The Sierra Grille

The Sierra GrilleThe Sierra Grille
The Sierra GrilleThe Sierra Grille
Bar, Eatery

41 Strong Ave
Northampton, Massachusetts, 01060-3922
United States

(413) 584-1150 | map
sierragrille.net
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.39
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
40
pDev:
8.66%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.13 by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

Mar 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.86 by harsley from Massachusetts

Jan 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by SABERG from Massachusetts

Dec 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by dfecteau from Massachusetts

Nov 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by pisano from Massachusetts

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by pscully from Massachusetts

Jun 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Vinylglove68 from Massachusetts

Jun 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by SpicyGose from Massachusetts

Jun 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BeerMeSteve from Connecticut

Jun 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DaveR514 from Canada (QC)

Jun 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by magnificent70s from Pennsylvania

May 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by RMoeNay from Connecticut

May 20, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by FishDogHead from Massachusetts

Feb 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Okisailor from Massachusetts

Jan 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by JGLittle from Massachusetts

Dec 02, 2013
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I usually hit up the Dirty Truth while in Northampton, but on this most recent visit I decided to try something new, at least for one night. Sierra Grille is right down the street, and the Dirty Truth ran out of Cantillon bottles, so here I am. Still without Cantillon bottles (dammit), but at least trying a different menu.

Plenty of seating, with a large dining area (seating for 85+) and a smaller bar area (seating for maybe 25+). The decor is comfortable, lots of woodwork and nice quality window trim, Belgian beer signs everywhere, my kind of place.

Good draft list, maybe 20 or more selections, with many of the beers available in 9oz, 16oz, or 20oz pours. Some pseudo-rarities mixed in with classics and regional specialties. Short bottle list that is heavy on rarity (Founders Nemesis 2010, all of the Lees Vintage Ale treatments, etc). No bottled lambics (dammit again), only a couple of Lindemans on tap (meh).

Excellent food, most entrees are $16-22, everything I had was well prepared and tasty. Friendly and attentive servers too.

This is a very solid stop in Northampton, better than the Dirty Truth in terms of dinners and atmosphere, not quite their equal in terms of beer (but no slouch). Definitely 1 of 2 spots to hit up for beer while in town!
Oct 13, 2011
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Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Very cozy bar atmosphere here. Dimly lit, wood everywhere. What really makes it is all the nostalgic beer and wine decor. Gives it a slight classic, old-timey feel. The crowd is always low-key and amiable. I struck up some nice beer conversation with the bartender. He was very pleasant and enthusiastic. Waitresses were very attentive as well. It's one of those places where they fill your water after every sip.

The beer is very well looked after, and the selection is great. There are about twenty carefully chosen taps and the occasional cask, and the bottles menu is small but impressive. Noteworthy beers on tap last time I was there: Avery Maharaja, Chimay White, Tripel Karmeliet, Allagash White, Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout, Oharas Celtic stout, Weihenstephan Hefeweizen, and a smattering of Kriek and lambic. The bottle menu had a few diamonds in the rough too: the whole Rochefort lineup, Founders Nemesis '10, BBC Gude Greg's Scotch ale, and others. Most beers are available in a variety of pour sizes, and pricing is extremely fair on the beer. Rochefort 10 was available for $8. That's only about $1 more than I can get it for at the liquor store.

The food was very good, and pretty fairly priced, considering the quality. The menu is set up so that one chooses an entree, then picks a sauce and two sides to go with it. I chose King Salmon with a Mediterranean sauce, roasted potatoes, and asparagus. This paired well enough with a Tripel Karmeliet. Dessert was a warm, chocolatey stout brownie with whipped cream, caramel, and vanilla gelato. It was excellent, and enhanced nicely by the Ohara's Celtic stout that I enjoyed alongside it.

This is, in my opinion, one of the very elite bar/restaurants in a city chock full of them. In terms of selection only the Dirty Truth can beat them, but to be frank, I'd much rather be here. They host excellent beer dinners in the fall too, so be on the lookout for those. They are to die for.
Aug 27, 2011
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Reviewed by quincyships from Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
With the daughter now in school in Western MA, we're finding ourselves in the Amherst-Northampton area much more often, to the point that we needed a change from the two towns' respective (and respectable) brewpubs. We are so glad we checked out BA and found the Sierra Grille.

