Packards gets two stars because of their pool tables, which are great and I spent quite a bit of time playing on. Â I've also spent a lot of money here on drinks and the occasional dinner, but will no longer do. Â
I got a dreadful case of food poisoning after eating a so-so dinner here in October. Â Sh*t happens, and I took it in stride after the misery subsided. Â However, it was the "response" of ownership that has earned them the loss of my business. Â I had to contact them via email, in person, and phone before I received a return call (that I missed) - and my follow up call the same day was never returned. Â What a disappointment. Â
To be fair, their pool tables are good and their drinks come with an honest pour. Â If that's your mission, you'll do well here.
There are far better places in town for food and atmosphere.
There's no frills when it comes to Packards, but that's not really why you go there. They've got plenty of beers on tap, awesome big screens to watch the game, and a bunch of pool tables (the two in the front of the building up the stairs are coin operated, back ones are pay by the hour).
Wicked divey, but I like it here!
Packards confounds me because a self-process food snob at times, I do not understand why I keep going back. Well, I kind of do.
Packards is a bar and resteraunt that's decor is the signs of old businesses that failed in Noho (which I find amusing) and a bunch of other random 'flair' which normally really turns me off. But I get over it.
The service is average. Never had a bad experience with it but there was also nothing above and beyond.
The food is where I am torn. They have an average 'good' beer selection -meaning they have about 20 beers of average quality and nothing particularly rare or special- but it beats having your only options be Coors, Miller, or Bud light.
Their menu is huge- which for me is a red flag. And if it's size didn't make me leery, the horrifying illustrations did. I swear to god the owner must have had a sadistic nephew that was alright at drawing and a fan of The Far Side and hired him to make a menu that features cartoon-y animals being brutally killed and strange jokes. It's enough to make someone become a vegetarian. The quality of the food I have found usually to be pretty average, a tiny bit better. BUT as of October 2012 I have not eaten there because the quality seemed to drop considerably. Suddenly the things I found quite good (stuffed mushrooms, clam chowder, mozzarella tomato basil panini, etc) were sub-par. I'm not sure if they changed hands in the kitchen...but I don't know what is going on.
Overall: Here's the bottom line about Packards. If it's later than 10:30pm in Noho and you're looking to still get a drink, and eat some bar food with friends for not a ton of money, it's your place to go. It may be crowded with bros and bro-hoes, but hell, you're really hungry and also really want to get drunk.
In the 70's, I would sit quietly and watch my dad play chess with other regulars who gathered in the dining room at Packards on Wednesday afternoons, my half of our shared sandwich so large that it would be cut into three pieces, one of which I would always take home for later. Â I would order my usual ginger ale with lime, and the waitresses would surprise me by bringing it in a stem glass with maraschino cherries. Â That's how they hooked me. Â Any place with fancy glasses and maraschino cherries was magical and worth tolerating the brooding-over-wooden-pieces-and-clicking-timers business of chess. Â Much of the art was (and still is) local, and I took great delight in identifying the familiar faces of my dad's friends and acquaintances that artist Greg Stone would paint into his strip-bar scenes that hung on the largest and most prominent walls. Â And later, as Packards' collection of local business signage grew, Â it was an ever-changing walk down memory lane as we recognized the signs that used to hang over downtown storefronts. Â It seems that when Northampton businesses shut down, their signage goes to Packards...where they adorn the walls, ceilings, nooks and crannies and create something of a life-size time capsule.
In the 80's, it was all about trying to look cool and see how long into the changeover from dinner-crowd to night-life we could linger before one of our parents appeared and brought an abrupt -- and usually embarrassing -- end to our delusions of adulthood. Â All the worse if we had managed to sneak upstairs to the pool tables without getting carded.
Early 90's were lean college years, and my roommates and I knew that the jumbo hot dog was the best deal on the menu. Â $3.75, massive and heaped with chili. Â And if you subbed a baked potato for the fries, you could take that home as a second meal. Â If we were particularly broke, we'd skip the chili. Â Burgers were the best in town and well worth the occasional budget bust.
Once we were of legal drinking age, Packards' Thursday-night booze promos kept us outfitted in t-shirts. Â In fact, I can remember several occasions when my roommate and I decided to hit Packards on a Thursday night just so that we could put off doing laundry for another day or two. Â And I specifically recall folding clothes in the laundromat one afternoon and breaking into hysterical laughter as we realized that we must look like complete alcoholics...such an impressive mountain of t-shirts emblazoned with the likes of Harpoon, Captain Morgan, Bass and similar had we amassed.
