If you're just walking buy, you might not find this basement/bar restaurant so don't expect a view. Â The food was good and the beer selection excellent. Â I had the halibut with couscous. Â It's a little run down inside so don't let that's are you away. Lots of locals showed up later in the evening. They have a pile of card games to use while you have a beverage. Kind of cool.
Review Source:It was 10pm on a Thursday night, and I was hungry, but I didn't want to indulge in the usual chain fast food, so I was elated that this little pub was still open. Matter of fact, it was the only establishment alive this late at night in itty bitty Fairhaven.
I wasn't sure if I should seat myself after descending the street cellar stairs, but I found a waitress who was assisting someone, and she was kind enough to glance my way and gesture with her out stretched hand an invitation to find a spot to my liking.
Another waitress appeared shortly after I took my seat in front of a flat screen tv showing Sports Center. She helped me make a beer selection and seemed to know I was there for food, so she discussed their small menu with me briefly. Apparently everyone raves about the Bacon Burger. Even my waitressed bragged about it. It won me over even though I was leaning more towards the Shepard's Pie.
The burger is huge. It is served open face, but each side is itself the size of a Big Mac. It is ground sirloin, and it is cooked to your desire. The bacon is real thick slabs of pork. Not really my preference for texture because I prefer mine thin and crispy, but at least it didn't have too strong a flavor and didn't end up overwhelming the main attraction, the sirloin which was juicy and tender.
Two beers and a burger cost me $25. Ouch! What happened to that saying champagne tastes on a beer budget? That adage definitely doesn't apply here. Still, the place has a nice ambience, great service, decent food, and if you are ever looking for a late night, cooked meal, this is your best bet in Fairhaven.
Went here last week and was very, very pleasantly surprised.
They have the cheapest and most generous pours of scotch flights I've EVER seen. When our server brought us our flights, I just stared at them. Each flight glass had what is typically a single serving of scotch at most restaurants. I was a little bit like a kid in a candy store... And that was the beginning of what could have been a painful night had it not been for some major practice of Self Control that made me actually offer up some unfinished glasses of scotch to the closest table to us.
Their food was also pretty good. Overpriced for what it is for sure but it's well executed. Great service. Blahblahblah. But really, after everything, I will be coming back for the flights!
This is one of the best place in town for  fun date night. No kids. Need I say more? The menu is surprisingly sophisticated with lots of options that range from fish and chips, burgers to the most delicious mac and cheese (with truffle), braised oxtails, and lots of other options. If you go there expecting bar food, you're in for a wonderful surprise! The drink list is also fun and extensive, but the beer list is unbelievable! Anything you can think of is there! Fun current music, darts, and games... it's a fun atmosphere with an old world pub feel. Worth the trip in every way.
Review Source:Wow, where to start?? Â I did a Seri search for Oysters while in Bellingham and this popped up with a 4 star rating over all. So drove the extra 5 minutes to Fairhaven. Â After getting there we decided on burgers instead ( I know, so not the same) but it sounded very good. Elk and Lamb burger... I am a big eater, and I love food, but this was without a doubt the BEST Burger I have ever eaten. Â I posted a picture of it as well so you can all see how HUGE it was, but that wasn't the half of its charm. Â It was cooked perfectly. The flavor was outstanding, the toppings? Well, the bear braised Onion ring and Healthy sized hunks of portabella Mushrooms were the perfect toppings. Â The bun?? Defied the laws of Physics, despite needing a half dozen napkins, the bun stayed WHOLE!! I repeat, it did not get totally soggy and fall apart! Â Even thou I could not get my big mouth around it, it was heaven on a bun.
My wife ordered the Goat cheese, Cheese cake.  I have always told her that she made the best cheese cake in the world, now I have told her she makes the "second" best cheese cake in  the world.  She says she is going to figure out how to copy theirs now, win win for ME! LOL
Do not miss this place! The whole menu was outstanding from Gourmet options to standard pub offerings it all look amazing as it passed us, and I have not even mentioned the huge beer and liquors offerings!
