We've tried this pub twice now and found it to have a warm, clean, inviting and uncluttered atmosphere. Â The bar is center stage and has many high end beers and liquors, served in variety specific glasses. Â The menu is simple and the food is tasty, with some creativity and good quality. Â Good place.
Review Source:Every Friday after work my fiancee and I are at the Gaff. Â We go for the great popcorn, and the awesome selection of beers. Â The atmosphere is also great.
I will say that their food isn't outstanding. Â But they do have a lot of veggie options, and we mainly go there before/after eating.
I met a friend here for dinner & drinks one night. Â I haven't really ventured into Waltham much so I was looking forward to trying somewhere new. Â The beer was good, but the food left much to be desired. Â There's no real kitchen and the menu was pretty limited. Â I got asiago steak sliders with a pesto aioli. Â They were nothing to write home about. Â Then I noticed french fries with gravy and cheese! Â Having spent a few years in NJ, they call those disco fries. Â And I had a hankering for some good NJ memories. Â Well, the fries tasted like they had been microwaved, the gravy mixed from a powder, and there was only a small sprinkling of cheese...nothing like disco fries at all. Â I was disappointed. Â But it's a bar. Â You're not really going there to eat. Â Would I go there again? Â Survey says...unlikely. Â Unless all I'm doing is getting drinks.
Review Source:They got rid of their weekend brunch menu, and it seems that prices went up a little bit (added about $1 on every draught beer and meal).
The bartender told us that brunch just wasn't popular enough to keep on doing it. It's really unfortunate, because my wife and I loved coming here for brunch, and now our only option is (the unbearable) Watch City.
Still a great bar, still great food, just disappointed with the choice to ditch (the AWESOME) brunch.
Going on busier nights is not a good idea, just because there is not a lot of room, but on off nights, I love it.
The bartenders are always friendly, and they remember everything about me from my name to how my job is going without prying.
It feels like every week I get to try another amazing beer, and the bartenders will also make me some fun cocktails if I'm feeling a little girly. Â I've only ever had one bad drink there, and that was just because I'm not a big fan of bourbon.
Try the curry fries.
Definitely the best bar on Moody Street with a huge beer/cocktail selection. I've never gotten food there, but they hook you up with free popcorn all night (which seems to clash with the classy atmosphere a little, but hey, free popcorn is free popcorn). Fantastic atmosphere & it fills up quickly on weekends. I gave it 4 stars because of the small size- if only it were bigger!
Review Source:The Gaff is great. I'm new to the area and it's the best local pub I've found. Really great beer selection for such a small place, rotated well. Pub food is solid. Awesome that they give you free popcorn. HD TVs on the walls if you want to watch sports.
The staff is super friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable.
It's a small place, and I imagine it's hard to get a seat on certain nights.
There is no better bar ... if you can get a seat. Â
Calamari ... perfect every time on five tries.
Gaff burger ... first time last night and had to run a couple of extra miles this morning.
Beer brat ... not last night, but perfection
Radeberger on draft for me ... every one else is praising the craft beers
Service is just unobtrusively perfect.
I love this place!
I've been for Monday night trivia several times, and it's great. The staff is friendly, the trivia hosts are great, and it seems like they have a great beer selection (although I don't usually drink beer). They bring you a nice bowl of popcorn to munch on when you sit down. I've never tried the food, but it looks like there is a good selection.
The only drawback is the size. It's pretty small, so it can get crowded fast, especially on trivia night. If you're looking for a place to go with more than 10 or so people, this isn't really the best spot. However, the small size makes it feel more homey and more like your friendly neighborhood pub, which is nice.
This is a great little place to get a drink any night of the week. They have an extensive beer and cocktail list. I've been getting their chardonnay lately and that's pretty good too! The paninis are excellent but the rest of the food is only ok. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is comfy and trendy. The college crowd doesn't seem to congregate here so that's nice. This place is small but it's what adds to the coziness. The downside is that it gets pretty loud. Some guys come to watch the game.
