J.J. Foley's

scottum

Vermont

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5

On our last trip to Boston, we hit Foley's on St Patricks day as part of the Boston BA St Patty's crawl. A nice Irish bar. Ooooh, with Murphy's on tap on St Patricks day. Nope, all out. Had a Harpoon Hiberian, their Spring Ale, and a couple shots of Tequila. An alright tap list, but only alright. Nice place to hang out, but not much special about the place. Just another bar in town. Prices are fair for the neighborhood. Worth stopping in if you actually pass by in on a stroll through the city at night.

03-22-2004 03:00:26 | More by scottum

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.36/5  rDev -2.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$

I don't get over here as much as I used to, but a few years back when I worked in the theater district, Foley's served as the unofficial bar in which buddies and I would collect at the end of a night out with last call approaching. The 2AM closing time tended to be loosely enforced, especially given that we were chummy with the owner and some of the staff. Cheap pints, no frills, and a festive Irish pub-type atmosphere. Beer-wise, definitely not a place you'll want to head if you're seeking out good craft (standard 'meh' lineup, with a couple local offerings being your best options) but if you're in the area and want to grab a quick pint - or it's 1:45AM and you want one more - worth a stop.

09-05-2012 22:02:35 | More by BostonHops

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.06/5  rDev -11%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | $$

JJ's is down a side street, between Downtown Crossing and South Station. There are not a lot of options to grab a decent beer in the area, so JJ's is an OK choice. It's usually pretty dark inside, and sometimes it can get packed. The service is good and pretty quick. The beer selection is a bit on the weak side. Drafts feature the Boston usuals, with a Murphy's and a Carlsberg thrown in there. Bottles were not much to speak of, with Hoegaarden being the most exotic. This place is not a bad option if you are stuck in the area and want a quick drink or a bite to eat, but I wouldn't consider myself one of the regular customers here.

05-03-2007 01:25:35 | More by morebeergood

LPorter33

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5 | $$

A pretty average bar. I wasn't too imrpessed and there's a lot better to find in the city. It's in the Financial District though which means it's a nice place to hit after work and when I went on a weeknight there were hardly any people which made for a more peaceful, intimate experience among coworkers. Best beer I saw on draught was a Sierra Nevada Pale. The selection wasn't much better than your typical Boston bar, maybe slightly above average. We ordered fries and wings as food and they weren't bad, maybe slightly above your typical bar food fare.

The bottom line is there's absolutely no reason to come here unless you're stuck in the area due to work or other committments and need a place to grab a few drinks and snacks.

08-25-2005 02:13:02 | More by LPorter33

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

I used to go to this place fairly often back in the '90's. It was a place to go after the other bars closed at 1 AM. More recently I have been back a few times with BA's, and the place has not changed much, though perhaps the beer selection has improved and the clientele seems to have changed somewhat.

The main room is large and rectagular with the bar on the right as you enter. There are booths to the left along the wall. The bar has ~10 stools for seating. The floor is black and white tiles. There is a room in the rear with pool tables. In the main room there is currently an "internet jukebox", always a lot of fun.

The bar has 18 taps and serves 21 bottles (which include 2 non-alcohol beers and 2 ciders). There are usually a few decent craft beers on tap. Pints are $4.00.

Overall a decent place to chill and have a few pints, especially if you want to drink until 2 AM.

08-21-2005 22:21:07 | More by UncleJimbo

BillyBrew

Maine

3.85/5  rDev +11.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5

I recall this place being much more interesting a few years ago. The last few times I have been have been pretty beat. The more interesting folks have become few and more far between (but who the hell am I?). Anyway, the beer is still great, many being inexpensive (or cheap), although the options often remain the same. The waitsaff is attentive, especially the side window that you line up in to get served in an orderly fashion. The more sparse crowds have also freed up their attention elsewhere. I have only made the kitchen once, waiting for an Amtrak, the fish and chips were pretty good. Only eating once vastly reduces sickness.

Not in its former glory, but worth the effort to find. Good beer, good servers, in a classy (read: dark, mildly dangerous) part of town. Cheers

07-18-2002 07:07:54 | More by BillyBrew

Jason

Massachusetts

3.64/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5

A little shady but not dangerous, cheap beer and pushy bartenders keep things going. Big drinking crowds without the “sports bar” persona. A place where no one knows our name and to get a little shitty.

04-01-2002 01:12:34 | More by Jason

Todd

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3 | food: 2.5

Used to love this place, but ever since the repainted the backroom, the hordes of Big Dig workers invaded and normal people discovered it, well ... it has slowly gone to hell.

$2 Schlitz are good, but they'll haunt your ass. Watch the food too -- I've gotten sick twice.

Despite all of this I go back 3 times a week, so go figure.

03-24-2002 18:40:11 | More by Todd