Last Sunday, we stopped in (with a younger daughter) for an early dinner. We were seated in the almost-empty rear dining room, which steadily filled as our visit progressed. The atmosphere was both upscale and relaxed, though my daughter found the wooden booths uncomfortable.

As others have noted, the beer selection is top-notch. We enjoyed Stone Lucky Bastard, Green Flash IPA, O'Hara's Celtic Stout and a Belgian red. It's great that they offer half-pints - that's my kind of beer sampler! I also liked the inclusion of local beers at very reasonable prices. If I were passing an afternoon at the bar with friends, the BBC Steel Rail ($2 for 8 oz., $3.50 for 20 oz.) makes a great session beer. Wines are also offered in a range of portion sizes, a great idea I wish more restaurants offered.

From previous reviews, we were prepared for the mix-and-match entree format of the menu. The servers clearly are very used to explaining it to first-time customers. We passed on the entrees and shared selections from the small plate and specials menus. When we ordered the house-smoked salmon plate, the server reminded us that they has a gravlox (cured, rather than smoked, salmon) special that night, and it was delicious. We also shared the slow-roasted pork shank, which was dressed in a light barbecue sauce that didn't overwhelm the flavor of the meat. My daughter loved the drunken chicken sliders. The food highlight, though, was the duck confit panini, which included a healthy portion of duck meat with arugula and goat cheese grilled in artisanal bread.

Prices for food and beer are very reasonable. Dinner for three, with a variety of beers for two, and dessert for one, for under $60! The service was also great. Our server invited our questions about both the food and the beer, and clearly knew his way around both menus. We will definitely be going back to Sierra Grille!
Nov 30, 2010
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Reviewed by Chico1985 from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
I've been here probably around 20 times now. And since I live a mere 5 miles away now, this has become a pretty regular stop (maybe twice a week.) Pretty fancy place. Beer selection is good, but the 15 or so taps don't seem to change very often. Pretty usual to find offerings from Stone, Dogfish Head, Southern Tier, Fullers, Port, Berkshire, Bear Republic, Lagunitas, etc. Bottle list is small but nice with all the Rocheforts, Duvel, FBS + KBS when they're in season, and more. Everything is always served in appropriate glassware. The prices for the beers are great, the bottles are usually barely more expensive than they are in the stores, and the tap list is also nicely priced with many beers giving you a choice of 8, 16, or 20 ounce servings usually in the 3-6 dollar price range. Great for just trying out a beer if you're curious or getting a big glass of one of your favorites. The food here is amazing, pricey but its hard to complain for the quality of what you're getting. If you're not in the mood for a $20+ meal they have plenty of small foods and desserts that are anywhere from 3-10 dollars, still excellent quality of course. Some of my favorites on the cheaper side of their menu are the duck confit panini and the creme brulee made with Allagash White.
Jun 27, 2010
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Reviewed by GweedoeBRew from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I just had dinner there tonight! GREAT!! A+

Not the best Beer Selection I have ever seen, but very good. A nice selection of Imports (Chemey, Fullers, etc...) and great selection of interesting American Craft Beers. I enjoyed 2 pints of the Mercury Brewing Co's Clown Shoes Black IPA that they had just put on tap today... and a pint of the Berkshire Brewing Company's Dry Hopped Barleywine.

The Food was great! I really thought the idea of building you own meal is awesome. You select a protein (meats), then a sauce and two sides for a very reasonable price. I had the Duck and it was great. My wife order the special Mashed Potatoes... they were Horseradish Mashed...and they were the best Mashed Potatoes I have ever had (if someone from Sierra Grille reads this please put it on the menu FULL TIME!! I would drive up from Boston just to have them again!!!).

I had the Allagash White Creme Brulee and it was very good and the $3 deserts were perfectly sized.... The Food is great here.

For those of you who have significant others who aren't beer drinkers... They have a full bar... and a great wine selection...

The Service was great too... We had Douglas and he seemed very knowledgeable of the beer selection and menu. As well he had an awesome personality!!! I would definitely recommend if you are going there on a weekend night to call and make a reservation. I am glad that we did... there were a lot of people waiting for seats when we got there... and we got right in!!

