone someplace else. It's convenient on the way home so we stop in from time to time. My favorites on the menu are the Mediterranean Plate (Greek salad, hummus, baba ghanouj and toasted pita chips). The salad is not a traditional Greek salad. It's basically big chunks of tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives and onion on top a couple pieces of lettuce. The veggies are the salad - not the lettuce. It's all soaked in oil and vinegar and then each side of the plate has a scoop of the dips with the pita points around the plate. It's my all time fav. If I'm looking for something a little more, I get the Ale House Steak Baguette. It's an open-faced steak and cheese with peppers, onions and portabella mushrooms and a slab of sliced flat-iron steak. I eat it with a fork and knife but the steak is always fork tender. The knife is actually for cutting through the toasted baguette. Every time I've gotten it, it's been great. My partner just about always gets the burger. It's just a good burger. I like the sweet potato fries and the crab dip is pretty decent as well. We tried the ribs once and weren't crazy about them. I probably wouldn't get them again. The service is spotty at best but I love the openness of the place and the rustic feel. It's tough on the nights that they have the live music. I like it and I know it's for the bar atmosphere but if you're just having dinner, it's hard to carry on a conversation. And the desserts are usually decent. I've gotten the strawberry shortcake (the biscuit wasn't all that great), the mascarpone cake which is probably my favorite and the lava cake which is always good. They also have a Sunday brunch buffet but I've never tried it. Good spot for little ole Gardner.
(3)Kate S.
A great place to go after a hike up Mt. Monadnock, this little brewery in the middle of nowhere serves up delicious pub fare and beer made on the premises! What a find! Happy hour specials like 25 cent wings and half price nachos don't disappoint- for $4 we got a huge plate of nachos that 6 people couldn't finish. The food was all excellent, burgers actually cooked the way requested, veggie burgers not dry, awesome fries. But it's really about the beer. These guys know what they are doing! Especially of note was the Facelift IPA. Simply delicious and just what a group of thirsty hikers needed! Service was great- we even came in right during a shift change and were totally taken care of. They seem to have a lot of theme nights and live music too.
(5)Sarah F.
After procrastinating about trying this restaurant for years (literally!), my husband and I recently ate at the Ale house. We were impressed! Seating is a little tight, but if they cut down the amount of tables, it would only add to the wait time. The food was very tasting, and the service was quick and uber-friendly. 2 thumbs up!
(4)Timmay S.
Even though this place is in Gardner I'm still going to give it 4 stars. I think the fact that you have to go to Gardner may be the only bad part about it. A nice little brew pub with descent pub style food. Went here the other day with some family members for some dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Being a lover of all beers I love going to places that make their own beer, the only bad part is that the beers are listed on chalk boards and you have to get up to see them from most parts of the dining room. Although I get it, if you change your beers seasonally it makes no sense to print out beer menus, waste of money. Tried the IPA, Double IPA, Summer Ale, and the Double Bock (Yes I had the sampler and yes I got a little hammered) and was impressed. The IPA was nice and hoppy, the double was smooth, the summer a little too light for my taste but I get it. Lets talk about some food now. Usually I don't like places like this that try to make a little of everything, because they make everything descent and nothing good. The food here however is good and they give you big portions. They do all your typical pub style foods like burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta dishes, and a few others mixed in. Although this might not be my first choice for dinner, the combination of food and locally crafted beer is a good one
(4)Charlie M.
I wanted a simple meal, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, etc. I couldn't believe the meatloaf! Three generous slices, plus they were wrapped in bacon! The mashed potatoes were as good as any homeade...this place is great.
(5)Laura V.
I hadn't been to the Ale House in years and was excited to go and try. My friend and I took a nice table in the bar area and sat in front of the amazing big screen tv to watch the B's. We were enjoying the good beers and had just received our food when the lights strangly dimmed, the game turned off and we began to get shooshed! Perhaps we should have read ALL of the boards before entering the restaraunt, but we were not warned it was movie night and we were sitting directly in front of the screen. The sound was too loud to carry on our conversation and even after we picked up our plates and moved into the dinning room, the audio still dominated. As we walked out we read the large chalkboard and saw it was movie night. We feel as though we should have been warned when we took those seats. It really was a buzz kill. I doubt we will return there any time soon!!!! BOO!!
(2)Kate T.
Delicious food, great brews! Only real negative here is that if they're having an event of any kind, the quality of service goes down the toilet. Also, the menu is mostly full of hits, but for a pub, you'd expect much better fries than the ones they serve; floppy, unusually brown, and quite flavorless. Other than that, great place!!!
(4)Katie K.
