The Tap, Haverhill MA

[Joanie]

Went to Haverhill for the first time and stopped by the brew pub for a bite and my friend tried some beers. I have to say, this was one of the best burgers I've had in a while. They had black pepper in the description and it had a very nice flavor to it, super juicy. I thought there were supposed to be mushrooms but didn't see any but the flavor w/ a good slice of swiss cheese was all we needed. Okay fries served with it, $9 I think. Friend liked the IPA, service at the bar was nice. They have a cute back patio overlooking the river. I may be up there more since there's a good record store putting on shows and the drive from Boston is pretty easy. Might also try the place across the street that has the bar from the long lamented Rat. After two other places on the street, we'll probbly be out of choices, but good to have a standby.

[aljdewey]

Have to admit, I'm not a fan of the Tap. My husband and I tried it on a Sunday evening based on reviews here, and I have to say we were underwhelmed. The food was kinda meh.....edible, but not really good enough to warrant a return visit. We split a salad, which was decent, but the entrees were really unremarkable. Not much flavor, and not much to rave about.

[Infomaniac]

It's been a while since I've had the burger at The Tap but I do remember it being very good. The place across the street is Keon's 105 which is really excellent and my favorite place in town. A few other choice's in Haverhill worth mentioning in downtown are George's a few doors up from The Tap, Peddler's Daughter and Bistro 45 Tapas & Martini Bar both on Wingate Street. In the Ward Hill section of Bradford heading towards N. Andover you'll find Evenfall and across the street Joseph's Trattoria, both very good.

[lexpatti]

Good to know that Haverhill has so much. I have been to Bistro 45 and loved it but that's it for Haverhill. Its a great inbetween place for me and a friend to hook up. I'll have to suggest the Tap or Peddlers' Daughter. thanks.

[three of us]

Not a fan of Peddler's Daughter -- not one bit. Husband hails from Haverhill and we've eaten there twice. Both meals were dreadful and the waiter could have cared less. Eggplant parmagiana, fish and chips, burger, and I forget what else were bad, bad, bad.

[aljdewey]

Gotta agree with this - hubby and I went to Peddler's about a year ago (hubby's a fan of Irish food).....food was nondescript and not flavorful at all. Atmosphere was awful, too.....DARK and gloomy; bleak.

It's not that he food was 'bad", it was completely unremarkable (and we aren't food snobs; we love peasant fare, and I wasn't looking for a fuffy dish). I ordere the Guiness stew - hubby ordered fish/chips. It was edible, but that's about as nice as I could comment on it. We own a house here in Haverhill, but we won't be returning to P/D - we'd rather spend the money on better food.

[Keithel]

Peddler's daughter didn't impress me too much for food -- their tables are quite strange (some of them very very small), things are a bit too spread out, but the bar is very nice, and they do have all the usual suspects for beers when it comes to an Irish pub. IIRC, they also had Magner's - which is pretty much a requirement for my girlfriend -- if they don't have that, she'll have a glass of wine, but it's just not the same to drink a glass of wine at an Irish pub.

[three of us]

Yep, great place for a beer. Just don't eat!

[bostondann]

I must say I am a bit shocked at some of these comments about Peddler's Daughter. I have eaten there on multiple occasions and never had a bad meal. Granted it is not the finest of dining in havewrhill, but for solid pub food and well poured pints you cannot find better in the area. Their fish and chips with home-made catsup rock!!

The Tap is very good as well - some of the best brews in the area and a real treasure to be found in downtown Haverhill -- which needs more treasures like this!

[Keithel]

Don't get me wrong, food at Peddler's Daughter isn't bad, I guess it just didn't register over standard pub fare for me.
I did know they made their own catsup, but it didn't really impress me much either.

[Infomaniac]

I'm a little shocked too by some of the comments on Peddler's Daughter also. Over the last 5+ years, I've eaten at PD well over 25 times and never had a bad meal. I don't doubt people have had a bad experience there, because it can happen anywhere, and I've seen chaos here at some busy times, but not often.

It's a nice pub for downtown Haverhill, and the food for me has been really good. I'm a creature of habit and I meet a good friend there occasionly on Saturday afternoons, and usually order the fish and chips or a burger and we sit at the bar and catch up. I like their Shepard's Pie and Cobb Salad also.

PD is not fine dinning by any means, but it's a nice pub in downtown Haverhill that has served me well for many years.

[Keithel]

Well, I've only been once, and only to the Nashua location.
I'll have to give them another shot -- by no means before was Peddler's Daughter on my "don't go" list, it just didn't make my "go-to" list.

I suppose it also could be the Nashua location.. but then again, I'm basing this off my one visit.

This is why I like Chowhound, we can debate about things like this and we all may (or may not) be able come to some useful conclusion :)

[three of us]

That's exactly what I thought as I read the posts. The great thing about chowhound is the variety of experiences and opinions, even on the same restaurant. As shocked as someone may be re. my take on P.D., I am just as astonished at their reviews. Gotta love these boards!