The Cost is Reasonable for what it is... some people might think that $60 - $90 is pricey for 2 people, but with 4 drinks total, an appetizer, meals, and deserts... I think it was a great value.

I would definitely recommend having dinner and beers here and hope to be back the next time I come to Northampton!
Mar 06, 2010
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Reviewed by mummy178 from Connecticut

4.65/5  rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
My wife and I were in Northampton to visit the Dirty Truth. Since it was closed, we wandered down the street to the Sierra Grille. How lucky for us.

The beer selection, though limited, had no real throwaways. It seemed everything we tried was at the very least interesting. The highlight had to be Southern Tier's Creme Brulee Stout. We started with it and finished with it in place of coffee with dessert.

Most of the beers were served in appropriate glassware. The bar also offers half pints of many of the beers to allow for more variety.

The food was exceptional with a variety of sauces prepared in house. Selections range from pub food (my wife says the pork panini is the best she ever had) to full entrees. They allow you to mix and match foods with sauces. This might be a little gimmicky but it leaves you no reason to complain. Hell, they even made asparagus taste good.

We sat at the bar. Service was great and our bartender was able to answer all of our questions.

We will definitely be making the 2 hour drive to visit this place again.
Feb 17, 2010
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Reviewed by DNICE555 from Connecticut

4.78/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Clean, comfortable, cool looking place inside. This is a beer nerd's wet dream. Proper glassware, not a single tap wasted. Around 15 taps with a decent botle list as well. Had a Duvel Green and a Double Bastard on tap while I was there. Offbeat selections that I haven't found anywhere else. If you are in Northampton this bar and the Dirty Truth are a must. I'v never been int he seating area so this is only a review of the bar area. The bartenders are all very nice, friendly, and knowledgable. Not the largest selection but solid off beat beers which are hard to find anywhere else. The food is very good and everything is priced reasonably. Habanero cheddar wings are awesome.
Feb 17, 2010
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Reviewed by far333 from Connecticut

3.94/5  rDev -10.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Stopped in on a Monday afternoon, so not too crowded. Sat in the smallish bar, which you have to walk through to get to the larger restaurant. Bright and airy, pretty comfortable, just a little too antiseptic for my tastes, but that's just me. Varied and eclectic selection on draft and in bottles. Twenty taps, all good stuff like ST Jahva, DFH 90 minute, Lagunitas, Stone, BBC, Young's double chocolate, O'Hara's celtic stout, Allagash, Chimay, Green Flash DIPA and more. Great service from knowledgeable staff. A must see/do if you're in the area.
Oct 23, 2009
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Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Probably my favorite overall place to go for beer. Atmosphere is usually fine, this place is not usually overly packed or filled with people that make you want to leave (see: Dirty Truth), it has a nice layout with the bar and a good amount of tables, cool bottle collection behind the bar and a good location, live local music sometimes too. Quality is great, all the beer I have had here was fresh and full of flavor, no problems to report here. Lots of good glassware for the beer too and proper glasses for each style of beer they serve. Service is awesome, every time I have been here I have talked craft beer with the manager(?) who runs the bar area along with the bartender, he knows tons about craft beer and seems to have visited all the big breweries in the US/know many people in the craft beer world. He has also given my friends and I several free samples of new bottles he has. The only thing that can get iffy here is having only 2-3 people running the bar area during a busy night can mean a long time between visits from the server/bartender, but you can easily just go up to the bar and flag him down and be fine. Food can take a long time to get too. Selection is great, had Kentucky Breakfast Stout bottles for $5 less than The Dirty Truth when it was around, seems like beer here is usually $1-3 less than at TDT. Can find stuff here like Avery, DFH, Founders, Stone, Weihenstephan, JW Lees, La Trappe, Duvel, Westmalle and so on. They dont have the most taps or the biggest bottle list but I have been satisfied every time I have visited and it seems like the draft lists changes fairly often, bottle list is kind of stagnant though. Food is great, late at night there is an appetizer list and I have had a few things off it and they were all creative and delicious, the entrees are good too and the prices are not bad for the quality of the food. Good beer prices and decent food prices for value here.
Sep 02, 2009
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Reviewed by citrusjim from Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -12.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I love a place with good food and good beer so I had high hopes here. We were there on a Monday night and the restaurant was a bit dead. The bar was busier than expected. We sat in the restaurant. The beer selection is excellent. Many drafts and bottles. I had a couple of Orvals (love to see them on the menu) and my girlfriend had a Fullers. The food was ok. I was expecting better. I think it is a little gimmicky to offer meats and sauces for you to pair up. I want the chef to do this for me. I had tuna which was not incredible. My girlfriend had steak which was cooked perfectly. We had a smoked salmon app which was ok too. The service was ok, but maybe a bit rushed. I would go back here for the bar and few apps, but would probably eat somewhere else.
Jul 24, 2009
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Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
The Sierra Grille is a must if you are in Northampton. Its a cozy little restaurant/bar with some great beer decor scattered about. The bar is pretty big and there is a nice dining room in the back.

