Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill

A solid, neighborhood pub that doesn’t pretend to be more than it is. The JJ is a great place to watch sports games, or to have a quiet drink with a friend after work. I’ve never had an issue finding a seat, even during a Patriots game. The prices are reasonable for drinks and they don’t skimp on the liquor.
The bartender was nice to talk to. He seemed to be running outside every 10 minutes though for a smoke break. Fine as long as you have a drink, but try not to run out while he’s outside.
Food was good. We got the chicken wings and they were delicious. Because it was a game day, they had a 50cents/​wing special. Buffalo sauce is certainly spicy so make sure you have some blue cheese sauce or water to negate the burn.
Weekly events include trivia, darts, karaōke, and live music. Check out the schedule inside the bar!

I have lived within a 3 block radius from this place for 12 years. I can not count the number of times I’ve been here. Tonight was my last.
Something has happened over the last few years. A lot of the longtime staff left in the last 2 – 3 years ago. Most recently, the menu changed (not sure if they’re trying to make up for James’ Gate closing?), but it is just a skosh too precious. I’m a foodie, but if i’m going to the local dive bar/​pub (which is what the JJ is), I want the tuna melt, I want the onion rings, I want a toastie, and my friend’s 4 year old wants a hot dog. Definitely not the Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls. Tonight, I got a burger, which was fine in and of itself. I noticed that all the food I saw come out of the kitchen now comes in wire baskets with no solid bottom. Does anyone think about the process of cutting a burger in half while it sits in a wire basket with a little piece of tissue paper under it? If I were sitting outside on the Cape, ordering fish and chips, a basket would be appropriate. A burger– not so much. Is there something wrong with plates? Do they cost that much more to wash?
The service used to be great. The last few times the bartender has been a new person every time, but has seemed fairly solid. Tonight was a whole new low. The bartender (whose name I wish I could remember), was too busy to notice I’d walked in and sat down at the bar because he was talking to his friends. When he finally did come around, he had to come back a few minutes later and ask for both my food and drink order a second time (see aforementioned talking to friends), and still took a stunning about of time to pour a pint. I was done with my beer less than halfway through my meal, put the empty glass forward, but it seems he was too interested in talking on the phone (which he took with him to… the bathroom??) and then making new music selections to notice that I (and at least one other customer I observed) was waiting for him. The bar seating itself was full, but none of the tables were, and people were hanging out with friends and talking– it was not a busy night. The degree of inattention displayed suggested that he was that horrible at his job, really just doesn’t care, or that he was drunk or high himself. (To be clear– I have no evidence to back up his being chemically altered, but state it to point out how divorced he was from the job at hand).
I worked in restaurants through the end of high school, all of college, and beyond. I have not gone on second dates with people because of how poorly they treated wait staff. I alway tip 20%. It takes a lot for me to leave no tip. And tonight that happened.

Why are they so mean and thoughtless?
The closing bartender on Thursday, June 25^th was so unacceptably rude. I live on the same block as this bar but will never bring my friends here again. I brought a bunch of friends to Jeannie Johnston and their terrible service made me look like a crappy host.
I brought a group of 8 girls here to celebrate one of our last nights together in Boston after three years. We ordered tons of drinks and then at exactly one AM she starts yelling at us to «get the F*CK out of my bar» and demanded that we not even finish our drinks. We weren’t drunk or rowdy, and were honestly confused why she was acting so hostile. There was no last call, no warning, no friendly reminders. We had been her only customers in an otherwise empty bar and she thanked us by ruining our night.
Despite a fun night with some great friends, all we will remember is being made to feel sh*tty by a mean woman for no reason. We want our tips back!
AAAAAaand, earlier that night, they had forgotten to place our food order for over half an hour and then declared that the kitchen was closed after we asked, hungrily, how our tater tots were coming along.

I am not one for dive-​type bars but we went due to it’s close proximity to where my friend lives. There was nobody there so we got to sit where we wanted & watch some soccer which was great since she even added the sound for us.
They have a bunch of fried food options (not my thing). The best thing about this place is they have Not Your Dad’s Beer (tastes like root beer).
Although the bartender/​server helping us was really nice she seemed like out of place since she wasn’t sure about stuff but tried her best. The annoying thing was whenever she came over she would stand between the table & the tv so I would miss things happening throughout the match. That was annoying.

Ok so I don’t know why I haven’t written a review for this amazing place yet. Well worth a 6^th star if I could give it to these guys. They have some of the best bartenders in the greater Boston area. I stop in as often as I can to see Kris, Cheryl, Matty, and/​or Hunter. They always greet you with a smile and if you become a regular they’ll have your first drink at your seat in less than 30 seconds. On a Saturday night they do a really great karaōke night with lots of great singers that will sometimes shock you with how much talent is in JP. Also during the middle of the week they have Monday night football or Monday night raw on TV, trivia night, darts, a local DJ night and more. Worth checking this dive bar out if you’re ever headed into downtown JP. Steps from the Orange line and in a very friendly area. Decent fried foods, great drink selection with tall shots and PBR for $ 3.25 but please please please if you go here make sure to tip your bartenders :)

Wow. I have never come across a ruder bartender in my whole life. How can someone be so rude and disrespectful to their customers before literally demanding tips off them. Get off your high horse mate.

great wings, good conversation with the locals, also attentive bar staff it is very helpful. also good tunes juke or bartenders playlist.

