Chock full of locals, no pretension, cash only dive bar. YES.
I've come here as a group of two and as a group of fifteen - finding space has never proven to be a problem. Yeah, you might have to talk over the cackle of the group of sauced-up soccer moms nearby, but big deal. The drinks are cheap and, as Tarah mentions, cocktails are pint-sized. That alone should have you turning back to warm a barstool.
There's a jukebox, Buck Hunter, televisions, and other bar games to keep you occupied if your company is unpleasant. Otherwise, there are two rooms of seating and the tables are cleared of empty glasses quite frequently making this an ideal establishment to linger over a couple of pints.
This was an awesome discovery as a break from walking around all the shops of downtown Newburyport - a cool, fun, local bar. I don't know if I would go here to eat as I would definitely classify it as a dive but it was perfect for stopping in for a drink. They had a very wide beer selection and the prices were cheap.
The bar features a couple of TVs, one on each end, a dartboard, and some sassy "motivational poster"-type signs. They also had an interesting collection of police patches from police departments around Massachusetts.
Whenever a few friends and I wanted to grab a drink, the first place I would recommend was the Thirsty Whale. This is certainly not the case anymore. The first two times I went in were relatively pleasant. The past few times have been absolutely awful. The second my significant other and I walk in we receive atrocious looks. As we make our way to the bar we get ignored for about 10 minutes (8 if we're lucky). I went in a week ago, gave my drink order to the bartender and it seemed as if it were a huge imposition (being in the service industry, I make sure I'm always polite). Then the drink came and it tasted just like a Capri Sun. Ugh, 'tis a shame, Whale. 'Tis a shame.
Review Source:Husband and I stopped into the Thirsty Whale looking for a casual place for dinner. The server was very attentive and quick. He had the shrimp dinner and I had the calamari dinner. Both were very large portions and came with fries and cole slaw.
Everything was great and it was a nice relaxing, low-key dinner. For the two meals and two soft drinks came to $27.00. I would go back when in Newburyport again.
Went here for a quick bite for lunch and didn't really have much expectation as we just needed something quick and easy. Â I ordered the 4 oz cheeseburger, "medium well". Â When it came, I noticed that it was CHARRED BLACK. Â Because we were in a hurry, I thought maybe I won't really taste it(yes, that's how tolerant I was going to be) but after a bite, the burnt and charred taste was undeniable.
I brought it up nicely to the waitress who was very gracious about it and told me that it was going to be just a few minutes. Â After a couple of minutes, the cook (a thin lanky fellow) came out and told me that it was that way because it was cooked on the grill, and so to avoid that from happening, he would need to pan fry it. Â I was still very gracious about it and just agreed, although what I wanted to say was ," I think most burgers are cooked on the grill but will only become that way, when you leave it on too long, or you forgot about it." Â
So a couple of minutes took about 20 minutes and everyone in our table was basically all done when the burger came out, personally delivered by the cook, again, who again repeated that the first one was the way it was because it was on the grill. Â
As bad as the experience was with the food, what was worse was the inept cook's attitude. Â Who is he fooling by saying that the reason the burger is basically like a lump of coal charred is because it was cooked on a grill!??!?!?
During a quick day trip to Newburyport, this was the kind of place you pop into because the thought of walking around anymore in the grueling heat is too much to bear.
The food was pretty mediocre, from the fried oysters to the lobster roll. Â The only saving grace in terms of food was the clam chowder. Â But the service was excellent, the prices were reasonable, and I saw a dart board hanging on the wall....
Stopped in late on a Sunday afternoon and was greeted by a friendly bartender and a basket of chips and fries. Â Good selection of draft and bottled beer and a friendly atmosphere. Â It is a locals bar and everyone and I mean everyone in there knows each other. Â No beer tabs. Â You pay as you're served which is fine with me. Â Sometimes after a while you lose count and it is better not to see how many you've had. Â We didn't order any food and I'm not even sure if they serve food at the bar. Â The other area was completely empty. Â I happened to overhear the guy sitting next to me at the bar tell his friend how much coke he did the previous night which added to the experience.
Review Source:Went here for lunch and beers with some friends today as newburyport was a good equidistant meeting place for us.
Good beer selection on tap. Food was cheap and okay, but I wasn't expecting a gourmet meal. The best part was definitely the waitress. She was also the lunch time cook, and was very attentive. She was very friendly and let us just sit and chat for a couple hours after we ate.
I had the clam chowder, which was had a pretty thin broth to it, but tons of clams. It was pretty salty. I also got buffalo wings which were decent, even though the cup of blue cheese was tiny. My friends got a burger and grilled cheese which they liked. My other friend special ordered a chicken sandwich because she doesn't eat burgers and the waitress had no problem with it. They have dessert too, but I didn't partake.
The bar area was pretty busy considering it was a Monday afternoon, but the restaurant side was empty. Good for conversation and a cheap meal.