Quality is the name of the game. For food its a la carte sides with your choice of meat/fish grilled to your liking.

Service is very, very good both in the dining room and at the bar. Our bartender last night really knew his beers.

Lots of great stuff on tap. They had Double Simcoe, Three Philosophers and La Trappe Quad on tap last night along with quite a few others. They also have quite a few bottles.

I realized how great this place was on my second visit. Great place, great food and great beer.
Jan 18, 2009
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Reviewed by patsliquor from Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +11.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
November 30th
Stone Beer Dinner at The Sierra Grille.

-Rabbit Stew paired with Stone Vertical Epic 08
-Thai Shrimp paired with Stone IPA
-Ground Boar Enchilada with a mole sauce paired with Stone 12th Anniversary
-Lamb Shank, white beans, brussel sprouts paired with Stone Double Bastard
-Baklavah paired with Stone Old Guardian

Exceptional to say the least. I have been to beer dinners before but these pairings were amazing. It is obvious that the owners and the kitchen staff take these dinners very seriously and it shows in the uniqueness and quality of the food. I would highly recommend this establishment not only for a beer dinner but also for a regular night out. I live only twenty minutes away from The Sierra Grille but I would gladly drive 2 hours to make the next beer dinner. I love this place and I can't wait to go back!
Dec 03, 2008
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Reviewed by Cakanator from Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +10%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Simply amazing. My favorite spot in the city only seems to get better as time goes. They rotate taps fast enough it seems that each week I go in they have something new. Being a frequent visitor I have become accustomed to amazing karma-like atmosphere that has me coming back very often. They recently just put on the sixpoint obama tribute amber/red ale which was amazing but they keep their 20 taps fresh each week. Service is outstanding, the bartenders are friendly and sociable. The owner is a stand out guy who knows what people in this area want. The food is great for the money, small plates and the fries are top notch. The beer dinner each month are spectacular, I believe Southern Tier is up for April (can't wait!) It's a must for anyone in the area to try out
Mar 27, 2008
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Reviewed by mltobin from Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
The list of beers from 18 taps include Arrogant Bastard, Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale, Ephemere Apple, DeRanke XX, Dogfish 60 and 90, Gritty's Black Fly Stout, Young's Oatmeal Stout, Boone's Amber Ale, Allagash White, Tripple, and Spezial Rauchbier.

When I was there, I sat at the bar and tried the mussels and fries with a glass of DeRanke. I met the owner who is originally from Bar Harbor. He is very interested in presenting good beer with a good meal. What I also like about this place is that the are willing to serve half pints of beer. Unfortuately this is not available at the Bitter Truth. Definitely have to come back with my wife for dinner and great beer. If the meals are as good as the mussels and fries I will definitely make this a regular place to go
for dinner.
Mar 23, 2008
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.06/5  rDev -7.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Strong armed to second interview for a job I really didn't want and didn't up end getting anyway, I only had to drive to Chicopee, Massachusetts to have my time wasted. Mid afternoon and the interview done, a smart man would start heading south to try and get through Springfield and Hartford, and maybe even New Haven before traffic gets rush hour shitty. I'm just not that smart a man. Thinking I'll just start heading north and see what happens...

