I love the Burren
DESCRIPTION: Excellent atmosphere and always a good time. The Burren has two rooms the front with a small irish band and a back room with the band of the night. The crowd is always good although it can get a little crowded so get there early in order to have a booth. The bartenders are all very friendly.
DATE: 2003-07-19
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10

Authentic and Fun
DESCRIPTION: Yeah, there are lots of Irish bars in Boston and environs, but this one stands out for its authenticity and comfort. It is relaxed, a little old fashioned with great,live, Irish music. The music seems pretty impromptu, though they have rigged up a microphone to pipe the music through the front bar, you never know who you'll see, maybe a local or maybe some touring sensation from Ireland. The food is pretty good, (nothing exciting, just pub food,) and the place is always lively. The drawbacks are its noise and the prepodnderance of Tufts students, a particularly dull class of student. The bar is entirely wood so the sound echos and reverberates around, it is hard to hear yourself think sometimes.
DATE: 2003-09-12
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Beer

Outstanding in a Bar
DESCRIPTION: For a bar the food is top notch. I was very suprised by how good it was. The service was typical for pub grub, and the beer was nice. The setting was pleasent too.
DATE: 2006-01-07
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6

Finnegans rules
DESCRIPTION: I love Finnegans Wake because they pour a great pint, plus Louise is cool.
DATE: 2003-03-20
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : guinness

Finnegan's Wake and Pub Is a True Find
DESCRIPTION: A truly attractive, warm, down-to-earth, cozy restaurant, Finnegan's Wake is located in the lower level of a former foundry in a remote section of downtown Walpole, Mass. Irish native Tom Kirwin, with his gracious demeanor and pleasing Irish accent, and Walpole native Kristen Smith (also the master chef) are long-time restauranteurs with a knack for turning our great lunch and dinner selections. Kirwin owned the former Kirwin's Kitchen, a classic Walpole breakfast and lunch place where Smith waitressed. Several years ago, Kirwin decided to close Kirwin's, and with Smith opened Finnegan's Wake around the corner. No "luck of the Irish" was needed here; Smith and Kirwin forged ahead to bring an authentic, high quality Irish restaurant with lots of character to Walpole from day one. Finnegan's Wake's greatest offerings are a delicious Guinness beef pie, with fish and chips, shepard's pie and roast turkey and of course, a wide variety of beers and ales that would not look out of place in Ireland. For appetizers, the Irish potato pizza has an addictive full body taste, courtesy of fresh potato skins, peppers, tomatoes, scallions and blended cheeses. Desserts include a brownie ala mode bursting with authentic fudge sauce. The soups and salads are fresh (great French onion soup, clam chowder and Caesar salads) and the warm, homemade rolls suggest great things to come before the arrival of the main entrees. Service is always pleasant; judging from the friendliness of the wait and bar staff, they really seem to enjoy working in the attractive and cozy setting. The atmosphere is indeed memorable. The dining room has high ceilings, soft lighting, soothing yellow and gold tones, subtle candle light at night, huge stylish wooden booths, Irish memorabilia lining the mantle above the high walls and exposed brick walls perfectly married with handsome dark wood. The bar area sports living room comfort with large screen televisions, comfortable tables and wall to wall rugs, mirrors and more dark wood and occasional entertainment (one or two singers at a time) to create the pub you've dreamed about but never quite found. Finnegan's Wake is a nice escape from the hectic pace of Boston. It is the perfect dining getaway in a town with a high Irish population that knows it Irish food. They know Finnegan's Wake to be the "real thing," a place close to home that exceeds in quality and ambiance many of the high end Irish restaurants and pubs in Boston.
DATE: 2006-04-14
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Guinness beef pie, shepherd's pie, roast turkey