I just got back from my first visit to the Gardner Ale House. Although it seems out of place in the middle of "G-Vegas" as locals call the city, once you are inside it feels like fine dining in a classy, eclectic location, which we all know Gardner isn't. The menu offers a wide variety of choices from heavier dinner plates such as pasta, to pizza, to burgers and sandwiches. I ordered off the appetizer menu and got the Mediterranean Plate which included baba ganoush, hummus, pita chips, and a greek salad. (I'm a vegetarian and was glad to see this platter on the menu! However, there were not many other vegetarian options, safe for your standard veggie burger and egg-plant parmesan, which most restaurants tend to use to appease the vegetarian crowd.) I thought the service was pretty good -- which was unexpected after reading reviews prior to dining. Our waitress was attentive, and the food came out relatively quickly. It helped that they offered free bread and an extensive drink menu -- not only beer but also a wide variety of martinis and other girly cocktails -- to occupy us while we waited. We also went all out and got dessert. The Lemon and Mixed Berry Marscapone Cake was generously portioned and included a HEAPING scoop of blackberry ice cream accompanying it. Definitely got our money's worth on the dessert, which was delicious.
(4)Raven R.
I've been there three times. Time 1: we got our food far too late after ordering and the servic was horrible. Time 2: the brunch was ehhhh. Time 3: almost got hit walking in the crosswalk and service was just as bad as time 1.
(2)Greg W.
The Ale House has both a decent-sized bar and a dining area. I've only gone there for dinner, so I'll only comment on that half. I thoroughly enjoyed the beer selection (check it out on their website, but be warned, you can't really trust what the website says will be on tap) and fell in LOVE with their Chocolate Porter. The menu has your typical American-style family offerings; I went with the fish and chips. For $15 bucks I got two decent sized portions of deep fried fish and a heapin' pile of fries. The waitress was very attentive and patient, so very very patient. She had to keep coming back to us as we couldn't even decide what beer to start with, never mind what entree to order. There is free parking right across the street, how can you not love that? My only gripe about the place is the lighting. There are lamps hanging over the tables along the walls that toast your forehead and make you feel like you're being interrogated. However, it's nothing that a cold glass of chocolate porter won't fix. If you're looking for a quiet night out with a good beer selection and decent prices, check out the Ale House!
(4)Jack M.
This is probably the nicest bar around for miles. Nice dark wood inside - it's a relatively new place so it's still got that new-clean thing going. I cannot speak for the food, as I only ever come here to drink, and I like it.
(4)Rosie F.
Lets face it, when eating in Gardener you have to lower your standards, but not at the The Gardener Ale House, thats part of what makes eating there so refreshing and delightful. The food is high quality and served in fairly generous portions. Every time I've eaten here we have been seated quickly and treated well.
(5)Daniel A.
What a great place to visit. If you happen to within 30 minutes of this place, be sure to stop in for a beer tasting. I was recently visiting a nearby town and wanted to find a "locals" bar or restaurant. I was lucky to find both at the Gardner Ale House. Draft Beer Selection: 5 of 5 Atmosphere: 4.5 of 5 Outdoor Patio: 5 of 5 Staff: 4.5 of 5 Menu Choices: 4.5 of 5 Since I was visiting an Ale House, I definitely had to sample the beer selection. There were a variety of beers to choose from (10-15 at any given time), so I tried the "suggested" beer sampler and found it to be excellent. The staff was young and friendly, and the bar scene was non-pretentious and had a good vibe. There were locals everywhere, eating, drinking and being merry. The food menu was large and seemed to have everything you would ever need. I didn't get to eat any food items since I was going to a catered dinner later that evening, but the dishes I saw looked great. If you are ever nearby, be sure to stop in!
(4)Beth L.
Loved the Pulled Pork!!!! Great Drinks Great Atmosphere! My fiance and I came here after a wake with our family and boy were we impressed!! Love the atmosphere...the bar is great...bartender was pleasant and made our drinks fast and good!!! There was a great band playing all our favorite songs! They weren't overly loud which we all really enjoyed! We ordered the coconut shrimp...pretty good...got salads they were great and our meals were amazingly large in portion and very flavorful!! I got the Pulled pork and I loved it...sweet potatoe fries were great!! My fiance got the fish and chips they gave him 2 large filets!!! Tasted delicious and perfectly cooked and crispy...not too greasy! Drinks were good!! I had a sex on the beach and a watermelon margarita! The margarita tasted kind of pre mixed but still good! Our waitress was a sweet girl and was very good! Desserts and specials look delicious and if we are ever in the area we will come back and try some! Large menu with lots to try! Can't wait to go back :)
(4)Nancy H.
