Toad is one of my favorite places in Porter Square, hands down.
Live music every night, no cover, great grub from Christopher's, and beer... what more can a guy ask for? That's right, I can ask for space to dance, sit at the bar, or at a table -- which I can all do.
Bored any night of the week? Check the calendar to see who is playing. Looking for a relaxing place to bring that special someone for the third date? Check the calendar to see who is playing. In the mood for a burger, beer, and music? Check the calendar to see who is playing.
I don't care who you are, if you say that there is nothing to do in Porter Square, you're an idiot. Toad always has free music. Go here.
shoulder-to-shoulder,
rickety chairs and beat-up bar stools,
some curly haired, raspy voiced songstress lamenting or aspiring
(it's tough to differentiate, even with the homespun lyrics)
sole bartender, doorman doubles as a food runner,
hungry? burger7, w/cheddar8, homemade veggie burger9
(straight outta christopher's kitchen)
a beer for every palate, a booze for the other
never a cover, even when eddie vedder plays
which he does.
aghast i'm not here more often.
all agog to change that.
Love this place/venue. WORST bartender ever. Blonde bull cut style hair cut. My brother came to visit me from Cali, and he loves live music, so I thought this would be the place to take him. After having dinner at Christopher's, we hopped on over. After a few beers, i knew I was going to be no good the next day for work and I just wanted to txt my boss to let her know (she's awesome) but my phones was dead. My brother saw a smart phone charger across the bar and asked if he could plug my phone in just enough to get a text out to my boss. The bartender said, absolutely not. When my brother tried to explain that I just wanted to text my boss, he told my brother that he was acting out. (my brother is the most level headed person on the planet). My brother than put $30 on the bar and said, this is yours if you plug my sisters phone in. Next thing we knew the bouncer was tapping us on the shoulder kicking us out. WHAT?! my brother was not raising his voice, asking politely for the bartender to be accommodating... but the blonde power hungry bartender was so high and mighty that he had to be a tough man.. Any self respecting bartender would refuse the $30, even though we still would have given it to him, and just plugged the phone in. This guy just absolutely had a BIG stick up his ass.
Review Source:Pretty cool spot, went here on a quasi-not-really-but-kind of date last year and this ended up being by far the best thing I took from it (sorry to the girl). Real small place that packs people in to showcase cool local musicians. Be spontaneous and come here on a random night to see a new performer that you haven't seen before. No food here, but a really solid beer menu. Probably the most eclectic crowd I have seen at any Boston bar (welcome to Cambridge!) with people like me in their early 20s and people older than my parents. Worth checking out for a couple of cheeky weekday beers.
Review Source:They should rename this place CHOAD, because the last time I stepped foot in there, it had the peculiar funk of sweaty dudes' underpants and that telltale bleach smell.
Other than the funk, I like the place. I like their purple neon signage, I like their name, I like their tinyness, I like that they get interesting acts in.
No cover for free live music, it makes me happy. It's a small place so don't expect a seat unless you have friends who get their early. All the music is local, and pretty decent if you have an ear and willing to just listen.
Your allowed to bring food from next door Christopher's but that's about the only food option, beers are fairly priced, not the hugest selection but they never said they were a tap room. It's loud  and people who come frequently to hear their favorite band will tell you be quiet if you can be heard over the music (which seriously if i can hear your convo, go outside), the regulars come for the music and than the scene so act accordingly.
I dunno, man. It was fun to come here on a snowy Sunday evening and listen to records. Sundays from 3-8 pm, you can bring your own vinyl and throw it on the turntable. There's an informal sign up sheet.
Toad is sort of partnered with Christopher's, so it's fine to bring food in and nosh while you hang out at the bar...but it would be cool if they were connected inside somehow, or a runner would bring you your food on a plate, rather than having you pick it up and it be crammed into a little takeout container.
Also, Toad was a bit colder (i.e. in terms of temperature) than its neighboring counterpart. That was kinda rough.
I wouldn't come purely for the bar atmosphere (though it's dark and kinda cozy); you'll find maybe 6 average beers on tap.
"Small space. Â Big sounds. Â Never a cover."
This is one of my favorite places for live music (tied with Lizard Lounge, run by the same people). It's a great place to stop in, even if just for one beer on the way to or from another venue.
The music is mostly top-notch local musicians and they specialize in Americana and roots rock. If they rented a room there, I'd move in.
This place blew my mind.
Alternative. Tiny. Laid back. Awesome. Those are the words I'd use to describe this place. I was checking out Porter Square, really for one of the first times. I got a little tired of the Boston scene and decided to wander outside of my comfort zone. Boy, was I rewarded.
