Is this the right address? Sure, whatever. I guess this is a local favorite. I really don't know why. It's not that great. I've only been a few times, but nothing at all stood out to me. The prices aren't great, the crowd is the same group of people you see at the mall during the day, and I don't even remember what the music was... or was there? I always used to think this was a gay bar. After going, I know it's not. The gay dudes I know have a lot more fun. This place is boring, but there ain't much else if you are afraid of leaving the Columbubble. I suggest you carpool with some friends out to Baltimore or DC.
(3)
Chrissy L.
First time I attempted to go there it was a 10 dollar cover- I said hells no in front of the bouncer. Just like someone else said, it's at the bottom of a business building- COME ON NOW. There are some specials but your lucky if you can get your servers attention. I have gone here on an early happy hour- super strong drinks! ahh and late happy hour. Food wasn't too bad. Wish there were more drink specials. I haven't heard a great band yet. I think the sound being on the bottom floor just doesn't work there. Crowd- random. Last weekend I went there were dudes in scruffy t's, cougars, and girls dressed like hoochies. You're in COLUMBIA !!! not Baltimore people! Overall, alright place if you get there before the cover.
(3)
Patrick G.
The bottom line: Nottingham's is one of the best bars in Columbia and is a great spot to watch your favorite NFL team while enjoying cold and tasty libations. The restaurant itself is where Nottingham's really shines. They have a large outdoor area complete with a Tiki Bar, which is often pretty busy during the summer (and provides a nice respite for smokers who don't want to continue enjoying their drinks while they nurse their nicotine habit). They have a few pool tables, a shuffleboard table, and a spacious private room in the back which can be booked for events. The recreational options are priced a tiny bit high in my opinion, and you're billed at an hourly rate, so if you only want to play 1 or 2 games, you'll inevitably feel overcommitted. Nottingham's is a fantastic destination for watching NFL football on Sunday afternoons. No matter what team you root for, you can find your game on one of the numerous TV screens and plenty of fellow fans with which to celebrate (or commiserate, depending on how your season is going). Ravens (and sometimes Redskins) games are usually presented on the large projector screen. When people go to a bar, they generally don't expect fine dining, and Nottingham's is no exception. I haven't sampled everything on their menu, but the items I've tried have been run-of-the-mill bar food. That observation isn't meant as a disparagement - sometimes bar food is perfectly satisfying - but it's something to be aware of. The service is usually decent, professional, and attentive. Nottingham's features some entertainment options. They have weekly karaoke (on Wednesday nights at the time of this review), and DJs on the weekends. They used to have live bands pretty regularly, but completely stopped doing so a few years back. There's a slightly raised area that used to function as a stage that has since been converted into a "VIP Lounge". I've rarely seen anyone in there, and I think it's a patently ridiculous idea. This isn't some club in Miami, it's a bar in the suburbs that's situated in an office park. Of course, it's their bar and they can do what they want, but that particular experiment doesn't seem to be paying off. I've given Nottingham's 4 stars because I want to support a locally-owned business, but I sometimes feel like it's become a 3-star experience over the last 5-6 years. I think the restaurant's management team takes themselves too seriously, sometimes to the point of arrogance. For example, they've instituted a dress code that requires "Proper Upscale Attire" (whatever the hell that means) on Wednesday - Saturday. I've never felt like Nottingham's was the kind of place that put in quite enough effort to be considered upscale.
(4)
Yas S.
Soooooo came back with my cousin for some Friday night girls night out and was disappointed. DJ Devin suxxxxx omg!!!! Worst DJ ever. But our beers and wings was cool. Lots of people watching, outside bar/patio is cool too. Female bartender on the patio was not very attentive so we went inside to get our food. Not sure of a return with the same DJ. That dude just kept killing the vibe.
(3)
Peter L.
Have never had any food I liked here. Music is very loud even early in the evening. Bar selection isn't bad but nothing interesting
(1)
Donyiel C.
I've been going to this bar for many years now. I hadn't visited in awhile and yesterday, decided to meet up with some friends, most of whom had never been to this establishment. We met up around 6:30 and since the weather was gorgeous, we sat on the patio. We were able to partake in the happy hour specials (happy hour on a saturday? can't beat that). But unfortunately, it went downhill from here...One, our server was not very friendly and had an attitude with some of our party due to their lack of hastiness in making a decision about they wanted to order (not cool). After they ordered, she took away all the menus from the table. We had to ask her to bring them back (or at least one). Another friend joined our group and she had taken away the menus again...sigh. I wanted to place another order (just 6 wings), but it took about 30 minutes to arrive. I'm sure she forgot about it until one of our friends reminded her and her "excuse" was that it got busy due to other customers trying to place their orders in before happy hour ended! Um...whatever! Here's the kicker!! So I had been the only one in our party who opened a tab (everyone else paid as they ordered) which means my card was held at the bar. When it came to me closing out my tab, she took awhile to bring back my bill. I finally got the bill, but no card! um...lady, where's my card?? She goes "you don't have it? I brought all the cards back earlier. Can you all check to make sure you don't have it?" Lady! Are you being serious right now? I don't have my card and neither does anyone in my party! You lost my card (this is my check card mind you!) Not a credit card...my check card with my entire paycheck on it..I tried to remain calm while she went back inside to look for it. After seeing her frantically searching for it, she back to our table with no card and no real remorse for her irresponsibility. She only offered to personally pay for my bill ($20.00) and advised me to write down my phone number and name and she can call if she finds it the next day. Really? I really remained as calm as I can (maybe the alcohol I drank kept me somewhat mellow?) Anyway, she suggested I check the app on my phone to see if my card had been used...um, ok! I logged onto my online banking. No my card hasn't been used yet, but that did not mean someone walked off with it and planning to use it. She went inside and looked again. I asked to speak with her manager and she tells me "she will tell you the same thing I told you." Excuse you? How dare you? You've always screwed up and you have the nerve to say that to me in my distress??! I can't.... The manager finally comes out and offers somewhat of an apology saying that it's easy for these things to happen (yes, losing someone's card at their establishment). I'm appalled!! She said they would comp my bill (which I was already told and obviously they would to do since I don't have a card to pay it!!) and then a $50 gift card to come back. To give me the gift card took at least another 20 minutes! I just can't believe this really happened. I explained to her that it's a weekend. My bank won't be open until Monday morning - I have no access to my funds until then. What will happen when I need to get gas or buy food? She tells me "the people you're with can cover you?!" Really though?? No I need my card back! I immediately cancelled my card but now I'm without access to my money due to their irresponsibility and lack of concern for the severity of this issue! I was beyond distraught over this and I don't plan to coming back to this place anytime soon!!!
(2)
Kim A.
It's my first time here !! It's so chill nice bartender .. She always had a smile ... On her .. I'm here as of speaking ... Dress code isn't strict here for the guys ... They have a pool table everything u need .. Great crowd .. I'm coming back on the weekends
(4)
Oliver L.
Seems like Nottys has gotten a face-lift all around. Its my favorite bar in Columbia. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is friendly. Every size, color, shape, and shade. I love ladies night and karaoke, the dance floor, and the food is really good! The salad and dip I had was super fresh, much higher quality than typical bar food. They also have great priced drinks, fundraisers, happy hours. I just like it. The place is really a gem, hidden in an office building. :-)
(5)
Artranda H.
Came here for lunch didn't know they were open for lunch until one of my friends suggested meeting her there. Had a turkey sandwich with a pretzel bun with fries and it was so delicious I would defiantly return here for lunch.
(4)
Caitlin C.
Nottingham's is tucked into an unassuming business park off a back road of Columbia. I was skeptical when I came here with a friend, but I left a happy camper! Divey in a weird way that could only happen in Columbia, Nottingham's is a huge bar where a lot of locals hang out. The food is pretty standard, the drinks are strong, the service is friendly, and the music is wayyy to loud. I would come back here, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.
(3)
Rebeca F.
Nice indoor and outdoor areas. Kind of hidden away. Good space for a live band. Go early to avoid the crowd and cover.
(3)
Dyonna B.
Came here on a Saturday night. I liked the atmosphere and the music selection was great. There were pool tables galore if you like to play. I hopped on the dance floor for a bit and got quite tipsy for $12. lol Of course I was ordering rail but the drinks seemed to not be as expensive as I thought it would be. I will def go back.
(4)
Olivia M.
I really like this place for its atmosphere and menu. They have a large inside bar next to the front door near the dance floor and a tiki/outdoor bar. Plenty of pool tables and waking distance from hotels in case you've had too much to drink or are simply just visiting. If it's your first time it's SERIOUSLY hard to find (backside of an office building) and GPS is no help. Their menu features such delicious fare as fish tacos ala carte, crab pretzel, and tator tots. I don't recall the music/dj being all that but it's a great happy hour location and atmosphere!
(4)
Joy P.
I heard of the place for a few years, but never gone. So I was excited to see that Jah Works was performing at the location. But after reading a few reviews, I wasn't really sure what to think. I really loved the place, the food was good and the bartenders and waitresses were awesome. My date and I sat at the bar, and although it was crowded, the bartenders continually made sure we were taken care of, along with other patrons sitting there. I ordered the nachos with spicy chicken, and I must say I was very impressed. My date order the quesadillas and some wings and he raved about both. He owns his own catering company, so he knows food. I loved the atmosphere, so I will definitely be going back!!
(5)
Jordan K.
Drink service was subpar at our table, took our server forever to get water when we needed it, but the alcohol came quickly. Pizza was pretty good and cannot complain. This place got packed on a late Saturday night, but would be more enjoyable if the DJ actually DJ'd. Read the reviews and you can see whoever they got DJ'n is not doing it right. When you crash two songs together or not even blend/mix... it hurts my feelings!
(2)
Kisha S.
great happy hour specials during the week. 3p to 7pm. good and appetizers...and no kids after 9pm. good and friendly atmosphere.
(4)
Marc A.
What a fun place to hang out. Great music, good food, and plenty of people. This one of the best party spots in Columbia. No fight too. That's a plus. Great servers bring us drinks. Just an awesome party spot.
(5)
Margaret N.
Hidden restaurant in the middle of business offices. Went here for lunch and service was slow, and food wasn't that great...
(2)
Asa B.
It's a great place to dance, eat, drink, music, play, gathering, good time, DJ and so much more.... It's big so you expect to see so many people there on weekends and even during the week!
(3)
Ky T.
I am at Nottinghams at 11:41PM on Friday February 28, 2014. The deejay is quite possibly the worst I've EVER heard. I mean worst.... and I mean ever!!!!! The sounds of his tunes may drive me to suicide so that I need to retreat from this review to start drawing up my last wishes. Toodles Yelp & mercy on mine ears :'-(
(1)
Daniel C.
Nottingham's is tucked into a little business park near a car dealership and the new Wegman's. Tough to find your first time, you may just need to listen to your Garmin and close your eyes, but if you just drive around the back of the buildings you will find it. It has a nice bar with many beer selections, and this is definitely a bar built to be a bar. It is a perfect place to go to get your drink on, and I understand it is a popular destination in the evenings. There even seems to be a tiki bar set up outside for warm weather (and serves double duty as a smoking area.) The foo dis solidly pub grub. We ordered some Dublin Nachos, which are tater tots covered in cheese and other traditional ingredients. We followed up with a Cuban sandwich which was serviceable. I can take serviceable with my beer just fine, thank you. We had a large party, and the servers did an amazing job keeping up with our orders and separate checks. I was annoyed that another party had reserved the party room in back, yet had exclusive use of every pool table in the bar. Once they did open up, I noticed there were hourly rates posted for the pool tables. I'm use to pumping quarters into a pool table, I wonder how they charge for them there?
(3)
Mady J.
A great night's entertainment. Fantastic music, good drinks and a great atmosphere. Great entertainment for the price of drinks. Lots of fun...Lots of energy. Enjoyed every minute of it. They have a really nice dance floor, couple of pool tables in the back, and tons of electronic games to play in the bar. Go and have fun. You won't be disappointed!
(4)
R V.
Located in a business Park where you would not expect. Went with friends and had avocado crab trap. Was pretty darn good. We decided to go there every two weeks for happy hour and shuffleboard. Went back 12 days later menu has completely changed. Got rid of all that we liked. Nothing any interest typical bar food. We're going to find another place to go. Just meh.
(3)
Chrysta T.
The DJ sucks! Plays old music and will not take requests. Been there twice in the last month or so and have been disappointed with music. When the dance floor is empty, take a hint.
(2)
S D.
Another spot with great potential that does not know how to capitalize! They seem set with a formula for mediocrity.. Just because you've been in business for a while, does not mean you shouldn't try new things! FIRST OFF... DJ REQUEST is not a DJ! He is a human jukebox that does not mix, transition or understand anything about DJing! A decent DJ could really take this place to another level. Drinks were good, downside, they ran out of my Sam Adams Cold Snap after just 1 drink. A big plus was our server. Super pleasant and attentive! May go back... May not...
(2)
Eric C.
Your experience at Nottingham's Tavern will depend on two different factors: 1. Waiter/Waitress 2. Bartender Now, these factors usually play work in cohesion in many other establishments. However, these two factors are important at Nottingham's Tavern because you can either have extremely good service and product or the complete opposite. My last visit here, on a Friday during Happy Hour, had both good and bad aspects. Now that the outside area is open, I would recommend getting your alcoholic beverages from the bartenders outside. However, mojitos are only made inside the tavern. The best drink of the evening was actually a Fireball shot. Remember how I said that bartenders play an important factor here? Well, I had ordered a simple cranberry and vodka that came from inside, and the drink was terrible. The taste of alcohol was definitely missing. No problem though, the item was taken off the final bill. As far as food is concerned, I remember ordering the Hot Crab Pretzel. Honestly, the appetizer would serve better on the "Things to eat when you are severely drunk" menu list. The thing is though, I was not drunk, so the pretzel was not desirable either. I also tried the Hubie Con Queso, which I did not like that much either. Based on past times here at Nottingham's, I would recommend getting either the spicy wings or pizza. I remember coming here a year ago on a Friday night and had the opportunity to hear the live band play. The band that played was not that memorable, so I only have recollection of the fact that a live band was actually there. Nottingham's is a place to come during Happy Hour for the good prices. I can't really recommend it for too much after that.
(3)
Kei H.
I only like this place on really slow nights... otherwise they've played bad music every time I have been, have annoying dj's, and there are just way way wayyy too many people. :( unless you personally know a bar tender.. forget getting drinks without a 15 minute wait; it's just too small of a bar for such a large establishment. it's crazy loud. also seems like it's become a meat market for 21-23 year olds
(2)
Danny G.
Not a place that I would ever go to again. The environment wasn't bad when I first got here at around 11:00. But the DJ's music selection continued to get worse and worse after each song. One of my worst Saturday nights in a long time.
(1)
Maria S.
I felt sick and vomitted in the toilet. I was kicked out for that. I am very offended. The music also sucks. Never going back.
(1)
Muriel H.
My best friend and her boyfriend invited my husband and me out to a double date night here. It is a fun spot. I liked that it had pool, a good size dance floor and drink specials. We had some pretty good nachos here too!
(3)
Rocky B.
Screw this place! I'm from Tampa Florida and I came here for some beers. I had an adidas visor on back-ward and this prick walked over to tell me I needed to turn it around. Seriously, I am a well dressed guy and had 1 beer with some friends and this was absolutely uncalled for. I passed 4 bouncers at the door and not one said anything. I was there for an hour tops and the waitress never said anything. Guy / staff needs to grow up and get big boy jobs and not be 30+ working in a bar as a "glorified bouncer." Can't wait to go back home to Tampa. Our bars are welcoming and an amazing time! People love everyone and no one is trying to pick problems with consumers. We all left and going somewhere else; their loss bc we are on vacation they could have had probably a good couple hundred dollars from us.
(1)
Michelle K.
I've been a loyal customer for 6 years now, but I won't be coming back again. Mind you, in the last six years this has never happened! A few years back I knew that holding a tab at "the bar" meant that they put a $50 hold on your card. That's fine. I have had a few friends here and there that have had a bad experience with this here, but it's not uncommon for bars to do this and shit happens. HOWEVER, putting a $125 hold on my credit card and not telling me (when I've already asked SPECIFICALLY just for clarification AND in $25 increments) is unacceptable. I literally had 5 charges of $25 pending on my credit card! WTF?!? Had I known that, I would have just closed my tab out and just paid as I went. All this would not even be an issue... Annoying? YES! But not an issue. Also, I was NOT at the bar, but outside at a table with a server. PLEASE listen! Once again, loyally, I have been coming here for SIX YEARS. It's not worth it. You may or may not get a shitty attitude from a server... You may or may not get served in a timely manner.. You may or may not get drinks the right way or even in a timely manner and that's just been my experience here over the last six years.
(2)
Gwyneth J.
This is a place where I like to come alive after five without running into screaming kids & disapproving parents. We don't need or want your baleful glances when we get our drink on and let the epithets fly and F-bombs drop! No... "It's a baby--- in a Bar" here! That's right - it is NOT your right to bring a toddler to a bar then expect everyone to provide you with baby high chairs, kid menus, and sipee cups. Go to Cracker Barrel, Applebys, or Chuckie Cheese if that's your scene. Bloop bloop! Nottingham's is tucked away in an industrial park between Snowden River and Dobbin road and is one of the FEW grownups only establishments in the family friendly saturated market of Columbia. At night it's a 20's something pickup bar with a $10 cover but for Happy Hour it's a fun any age drinking & nibbling destination. The Tiki Bar outside is its best feature! Open year round this little oasis is a great place to unwind & sip an ale while hanging out with friends. I have a friend who still smokes (it does make her look cool, I gotta say) and this is still permitted here. That's right - though it's still legal in America you won't get nasty looks and baleful glances when puffing away at the Tiki Bar. Deal with it. Built in heaters help her in the winter not freeze while she indulges in her favourite vice. And yes, we tease her. Draft domestics are cheap (YAY $2.00 Yuenglings! Take THAT Alehouse!) , tasty apps including a lovely veggie & hummus plate and small pizzas perfect for sharing all add to the draw of this strangely located local pub. So, hang out in Columbia sans kiddos, curse like a sailor, guzzle ales for not a lot of bucks & have a fun time! Huzzah!
(4)
Joel R.
Nottingham's really isn't for everyone. Music could be very loud at times, and some of there happy hour specials are not really drinks I would consume. But overall, I like the outdoor patio when the weather is nice, and staff has always been friendly in my opinion. I would definitely recommend the old bay wings. There my favorite!
(3)
Tunaidi A.
Down with the Broncos. Ray Lewis plays another day! That was the sole reason why I would ever have considered stepping foot into Nottingham's Tavern. This place has a good selection of drinks, but mediocre happy hour selections. Football day happy hour drinks consist of $3 bloody mary's and mimosas. I'm not a fan of either, so I thought that was very limiting. Specials on other days seemed a bit better. However, food and bites are underwhelming, both on the happy hour menu and the regular menu. The usual suspects are pizza, wings, queso, and tacos, and even for bars/pubs, these were very below average. The best part about football days are that the big screen and projector are set up and there is a good amount of seating. Service isn't bad either. Though, I don't think I'd ever come to Nottingham's for anything other than football.
