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  • 0

    This review is mostly for the ambiance, or really, for my relationship with this place on the whole. The food is decent and the drinks are inexpensive, and unless there's a game on, you can always get a seat and it's not so loud that you can't carry on a conversation. The servers are friendly enough, and don't mind lingerers. I've met friends here for beer. I've taken dates here. I've come here after every terrible work day, failed exam, and parking ticket for the last three years, and it's like a breath of fresh air. I always feel at home.

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  • 0

    Good honest food. Very reasonably priced drinks (when was the last time you paid $4 for a pint of Alagash White). And always very friendly staff.

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  • 0

    When called out by someone in my circle of friends who says things like 'lets get some beahs and watch the game', this a safe place to meet them.  Not only do they have 'pitchas of PeeBeeAhh', but there's enough TV screens about the place to 'wahch the Brewins and the Sawks at the same time kid.'
    And the reason that it's a safe bet is not just that this place is townie enough to make anyone from the Noh'th Shoh feel like they're in their Uncle Joe's living room, but the pizza deals that Newtowne has makes it still worth being around these guys even when they're in their Boston sports-fan zone.

    In my opinion, for a student town Boston is way short on good pitcher deals... aside from Crazy Dough's in Harvard, there is no similar bargain to the pitcher/pizza deal that is Newtowne's most popular offering.  For the price of two drafts anywhere else, you can get four drafts and a pizza.  And the pizza is decent... the cheese is a strong contender for the stumble-home slice (except you can have it early, when you're still drinking!) and comes with the necessary four topping shakers that slice singles require.  It's not foodie pizza, it's bar pizza... and clearly labeled as such.

    That's not the extent of the menu... there's lobstah rolls (when in season), frankfurtahs, and I'm pretty sure there's burgahs and maybe even salads on the menu.  The drink prices are fantastic for Cambridge (the name 'Newtowne' harkens back to what Cambridge and other towns were called in colonial times... and the drink prices do as well!) and the bartenders are friendly enough without being fake about it.

    I guess the only complaint could be that hipsters have been moving in lately...  what with the ample bargains on beer and pizza, it was only a matter of time.  And I suspect since I'm not really townie enough to blend in completely... I'm probably considered one of them, even if i didn't show up with lamb chops on my fixie in an ironic hoodie. Dammit.
    Give the Newtowne a try for your next 'local pub' experience... I'm sure they won't disappoint.

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  • 0

    What a stroke of good fortune - I helped friends move into an apartment right around the corner, and the helpers were promised pizza. So I did the appropriate thing - I Yelped "Pizza" for the area. Not only was Newtowne Grille the closest spot, but it had a great rating, including some by people I already knew.

    For the moment, this review is primarily for the pizza, but I expect more visits to come.

    It almost didn't happen at all. The first time we tried to place an order, the person at the other end put us on hold, we got disconnected, and every subsequent call was a busy signal.  When we finally got back in, about 10 minutes later, we were told, "Oh, it must have been a problem with your phone." Really?

    Ah, but all was forgiven when we devoured the pizza. All the toppings were generous. The meat toppings were tasty and slightly greasy. The vegetable topping were very fresh tasting.  I would have liked the crusts to be a bit crisper, but that could have been the result of the crust getting slightly soggy from all the sauce in the few minutes we transported it. I bet getting it right out of the oven is great.

    Now that I have friends in the area, I'm really looking forward to return trips for out-of-the-oven pizza, burger nights, trivia, etc.

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  • 0

    The place is spacious, but it's quiet small in contrast to other places  that I've been. Though restrooms are very tiny, at least the women's.
    I'm not a american sport follower, but I believe this is a nice place to watch any sport game because T.V.  are not in a high location and far away from the table or bar. So, u don't see the player tiny as your fingers.

    Nighttime is crowded, and it can be wait for table. There is no host. So whoever comes first seats first. Noon is quiet. And as my others reviews... nice place to come for lunch just alone.