I went here last night for my works Christmas party… The staff made you feel like you were at home, & the food was on point… Super delicious! The crowd was awesome & karaōke was great! The guy that did the karaōke was super nice! An all around awesome experience!!! Can’t wait to go again!

Small place on South Street in JP. Come on Saturday nights for good karaōke with a mix of JP yuppies, hipsters and locals all coming together to sing some tunes, although I have been charged a $ 2 cover in the past if the place is busy. Decent prices on drinks and good beer selection. The kitchen is also open until 1 I believe. All in all a fun place to come, either as a destination or a pit stop.

After passing by Jeanie Johnston many times, I finally went in with a couple of friends on a Saturday night. We walked in, and the karaōke was going strong.
There was a dining area, which was where the karaōke took place. We sat at the bar. They have a wide selection of beers, including one of my favorites, the Boulevard Tank 7. Although it was about 50 cents more a pint than Behan, it was still decently priced.
Even though we came in late, the karaōke DJ let us sing one song.
The staff is excellent, very friendly and attentive. You can tell a lot of regulars come to the bar. It has a very warm neighborhood pub feel.

Holy shit! So this just seriously happened, I was walking in and the twenty something year old douchebag bouncer told me it was too full! It was half empty! So I’m standing there and these two girls come up and walk in, one of them says… «Oops I forgot my ID» ! The bouncer was like «pretty girls like you get a pass, this time» They couldn’t have been older than 19! I hope this place gets shut down by the liquor control board, I’m filing a complaint!

I love this place. Decent beer and good bar food. Don’t expect fancy frou-​frou anything, but grilled cheese, fries, tater tots, and beer =Goodness.

DO YOU WANT YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION STOLEN?
Then don’t go here.
I know over a dozen people that have gotten there card information stolen and fraudulently used after going to this place. Including myself. I’m not going to go into more details, but it has been 100% verified that the theft came within Jeannie Johnston Pub.
Avoid this place. Let them go out of business.

Stopped in here on a Monday evening. Jeanie Johnston is *not* a dive bar. It’s a solid, dark wood, dimly lit pub. We sat at the bar, and our waitress was fantastic. She was absolutely adorable; an enjoyable combination of conversationalist, beer advisor, and bartender. She had a friendly demeanor and I did not mind a bit when she tried to up-​sell and gave us warning that the kitchen was closing.
While I cannot recall which beers were available, I do know a couple had run out. Whatever I opted for was (a) not a standard ho-​hum beer and (b) tasted pretty good. I really enjoyed the relaxed vibe here.

Great staff, good food and an interesting mix of clientele. I never not have a good time and karaōke nights are insane and fun. Try the burger with onions rings or sweet potato fries and the steak n’ blue cheese salad.

The BEST trivia, ever. Wednesday nights at 9pm, I think. Totally neat new format and awesome music.
Beer selection is okay — they have bbc steel rail currently, so that’s rad, otherwise just the usual suspects. Have never eaten here, but the food looks good. Regular pub grub stuff. all in a pretty good neighborhood bar.

How is the staff here so nice? We rolled in at 9 on a Sat night, and everyone from the bartenders to waitresses were incredibly friendly and helpful, even as our group got bigger and louder (and drunker). Total surprise, and definitely worth mentioning (thank you, Jeanie staff!).
Saturday night karaōke is also worth mentioning, as it’s seriously awesome… great song selection, hilarious crowd (think less wasted college kids, and more hardcore middle-​aged songsters who take their craft seriously), fabulous atmosphere (we basically took over an entire half of the pub, and still had plenty of room to move around/​dance/​sit/​munch on apps).
If I lived closer, I’d definitely be a regular here…

For some reason I always get this place confused with the Brendan Behan. Alliterated names syndrome maybe?
In any case, these bars are night and day. This place has food, though not any worth eating. A pretty short beer list, so stick to the Harpoon. No dogs are allowed, though fratty and close-​suburban type guys are.
The reason I’m still giving this place stars? I had the best karaōke night of my life there. It’s weird. I’ve been there when the dj is stingy and won’t let anyone sing more than one song per table, even if you’ve been there all night. But my legend night, I got to sing a few, soul’d out with some Dream Girls ‘I Am Tellin’ You I Ain’t Goin”, danced with some guys in cowboy hats and listed to Mr. Mark sing a dozen songs with the word ‘Mom’ in them. (It was Mother’s Day.)
Hot tip: If it’s the regular DJ, only request one song at a time or else he gets cranky.

Solid place. Good cheap drinks. A good draft costs under 5 $, which is awesome for a place that also serves good food!
GET THE WINGS. you will not regret it :)
Saturday night karaōke is always a hit.

After the guys at my job kept raving about the 25 cent wings here, I finally tagged along and joined them! I think overall we ordered about 40 wings. Ridiculous, I am still trying to recover from the amount of wings I ate. Not to mention the Long Island I ordered was extremely light, usually when I get these they are a little on the dark side. resembling Iced Tea.
I’m not exactly complaining, I just regret not eating before I came here because the Long Island was stronger than I’m used to.
This was a decent experience, minus the guy who served us wings & drinks. He tried to make it seem like he didn’t want us to order that many wings, according to the cook they wanted to «save some for people coming in later on.» It was already 8pm, and there were 5 of us, plus one woman dining alone, on a snowy day! So I’m not sure what crowd he was waiting for, from what I hear it’s usually not that busy in here, lol yikes.