Made too good time (can you really, really?) getting up to Northampton, truthfully way too early. But using a lifeline, I was given direction around the corner and up the block to put up for a while. Sierra Grille is housed on the first floor of a big brick building across from the train station. A "Z" shaped wood bar runs the whole corner of the room and seats just more than a dozen. A large wooden framed barback holds 2 walls with mounted lamps on tiled paneled pieces, and recessed shelves over mirrors, some displaying 12 & 22 ounce beers, others showing random glassware. Tiered wine on the counters back and in racks below and stacked glassware elsewhere and around. Beige walls, wood slat floors, drop old hairdryer shaped glass lamps above the bar, and an old victrola next to the door. Seating for 4 at the bar counter in the center of the room and 4 raised bar tables up front below the large rounded arch windows, their tops crescent stained glassness with white strung Xmas lighting, and their sills lined with potted plants of all types, sizes and shapes. The larger center window bordered on both sides with bookshelf and wine rack pieces, very nicely done. The back room is split in half, with 5 booths on each side, the end booths rounded, and a dozen plus tables in the middle and throughout. Yellow walls with framed foreign beer prints.

20 taps spread across the bar. 12 in a row on a copper tower, a pair of Lindemans handles, and 6 more on a round copper tower piece. Half of them micros regional (Wachusett Octoberfest, Allagash White, BBC Steel Rail Ale, DogFishHead Johnny Rawton Pils, Victory Hop Devil, Southern Tier Pumking), and beyond (Bear Republic Racer 5, Sierra Nevada Best Bitter, North Coast Old Rasputin & Brother Thelonious Brown), the rest imports, some better than others (Urthel Hop-It, Chimay Tripel, St. B 12, Ayinger Octoberfest, Youngs Double Chocolate Stout, Old Speckled Hen, O'Hara's Celtic Stout, Lindemans Peche & Framboise) and when you come to realize that the Lindemans don't cut it, they've got a black raspberry mead from Redstone Meadery (nice). I had an Urthel Hop-It and sat with the waitstaff amusing ourselves trying to figure out what made the Southern Tier Pumking so god awful. I said it tasted like circus peanut (you know, them orange marshmallowy...), but someone else hit it on the nose with "Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pies", and everyone agreed "It's totally got that iced oatmeal thing!!!"

Did I mention they've got a dozen plus bottles? Orval, Tripel Karmeliet, Duvel, Rochefort 6, 8 & 10, Achel Blonde, De Ranke Guldenberg & XX Bitter, a pair from Chimay, and Eisenbahn Vigorosa & Lust Prestige. Strange, that collection of Belgians and a random pair of beers from Brazil, nevertheless...

A nice pleasant, upscale place. Beer was fresh, and they've got a great food menu, lots of very inexpensive $2 and $3 small bites (spiced olives, hummus, tapenade, empanadillas, vegetable crisps), good apps, salads, panini, some solid entrees and a variety of sauces to match, and sides. Would've like to have done a meal here but I just lunched over the second interview drama and there's a pizza in my New Haven future on the back down.
Feb 26, 2008
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Reviewed by fitzy84 from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Located right off Route 9 in Northampton, the Sierra Grille was an excellent dining and drinking experience. On the first floor of a triple decker building, you enter to a small bar area with probably only 3-4 tables. However, the bar itself is almost shaped like a Z against the wall, allowing over a dozen people to be sitting at the bar. The dining area is a bit small too, but this leads to a cozy atmosphere overall. I guess the restaurant is also a music venue but you might have to see that after hours. The locale was mostly college students, young professionals, academics perhaps and even families. A wide variety was good in keeping up a great heterogeneity and welcomeness.

I was incredibly impressed with the service. Not only did my waiter know a lot about the food, he had boat loads of info about the beers there. He even gave me a sample of a drink similar to the one I ordered. The drinks were impressive; no "random" selections, they were intelligent and well thought of draught and bottle selections. That evening I had the Sixpoint Bengali Tiger and had the awesome Old Chub Scottish Ale from Oskar Blues. Definitely want to return there to just sit and drink at the bar. The food too is unique too: you pick your entree with whatever sauce you want and whatever sides you want. The duck there was good and their veggies are out of this world.