we had been wanting to try Gardner Ale House for months and finally were able to come on girls night (Thursday). What a great deal. Half off all appetizers. We stuck with appetizers and tried the calamari, coconut shrimp, buffalo chicken strips, and crab cakes. The coconut shrimp were amazing! We wished there were more in the order because they were the best thing on our table. The buffalo chicken and crab cakes were both good. Calamari on the other hand was quite a disappointment. Very bland and chewy. we were confused by the random slices of bread around the plate. Drinks were great. We tried the Swedish fish and Sour patch martinis. Unique and tasty. The main reason I only gave 3 stars was the poor service. Our waitress was low energy, unfriendly, and left us with empty waters for about 20 minutes (my pet peeve). If the service were better, I believe our entire experience would have been much more enjoyable.
(3)Tim S.
Traveling in Western Mass. Found this place on yelp. Good fresh food. Tasty Greek salad (tho a little heavy on red onions & feta). A very yummy side dish. Charred green beans w/fresh corn and grilled onions w/ a tomato BBQ sauce! Fantastic!
(4)Mel D.
Great food! We had the special cheese plate for an app which had great selection of cheeses and fruit. The pizza is to die for and huge! Great selection of beers and the sangria was perfect for a summer night.
(4)Premier Transport L.
The Gardner Ale House, goes to great lengths to make sure they produce a quality product in their beers.. Their food is great pub food, prices are reasonable, atmosphere is fantastic. There are events daily, I would recommend taking the family there.
(5)Debora M.
Been to the Ale House several times. Tonight we had the fish and chips and found the portion to be huge but so over cooked that the fish was all shriveled up. We've had the f&c a few times before and it was great! Not tonight. I'd give it a 2 out of 5 AT BEST. In my opinion this 17.00 dinner was somewhat overpriced.
(2)Corey S.
Great local place for a small city in need of local love. Great craft beer. Pizza is fantastic. Overall, I'd strongly suggest a trip out to this brew pub.
(5)Jay D.
This is the local go-to place in Gardner. In fact, it's basically the only place my mother and I will eat in Gardner- everywhere else is not worth it. The menu is fantastic, and I usually try new things every time I go. My mom's favorite dish is the Salmon Burger- when it's a special here, she usually gets it. I've had a great chicken parm, risotto and other meals here. Depending on the day, it can be really busy (again, because it's THE place to go in Gardner). The beer prices are a bit high for brewing their own beer, but it is tasty. If the beer were a bit cheaper, I'd add another star- in my opinion, the higher prices is the only "negative" aspect of the Ale House. There's free parking across the street, and live music some nights, too. I haven't ever tried their Sunday Brunch- but I've heard good reviews of it.
(4)Andrew K.
Drove over here from the Great Wolf Lodge. Ended up having the brunch. Top notch as far as brunch goes. Highlights were the lobster and haddock casserole and the chicken cordon blue, and lasagna. Awesome bacon, thick and cooked just right. Roasted round of beef was medium rare and tender. Being from the south I was a little skeptical of biscuits and gravy in New England territory but it was spot on. Corn beef hash was the real deal shredded and browned crisp with big chucks of taters, not some dog food looking slop from a can. All the other brunch standards were there and according to my wife and daughter they were all good. Great dessert selection. We saw a lot of food coming out of the kitchen and the menu items looked just as good. The scallop salad at the next table made me rethink my brunch order but it was to late. Service was good and our drinks and waters were always full. I had Oma's Altbier and my wife had the Chair City Pale Ale. Both very good. All in all a real nice place with good food, beer, and service. Family friendly for sure. If you're in the area go.
(4)Douglas R.
My wife, daughter, and I discovered this restaurant a few months ago. Apparently it is quite well known to locals as it was doing steady business. However, this did not impact the very good service nor the quality of the food. The beers, drawn from local microbreweries were very good and I fancy myself something of a connoisseur. I also had their chili, a dish I order virtually every time it is available, as I have made prize-winning chili myself. I am pleased to observe that this chili was excellent and bears repeating the next time we visit this restaurant. My wife and daughter, being less carnivorous than myself split a large salad and something made with tofu in which I had no interest. Still, they pronounced themselves well satisfied with their choices: chacun à son goût. It is clear that the next time we visit Gardner, we shall also visit the Gardner Ale House.
(4)Kelly S.
Good beer, good wine, and so many good selections on the menu (there is a new-ish thing called something...Happy Skillet Chicken and Rice...that is SO good!) The service is great, and always friendly. When I go out in Gardner, this is the only place I'll go for anything past breakfast!
(4)John S.