I do not do review's, even thou I never eat without reading them. But this place needed to be talked about.
I love this place! What a surprise. We stumbled upon The Archer Ale House and couldn't have been more satisfied. It's inside the basement of a really old, cool building and they have board games such as 80s Trivial Pursuit. I mean, does it get better than that? Also, the food was some of the best I've had in a while. We had the spaetzle, which I couldn't get enough of. It came with the most flavorful little arugula salad. Amazing. For dessert we had the goat cheese cheesecake. I don't even like goat cheese usually, but this was so good!! Highly recommend.
Review Source:We lived down the street for a while, so we've been a few times. Â There is a nice selection of drinks, and an interesting menu, but the service and the annoying flies have kept us away. Â I'm sure we'll go back again, but the last time we went, there were flies buzzing around us the whole time, and the service was really slow. Â We don't fault our server, though. Â She was very busy and seemed to be running the bar and all of the tables by herself.
Review Source:Great atmosphere. Â You know you are in for something special when you traverse the fantastic staircase to the front door. Â
Has a very unusual menu...definitely not your typical bar food.
Because of it's basement location the is little to no phone/data service. Â They definitely should offer free wifi.
We will be back
Quite a different menu than what we are used to. Â We've been enjoying the Archer for about 15 mostly because of the low key atmosphere, great beer selection, games and basic but yummy food. Â Not anymore! It still has the games, great beer & low key atmosphere, but the food is out of place. Â I had the elk/lamb burger, served on a fancy white dish. Â Sound snooty? Well, it was, and it wasn't very good, unless you like dry, boring meat. Â I hope they go back to the days when life was simple and yummy, I miss it.
Review Source:Discovering this pub in Fairhaven a few years ago was a delicious dream come true! Not only is the atmosphere fun, but the service is consistently excellent and the buffalo wings are surprisingly well done. So far, this is one of my favorite places to visit when I came to this side of town.
GAMES!!
Like to play darts? Look no further.
they have boddingtons on tap, which always makes me super excited. My partner had the fish & chips, which was soggy and he didn't like his fries, either. beer's good, nice pub feel but was SO hot & stuffy down there. if you want a beer and to just relax away from the tourists or shoot some darts, this is the place.
Review Source:Excellent food and a decent beer selection (more bottles than taps).
It's in the basement of a brick building, and the stone and wood on some of the walls give it a nice cozy pub feeling, especially in the winter. When I lived in Happy Valley while at WWU, the walk home was just long enough  to sober up a little before bed.
The prices are a little high, but it helps keep most of the midday drunks and rowdy college students away. Also, the food is usually well worth the money. Their sandwich specials were always delicious and, although I never tried it, the pizza looked pretty rich. TVs aren't huge, but decent for watching a game.
Don't expect to stop by for a quick burger and a beer. Service is often slow here even when there isn't a crowd. I don't see that as a bad thing; I just make sure I have some time on my hands before deciding to go to the Archer.
I started coming to Archer as soon as I was legal and have been coming ever since. Â Even though the hus and I live in Seattle now, we take a special journey to Bellingham to visit the Archer time to time. Â I love the atmosphere here. Â My friends and I could talk into the night, play darts, play funny games, and all over a great glass of beer (or framboise if you're girly like me). Â The beer selection is great as well. Â I don't know much about the food, because I always order hot wings. Â They are my fave.
I've read the reviews about the owner, but in all my years have had little contact with him. Â I have, however, had experience with his wife who is amazing. Â Whenever we walk in she comments on how she hasn't seen us in a while. Â Our own little personal Cheers. Â The staff has always been lovely to me.
Walk downstairs, stay a while, look silly trying to play darts. Â I promise you'll have a good time.