Pricing is what is attractive. Beers come in various sizes, so an 8 ounce one would be 3 bucks. Desserts are small and filling at 3 bucks. Many bite size appetizers are also 3 bucks while others range from 4 to 7 bucks. Entrees ate up the chunk of the meal, but with whatever sides and sauce you want leads it to be a 15-22 dollar creation of your own.

I think the Pioneer Valley has some of the best restaurants in New England, but I must say, Sierra Grille is perhaps Northampton's, or better yet, Hampshire County's best restaurant and beer respecting dining establishment I have yet eaten in. Highly recommend.
Feb 18, 2008
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.86/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Open at 5 instead of 3, this was a nice looking place in a nice town. Not unfriendly, it was not as gregarious as many other smaller town or smaller city pubs. people had their cliques. Good selection of beer, if not on the cutting edge. Nice decor, but also not standout of the several decent pubs in the area. The area is college-town friendly and safe, and I imagine I would spend some time if I was here for a year. We did not eat, and I would think the food is a plus. Lots of room and set up for groups of 4 to be comfortable.
Jul 12, 2007
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Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

4.83/5  rDev +10%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I spent a great evening recently at the Sierra Grill with some new aquaintences. We were very impressed.
The place is owned and run by a gentleman who is certainly quite dedicated to advocating great beer and food, with terrific service.

20 draught lines, with quite a few rotated frequently and a few core ones as well. A few they had on tap as of 6/23/07 were:
DFH Indian Brown
North Coast Acme IPA (extremely fresh)
North Coast Old Stock Ale (quite boozy and delish)
Chimay Triple
Allagash White
A'Chouffe Houblin

The bottle selection was limited, but all top shelf.
The bar area is gorgeous, with lots of rich wood and trimmed out with very appealing light fixtures.
Appetizers litterally evaporated in front of our group..Habanero wings, a cheese platter, and belgian frites.
Entrees were no dissapointment either. The hanger steak with carmelized onions and mushrooms was mouth watering, and my wifes' salmon was exceptional.
Much of the food is prepared with beer, the gentleman next to me had a lobster cake prepared with a Dogfishead beer.
Service was great, we were never at a loss for anything and the owner-O'Brian, was regularly making the rounds to tables, which is a very good sign.
O'Brian spoke of past beer dinners that they had put on, and if ever I get another chance to stay near Northampton, I will not miss out.

Highly recommended.
Jun 25, 2007
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Reviewed by sraimondi from Connecticut

4.74/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
UPDATE: June 12, 2007

Stopped here last week, while in the area on some business. I was only able to stay for a couple and some roasted wings, which were outstanding as usual

Drafts on during my visit were:

De Rankee XX
DFH Indian Brown
Arrogant Bastard
Hooker Oak Aged Liberator
Old Speckled Hen
Racer 5
Erdinger Hefe Weissen
Rogue Chipotle
Stone Russian Imperial Stout
O'Hara's Irish Stout
Fuller's London Porter
BBC Steel Rail Pale Ale
Brooklyn Pilsner
Great Divide Wild Raspberry
La Chouffe Houblan IPA
Framboise Lambic
Framboise Peche
Allagash White
Chimay Blue
Brother Theolonius Brown

I had time to have a Fuller's LP and a DFH Indian Brown. Yummy.

Keep up the good work Obrian.

Cheers, Steve


I ended a mini crawl in Northampton recently at The Sierra Grill--my first visit to this beer mecca. Am I glad that I stopped here before heading back to CT!

20 Draught lines, 19 in service during my visit:

BBC Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, Raspberry Wheat & Maibock
Dogfish Head 60 & 90 Minute and Hopricot
Stone Arrogant Bastard
Boont Amber Ale
Rogue XS--Old Crustacean
Young's Double Chocolate Stout
Fuller's London Porter
Old Speckled Hen
O'Hara's Irish Stout
Lindeman's Framboise Lambic & Peche Lambic
Meredsous 10
Delerium Tremens
Allagash White
St. Bernadous 12 ABT

I must say that this selection is one of the best I have ever seen in a "small" venue, especially being in the Northeast. As you would hope, the two beers I had (Fuller's (the quintessential Porter) & Peche Lambic) were served in the proper glassware & at the right temperature. I didn't have time to eat, but the food selection looked yummy too. I will be sure to try the food next time I am there.