I am very disappointed. The food here is not even average LATELY. I HAVE TO SAY THE LOBSTER ROLL TASTES OLD! It tastes like its been sitting around for awhile. It's not rocket science people, make it fresh! I go here on a regular basis and it is always hit or miss. If I can make it better at home I cant justify the price.
(2)Rich F.
Good food, great beer and the blues on Monday night. What more could you want? Always make a point to stop here at least once when traveling to Fitchburg for work. Pizza is great, nice and cheesy and big. Nachos are good. Tried many of their beers and have not been disappointed yet.
(5)Thomas N.
have been here a number of times and food has always been good, though somehow i seem to expect that from breweries!!??? we stopped in recently for a light lunch, had some appetizers, buffalo wings very good, as were the fish bites....hog wings were good but maybe a tad to much sauce and why doesn't anyone give you a handiwipe with these things.....beers are good...nice place that puts on quite a few events
(4)Zack H.
This was my worst restaurant experience in recent memory. Service was atrocious. I've never been in a brew pub and had an empty glass sitting at the edge of the table before. The beer was warm, but mediocre at best. The food was cold, late, and the waitress forgot our appetizer. Complete failure. I had high hopes for this place. That being said, I'd never go back. Complete dump.
(1)Beth J.
I have only recently started going to the Ale house to eat, as it only recently brought in a gluten free menu (Celiac here, not just gluten sensitive). The menu is fantastic. It's not just a salad, it's got a selection of items on there, and they do offer gluten free beer and wines. (I personally love the Apothic Red Blend wine). The chicken wings and sweet potato fries are a regular go to, as is the scallop and spinach salad. Of of the dinner menu the Chipolte Salmon is a favorite. I'm extremely pleased that they do carry grass fed beef, but it sells out quick. The downside is that there isn't a dedicated gluten free kitchen, so there is a small risk of cross contamination. Having said that, for someone like me who can get ill from the gluten in the air outside of a bakery, I've never had an issue there. They take a lot of care to ensure diner safety. I eat there probably a couple times a month. I highly recommend them!
(4)Billy R.
I've tried to like GAH - I really have. A cool brewpub is an excellent addition to a small city looking to revitalize itself, and GAH has all the tools available with a cozy brick and beam interior, occasionally outstanding home brews and nice parking across the street. However, too often the staff is inattentive to customers, bordering on rudeness. One cold afternoon this winter, after skiing Wachusett and visting family, I stopped in for a quick bite and brew before heading north. There was one customer at the bar, halfway down. I took a seat four stools away - and waited five minutes while the bartender chatted with that other patron before acknowledging my presence. I asked for a sample of a beer and was given a drop and she went back to chatting. A few minutes later the bartender asked how I liked my sample. Not wanting to create any conflict, I ordered a dark lager (which was mediocre IMO) and headed out, grabbing a sandwich at Dunky's in Templeton for the Route 2 West drive. I have had a couple of positive experiences in the past - good pizza, a good chicken sandwich and a few outstanding brews (both their own and some nice guest drafts). I guess it's just the inconsistent service that keeps me from giving a higher rating. Hopefully they figure it out and realize it's important to treat EVERY customer with efficiency.
(2)John L.
Yes the Gardner Ale House has a GF menu. However it is full of areas of cross contamination. The GF menu offers french fries (both reg and sweet potato), mashed potatoes as well as rice for sides. After speaking with our waitress, who by the way was great, if the fries are cooked in same oil as everything else. She spoke with the kitchen staff who came back and said "yes fries are cook in same fryer, mashed potatoes have gluten in them. the only thing I can offer that is safe would be steamed broccoli." The GF menu also shows nacho's and chx wings. I did not ask how these are prepared. I just assume since the fries are cook in same oil as everything else that the chips and wings are too. Along with anything else that is fried. My opinion on the Gardner Ale House is they do not fully understand Gluten Free, and the cross contamination issues that can make people sick.
(2)Jessica S.
I lived in Gardner for a few months for a job and the Ale House is hands-down the best place in town. It's a local joint with good beer on tap live music several nights a week. It's pretty packed most nights, which is saying something for Gardner. The eggplant caprese salad and onion soup are among my favorite dishes. And you have to try the Through the Gahden pizza, it is topped with every vegetarian topping that you can think of, and some that you never knew existed. However, I cannot recommend their jazz brunch, it is hard to hear the musicians and the buffet-style food is hit-or-miss.
(4)Donna R.
lunch yesterday. Jan17 service slow. waitstaff never checked with the table after delivering the plates. maybe under staffed. very disappointed especially with menu items I have had before. Caesar salad made with iceburg lettuce and not with the romaine and parmesan cheese which designates it as a Caesar salad. the place was very busy but then it is the only full service restaurant around for almost 10miles. management should reevaluate what is going on. we have been there several times in the past and have seen a decline in quality and service.