My first thoughts on entering, this place is very very small and we are the youngest people here by about 10 years. I don't know if we had just picked a day that the yacht club decided to have a reunion, but the place was filled with older people in sweater vests and boat shoes. Didn't take anything away from the experience. And from what I hear, that's not the normal demographic.
We went on a Wednesday night and the band went on at 7. It was this excellent New Orleans style jazz and blues band and the man could sing. The music was great and they had some good stuff on tap (Ommegang Belgian Pale Ale FTW!) There were a couple small tables, a bar, and a rail by the door. Not too much room, but it wasn't that crowded. Bartender was great. Crowd was fun without being rowdy. I had an excellent time and I'm already planning my next trip.
This place legitimizes the phrase "hole in the wall."
I stopped in here on a Monday with a new friend for a change.  There was a  very talented, albeit unimaginative, blues band playing.  There is a special place in my heart for a blues so I was like a kid in a candy store!  The band, The Wild Sea, played all their own songs (woo hoo!  I'm sick of hearing cover bands!) unfortunately, they all sounded like a variation of a Muddy Waters, or much more pop-culture blues band.  Totally still worth dropping in.
Things I love, Love, LOVE about Toad:
1. Â NO COVER! Â Win!
2. The bartender didn't make any faces or snarky comments when my friend and I ordered non-alcoholic drinks. Â (It was Monday after all.) Â He got an extra tip for that!
3. The people in this joint are all very friendly and truly appreciate the music. Â It honestly feels very welcoming when you come in.
4. There are hangers for your coats near the door that are out of the way/sightline of everyone. Â Score! Â No awkward over-the-purse coat for me!
Notes:
By the time we got there the only table left (keep in mind this place is teeny!) was right in front of the band, and I already had a smidgen of a headache. Â The music was good though so I didn't mind. Â So get there early if you are not an on display kind of gal.
Also FYI, if you use a card, it shows up as Christopher's on your statement.
Cozy and crowded on a Sunday night! Â Who could ask for more? Â We went here not knowing what to expect. Â When we arrived, the place was packed with a crowd from young hipsters to old regulars. Â
The drink selection was quite limited as far as beers. Â Besides that, it's no frills. Â
What makes the place is the live music. Â Treat Her Right was performing. Â They rocked the house. Â This veteran band hasn't missed a step. Â They also had a guest performer who rocked. Â Had a Joe Cocker kind of thing going.
Super super tiny, and limited drink selection. Came here once upon a time and asked for about 5 or 6 different drinks, all of which contained an ingredient or two that the bar didn't have. Finally, I asked the bartender to make us a shot of some strong/fruity tasting variety. I don't know what he made, but it didn't disappoint.
Friend and I were on a bar crawl so we were there before any live music, and the place wasn't crowded at all - which is hard to accomplish since if this place has 10-20 people in there it's going to start feeling cramped.
All in all, if you like live music, and you don't mind crowds, then you would dig this bar... but be prepared for the basics in terms of drinks.
Love, love, love Toad. It is my favorite place to see a band and truly enjoy the artists in residency. It's a tiny hole in the wall, so seating is scarce, but the crowd is always friendly. If you do want to score a table, get there early because they don't often become free once the music starts.
For live music lovers, Toad is a must.
As a first timer at Toad, I pretty much had dreamed up this fabulous setting into which I would walk..like a scene from a movie where a girl walks out of the soft, street-lamp lit snow into an intellectual bar held up by old, warm-toned wood, a classic bar, and tons of smart, educated men just budding with good conversation.
Ok, so I just met my gal pals (sans snow) for some wine and good music...close enough. The setting in this bar is petite and intimate, it is not intimidating or judgmental. The crowd was so refreshing, no blowouts..no boobs hanging out..no drunken losers. We were all there to enjoy the fresh sounds of Melvern Taylor and his Fabulous Meltones..which, by the way were fantastic. I have never felt so comfortable as I did at Toad. The bartender was very nice and manned the bar all by himself and still managed to hold down the proverbial fort.
Though there were limited tables, I did not mind standing, as there were ledges to set down drinks and coats without having to worry who was going to drug or steal them..a welcomed change from other places in town.
I'd love to frequent Toad for more cozy, relaxed evenings and fabulous live shows.
I can see why they call this place 'Toad" because the moment you walk inside it is about as big as a Toad!! So if you come here, be prepared to stand the whole time in semi cramped quarters or come here early enough to claim one of their tables!!