I also had the good fortune to meet the proprietor, Obrian. He was very approachable & nice, and clearly is a beer advocate, himself. The bar tender, Susanne, also knew her beer stuff and was very pleasant.

All in all, a great experience. This is a real beer destination. If you are near Northampton, you MUST stop in. If you are not in the Northampton area, get there anyway. This place is a beer oasis; one of the best beer venues of its size I have ever been to. No kidding!!

Steve
May 14, 2007
Photo of deanhead
Reviewed by deanhead from Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This was my second time dining at the Sierra Grille. I must say my spouse and I were delighted with the exquisite experience. This place came recommended by a close friend of mine who is French, and a food snob, who also enjoys fine beer.
We enjoyed the Rogue Beer Dinner that was hosted in April 2007.

Our host Obrian did a great job pairing the food with the beer selections. The first course was a BBQ chicken thigh paired with the Kells Lager. The chicken was sumptuously tender, and went very well with the Crisp, clean lager beer. It reminded me of hot summer day cookouts.

The 2nd course was the Mussel Stew with Boudin Sausage and Red Ale. There was no shortage of mussels in this stew. It was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of zip. I typically add hot sauce to my stews and soups but, this required no additional seasoning. The spiciness came forward from the back of my mouth as I enjoyed each bite. The Rogue Dry hopped red ale was a great accompaniment. It was the first time I can recall drinking a beer dry hopped with Amarillo hops, and needless to say, I'm very excite about experimenting with this hop on my basement brewery. My wife Isabel was very found of this beer, and is also looking forward to me brewing a beer with this great hop. I digress.

Course Three was over the top as far as flavor goes. We enjoyed the Old Crusty Barleywine paired with New England cheese, a rich duck liver pate, crostini and a decadent honeycomb. Oh yes, and don't forget those mini pickles that go so well with organ meats! This was by far the richest course of the evening.

The main event for me was a Hops-smoked boneless salmon steak fire-grilled and finished with a Special Bitter rhubarb fresh dill sauce, asparagus with fennel and three cheese augratin potatoes. This was paired with Rogues tasty Younger's Special Bitter. Meredith told us the fish was farm raised. I would have preferred wild salmon instead. My wife enjoyed the Hops-smoked and roasted half chicken.

Dessert was a Molten Chocolate Cake with Stout Syrup, Frangelico Whipped Cream, and Madagascar
Vanilla Gelatto paired with Rogue Chocolate Stout. This was a decadent dessert so rich that I had to leave a bite on my plate.

It was a great re-introduction to beer dinners for me. I highly recommend the Sierra Grille for dinner and beer. Obrian is highly knowledgeable when it comes to libation, food and entertaining guests. The eternally rotating taps ensure super fresh beer and something exciting with each visit.
Apr 02, 2007
Photo of OldTex29
Reviewed by OldTex29 from Texas

4.78/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Visit date 3/10/07

The Sierra Grille is my new favorite restaurant.

As a connoisseur of craft beers, I find that going to a new restaurant can often be a bit of a crapshoot. I like to enjoy a beer or two with my meal, and many restaurants stock only bland macro-brews. I generally consider myself lucky to find just *one* beer that I like on tap at a given restaurant. Just sitting down at my table and seeing the beer list was awesome, knowing how much the owner of the Sierra Grille must care about beer to assemble a lineup like that. 18 beers on tap, all of them quality craft beers.

The list leans heavily towards Belgian or Belgian-style beers, with approximately half of the list being comprised of these. (Bonbon's review has most of the beers that were there during my visit). I started my dinner off with a Chimay Tripel. I followed this up with a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, which went quite well the Thai sauce on my duck. Unfortunately, I did not have time for a third drink.

Food: Very good. Put it this way: Three members of my party weren't BAs (and one even had wine instead of beer) and they all came away very impressed with the restaurant.

The menu is very creative. I would recommend checking out the restaurant's website to get a better sense of this. The Belgian fries deserve mentioning. I chose the fries with duck gravy as one of my sides (each meal comes with two). Delicious.

Other: Service was good, atmosphere was fine, prices were reasonable given the high quality. Entrees run $15-20. Beers are very reasonable as well, at around $4-6 a pint.