Packards has seen us through blind dates, first dates, breakups, birthdays, family dinners, girls nights out, reunions with old friends, and hours upon hours of shooting pool and memorizing the juke box. Â Great food, great staff, pool tables, a private library room for small group gatherings, a patio... Packards is, simply put, everything you want from a local pub.
Whenever I want pub food and comfort this is the spot. Great for people watching and conversation.
The food is solid. Not upscale by any means, but there are good solid options, and surprisingly MANY things for vegetarians. They've NEVER had a problem customizing anything for us.
The beer is good, nothing really crazy here, they pour a solid Guinness. I usually ask them to make me a snakebite/blackjack whatever you call it. (It's like a black and tan, but with cider instead of harp.) They don't have cider on draught, but they do have bottles, which usually ends up with me getting 2, which is no incredible hardship. Sadly, this is the least consistent part of my experience here. (One waitress who got it right said she had her own spoon.)
Yes, sometimes the service is a little slow. But I've never had a BAD experience with the waitstaff there. Everyone has been nice.
I used to love Packard's. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, the service, everything. But over the past few months, I think it's gone really downhill. Our past 4 visits have been disappointing. With our most recent, tonight, being the worst and our last visit for a very long time. The tables and seats were gross. Our waitress was less than friendly. The kid's dinners seemed to be half the portions they usually were. My order came out incorrectly and when I asked about it the waitress claimed that it was in-fact correct. And then some of the food, namely in my wife's order was disgusting. It really makes me sad to see this happen to a place I once really loved. We tried to chalk our bad visits up to coincidences. But 4 times in a row is hard for us to ignore. Please get better Packards. We'll be back to try again someday I'm sure. But it won't be for a very, very long time.
Review Source:M and I have visited Packard's together three times, and have snagged the same seats and server each time.
I loved this place from the moment I first walked in the door; the decor, as other reviewers have mentioned, is quirky and fun. I like that there are three very distinct spaces: the rectangular room that houses the bar and kitchen with a row of booths against the opposite wall, the back room with tables and a couple of booths, and the pool room upstairs.
Each time we've visited, M and I have parked ourselves in a booth directly across from the bar (the one next to the photo of the face made out of cigarettes and the framed Make-a-Wish certificate that lists Packard's as the parent of a little boy). The first two times, we each just ordered a beer. The waitress suggested the Harpoon Brewery's UFO, which has become my favorite beer, and I keep trying to find it at other places in Northampton. The third time, we ordered our customary two beers, and also got some fries with mayo. The fries were great; crispy without being greasy, Â and seasoned without being too salty. The rest of the menu is fun, and seems decently priced for bar food. I've heard good things about the nachos, though I haven't tried them myself.
I love the atmosphere, and appreciated that the server wasn't at all perturbed the times that we just ordered a couple of beers.
There is also a very intriguing list of Packard's cocktails that I intend to explore next time we visit. I'm particularly interested in the Redheaded Stepchild.
I breezed into town for a show at the Calvin down the street and had some minutes for a bevvie. Â Randomly strolling around I stumbled into Packard's and it is a seriously solid sit-down swill spot.
I did not have any food, but I can say that the beer selection was great, the service was extremely welcoming and free of attitude. Â Everything a neighborhood pub should be -- in the most authentic way.
Let's be honest, the food at Packard's isn't good, unless you absolutely love just frying random items and eating them. But, it's a popular hangout and generally good atmosphere that's a cross between dive and pub. Better to go for drinks and appetizers than a meal. For the price, there are countless better options in Northampton.
Review Source:I enjoyed the uniqueness of this bar but the bartenders are terrible and pushy. They come off as thinking they're better than you and deserve a huge tip.
Food is ok nothing special. Cool outside smoking area.
The service was the worst part about this place and I will not be going back anytime soon.
OK - Please read the entire review before making any judgements.
I have lived in the Pioneer Valley going on 15 years now and yesterday was my first try at Packard's. Â I took my wife and two small children on the advice of friends who have children the same age.