(2)
Larry H.
My first visit to "Notty's" was on a Saturday night, with a live band. As with any live venue, the caliber of the band can make or break the night. Luckily the band playing was KleptoRadio, which would be a great party band in any venue. Food... Nottinghams even calls itself a tavern, so if you're coming here expecting a table side sommelier and 5-star dining, you're gonna be disappointed. Notty's serves bar, food plain and simple. Nothing fancy, just a philly cheesesteak or some nacho's to soak up any excessive alcohol you might consume. Atmosphere... It looks like any typical sports bar... Lots of little flat screens distributed throughout, sports bar decor, pool tables in the back, a DJ sound booth, a small dance floor, and a stage for live bands. It also has outside patio seating, but that seemed to be the location of choice for smokers, so I totally avoided it. Location... This is the weird one... even WITH a GPS this place is hard to find. It's stuck in the back of a business park with numerous office complexes. Word of mouth must be how most people find it, because you'll never see it from the road. If you want to compare it to premier live music venues in DC or Baltimore, of course it's not going to measure up. If you want the city, go to the city. But if you compare it to other live music venues in the burbs that are all essentially restaurants that push a few tables out of the way to squeeze a 3 piece band and some amps into an impossibly small corner. Then this is where Nottinghams comes into its own. Nottinghams has a purpose built live music stage that's large enough to comfortably accommodate a 5 or even 6 piece band. The sound system is great for the size of the venue. And the automated stage lighting was definitely well above par for a venue of this size. All in all, it's a decent suburban live music venue with average bar food and decent service. In all honesty, I walked away with only one real complaint, which was the dress code, (or lack thereof). I get it, that this is the burbs, not a velvet rope DC dance club. And I know Notty's main audience is a mix of 20 something to 40 something suburbanites. But there were 30 & 40 somethings in suits, there were 20 & 30 somethings in anything from classy to hipster type clothing, which were all fine in my opinion. The ones that should have been stopped at the door were the schlubs wearing worn out John Deere ball caps, dirty (not fashionably worn, DIRTY) jeans that looked like they'd been digging ditches all day, dirty old t-shirts. This wasn't just 4 or 5 people. I'd say about 20% of the crowd was walking around in worn ballcaps and clothes that looked like they pulled them out of the bottom of the hamper. Seriously...?
(3)
Alexis K.
I WOULDN'T STEP FOOT IN THERE AGAIN......To those who have been here or come here often the bartender and manager have bad decision making skills. This was my second time here and it was okay the first time good music etc. However, this particular night was a total reck because the bartender cant take criticism because he failed to make a decent drink. The bartender NIEL is 10 year employee who knows what he does so says the manager. Who has poor managing skills for kicking someone out for no logical reason. She didn't care and was awful at her job. Even her customers agreed on my behalf and her employees as well. Bad judgement and bad service.
(1)
Toby R.
I like any place with outdoor seating AND music AND an outdoor bar. Also, they have many pool tables and darts. The food is decent and the service is solid.
(3)
Melody C.
Nottinghams is a cool bar in a strange location; the bottom floor of an office building in Columbia. Don't let that deter you though, go in and check it out. I came here for the first time with my company for our monthly happy hour. Drinks and appetizers on the boss?! I'm there! I was not disappointed. The drinks were good and the waitress was EXCELLENT with servicing a large crowd of thirsty people. My boyfriend and I had several beverages and never had to wait long for our next one. It's dark, clean, and spacious. There is a small stage in the front, a DJ booth on the side and a professional looking sound system all around. I'm sure music nights the place gets going. Even on a Weds. night it was crowded. People started rolling in after 5pm. There are several pool tables in the back also if that's your game. I will definitely be back here soon to grab some lunch!
(4)
Mary W.
Unfortunately, I'm not of age yet to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials & night time activities :( BUT, I have been to lunch here twice & both times were great. I found it to be pretty filling, for only spending around $8-$9 (with tax and tip). Albuquerque Turkey was great--a little too much turkey, which made it kind of dry. . .but one server suggested adding avocado to it to make it even yummier! All sandwich orders come with chips & a slice of pickle :D Second time around, got the soup+1/2 sandwich combo. That's only $6.50 and you can add more to your sandwich like cheeses, change up the braed etc. (at a cost I think) OK deal for people who don't eat a lot! I think I'll be frequenting here over the summer, since my workplace is only a building away!
(3)
Chris D.
Interesting location for a bar. Great place to watch NFL games. Food is pretty good.
(3)
K Sera S.
I wouldn't go to "Notty's" (as we locals call it) on a Saturday night if they were handing out full bottles of Patron free at the door. However, if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers. It's a local favorite, I think, because for a long time there simply was no where else to go! The drinks are what they are...they're not known for a creative cocktail menu, but they do pour a good, heavy martini. The food is bar food in every sense of the word. Unless you're getting tipsy too quickly from said big martini, skip the noshing. So Wednesday night at Notty's good. Friday or Saturday night very, VERY bad.
(3)
Theresa C.
Nottingham's is not worth the trip... even if you have absolutely nothing better to do on a Saturday night than stare at awkwardly-dressed suburbanites. It's pretentiousness with nothing to offer in return. This place is so crowded you can't move, the drinks are awful, the service is even worse, and the decor makes me feel like I'm back drinking in a frat room basement again. The 20-minute wait for a dirty women's bathroom can't help but accentuate the feeling. If you're in the mood to go out on the weekend, do yourself a favor and go anywhere but Nottingham's.
(1)
Leeann D.
Great outdoor deck and good drink specials. The food is freezer to deep fryer but works if you need to fill your stomach. The acoustic show on the deck is very fun. The crowd is a mix of young and old.
(3)
Erica W.
Food is surprisingly good, especially the nachos!! Drinks are a bit expensive though. Love the space and outside bar area!
(4)
Kacy P.
Bleh. I gave this place a shot because it has billiard tables and a "menu." Not so much. I understand the concept of bar food. I do, I swear. This menu was unimaginative and severely lacking. I dined with a date and we both had the same wrinkled nose expression upon giving the menu a half-hearted once over. We ordered the crab dip and a white pizza. In a word; bland. We sat outside to enjoy the evening and to get away from a tacky blend of 90's, disco, and dance that was blaring from the speakers inside. There was no way to talk over the din. Our waitress was slow and failed to notice when we moved under the cover of the building due to rain. Really? Another bit of the ambiance that added significantly to the air of "FAIL" was the tumbling bar patrons. One woman was given enough to drink to fall over backward off of her stool, break glass, and require assistance to get back to her seat. No management came over to see if she was ok, to call her a cab, or to ask her friends to remove her from the bar. We never even played pool. Between the noise, the bad food, and the poor service all I wanted to do was drink my beer and leave. Fortunately my date felt the same way. Needless to say, this is not a place I'll be frequenting.
(1)
Brian M.
So I've given this bar two chances in recent years. Both experiences were bad. Service sucks, food is blah, stage set up is weird and sound for bands is miserable.
(1)
Jen L.
I wished we still did happy hours here. I was a big fan of how they handle large organized happy hour corporate events. They have a large area in the back that can be reserved for private events with the pool table. I believe a large corporate Happy Hour will run the company about $2500. With all of the budget cuts we were forced to stop organizing these events. Hopefully, we'll start it back up again. The crab dip is probably one of our favorite snacks there! The menu for the group events can vary and you have a lot of flexibility to choose what you want to stay within budget. Drinks can be managed by issuing tickets, open bar or cash bar. Although the location is out of the way and not easy to find, its still a great place to host a company event, especially when its so close to our workplace.
(4)
Heather W.
Mistake 1-- I came into this place on a friday night. Mistake 2- I could hear the music from outside and still decided to go in. The first thing I saw was the dance floor which housed a group of thirty somethings bumping and grinding to hip-hop. Disturbing. The music was so loud we made our way to the back as quickly as possible. Mistake 3- We thought we had lucked out because we found a shuffleboard table. Unfortunately they wanted to charge us 14 dollars an hour to use it! Seriously?! The drinks were overpriced although I do have to say that my gin and tonic was in a pint glass and had a hefty amount of gin. After our first drink we left the building and decided to go to Pub Dog which has *cough* free shuffleboard and a better atmosphere. Maybe had I gone there during lunch to play some pool or at any point during the day it might have been a better experience.
(1)
Rishoo R.
Been here a couple times on team events Thursdays. You can call this place a sports bar or even a 'dive'. The crowd seems to be kinna professional, comming out from offices located close to the place. Like Noralyn says be prepared to bump into 'high rollers':). Food/appetizers are great, especially the quesedillas and the Nacho dips. Those are what i pretty much have when i go there. I love the fact that they have pool tables in their. Its auways soo nice to shoot some balls while having drinks. A place which is good to meet friends and get together for some fun. They also have an outdoor patio with a seperate bar to hang out during summers. You wont be disappointed by visiting this place. Decent food, Full Fledge Bar, Young/Professional Crowd, waitresses are nice and hot (i guess they pickem that way :P), Outdoor patio applealing smokers, Pool tables, reasonable pricing, Live bands during weekends - I mean what else do you want?
(4)
Tony P.
Typical pool hall/sports bar with a decent if short list of craft and domestic beers. The music is loud and blaring towards the front of the bar, but it's much more tolerable towards the back by the pool tables. The menu is average bar fares with no stand outs. It'll sate your drink inspired hunger well enough. The bartenders are expedient so you're not kept waiting too long. The crowd are a mix of young 20- and 30-somethings professionals. The facility is fairly large and there's plenty of tv's scattered around to catch the sport events. And it's a bit more upscale in decor than the Greene Turtle.
(3)
priscilla d.
This review is for breakfast only. Everything tasted the way it should, and the place looked clean enough while the service was actually perfect. I dont know anything about their dinner or lunch, but breakfast was bomb. We even forgot our credit card and got it back a couple hours later. no drama. I thought it was reasonably priced, since dennys is not the bargain it used to be, its better to have a warm, comfortable breakfast here, in a booth :)
(4)
Jessica F.
It is a bar in non despcript office building in Columbia. It is worth checking out if only for that reason.
(4)
Tiffani N.
This place is fun! Have to admit I avoided Nottingham's for years, laughing that this is where the folks who aren't cool enough to go to the city go. Shame on me, didn't know what I was missing. It's like a mix of a dive bar, sports bar and local band hangout with a dash of young nightlife. I prefer to go during the happy hour times or for a Sunday football game. Can't take the crowds that pour in after 10 pm. But if you want to have a great time sipping on a beer or a fantastic margarita (so good!!!), hear some top 40 and mix and mingle with interesting HoCo folks then this is the spot for you. All without wasting gallons of gas...
(4)
Arron A.
Nottinghams is a cool place. They have pool tables, outside heated smoking, tiki bar, full bar inside and more of which a 4 star bar should have. If you want to enjoy a nice meal and a good drink then you really can't go wrong.
(4)
Brendan D.
Nottingham's seems to be a point of contention in our office. At various points it has been loved, hated, revered, and despised- and I have experienced each of these emotions at one time or another. K Sera S said it correctly: "if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers." Other than that I don't see why Nottingham's is fun- if I lived in Columbia, I would go to Baltimore if I wanted to go out. In any event here is the review: Positives: - decent beer selection, they always carry the Sam seasonal. - The patio is nice for groups when the weather is nice. - those in our office who smoke, like the conveneince of the patio, and not having to leave the grounds to grab a quick smoke. Negatives: - the crowd. To me always resembles an insurance salesman convention, or at other times the divorcee capital of Maryland. If either of these fits you though, then this may be a positive. - service. Sometimes good, but on occasion just terrible. We have had problems with our bill before, and on other visits you have to tactically order a beer even if you have a full one because you know it will take 30 minutes. Variance: - the servers are all either really hot, or look like they should be living under a bridge. There does not seem to be much in between. It works for my purpose (drinks with the office), but I would not go here for anything else.
(3)
Latise B.
This is going to be long... I'm really not a fan of Notty's. I started going here with coworkers for Happy Hour and from the start I wasn't impressed, although I continued to go to hangout. The food and drinks are overpriced. The atmosphere is very yuppie to me. Its like the stuck-up place where its "cool" to spend a ridiculous amount of money on stuff that is just average. When I eat there, I stick to wings, pizza, and nachos. They recently beefed up their menu some, but its still the same boring overpriced food to me. On the flip, it does have a more "sophistocated" feel to it , so if you have people in your group who are turned off by "dives" then Notty's is the place to take them. They offer pool and shuffleboard (for a price) as well as darts (not sure the cost) and they have a few video games. There are TVs to watch, but mostly they are small--this place is more for hanging out chatting or hearing live music. The outdoor seating is nice, but a little cramped. The service is hit or miss--I've had really good waitresses but I've also had some bad ones. Either way, they must be hot because the men in the group tend to gawk a lot. Mostly Notty's turns me off because it just feels like a place that doesn't live up to the hype that people give it. Its almost like people think they SHOULD be paying what they pay for this average hangout spot. Oh and the non-live music is pretty random across genres, but is usually not played too loudly, so socializing is very easy. I've never heard a bad band there, so that's a plus too. Oh and another plus is the bar is pretty big and there is a variety of seating, so its easy to come here in big groups and be able to all sit/stand together. Beware though, it gets pretty crowded. I wouldn't keep coming back to this place if I didn't live or work in the area, but that's just me. Its fine for after work drink, but I wouldn't actually drive to come to this place.
(2)
Courtney C.
Cougar alert! Cougar alert! Notty's is a descent local bar. We usually head in before cover starts because I refuse to pay $10 to hear a live band that is so obnoxiously loud you can't have a conversation. There are pool tables, shuffle board, etc so, there's more to do than just sit and drink. The outside patio and bar area is descent, but gets crowded. I crave their nachos on a regular basis. There's just something about that melted processed cheese that gets me every time! Its a fun place to people watch and has a good mix of age groups. Standard beers on tap, pricing is average...nothing too special. I've known a bunch of people whom have worked here and that probably explains why this is our choice for a drink on a random night with nothing else going on. Its a good place to meet up the pre-game for the night ahead, but I never stay for more than an hour or two before I'm ready to move on.
(3)
Sean B.
My nephew took me here last night as I was trying to ride out rush hour traffic as I was driving up from Dulles airport to York, PA. I was surprised when I saw that it hadn't ranked well by past Yelpers. I had a good time. The servers were friendly, the $5 martinis outstanding, and the $5 appetizers worthwhile. Nice clean environment, fun but not too loud and crazy... just a solid venue. If I lived closer, I could see myself hanging out here a bit.
(4)
Shannon D.
This place is hell. It's in a really weird, shady location. The inside is dark and trashy looking. The drinks taste processed and cheap. The clientele is really bad. Creepy old men and dumb girls in slutty dresses. The music that plays is shit. There's absolutely nothing original or cool about this place. I don't understand why anyone would be drawn here. Overall, I'll never go back again for as long as I live.
(1)
Jody Z.
I have to agree with most of the other locals...I'm not a big fan of Notty's either. Sure, it's a nice looking place. It has a big bar, pool tables, games, and a nice patio. They have bands on the weekends and a dance floor. Those are the good points. Now for the bad ones. I've never once gotten a food or drink special here, do they ever have them?? The drinks are SO expensive! The food is pricey too and it's nothing spectacular. Seriously, why is this place charging a $10 cover on Saturdays?? Come on! It's in an office building complex in suburban Columbia, are you serious? I can go out in Baltimore and get in some place better for free. Also, what's with the huge line on the weekends? I think it's a little ridiculous that people actually wait in line to get in this place. Pub Dog and Greene Turtle are right around the corner with better food, drinks, and prices.
(2)
Vince L.
I see the locals pretty much seem to hate it, but I like it. Yep, I sure do! Any place gets boring if it's right there to go to all the time. But for me, since I have a bit of a drive to get there, it almost always seems worth it. The bands are almost always good. I try to go on the Fridays when "The Reagan Years" are playing. It does get crowded, but you can always get a drink at the bar. The bartenders know how to make a good drink too. I do have to say the one Saturday that I did go, wasn't worth the effort. So I just stick to Fridays.
(4)
Didgididgi D.
OVERPRICED, disgusting food. The only reason people eat here is because it's in the office building, right? Otherwise you'd have to be nuts to spend 7 dollars on a sandwich that tastes like it was made a week ago and warmed up by a chimpanzee. I got a salad there once and there was a metal twist off from a salad dressing bottle in it. Nice. Another time, there was paper in my sandwich. Thank god I've never actually payed for anything I ate there (thanks, boss).
(1)
Nicole H.
This place is alright. It's my stand-by Columbia bar. The only thing that really gets my goat here and is reason to avoid for me is that on a couple of occasions I've gotten there to pick up friends less than an hour before close and they still charged me $10 to set food inside. I don't mind paying cover if I'm hanging out but to go and get the drunkards for a ride home... that's crap.
(2)
Stan M.
Not impressed with anything. Very overpriced and the food is below average. This place has no identity, poorly managed, and the bouncers are jerks.
(1)
Puneet M.
Needed to update my review after my most recent visit. Bar in an office complex... do tell! So as most everyone else has mentioned Nottinghams is in a random place. You drink near it and think, what am doing here its dark ourside but there are offices near by should I be going to work and I just slept in... nope your in the right place. I have been here a couple times and neither time have I come away impressed. Some positives: The place is huge! so there is plenty of space and room to move around. They also have several pool tables and a shuffle board. Lastly they have decent (i use this term loosly) Happy Hour specials. The negatives: Their regular prices are too high for me, so I would suggest only HH items. The cost of the pool tables and shuffle board are pretty darn hi (Pool: $12/hr, Shuffle: $15/hr). Also the service is totally hit or miss... sometimes you get a nice attentive server other times, you get someone who could care less about you and is running around at 15 tables. Its a total crap shoot and when you get bad service here its pretty bad. Neutrals: The place is full with people just getting off, 30+ somethings all trying to let loose and relax. Great right! (I'm right up there with them) but you get this sleezy bar/club vibe even at 6pm. To me there are much better places to check out, Pub Dog is one (down the street) offers FREE shuffle board, great pizza and decent beer specials, and the place doesn't seem creepy or sleezy.
(2)
Stephanie L.
Had a Ladies Nite Out here....was nice. Keep in mind you have to find the location first (not an easy find). Lots of room. Didnt feel too congested. Drinks were good. The wings with RANCH were tasty, but the Nacho (pause) were exciting. Will go back soon.
(3)
Kat F.
Freaking $10 cover. REALLY?? Definitely not worth it. Yeah, they give you a free "drink," but when you think about it: You're going into a bar (not a club or anything, just a bar to hang out/eat/drink) and you're forced to get a drink worth $10. Yeah, not worth it at all. Not to mention how difficult it is to find (you turn into a bunch of office buildings and go allllll the way down the parking lot).