    Thinking about it, they don't play music. So, there is no review on type of music they put there.

    Food is great and cheap. And they also have great deals. If you really wanna spend long time with friends and coworkers get a large cheese pizza and pitcher of beer for about 13$, then u can add few more rounds. And you also can have a few games of Keno and challenge ur tab for free. 1$ per person for 5 games won't hurt the wallet.

    Their pizza is good and so  are their calzones. I've been looking for the right pizzeria to make me the calzone I like: shrimp, ham and mushroom besides the cheese and tomatoe sauce. The first time I ordered it wasn't the last time. They  always make me a great calzone!!! And I love when they have the special of different hotdogs!!!

    Service is friendly, but sometimes you have to call for service.

    I recommend this place for small groups of people.  Though they do have a long table for big parties.

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  • 0

    Great divey sports bar in Porter. As others have mentioned, the $12 pitcher  + large cheese pizza deal is fantastic. The pizza is decent--not great, but not bad--and it's a fun place to relax with friends. They have lots of TVs and even a jukebox. If you're in the mood for a low-key but enjoyable evening, Newtowne's is the place!

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  • 0

    I went there on a friday and it was really packed! We ordered the veal (my husband had the veal with linguini) and I had the hot and spicy steak tips, and we had to wait forever to eat, the food arrived in our table almost one hour after we ordered it!!!! And I was really hungry, so that was a bummer for me. My steak with sweet potatoes was really good, but the wait killed it for me.

    I think you have to stick with fast food there, like pizza and beer. (after all, it's a pizza bar!)

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  • 0

    This place is awesome.

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  • 0

    Bar Pizza is an interesting phenomenon. You would think the term "bar pizza" is just something you use when describing pizza that you eat at a bar. But at Newtowne Grille uses it on their menu so you know exactly what it is you're in for when you order it. And at $12 for a pitcher of beer and a bar pizza, you can't be disappointed. Couple it with a playoff football game and a bunch of your friends, what more could you want? The pizza is passable,  it'll fill you up and slow the long, sloppy traverse of alcohol to your brain long enough for you to not fall on the floor while you cheer the last second as it ticks off the clock. Newtowne Grille understand the importance the perfect bar pizza.  

    Everything about this place is good enough for a fun night out watching the game. The food is all decent, and there are so many TVs that even if you have a friend with giant hair, you'll never find a place where you can't see the game from at least 3 different angles.

    Normally I would say that the cheap beer and the bar pizza make for a decent, 3 star but not quite 4 star experience, but the moment that the Patriots won the game against the Texans, and "Deep In the Heart of Texas" started playing over the PA, this became a 4 star night, and I knew where I wanted to watch next week's game.

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  • 0

    I have to give props to Socrates' Newtowne for holding the line, year after year.  Still having cheap beer and pizza specials, still keeping the interior as real as real gets.  The lady with the O2 tank at the bar is really what makes it special for me, though.

    Great place to watch a game with friends over 13.99 Bud Pitcher/Cheese pizza combos!

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  • 0

    One of the best deals I've found in the city: a pitcher of PBR (or any pitcher you prefer, just more $$) and a large cheese pizza for $12. The pizza tastes like Papa Gino's in my opinion (which I LOVE).

    The atmosphere is a mix of locals and college kids and young professionals. It seems their biggest night is trivia night on Thursdays.

    The food is standard pub fare. No complaints, always been good to me. Reasonably priced, and they have 5-6 happy hour food specials. No booze specials because Puritan colonists run the state and have outalwed happy hour drinking specials.

    It's my favorite local bar in Porter Square.

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  • 0

    So this place is not big on ambiance. And there isn't anything particularly high class about it, whether you're referring to the crowd, booze or food...there's not much vegan food here, aside from the fries. However:

    The pizza is edible and well worth the (extremely low) price.
    The beer is very well priced, especially for the area.
    Friendly, efficient staff
    Did I mention the cheap beer and pizza?