But what else can you expect from a place that has live music and no cover every day of the week???? Yup! You read correctly! Live music and no cover ever! ha ha
And what else made my boyfriend Matt J smile?? PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon for those of you not familiar in one of America's cheapest beers ha ha) in BOTTLES!! That makes that cheap beer feel even classier!! And they do have other beers on tap here too and a full bar, so it will have something for anyone, as long as you are patient and wait at the bar for an opening.
The other thing, if you drink too much, you know you will have to pee, and the bathroom is basically across/next to the stage where the bands play, so it can be quite the adventure to time when to go relieve yourself :-)
That aside, how can you not like a place where, the night we went, had a great cover rock band playing all songs you could sing along too, including "Sarah Smile" !!!! Which you know for me, made my night. Fun times indeed, Toad. Rib-bit.
My experience is limited to just one visit.. my first, last night.
Fantastic. many factors contributed to this which are not standard.
The show - wow Rachel Price and Miss Tess.
This little, tiny spot has a feel of wallys when seeing, hearing and truly feeling hte live music; also like wallys the non existant, ad hoc dance floors forces close dancing.. isnt that how it should be?
long bench along the wall with tiny caberet tables and classic soda shoppe wooden chairs... then a nice smaller space near the door for those who are not fully committed but watching from afar.
the beer offering is great for such a small place...
i had, many, peeks espresso amber ale.. yum yum
Typically its hard to get me across that river with the exception of academics but i would go again to the todd for this kind of show.
The greater Boston area has a lot of bars. Â It has tons of Irish bars, some real, some fake, lots of sports bars, some dive bars, some townie bars, and some plain ol' generic bars. Â One thing that it could use more of, however, is dependable live music venues.
This is where Toad comes in. Â Every time I've gone here I've seen great live music, and every time my friend from NYC comes through on tour he plays here. Â I've never paid a cover (and I've always paid my bar tab.)
Beware, the sign is almost invisible; look for the place next to Christophers across Mass Ave from the Porter T stop. Â Sometimes they have a chalkboard out that's much more visible than their dark violet neon sign, and their darker interior. Â Listen for the music... that will lead you there.
The last time I went in here in the foulest of moods looking for a tall pint, I left with smile on my face and a new appreciation for the blues. Â The next time, who knows what I will find? Â Well, actually, I do... a cold pint of draft and something wonderful to stick in my ear for an hour or three.
My friends always wanted to drag me into Toad, and I always hated it: we'd get squished into standing room at the back, the five feet to the bar an impossible journey due to the thirty bodies located there. We could never see the band because of all the heads in the way, we couldn't speak to one another because it was far too loud, and on top of it all, we couldn't even get booze without extreme feats of strength and/or rudeness.
"No cover!" says I. "You get what you pay for."
But! But then I met a friend in Porter shortly after work. We thought we'd go to Christopher's, and on the way I peeked my head into Toad.
Perfection: two dudes sitting at the bar reading newspapers, two friends at a table, and a list of wonderful beers on tap. Its smallness made it intimate, cozy, just right for the small after-work crowd.
I'd say this is my favorite bar. But it's also my least favorite bar. I look at my watch before heading over to Toad.
Yes Toad does have live music every night, HOWEVER, I find this tiny little hole in mass ave to be a perfect meeting spot for a quiet and cozy after work drink for 2. Between 5:30 and 7:00 there are maybe 3 people there, then the place will start filling up for the music. During that hour and a half window, you'll have the pub to yourselves.
This is perfect because by then you will be a little hungry and they don't serve food, so you can pick up and go somewhere else. The bartender will tell you that you are more than welcome to get food somewhere else and bring it back to the pub.
This could be good if you are on a budget, but I get the feeling it would be like eating on the train where it's not totally inappropriate, but you know the guy next to you is eyeing your McMuffin. It makes me edgy.
Overall, good times, simple idea, no frills and genuine.
I'm a big fan of cozy, and this place is it! Â I think the capacity is at something like 78. Â Also, as far as I know, it is the only place in town where you will find a line late on a Monday night. Â That's right, Monday night. Â If I'm not in line, or not inside, call my mom and alert her to an emergency, please!?! Â
Why Monday nights? Â The Tim Gearan Band, of course!!! Â They literally spill off the stage into the aisles! Â If I'm really ambitious I will get there earlier for Anita Suhanin too because she's just as fantastic, but Tim Gearan has the brass section so I tend to lean that way.
Now don't get me wrong, this place is great on just about any night of the week. Â There is always a good mix of people, yet somehow they manage to keep the hoochie-mama population to a minimum. Â I never feel too old, too young, or too under or over dressed.