While at first it may appear like just an old basement, that's because it is! Â This is an awesome little place that makes any outting feel like you've got your own private rerstaurant. Â There are shades of pale pink and green which are a bit outdated, but with the beer selection, freindly staff, and great food, who cares! Â This is the new spot where my mom and I go weekly to catch up on eachothers' lives. Â I highly recommend giving this place a shot!
Review Source:When you walk into a fun little pub like Archers, home of the local looking for a unique brew and some decent food, wearing a frog stocking cap on St. Patty's day, you expect to get some looks. Â And looks I got.
The crowd last night was lively, the Irish music was excellent (had to look OVER the game board pile to see them...damn you scattergories!), and that table of older patrons in the corner getting down brought a smile to my face. Â I saw a few people with ties (just off work?), a college crowd playing darts, some unexpected friends in the other corner, and guinness galore. Â
This was Bellingham at its best, and I'm so happy to be a part of this area. Â Archer Ale House, keep up the good work.
I love a good pub/bar as much as the next gal but this one didn't do a whole lot for me. I think if I played darts or pool this would be a great place to go to, but alas I partook in neither.
Their beer selection was actually pretty good, but the food was mediocre at best. Reading the reviews of this place it sounds like the food is hit or miss, so I must have been on a "miss" night.
The decor is a bit odd (first bar I'd been into that had carpeting on the floor). I did like that they had an array of board games and decks of cards. I could see hanging there on a rainy Friday night with a group of friends.
I love the Archer! We drive in from Everson just to take a break from whatever farm chores we're doing so we can revive with a couple pints and some tasty food. Last night we enjoyed (swooned over) their oyster shooters - tiny fresh juicy Taylor oysters nestled in a shot glass of house-made cocktail sauce, with a puddle of bacon-pepper infused vodka (also house-made).
We didn't have any of their dinner specials, but when we do, they are always memorable and unique. The penne arrabiata we had there was so good, we now make it at home on a regular basis. Last night though, we had bangers & mash with a restorative brown Guiness gravy, and one of their excellent angus burgers, this time with a triple-cream bleu cheese melted on top.
The beers are served at the right temperature and in the right style glasses. Always an eclectic rotating tap, and the only place in town to get draft versions of some old favorites. The servers never make us feel rushed, are always polite, funny and attentive, and if the Archer were in Everson, we'd just move in.
Epitomizing Old Fairhaven's English atmosphere, Archer's feels the way Cheers would feel, if Cheers were in some quaint little English village. Nestled underground beneath some of Fairhaven's most popular boutiques, Archer's is warm and cozy, with a good range of European beers on tap, and a much larger variety of imported bottled beers. Â Though the food is known to be a little hit-or-miss, the place is like none other in Bellingham. Â The underground setting creates a genial, lively vibe that always feels inviting. They might not know your name, but everybody is in good spirits.
Review Source:Good food and a great beer (ale) selection. Â The service is consistently very good and friendly. Â Two major drawbacks:
1) The owner is a jerk and treats his female servers with condescending disrespect. Â TIP WELL, those women put up with too much crap.
2) There are often annoying gnats that like to find their way to beer and wine glasses... but that may just be the pains of Bellingham and humid late summer/early fall.
This is the closest thing we have to a real English Pub here in Whatcom county. The taps are good (but make sure to ask if they are out of any of them) and the food can be great.
I can't give them 5 stars because they often are out of the beer that I want on tap even though it's on the menu and because every other time I get a basket of fries they are over cooked.
That being said, most of the food I have had is amazing. The soups there can be really good with a nice beer and some bread. They also have a good selection of bottled beers for us beer snobs.
Oh and like others mention they have a great selection of games and live music on Mondays and Wednesdays I believe and a lack of annoying college kids who are used to buying pitchers of PBR for 5 bucks.
It had been a good while since I had been here and I was thoroughly excited to return last night. I was not disappointed. When we got there there were quite a few groups of people relaxing and/or watching the football game. We were able to get a nice seat by the dart boards and played for a while.