    My point is this: get a pitcher and a pizza here and stop worrying about how much your night out is going to cost.

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  • 0

    Came here to watch a game with a few new friends.

    It's a bar.  Bar food.  Beer.  Sports on the big screens... mreh.

    The pizza comes with fresh garlic - which is a plus... but it's nothing to do cartwheels about.

    The service was a *little* sub-par (but I think we had the new girl or something).  When I placed my order, I had an option of several different kinds of fries, a salad, rice or potatoes.  She didn't even ask me which one I wanted (fries were assumed, I guess).  I had to snag another waitress to ensure I got a salad instead of fries - and she was very nice about it.

    Other than that, it was good.  Would I come here again?  Sure.

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  • 0

    I presume that if I come here again solely for the beer, this review will be bumped to a higher rating. But alas, I must review it on the overall experience I had Friday night.

    The food was marginal at best: ordered the cheggy burger with a fried egg and bacon on it, cooked medium. By the time it came, the meat was so overcooked that I'd describe it as more-than-well done. The egg was cooked to shit as well, with no semblance of a runny yolk. Instead of getting what I was hoping to eat I got a burnt, overcooked egg with some wimpy strips of bacon on top of a meat hockey puck.

    I guess I could drown my sorrows in a beer, right? Well I would have been more apt to spend more money if the waitress wasn't in such a foul mood. It was bad enough that everyone at my table and the tables surrounding us were commenting on it.

    She was rude with a scowl on her face the whole time. Got pissed that I asked for another glass after the one she gave me was broken with a crack going down it. Had to seek her out to try and get more beer. Reached over us in a huff to grab red pepper flake to give to another consumer. Didn't check on us on how the food was.  Just her overall attitude made everyone uncomfortable.  Also saw her bitching at a manager with a receipt (I'm assuming a table didn't give her a good tip) that he had to talk to the table about. Whatever they gave, she wasn't happy. They probably should have given less.

    Oh and to top it off, we asked nicely to split the check and she refused. Then went outside to smoke a cigarette for the entire time we were figuring out the bill. Lovely.

    I'm all for the dive atmosphere and I get everyone has a bad day, but no reason to take it out on the customer. This place left a sour taste in my mouth; I'll try the one in Billerica and hope for better results.

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  • 0

    "Best Wings" Yelp Newsletter, you've led me astray!

    If you're looking for pizza and dive bar setting, then this review isn't for you.  I read the weekly newsletter and found this place to be noted for their spicy wings.  
    I love, LOVE, LoVe wings!  The big wing joints I've fancied were Wing Stop and something similar in Raleigh.  Yes, I've also made my own (sauce and all).  I don't have particularly high standards, and I can eat the spiciest flavor at all the joints.  The thing that Newtowne Grill disappointed me with was the crunch of the wings and the oversaucing that made them soggy and when soggy did not even warrant further consumption.  They seemed to be the pre-frozen, pre-fried, and then reheated when ordered.  I was sad.  I made the bf trek here and I didn't like it one bit.  

    For every bar I've ever been to, I've had wings there (if they had it) and 3/5 times I'm content.  I had unfavorable stats here. :(

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  • 0

    + pitcher of pbr, large pizza for $11  (!)
    + pizza is actually very tasty
    + lobster rolls
    + prices generally very low

    - I know that they know I'm not 'local'

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  • 0

    Aww man, this place is seriously a dive. But we come for the Thursday trivia / pizza-and-pitcher special, and it more than suits that need.

    First, the environment is dimly-lit, shabby, and not so appealing to the eye. I can't imagine stepping foot in this place in the days before smoking was banned indoors, as it already seems dark and smoky in there. Lots of townie types before 5:30 or 6, and a mix of grad students, 30-something professionals, and townies thereafter.