Live music 7 nights a week, never a cover, always a good time! Â They get a good mix of acts, and many more of my local favorites (The Tim Gearan Band being my favorite). Â Did I mention how much I LOVE the Tim Gearan Band?
I've often heard of this place referred to as a musicians' bar, and its true. Â It is a great place to stalk, er, run into, many of the hottie local musicians. Â I read recently that Boston and the surrounding areas have the most musicians per capita in the U.S. Â I believe it! Â There are too many to catch them all, but Toad is a good place to start.
As I've discovered with Wally's downtown, good things come in small packages. Toad truly is "cozy" and can feel a bit cramped, particularly if you find yourself sitting at the bar where there seems to be about five too many barstools, but who cares when the music is so good?
There are a few "flaws" with Toad: It is a little awkward to have to walk around the band to get to the restroom, and the dead time between acts is a tad long. The former is tolerable, but the latter is frustrating beyond belief. I really wanted to stick around for the second act this past Saturday, but after about an hour of waiting I really considered getting up off my stool and heading out the door. (I managed to wait them out, and I'm glad I did.)
Otherwise, Toad is a great place to grab a beer and some live music. And no cover!
As others have said, this isn't really the type of place where you go for the 'scene'- it's small, usually pretty packed, and the crowd definitely skews older. So for all you professional eyefuckers out there who are always looking to ply your trade, you will most likely be disappointed if that is your sole objective. Probably not somewhere that I would choose on a weekend or if I was looking to do a lot of socializing.
With that said, it's the perfect place if you're bored on a random weeknight and looking to go out without 'GOING OUT!!!' (if that makes sense). I went with a friend of mine on a Monday night and found it perfect- they never charge a cover, the band (The Tim Gearan Band, Monday night regulars) was excellent, the beer selection was strong, the crowd just seemed to be having a really good time. When the band finished up and it was time to head out, I left for home with a buzz and a smile. Â
And you know what? Sometimes that's really all you need.
Tiny! Live music every night! Never a cover! Â Good beer on tap! Awesome!
Bonus: When the band has more than 3 members, sometimes you have to actually ask one of them (usually the bass player-- they're always getting shafted) to move in order for you to get into the bathroom. If that's not quality nightlife, I don't know what is.
First off-this place is extremely tiny. We saw Bourbon Princess for live music! Holy shoulder bumping hell of a good time. They rock.........
Refreshingly, there is no cover and there is a guy checking ID at the door!!! When you walk in there is just people EVERYWHERE. If it is crowded it is almost impossible to get one of their few tables. Â
Did you ever have 80 heads turn at once and stare upon your entrance?? Yeah, maybe super models are used to it...but that is just how it is here. They did it to me and I did it to every schmuck that walked in here after
The night we went I drank the most amazing beer from the tap. I want to say the name is spinal tap. Who cares. It was good. One faux-par on my part, is I drunkingly slapped down my credit card. OOOPS. Cash only. I should have known. This place REEKS cash only.
If you are a wimp or introverted. Don't come here. You need an extra pow of bitchiness to survive the crowd, but if you are a people person with an attitude *holds hand up*......it's ALL GOOD!
This bar is a dark, hole in the wall worthy, cash only, id checkin completely make out worthy, dripping with awesomeness, hell of a  good time.  The awesome music and beer only add to the awesomeness that is TOAD.
I went to Toad to watch the last two Red Sox World Series Games on their huge HD TV. Â It was such a good call by my friend- Toad was cozy, full of locals, really low key, full but not crowded, with absolutely NO college students in sight (!!!). Â We had our own table both nights and the staff left us alone to enjoy the game.
I almost deducted a star because on Saturday night the bartender did not immediately identify my Halloween costume as Amy Winehouse which meant he just thought I was really a crack whore. Â But then I forgave him when he apologized and complimented me on my beehive.
On the pro side, this bar has impassioned live folk music, and an intimate, cliquey feel of people who love Toad - and each other - a lot.
On the con side, this bar has impassioned live folk music, and an intimate, cliquey feel of people who love Toad - and each other - a lot.
Weak Guinness pour. Â Admirable level of darkness.
Just wanted to stop on by and make sure to give Toad the 5 star treatment. Toad is no froo froo bar. The music plays till close.. and close is definitely 2am.. sometimes a touch later. The acts that come in are usually a motley crew of awesome locals and some rumored famous cameos. The drunk kids that try to dance in the aisle are somehow always entertaining (after 1 or 2 beers). The place is tiny.. I think I almost walked on stage once. Everyone would have been treated to a performance of "I Would Do Anything For Love". Oh well.
Oh and ladies.. there's no primping in the bathroom (no mirror). I believe that this may be the key to getting girls in and out quick! Besides.. well you know..