(2)
Artranda H.
Came here for lunch didn't know they were open for lunch until one of my friends suggested meeting her there. Had a turkey sandwich with a pretzel bun with fries and it was so delicious I would defiantly return here for lunch.
(4)
Caitlin C.
Nottingham's is tucked into an unassuming business park off a back road of Columbia. I was skeptical when I came here with a friend, but I left a happy camper! Divey in a weird way that could only happen in Columbia, Nottingham's is a huge bar where a lot of locals hang out. The food is pretty standard, the drinks are strong, the service is friendly, and the music is wayyy to loud. I would come back here, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.
(3)
Rebeca F.
Nice indoor and outdoor areas. Kind of hidden away. Good space for a live band. Go early to avoid the crowd and cover.
(3)
Dyonna B.
Came here on a Saturday night. I liked the atmosphere and the music selection was great. There were pool tables galore if you like to play. I hopped on the dance floor for a bit and got quite tipsy for $12. lol Of course I was ordering rail but the drinks seemed to not be as expensive as I thought it would be. I will def go back.
(4)
Eric C.
Your experience at Nottingham's Tavern will depend on two different factors: 1. Waiter/Waitress 2. Bartender Now, these factors usually play work in cohesion in many other establishments. However, these two factors are important at Nottingham's Tavern because you can either have extremely good service and product or the complete opposite. My last visit here, on a Friday during Happy Hour, had both good and bad aspects. Now that the outside area is open, I would recommend getting your alcoholic beverages from the bartenders outside. However, mojitos are only made inside the tavern. The best drink of the evening was actually a Fireball shot. Remember how I said that bartenders play an important factor here? Well, I had ordered a simple cranberry and vodka that came from inside, and the drink was terrible. The taste of alcohol was definitely missing. No problem though, the item was taken off the final bill. As far as food is concerned, I remember ordering the Hot Crab Pretzel. Honestly, the appetizer would serve better on the "Things to eat when you are severely drunk" menu list. The thing is though, I was not drunk, so the pretzel was not desirable either. I also tried the Hubie Con Queso, which I did not like that much either. Based on past times here at Nottingham's, I would recommend getting either the spicy wings or pizza. I remember coming here a year ago on a Friday night and had the opportunity to hear the live band play. The band that played was not that memorable, so I only have recollection of the fact that a live band was actually there. Nottingham's is a place to come during Happy Hour for the good prices. I can't really recommend it for too much after that.
(3)
Kei H.
I only like this place on really slow nights... otherwise they've played bad music every time I have been, have annoying dj's, and there are just way way wayyy too many people. :( unless you personally know a bar tender.. forget getting drinks without a 15 minute wait; it's just too small of a bar for such a large establishment. it's crazy loud. also seems like it's become a meat market for 21-23 year olds
(2)
Danny G.
Not a place that I would ever go to again. The environment wasn't bad when I first got here at around 11:00. But the DJ's music selection continued to get worse and worse after each song. One of my worst Saturday nights in a long time.
(1)
Maria S.
I felt sick and vomitted in the toilet. I was kicked out for that. I am very offended. The music also sucks. Never going back.
(1)
Kacy P.
Bleh. I gave this place a shot because it has billiard tables and a "menu." Not so much. I understand the concept of bar food. I do, I swear. This menu was unimaginative and severely lacking. I dined with a date and we both had the same wrinkled nose expression upon giving the menu a half-hearted once over. We ordered the crab dip and a white pizza. In a word; bland. We sat outside to enjoy the evening and to get away from a tacky blend of 90's, disco, and dance that was blaring from the speakers inside. There was no way to talk over the din. Our waitress was slow and failed to notice when we moved under the cover of the building due to rain. Really? Another bit of the ambiance that added significantly to the air of "FAIL" was the tumbling bar patrons. One woman was given enough to drink to fall over backward off of her stool, break glass, and require assistance to get back to her seat. No management came over to see if she was ok, to call her a cab, or to ask her friends to remove her from the bar. We never even played pool. Between the noise, the bad food, and the poor service all I wanted to do was drink my beer and leave. Fortunately my date felt the same way. Needless to say, this is not a place I'll be frequenting.
(1)
Brian M.
So I've given this bar two chances in recent years. Both experiences were bad. Service sucks, food is blah, stage set up is weird and sound for bands is miserable.
(1)
Jen L.
I wished we still did happy hours here. I was a big fan of how they handle large organized happy hour corporate events. They have a large area in the back that can be reserved for private events with the pool table. I believe a large corporate Happy Hour will run the company about $2500. With all of the budget cuts we were forced to stop organizing these events. Hopefully, we'll start it back up again. The crab dip is probably one of our favorite snacks there! The menu for the group events can vary and you have a lot of flexibility to choose what you want to stay within budget. Drinks can be managed by issuing tickets, open bar or cash bar. Although the location is out of the way and not easy to find, its still a great place to host a company event, especially when its so close to our workplace.
(4)
Heather W.
Mistake 1-- I came into this place on a friday night. Mistake 2- I could hear the music from outside and still decided to go in. The first thing I saw was the dance floor which housed a group of thirty somethings bumping and grinding to hip-hop. Disturbing. The music was so loud we made our way to the back as quickly as possible. Mistake 3- We thought we had lucked out because we found a shuffleboard table. Unfortunately they wanted to charge us 14 dollars an hour to use it! Seriously?! The drinks were overpriced although I do have to say that my gin and tonic was in a pint glass and had a hefty amount of gin. After our first drink we left the building and decided to go to Pub Dog which has *cough* free shuffleboard and a better atmosphere. Maybe had I gone there during lunch to play some pool or at any point during the day it might have been a better experience.
(1)
Toby R.
I like any place with outdoor seating AND music AND an outdoor bar. Also, they have many pool tables and darts. The food is decent and the service is solid.
(3)
Courtney C.
Cougar alert! Cougar alert! Notty's is a descent local bar. We usually head in before cover starts because I refuse to pay $10 to hear a live band that is so obnoxiously loud you can't have a conversation. There are pool tables, shuffle board, etc so, there's more to do than just sit and drink. The outside patio and bar area is descent, but gets crowded. I crave their nachos on a regular basis. There's just something about that melted processed cheese that gets me every time! Its a fun place to people watch and has a good mix of age groups. Standard beers on tap, pricing is average...nothing too special. I've known a bunch of people whom have worked here and that probably explains why this is our choice for a drink on a random night with nothing else going on. Its a good place to meet up the pre-game for the night ahead, but I never stay for more than an hour or two before I'm ready to move on.
(3)
Sean B.
My nephew took me here last night as I was trying to ride out rush hour traffic as I was driving up from Dulles airport to York, PA. I was surprised when I saw that it hadn't ranked well by past Yelpers. I had a good time. The servers were friendly, the $5 martinis outstanding, and the $5 appetizers worthwhile. Nice clean environment, fun but not too loud and crazy... just a solid venue. If I lived closer, I could see myself hanging out here a bit.
(4)
Shannon D.
This place is hell. It's in a really weird, shady location. The inside is dark and trashy looking. The drinks taste processed and cheap. The clientele is really bad. Creepy old men and dumb girls in slutty dresses. The music that plays is shit. There's absolutely nothing original or cool about this place. I don't understand why anyone would be drawn here. Overall, I'll never go back again for as long as I live.
(1)
Jody Z.
I have to agree with most of the other locals...I'm not a big fan of Notty's either. Sure, it's a nice looking place. It has a big bar, pool tables, games, and a nice patio. They have bands on the weekends and a dance floor. Those are the good points. Now for the bad ones. I've never once gotten a food or drink special here, do they ever have them?? The drinks are SO expensive! The food is pricey too and it's nothing spectacular. Seriously, why is this place charging a $10 cover on Saturdays?? Come on! It's in an office building complex in suburban Columbia, are you serious? I can go out in Baltimore and get in some place better for free. Also, what's with the huge line on the weekends? I think it's a little ridiculous that people actually wait in line to get in this place. Pub Dog and Greene Turtle are right around the corner with better food, drinks, and prices.
(2)
Aaron R.
Is this the right address? Sure, whatever. I guess this is a local favorite. I really don't know why. It's not that great. I've only been a few times, but nothing at all stood out to me. The prices aren't great, the crowd is the same group of people you see at the mall during the day, and I don't even remember what the music was... or was there? I always used to think this was a gay bar. After going, I know it's not. The gay dudes I know have a lot more fun. This place is boring, but there ain't much else if you are afraid of leaving the Columbubble. I suggest you carpool with some friends out to Baltimore or DC.
(3)
Yas S.
Soooooo came back with my cousin for some Friday night girls night out and was disappointed. DJ Devin suxxxxx omg!!!! Worst DJ ever. But our beers and wings was cool. Lots of people watching, outside bar/patio is cool too. Female bartender on the patio was not very attentive so we went inside to get our food. Not sure of a return with the same DJ. That dude just kept killing the vibe.
(3)
Peter L.
Have never had any food I liked here. Music is very loud even early in the evening. Bar selection isn't bad but nothing interesting
(1)
Olivia M.
I really like this place for its atmosphere and menu. They have a large inside bar next to the front door near the dance floor and a tiki/outdoor bar. Plenty of pool tables and waking distance from hotels in case you've had too much to drink or are simply just visiting. If it's your first time it's SERIOUSLY hard to find (backside of an office building) and GPS is no help. Their menu features such delicious fare as fish tacos ala carte, crab pretzel, and tator tots. I don't recall the music/dj being all that but it's a great happy hour location and atmosphere!
(4)
Patrick G.
The bottom line: Nottingham's is one of the best bars in Columbia and is a great spot to watch your favorite NFL team while enjoying cold and tasty libations. The restaurant itself is where Nottingham's really shines. They have a large outdoor area complete with a Tiki Bar, which is often pretty busy during the summer (and provides a nice respite for smokers who don't want to continue enjoying their drinks while they nurse their nicotine habit). They have a few pool tables, a shuffleboard table, and a spacious private room in the back which can be booked for events. The recreational options are priced a tiny bit high in my opinion, and you're billed at an hourly rate, so if you only want to play 1 or 2 games, you'll inevitably feel overcommitted. Nottingham's is a fantastic destination for watching NFL football on Sunday afternoons. No matter what team you root for, you can find your game on one of the numerous TV screens and plenty of fellow fans with which to celebrate (or commiserate, depending on how your season is going). Ravens (and sometimes Redskins) games are usually presented on the large projector screen. When people go to a bar, they generally don't expect fine dining, and Nottingham's is no exception. I haven't sampled everything on their menu, but the items I've tried have been run-of-the-mill bar food. That observation isn't meant as a disparagement - sometimes bar food is perfectly satisfying - but it's something to be aware of. The service is usually decent, professional, and attentive. Nottingham's features some entertainment options. They have weekly karaoke (on Wednesday nights at the time of this review), and DJs on the weekends. They used to have live bands pretty regularly, but completely stopped doing so a few years back. There's a slightly raised area that used to function as a stage that has since been converted into a "VIP Lounge". I've rarely seen anyone in there, and I think it's a patently ridiculous idea. This isn't some club in Miami, it's a bar in the suburbs that's situated in an office park. Of course, it's their bar and they can do what they want, but that particular experiment doesn't seem to be paying off. I've given Nottingham's 4 stars because I want to support a locally-owned business, but I sometimes feel like it's become a 3-star experience over the last 5-6 years. I think the restaurant's management team takes themselves too seriously, sometimes to the point of arrogance. For example, they've instituted a dress code that requires "Proper Upscale Attire" (whatever the hell that means) on Wednesday - Saturday. I've never felt like Nottingham's was the kind of place that put in quite enough effort to be considered upscale.
(4)
Kim A.
It's my first time here !! It's so chill nice bartender .. She always had a smile ... On her .. I'm here as of speaking ... Dress code isn't strict here for the guys ... They have a pool table everything u need .. Great crowd .. I'm coming back on the weekends
(4)
Oliver L.
Seems like Nottys has gotten a face-lift all around. Its my favorite bar in Columbia. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is friendly. Every size, color, shape, and shade. I love ladies night and karaoke, the dance floor, and the food is really good! The salad and dip I had was super fresh, much higher quality than typical bar food. They also have great priced drinks, fundraisers, happy hours. I just like it. The place is really a gem, hidden in an office building. :-)
(5)
Donyiel C.
I've been going to this bar for many years now. I hadn't visited in awhile and yesterday, decided to meet up with some friends, most of whom had never been to this establishment. We met up around 6:30 and since the weather was gorgeous, we sat on the patio. We were able to partake in the happy hour specials (happy hour on a saturday? can't beat that). But unfortunately, it went downhill from here...One, our server was not very friendly and had an attitude with some of our party due to their lack of hastiness in making a decision about they wanted to order (not cool). After they ordered, she took away all the menus from the table. We had to ask her to bring them back (or at least one). Another friend joined our group and she had taken away the menus again...sigh. I wanted to place another order (just 6 wings), but it took about 30 minutes to arrive. I'm sure she forgot about it until one of our friends reminded her and her "excuse" was that it got busy due to other customers trying to place their orders in before happy hour ended! Um...whatever! Here's the kicker!! So I had been the only one in our party who opened a tab (everyone else paid as they ordered) which means my card was held at the bar. When it came to me closing out my tab, she took awhile to bring back my bill. I finally got the bill, but no card! um...lady, where's my card?? She goes "you don't have it? I brought all the cards back earlier. Can you all check to make sure you don't have it?" Lady! Are you being serious right now? I don't have my card and neither does anyone in my party! You lost my card (this is my check card mind you!) Not a credit card...my check card with my entire paycheck on it..I tried to remain calm while she went back inside to look for it. After seeing her frantically searching for it, she back to our table with no card and no real remorse for her irresponsibility. She only offered to personally pay for my bill ($20.00) and advised me to write down my phone number and name and she can call if she finds it the next day. Really? I really remained as calm as I can (maybe the alcohol I drank kept me somewhat mellow?) Anyway, she suggested I check the app on my phone to see if my card had been used...um, ok! I logged onto my online banking. No my card hasn't been used yet, but that did not mean someone walked off with it and planning to use it. She went inside and looked again. I asked to speak with her manager and she tells me "she will tell you the same thing I told you." Excuse you? How dare you? You've always screwed up and you have the nerve to say that to me in my distress??! I can't.... The manager finally comes out and offers somewhat of an apology saying that it's easy for these things to happen (yes, losing someone's card at their establishment). I'm appalled!! She said they would comp my bill (which I was already told and obviously they would to do since I don't have a card to pay it!!) and then a $50 gift card to come back. To give me the gift card took at least another 20 minutes! I just can't believe this really happened. I explained to her that it's a weekend. My bank won't be open until Monday morning - I have no access to my funds until then. What will happen when I need to get gas or buy food? She tells me "the people you're with can cover you?!" Really though?? No I need my card back! I immediately cancelled my card but now I'm without access to my money due to their irresponsibility and lack of concern for the severity of this issue! I was beyond distraught over this and I don't plan to coming back to this place anytime soon!!!
(2)
Joy P.
I heard of the place for a few years, but never gone. So I was excited to see that Jah Works was performing at the location. But after reading a few reviews, I wasn't really sure what to think. I really loved the place, the food was good and the bartenders and waitresses were awesome. My date and I sat at the bar, and although it was crowded, the bartenders continually made sure we were taken care of, along with other patrons sitting there. I ordered the nachos with spicy chicken, and I must say I was very impressed. My date order the quesadillas and some wings and he raved about both. He owns his own catering company, so he knows food. I loved the atmosphere, so I will definitely be going back!!
(5)
Jordan K.
Drink service was subpar at our table, took our server forever to get water when we needed it, but the alcohol came quickly. Pizza was pretty good and cannot complain. This place got packed on a late Saturday night, but would be more enjoyable if the DJ actually DJ'd. Read the reviews and you can see whoever they got DJ'n is not doing it right. When you crash two songs together or not even blend/mix... it hurts my feelings!
(2)
Kisha S.
great happy hour specials during the week. 3p to 7pm. good and appetizers...and no kids after 9pm. good and friendly atmosphere.
(4)
Marc A.
What a fun place to hang out. Great music, good food, and plenty of people. This one of the best party spots in Columbia. No fight too. That's a plus. Great servers bring us drinks. Just an awesome party spot.
(5)
Margaret N.
Hidden restaurant in the middle of business offices. Went here for lunch and service was slow, and food wasn't that great...
(2)
Asa B.
It's a great place to dance, eat, drink, music, play, gathering, good time, DJ and so much more.... It's big so you expect to see so many people there on weekends and even during the week!
(3)
Ky T.
I am at Nottinghams at 11:41PM on Friday February 28, 2014. The deejay is quite possibly the worst I've EVER heard. I mean worst.... and I mean ever!!!!! The sounds of his tunes may drive me to suicide so that I need to retreat from this review to start drawing up my last wishes. Toodles Yelp & mercy on mine ears :'-(
(1)
Daniel C.
Nottingham's is tucked into a little business park near a car dealership and the new Wegman's. Tough to find your first time, you may just need to listen to your Garmin and close your eyes, but if you just drive around the back of the buildings you will find it. It has a nice bar with many beer selections, and this is definitely a bar built to be a bar. It is a perfect place to go to get your drink on, and I understand it is a popular destination in the evenings. There even seems to be a tiki bar set up outside for warm weather (and serves double duty as a smoking area.) The foo dis solidly pub grub. We ordered some Dublin Nachos, which are tater tots covered in cheese and other traditional ingredients. We followed up with a Cuban sandwich which was serviceable. I can take serviceable with my beer just fine, thank you. We had a large party, and the servers did an amazing job keeping up with our orders and separate checks. I was annoyed that another party had reserved the party room in back, yet had exclusive use of every pool table in the bar. Once they did open up, I noticed there were hourly rates posted for the pool tables. I'm use to pumping quarters into a pool table, I wonder how they charge for them there?
(3)
Mady J.
A great night's entertainment. Fantastic music, good drinks and a great atmosphere. Great entertainment for the price of drinks. Lots of fun...Lots of energy. Enjoyed every minute of it. They have a really nice dance floor, couple of pool tables in the back, and tons of electronic games to play in the bar. Go and have fun. You won't be disappointed!
(4)
R V.
Located in a business Park where you would not expect. Went with friends and had avocado crab trap. Was pretty darn good. We decided to go there every two weeks for happy hour and shuffleboard. Went back 12 days later menu has completely changed. Got rid of all that we liked. Nothing any interest typical bar food. We're going to find another place to go. Just meh.
(3)
Muriel H.
My best friend and her boyfriend invited my husband and me out to a double date night here. It is a fun spot. I liked that it had pool, a good size dance floor and drink specials. We had some pretty good nachos here too!
(3)
Rocky B.