    I advise not wandering too far away from the cheese pizza option. I haven't tried the whole menu, but the one time I was adventurous and ordered what was entitled chicken fingers/strips, it turned out to be more like unbreaded chicken breasts, covered in some sort of greasy sauce, (under-)cooked on the grill. That was weird. But one of my friends has had better luck, dubbing their "mixed meat plate" and even the steamed veggies a success.

    Trivia on Thursday nights gets crowded. If you want to get a table, send an ambassador around 6 o'clock (trivia's at 8) to save seats. The pitchers of beer are cheap, the waitresses bust ass, and the cheese pizza's hot and gooey.

    Take it for what it is, and you'll enjoy it. Expect more at your peril.

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  • 0

    Yelp - you've nailed it again.  Never underestimate the ability for 129 people to get together and provide a completely accurate rating for an eating and drinking establishment.

    About a year ago i organized a pub Crawl, and Newtowne was on it.  Unfortunately, things went off course, and we ended up skipping a few of the scheduled stops (it was for the best - i had over-planned and the attendees were getting restless).  I mention this because despite my interest being piqued each time i meandered by,  it wasn't until a Saturday pizza craving that i finally got my chance.

    The order was 'The Tuscany' - a stuffed pizza the likes of which i haven't experienced before.  If you've ever wondered what a pizza would taste like if they put a 'roof' of dough on the top, the tuscany is where you can find out (here's a hint - it's delicious).

    We did pickup this time - called, placed the order, walked down, waited about a minute, and were on our way w/ a delicious pizza and the urge to stop in the middle of the sidewalk and start devouring it.  Price was reasonable considering the size (and that roof)

    Next step - a visit where i sit down at the bar and soak in all the goodness that everyone else seems to be raving about.

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  • 0

    In the last year that I've been living in Porter Square, I can always count on Newtowne to fulfill my irresponsible late night eating needs. There's actually a system that I have in my head. If i'm responsible and catch the T home at a more reasonable hour, I have have the option of getting something at Newtowne here the menu is bigger and the kitchen more fit for bar food eats. If i'm not I have to go to Gourmet Express, that doesn't have as much as capacity to delivery hot greasy eats, but is a good fall back option after 2am.

    I've gotten a "chicken bomb", which wasn't too special and mozzarella stick, which were damn delicious. Chicken fingers were as hot as hot as Sandra Lee's fury at an empty cocktail glass and 6 large pieces left me with some delicious leftover wraps the next day. The breaded chicken wings were delicious, but the non-breaded ones were ironically more fatty since the skin needed to be hidden under more crunch.

    Overall, a satisfying late night eats, but probably needs some alcoholic enhanced taste buds to fully appreciate Newtowne Grille.

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  • 0

    Can't really go wrong here. Cheep beer, cheap and quick food with lots of televisions. Bar pizza was excellent - perfect size, drippy cheese, crisp crust, pepperoni. Buffalo wings hotter 'n hell - they led to long night. Crisp skin, tender suck of the bone meat. Nice!

    Good nightly specials. Easily accessible by any kind of train, car or bus. Open late. friendly people. And they have a "world famous" double lobster roll special - it's actually really good.

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  • 0

    You can't really complain about this place because what you see is what you get. I mean, there's a scratch ticket vending machine, carpeted floors and bright lighting. The waitresses are usually cranky and the beer selection is not for the snob. Seriously, though, $12 for a large cheese pizza and a pitcher of beer? If you're looking for a cheap night out with a group, this is it!

    I don't recommend this place to watch sports if you're an avid fan. The crowds usually aren't into it and the TVs aren't big enough.

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  • 0

    After fleeing the Harvard Square Saturday night parking scene, my date and I were attracted to Newtowne by both the large parking lot next door and my gut feeling from past experiences that a table here wouldn't be hard to come by.

    I was here for the cheap PBR ($7 pitcher) and one of 12 readily-available booths (seat yourself in the bar area). However, upon further contemplation, I decided I could eat. Shocking. #don'tjudge

    I went with the turkey club -- a baconless doubledecker with enough turkey to feed a hungry family of four; just edible and disappointing for my first and only meal of the day. He chose some sort of southwestern burger that arrived in the form of a softball, succeeded swimmingly at spewing its contents and failed to impress in any other way.

