Beer and food in the sun and other Northampton, MA Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Northampton Brewery

The Northampton Brewery is apparently the oldest continuously-operated brewery in the Northeast (we trust them, though who is really keeping track?!). Despite its proximity to a large parking garage, it has a very nice location, in a space with a gorgeous wooden deck for outdoor dining (including an outdoor bar).

The food is very solid for this kind of place - we mostly stuck to sandwiches since it was lunchtime - though their own beers were pretty disappointing. Their beers were generally verging on bland (they just didn't seem to have all that much oomph!), but they also had several other (mostly local) brews on tap and that saved the day.

Favorite Dish: For unusual brewpub fare, it's hard to top the Akara, a falafel-type dish from western Nigeria (when was the last time you saw that location on a bar menu?); although a little dry, it's a tasty and very different starting option. The kielbasa sandwich was excellent - as, indeed, were the other sandwich options, and the sweet potato fries were great.

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (413) 584-9903
Address: 11 Brewster Court, Northampton MA 01060
Directions: One block off Main Street, behind Thorne's market and a big parking garage.
Website: http://www.northamptonbrewery.com/

Restaurant Name: Amanouz Cafe

Although Amanouz has seating, it's a hybrid place where you order your own food at the counter, and then take a seat while the kitchen gets to work. They have a pretty extensive menu, with everything from somewhat offbeat breakfast choices (omelets with ingredients off the beaten track), to North African stews, as well as expected choices like hummus, falafel and kebabs. When we arrived, the restaurant seemed very crowded, but people move through quickly and it shouldn't be too hard to get a spot (at least once the semester has ended!). They also have plenty of regional sweet things, and delicious mint tea.

Favorite Dish: The North African tagine stews were very good, with nice spices, but they take a while to cook, which you may want to bear in mind if others are ordering quick-prep dishes!

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Theme: Middle Eastern
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 413-515-9128
Address: 44 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
Website: http://www.amanouz.com/