I have one small complaint: Please change the bar stools back! So uncomfortable now! Try to grab a table, or even better, a couch.
This place is awesome. I've only been when it's been kind of slow and that's the way I like it. The Hot Dog is UNREAL and the Iggy's roll is the icing on the cake. This place utilizes space like no other bar, small kitchen that produces impressive and delicious food, awesome interior with cool edison bulb lighting, leather couches...perfect. Beer and liquor list is extensive and service has been 25% tip worthy both times.
My only gripe: please put hooks by the bar and under the high top tables, theres no place to hang your jackets. I made the mistake of putting my coat on one of the stools and it ended up getting grease or some sort of wd-40 all over it.
Dirty coat that needs to be heavily dry cleaned aside, I'll be back!
The Gaff is a very comfortable bar. I say that because you can sit down for a beer, and the next thing you know, 3 hours and several more beers will have gone by.
The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is the consistency of the food. Most recently, I had a very over-cooked burger. At least you can fall back on the popcorn!
I really enjoy this place - and I can't say the same for many other bars along Moody Street. Yikes!
It's a pretty tiny bar which can make finding a seat a bit of a challenge but it's a fairly mellow environment which is great because you can easily hold a conversation without struggling to hear everyone you're with. The food is delicious but keep in mind if it's crowded it can take a really long time to come out but hey, at least there is free popcorn to pick at in the mean time!
The drinks are fairly priced with a well-rounded selection of beers on tap.
Definitely give it a try!
Really should be 4.5 stars if I had to rate it against the rest of the country. For the Waltham area I would say 5 stars as I hung out at The Gaff 2 nights outta 5 on my to the Waltham area and had an enjoyable time.
Beer Selection = Coming from a craft beer nut, I would rank the selection as solid. I tried a number of average/good beers and one great beer. I have definitely seen better selections in other parts of the country, but it could have just been the timing of my trip. From a beer standpoint it is definitely worth a visit just to see what happens to be on-tap if you happen to be near by (though Deep Ellum in the Allston area it also worth a look).
Food = very tasty wings and a respectable, juicy burger. Fries were a bit undercooked, but I didn't fret those as the burger filled me up. Would have liked to try other things, but only had two nights.
Staff = pleasant, helpful and I have no complaints.
Ambiance = cozy and inviting. Â
Locals = friendly, although I didn't get into any in-depth conversations or crazy Yahtzee games with anyone ;)
If I was in Waltham would I return for another visit? Most definitely, just not sure if I would travel 30+ minutes to check it out. Â That said if I was a local, I would probably hang out at The Gaff all the time :).
This is a first review for me.
The first review I have ever written that I am borderline embarrassed about. Â Why, you ask? Â Because I can't believe after all the times I have been to the Gaff that I haven't five starred and rattled on and on about how amazing this place is.
Although it is small, it has a large offering of incredible beers. Â This is the place to go if you are a Dogfish head lover or want to try something a bit new and different. Â Beer geek out!
The food is also really good. Â They have a tiny kitchen that handles the basics well. Â The Frickles (Fried Pickles) are my favorite and the tacos are also good. Â The favorite among the man and I would be the Buffalo Chicken. Â Perfect washed down with a craft brew. Â Best beer selection in Waltham without any doubt.
I LOVE YOU GAFF LIKE I LOVED SETH GREEN IN CAN'T HARDLY WAIT!!
Definitely one of the best bars on Moody Street. Great selection of craft beers, some beers offered that aren't offered anywhere else or sold at the liquor store! I just wish it didn't get SO packed on weekends.. but I guess people like it as much as we do!
Bartenders are very nice and the seating area is comfortable. Get there early if you want the couches by the windows! That's our favorite spot for a big group.