(2)Joaquin X.
A gem stuck in Nowheresville. Like, Gardner has to be one of the deadest towns in Massachusetts. But just off Rt 2 is this brewpub. Everything I could possibly desire is here: good craft beer, excellent food, top service and live music (some nights). And the game is always on quiet. The place is very nice to be in, a little loud, but overall inviting. The beer is decently (but not overly) hoppy. Some quality pizza for decent price. The music tends to lean toward Americana (not my thing, but this offers a decent setting to hear a group). The waitresses are lovely too! If on Rt 2 around Northern-Central MA, this is your best option by far. Recommended.
(4)Kathleen R.
I loved the steak salad! Service was lacking.... if we needed anything we would have to ask someone walking by since our waitress we never saw.... At one point, we had to go to the food counter to get something we needed to go with our meal.
(5)Lisa Y.
Came in for lunch on a rainy day after shopping for bridesmaid dresses. I had the Braumeister with a side of chili, both were delicious and were successful in making me feel fat during the second round of bridesmaid dress trials. Worth it.
(4)Allan V.
Vienna lager was good. Hot italian sandwich was great. Berry swirl cheescake was wonderful. No complaints. Great food.
(5)Anne B.
If you are from out of town, this is the place to go. While the Ale House doesnt have the best food I have ever tasted, we had a decent meal with some good beers and a good atmosphere.
(3)Ashley A.
The best thing is the brunch, other meals are good too. Sometimes service is iffy but normally it is pretty good.
(4)Unknown U.
The clam chowder is to die for! The fish bites are yummy. The potatoes are really good as well as the sweet carrots. The ribs are good too! Music going good.. smooth sailing
(5)Lee B.
What a difference a couple of years makes! A while ago, I didn't want to come here because the service was always lacking. Fast forward to a couple of months ago... The extended family decided to do brunch. Very nice and a great value. A relative gave us a gift card, so hubby and I went for dinner last night. The waitress was awesome! I wish I remembered her name. He loved both beers he ordered - Hef and Summer's End. The food was very good. I had the French Onion soup -yum! - and the haddock sandwich. He had the Montana burger. He was impressed. The only let down was the boneless buffalo wings. We ordered hot and were disappointed by the lack of heat. It's so refreshing and unusual to find a restaurant that struggled with service turn things around in a positive way. Will be back!
(4)Dee L.
Best Seafood Chowder!
(5)Elisabeth B.
Best restaurant in the area! Those of us who live locally know there aren't a lot of choices for eating out at a non fast food joint. The ale house doesn't Disappoint. There are tons of menu options from pizza to entrees, the beer choices are great and include national brands if you're not in the mood for one of their drafts. Prices are reasonable, people are friendly and the ambiance is welcoming. Definitely a gem in the area!
(4)Meghan T.
The Ale House is my favorite place in Gardner. I've lived here for 3 years and been to the Ale House on countless occasions with family and friends. We've had lots of different items from the regular menu, specials, bar and Sunday brunch. I've never been disappointed with anything I've ordered. The prices are right, the staff is friendly and attentive and the atmosphere is great. Make sure you visit in the nice weather so you can enjoy their new outdoor seating as well.
(5)Forest W.
We arrived on a busy Friday night, and only had a 20 minute wait. The service staff were awesome! The food was amazing. We did the surf and turf and a steak baguette... WOW. Would (and will) come back again! Also, beer was great. Loved them all...
(5)Becky M.
I was only in Gardner to attend a wake. We used Yelp to find a place to have a bite before driving home. The Gardner Ale House hit the spot. It was a Monday night, so it was Blues night. The band playing was pretty good and the place, for a Monday night, was busy. Our waitress was sweet. Attentive and kind. She recommended the Hefeweiseen beer, which I tried and liked. We split the fried green beans and each had the Portabello Burger. I like being able to substitute a turkey burger for the beef burger. It was tasty. I can't say that I will be back soon, as I am an out of towner, but I would say it is a solid spot for a meal.
(3)Justin M.
First off they couldn't make a Black and Tan. Weird but not a buzz kill. The waitress was very nice and brought samples for us to try which was cool. My wife's burger was truly medium and my pulled pork was quite tasty. The espresso was nice and full of taste. Overall an enjoyable experience. Not amazed but very few places do.
(4)David C.
What a great pub! Food and service was excellent! Chili was great! Everything my family had for lunch was spot on. Burgers fries haddock nuggets onion soup all great and our waitress was especially friendly!
(5)Nate G.