Screw this place! I'm from Tampa Florida and I came here for some beers. I had an adidas visor on back-ward and this prick walked over to tell me I needed to turn it around. Seriously, I am a well dressed guy and had 1 beer with some friends and this was absolutely uncalled for. I passed 4 bouncers at the door and not one said anything. I was there for an hour tops and the waitress never said anything. Guy / staff needs to grow up and get big boy jobs and not be 30+ working in a bar as a "glorified bouncer." Can't wait to go back home to Tampa. Our bars are welcoming and an amazing time! People love everyone and no one is trying to pick problems with consumers. We all left and going somewhere else; their loss bc we are on vacation they could have had probably a good couple hundred dollars from us.
(1)
Michelle K.
I've been a loyal customer for 6 years now, but I won't be coming back again. Mind you, in the last six years this has never happened! A few years back I knew that holding a tab at "the bar" meant that they put a $50 hold on your card. That's fine. I have had a few friends here and there that have had a bad experience with this here, but it's not uncommon for bars to do this and shit happens. HOWEVER, putting a $125 hold on my credit card and not telling me (when I've already asked SPECIFICALLY just for clarification AND in $25 increments) is unacceptable. I literally had 5 charges of $25 pending on my credit card! WTF?!? Had I known that, I would have just closed my tab out and just paid as I went. All this would not even be an issue... Annoying? YES! But not an issue. Also, I was NOT at the bar, but outside at a table with a server. PLEASE listen! Once again, loyally, I have been coming here for SIX YEARS. It's not worth it. You may or may not get a shitty attitude from a server... You may or may not get served in a timely manner.. You may or may not get drinks the right way or even in a timely manner and that's just been my experience here over the last six years.
(2)
S D.
Another spot with great potential that does not know how to capitalize! They seem set with a formula for mediocrity.. Just because you've been in business for a while, does not mean you shouldn't try new things! FIRST OFF... DJ REQUEST is not a DJ! He is a human jukebox that does not mix, transition or understand anything about DJing! A decent DJ could really take this place to another level. Drinks were good, downside, they ran out of my Sam Adams Cold Snap after just 1 drink. A big plus was our server. Super pleasant and attentive! May go back... May not...
(2)
Gwyneth J.
This is a place where I like to come alive after five without running into screaming kids & disapproving parents. We don't need or want your baleful glances when we get our drink on and let the epithets fly and F-bombs drop! No... "It's a baby--- in a Bar" here! That's right - it is NOT your right to bring a toddler to a bar then expect everyone to provide you with baby high chairs, kid menus, and sipee cups. Go to Cracker Barrel, Applebys, or Chuckie Cheese if that's your scene. Bloop bloop! Nottingham's is tucked away in an industrial park between Snowden River and Dobbin road and is one of the FEW grownups only establishments in the family friendly saturated market of Columbia. At night it's a 20's something pickup bar with a $10 cover but for Happy Hour it's a fun any age drinking & nibbling destination. The Tiki Bar outside is its best feature! Open year round this little oasis is a great place to unwind & sip an ale while hanging out with friends. I have a friend who still smokes (it does make her look cool, I gotta say) and this is still permitted here. That's right - though it's still legal in America you won't get nasty looks and baleful glances when puffing away at the Tiki Bar. Deal with it. Built in heaters help her in the winter not freeze while she indulges in her favourite vice. And yes, we tease her. Draft domestics are cheap (YAY $2.00 Yuenglings! Take THAT Alehouse!) , tasty apps including a lovely veggie & hummus plate and small pizzas perfect for sharing all add to the draw of this strangely located local pub. So, hang out in Columbia sans kiddos, curse like a sailor, guzzle ales for not a lot of bucks & have a fun time! Huzzah!
(4)
Joel R.
Nottingham's really isn't for everyone. Music could be very loud at times, and some of there happy hour specials are not really drinks I would consume. But overall, I like the outdoor patio when the weather is nice, and staff has always been friendly in my opinion. I would definitely recommend the old bay wings. There my favorite!
(3)
Tunaidi A.
Down with the Broncos. Ray Lewis plays another day! That was the sole reason why I would ever have considered stepping foot into Nottingham's Tavern. This place has a good selection of drinks, but mediocre happy hour selections. Football day happy hour drinks consist of $3 bloody mary's and mimosas. I'm not a fan of either, so I thought that was very limiting. Specials on other days seemed a bit better. However, food and bites are underwhelming, both on the happy hour menu and the regular menu. The usual suspects are pizza, wings, queso, and tacos, and even for bars/pubs, these were very below average. The best part about football days are that the big screen and projector are set up and there is a good amount of seating. Service isn't bad either. Though, I don't think I'd ever come to Nottingham's for anything other than football.
(2)
Chrysta T.
The DJ sucks! Plays old music and will not take requests. Been there twice in the last month or so and have been disappointed with music. When the dance floor is empty, take a hint.
(2)
Puneet M.
Needed to update my review after my most recent visit. Bar in an office complex... do tell! So as most everyone else has mentioned Nottinghams is in a random place. You drink near it and think, what am doing here its dark ourside but there are offices near by should I be going to work and I just slept in... nope your in the right place. I have been here a couple times and neither time have I come away impressed. Some positives: The place is huge! so there is plenty of space and room to move around. They also have several pool tables and a shuffle board. Lastly they have decent (i use this term loosly) Happy Hour specials. The negatives: Their regular prices are too high for me, so I would suggest only HH items. The cost of the pool tables and shuffle board are pretty darn hi (Pool: $12/hr, Shuffle: $15/hr). Also the service is totally hit or miss... sometimes you get a nice attentive server other times, you get someone who could care less about you and is running around at 15 tables. Its a total crap shoot and when you get bad service here its pretty bad. Neutrals: The place is full with people just getting off, 30+ somethings all trying to let loose and relax. Great right! (I'm right up there with them) but you get this sleezy bar/club vibe even at 6pm. To me there are much better places to check out, Pub Dog is one (down the street) offers FREE shuffle board, great pizza and decent beer specials, and the place doesn't seem creepy or sleezy.
(2)
Stephanie L.
Had a Ladies Nite Out here....was nice. Keep in mind you have to find the location first (not an easy find). Lots of room. Didnt feel too congested. Drinks were good. The wings with RANCH were tasty, but the Nacho (pause) were exciting. Will go back soon.
(3)
Kat F.
Freaking $10 cover. REALLY?? Definitely not worth it. Yeah, they give you a free "drink," but when you think about it: You're going into a bar (not a club or anything, just a bar to hang out/eat/drink) and you're forced to get a drink worth $10. Yeah, not worth it at all. Not to mention how difficult it is to find (you turn into a bunch of office buildings and go allllll the way down the parking lot).
(2)
Nicole H.
This place is alright. It's my stand-by Columbia bar. The only thing that really gets my goat here and is reason to avoid for me is that on a couple of occasions I've gotten there to pick up friends less than an hour before close and they still charged me $10 to set food inside. I don't mind paying cover if I'm hanging out but to go and get the drunkards for a ride home... that's crap.
(2)
Stan M.
Not impressed with anything. Very overpriced and the food is below average. This place has no identity, poorly managed, and the bouncers are jerks.
(1)
Erica W.
Food is surprisingly good, especially the nachos!! Drinks are a bit expensive though. Love the space and outside bar area!
(4)
Larry H.
My first visit to "Notty's" was on a Saturday night, with a live band. As with any live venue, the caliber of the band can make or break the night. Luckily the band playing was KleptoRadio, which would be a great party band in any venue. Food... Nottinghams even calls itself a tavern, so if you're coming here expecting a table side sommelier and 5-star dining, you're gonna be disappointed. Notty's serves bar, food plain and simple. Nothing fancy, just a philly cheesesteak or some nacho's to soak up any excessive alcohol you might consume. Atmosphere... It looks like any typical sports bar... Lots of little flat screens distributed throughout, sports bar decor, pool tables in the back, a DJ sound booth, a small dance floor, and a stage for live bands. It also has outside patio seating, but that seemed to be the location of choice for smokers, so I totally avoided it. Location... This is the weird one... even WITH a GPS this place is hard to find. It's stuck in the back of a business park with numerous office complexes. Word of mouth must be how most people find it, because you'll never see it from the road. If you want to compare it to premier live music venues in DC or Baltimore, of course it's not going to measure up. If you want the city, go to the city. But if you compare it to other live music venues in the burbs that are all essentially restaurants that push a few tables out of the way to squeeze a 3 piece band and some amps into an impossibly small corner. Then this is where Nottinghams comes into its own. Nottinghams has a purpose built live music stage that's large enough to comfortably accommodate a 5 or even 6 piece band. The sound system is great for the size of the venue. And the automated stage lighting was definitely well above par for a venue of this size. All in all, it's a decent suburban live music venue with average bar food and decent service. In all honesty, I walked away with only one real complaint, which was the dress code, (or lack thereof). I get it, that this is the burbs, not a velvet rope DC dance club. And I know Notty's main audience is a mix of 20 something to 40 something suburbanites. But there were 30 & 40 somethings in suits, there were 20 & 30 somethings in anything from classy to hipster type clothing, which were all fine in my opinion. The ones that should have been stopped at the door were the schlubs wearing worn out John Deere ball caps, dirty (not fashionably worn, DIRTY) jeans that looked like they'd been digging ditches all day, dirty old t-shirts. This wasn't just 4 or 5 people. I'd say about 20% of the crowd was walking around in worn ballcaps and clothes that looked like they pulled them out of the bottom of the hamper. Seriously...?
(3)
Alexis K.
I WOULDN'T STEP FOOT IN THERE AGAIN......To those who have been here or come here often the bartender and manager have bad decision making skills. This was my second time here and it was okay the first time good music etc. However, this particular night was a total reck because the bartender cant take criticism because he failed to make a decent drink. The bartender NIEL is 10 year employee who knows what he does so says the manager. Who has poor managing skills for kicking someone out for no logical reason. She didn't care and was awful at her job. Even her customers agreed on my behalf and her employees as well. Bad judgement and bad service.
(1)
Rishoo R.
Been here a couple times on team events Thursdays. You can call this place a sports bar or even a 'dive'. The crowd seems to be kinna professional, comming out from offices located close to the place. Like Noralyn says be prepared to bump into 'high rollers':). Food/appetizers are great, especially the quesedillas and the Nacho dips. Those are what i pretty much have when i go there. I love the fact that they have pool tables in their. Its auways soo nice to shoot some balls while having drinks. A place which is good to meet friends and get together for some fun. They also have an outdoor patio with a seperate bar to hang out during summers. You wont be disappointed by visiting this place. Decent food, Full Fledge Bar, Young/Professional Crowd, waitresses are nice and hot (i guess they pickem that way :P), Outdoor patio applealing smokers, Pool tables, reasonable pricing, Live bands during weekends - I mean what else do you want?
(4)
Tony P.
Typical pool hall/sports bar with a decent if short list of craft and domestic beers. The music is loud and blaring towards the front of the bar, but it's much more tolerable towards the back by the pool tables. The menu is average bar fares with no stand outs. It'll sate your drink inspired hunger well enough. The bartenders are expedient so you're not kept waiting too long. The crowd are a mix of young 20- and 30-somethings professionals. The facility is fairly large and there's plenty of tv's scattered around to catch the sport events. And it's a bit more upscale in decor than the Greene Turtle.
(3)
priscilla d.
This review is for breakfast only. Everything tasted the way it should, and the place looked clean enough while the service was actually perfect. I dont know anything about their dinner or lunch, but breakfast was bomb. We even forgot our credit card and got it back a couple hours later. no drama. I thought it was reasonably priced, since dennys is not the bargain it used to be, its better to have a warm, comfortable breakfast here, in a booth :)
(4)
Jessica F.
It is a bar in non despcript office building in Columbia. It is worth checking out if only for that reason.
(4)
Tiffani N.
This place is fun! Have to admit I avoided Nottingham's for years, laughing that this is where the folks who aren't cool enough to go to the city go. Shame on me, didn't know what I was missing. It's like a mix of a dive bar, sports bar and local band hangout with a dash of young nightlife. I prefer to go during the happy hour times or for a Sunday football game. Can't take the crowds that pour in after 10 pm. But if you want to have a great time sipping on a beer or a fantastic margarita (so good!!!), hear some top 40 and mix and mingle with interesting HoCo folks then this is the spot for you. All without wasting gallons of gas...
(4)
Arron A.
Nottinghams is a cool place. They have pool tables, outside heated smoking, tiki bar, full bar inside and more of which a 4 star bar should have. If you want to enjoy a nice meal and a good drink then you really can't go wrong.
(4)
Melody C.
Nottinghams is a cool bar in a strange location; the bottom floor of an office building in Columbia. Don't let that deter you though, go in and check it out. I came here for the first time with my company for our monthly happy hour. Drinks and appetizers on the boss?! I'm there! I was not disappointed. The drinks were good and the waitress was EXCELLENT with servicing a large crowd of thirsty people. My boyfriend and I had several beverages and never had to wait long for our next one. It's dark, clean, and spacious. There is a small stage in the front, a DJ booth on the side and a professional looking sound system all around. I'm sure music nights the place gets going. Even on a Weds. night it was crowded. People started rolling in after 5pm. There are several pool tables in the back also if that's your game. I will definitely be back here soon to grab some lunch!
(4)
Mary W.
Unfortunately, I'm not of age yet to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials & night time activities :( BUT, I have been to lunch here twice & both times were great. I found it to be pretty filling, for only spending around $8-$9 (with tax and tip). Albuquerque Turkey was great--a little too much turkey, which made it kind of dry. . .but one server suggested adding avocado to it to make it even yummier! All sandwich orders come with chips & a slice of pickle :D Second time around, got the soup+1/2 sandwich combo. That's only $6.50 and you can add more to your sandwich like cheeses, change up the braed etc. (at a cost I think) OK deal for people who don't eat a lot! I think I'll be frequenting here over the summer, since my workplace is only a building away!
(3)
Chris D.
Interesting location for a bar. Great place to watch NFL games. Food is pretty good.
(3)
K Sera S.
I wouldn't go to "Notty's" (as we locals call it) on a Saturday night if they were handing out full bottles of Patron free at the door. However, if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers. It's a local favorite, I think, because for a long time there simply was no where else to go! The drinks are what they are...they're not known for a creative cocktail menu, but they do pour a good, heavy martini. The food is bar food in every sense of the word. Unless you're getting tipsy too quickly from said big martini, skip the noshing. So Wednesday night at Notty's good. Friday or Saturday night very, VERY bad.
(3)
Theresa C.
Nottingham's is not worth the trip... even if you have absolutely nothing better to do on a Saturday night than stare at awkwardly-dressed suburbanites. It's pretentiousness with nothing to offer in return. This place is so crowded you can't move, the drinks are awful, the service is even worse, and the decor makes me feel like I'm back drinking in a frat room basement again. The 20-minute wait for a dirty women's bathroom can't help but accentuate the feeling. If you're in the mood to go out on the weekend, do yourself a favor and go anywhere but Nottingham's.
(1)
Leeann D.
Great outdoor deck and good drink specials. The food is freezer to deep fryer but works if you need to fill your stomach. The acoustic show on the deck is very fun. The crowd is a mix of young and old.
(3)
Brendan D.
Nottingham's seems to be a point of contention in our office. At various points it has been loved, hated, revered, and despised- and I have experienced each of these emotions at one time or another. K Sera S said it correctly: "if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers." Other than that I don't see why Nottingham's is fun- if I lived in Columbia, I would go to Baltimore if I wanted to go out. In any event here is the review: Positives: - decent beer selection, they always carry the Sam seasonal. - The patio is nice for groups when the weather is nice. - those in our office who smoke, like the conveneince of the patio, and not having to leave the grounds to grab a quick smoke. Negatives: - the crowd. To me always resembles an insurance salesman convention, or at other times the divorcee capital of Maryland. If either of these fits you though, then this may be a positive. - service. Sometimes good, but on occasion just terrible. We have had problems with our bill before, and on other visits you have to tactically order a beer even if you have a full one because you know it will take 30 minutes. Variance: - the servers are all either really hot, or look like they should be living under a bridge. There does not seem to be much in between. It works for my purpose (drinks with the office), but I would not go here for anything else.
(3)
Latise B.
This is going to be long... I'm really not a fan of Notty's. I started going here with coworkers for Happy Hour and from the start I wasn't impressed, although I continued to go to hangout. The food and drinks are overpriced. The atmosphere is very yuppie to me. Its like the stuck-up place where its "cool" to spend a ridiculous amount of money on stuff that is just average. When I eat there, I stick to wings, pizza, and nachos. They recently beefed up their menu some, but its still the same boring overpriced food to me. On the flip, it does have a more "sophistocated" feel to it , so if you have people in your group who are turned off by "dives" then Notty's is the place to take them. They offer pool and shuffleboard (for a price) as well as darts (not sure the cost) and they have a few video games. There are TVs to watch, but mostly they are small--this place is more for hanging out chatting or hearing live music. The outdoor seating is nice, but a little cramped. The service is hit or miss--I've had really good waitresses but I've also had some bad ones. Either way, they must be hot because the men in the group tend to gawk a lot. Mostly Notty's turns me off because it just feels like a place that doesn't live up to the hype that people give it. Its almost like people think they SHOULD be paying what they pay for this average hangout spot. Oh and the non-live music is pretty random across genres, but is usually not played too loudly, so socializing is very easy. I've never heard a bad band there, so that's a plus too. Oh and another plus is the bar is pretty big and there is a variety of seating, so its easy to come here in big groups and be able to all sit/stand together. Beware though, it gets pretty crowded. I wouldn't keep coming back to this place if I didn't live or work in the area, but that's just me. Its fine for after work drink, but I wouldn't actually drive to come to this place.
(2)
Chrissy L.
First time I attempted to go there it was a 10 dollar cover- I said hells no in front of the bouncer. Just like someone else said, it's at the bottom of a business building- COME ON NOW. There are some specials but your lucky if you can get your servers attention. I have gone here on an early happy hour- super strong drinks! ahh and late happy hour. Food wasn't too bad. Wish there were more drink specials. I haven't heard a great band yet. I think the sound being on the bottom floor just doesn't work there. Crowd- random. Last weekend I went there were dudes in scruffy t's, cougars, and girls dressed like hoochies. You're in COLUMBIA !!! not Baltimore people! Overall, alright place if you get there before the cover.
(3)
Vince L.
I see the locals pretty much seem to hate it, but I like it. Yep, I sure do! Any place gets boring if it's right there to go to all the time. But for me, since I have a bit of a drive to get there, it almost always seems worth it. The bands are almost always good. I try to go on the Fridays when "The Reagan Years" are playing. It does get crowded, but you can always get a drink at the bar. The bartenders know how to make a good drink too. I do have to say the one Saturday that I did go, wasn't worth the effort. So I just stick to Fridays.
(4)
Didgididgi D.
OVERPRICED, disgusting food. The only reason people eat here is because it's in the office building, right? Otherwise you'd have to be nuts to spend 7 dollars on a sandwich that tastes like it was made a week ago and warmed up by a chimpanzee. I got a salad there once and there was a metal twist off from a salad dressing bottle in it. Nice. Another time, there was paper in my sandwich. Thank god I've never actually payed for anything I ate there (thanks, boss).