Probably my favorite bar in the Greater Boston area. The beer selection is great and the prices are on par with what I would expect to pay. The bartenders are consistently friendly and on top of things; I never have to wait long to get a drink. I also think the bar draws a great crowd- friendly and eclectic. It's hard to be in a bad mood at The Gaff. I also appreciate any place where I can have some sort of interaction with the owner, and Michael is very warm and friendly.
I can't forget to mention the delicious free popcorn either. I think my friends and I went through at least 10 bowls during our last trip. As soon as our bowl was running low, someone was at our table asking if we'd like more. I was afraid they'd cut us off eventually, but they kept refilling until they ran out!
Another place I want to love but can't. First of all-they have food but not really kitchen. Anyone else freaked out by that? Also felt that the servers would rather talk to each other than take a damn order. Would have probably stayed for a few rounds but service was bad. The bartender did come to our table to serve us but she shouldn't have had to do that.
I will say that the renovation was nicely done- but the place was a bonifide shit whole before so anything would be better.
L O V E Â this place. All the bartenders are the friendliest in the business, and the bar itself is upscale while remaining simple and laid back. The Gaff is a place where you can relax and enjoy a few beers and still be able to have a conversation at a pleasant auditory level.
Disclaimer: I fell in love with this place because they were serving Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA with massive pours. There are only a few moments in life that warrant a man to cry due to sheer happiness: your child being born, and drinking DFH 120 on tap.
They updated their menu and it seems to have become a bit more focused. Â I had some kind of sandwich (don't remember) and it was just right. Â I'm glad they ditched the more microwaved apps, but the menu seemed a little less finger-food friendly.
They also made their sazerac cocktail wrong, but they made it right when I asked.
I love their beer selection, specifically their beers on tap. They clearly have an appreciation for good beer and it shows in their large beer menu.
There's always a friendly neighborhood buzz going on in here, and it gets rather busy on Thur-Sat nights (only time I've been, could be super busy other times too).
The food is good. I wouldn't say the selection blew my mind, but then again, the cook has like a 5'x5' kitchen to work in (it's amazingly small, and right next to the bar) so I'm amazed at the quality that comes from a kitchen that size. I mostly go here for the beer though :)
Parking isn't abundant, but there are public lots behind the buildings off Moody and you can usually find a spot.
The Gaff is an excellent bar, for beer drinkers and non-beer lovers alike! Its on the main Moody strip in Waltham (a town I'd never been to) which boasts countless shops and other bars. Some of the spots look a little less friendly. I can't remember the name of the place, but I stepped into one bar with a DJ only to witness a huge fist fight with a bunch of dude-bros the moment I arrived.
Well, the Gaff was a breath of fresh air from all of that!
Lovely doorman who was polite and welcoming. Great interior with a cool bar: wood shelves and mirrors, lots of bottles, lots of beer on tap. If you look straight to the back, there is a chalkboard with the names of all of the beers they offer. I was thrilled to find California's Racer 5 and Laguanitas offered, though I felt silly not trying one of the hundreds of other unfamiliar options.
The bartender made me a delicious cocktail to order and generously replenished our popcorn bowl more than once.
Friendly service, mature and respectable crowd, and some great music to boot make this a place I'd love to come back to.
What a perfect little neighborhood beer spot! Extensive beer list bottled and draughts for such a small place. The waitstaff and bartenders are very knowledgeable and can lead you towards some fine beers. They also offer flights so you can taste before committing. I am a huge fan of Kentucky Bourbon Ale but it is next to impossible to find when I am not in Kentucky so imagine my delight when I found it on their beer menu.
Food is decent - nice choices. The music was great (lots of Joy Division, The Smiths etc) but overall noise level kinda loud but can deal with it. Would recommend and plan on going more often! This is the type of bar I would want to own if I owned one!
The place is pretty small so be prepared to stand. Try a Dark & Stormy if you prefer mixed drinks vs beer.
Come on Waltham - we need more places like this. Let's give Davis Sq some competition!
(Now all we need is a food truck and Waltham would be deemed totally cool!)