Been about 10 times or so since moving to Gardner from Boston in October. The place is great every time. Friendly service and friendly people. The only two things that were not very good were the wings and nachos. Everything else on the menu thus far has been great. The beer is always fresh and much better then the brewery we left behind called Watch city.
(5)Rene L.
Went on New Year's Eve day for lunch. Nice interior. With many available tables didn't enjoy being wedged in between several that were occupied. Waitress was pleasant enough but never mentioned specials, menu or house beers/drink menu. Wife had French dip, great hand cut fries, meat tasty but not trimmed, bun soggy, too much cheese. My pastrami Reuben with house made chips was great! Will try it again.
(3)Amber S.
I have lived in Gardner for almost a year and have only been to the Ale House maybe a handful of times. I was never crazy about it. Possibly because I don't really like beer. Also possibly because I was formerly vegetarian and was never impressed by their salads or their veggie pizza. However one that lives in the Gardner area can go to other local establishments only so many times before they crave a more pleasant and upscale dining experience. So I would say that the Gardner Ale House delivers that. My husband and I went recently and had excellent service along with a very good meal. I got the Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad and it was seriously delicious. Much better than a salmon dish I had at a very expensive restaurant earlier in the week for over double the price. My husbands sweet potato fries were incredible as well. Next time I go I'm ordering a side of those just for myself. We left in agreement that we will be coming back more often!
(5)Ja K.
We took a trip out to central mass to try a few breweries as part of the mass brew tour. We weren't very familiar with central mass along rt 2, and found Gardner to be interesting to say the least ; the first thing we saw when we were in town was a fat dude in track pants sitting on his front porch working his butterfly knife, who's judging though, dude really had control of his steel. The bar was pretty impressive actually for it being in the center of Gardner, the beer was fantastic, a lot better than a lot of brew pubs we've been to around mass. They had a good variety on tap and offered 12 and 16 oz beers. My wife and I have been doing this mass beer tour, so we've hit about 30 breweries in Mass and so far and Gardner Ale House had some of the better beer we tried. The food was decent we had wings and pizza. The service wasn't that great; the bartender didn't really give us anything, and seemed to be more comfortable dealing with the regulars. The bartender wasn't actively bad, just too passive and eh; maybe not comfortable with poc? i dunno might be too presumptuous, but that was our feeling. Overall, nice brew pub, serving great house beer on tap. I noticed they seemed to have a lot of live music; a few bands i recognized on the fliers i know to be really good. Not necessarily a place im going to go back to, unless im out in Garnder, but if your passing through i'd recommend popping in.
(3)Kathleen A.
Great outdoor dining. Great beer selection. We didn't have an entree but enjoyed a cheese plate. Will give more stars when we try meal.
(3)Kayla R.
Tried the ale house earlier this week and everything was great! The server was fantastic. Enjoyed the atmosphere. Everyone in my party loved their entrees and we tried some appetizers which were also delicious. The beer was great.
(5)Leslie H.
Who knew there was a good late-night food and drink option in Gardner?! I visit my family in this area each summer (I'm from Texas) and was surprised to see a place like Gardner Ale House hoppin' on a Friday night. My husband and I stopped in and each had a hamburger. The burgers were large and flavorful and the fries were cooked to a perfect crisp. My husband was able to try a beer before he purchased one, which is always an added bonus. It was quite loud in the restaurant, so we felt like we were shouting for the other one to hear us. They did have an acoustic duet performing, and they were amazing. I really enjoyed their music. Even without the music it would have been incredibly loud in there. Service was a little slow, but like I said, it was really busy. I'm so glad to see that Gardner doesn't shut down super early as it has in the past (in my experience). I can see my family hanging out there while on our annual pilgrimages to Queen Lake nearby.
(4)Amelia H.
The Gardner Ale House is great! My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner here and it went great. Everyone complimented the food and the service was fast for such a large group. It was a little loud, but that is because we were too big for the function room. If you have less than 28 people, you can have the function room for the event, which would not be as loud. We also frequent the ale house whenever we are in the area. They make a selection of their own beers, which are great! It has a large bar area to enjoy them in as well. If you are there for a sit down dinner there is also a large dining area and the menu offers a great selection of tasty dishes. If you are a fan of chocolate martinis, this place has the best one I have ever had. The pumpkin martini is also delicious!
(5)Kevin L.
Excellent service from when we walked in the door. We had three adults, one toddler and one infant in our party on a Saturday afternoon around 12:30p. The food was fresh and freshly cooked all the way to the French fries and sauces served with our meals. The waitress visited our table very often and the food was served within 15 minutes from when we ordered. I recommend Gardner Ale House to anyone looking for a break from standard bar food.