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : DJ Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes
Aaron R.
Is this the right address? Sure, whatever. I guess this is a local favorite. I really don't know why. It's not that great. I've only been a few times, but nothing at all stood out to me. The prices aren't great, the crowd is the same group of people you see at the mall during the day, and I don't even remember what the music was... or was there? I always used to think this was a gay bar. After going, I know it's not. The gay dudes I know have a lot more fun. This place is boring, but there ain't much else if you are afraid of leaving the Columbubble. I suggest you carpool with some friends out to Baltimore or DC.
(3)Chrissy L.
First time I attempted to go there it was a 10 dollar cover- I said hells no in front of the bouncer. Just like someone else said, it's at the bottom of a business building- COME ON NOW. There are some specials but your lucky if you can get your servers attention. I have gone here on an early happy hour- super strong drinks! ahh and late happy hour. Food wasn't too bad. Wish there were more drink specials. I haven't heard a great band yet. I think the sound being on the bottom floor just doesn't work there. Crowd- random. Last weekend I went there were dudes in scruffy t's, cougars, and girls dressed like hoochies. You're in COLUMBIA !!! not Baltimore people! Overall, alright place if you get there before the cover.
(3)Patrick G.
The bottom line: Nottingham's is one of the best bars in Columbia and is a great spot to watch your favorite NFL team while enjoying cold and tasty libations. The restaurant itself is where Nottingham's really shines. They have a large outdoor area complete with a Tiki Bar, which is often pretty busy during the summer (and provides a nice respite for smokers who don't want to continue enjoying their drinks while they nurse their nicotine habit). They have a few pool tables, a shuffleboard table, and a spacious private room in the back which can be booked for events. The recreational options are priced a tiny bit high in my opinion, and you're billed at an hourly rate, so if you only want to play 1 or 2 games, you'll inevitably feel overcommitted. Nottingham's is a fantastic destination for watching NFL football on Sunday afternoons. No matter what team you root for, you can find your game on one of the numerous TV screens and plenty of fellow fans with which to celebrate (or commiserate, depending on how your season is going). Ravens (and sometimes Redskins) games are usually presented on the large projector screen. When people go to a bar, they generally don't expect fine dining, and Nottingham's is no exception. I haven't sampled everything on their menu, but the items I've tried have been run-of-the-mill bar food. That observation isn't meant as a disparagement - sometimes bar food is perfectly satisfying - but it's something to be aware of. The service is usually decent, professional, and attentive. Nottingham's features some entertainment options. They have weekly karaoke (on Wednesday nights at the time of this review), and DJs on the weekends. They used to have live bands pretty regularly, but completely stopped doing so a few years back. There's a slightly raised area that used to function as a stage that has since been converted into a "VIP Lounge". I've rarely seen anyone in there, and I think it's a patently ridiculous idea. This isn't some club in Miami, it's a bar in the suburbs that's situated in an office park. Of course, it's their bar and they can do what they want, but that particular experiment doesn't seem to be paying off. I've given Nottingham's 4 stars because I want to support a locally-owned business, but I sometimes feel like it's become a 3-star experience over the last 5-6 years. I think the restaurant's management team takes themselves too seriously, sometimes to the point of arrogance. For example, they've instituted a dress code that requires "Proper Upscale Attire" (whatever the hell that means) on Wednesday - Saturday. I've never felt like Nottingham's was the kind of place that put in quite enough effort to be considered upscale.
(4)Yas S.
Soooooo came back with my cousin for some Friday night girls night out and was disappointed. DJ Devin suxxxxx omg!!!! Worst DJ ever. But our beers and wings was cool. Lots of people watching, outside bar/patio is cool too. Female bartender on the patio was not very attentive so we went inside to get our food. Not sure of a return with the same DJ. That dude just kept killing the vibe.
(3)Peter L.
Have never had any food I liked here. Music is very loud even early in the evening. Bar selection isn't bad but nothing interesting
(1)Donyiel C.
I've been going to this bar for many years now. I hadn't visited in awhile and yesterday, decided to meet up with some friends, most of whom had never been to this establishment. We met up around 6:30 and since the weather was gorgeous, we sat on the patio. We were able to partake in the happy hour specials (happy hour on a saturday? can't beat that). But unfortunately, it went downhill from here...One, our server was not very friendly and had an attitude with some of our party due to their lack of hastiness in making a decision about they wanted to order (not cool). After they ordered, she took away all the menus from the table. We had to ask her to bring them back (or at least one). Another friend joined our group and she had taken away the menus again...sigh. I wanted to place another order (just 6 wings), but it took about 30 minutes to arrive. I'm sure she forgot about it until one of our friends reminded her and her "excuse" was that it got busy due to other customers trying to place their orders in before happy hour ended! Um...whatever! Here's the kicker!! So I had been the only one in our party who opened a tab (everyone else paid as they ordered) which means my card was held at the bar. When it came to me closing out my tab, she took awhile to bring back my bill. I finally got the bill, but no card! um...lady, where's my card?? She goes "you don't have it? I brought all the cards back earlier. Can you all check to make sure you don't have it?" Lady! Are you being serious right now? I don't have my card and neither does anyone in my party! You lost my card (this is my check card mind you!) Not a credit card...my check card with my entire paycheck on it..I tried to remain calm while she went back inside to look for it. After seeing her frantically searching for it, she back to our table with no card and no real remorse for her irresponsibility. She only offered to personally pay for my bill ($20.00) and advised me to write down my phone number and name and she can call if she finds it the next day. Really? I really remained as calm as I can (maybe the alcohol I drank kept me somewhat mellow?) Anyway, she suggested I check the app on my phone to see if my card had been used...um, ok! I logged onto my online banking. No my card hasn't been used yet, but that did not mean someone walked off with it and planning to use it. She went inside and looked again. I asked to speak with her manager and she tells me "she will tell you the same thing I told you." Excuse you? How dare you? You've always screwed up and you have the nerve to say that to me in my distress??! I can't.... The manager finally comes out and offers somewhat of an apology saying that it's easy for these things to happen (yes, losing someone's card at their establishment). I'm appalled!! She said they would comp my bill (which I was already told and obviously they would to do since I don't have a card to pay it!!) and then a $50 gift card to come back. To give me the gift card took at least another 20 minutes! I just can't believe this really happened. I explained to her that it's a weekend. My bank won't be open until Monday morning - I have no access to my funds until then. What will happen when I need to get gas or buy food? She tells me "the people you're with can cover you?!" Really though?? No I need my card back! I immediately cancelled my card but now I'm without access to my money due to their irresponsibility and lack of concern for the severity of this issue! I was beyond distraught over this and I don't plan to coming back to this place anytime soon!!!
(2)Kim A.
It's my first time here !! It's so chill nice bartender .. She always had a smile ... On her .. I'm here as of speaking ... Dress code isn't strict here for the guys ... They have a pool table everything u need .. Great crowd .. I'm coming back on the weekends
(4)Oliver L.
Seems like Nottys has gotten a face-lift all around. Its my favorite bar in Columbia. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is friendly. Every size, color, shape, and shade. I love ladies night and karaoke, the dance floor, and the food is really good! The salad and dip I had was super fresh, much higher quality than typical bar food. They also have great priced drinks, fundraisers, happy hours. I just like it. The place is really a gem, hidden in an office building. :-)
(5)Artranda H.
Came here for lunch didn't know they were open for lunch until one of my friends suggested meeting her there. Had a turkey sandwich with a pretzel bun with fries and it was so delicious I would defiantly return here for lunch.
(4)Caitlin C.
Nottingham's is tucked into an unassuming business park off a back road of Columbia. I was skeptical when I came here with a friend, but I left a happy camper! Divey in a weird way that could only happen in Columbia, Nottingham's is a huge bar where a lot of locals hang out. The food is pretty standard, the drinks are strong, the service is friendly, and the music is wayyy to loud. I would come back here, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.
(3)Rebeca F.
Nice indoor and outdoor areas. Kind of hidden away. Good space for a live band. Go early to avoid the crowd and cover.
(3)Dyonna B.
Came here on a Saturday night. I liked the atmosphere and the music selection was great. There were pool tables galore if you like to play. I hopped on the dance floor for a bit and got quite tipsy for $12. lol Of course I was ordering rail but the drinks seemed to not be as expensive as I thought it would be. I will def go back.
(4)Olivia M.
I really like this place for its atmosphere and menu. They have a large inside bar next to the front door near the dance floor and a tiki/outdoor bar. Plenty of pool tables and waking distance from hotels in case you've had too much to drink or are simply just visiting. If it's your first time it's SERIOUSLY hard to find (backside of an office building) and GPS is no help. Their menu features such delicious fare as fish tacos ala carte, crab pretzel, and tator tots. I don't recall the music/dj being all that but it's a great happy hour location and atmosphere!
(4)Joy P.
I heard of the place for a few years, but never gone. So I was excited to see that Jah Works was performing at the location. But after reading a few reviews, I wasn't really sure what to think. I really loved the place, the food was good and the bartenders and waitresses were awesome. My date and I sat at the bar, and although it was crowded, the bartenders continually made sure we were taken care of, along with other patrons sitting there. I ordered the nachos with spicy chicken, and I must say I was very impressed. My date order the quesadillas and some wings and he raved about both. He owns his own catering company, so he knows food. I loved the atmosphere, so I will definitely be going back!!
(5)Jordan K.
Drink service was subpar at our table, took our server forever to get water when we needed it, but the alcohol came quickly. Pizza was pretty good and cannot complain. This place got packed on a late Saturday night, but would be more enjoyable if the DJ actually DJ'd. Read the reviews and you can see whoever they got DJ'n is not doing it right. When you crash two songs together or not even blend/mix... it hurts my feelings!
(2)Kisha S.
great happy hour specials during the week. 3p to 7pm. good and appetizers...and no kids after 9pm. good and friendly atmosphere.
(4)Marc A.
What a fun place to hang out. Great music, good food, and plenty of people. This one of the best party spots in Columbia. No fight too. That's a plus. Great servers bring us drinks. Just an awesome party spot.
(5)Margaret N.
Hidden restaurant in the middle of business offices. Went here for lunch and service was slow, and food wasn't that great...
(2)Asa B.
It's a great place to dance, eat, drink, music, play, gathering, good time, DJ and so much more.... It's big so you expect to see so many people there on weekends and even during the week!
(3)Ky T.
I am at Nottinghams at 11:41PM on Friday February 28, 2014. The deejay is quite possibly the worst I've EVER heard. I mean worst.... and I mean ever!!!!! The sounds of his tunes may drive me to suicide so that I need to retreat from this review to start drawing up my last wishes. Toodles Yelp & mercy on mine ears :'-(
(1)Daniel C.
Nottingham's is tucked into a little business park near a car dealership and the new Wegman's. Tough to find your first time, you may just need to listen to your Garmin and close your eyes, but if you just drive around the back of the buildings you will find it. It has a nice bar with many beer selections, and this is definitely a bar built to be a bar. It is a perfect place to go to get your drink on, and I understand it is a popular destination in the evenings. There even seems to be a tiki bar set up outside for warm weather (and serves double duty as a smoking area.) The foo dis solidly pub grub. We ordered some Dublin Nachos, which are tater tots covered in cheese and other traditional ingredients. We followed up with a Cuban sandwich which was serviceable. I can take serviceable with my beer just fine, thank you. We had a large party, and the servers did an amazing job keeping up with our orders and separate checks. I was annoyed that another party had reserved the party room in back, yet had exclusive use of every pool table in the bar. Once they did open up, I noticed there were hourly rates posted for the pool tables. I'm use to pumping quarters into a pool table, I wonder how they charge for them there?
(3)Mady J.
A great night's entertainment. Fantastic music, good drinks and a great atmosphere. Great entertainment for the price of drinks. Lots of fun...Lots of energy. Enjoyed every minute of it. They have a really nice dance floor, couple of pool tables in the back, and tons of electronic games to play in the bar. Go and have fun. You won't be disappointed!
(4)R V.
Located in a business Park where you would not expect. Went with friends and had avocado crab trap. Was pretty darn good. We decided to go there every two weeks for happy hour and shuffleboard. Went back 12 days later menu has completely changed. Got rid of all that we liked. Nothing any interest typical bar food. We're going to find another place to go. Just meh.
(3)Chrysta T.
The DJ sucks! Plays old music and will not take requests. Been there twice in the last month or so and have been disappointed with music. When the dance floor is empty, take a hint.
(2)S D.
Another spot with great potential that does not know how to capitalize! They seem set with a formula for mediocrity.. Just because you've been in business for a while, does not mean you shouldn't try new things! FIRST OFF... DJ REQUEST is not a DJ! He is a human jukebox that does not mix, transition or understand anything about DJing! A decent DJ could really take this place to another level. Drinks were good, downside, they ran out of my Sam Adams Cold Snap after just 1 drink. A big plus was our server. Super pleasant and attentive! May go back... May not...
(2)Eric C.
Your experience at Nottingham's Tavern will depend on two different factors: 1. Waiter/Waitress 2. Bartender Now, these factors usually play work in cohesion in many other establishments. However, these two factors are important at Nottingham's Tavern because you can either have extremely good service and product or the complete opposite. My last visit here, on a Friday during Happy Hour, had both good and bad aspects. Now that the outside area is open, I would recommend getting your alcoholic beverages from the bartenders outside. However, mojitos are only made inside the tavern. The best drink of the evening was actually a Fireball shot. Remember how I said that bartenders play an important factor here? Well, I had ordered a simple cranberry and vodka that came from inside, and the drink was terrible. The taste of alcohol was definitely missing. No problem though, the item was taken off the final bill. As far as food is concerned, I remember ordering the Hot Crab Pretzel. Honestly, the appetizer would serve better on the "Things to eat when you are severely drunk" menu list. The thing is though, I was not drunk, so the pretzel was not desirable either. I also tried the Hubie Con Queso, which I did not like that much either. Based on past times here at Nottingham's, I would recommend getting either the spicy wings or pizza. I remember coming here a year ago on a Friday night and had the opportunity to hear the live band play. The band that played was not that memorable, so I only have recollection of the fact that a live band was actually there. Nottingham's is a place to come during Happy Hour for the good prices. I can't really recommend it for too much after that.
(3)Kei H.
I only like this place on really slow nights... otherwise they've played bad music every time I have been, have annoying dj's, and there are just way way wayyy too many people. :( unless you personally know a bar tender.. forget getting drinks without a 15 minute wait; it's just too small of a bar for such a large establishment. it's crazy loud. also seems like it's become a meat market for 21-23 year olds
(2)Danny G.
Not a place that I would ever go to again. The environment wasn't bad when I first got here at around 11:00. But the DJ's music selection continued to get worse and worse after each song. One of my worst Saturday nights in a long time.
(1)Maria S.
I felt sick and vomitted in the toilet. I was kicked out for that. I am very offended. The music also sucks. Never going back.
(1)Muriel H.
My best friend and her boyfriend invited my husband and me out to a double date night here. It is a fun spot. I liked that it had pool, a good size dance floor and drink specials. We had some pretty good nachos here too!
(3)Rocky B.
Screw this place! I'm from Tampa Florida and I came here for some beers. I had an adidas visor on back-ward and this prick walked over to tell me I needed to turn it around. Seriously, I am a well dressed guy and had 1 beer with some friends and this was absolutely uncalled for. I passed 4 bouncers at the door and not one said anything. I was there for an hour tops and the waitress never said anything. Guy / staff needs to grow up and get big boy jobs and not be 30+ working in a bar as a "glorified bouncer." Can't wait to go back home to Tampa. Our bars are welcoming and an amazing time! People love everyone and no one is trying to pick problems with consumers. We all left and going somewhere else; their loss bc we are on vacation they could have had probably a good couple hundred dollars from us.
(1)Michelle K.
I've been a loyal customer for 6 years now, but I won't be coming back again. Mind you, in the last six years this has never happened! A few years back I knew that holding a tab at "the bar" meant that they put a $50 hold on your card. That's fine. I have had a few friends here and there that have had a bad experience with this here, but it's not uncommon for bars to do this and shit happens. HOWEVER, putting a $125 hold on my credit card and not telling me (when I've already asked SPECIFICALLY just for clarification AND in $25 increments) is unacceptable. I literally had 5 charges of $25 pending on my credit card! WTF?!? Had I known that, I would have just closed my tab out and just paid as I went. All this would not even be an issue... Annoying? YES! But not an issue. Also, I was NOT at the bar, but outside at a table with a server. PLEASE listen! Once again, loyally, I have been coming here for SIX YEARS. It's not worth it. You may or may not get a shitty attitude from a server... You may or may not get served in a timely manner.. You may or may not get drinks the right way or even in a timely manner and that's just been my experience here over the last six years.
(2)Gwyneth J.
This is a place where I like to come alive after five without running into screaming kids & disapproving parents. We don't need or want your baleful glances when we get our drink on and let the epithets fly and F-bombs drop! No... "It's a baby--- in a Bar" here! That's right - it is NOT your right to bring a toddler to a bar then expect everyone to provide you with baby high chairs, kid menus, and sipee cups. Go to Cracker Barrel, Applebys, or Chuckie Cheese if that's your scene. Bloop bloop! Nottingham's is tucked away in an industrial park between Snowden River and Dobbin road and is one of the FEW grownups only establishments in the family friendly saturated market of Columbia. At night it's a 20's something pickup bar with a $10 cover but for Happy Hour it's a fun any age drinking & nibbling destination. The Tiki Bar outside is its best feature! Open year round this little oasis is a great place to unwind & sip an ale while hanging out with friends. I have a friend who still smokes (it does make her look cool, I gotta say) and this is still permitted here. That's right - though it's still legal in America you won't get nasty looks and baleful glances when puffing away at the Tiki Bar. Deal with it. Built in heaters help her in the winter not freeze while she indulges in her favourite vice. And yes, we tease her. Draft domestics are cheap (YAY $2.00 Yuenglings! Take THAT Alehouse!) , tasty apps including a lovely veggie & hummus plate and small pizzas perfect for sharing all add to the draw of this strangely located local pub. So, hang out in Columbia sans kiddos, curse like a sailor, guzzle ales for not a lot of bucks & have a fun time! Huzzah!
(4)Joel R.
Nottingham's really isn't for everyone. Music could be very loud at times, and some of there happy hour specials are not really drinks I would consume. But overall, I like the outdoor patio when the weather is nice, and staff has always been friendly in my opinion. I would definitely recommend the old bay wings. There my favorite!
(3)Tunaidi A.
Down with the Broncos. Ray Lewis plays another day! That was the sole reason why I would ever have considered stepping foot into Nottingham's Tavern. This place has a good selection of drinks, but mediocre happy hour selections. Football day happy hour drinks consist of $3 bloody mary's and mimosas. I'm not a fan of either, so I thought that was very limiting. Specials on other days seemed a bit better. However, food and bites are underwhelming, both on the happy hour menu and the regular menu. The usual suspects are pizza, wings, queso, and tacos, and even for bars/pubs, these were very below average. The best part about football days are that the big screen and projector are set up and there is a good amount of seating. Service isn't bad either. Though, I don't think I'd ever come to Nottingham's for anything other than football.