I have no idea how it happened, but I found myself from Waltham, MA for work and had no idea where I would go for a drink with co-workers in the evening! No need to go to Boston, checked out trusty yelp and found this place!
Rock solid beer list, friendly staff, loquacious patrons, and a fairly large whiskey/bourbon menu for later in the evening...I would definitely recommend this place to anyone and look forward to my next trip to Waltham!
I'm not a big beer drinker...at all!! Â But even with my minimal knowledge in that area, I could tell that The Gaff's selection is excellent. Â
I came here on a Saturday night for the first time after I read the Review of the Day for it right here on Yelp. Â Not knowing much about beer, I decided to copy my friend and just get what she ordered, which was a Lagunitas. Â If you ARE into beer, they certainly have a lot to choose from.
Food's great too! Â I read at least a couple Yelp reviews that mentioned the hot dog with avocado and bacon, so I simply had to try that. Â It didn't knock me off my feet, but I did really like that somewhat unusual combination of flavors. Â Their wings weren't bad either.
Echoing what others have already said, the service here is great. Â The bartender was helpful and friendly (and probably could tell that I never drink beer). Â I don't see myself trekking out to Waltham very often just to come here, but if you're in the area, it's definitely worth stopping by.
If you're a fan of good beer and good atmosphere, the Gaff is your kind of place. It's an Irish beer bar with a lounge atmosphere, a huge beer selection on tap and in bottles, pub grub, and board games on the bar.
All the bartenders I've had have been quite open, friendly, and knowledgeable about the drinks they serve (especially one Irish guy who made some great beer recommendations).
I've never had the food, but from what I've observed, it looks and smells great. They also have a fine selection of booze and cocktails. My girlfriend has been pleased by each of the drinks she's had.
The food and cocktails aren't what you should come here for, however. The Gaff's crown jewel is GOOD BEER. This place is a craft beer lover's dream. Like I said, they have a huge variety of craft beers available, both domestic and imported. Their tap selection is constantly evolving, they sometimes have rare and hard to find beers (Kentucky Breakfast Stout anyone?), and they usually have a special beer on cask which is cool. I had Harpoon IPA from the cask, and it was quite different from what you get from a bottle or keg. I recommend giving the cask beer a shot.
The drinks aren't cheap, but you get what you pay for, and as this is one of the only beer bars I know of in the area outside Boston, it's worth it.
If you're looking for Coors or Bud Light, or even Bud heavy, stay away from The Gaff. This ain't your scene. But if you want to give your beer palette a challenge, you won't be disappointed by The Gaff.
Best bar.
In the world.
Universe.
This is not an overstatement!
Think... classy/comfortable red oak, friendly bartenders, no muss no fuss. You want a conversation? You got it. You give a quick order expecting little interaction, you got it. I swear these bartenders have a sixth sense or something- hopefully not the little kid with Bruce Willis type though because that'd SUCK.
Let me start off by saying I loathe driving on long local roads to Waltham. This is the only place I will rush to in a heart beat. I come here when I feel mellow, energetic, talkative, to watch the game, or just hang around and drink some good beer. Greeatt beer selection: Dogfish Head, Victory, Lagunitas (yum), Chimay and the list goes on.
To top this off even more, cheap delicious food. Are you a Wings addict like I am? When you decide to smarten up and order the wings, you must order it with The Gaff sauce. You like hummus? Get on it, pronto. Stop wasting precious time.
It's all of those reasons and the little things too; Hooks to hang up your purses (and man purses) underneath the table, entertainment at night, free popcorn, french fries cut like McDonald's, a smile when the bartenders hand you your ice cold drink after they pour it perfectly in a glass for you.
I'm happy to hear that this place is a recent renovation because now I can find comfort in knowing it won't be changing any time soon.
Sigh... The Gaff.
Finally, I can say that I have a favorite bar.