    Newtowne's still A-OK in my book. Cheap pizza and beer with readily available parking and seating always makes for a good start to an enjoyable evening.

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  • 0

    How do you approach Newtowne? Possibly, with caution, if you've never been. What is the best way? With a group of friends who like wicked cheap pizza and like to share pitchers of beer.

    This has always been a slightly strange block of Mass Ave, it's just past Porter Square, and then there is a whole lot of not much until you hit Arlington Center... which is... a collection of not much (in my opinion..).

    You can usually find parking here without much trouble. People who have Somerville parking stickers can park over on Elm and walk down, people who have Cambridge parking stickers can usually find resident parking along the side streets. Those of whom don't have either? There are meters all over the place that stop at 6pm, and if you REALLY want to chance it, there is parking in the Porter Square shopping center, but the spots were designed by somebody who has never seen what an actual car looks like, so don't be surprised if your car gets scratched up... Also, you could be towed. That's not fun.

    The people who work here are about as "down-to-earth" as it gets. They are the originals, the OGs, they are running around making sure that everybody has what they need, when they need it - they were able to make sure a tab for about 20 of us didn't get messed up, and some people were able to have their own tabs, or pay as they left. They take credit cards, which is nice, and somewhat suprising - if you don't want to go that route, there is an (sum) ATM right across the street that doesn't charge a service fee.

    This place, it'll cure what ails ya.

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  • 0

    Newtowne is the most infectious kind of fungus.

    First things first, I love it. The rumors of dirt cheap, palatable pizzas are absolutely true. At the last juncture, a pitcher of PBR and the large cheese ran $12, so $2 a pint and $4 for the pie? Shake out the change ladies, it's time to invite the bingo club!

    Can't beat the location, next to a 24 hour Shaw's for postprandial, slightly intoxicated grocery shopping (recommended by experts) and a Tibetan goods shop for that singing bowl you and your whiskey-befuddled mind have to own right now! Can't wait! Honestly, look around Porter. There aren't any other lowdown, dirty restos (it's NOT a dive; dives don't serve food) in the area. No, Toad, you're too classy despite attracting the grunge-clingers of the 90s. I'm sorry. Still love you, but I'm sorry. By default, Newtowne runs the show.

    Two mega-cons are a ridiculously overcrowded trivia night and the fact that the rest of their grub is just ok. Never should a venue be held accountable for their own popularity, so the just-under-perfect score stems only from the latter. Wings and a crazy pastrami sandwich stuffed with fries and cheese and all good aortal enemies, definitely satisfied but couldn't warrant a fifth star. I hear the honey chipotle is the way to go, so an update might be a-brewin'.

    Plus, $4 wells. Damn.

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  • 0

    To the tune of:

    a. 'This is the End, my only friend........the End'...you know the Doors song popularized by Apocalypse Now...

    b. patrons screaming at the Bruins game

    c. the smooth sounds of people cursing as they lose money on endless rounds of Keno

    I merrily drank first Guinness then delightful scotch and soda at the Newtone.

    I think I love this place. Not like how I love my life, my dog or my Mom but rather like I love settling in on the couch after a crappy day at work.

    And it's cheap.

    And it redeems Porter Square for me.

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  • 0

    Great Unofficial Yelp Event (UYE)
    +++++ Jason B - Thank you

    For what people call I dive bar I think it is a cut above.

    + PBR beer by the pitcher and good large, I mean large pizza
    + Great whole clam meal with sweet potato fries and coleslaw for $15
    + Great staff on their toes and kept the food, beer, and tab straight and moving
    + They take credit cards

    - metered parking is around but hard to come by
    - small woman's bathroom

    Looking forward to going back!

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  • 0

    Strange things happen at the Newtowne Grille.

    I take back every shitty thing I've ever said about this place.