(2)Larry H.
My first visit to "Notty's" was on a Saturday night, with a live band. As with any live venue, the caliber of the band can make or break the night. Luckily the band playing was KleptoRadio, which would be a great party band in any venue. Food... Nottinghams even calls itself a tavern, so if you're coming here expecting a table side sommelier and 5-star dining, you're gonna be disappointed. Notty's serves bar, food plain and simple. Nothing fancy, just a philly cheesesteak or some nacho's to soak up any excessive alcohol you might consume. Atmosphere... It looks like any typical sports bar... Lots of little flat screens distributed throughout, sports bar decor, pool tables in the back, a DJ sound booth, a small dance floor, and a stage for live bands. It also has outside patio seating, but that seemed to be the location of choice for smokers, so I totally avoided it. Location... This is the weird one... even WITH a GPS this place is hard to find. It's stuck in the back of a business park with numerous office complexes. Word of mouth must be how most people find it, because you'll never see it from the road. If you want to compare it to premier live music venues in DC or Baltimore, of course it's not going to measure up. If you want the city, go to the city. But if you compare it to other live music venues in the burbs that are all essentially restaurants that push a few tables out of the way to squeeze a 3 piece band and some amps into an impossibly small corner. Then this is where Nottinghams comes into its own. Nottinghams has a purpose built live music stage that's large enough to comfortably accommodate a 5 or even 6 piece band. The sound system is great for the size of the venue. And the automated stage lighting was definitely well above par for a venue of this size. All in all, it's a decent suburban live music venue with average bar food and decent service. In all honesty, I walked away with only one real complaint, which was the dress code, (or lack thereof). I get it, that this is the burbs, not a velvet rope DC dance club. And I know Notty's main audience is a mix of 20 something to 40 something suburbanites. But there were 30 & 40 somethings in suits, there were 20 & 30 somethings in anything from classy to hipster type clothing, which were all fine in my opinion. The ones that should have been stopped at the door were the schlubs wearing worn out John Deere ball caps, dirty (not fashionably worn, DIRTY) jeans that looked like they'd been digging ditches all day, dirty old t-shirts. This wasn't just 4 or 5 people. I'd say about 20% of the crowd was walking around in worn ballcaps and clothes that looked like they pulled them out of the bottom of the hamper. Seriously...?
(3)Alexis K.
I WOULDN'T STEP FOOT IN THERE AGAIN......To those who have been here or come here often the bartender and manager have bad decision making skills. This was my second time here and it was okay the first time good music etc. However, this particular night was a total reck because the bartender cant take criticism because he failed to make a decent drink. The bartender NIEL is 10 year employee who knows what he does so says the manager. Who has poor managing skills for kicking someone out for no logical reason. She didn't care and was awful at her job. Even her customers agreed on my behalf and her employees as well. Bad judgement and bad service.
(1)Toby R.
I like any place with outdoor seating AND music AND an outdoor bar. Also, they have many pool tables and darts. The food is decent and the service is solid.
(3)Melody C.
Nottinghams is a cool bar in a strange location; the bottom floor of an office building in Columbia. Don't let that deter you though, go in and check it out. I came here for the first time with my company for our monthly happy hour. Drinks and appetizers on the boss?! I'm there! I was not disappointed. The drinks were good and the waitress was EXCELLENT with servicing a large crowd of thirsty people. My boyfriend and I had several beverages and never had to wait long for our next one. It's dark, clean, and spacious. There is a small stage in the front, a DJ booth on the side and a professional looking sound system all around. I'm sure music nights the place gets going. Even on a Weds. night it was crowded. People started rolling in after 5pm. There are several pool tables in the back also if that's your game. I will definitely be back here soon to grab some lunch!
(4)Mary W.
Unfortunately, I'm not of age yet to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials & night time activities :( BUT, I have been to lunch here twice & both times were great. I found it to be pretty filling, for only spending around $8-$9 (with tax and tip). Albuquerque Turkey was great--a little too much turkey, which made it kind of dry. . .but one server suggested adding avocado to it to make it even yummier! All sandwich orders come with chips & a slice of pickle :D Second time around, got the soup+1/2 sandwich combo. That's only $6.50 and you can add more to your sandwich like cheeses, change up the braed etc. (at a cost I think) OK deal for people who don't eat a lot! I think I'll be frequenting here over the summer, since my workplace is only a building away!
(3)Chris D.
Interesting location for a bar. Great place to watch NFL games. Food is pretty good.
(3)K Sera S.
I wouldn't go to "Notty's" (as we locals call it) on a Saturday night if they were handing out full bottles of Patron free at the door. However, if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers. It's a local favorite, I think, because for a long time there simply was no where else to go! The drinks are what they are...they're not known for a creative cocktail menu, but they do pour a good, heavy martini. The food is bar food in every sense of the word. Unless you're getting tipsy too quickly from said big martini, skip the noshing. So Wednesday night at Notty's good. Friday or Saturday night very, VERY bad.
(3)Theresa C.
Nottingham's is not worth the trip... even if you have absolutely nothing better to do on a Saturday night than stare at awkwardly-dressed suburbanites. It's pretentiousness with nothing to offer in return. This place is so crowded you can't move, the drinks are awful, the service is even worse, and the decor makes me feel like I'm back drinking in a frat room basement again. The 20-minute wait for a dirty women's bathroom can't help but accentuate the feeling. If you're in the mood to go out on the weekend, do yourself a favor and go anywhere but Nottingham's.
(1)Leeann D.
Great outdoor deck and good drink specials. The food is freezer to deep fryer but works if you need to fill your stomach. The acoustic show on the deck is very fun. The crowd is a mix of young and old.
(3)Erica W.
Food is surprisingly good, especially the nachos!! Drinks are a bit expensive though. Love the space and outside bar area!
(4)Kacy P.
Bleh. I gave this place a shot because it has billiard tables and a "menu." Not so much. I understand the concept of bar food. I do, I swear. This menu was unimaginative and severely lacking. I dined with a date and we both had the same wrinkled nose expression upon giving the menu a half-hearted once over. We ordered the crab dip and a white pizza. In a word; bland. We sat outside to enjoy the evening and to get away from a tacky blend of 90's, disco, and dance that was blaring from the speakers inside. There was no way to talk over the din. Our waitress was slow and failed to notice when we moved under the cover of the building due to rain. Really? Another bit of the ambiance that added significantly to the air of "FAIL" was the tumbling bar patrons. One woman was given enough to drink to fall over backward off of her stool, break glass, and require assistance to get back to her seat. No management came over to see if she was ok, to call her a cab, or to ask her friends to remove her from the bar. We never even played pool. Between the noise, the bad food, and the poor service all I wanted to do was drink my beer and leave. Fortunately my date felt the same way. Needless to say, this is not a place I'll be frequenting.
(1)Brian M.
So I've given this bar two chances in recent years. Both experiences were bad. Service sucks, food is blah, stage set up is weird and sound for bands is miserable.
(1)Jen L.
I wished we still did happy hours here. I was a big fan of how they handle large organized happy hour corporate events. They have a large area in the back that can be reserved for private events with the pool table. I believe a large corporate Happy Hour will run the company about $2500. With all of the budget cuts we were forced to stop organizing these events. Hopefully, we'll start it back up again. The crab dip is probably one of our favorite snacks there! The menu for the group events can vary and you have a lot of flexibility to choose what you want to stay within budget. Drinks can be managed by issuing tickets, open bar or cash bar. Although the location is out of the way and not easy to find, its still a great place to host a company event, especially when its so close to our workplace.
(4)Heather W.
Mistake 1-- I came into this place on a friday night. Mistake 2- I could hear the music from outside and still decided to go in. The first thing I saw was the dance floor which housed a group of thirty somethings bumping and grinding to hip-hop. Disturbing. The music was so loud we made our way to the back as quickly as possible. Mistake 3- We thought we had lucked out because we found a shuffleboard table. Unfortunately they wanted to charge us 14 dollars an hour to use it! Seriously?! The drinks were overpriced although I do have to say that my gin and tonic was in a pint glass and had a hefty amount of gin. After our first drink we left the building and decided to go to Pub Dog which has *cough* free shuffleboard and a better atmosphere. Maybe had I gone there during lunch to play some pool or at any point during the day it might have been a better experience.
(1)Rishoo R.
Been here a couple times on team events Thursdays. You can call this place a sports bar or even a 'dive'. The crowd seems to be kinna professional, comming out from offices located close to the place. Like Noralyn says be prepared to bump into 'high rollers':). Food/appetizers are great, especially the quesedillas and the Nacho dips. Those are what i pretty much have when i go there. I love the fact that they have pool tables in their. Its auways soo nice to shoot some balls while having drinks. A place which is good to meet friends and get together for some fun. They also have an outdoor patio with a seperate bar to hang out during summers. You wont be disappointed by visiting this place. Decent food, Full Fledge Bar, Young/Professional Crowd, waitresses are nice and hot (i guess they pickem that way :P), Outdoor patio applealing smokers, Pool tables, reasonable pricing, Live bands during weekends - I mean what else do you want?
(4)Tony P.
Typical pool hall/sports bar with a decent if short list of craft and domestic beers. The music is loud and blaring towards the front of the bar, but it's much more tolerable towards the back by the pool tables. The menu is average bar fares with no stand outs. It'll sate your drink inspired hunger well enough. The bartenders are expedient so you're not kept waiting too long. The crowd are a mix of young 20- and 30-somethings professionals. The facility is fairly large and there's plenty of tv's scattered around to catch the sport events. And it's a bit more upscale in decor than the Greene Turtle.
(3)priscilla d.
This review is for breakfast only. Everything tasted the way it should, and the place looked clean enough while the service was actually perfect. I dont know anything about their dinner or lunch, but breakfast was bomb. We even forgot our credit card and got it back a couple hours later. no drama. I thought it was reasonably priced, since dennys is not the bargain it used to be, its better to have a warm, comfortable breakfast here, in a booth :)
(4)Jessica F.
It is a bar in non despcript office building in Columbia. It is worth checking out if only for that reason.
(4)Tiffani N.
This place is fun! Have to admit I avoided Nottingham's for years, laughing that this is where the folks who aren't cool enough to go to the city go. Shame on me, didn't know what I was missing. It's like a mix of a dive bar, sports bar and local band hangout with a dash of young nightlife. I prefer to go during the happy hour times or for a Sunday football game. Can't take the crowds that pour in after 10 pm. But if you want to have a great time sipping on a beer or a fantastic margarita (so good!!!), hear some top 40 and mix and mingle with interesting HoCo folks then this is the spot for you. All without wasting gallons of gas...
(4)Arron A.
Nottinghams is a cool place. They have pool tables, outside heated smoking, tiki bar, full bar inside and more of which a 4 star bar should have. If you want to enjoy a nice meal and a good drink then you really can't go wrong.
(4)Brendan D.
Nottingham's seems to be a point of contention in our office. At various points it has been loved, hated, revered, and despised- and I have experienced each of these emotions at one time or another. K Sera S said it correctly: "if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers." Other than that I don't see why Nottingham's is fun- if I lived in Columbia, I would go to Baltimore if I wanted to go out. In any event here is the review: Positives: - decent beer selection, they always carry the Sam seasonal. - The patio is nice for groups when the weather is nice. - those in our office who smoke, like the conveneince of the patio, and not having to leave the grounds to grab a quick smoke. Negatives: - the crowd. To me always resembles an insurance salesman convention, or at other times the divorcee capital of Maryland. If either of these fits you though, then this may be a positive. - service. Sometimes good, but on occasion just terrible. We have had problems with our bill before, and on other visits you have to tactically order a beer even if you have a full one because you know it will take 30 minutes. Variance: - the servers are all either really hot, or look like they should be living under a bridge. There does not seem to be much in between. It works for my purpose (drinks with the office), but I would not go here for anything else.
(3)Latise B.
This is going to be long... I'm really not a fan of Notty's. I started going here with coworkers for Happy Hour and from the start I wasn't impressed, although I continued to go to hangout. The food and drinks are overpriced. The atmosphere is very yuppie to me. Its like the stuck-up place where its "cool" to spend a ridiculous amount of money on stuff that is just average. When I eat there, I stick to wings, pizza, and nachos. They recently beefed up their menu some, but its still the same boring overpriced food to me. On the flip, it does have a more "sophistocated" feel to it , so if you have people in your group who are turned off by "dives" then Notty's is the place to take them. They offer pool and shuffleboard (for a price) as well as darts (not sure the cost) and they have a few video games. There are TVs to watch, but mostly they are small--this place is more for hanging out chatting or hearing live music. The outdoor seating is nice, but a little cramped. The service is hit or miss--I've had really good waitresses but I've also had some bad ones. Either way, they must be hot because the men in the group tend to gawk a lot. Mostly Notty's turns me off because it just feels like a place that doesn't live up to the hype that people give it. Its almost like people think they SHOULD be paying what they pay for this average hangout spot. Oh and the non-live music is pretty random across genres, but is usually not played too loudly, so socializing is very easy. I've never heard a bad band there, so that's a plus too. Oh and another plus is the bar is pretty big and there is a variety of seating, so its easy to come here in big groups and be able to all sit/stand together. Beware though, it gets pretty crowded. I wouldn't keep coming back to this place if I didn't live or work in the area, but that's just me. Its fine for after work drink, but I wouldn't actually drive to come to this place.
(2)Courtney C.
Cougar alert! Cougar alert! Notty's is a descent local bar. We usually head in before cover starts because I refuse to pay $10 to hear a live band that is so obnoxiously loud you can't have a conversation. There are pool tables, shuffle board, etc so, there's more to do than just sit and drink. The outside patio and bar area is descent, but gets crowded. I crave their nachos on a regular basis. There's just something about that melted processed cheese that gets me every time! Its a fun place to people watch and has a good mix of age groups. Standard beers on tap, pricing is average...nothing too special. I've known a bunch of people whom have worked here and that probably explains why this is our choice for a drink on a random night with nothing else going on. Its a good place to meet up the pre-game for the night ahead, but I never stay for more than an hour or two before I'm ready to move on.
(3)Sean B.
My nephew took me here last night as I was trying to ride out rush hour traffic as I was driving up from Dulles airport to York, PA. I was surprised when I saw that it hadn't ranked well by past Yelpers. I had a good time. The servers were friendly, the $5 martinis outstanding, and the $5 appetizers worthwhile. Nice clean environment, fun but not too loud and crazy... just a solid venue. If I lived closer, I could see myself hanging out here a bit.
(4)Shannon D.
This place is hell. It's in a really weird, shady location. The inside is dark and trashy looking. The drinks taste processed and cheap. The clientele is really bad. Creepy old men and dumb girls in slutty dresses. The music that plays is shit. There's absolutely nothing original or cool about this place. I don't understand why anyone would be drawn here. Overall, I'll never go back again for as long as I live.
(1)Jody Z.
I have to agree with most of the other locals...I'm not a big fan of Notty's either. Sure, it's a nice looking place. It has a big bar, pool tables, games, and a nice patio. They have bands on the weekends and a dance floor. Those are the good points. Now for the bad ones. I've never once gotten a food or drink special here, do they ever have them?? The drinks are SO expensive! The food is pricey too and it's nothing spectacular. Seriously, why is this place charging a $10 cover on Saturdays?? Come on! It's in an office building complex in suburban Columbia, are you serious? I can go out in Baltimore and get in some place better for free. Also, what's with the huge line on the weekends? I think it's a little ridiculous that people actually wait in line to get in this place. Pub Dog and Greene Turtle are right around the corner with better food, drinks, and prices.
(2)Vince L.
I see the locals pretty much seem to hate it, but I like it. Yep, I sure do! Any place gets boring if it's right there to go to all the time. But for me, since I have a bit of a drive to get there, it almost always seems worth it. The bands are almost always good. I try to go on the Fridays when "The Reagan Years" are playing. It does get crowded, but you can always get a drink at the bar. The bartenders know how to make a good drink too. I do have to say the one Saturday that I did go, wasn't worth the effort. So I just stick to Fridays.
(4)Didgididgi D.
OVERPRICED, disgusting food. The only reason people eat here is because it's in the office building, right? Otherwise you'd have to be nuts to spend 7 dollars on a sandwich that tastes like it was made a week ago and warmed up by a chimpanzee. I got a salad there once and there was a metal twist off from a salad dressing bottle in it. Nice. Another time, there was paper in my sandwich. Thank god I've never actually payed for anything I ate there (thanks, boss).
(1)Nicole H.
This place is alright. It's my stand-by Columbia bar. The only thing that really gets my goat here and is reason to avoid for me is that on a couple of occasions I've gotten there to pick up friends less than an hour before close and they still charged me $10 to set food inside. I don't mind paying cover if I'm hanging out but to go and get the drunkards for a ride home... that's crap.
(2)Stan M.
Not impressed with anything. Very overpriced and the food is below average. This place has no identity, poorly managed, and the bouncers are jerks.
(1)Puneet M.
Needed to update my review after my most recent visit. Bar in an office complex... do tell! So as most everyone else has mentioned Nottinghams is in a random place. You drink near it and think, what am doing here its dark ourside but there are offices near by should I be going to work and I just slept in... nope your in the right place. I have been here a couple times and neither time have I come away impressed. Some positives: The place is huge! so there is plenty of space and room to move around. They also have several pool tables and a shuffle board. Lastly they have decent (i use this term loosly) Happy Hour specials. The negatives: Their regular prices are too high for me, so I would suggest only HH items. The cost of the pool tables and shuffle board are pretty darn hi (Pool: $12/hr, Shuffle: $15/hr). Also the service is totally hit or miss... sometimes you get a nice attentive server other times, you get someone who could care less about you and is running around at 15 tables. Its a total crap shoot and when you get bad service here its pretty bad. Neutrals: The place is full with people just getting off, 30+ somethings all trying to let loose and relax. Great right! (I'm right up there with them) but you get this sleezy bar/club vibe even at 6pm. To me there are much better places to check out, Pub Dog is one (down the street) offers FREE shuffle board, great pizza and decent beer specials, and the place doesn't seem creepy or sleezy.
(2)Stephanie L.
Had a Ladies Nite Out here....was nice. Keep in mind you have to find the location first (not an easy find). Lots of room. Didnt feel too congested. Drinks were good. The wings with RANCH were tasty, but the Nacho (pause) were exciting. Will go back soon.
(3)Kat F.
Freaking $10 cover. REALLY?? Definitely not worth it. Yeah, they give you a free "drink," but when you think about it: You're going into a bar (not a club or anything, just a bar to hang out/eat/drink) and you're forced to get a drink worth $10. Yeah, not worth it at all. Not to mention how difficult it is to find (you turn into a bunch of office buildings and go allllll the way down the parking lot).