When you walk into The Gaff you'll notice it's not nearly as cookie cutter as a lot of the Irish bars you find in the area. Â With a big open window and some comfortable couches up front for those nice days or brunch on the weekends. Â The long bar takes up most of the right side of the place then leads you all the way to the back where you you'll find an Open Mic Night a few nights a week that ranges from funny to painful. Â The bartenders will remember you after a few times and it's easy to spot the regulars which are a pretty diverse crowd.
The beer list is pretty impressive being that they don't over due the amount of options which includes great beers that you only see at certain places on tap like Troegs, Berkshire and Greary's last time I checked. Â The apps are more interesting than you'll get at most of the pubs in the area including a few fun ones for your drunker self like baked pretzels, pepper jack cheese balls, and some really nice asiago steak sliders. Â The also have some sandwiches which seem standard though I haven't tried them.
To save you the trouble of reading the rest, this is instantly my new favorite place in Waltham. Â
A long time ago on a weekend stumble up and down Moody St., we were coaxed into an establishment called 'L' in this same space. Â Inside, it looked like someone had just pulled dust covers of the bar (and left the dust), dimly lit, with an old TV hung up, playing a fuzzy basketball game. Â They had a half dozen taps, none of which had handles. Â Or beer. Â So, you know, we weren't real thrilled with the proprietor who bade us come in for a drink. Â
Years later, the place is utterly unrecognizable; comfortably renovated with a nice new bar and seating, comfortably lit, with couches up front. Â On an early Wednesday evening, it was quiet and the bartender and waitress were attentive and very friendly as you might expect. Â They had good happy hour munchies for $5, and an excellent selection of beers (including my absolute favorite, Dogfish Head Burton Baton) many poured in exactly-matched glasses. Â
In retrospect, it's entirely too obvious that Moody St. needed a place like this.
Went there on a whim with a friend as we were drinking our way up and down Moody Street and this bar, I must say, exceeded my expectations. I didn't even notice it as we walked right near it the first time around. The exterior is modest but despite this fact, this very bar is unlike most around it because of one thing: the beer selection.
Walking in, it wasn't too crowded and we immediately seated at the counter. High above us was a TV with a baseball game and to our side was some of the taps. Our waiter greeted us with a strong Irish accent and proceeded to give us the beer list. It was lengthy and featured all kinds of brews including the rare, expensive and rather delicious Kentucky Breakfast Stout. We drank that amongst other beers and when I asked the bartender about a specific beer he even gave me a shot of it to try it (which was a good thing because it was disgusting).
All in all this is a modest beer with a great beer selection - a better selection than most places in Waltham. It is clean, the prices are more than decent and the service is both efficient and friendly. They also serve food but that's not why I'd ever go there. I shall return in the future for more drinking adventures. Definitely a hot spot for beer lovers in the area.
UPDATE: I've been here several time since this last review was written and all I have got to say is Mothra Mix. Nom nom nom. Great service, great owners, great atmosphere. Nothing to hate. Love love love.
ORIGINAL: Went to this place last night for the first time. I hadn't realized it but it was comedy night... and I found myself being one of three people there that were not there to perform. However, despite the lack of audience they all performed anyways, and it was a great atmosphere. Bartenders were very nice and didnt scoff at me when I asked for a beer menu. I did not have any of their food - but it seems like their kitchen is open until ten pm. The bartender did, however, offer to give me a bowl of popcorn (very nice, but I declined). (also worth noting - the beer menu actually had the prices. I HATE when bar menus dont have prices on them).
It is a small space - not somewhere I would want to be if it was over packed. I def. got the sense that they usually were not that slow - I'm sure that fact that it was a Wed. night played into that.
The thing that set this bar apart from some of the others in this area for me is that I felt 100% comfortable there by myself. I tend to avoid going to a bar by myself for fear of being creeped on - but this place did not have me worrying. It seems to attract a different crowd than the typical college aged crowd many of the nearby bars do. It also is small enough that if anyone was to be bothering someone else, other people in the room would notice. However, it is not so small you couldnt change seats if you felt necessary. These factors are def. big ones for me.
