The Quahog Republic Whaler’s Tavern

So, we really really want to like it here. Before we get to the bad stuff — the service is great. The crafted cocktails are good. The food — oh no. We have been here many times and we always leave underwhelmed. Flatbreads, for the price, are Ellio’s pizza. Veggie burger — cold. Portobello mushroom burger was a sloppy inedible mess. I know everyone raves about the lobster roll but I thought it was just alright. It’s ideal for some drinks and a cool environment but I recommend elsewhere for dinner.

Have been to the Whaler Tavern many times last summer, one of our favorite places in New Bedford.
Well that all changed last night, sat at the bar and it busy but not over the top busy. The bartender was so rude and unfriendly, we were taken aback because we had experienced this before at the WT. I am not sure what his name is but he has been there for awhile and has never been overly friendly but never rude and insulting as he was last night. If we go back and he is working we will not spend our hard earned money to be treated like dirt. This guy is not very tall and has salt & pepper hair and beard, I wanted to reach over the bar and belt him but my better judgment won out. There were 8 of us in our party and all of us felt the same way!
What a shame that one person can ruin an otherwise nice watering hole.
Joe V.

Cool spot in DT New Bedford. Giant amount of Lobster tails on my Tavern Salad. Great drinks. They specialize in rum and offer flights. We enjoyed the atmosphere. Small and quaint, but not crowded

Great atmosphere and waitress was very friendly. Nice selection of IPA beers on tap. wife and I split fries with truffle oil which was very good also had fish and chips not greasy and was yummy. wife had little necks in a spicey broth which also was good even though not a whole of little necks. we definitely will be back

First time here. Not very big insidw but nice inside, quaint. Must say the service was very very good. The food was also excellent. Loved the stuffed quahog. Will definitely go back.

Went on mother’s day with hubby and baby. The restaurant was crowded but we managed to get a table after a short wait. The server and hostess were both very nice and patient with our toddler, who wanted to run around the place and toss crackers onto the floor. Be warned though, they only have one high chair but fortunately the family who had the high chair were nearly done and gave it to us soon after we arrived. We got the loaded sweet potato fries, quahog chowder, cod sandwich and clams with linguini. Everything was delicious! I would totally go back just for the clams with linguini, yum. It’s also served with some of the best garlic bread I’ve ever had. The décor is cute too; it has a nautical but modern vibe.

Whaler’s Tavern is literally ten steps from my office, so you could say I am there a lot. The wines are good and the cocktails are even better. The Mai Tai is amazing, but I can’t drink one and then drive home, so be careful with that one. I love their variety of food specials, which change weekly. It is a good model because it keeps regulars from getting bored with the menu. Their flatbreads and special salads are great. I love the atmosphere here and will continue to come back again and again.

They have 3 locations and we have eaten at two so far. Absolutely loved both places.
Great rum selection and they offer rum flights.
The food was delicious and well worth every penny. You have to order the quahog chowder!!!
Friendly service, very at tentative and no being rushed. New Bedford location is not very big, but still looks nice.
Looking forward to going back!

Great atmosphere with delicious food and drinks! Stopped by here on our visit to see the whaling exhibits. Great service and some delicious recommendations. If the goat Flatbread is being served (was a special) make sure to get it! Had a few rum flights among my party, generous pours for sure. My favorites were the local batch consisting of locally distilled rum.

The drinks, food, and atmosphere are great. It’s a small place but has a nice bar and tables for groups of four. My husband was impressed with their abundant rum selection, rum flights, and drinks. The food was equally delish with highlights including raw bar, chowder, cod cakes, and the lobster roll. Lobster roll was HUGE. I got mine over greens instead of on a roll. My only suggestion would be they were a little skimpy on the greens but they made up for it with about a pound of lobster cooked perfectly. We’ll be back!

It was a very cold night in the middle of winter. We were seeing a play at the nearby Ziterrian, and were wandering around for some food. The Whaler’s Tavern looked cozy, inviting, and rustic. It has the most beautiful lanterns, and antique boating paintings. It felt like a classic NYC bar, being small, uniquely decorated with great authentic nautical décor, and lots of wood. Wooden benches, wooden beams, wooden tables. The best part? The benches were heated! Overall, the atmosphere sold me. It made me forget we were in modern day New Bedford.
For meals, Saralynn ordered the salad, my mom got the burger, and I got the fish n chips. All of us enjoyed our food, and my fish n chips was one of the best I had. The best part about the menu is their lengthy rum menu.
This is an absolute must for some good atmosphere and excellent food in the NB area!

By far the best lobster roll i have ever had in my life. And i have had many!!! Pricey but totally worth it. No fillers just great fresh tasting lobster. Delish.

Great drinks. Great service. Delicious oysters from Duxbury. The lobster roll is outrageous. Mussels also very flavorful. Highly recommended.
This place is the real deal.

Good spot. I sat near the door on the left, you may want to avoid that spot. The specials menu does not identify the difference between appetizers and entrée (why). They don’t have a wide variety of desserts (only one cinnamon bun tonight). With that said, the food was really good and I would come back again, definitely. I enjoyed myself and you will too. This from a strong fan of Rose Alley. The lighting is great. It’s a relaxed environment. It is a true tavern in every sense. These types of spots make New Bedford a better place. You should support this «small business» establishment, because it’s got good food & good atmosphere. Keep up the great work. Cheers!

A great addition to the New Bedford downtown area. The menu has many of the regional favorites. Daily specials are always changing. The entrees were well presented and potions were plentiful. I noticed that the favors and seasonings were very subtle. I wouldn’t be offended if they kicked things up a notch. The real treasure about this place is the varieties of Rum. So many rums to choose from that you can order whole flights of rum and improve your knowledge. You may pay a little more but worth it.

A very nice option when touring New Bedford, and quite convenient to the Whaling Museum. I had a good (and well-​priced-​less than $ 20, exclusive of tax and tip) swordfish dinner, and my companion enjoyed her cod cake meal ($ 14, exclusive of tax and tip). Good and friendly service, and pleasant atmosphere.

Order the Monstah Lobstah roll. It is SO good, SO large. I got it to go, the employees were super friendly and nice. The inside was really cute when I picked up, I wished I had decided to eat there. I will definitely be back next time I’m in New Bedford!

Mojitos were great. Cod cakes were FANTASTIC, and the appetizer size (2) was more than I could eat. Highly recommended.

I was really excited when I first heard of this tavern opening downtown. I am a big supporter of local business and jumped at the first opportunity to check this place out. However, upon first walking in I immediately got the vibe that my friends and I were not welcome. After a few passive aggressive comments from a couple «off duty» employees directed at one of my friends it became apparent we were out of place. Comments i heard were «why is the young crowd coming in». The bartenders attitude was not much better. The second we took our seats at the bar he immediately said «Last call guys, one drink only». It was 12:40…
[Edit:The house rum tasted like nutmeg but overall was good]

So happy to have the Whalers Tavern as an addition to New Bedford’s bar and resturant options! We split a delicious lobster roll and ordered two cups of their hearty kale soup. The food and service was great. Can’t wait to try some of their other cocktails. I had the Bloody Mary with a cocktail shrimp. We’ll be back soon!