    Pizza is great. Steak tips are fucking great. Beer and drinks are cheap.

    The bartenders still put up with me. This is saying a lot at this point.

    Half price appetizers during NFL games on Sunday and Monday.

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  • 0

    $8 pitchers of PBR.
    $4 large cheese pizza.
    /review

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  • 0

    "OUR NEWTOWNE"
    by Thornton Wilder
    Screenplay by Mary B.

                                                                                                     FADE IN

    INT. MARY B.'S APARTMENT - SUNDAY MORNING

    The harsh light of a winter morning streams through the windows and awakens MARY B. She stumbles into the living room to find her friend KEVIN B. sleeping fitfully, but soundly on the couch with Fatty Addie the kitty baby. MARY begins to sweep up popcorn debris littering the floor that she threw around the night before and reviews her sent text messages, making a face as if she's wondering, "How has it come to this?"

                                                                                                  FLASHBACK

    INT. NEWTOWNE GRILLE - THE PREVIOUS SATURDAY EVENING

    MARY and KEVIN enter a sparsely occupied bar located conveniently on Mass Ave. by Porter Square. The frenemies settle into a small booth and begin their dinnertime consumption of pitchers of PBR ($11.99) and shots of Jameson ($6.)

            MARY
    Wow, they gave us doubles of whiskey when I asked for a shot. This is going to be quite an evening, I can tell already.

            KEVIN
    Uh huh! Let us have one of those $4 bar pizzas available with the purchase of a pitcher. It will probably kill me! [Ed. note. - It nearly does.]

    MARY scopes out the scene at the bar, which is completely full of regulars. One, who looks remarkably like Myra Hindley, stops by their table and commends MARY'S selection of Heart and Van Halen on the computer jukebox. Another is so visibly drunk already at 7 PM that he rubs his cellphone around on his face as he attempts to talk into it. He eventually gives up and resumes hitting on whatever specimen of female is currently occupying the bar stool next to his.  

                                                                                               FLASHFORWARD

    INT. MARY B.'S APARTMENT - SUNDAY MORNING

    Back in MARY'S apartment, she smiles to herself as more of the previous night's greatness comes back to her. She vows to become a regular at NEWTOWNE GRILLE, and that next time KEVIN better prepare his liver and stomach.

                                                                                                             FADE OUT

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  • 0

    Your grandfather's dive bar.  looks like it COULD be classy, but isn't (which i'm ok with).  people seem to do a solid job plugging the jukebox here too.

    $8 for a draught pbr and personal sized pizza including tip is alright by me.

    word of warning: any even mildly attractive ladies - be sure to come with at least one male friend, or you will be swarmed upon by unwanted company (tho even if you do, you'll likely still be swarmed upon).

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  • 0

    Buy a pitcher and get a giant large extra cheesy pizza for $4!!!! I thought our waitress was lying when she told us about that special on Thursdays, but then I realized that almost every table around me had a large cheese pizza at it!!

    And this large cheese pizza is pretty large. It is about half the table wide and would easily feed about 5-6 people, especially with beer taking up some of the room in everyone's bellies. ha ha But they don't have too many choices of beer on tap here--PBR, miller lite, sam adams....I think there are 6 options, and Sam Adams in a pitcher there is around $16 or so, which is kinda pricey for a pitcher if you ask me, and definitely pricey for the dive type of bar this place is!! I knew we should have ordered PBR!!

    The booths here are old, the bar here is old, everything looks a little run down but that gives this place character I think. They do pub trivia here on thursdays too, so when you pair that with that cheese pizza? well that's pretty cool. And what would make it cooler? If the drunk fly came to hang out on your table like it did for us. A giant fly, we swear was plastered, literally landed in our empty beer glass and no matter what we did he just sat there passed out ha ha until eventually I guess his hangover subsided and he flew away. So random!!