I look forward to returning!
After reading a few reviews here and checking out the website, a few friends and I tried The Gaff last night.
It did not disappoint! Â The bartender was friendly and attentive, and the bar was not very crowded (although it WAS a Monday night), but the decor and general feel of the place is great. Â
Since the band wasn't playing (they typically have a group who plays on Monday nights) the bartender also let me me play DJ with the iPod, played through the speakers and apparently hooked up to a computer in their basement that has a bajillion songs. Â I also quite enjoyed the beer selection on tap, and there's a bunch of bottled choices one wouldn't normally find in a townie-type bar.
I'll definitely be back and will bring friends. Â This bar is a business that needs to thrive!
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
Yes as a Midweek Drinkers member, The Gaff and it's regulars knows my name. And I LIKE IT! Â
The Gaff has made some substantial improvements since they've first opened, not that they needed it, it's more like a bonus... for us regulars!
The Gaff now has an entertainment license so now they have regularly scheduled events such as Monday Night Blues/Funk with The Band that has No Name (no really that's their name!), Wednesday night Open Mic Comedy night, DJs for Friday night Soul Sessions and Saturday's Flashback to the 80's.
ON TOP OF THAT!!! They now have a food menu!!! Yes, you heard it. They have a menu of delicious appetizers, burgers, and other late night eats (or treats, in my case). I absolutely love their potstickers! Their burgers are pretty damn big, also loaded with lots of fries with that burger!
But don't you popcorn lovers worry your pretty lil heads off, they're still giving those out when you come in, in case you were wondering.
But you know what else they've got? Some add-ons to their drinks list. I believe they're still serving up sangria and mojitos by request. But don't quote me on that!
And if you haven't had the Mothra yet, definitely give it a whirl! Delicious (and could definitely be dangerous if you're not careful!). You'll see what I mean once you've tried it.
Without question, the best bar on Moody. Â The beer selection is stellar, and is changed up frequently. Â Bartenders are attentive, friendly, and cool as hell. Â The recently added kitchen serves up the best taco in Waltham, which is quite the honor in a town with several top notch taquerias. Â The "10 bucks for a burger with fries and a pint" special is the stuff of legend.
Some nights you get to play DJ on your iPhone. Â
Love this place.
My favorite bar on Moody St. Â Bartenders are friendly, beer selection is awesome (my better half is a beer connoisseur and loves it) and they do not skimp on their cocktails. Â They also serve high life in a paper bag if you roll that way. Â Popcorn is also salty and just what you want for a snack after work.
The bar itself is nice, the place is spotless, and they have a selection of games in the corner so you can find new ways to embarrass yourself in a bar. Â This place is definitely a hidden gem!
THE GAFF(E): will not be an error in your judg(e)ment.
On the moodiest of streets you will find many drinking black holes but this is my favorite so far. The exterior looks a bit like an old school jewelry store ran by an elegant and creaky Russian man. Â Tiny windows promising treasures smuggled from the Kremlin in Kalashnikovs. Joo wanna go in, da?
Duck inside and you'll find a handsome bar, a couple of couches (sleep on the love seat), a few high tops, and a DJ zone/video jukebox in the back. It's on the small side, but even in the throes of a weekend evening's final hours of social desperation, it never gets too claustrophobic. Jusss watch yourself if you're maneuvering with a full up Pretty Things because the gesticulations of a sauced up Bentley grad can get mad unwieldy. If you're lucky, you'll hit this place up on the night when the DJ That Plays the Real Wax Soul Records is here. Â For me, it was a Friday.
Bellissimo craft beer selection, on tap and in bottle, and they have a an equally lovely cocktail list to match. If you want to see something special on the beer list, tell em. They listen. And they'll give you a bowl of popcorn while you rattle on. Damn, Gaff, I'm straight up ready to wife you.
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