Pier 37

I stopped in here on a whim with friends for drinks and appetizers. Having never heard of Pier 37 before - we were all a little skeptical, but we all left with a great impression and will be returning!

We walked in around 9:30PM, ordered a round of drinks and were handed menus that said the kitchen closed at 9PM! It was almost a deal-breaker, because we were starved after a long day at work, but the manager (or owner) was super accommodating and told us that she'd have whatever we'd like whipped up, no problem. The food and drinks were all reasonably priced and tasty, and the service of Justine, the bartender, was phenomenal - she is by far the most pleasant bartender I've encountered at any of New Bedford's bars. We'll be back just to visit her!

The atmosphere is really unique. It's a little dim, but there are color-changing lights strung around the bar as well as a waterfall wall and a tank of small sharks in the back, which added to the ambiance. The crowd was a little older, and the band that was playing was talented but playing songs that haven't been popular in the last two decades. We were definitely the youngest people in the bar by about 15 years, but that wasn't hindering our good time by any means.

My only "complaint" is that there weren't many vegetarian options that suited my personal tastes. The menu was southern-meets-seafood themed, and that in-and-of itself doesn't scream veggie-friendly, but the only item that looked like it might work for vegetarians is a portobello burger, and I'm not much of a mushroom fan. Luckily they had plenty of delicious appetizers to choose from, so I just went for those and left with a full belly, a good buzz, and a great impression of Pier 37!

Have stopped in twice more since initial review.  Have NOT eaten the food (it looked tasty tho).  The service both times was average, the crowd older and not friendly.  The bands both nights were excellent.  

If you have ever actually BEEN to NOLA you would know this has nothing in common with any place in that great city (except for the musty smells).

Parking in this part of town is a pain, and I am not sure this spot is worth the aggravation.

Went for appetizers, drinks and the band on May 5 for the first time since this place opened. The atmosphere was pretty nice, but a little bright until it got closer to time for the band and the lights were dimmed. I felt the brighter light diminished the atmosphere. The drinks and food were very good - once we actually got them. The service was the worst I've had in a long, long time. We sat ignored for a long time before the manager finally pointed us out to a server who apparently was in a conversation with another server at the bar and didn't notice us. Once we ordered food, it took an exceptionally long time before we were served, and even longer to get the next drink order. The food was very good though. The band was excellent and people were dancing. We were never asked about more drinks - in fact the server pretty much disappeared and ignored us. Occasionally we could see her wandering around, just not near our table. We finally got her attention as she was dancing with a customer and asked for our check - at which point she said "I thought you already had it". Once we finally got our checks, she neglected to come back for at least 20 minutes to pick up her payment.

Overall, I would give this place another chance. The live music alone is a great draw, and the food was good. I feel that they should either get some help with skills, or train the people they have to keep up with business before the poor service drives the customers away.