Bottom line: The Sierra Grille is definitely worth a trip for the food alone. But if you love beer (and I'm guessing you do, seeing as you're reading this review on beeradvocate.com), I cannot think of a better place to get a meal.
Mar 12, 2007
Photo of FLAbeergutinMASS
Reviewed by FLAbeergutinMASS from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
There are so many superlatives to describe this place. First off, the way the food is presented (option-wise) is like no other restaurant I've been too. There are several entries, meat, fish, and chicken that you can have prepared in a number of different styles and accompaniments. Large range of appetizers and starters to boot.

Beer selection is second in town, behind The Dirty Truth, but prices are second to none. The most expensive beer offered is priced no high than $6.00. Generally an Imperial pint will run you $4.50, couple this with the reasonable cost of the food and you've got a winner. Out of the five or so times I visited, the draft rotation has never been the same.

Great front bar section, in back is a nicely decorated wood finished dining area. Place is very kid friendly as well.
Feb 20, 2007
Photo of LeeMarvin
Reviewed by LeeMarvin from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +13.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
My friend brought me here during my last visit to Noho. The owner has worked for area craft brewers and has also worked at some of the best restaurants that the Happy Valley has to offer. He's taken the knowledge of these two fields and has created a restaurant the likes of which I haven't seen before. The beer selection is exceptional, featuring an ever changing lineup of craft brews spanning a variety of styles. While there I tried a Brother Thelonius, but settled into a Rasputin for my meal, which consisted of beautiful pork medallions cooked in a wine reduction sauce. This place has amazing food and gifted chefs. The atmosphere is classy but casual and the prices won't break the bank. Definitely the best balance of excellent beer, excellent food and excellent service I've found in a restaurant to date.
Jan 09, 2007
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.22/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Enjoyed a great meal with the family here, very warm, inviting and pleasant spot. High quality drafts (gotta love Double Bastard on tap), also about 20 other BA quality brews. The food also was interesting and high quality. You pick what you want grilled, you pick the sauce you want it with and you pick your sides, nice. Salmon with an Asian sauce was real good. Service also friendly, laid back and efficient. All in all a very worthy and BA satisfying spot. Go and enjoy fine beer, food and atmosphere. Located 3 minutes walk from The Dirty Truth in downtown Northampton. Well worth a visit if in the Amherst area.
Dec 27, 2006
Photo of Hautacam
Reviewed by Hautacam from Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
Popped in early on a Sat. for a snack and a beer with my girlfriend at the bar.
Nice looking place. ..some high tables , stained glass nice dark wood bar.. 15 taps..or more. Incredibly clean place. Beer selection was very good , mostly American micros and about half dozen Belgians or American Belgian styles...including DeRanke XX Bitter and Chimay Tripel.
You can get half pints here on some of the beers...nice option.
Service was good ..friendly and attentive.
I had mussels steamed in Allagash White....excellent , for $6 and an order of Belgian Frites..very good, for $4. with their aioli and the home made ketchup; which was probably the best ketchup I've ever had. My girlfriend really enjoyed her shrimp and scallop appetizers with very tasty sauces. There are lot's of interesting grille entrees with good choices of sauces...you can mix and match.
I had a Hennepin pint for $4 and my girlfriend had Allagash Tripel 1/2 pint for $3....both served in appropriate glassware.
Overall, a good experience. I'm sure we will go back.

9/12/06
Back again ! Another good experience. DeRanke XX Bitter on tap for me...Grimbergen Dubbel for my girlfriend. She had shrimp with a Thai sauce that was excellent ; I had steak with an onion/mushroom/Belgian Ale reduction..awesome..they let you choose whatever sauces you want on your entree; and the sides.
All good options...hard to choose.
Bartender friendly and quirky...very knowledgable on food and drink.
Met the owner , O'Brian at the CT River Fest...very nice guy.
Another nice option in Northampton.

Update 5\7\07... post Allagash Beer Dinner
Don't pass up a chance to attend one of the beer dinners here. Last night the food was just incredible...all 5 courses ! ...and oh, yeah the beer was good too.
Aug 20, 2006
The Sierra Grille in Northampton, MA
Place rating: 4.39 out of 5 with 40 ratings