I love Toad. Â It's cozy, the staff is friendly and competent (ask Jeff or Greg for a dirty martini if you like that kind of thing), and they have some of the best live music you'll find in town - FOR FREE! Â It's a great hang, there are always interesting people to meet, and did I mention the music?
Go on a Monday night, for instance, when you can hear Anita Suhanin explore an eclectic landscape of songs to break your heart right before lifting it again. Â And after them, Tim Gearan and the boyz have been keeping it real at Toad for over a decade now (damn, I just dated myself). Let the rootsy soul of it all wash over you, and smile contentedly at your fellow drinkers - you are indeed truly blessed.
My introduction to Toad was on a bitterly cold and windy evening.
It felt like a scene from a movie as my gaggle of friends stumbled through the door: Everybody stops what they're doing, the record player screeches to a dead silence as all the locals sneer at the freakish looking out of towners.
Ok, so I'm exaggerating just a bit, but it felt that way for a split second until I realized all of the locals were giving a look of camaraderie. They were saying, "Ah, more brave fools! Come join in the fun!"
so we did ... and my was it fun! I've been back a few more times and love it! The music is always fantastic, the service is great and the people are lively and friendly. It is a great place to spark up a conversation with strangers!
I deduct a star for size... it is a small, but mostly cozy
This is a great bar. I've only been there once so far, but it was such a good experience that I feel comfortable already giving them five stars. I like small cozy bars, and I like live music, and this place is good at both. I thought the prices could be a little lower, but it's on par with the area and since they don't charge cover for shows it's not that big a deal.
This is a great place to meet some really cool people, and hear some really good music.
Toad is the bar/venue I miss most in the greater Boston area. This place is a double agent: the comfortable watering hole meets magical mystery music incubator. Toad offers free live music 7 nights a week. Good free live music. During a bad breakup, I gained about 20 lbs. there over a few months on a heavy Guinness regimen. It was good relief, but I don't endorse that plan, and that's another story.
My band porterdavis was able to "graduate" to sister club The Lizard Lounge after a long time playing Toad. In my heart, though, Toad was the environment that let us grow the most. To this day, if we are playing out somewhere and the sound is bad or the atmosphere is lame, I will close my eyes and pretend I'm at Toad. If I was out for a beer on an off night, Toad is the first place I'd head. On some nights, I was witness to palpable musical magic from the likes of the  Tarbox Ramblers, Duke Levine, Dennis Brennan, and others.
Having traveled quite a bit over the last few years, and enjoying my little spot in "The Live Music Capitol of the World," I can say without reservation that there is nothing quite like Toad anywhere.
cozy
Not sure what else to say. Â It's an easy place to kill time and decent drink selection. Â When there is a band playing you better like it because there is no way to escape. Â Get there early on weekends if you want a seat. Â
I've never had a problem parking in the parking lot on the other side of Mass Ave.
Friendly service.
Most all the fine points have been said. If you come with the expectation of being a part of whatever is happening there that night (versus coming to be alone at a bar and not be bothered), you'll have a great time. Beer is a plenty as is dark hardwood. As a place too music you, the band, the bar and the bathroom are all one and it feels good to be a part of it. The fact that it's so crowded helps absorb the volume of any bands that (foolishly, in my opinion) play electric.
Many players from well-known bands do stints here one night a week for a month or two at a time, so you might catch Dana from Morphine or Bill J. from Buffalo Tom with their latest side project.
No cover!! So buy beer as the money you spend on your beverages supports the musicians.
Toad is by far one of my favorite music venues in Boston. Â Cozy and crowded, there isn't a bad seat in the house. Â Of course, you can't always get a seat, but that's part of the charm. Â There's nothing like having to pass right through the musicians pouring off the tiny corner stage to get to the bathroom. Â Never, ever a cover charge, always, always great musical acts, Toad is a great place to go enjoy live music any day of the week. Â
On the weekends, get there a bit early though, because they only let in 62 people at a time, so sometimes you've got to stand outside and wait for someone to leave if you arrive too close to showtime. Â I've never had to wait outside long though, and the wait was always worth it. Â Toad's popularity speaks for itself. Â See you all there!
This is my favorite place in Porter Square. Check out the Sunday evening Session Americana (on hiatus for the summer) during the fall/winter/spring. Great live music. No cover. Small venue (others are complaining about this? What gives?) with intimate feel. Good beers on tap, pours a good cocktail (i.e., big). Draws a laid-back crowd of people who really care about hearing good music. Go early and often.
Don't forget to go to the ATM before you swing by - it's cash only.
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