(5)Matt W.
This is really the only evening dining place in Gardner to go to. The food is good. I'm not a bar food person, so I stay away from the fried stuff. There is a great deal of that available if you like that. In general, I prefer the Ale House for lunch over dinner. Price is better. The wait staff is always above par and awesome. They always over deliver! Lunch menu always offers weekly schedule that has a different, unique and awesome Stromboli. French Onion soup is very good as well. If you go for lunch, get a frequent lunch card. Buy 7 get your 8th for free! Try their draft beers, people love them.
(4)Kelley S.
I absolutely LOVE Gardner Ale House! The atmosphere is great, the food is phenomenal, and the drinks are excellent! They have a wide variety of beers on tap and their Sour Patch Kids martini is delicious!
(5)Nathan S.
I've tried the ale house several times and I've come to the conclusion that the beer is always 5-star, but the food is definitely lacking. Today I got a Bacon Portobello burger with French fries. I asked for the burger well done and for lettuce and pickles on the side. When I received my order the fries were mostly scraps/inedible pieces and only a few full fries. The lettuce was wilted and I received a pickle spear which isn't something you can put on a sub. We also had to wait 45+ minutes with only a half full house. We were also not offered any drink refills. The mushroom on the burger was oddly cut and not cooked well and the bacon was burned. AFTER this experience I'd rather go to Friendly's for food and just get beer at the Ale House.
(3)John K.
Best place to eat in Gardner. Large menu to suit a lot of different tastes across many genres. Food is OK, but I'd stick to the usual Brewpub fare, burgers and the like. The beer is good.
(3)Terry C.
We have dined at Gardner ale house 3 times, the first time it was better than average , the second time it was okay, the third terrible. My wife and I ordered steaks medium rare, both were way overdone and tough . The salads had wilted lettuce black on the edges, the tomatoes were not fresh. Presentation was sloppy and boring. Vegetable sides were overdone and mushy. They do have a good selection of house brewed beers though.
(1)S S.
Gardner Ale House always delivers great food and great beer. In dozens of visits, I've never had a bad meal here, nor has anyone in my party. Check it out if you haven't already.
(5)Jim J.
Good food, great beer and outstanding service compliment a really nice decor. Very friendly and helpful staff, food came quickly without feeling rushed. If you like craft beers and are traveling through north central MA, I highly recommend this be a stop on your itinerary. They reportedly use local sources wherever possible and feature desserts that are made fresh locally as well. Only 10-15 minutes from route 2.
(4)joe t.
Had been giving the place a second chance and had a very good lunch there recently. Then during my last visit had an unpleasant exchange with a surly staff member who must've been having a bad day. I'll spare the details, but it could've been easily handled with a "I'll find someone who can help you" attitude rather than a "I don't know. Stop bothering me" attitude. And to boot the place was half empty at the time. Again, poor service sinks the ship. Update: Management has gone above and beyond to try and rectify. Kudos to them.
(1)Sarah A.
We have never had good service here. Tried and tried and now The Gardner Ale House is not an option.
(1)Sally B.
Found this place on Yelp - thanks for the recco's. The final stop here after a day at Wachusett was just what the Dr. ordered.
(4)Mark L.
Everything ive gotten to eat here has been great. crab dip with chips smokehouse pizza are probably my favs. they also offer a nice selection of beers.
(4)Random R.
The decor and warmth of the place is charming, but the beer is just okay. The ipa was weak and lacked any reasonable amount of hops. The staff is great - answering all questions, but can't make up for the so so fare.
(2)Markos S.
Awesome place! it is basically the best in the little city of Gardner. Waitresses are nice and caring, food is delicious. Live music petty cool. Lots of nice activities!
(4)c h.
Food: hit or miss. I like their pizza. And their burgers are fine. Beyond that, sometimes the food is good, other times... Beer: When I first came here I was impressed by the beer, but mostly because of my low expectations of a brew pub in gardner. Now, several years and somewhere between 5 to 10 visits later, I'd call it average. Overall, probably my favorite place to go out in gardner, but only when I'm stuck in gardner.
(3)Stephanie F.
Menu has a wide variety. Food is amazing..especially the steaks! Excellent service all around. Great value and even live entertainment!
(5)Nuala S.
I've been a big fan of the Alehouse for some years now. I come here often with family and friends. The Sunday brunches are great! Monday is Blues Night and Thursday is Ladies' Night. The service is courteous, food is great, portions are good, the brews and drinks are very good. Prices are reasonable. Live music is enjoyable and makes a nice backdrop for dining. I've been here on several dates also and they were impressed with the overall experience. One thing I love is the annual summer Solstice brunch with the live traditional Morris Dancers. I have one of the commemorative glasses from each of the years I've gone.