We knew parking would be a disaster during holiday time in Northampton, so we chose 11:45am on a Sunday to go.
When we walked in, we were the only folks in the place looking to eat lunch. Â So, we assumed the service would be outstanding and we'd be in and out of there efficiently. Â We all know what happens when one assumes...
We had to sit in the back dining room due to our need for a highchair...but remember, we were the ONLY diners in the place. After the first 20 min of sitting in silence, the waitress took our drink order..it came...we drank...then silence again for another 20 min.
By the time we ordered, we hardley cared. Â We got wings to start and burgers to follow...praying the kids didn't melt down.
The food was good, and I'm sure it's a fun place to go when full - perhaps we just hit it at the wrong time.
Our experience was so bad, I almost forgot to say the wings and blue cheese (homemade) were outstanding...they're different...char-broiled, tips on (I love that) and not greasy at all.
We'll go back...for sure...but perhaps after we've had a snack someplace else.
Three stars for the wings!!! Â We'll have to go again to see how the food/experience is really like.
I definitely wasn't a big fan of this place. I love the decor. The whole place has signs of old businesses that has failed in Northampton. I thought the idea was very clever and cute. My rating for the one star will fall on the unsatisfied food experience here.
I ordered a prosciutto panini sandwich. The sandwich was so salty that I only ate 25% of it. The spicy fries weren't spicy and a bit too over fried. Definitely a good place to grab drinks but I can pass on the food!
If you like pool come here! plenty of pool tables and often servers that come to you. This place has 3 floors of space with the 3rd being for private parties at times.
They also have a small outside area, generally smokers hangout.
2 dart boards and afew video games are also on the 2nd floor. They do have a good selection of draft beers, something for everyone and i would not recommend any mixed drinks.
PLEASE get new dart boards!
First off...I'm new to Yelp so I don't know if there is a way to let administrators know, but there are two pages for Packard's getting reviews: one with the apostrophe, and one without. The sign out front has an apostrophe.
I love going to Packard's. Especially after a night at work, and also especially for lunch with the boyfriend when we can't decide where else to go. It's pub food, but the menu is gigantic (and humorously written!). Burgers, the 1/2 panini with soup/salad AND chips and salsa, dragon fries, a deep fried burger? We joke that they must have 15 fryers back there...but if I'm in the mood to go to Packard's, I'm okay with that. Drunk-me can never avoid the Mexican fries, but that's because they come with cheese sauce. Drunk-me is a total sucker for cheese sauce. The food is not gourmet...but come on. It's a pub with a huge menu - give them some credit; eat your fried food and love it.
The staff is always so friendly. There is a patio for smoking outside. The decor is mostly made up of old signage from around town, almost like a Fridays but immensely better. Plenty of pool tables if that's your thing. Good amount of beers on draft, pretty extensive bottled list. As a tiny complaint, my mojito was too sweet - I'd get it with less simple syrup next time.
You're thinking of eating at Packard's? Seriously?
I mean, yeah, I've eaten here too, plenty of times. But for one of two reasons. Either, it's a big group of people out drinking beer together, and food is an afterthought; or, two, it's after 10 or 11 at night and there's nowhere else in town to sit down for a meal. (Well, Sierra Grille, but maybe that's packed, if it's a weekend, or it's too expensive, or out of the way.) As a place to drink beer, Packard's is acceptable, but the food is plain bad. Fries? Soggy, generic, just sad when you think about the amazing Belgian-style fries at Sierra or the Dirty Truth. Sandwiches? Everything is so slathered in some over-sweet sauce, it hardly matters if it's chicken or beef or pork in there. Wing's? Go to Joe's Pizza. Salads? Please. Chili? Well, ok, the chili is ok. With jalapenos out of a jar, but ok.
But let's be honest, nobody thinking of going to Packard's is reading Yelp reviews. You're going there to play pool and have some beer and maybe smoke out in the courtyard and, oh right, have a sandwich or something. In which case great, you'll have a good time. But if you're under the illusion you'd go there to eat, think again.
I love packards! No frills! It's exactly what you'd expect! Plus more! There are so many rooms and floors! The place is HUGE! I love to hang out up front tho. The booths are fabulous! Plus you can sit there and just order drinks! Wicked cheap cocktails too! And food. Yum. Plus you can order pretty late - for Northampton. I like to order the cesar salad but get the skewered shrimp on it. They are wicked accommodating with changing stuff on the menu for you! Plus late at night you can order veggies and dip!