Best Bloody Mary's anywhere! ... even better on Sunday. Â Great place to stop for some serious cocktails and great comfort food too. Â
Bags of potato chips dangle from vendor trees behind the bar and the juke box has some great blues. Â
Friendly, somewhat local crowd makes up a good portion of the crowd. Monitor speakers suspended from the ceiling with plenty of bass, make for a slightly boisterous atmosphere.
Worth the trip too, if you're traveling. Â And, even if you're in the mood for some of the great upscale food Newburyport has to offer, this place makes a great pre-cocktail destination.
I LOVE THE WHALE!!!!! Â The beer is cheap, and the atmosphere is uniquely Newburyport townie. Â They only take cash. Â They have darts and a juke box. Â They also make Dark and Stormies, my favorite drink.
I usually make the Whale the last stop by when I'm out drinking with friends. Â It's a very casual relaxed atmosphere. Â I've never ordered food there.
Stopped in for a beer and lunch yesterday and loved it. I don't think it's fair to classify the whale as a dive, for what it is it's a great little spot. Â The atmosphere was relaxed, the beer selection was top notch, and the classic rock music was the good stuff you want to hear rather than the crap you're sick of hearing everywhere else. Â
The bartender was very friendly and attentive, but not overbearing either - perfect service for this type of place. Â
I had a grilled cheese and fries for $3.75 and the Mrs. had a tuna melt with fries for $5.75, both were better than expected and certainly a great value for the money.
Our favorite part was when we asked for the tab and the bartender wrote the number "12" on a beverage napkin and slid it across the bar. Â We got a kick out of that and will definitely be back. Â Great spot for a quick beer in downtown Newburyport.
Just okay. This would bd an excellent dive bar, but we stopped in for lunch. The waitress was nice but a little hard of hearing. The burger was cooked to order but a little bland. The chicken fingers were very nicely done - not over breaded and not dry - nice job on those.
I think if I had to go back I would try one of the other places in town.
This place rocked on so many levels. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, I mean total downpour, and my husband and I wanted to escape from the Inn we were staying at for a wedding. We looked at the menu and thought it was exactly what we were looking for - prices were good and they had both seafood (for me) and non-seafood (for him).
The waitress was extremely nice and had met another couple attending the same wedding we were the day before. It turns out her son is one of the owners. There were not very many people in the restaurant and those that were there definitely looked like regulars enjoying their Saturday afternoon. I ordered the fish & chips and it was excellent. Lightly fried haddock caught that morning - can't get much better than that. I opted for the hand-cut onion rings that were crispy deliciousness. My husband that the chicken fingers and fries which is his favorite comfort food dish. I had a glass of the red sangria (because I can't say no to sangria) and it was very good.
I asked the waitress how the pumpkin bread pudding was for dessert and she said she had litter ally just made it and needed someone to give it a try and their honest opinion. I said I was up for the challenge and she gave us a slice for free. It was the perfect consistency of ooey-gooey goodness and just enough pumpkin without being overpowering. It does have pecans on top, but they were easy enough to take off.
I am so glad we decided to check this place out. It was all-around worth it, from the friendly service, fresh food, and cute atmosphere.
Location? Â Check
Ipswich Original Ale on tap? Â Check
Sox game on the tube? Â Check Â
Fulfilling the above requirements, this place was a great place for me to whet my whistle whilst the missus shopped next door for some shoes. Â Went there during the day and it was pretty crowded with a good amount of locals and the requisite tourists. Â Didn't check it out at night so I can't vouch the scene.
really fun dive bar!!! great for getting fucked up and people watching the random random people inside.
also, if you are an underground gay man, the bar is nicknamed "the thirsty male". (just an FYI)
the first time i was there, someone had a seizure on the floor during yankee homecoming 2 years ago. this was my intro to the thirsty whale.
good dirty fun! beer is cheaper and you don't need to get dressed up - this is a bar to let it all hang out!
I love dive bars.
After spending the entire day at the beach you need a nice little cool dark place to sit down and knock back a few while eating some mediocre appetizers while at least a dozen people sit at the bar get shitfaced.
Like Tarah said, the cocktails are HUGE. Fantastic. If they continue to serve drinks like that then who cares if they serve food at all?!
I haven't eaten here, but I did go out for a night with my high school friends for drinks. Â The bar is seperate from the new restaurant part, and is pretty tiny with just the bar and then stools along the wall, but there was still enough room to make your way around with bumping into each person in there. Â The bartender was friendly and boisterous and even served us a few drinks on the house when we eagerly tried his new concoctions.
I've since heard that this is a gay bar at night, but I got no indication of that while there. Well, except for running into an old schoolmate with very heavy guyliner on paired with Abercombie and Fitch....
This tiny restaurant also serves as an art gallery.  You can buy the art on the walls.  I found the food and the service to be excellent at this restaurant.  I had the almond encrusted haddock, which was perfect.  My friend enjoyed her chicken marsala.  I would come back here anytime.  The web address is <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.galleryandgrille.com&s=ea2f72df00a1e2e3e71baea6196ea71f0530d977bc888ecad6b642d8e2b9bd25" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.galleryandgri…</a>.
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