    Summary: Drunken flies, pub trivia, $4 large pizzas with pitcher purchase in a neighborhood dive bar

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  • 0

    I recently went on a bar crawl for a friend's birthday (actually, the same crawl Jen was on).  Of the 5 or 6 bars I went to, this was my favorite, despite spending the least time here.  Reasons:

    1. relatively chill location: it wasn't like we were being rushed, pushed, or anything else in terms of getting beers from the bartender, and the setup was conducive to larger groups.

    2. Cheap beer prices: My Sammie was $4.  Considering I paid close to $6 across the street, this was one heck of a deal for the area.

    3. Nice TV setup.  If I recall correctly, they've got at least one HD or Plasma TV.  And they're in good locations for decent viewing when major events come up.

    4. Photo Hunt, and its dirty drinking buddy, Erotic Photo Hunt.  How can you go wrong with one of the three pillars of Bar arcade games (along with Big Buck Hunter and Golden Tee)?

    Overall, this place succeeds because it keeps it simple.  It's not trying to go crazy with kitschy designs or $20 meals.  Instead, it's a regular bar experience.  And they take credit cards too, so that makes them that much more accessible as well.

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  • 0

    I know nothing of the food, and I know nothing of the drinks. Why am I still writing a review and giving it 5 stars? Two reasons...

    PHOTO HUNT and Colorful Clientele.

    I came here on a bday pub crawl with a group of about 15 people...we took over the place. There was the cutest old man sitting at the bar who basically insisted that we all sing "I've got friends in low places" with him before he went home to have dinner. Then... I discovered the photo hunt. Anywhere with a photo hunt machine, I start at 5 stars and work down b/c  I'm addicted.... I freaking love that game. But, in regards to the drinks and such, I didn't hear anyone complain about the price, or how they were made, so they must have been OK, and from the looks of the reviews... people agree.

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  • 0

    Newtowne, also called Socrates, is THE dive bar of Porter Square.  The beer here is cheap and in a pitcher.  The regulars are disheveled and cranky.  The bartender is old and surly.  You will never feel bad about drooping $10 here to get plowed.   By the end of the night, if you haven't bought some crazy old guy a drink, belted out a song, and hit on your waitress, then you are doing it all wrong.

    Just as James Brown was the ambassador of soul, Newtowne delivers drunk food with enough force that your knees will freeze and your bladder will splatter.  The pizza is incredibly greasy, but if you are the kind to dab it with napkins don't worry, there's plenty.  There is a pizza and pitcher special that will blow your mind.  Being the lover of all things food I have a special place in my heart for food challenges, and Newtowne does not dissapoint.  Get their one pound burger, eat it and all of the fries and you get a special prize...free dessert.  Now the dessert is horribly crappy tiramisu that was frozen then nuked in a microwave, but you feel a sense of accomplishment.  Now they also have "dinner" (like the vaguely named Italian dinner for 2 for $19.95), but this is no culinary haven.

    Thursday night is the crowd night, everyone and their uncle are in by 6:30 for 7pm trivia.  The trivia is played by writing down the answers and giving them to the MC, so you don't need to shout them out.  First, second, and third places get prizes (money off their meal, ski lift tickets, etc.) and bragging rights.

    Bottom Line: Get your team together and come for pizza, beer, and fun.

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  • 0

    Great place for a decent pizza, and a great place to listen to some of the most inane ridiculous conversations ever.

    "I totally wanted to be a mouseketeer, but I also felt bad because I really liked watching the Brady Bunch, and it felt like I was cheating."

    Did you just say that, in public, to everyone in a 15 foot radius? High five!

    Get the Buffalo Chicken Pizza... it's wtf good. Also, the service is the best I've had in the Porter neighborhood.

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  • 0

    This is the hangout of my new rockin' roommate and her group of friends  As her new roommate, I get to tag along to their weekly-ish Newtowne get together.  

