Canal Cafe

Unfortunately, on this night, I was without HERSELF, leaving me to investigate on of the few places in Mass. that has a bumper pool table. Over the bridge I go, take the first exit and a hang a right/right and BANG!  I'm there.  Look for the Bud sign.  Old school ?  You ain't seen nothing old school until you've seen this place.

The bar itself is tiny and there was no overhang for one's feet to tuck under.  Normally a negative, but I didn't care one stinkin bit.  I was greeted by the lovely and talented bartendress Tara, who might as well have been conducting her own opera.  Never a wasted motion. The layout of the place is wonderfully efficient.  A few high tables against the wall, a few TV's and the bar.  That's it.  People really do enjoy rubbing elbows in a bar and this place is solid proof.

Before two seconds had passed, my newly found bar sponsor Brian had filled me in on the place and after a blink, I was into a sample of the kitchen's fare.  Rissotto balls, with a light cheese sauce.  Excellent.   In a bar ? At the foot of the bridge ?  Was I on some sort of reality show ?  Nope. No camera crew came out of the kitchen.  Didn't matter.  Food was pretty outstanding. Everyone else eating seemed to have a smiling face.  To accompany, there was a Red Cape Cod Ale on tap (as well as Bud), again served by the lovely and talented.

I didn't leave empty handed thanks to some of the coolest T shirts in the world.  Of course, I got a pink one for HERSELF, along with the promise of a return engagement.  Out the door, the onramp for the bridge is right there and as I left, I wondered, why in the world would all those folks coming back from the Cape sit in traffic when they could stop and have an excellent bite and a brew ?

Some wonders of life will never be answered.

This place rules.

We were looking for a liquor store when we saw the neon beer signs and pulled in... realizing it wasn't a store we headed back up onto the main road. My co-pilot screamed "juke box!" We immediately popped it into reverse and parked.

When we walked in the place was empty, all except the nice lady tending the bar & a man who was working between the bar and the kitchen. Both were pleasant and welcoming!

This place has all the essentials: juke box that plays 4 songs for $1 (seemingly unheard of these days), bathrooms, bumper pool, a bar full of booze for mixed drinks, a variety of bottled brews and food! All drinks were decently priced and service was fast!

We played sweet jams & bumper pool all night, the staff didn't mind our singing & seemed happy to have us.

We are so glad we stumbled across this gem! We will definitely swing by there any time we are in the area.