I think the wait staff is quite friendly, but they aren't going to serve you any food at light speed, by any means. That's ok, though, because the Archer's not somewhere you want to rush yourself through. Relax, grab a pint and some good food, and enjoy the laid back atmosphere.
If you are looking for a pub with a great variety of beers on tap in the Fairhaven area, then look no further. I sat at the bar and enjoyed a half-liter of Spaten Oktoberfest with a perfect view of the Mariners game, they actually won!
The owner hovered around the two young girls tending bar and that was a bit strange but none the less it was pretty mellow and the below-sea-level structure reminded me of the pubs in Czech Republic that I used to frequent.
Archer's is definitely a place for regulars. It has a very laid-back, in no hurry to get anything vibe. It's a place to hang with a few friends, drink a couple of beers, play a board game or throw some darts...a very slow paced, fun filled evening. You know, like your living room with a full service bar, kitchen, and cool, regular folk.
Not a lot of hipsters or scene kids present, which could be good or bad depending on your POV. Will see college kids on a regular occasion; one of my profs used to hold "help" nights here. He warned us to get to him before the 2nd pitcher, else he couldnt guarantee how much help he'd be. *g* I always liked him.
Anyway, good food, good beer - even if you're not a beer drinker, the drinks are poured stiff. Great place to lounge in your favorite fall Bellingham outfit (jeans and a sweatshirt) and enjoy an evening.
The staff at the Archer know how to pour a proper pint of Guinness, but the service is slow. Â When we visited there the place was a third full, but the bartenders were nowhere to be seen. Â And when they were around they walked right by like they were on another planet. Â We've been here a couple times, but I'm in no hurry to come back.
Review Source:The wait staff was rude and impatient. I could tell they would have prefered it if I had just left. Â When the beer finally did arrive it was WARM and overpriced. The other patrons were all over 40 and they stared and gave off an uncomfortbale vibe the entire time I was in the bar. I will never again give the Archer Ale House my business.
Review Source:If I keep eating here every time I visit for work, I will easily gain a pound or ten. We started with the 1/2 off appetizer, jalapeno and artichoke dip with chips. It was very good, but by the end of it I felt like I was eating straight cream cheese. I had the mushroom swiss burger with fries for dinner and munchen original. The burger was delish. I especially liked how they threw garlic bits with the mushroom and the cornmeal bun. Fries were OK. The munchen was very light and easy to drink. This is a good place to go with a big group of people, throw back a few pitchers of beer and play a board game of choice. Trust me, they have many to choose from.
Review Source:I went here for the first time this last weekend.
I don't think there were enough people in at the time to make it an especially memorable experience, or give it much of an ambiance, but all-in-all, I liked it. It has a good vibe to it. It's tucked away down this little flight of stairs in some building in Fairhaven. It feels like it is this secret little pub or something.
They have a large selection of beers, but I wasn't that impressed with those I had from their rotating list. I was actually a little bitter with the place though; they had multiple posters up on the wall advertising Pike Street beer - which I love, but when I asked if they even had it, they said no, sorry. ("But we do have a wonderful rotating list of micros"). WTF? It's not like the posters lured me in or anything, but still.
I'm all for random beers, but it's typically hit-or-miss with random imports that I've never heard of before. But maybe that's part of the fun. Â If that's your thing, this is your place.
Decent place overall - but mainly because it has that hidden-bar feel.
Phenonemal. My favorite bar in Bellingham, when I lived there and now when I visit. If you fancy a pint of beer, come here! Order from the beer menu and usually get served in that brew's special glass, always great. Have some food, drink some beer, play darts, chinese checkers, or pictionary. I have a feeling you would love this place.
Review Source:The best place to drink beer in Bellingham. Its located in the basement of a building in Fairhaven. It's been non-smoking from the beginning which use to be a big draw for me, but it's still very relaxed and fun. They have a huge beer selection which they take very seriously. The bar tenders are very nice and the food is above average bar fair.
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