I have also gotten lots of free drinks here when the bartender is in a good mood! Also ask him to make you fun shots!
Great place to go and just get fucked up with no judgements!
Packards is so welcoming. It's one of the few places in Northampton that allows entry for people under 21--they just make sure the young ones can't drink. However, when you're in college, and half your friends aren't of age, almost every bar on the block is unfairly off-limits.
Their food isn't bad, and on your birthday you get free champagne for all your friends! Not to mention some pretty silly trivia nights.
I also like the decor. This is as true a pub as Northampton can offer.
Let me first say that Packard's has some of the most CONSISTENTLY good food in Northampton. You know you're going to have a fresh, delicious meal every time you go there. Some of their menu items are pretty creative, and they have good options for every type of eater (vegetarian, etc). The atmosphere is fun, especially if you're from the area and recognize a lot of the decorations (which were previously signs for businesses that have closed or moved). The illustrations on the menu are adorable. On a slow night, it's the perfect place to grab a bite and a beer. However, on a busy night, it's extremely aggravating to find a table and get enough attention from your server (it always seems understaffed on busy nights). Maybe that explains why some of the servers are really cranky. Other servers are just AMAZING--so just hope you get one of the good ones!
Review Source:Pretty good. The place definitely is a dive bar. I was in town on business and came here on the recommendation of my host. The service was friendly and just what you'd expect from this type of place....good service with a touch of sass. I ordered a fish burrito at the recommendation of my waitress. It was an odd mix of fried haddock, lettuce, tomato, chipotle sauce, and grilled onions wrapped in a whole wheat wrap. It was by no means Mexican or even a typical mexi-cali fish but it was very good. The haddock was fried just right with just the right amount of breading, the lettuce was crisp and the tomatos were fresh and the onions added an awesome sweet flavor that really rounded out the burrito nicely. It came with spiced fries which were crispy and delish. I'd go hear again.
Review Source:Was in town for a show at the Iron Horse to see Amos Lee. We stopped in Packard's as we were looking to grab a drink and a burger. We happened upon Packard's because we parked right down the street from there. Packard's is what seems like a good neighborhood watering hole. As we sit down at the bar, I notice the place is a lot bigger than i expected. In fact, the barkeep informs me there is an outside area as well.
Came in for a brew, but saw the Campari and thought it would be a good time for a Negroni on this hot summer night - I asked the bartender and he obliges with a fantastic cocktail...at less than $5 nonetheless!! I ordered a Packard burger, which was good. It had a horseradish cream sauce on it. It would have been great if the horseradish came through a bit more, i was looking for that kick. But the burger was cooked as ordered and the spicy fries were excellent.
Along with a refreshing Negroni, there was some Jazz playing on the radio - Miles Davis to be exact. After talking with the barkeep for a bit, and telling him how I had recently been getting into Miles Davis and Coltrane, he was nice enough to jot down a few other tracks and jazz artists that he enjoyed. Thanks!
Great local spot- really awesome american food menu- pay attention to the detailed, illustrated menu- REALLY cool touch. The decor is awesome if you just have a look at all the interesting doodads on the walls.
Excellent draft beer selection- reasonably priced.
They always have a big crowd... mix of all sorts of people... this place has been around forever and that is definitely for a reason!
Stop in -try the nachos or a burger or just have a brew!
I love this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So many good memories in this place. Flying all day, then a few beers before bed. Or dropping parachute dudes all day and hanging with them at the bar afterward. All good stuff. The food is great and has standed the test of time. The personnel are awesome and Bob trains em right. There are some pretty cool photos in there too. If you look close, you won't find me in any one of them:(
Review Source:Big but cramped, smoke free but dingy, tons of waitresses but no service...
Decent draft selection of watered down beers and a bar with most standard liquors... 50/50 chance you'll get a decent pull of BBC vs an atrocious one... and equal odds of a 1oz jack 8oz coke mix vs 8 jack 1 coke... they have pool upstairs (2nd and 3rd floors) and a semi-isolated backroom eating area...
Packard's would be three stars were it located elsewhere... but in Northampton there exists a myriad of better and equivalently priced choices... why go here when there's infinitely better options mere feet down the block?