(4)Julie N.
I have been to the Gardner Ale House many times since 2009. I first got wind of the ale house when co-workers suggested that my husband and I join them for one of the seasonal beer dinners. After the beer dinner my husband and I were hooked! I had been apprehensive about trying beer for the first time and this was the perfect place for an experienced beer connoisseur or a beginner. I have since become an adventurous beer drinker and have a great appreciation for micro-brews. The "brewmaster" along with the owner will gladly explain to you each beer on their menu and are very helpful. I go back to the ale house frequently for family dinners, date nights with my husband, or just to watch a Red Sox game at the bar. The live music varies and adds to the atmosphere at night if you're looking for something extra fun. The decor hits the spot for a brew pub in a traditional New England town. The wait staff is very friendly and works hard to get you your food and drinks quickly. The cooks are phenomenal! Their dinner menu has wonderful meat entrees and great brick oven pizza. Their bar menu is perfect for having a beer at the bar during a game.
(5)Yvonne F.
Great specials. Went there on a Sunday after 2pm and got half-price nachos and some wings, couple beers $20. Can't beat it. Relaxing atmosphere. Good service.
(4)mike r.
Good honest brew pub, large portions served hot and tasty and very reasonable. I ordered the thick crust spinach and tomato pizza which was $10.99 figuring I'd get a personal size pie. A huge frickin pizza comes out that I had to take most of home! It was good but would not win any prizes in Boston or Providence. The Facelift IPA was also good but not as hoppy as most IPAs I like. The decor is cozy brick and dark woods with the brew kettles at the back of the house. This reminded me of the Pour House in Boston only half the price.
(3)Dan M.
The food was reasonably priced, the portion size was great, the drinks were spot on, but the service seemed to miss by a bit. I believe it was only the one server we had. Overall a great dining experience and if in the area definitely a spot to hit.
(4)Clara S.
I was searching online for a nice place to eat for my boyfriend and I on our way to Boston from Greenfield. I was drawn to this place because of their well put together website with menu and pricing, and the fact that I don't think I have ever been to eat at a brewery, even the one near my hometown. I loved the decoration of the place, the lights on the walls, there was plenty of space to sit and move around, and the waitress Rebecca was super nice, really fast, and we really appreciated that. The clam chowder was one of the best I've ever had and the sandwich I got was good as well. My boyfriend loved the bacon. He was disappointed that the wing special wasn't for boneless wings, so he had to pay full price for boneless wings that were just okay. If it wasn't for that everything would have been perfect. I LOVED the temperature of the beer (I like mine cold and most places serve it too warm) and we left very happy!
(5)Brady D.
I have been back a few times since my last review. And I think I figured out the "trick" if you sit in the "dining room" and not the bar area, you get better service if you are not part of the mug club. They treat you like a normal customer in a regular restaurant. As I find this is not the case when in the bar area. you are treated as an outsider and they dont care about your business since your not part of the mug club. Food is good. However they are like most restaurants that cant cook a burger right. If i order a burger med rare i expect a warm red center. not no pink cooked thro. If your cooks cant eye and feel a correct temp for a burger its time to get some thermometer and get the temp reading for every one. I wish they had some "girly-er" beer choices. And by that i mean maybe a raspberry wheat or a peachor blueberry something different than the same 7 or so beers they carry all the time. I feel that the beers never really change there.
(4)Sneakers A.
The nachos and buffalo chicken pizza were both very good. The double IPA and smokehouse pizza on the other hand, were straight up beautiful. Inspiring really. Not just food and beer, but works of art. The beer quality seemed to range a bit - their 4% abv stout had too thin a mouthfeel, and a one dimensional flavor. The wheat beer had nothing special going on. But the great beers - the black IPA, and especially the face-off double - lock this pub in at a solid five stars. There aren't many places in Massachusetts where you can buy a better beer than that.
(5)Cupcake S.
Really people.... Food is inconsistent quality at best. Housemade beer isn't bad...but again, inconsistent. If you're not into music, it's very loud - even on non band nights. Meh does describe it.
(2)Kurt L.
Excellent food, great selection of unique beers and friendly service!
(5)Allie E.
This is a good little place for Gardner to have. The food is decent, prices are OK, and the beer isn't too bad, either. However, every single time I go here, the service is lackluster at best. It seems like the waitstaff is always at 110% capacity. They are friendly, for sure, but just too busy to provide decent service. Since the place is always busy, you'd think they'd have either more staff, or more competent staff. It's annoying to constantly flag down your waitress for a beer, flatware, the check, and so on.
(3)