Choate Bridge Pub, Ipswich MA

I only wandered into this pub/restaurant/ sportsbar, (they manage to tie all of this together very well) The Choate Bridge Pub   in Ipswich, MA because I was exploring the land my ancestors had settled. My forefather, John Choate had arrived in the Ipswich area in 1652, founded and farmed  Choate Island in Essex Bay and ultimately spawned a line that includes a Revolutionary War hero, ministers, scholars – and me! After reading archives at the Ipswich Library all morning I was drawn to the pub at the bottom of the hill,  named after the bridge bearing that family name (the Choate Bridge is the oldest arched stone bridge in the country). Now, years later, I still go to the pub for what I think is the best hamburger ever and a pint of Bass Ale.

My most recent visit was Sunday in the midst of a mid-January snow storm. While the bar with it’s large screen T.V.’s was not packed as it usually is, but still a fun place to be, we decided to sit in the back dining room by one of the large windows and enjoy watching the snow fly. We were also close to the back door so I could pop out and take some pictures – like this one of the Choate Bridge and the Ipswich River.

We were certainly cold, and aside from the Bass Ale to start, we ordered an appetizer of  Jalapeno Poppers.

The poppers look much better than they actually are I’m afraid – and the lack of heat we were expecting from the chili peppers -  but now having Mexican food on our minds, led us to another decison. Why not have a little Tequila!

That warmed us up….time to order, and I chose my favorite.  The Pub Burger, no cheese, medium rare. Rob toyed with the idea of having one of the lunch specials – fish and chips -  but couldn’t resist what he knew would be great. He also ordered the pub burger,  but with American cheese and bacon. While we waited for the burgers to arrive we enjoyed some of the art on the walls.

It is definitely heavy to the Choate Bridge theme – but very interesting!

 The hamburgers arrived promptly, done just as we had ordered and on their fantastic onion buns.

Rob had ordered his with the pub fries, which are good, but I ordered mine with the onions rings, which are fantastic!

Sign of the times – the burgers are noticeably smaller than in years past, but still wonderful -  flame grilled and worth the trip. We had more than enough to eat, a great waitress, a nice pint of ale – and of course that tequila. A fun place, the best burgers I know of, and a scenic and historic setting as well. On the way out and a short stroll over the bridge came an opportunity to capture the moment with some snow shots of the Ipswich River winding it’s way through downtown Ipswich.

 Looking North and South from the Choate Bridge, Ipswich MA