    Even though I do not drink beer I thoroughly appreciate the inexpensiveness of the pitchers at Newtowne since it makes my new group of friends SO happy!  And better yet, I appreciate the actually really good tasting pizza that is like...$3.  Seriously!  We had eight of us together last night and spent $8 each for a bunch of pizzas and beer.  How can you complain!?

    The location is convenient with some parking nearby if needed.  The staff is generally friendly but it can be inattentive at times.  But this is a townie bar through and through so once that is understood it's easy to look past.

    I am delighted to have learned of this random little spot north of Porter!

    Note:  If the door to a stall in the ladies room is closed, it's in use.  Ok?

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  • 0

    PIZZA and BEER! PIZZA and BEER!

    You might be thinking "Well I could get that anywhere" and thats true but the quality and price can't be beat, a pitcher of PBR and a large cheese pizza is only ten bucks and that easily fills 4 petite women 3 average sized adults or 2 comic book guys.  

    This Towny classic has a great selection of alcohol and other beers besides PBR, if your into that good beer nonsense.  Personally give me a stinging, watery, and carbonated brew and I'm all set.  

    Thursday is crowded for trivia so come early.  The service can leave something to desire on these days of overpopulation, to fight this you should bring some good friends, good spirited conversation and a smile.  You may even meet a special someone, I see many singles when I'm in there, keep your eyes opened.

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  • 0

    Came here to watch a game at the beginning of October (we won) and had a decent time. The place was all but empty (a handful of people watching the game at the bar on a Sunday afternoon) so my group of 5 grabbed a table and started ordering beers. Then beers turned to nachos. Nachos turned to pizza. Then we needed beer to wash it all down.

    Plus one star: Good service. The waitress wasn't hard to track down. Great for our staggered orders.
    Plus one star: Good food., The pizza wasn't stellar, they they split two different kinds onto one and it had cheese on it. Fine by me.
    Plus one star: We has space to watch the game and breathe. I hate standing for four hours in a crowded bar hoping to get a glimpse of the screen. Yay to being an empty dive. Nice and relaxing.
    Minus one stars: No real ambiance. Not even dive-y ambiance!
    Minus one star: A wee bit overpriced for what it is. But just a tad.

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  • 0

    (happy tom?)

    Things I definitely did not want to do at Newtowne:
    -order a beer
    -tip on the beer I didn't want to order
    -let my friend drink some water so she could sober up a bit to drive

    Things I wanted to do at Newtowne:
    -be ignored by the bartender
    -wonder about the sketchiness of the ripping, pleather upholstered bar stools
    -watch as others get served whilst still being ignored
    -tip two dollars on a tiny plastic cup of water
    -debate the possibility of domestic violence exacted and received by fellow patrons
    -waste 20 minutes of my life

    Thanks Newtowne and staff for being everything I hoped you could be and more!

    That's right. No beer, 20 minutes of being ignored...even when we put down $2 to show that we'd tip. I appreciate dives, but I mean really. I think the floor even had carpeting, adding to the sceeve factor. I think a couple came in at sat at the bar while we sat at the bar. The girl had a black eye, so we enjoyed pondering how she got it. I think I forgot I was in Cambridge, not some back-woods watering hole for a little while. I swear the Tam never looked so good.

    The second star is because the regulars seemed to be enjoying it.

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  • 0

    I've driven by the Newtowne hundreds of times and, for some reason, never thought to stop in for a drink. Now I have and let me say, this might be my new favorite bar. The bar is lined with regulars, belly up to the bar, drinking 23 oz beers. I'd call it a total dive but they have food and we all know a proper dive has nothing more than a dusty old snack machine.

    Beers are super cheap ($2-something for a High Life!) and apparently there's an Italian Dinner for Two Special for $19.95. I double dog dare you to try it! The ladies room is exactly what you would expect. I had a distinct nauseous feeling in there and was more than a little concerned about the absence of locks on the doors. Otherwise, the place is clean. From what I was told, the men's room had a few issues but I'll leave that story for someone else to tell.

    In closing, Titty Hunt!!

    Review Source:
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