(2)Artranda H.
Came here for lunch didn't know they were open for lunch until one of my friends suggested meeting her there. Had a turkey sandwich with a pretzel bun with fries and it was so delicious I would defiantly return here for lunch.
(4)Caitlin C.
Nottingham's is tucked into an unassuming business park off a back road of Columbia. I was skeptical when I came here with a friend, but I left a happy camper! Divey in a weird way that could only happen in Columbia, Nottingham's is a huge bar where a lot of locals hang out. The food is pretty standard, the drinks are strong, the service is friendly, and the music is wayyy to loud. I would come back here, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.
(3)Rebeca F.
Nice indoor and outdoor areas. Kind of hidden away. Good space for a live band. Go early to avoid the crowd and cover.
(3)Dyonna B.
Came here on a Saturday night. I liked the atmosphere and the music selection was great. There were pool tables galore if you like to play. I hopped on the dance floor for a bit and got quite tipsy for $12. lol Of course I was ordering rail but the drinks seemed to not be as expensive as I thought it would be. I will def go back.
(4)Eric C.
Your experience at Nottingham's Tavern will depend on two different factors: 1. Waiter/Waitress 2. Bartender Now, these factors usually play work in cohesion in many other establishments. However, these two factors are important at Nottingham's Tavern because you can either have extremely good service and product or the complete opposite. My last visit here, on a Friday during Happy Hour, had both good and bad aspects. Now that the outside area is open, I would recommend getting your alcoholic beverages from the bartenders outside. However, mojitos are only made inside the tavern. The best drink of the evening was actually a Fireball shot. Remember how I said that bartenders play an important factor here? Well, I had ordered a simple cranberry and vodka that came from inside, and the drink was terrible. The taste of alcohol was definitely missing. No problem though, the item was taken off the final bill. As far as food is concerned, I remember ordering the Hot Crab Pretzel. Honestly, the appetizer would serve better on the "Things to eat when you are severely drunk" menu list. The thing is though, I was not drunk, so the pretzel was not desirable either. I also tried the Hubie Con Queso, which I did not like that much either. Based on past times here at Nottingham's, I would recommend getting either the spicy wings or pizza. I remember coming here a year ago on a Friday night and had the opportunity to hear the live band play. The band that played was not that memorable, so I only have recollection of the fact that a live band was actually there. Nottingham's is a place to come during Happy Hour for the good prices. I can't really recommend it for too much after that.
(3)Kei H.
I only like this place on really slow nights... otherwise they've played bad music every time I have been, have annoying dj's, and there are just way way wayyy too many people. :( unless you personally know a bar tender.. forget getting drinks without a 15 minute wait; it's just too small of a bar for such a large establishment. it's crazy loud. also seems like it's become a meat market for 21-23 year olds
(2)Danny G.
Not a place that I would ever go to again. The environment wasn't bad when I first got here at around 11:00. But the DJ's music selection continued to get worse and worse after each song. One of my worst Saturday nights in a long time.
(1)Maria S.
I felt sick and vomitted in the toilet. I was kicked out for that. I am very offended. The music also sucks. Never going back.
(1)Kacy P.
Bleh. I gave this place a shot because it has billiard tables and a "menu." Not so much. I understand the concept of bar food. I do, I swear. This menu was unimaginative and severely lacking. I dined with a date and we both had the same wrinkled nose expression upon giving the menu a half-hearted once over. We ordered the crab dip and a white pizza. In a word; bland. We sat outside to enjoy the evening and to get away from a tacky blend of 90's, disco, and dance that was blaring from the speakers inside. There was no way to talk over the din. Our waitress was slow and failed to notice when we moved under the cover of the building due to rain. Really? Another bit of the ambiance that added significantly to the air of "FAIL" was the tumbling bar patrons. One woman was given enough to drink to fall over backward off of her stool, break glass, and require assistance to get back to her seat. No management came over to see if she was ok, to call her a cab, or to ask her friends to remove her from the bar. We never even played pool. Between the noise, the bad food, and the poor service all I wanted to do was drink my beer and leave. Fortunately my date felt the same way. Needless to say, this is not a place I'll be frequenting.
(1)Brian M.
So I've given this bar two chances in recent years. Both experiences were bad. Service sucks, food is blah, stage set up is weird and sound for bands is miserable.
(1)Jen L.
I wished we still did happy hours here. I was a big fan of how they handle large organized happy hour corporate events. They have a large area in the back that can be reserved for private events with the pool table. I believe a large corporate Happy Hour will run the company about $2500. With all of the budget cuts we were forced to stop organizing these events. Hopefully, we'll start it back up again. The crab dip is probably one of our favorite snacks there! The menu for the group events can vary and you have a lot of flexibility to choose what you want to stay within budget. Drinks can be managed by issuing tickets, open bar or cash bar. Although the location is out of the way and not easy to find, its still a great place to host a company event, especially when its so close to our workplace.
(4)Heather W.
Mistake 1-- I came into this place on a friday night. Mistake 2- I could hear the music from outside and still decided to go in. The first thing I saw was the dance floor which housed a group of thirty somethings bumping and grinding to hip-hop. Disturbing. The music was so loud we made our way to the back as quickly as possible. Mistake 3- We thought we had lucked out because we found a shuffleboard table. Unfortunately they wanted to charge us 14 dollars an hour to use it! Seriously?! The drinks were overpriced although I do have to say that my gin and tonic was in a pint glass and had a hefty amount of gin. After our first drink we left the building and decided to go to Pub Dog which has *cough* free shuffleboard and a better atmosphere. Maybe had I gone there during lunch to play some pool or at any point during the day it might have been a better experience.
(1)Toby R.
I like any place with outdoor seating AND music AND an outdoor bar. Also, they have many pool tables and darts. The food is decent and the service is solid.
(3)Courtney C.
Cougar alert! Cougar alert! Notty's is a descent local bar. We usually head in before cover starts because I refuse to pay $10 to hear a live band that is so obnoxiously loud you can't have a conversation. There are pool tables, shuffle board, etc so, there's more to do than just sit and drink. The outside patio and bar area is descent, but gets crowded. I crave their nachos on a regular basis. There's just something about that melted processed cheese that gets me every time! Its a fun place to people watch and has a good mix of age groups. Standard beers on tap, pricing is average...nothing too special. I've known a bunch of people whom have worked here and that probably explains why this is our choice for a drink on a random night with nothing else going on. Its a good place to meet up the pre-game for the night ahead, but I never stay for more than an hour or two before I'm ready to move on.
(3)Sean B.
My nephew took me here last night as I was trying to ride out rush hour traffic as I was driving up from Dulles airport to York, PA. I was surprised when I saw that it hadn't ranked well by past Yelpers. I had a good time. The servers were friendly, the $5 martinis outstanding, and the $5 appetizers worthwhile. Nice clean environment, fun but not too loud and crazy... just a solid venue. If I lived closer, I could see myself hanging out here a bit.
(4)Shannon D.
This place is hell. It's in a really weird, shady location. The inside is dark and trashy looking. The drinks taste processed and cheap. The clientele is really bad. Creepy old men and dumb girls in slutty dresses. The music that plays is shit. There's absolutely nothing original or cool about this place. I don't understand why anyone would be drawn here. Overall, I'll never go back again for as long as I live.
(1)Jody Z.
I have to agree with most of the other locals...I'm not a big fan of Notty's either. Sure, it's a nice looking place. It has a big bar, pool tables, games, and a nice patio. They have bands on the weekends and a dance floor. Those are the good points. Now for the bad ones. I've never once gotten a food or drink special here, do they ever have them?? The drinks are SO expensive! The food is pricey too and it's nothing spectacular. Seriously, why is this place charging a $10 cover on Saturdays?? Come on! It's in an office building complex in suburban Columbia, are you serious? I can go out in Baltimore and get in some place better for free. Also, what's with the huge line on the weekends? I think it's a little ridiculous that people actually wait in line to get in this place. Pub Dog and Greene Turtle are right around the corner with better food, drinks, and prices.
(2)Aaron R.
Is this the right address? Sure, whatever. I guess this is a local favorite. I really don't know why. It's not that great. I've only been a few times, but nothing at all stood out to me. The prices aren't great, the crowd is the same group of people you see at the mall during the day, and I don't even remember what the music was... or was there? I always used to think this was a gay bar. After going, I know it's not. The gay dudes I know have a lot more fun. This place is boring, but there ain't much else if you are afraid of leaving the Columbubble. I suggest you carpool with some friends out to Baltimore or DC.
(3)Yas S.
Soooooo came back with my cousin for some Friday night girls night out and was disappointed. DJ Devin suxxxxx omg!!!! Worst DJ ever. But our beers and wings was cool. Lots of people watching, outside bar/patio is cool too. Female bartender on the patio was not very attentive so we went inside to get our food. Not sure of a return with the same DJ. That dude just kept killing the vibe.
(3)Peter L.
Have never had any food I liked here. Music is very loud even early in the evening. Bar selection isn't bad but nothing interesting
(1)Olivia M.
I really like this place for its atmosphere and menu. They have a large inside bar next to the front door near the dance floor and a tiki/outdoor bar. Plenty of pool tables and waking distance from hotels in case you've had too much to drink or are simply just visiting. If it's your first time it's SERIOUSLY hard to find (backside of an office building) and GPS is no help. Their menu features such delicious fare as fish tacos ala carte, crab pretzel, and tator tots. I don't recall the music/dj being all that but it's a great happy hour location and atmosphere!
(4)Patrick G.
The bottom line: Nottingham's is one of the best bars in Columbia and is a great spot to watch your favorite NFL team while enjoying cold and tasty libations. The restaurant itself is where Nottingham's really shines. They have a large outdoor area complete with a Tiki Bar, which is often pretty busy during the summer (and provides a nice respite for smokers who don't want to continue enjoying their drinks while they nurse their nicotine habit). They have a few pool tables, a shuffleboard table, and a spacious private room in the back which can be booked for events. The recreational options are priced a tiny bit high in my opinion, and you're billed at an hourly rate, so if you only want to play 1 or 2 games, you'll inevitably feel overcommitted. Nottingham's is a fantastic destination for watching NFL football on Sunday afternoons. No matter what team you root for, you can find your game on one of the numerous TV screens and plenty of fellow fans with which to celebrate (or commiserate, depending on how your season is going). Ravens (and sometimes Redskins) games are usually presented on the large projector screen. When people go to a bar, they generally don't expect fine dining, and Nottingham's is no exception. I haven't sampled everything on their menu, but the items I've tried have been run-of-the-mill bar food. That observation isn't meant as a disparagement - sometimes bar food is perfectly satisfying - but it's something to be aware of. The service is usually decent, professional, and attentive. Nottingham's features some entertainment options. They have weekly karaoke (on Wednesday nights at the time of this review), and DJs on the weekends. They used to have live bands pretty regularly, but completely stopped doing so a few years back. There's a slightly raised area that used to function as a stage that has since been converted into a "VIP Lounge". I've rarely seen anyone in there, and I think it's a patently ridiculous idea. This isn't some club in Miami, it's a bar in the suburbs that's situated in an office park. Of course, it's their bar and they can do what they want, but that particular experiment doesn't seem to be paying off. I've given Nottingham's 4 stars because I want to support a locally-owned business, but I sometimes feel like it's become a 3-star experience over the last 5-6 years. I think the restaurant's management team takes themselves too seriously, sometimes to the point of arrogance. For example, they've instituted a dress code that requires "Proper Upscale Attire" (whatever the hell that means) on Wednesday - Saturday. I've never felt like Nottingham's was the kind of place that put in quite enough effort to be considered upscale.
(4)Kim A.
It's my first time here !! It's so chill nice bartender .. She always had a smile ... On her .. I'm here as of speaking ... Dress code isn't strict here for the guys ... They have a pool table everything u need .. Great crowd .. I'm coming back on the weekends
(4)Oliver L.
Seems like Nottys has gotten a face-lift all around. Its my favorite bar in Columbia. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is friendly. Every size, color, shape, and shade. I love ladies night and karaoke, the dance floor, and the food is really good! The salad and dip I had was super fresh, much higher quality than typical bar food. They also have great priced drinks, fundraisers, happy hours. I just like it. The place is really a gem, hidden in an office building. :-)
(5)Donyiel C.
I've been going to this bar for many years now. I hadn't visited in awhile and yesterday, decided to meet up with some friends, most of whom had never been to this establishment. We met up around 6:30 and since the weather was gorgeous, we sat on the patio. We were able to partake in the happy hour specials (happy hour on a saturday? can't beat that). But unfortunately, it went downhill from here...One, our server was not very friendly and had an attitude with some of our party due to their lack of hastiness in making a decision about they wanted to order (not cool). After they ordered, she took away all the menus from the table. We had to ask her to bring them back (or at least one). Another friend joined our group and she had taken away the menus again...sigh. I wanted to place another order (just 6 wings), but it took about 30 minutes to arrive. I'm sure she forgot about it until one of our friends reminded her and her "excuse" was that it got busy due to other customers trying to place their orders in before happy hour ended! Um...whatever! Here's the kicker!! So I had been the only one in our party who opened a tab (everyone else paid as they ordered) which means my card was held at the bar. When it came to me closing out my tab, she took awhile to bring back my bill. I finally got the bill, but no card! um...lady, where's my card?? She goes "you don't have it? I brought all the cards back earlier. Can you all check to make sure you don't have it?" Lady! Are you being serious right now? I don't have my card and neither does anyone in my party! You lost my card (this is my check card mind you!) Not a credit card...my check card with my entire paycheck on it..I tried to remain calm while she went back inside to look for it. After seeing her frantically searching for it, she back to our table with no card and no real remorse for her irresponsibility. She only offered to personally pay for my bill ($20.00) and advised me to write down my phone number and name and she can call if she finds it the next day. Really? I really remained as calm as I can (maybe the alcohol I drank kept me somewhat mellow?) Anyway, she suggested I check the app on my phone to see if my card had been used...um, ok! I logged onto my online banking. No my card hasn't been used yet, but that did not mean someone walked off with it and planning to use it. She went inside and looked again. I asked to speak with her manager and she tells me "she will tell you the same thing I told you." Excuse you? How dare you? You've always screwed up and you have the nerve to say that to me in my distress??! I can't.... The manager finally comes out and offers somewhat of an apology saying that it's easy for these things to happen (yes, losing someone's card at their establishment). I'm appalled!! She said they would comp my bill (which I was already told and obviously they would to do since I don't have a card to pay it!!) and then a $50 gift card to come back. To give me the gift card took at least another 20 minutes! I just can't believe this really happened. I explained to her that it's a weekend. My bank won't be open until Monday morning - I have no access to my funds until then. What will happen when I need to get gas or buy food? She tells me "the people you're with can cover you?!" Really though?? No I need my card back! I immediately cancelled my card but now I'm without access to my money due to their irresponsibility and lack of concern for the severity of this issue! I was beyond distraught over this and I don't plan to coming back to this place anytime soon!!!
(2)Joy P.
I heard of the place for a few years, but never gone. So I was excited to see that Jah Works was performing at the location. But after reading a few reviews, I wasn't really sure what to think. I really loved the place, the food was good and the bartenders and waitresses were awesome. My date and I sat at the bar, and although it was crowded, the bartenders continually made sure we were taken care of, along with other patrons sitting there. I ordered the nachos with spicy chicken, and I must say I was very impressed. My date order the quesadillas and some wings and he raved about both. He owns his own catering company, so he knows food. I loved the atmosphere, so I will definitely be going back!!
(5)Jordan K.
Drink service was subpar at our table, took our server forever to get water when we needed it, but the alcohol came quickly. Pizza was pretty good and cannot complain. This place got packed on a late Saturday night, but would be more enjoyable if the DJ actually DJ'd. Read the reviews and you can see whoever they got DJ'n is not doing it right. When you crash two songs together or not even blend/mix... it hurts my feelings!
(2)Kisha S.
great happy hour specials during the week. 3p to 7pm. good and appetizers...and no kids after 9pm. good and friendly atmosphere.
(4)Marc A.
What a fun place to hang out. Great music, good food, and plenty of people. This one of the best party spots in Columbia. No fight too. That's a plus. Great servers bring us drinks. Just an awesome party spot.
(5)Margaret N.
Hidden restaurant in the middle of business offices. Went here for lunch and service was slow, and food wasn't that great...
(2)Asa B.
It's a great place to dance, eat, drink, music, play, gathering, good time, DJ and so much more.... It's big so you expect to see so many people there on weekends and even during the week!
(3)Ky T.
I am at Nottinghams at 11:41PM on Friday February 28, 2014. The deejay is quite possibly the worst I've EVER heard. I mean worst.... and I mean ever!!!!! The sounds of his tunes may drive me to suicide so that I need to retreat from this review to start drawing up my last wishes. Toodles Yelp & mercy on mine ears :'-(
(1)Daniel C.
Nottingham's is tucked into a little business park near a car dealership and the new Wegman's. Tough to find your first time, you may just need to listen to your Garmin and close your eyes, but if you just drive around the back of the buildings you will find it. It has a nice bar with many beer selections, and this is definitely a bar built to be a bar. It is a perfect place to go to get your drink on, and I understand it is a popular destination in the evenings. There even seems to be a tiki bar set up outside for warm weather (and serves double duty as a smoking area.) The foo dis solidly pub grub. We ordered some Dublin Nachos, which are tater tots covered in cheese and other traditional ingredients. We followed up with a Cuban sandwich which was serviceable. I can take serviceable with my beer just fine, thank you. We had a large party, and the servers did an amazing job keeping up with our orders and separate checks. I was annoyed that another party had reserved the party room in back, yet had exclusive use of every pool table in the bar. Once they did open up, I noticed there were hourly rates posted for the pool tables. I'm use to pumping quarters into a pool table, I wonder how they charge for them there?
(3)Mady J.
A great night's entertainment. Fantastic music, good drinks and a great atmosphere. Great entertainment for the price of drinks. Lots of fun...Lots of energy. Enjoyed every minute of it. They have a really nice dance floor, couple of pool tables in the back, and tons of electronic games to play in the bar. Go and have fun. You won't be disappointed!
(4)R V.
Located in a business Park where you would not expect. Went with friends and had avocado crab trap. Was pretty darn good. We decided to go there every two weeks for happy hour and shuffleboard. Went back 12 days later menu has completely changed. Got rid of all that we liked. Nothing any interest typical bar food. We're going to find another place to go. Just meh.
(3)Muriel H.
My best friend and her boyfriend invited my husband and me out to a double date night here. It is a fun spot. I liked that it had pool, a good size dance floor and drink specials. We had some pretty good nachos here too!
(3)Rocky B.