Wander around Northampton, you'll bump into something better, cheaper and more reliable...
I'm a new arrivee to Northampton. Before coming here, I lived in Oakland, which has scads of bars, restaurants, and cafes. None there, can match Packard's for food, atmosphere, and especially,
service.
Packard's is the place to go in downtown Noho, if you want good hardy food. Don't get me wrong, I like salads and such, as much as the next person. But sometimes, you gotta have grub that sticks to your ribs. Â
Speaking  of ribs, Packard's BBQ pork ribs are among the best I've had in a restaurant. They serve them fork-tender, with a sweet, tangy BBQ sauce. BBQ rib-lovers won't be disappointed.
Other notable items on their menu, are their grilled chicken Teriyaki, fish and chips, clam chowder, lobster bisque, and new york strip steak. All of their dinners come with choice of soup or salad, and various side dishes.
Though I don't drink, I see that their bar is usually full of happy patrons. It's got a rustic, old-time Tavern ambiance. A big-screen TV, and a jukebox, help keep the bar patrons entertained. Packard's also has a small patio, for those who wish to enjoy their food and drinks outdoors.
Packard's also boasts a wonderfully eccentric decor. Musical instruments, neon signs, and intriguing artifacts adorn the walls. The service is top-notch too. It's quick, and the waitresses treat their customers like old friends. Service like that, is mostly nonexistent these days. It's refreshing, to be treated like your satisfaction as a customer, means alot to them.
I highly recommend Packard's. It's among the best, of downtown Noho's bar/cafes.
This bar/restaurant is pretty cool. Â One side of the 1st floor is a restaurant cooking up some delicious food on the grill. Â I had the "Chicken Tendas", and I must say they are some of the greatest chicken tenders I have ever had : ) made with real chicken!!! Â The selection of beers on tap is freaking excellent! Â The spicy fries are really good too!
There are billiard tables up on the second and third floors. Â Watch what you do, because they are video taped, and if you spill a drink on the table not only did you lose all that precious alcohol, but Packard's is going to charge you $250.00!!! Â Keep in mind that this is also a good thing, because the tables are in good condition. Â If you plan on playing on the billiard tables be sure to bring more than a few dollars in quarters, because it will run you $10/hour.
I hate the diamond plate walls on the bathrooms... it is ridiculous. Â It is seriously all over, even in front of the urinal... which is odd, because I could see the reflection of my junk while I was taking a leak.
The touch-tunes machine upstairs is awesome! Â Tons of music such as the Dillinger Escape Plan, Misfits, Dead Kennedys, and others!!!
They don't get five stars because of the diamond plate bathrooms... if you don't know what diamond plate is check out this link - <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pickuptrucktoolboxes.com%2FDelta%2FJOBOX%2Fjobox_aluminum_crossover_tool_boxes.htm&s=2e1a1f252bbf130fd10ced4495833707eca62c0afaadc99ff61ebb497bc7749b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.pickuptruckto…</a> it's just like a freaking truck box!!!
My kid brother brought me here... heaven to those of us who need character  in our drinking holes! Food is great... drinks are great... funky old school bar with the right amount of dive perfection!
I try and frequent this place on every trip east!
I love their menu, HUGE wonderful pub fare... the chicken wings are great, as are everyone of the wraps and burgers that we've tried!
The bartender is very in tuned with the drinks, and there are pool tables upstairs if one should desire a bit of bar exercise.
When I return to Western Mass, I go to Packards. Â I spent four years in a booth in the bar drinking Magic Hat #9 and eating nachos (nachos which I still dream about to this day). Â If I could only go to one bar for the rest of my life (and if it were closer than clear across the country) it would be Packards. Â And how wonderful is a bar next to a laundromat? Â Is there anything more sweet in the world?
Review Source:If you've been in Western Mass for an extended period of time and haven't been to karaoke night at Packard's, you basically haven't lived. There are good times to be had here, and they are yours for the taking. C'mon, you get: $3 beer specials, MAGIC HAT, the legendary blooming onion, pool tables upstrais, the chicken "tendas" that you would sell your grandmother for ... plus all the servers are sassypants and will rag on you like you're family.
One summer I made Packard's my unofficial headquarters and I am still recovering, but happily so. Trust me, check it out and before long they will recognize you and you won't even have to open the menu anymore.
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