Screw this place! I'm from Tampa Florida and I came here for some beers. I had an adidas visor on back-ward and this prick walked over to tell me I needed to turn it around. Seriously, I am a well dressed guy and had 1 beer with some friends and this was absolutely uncalled for. I passed 4 bouncers at the door and not one said anything. I was there for an hour tops and the waitress never said anything. Guy / staff needs to grow up and get big boy jobs and not be 30+ working in a bar as a "glorified bouncer." Can't wait to go back home to Tampa. Our bars are welcoming and an amazing time! People love everyone and no one is trying to pick problems with consumers. We all left and going somewhere else; their loss bc we are on vacation they could have had probably a good couple hundred dollars from us.
(1)Michelle K.
I've been a loyal customer for 6 years now, but I won't be coming back again. Mind you, in the last six years this has never happened! A few years back I knew that holding a tab at "the bar" meant that they put a $50 hold on your card. That's fine. I have had a few friends here and there that have had a bad experience with this here, but it's not uncommon for bars to do this and shit happens. HOWEVER, putting a $125 hold on my credit card and not telling me (when I've already asked SPECIFICALLY just for clarification AND in $25 increments) is unacceptable. I literally had 5 charges of $25 pending on my credit card! WTF?!? Had I known that, I would have just closed my tab out and just paid as I went. All this would not even be an issue... Annoying? YES! But not an issue. Also, I was NOT at the bar, but outside at a table with a server. PLEASE listen! Once again, loyally, I have been coming here for SIX YEARS. It's not worth it. You may or may not get a shitty attitude from a server... You may or may not get served in a timely manner.. You may or may not get drinks the right way or even in a timely manner and that's just been my experience here over the last six years.
(2)S D.
Another spot with great potential that does not know how to capitalize! They seem set with a formula for mediocrity.. Just because you've been in business for a while, does not mean you shouldn't try new things! FIRST OFF... DJ REQUEST is not a DJ! He is a human jukebox that does not mix, transition or understand anything about DJing! A decent DJ could really take this place to another level. Drinks were good, downside, they ran out of my Sam Adams Cold Snap after just 1 drink. A big plus was our server. Super pleasant and attentive! May go back... May not...
(2)Gwyneth J.
This is a place where I like to come alive after five without running into screaming kids & disapproving parents. We don't need or want your baleful glances when we get our drink on and let the epithets fly and F-bombs drop! No... "It's a baby--- in a Bar" here! That's right - it is NOT your right to bring a toddler to a bar then expect everyone to provide you with baby high chairs, kid menus, and sipee cups. Go to Cracker Barrel, Applebys, or Chuckie Cheese if that's your scene. Bloop bloop! Nottingham's is tucked away in an industrial park between Snowden River and Dobbin road and is one of the FEW grownups only establishments in the family friendly saturated market of Columbia. At night it's a 20's something pickup bar with a $10 cover but for Happy Hour it's a fun any age drinking & nibbling destination. The Tiki Bar outside is its best feature! Open year round this little oasis is a great place to unwind & sip an ale while hanging out with friends. I have a friend who still smokes (it does make her look cool, I gotta say) and this is still permitted here. That's right - though it's still legal in America you won't get nasty looks and baleful glances when puffing away at the Tiki Bar. Deal with it. Built in heaters help her in the winter not freeze while she indulges in her favourite vice. And yes, we tease her. Draft domestics are cheap (YAY $2.00 Yuenglings! Take THAT Alehouse!) , tasty apps including a lovely veggie & hummus plate and small pizzas perfect for sharing all add to the draw of this strangely located local pub. So, hang out in Columbia sans kiddos, curse like a sailor, guzzle ales for not a lot of bucks & have a fun time! Huzzah!
(4)Joel R.
Nottingham's really isn't for everyone. Music could be very loud at times, and some of there happy hour specials are not really drinks I would consume. But overall, I like the outdoor patio when the weather is nice, and staff has always been friendly in my opinion. I would definitely recommend the old bay wings. There my favorite!
(3)Tunaidi A.
Down with the Broncos. Ray Lewis plays another day! That was the sole reason why I would ever have considered stepping foot into Nottingham's Tavern. This place has a good selection of drinks, but mediocre happy hour selections. Football day happy hour drinks consist of $3 bloody mary's and mimosas. I'm not a fan of either, so I thought that was very limiting. Specials on other days seemed a bit better. However, food and bites are underwhelming, both on the happy hour menu and the regular menu. The usual suspects are pizza, wings, queso, and tacos, and even for bars/pubs, these were very below average. The best part about football days are that the big screen and projector are set up and there is a good amount of seating. Service isn't bad either. Though, I don't think I'd ever come to Nottingham's for anything other than football.
(2)Chrysta T.
The DJ sucks! Plays old music and will not take requests. Been there twice in the last month or so and have been disappointed with music. When the dance floor is empty, take a hint.
(2)Puneet M.
Needed to update my review after my most recent visit. Bar in an office complex... do tell! So as most everyone else has mentioned Nottinghams is in a random place. You drink near it and think, what am doing here its dark ourside but there are offices near by should I be going to work and I just slept in... nope your in the right place. I have been here a couple times and neither time have I come away impressed. Some positives: The place is huge! so there is plenty of space and room to move around. They also have several pool tables and a shuffle board. Lastly they have decent (i use this term loosly) Happy Hour specials. The negatives: Their regular prices are too high for me, so I would suggest only HH items. The cost of the pool tables and shuffle board are pretty darn hi (Pool: $12/hr, Shuffle: $15/hr). Also the service is totally hit or miss... sometimes you get a nice attentive server other times, you get someone who could care less about you and is running around at 15 tables. Its a total crap shoot and when you get bad service here its pretty bad. Neutrals: The place is full with people just getting off, 30+ somethings all trying to let loose and relax. Great right! (I'm right up there with them) but you get this sleezy bar/club vibe even at 6pm. To me there are much better places to check out, Pub Dog is one (down the street) offers FREE shuffle board, great pizza and decent beer specials, and the place doesn't seem creepy or sleezy.
(2)Stephanie L.
Had a Ladies Nite Out here....was nice. Keep in mind you have to find the location first (not an easy find). Lots of room. Didnt feel too congested. Drinks were good. The wings with RANCH were tasty, but the Nacho (pause) were exciting. Will go back soon.
(3)Kat F.
Freaking $10 cover. REALLY?? Definitely not worth it. Yeah, they give you a free "drink," but when you think about it: You're going into a bar (not a club or anything, just a bar to hang out/eat/drink) and you're forced to get a drink worth $10. Yeah, not worth it at all. Not to mention how difficult it is to find (you turn into a bunch of office buildings and go allllll the way down the parking lot).
(2)Nicole H.
This place is alright. It's my stand-by Columbia bar. The only thing that really gets my goat here and is reason to avoid for me is that on a couple of occasions I've gotten there to pick up friends less than an hour before close and they still charged me $10 to set food inside. I don't mind paying cover if I'm hanging out but to go and get the drunkards for a ride home... that's crap.
(2)Stan M.
Not impressed with anything. Very overpriced and the food is below average. This place has no identity, poorly managed, and the bouncers are jerks.
(1)Erica W.
Food is surprisingly good, especially the nachos!! Drinks are a bit expensive though. Love the space and outside bar area!
(4)Larry H.
My first visit to "Notty's" was on a Saturday night, with a live band. As with any live venue, the caliber of the band can make or break the night. Luckily the band playing was KleptoRadio, which would be a great party band in any venue. Food... Nottinghams even calls itself a tavern, so if you're coming here expecting a table side sommelier and 5-star dining, you're gonna be disappointed. Notty's serves bar, food plain and simple. Nothing fancy, just a philly cheesesteak or some nacho's to soak up any excessive alcohol you might consume. Atmosphere... It looks like any typical sports bar... Lots of little flat screens distributed throughout, sports bar decor, pool tables in the back, a DJ sound booth, a small dance floor, and a stage for live bands. It also has outside patio seating, but that seemed to be the location of choice for smokers, so I totally avoided it. Location... This is the weird one... even WITH a GPS this place is hard to find. It's stuck in the back of a business park with numerous office complexes. Word of mouth must be how most people find it, because you'll never see it from the road. If you want to compare it to premier live music venues in DC or Baltimore, of course it's not going to measure up. If you want the city, go to the city. But if you compare it to other live music venues in the burbs that are all essentially restaurants that push a few tables out of the way to squeeze a 3 piece band and some amps into an impossibly small corner. Then this is where Nottinghams comes into its own. Nottinghams has a purpose built live music stage that's large enough to comfortably accommodate a 5 or even 6 piece band. The sound system is great for the size of the venue. And the automated stage lighting was definitely well above par for a venue of this size. All in all, it's a decent suburban live music venue with average bar food and decent service. In all honesty, I walked away with only one real complaint, which was the dress code, (or lack thereof). I get it, that this is the burbs, not a velvet rope DC dance club. And I know Notty's main audience is a mix of 20 something to 40 something suburbanites. But there were 30 & 40 somethings in suits, there were 20 & 30 somethings in anything from classy to hipster type clothing, which were all fine in my opinion. The ones that should have been stopped at the door were the schlubs wearing worn out John Deere ball caps, dirty (not fashionably worn, DIRTY) jeans that looked like they'd been digging ditches all day, dirty old t-shirts. This wasn't just 4 or 5 people. I'd say about 20% of the crowd was walking around in worn ballcaps and clothes that looked like they pulled them out of the bottom of the hamper. Seriously...?
(3)Alexis K.
I WOULDN'T STEP FOOT IN THERE AGAIN......To those who have been here or come here often the bartender and manager have bad decision making skills. This was my second time here and it was okay the first time good music etc. However, this particular night was a total reck because the bartender cant take criticism because he failed to make a decent drink. The bartender NIEL is 10 year employee who knows what he does so says the manager. Who has poor managing skills for kicking someone out for no logical reason. She didn't care and was awful at her job. Even her customers agreed on my behalf and her employees as well. Bad judgement and bad service.
(1)Rishoo R.
Been here a couple times on team events Thursdays. You can call this place a sports bar or even a 'dive'. The crowd seems to be kinna professional, comming out from offices located close to the place. Like Noralyn says be prepared to bump into 'high rollers':). Food/appetizers are great, especially the quesedillas and the Nacho dips. Those are what i pretty much have when i go there. I love the fact that they have pool tables in their. Its auways soo nice to shoot some balls while having drinks. A place which is good to meet friends and get together for some fun. They also have an outdoor patio with a seperate bar to hang out during summers. You wont be disappointed by visiting this place. Decent food, Full Fledge Bar, Young/Professional Crowd, waitresses are nice and hot (i guess they pickem that way :P), Outdoor patio applealing smokers, Pool tables, reasonable pricing, Live bands during weekends - I mean what else do you want?
(4)Tony P.
Typical pool hall/sports bar with a decent if short list of craft and domestic beers. The music is loud and blaring towards the front of the bar, but it's much more tolerable towards the back by the pool tables. The menu is average bar fares with no stand outs. It'll sate your drink inspired hunger well enough. The bartenders are expedient so you're not kept waiting too long. The crowd are a mix of young 20- and 30-somethings professionals. The facility is fairly large and there's plenty of tv's scattered around to catch the sport events. And it's a bit more upscale in decor than the Greene Turtle.
(3)priscilla d.
This review is for breakfast only. Everything tasted the way it should, and the place looked clean enough while the service was actually perfect. I dont know anything about their dinner or lunch, but breakfast was bomb. We even forgot our credit card and got it back a couple hours later. no drama. I thought it was reasonably priced, since dennys is not the bargain it used to be, its better to have a warm, comfortable breakfast here, in a booth :)
(4)Jessica F.
It is a bar in non despcript office building in Columbia. It is worth checking out if only for that reason.
(4)Tiffani N.
This place is fun! Have to admit I avoided Nottingham's for years, laughing that this is where the folks who aren't cool enough to go to the city go. Shame on me, didn't know what I was missing. It's like a mix of a dive bar, sports bar and local band hangout with a dash of young nightlife. I prefer to go during the happy hour times or for a Sunday football game. Can't take the crowds that pour in after 10 pm. But if you want to have a great time sipping on a beer or a fantastic margarita (so good!!!), hear some top 40 and mix and mingle with interesting HoCo folks then this is the spot for you. All without wasting gallons of gas...
(4)Arron A.
Nottinghams is a cool place. They have pool tables, outside heated smoking, tiki bar, full bar inside and more of which a 4 star bar should have. If you want to enjoy a nice meal and a good drink then you really can't go wrong.
(4)Melody C.
Nottinghams is a cool bar in a strange location; the bottom floor of an office building in Columbia. Don't let that deter you though, go in and check it out. I came here for the first time with my company for our monthly happy hour. Drinks and appetizers on the boss?! I'm there! I was not disappointed. The drinks were good and the waitress was EXCELLENT with servicing a large crowd of thirsty people. My boyfriend and I had several beverages and never had to wait long for our next one. It's dark, clean, and spacious. There is a small stage in the front, a DJ booth on the side and a professional looking sound system all around. I'm sure music nights the place gets going. Even on a Weds. night it was crowded. People started rolling in after 5pm. There are several pool tables in the back also if that's your game. I will definitely be back here soon to grab some lunch!
(4)Mary W.
Unfortunately, I'm not of age yet to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials & night time activities :( BUT, I have been to lunch here twice & both times were great. I found it to be pretty filling, for only spending around $8-$9 (with tax and tip). Albuquerque Turkey was great--a little too much turkey, which made it kind of dry. . .but one server suggested adding avocado to it to make it even yummier! All sandwich orders come with chips & a slice of pickle :D Second time around, got the soup+1/2 sandwich combo. That's only $6.50 and you can add more to your sandwich like cheeses, change up the braed etc. (at a cost I think) OK deal for people who don't eat a lot! I think I'll be frequenting here over the summer, since my workplace is only a building away!
(3)Chris D.
Interesting location for a bar. Great place to watch NFL games. Food is pretty good.
(3)K Sera S.
I wouldn't go to "Notty's" (as we locals call it) on a Saturday night if they were handing out full bottles of Patron free at the door. However, if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers. It's a local favorite, I think, because for a long time there simply was no where else to go! The drinks are what they are...they're not known for a creative cocktail menu, but they do pour a good, heavy martini. The food is bar food in every sense of the word. Unless you're getting tipsy too quickly from said big martini, skip the noshing. So Wednesday night at Notty's good. Friday or Saturday night very, VERY bad.
(3)Theresa C.
Nottingham's is not worth the trip... even if you have absolutely nothing better to do on a Saturday night than stare at awkwardly-dressed suburbanites. It's pretentiousness with nothing to offer in return. This place is so crowded you can't move, the drinks are awful, the service is even worse, and the decor makes me feel like I'm back drinking in a frat room basement again. The 20-minute wait for a dirty women's bathroom can't help but accentuate the feeling. If you're in the mood to go out on the weekend, do yourself a favor and go anywhere but Nottingham's.
(1)Leeann D.
Great outdoor deck and good drink specials. The food is freezer to deep fryer but works if you need to fill your stomach. The acoustic show on the deck is very fun. The crowd is a mix of young and old.
(3)Brendan D.
Nottingham's seems to be a point of contention in our office. At various points it has been loved, hated, revered, and despised- and I have experienced each of these emotions at one time or another. K Sera S said it correctly: "if you work in Columbia, it's a perfectly adequate place for a happy hour with your coworkers." Other than that I don't see why Nottingham's is fun- if I lived in Columbia, I would go to Baltimore if I wanted to go out. In any event here is the review: Positives: - decent beer selection, they always carry the Sam seasonal. - The patio is nice for groups when the weather is nice. - those in our office who smoke, like the conveneince of the patio, and not having to leave the grounds to grab a quick smoke. Negatives: - the crowd. To me always resembles an insurance salesman convention, or at other times the divorcee capital of Maryland. If either of these fits you though, then this may be a positive. - service. Sometimes good, but on occasion just terrible. We have had problems with our bill before, and on other visits you have to tactically order a beer even if you have a full one because you know it will take 30 minutes. Variance: - the servers are all either really hot, or look like they should be living under a bridge. There does not seem to be much in between. It works for my purpose (drinks with the office), but I would not go here for anything else.
(3)Latise B.
This is going to be long... I'm really not a fan of Notty's. I started going here with coworkers for Happy Hour and from the start I wasn't impressed, although I continued to go to hangout. The food and drinks are overpriced. The atmosphere is very yuppie to me. Its like the stuck-up place where its "cool" to spend a ridiculous amount of money on stuff that is just average. When I eat there, I stick to wings, pizza, and nachos. They recently beefed up their menu some, but its still the same boring overpriced food to me. On the flip, it does have a more "sophistocated" feel to it , so if you have people in your group who are turned off by "dives" then Notty's is the place to take them. They offer pool and shuffleboard (for a price) as well as darts (not sure the cost) and they have a few video games. There are TVs to watch, but mostly they are small--this place is more for hanging out chatting or hearing live music. The outdoor seating is nice, but a little cramped. The service is hit or miss--I've had really good waitresses but I've also had some bad ones. Either way, they must be hot because the men in the group tend to gawk a lot. Mostly Notty's turns me off because it just feels like a place that doesn't live up to the hype that people give it. Its almost like people think they SHOULD be paying what they pay for this average hangout spot. Oh and the non-live music is pretty random across genres, but is usually not played too loudly, so socializing is very easy. I've never heard a bad band there, so that's a plus too. Oh and another plus is the bar is pretty big and there is a variety of seating, so its easy to come here in big groups and be able to all sit/stand together. Beware though, it gets pretty crowded. I wouldn't keep coming back to this place if I didn't live or work in the area, but that's just me. Its fine for after work drink, but I wouldn't actually drive to come to this place.
(2)Chrissy L.
First time I attempted to go there it was a 10 dollar cover- I said hells no in front of the bouncer. Just like someone else said, it's at the bottom of a business building- COME ON NOW. There are some specials but your lucky if you can get your servers attention. I have gone here on an early happy hour- super strong drinks! ahh and late happy hour. Food wasn't too bad. Wish there were more drink specials. I haven't heard a great band yet. I think the sound being on the bottom floor just doesn't work there. Crowd- random. Last weekend I went there were dudes in scruffy t's, cougars, and girls dressed like hoochies. You're in COLUMBIA !!! not Baltimore people! Overall, alright place if you get there before the cover.
(3)Vince L.
I see the locals pretty much seem to hate it, but I like it. Yep, I sure do! Any place gets boring if it's right there to go to all the time. But for me, since I have a bit of a drive to get there, it almost always seems worth it. The bands are almost always good. I try to go on the Fridays when "The Reagan Years" are playing. It does get crowded, but you can always get a drink at the bar. The bartenders know how to make a good drink too. I do have to say the one Saturday that I did go, wasn't worth the effort. So I just stick to Fridays.
(4)Didgididgi D.
OVERPRICED, disgusting food. The only reason people eat here is because it's in the office building, right? Otherwise you'd have to be nuts to spend 7 dollars on a sandwich that tastes like it was made a week ago and warmed up by a chimpanzee. I got a salad there once and there was a metal twist off from a salad dressing bottle in it. Nice. Another time, there was paper in my sandwich. Thank god I've never actually payed for anything I ate there (thanks, boss).
(1)