PUB CRAWL: The Red Herring

Written by

Alison McGee, Seth Rogovoy, Peter McLaughlin

Photography by

Ogden Gigli

Our ongoing search for the best places to meet for a well-poured drink

The unassuming, subterranean Red Herring—located adjacent to the popular, newly renovated Images Cinema in Williamstown, Massachusetts—boasts subtle touches that make it more than just a corner bar. With a cool, basement feel and dim lighting, this low-key joint reminiscent of an Old World rathskeller, with a dark-wood bar back and smoky mirrors, provides an ideal pre- or post-movie retreat where low-volume music and unobtrusive surroundings welcome intimate, early-evening conversation.

A beer bar at its heart, the Red Herring offers a satisfying array that balances microbrews such as Opa-Opa and Berkshire Brewing Company with well-known mainstays: Stella Artois, Guinness, and Sierra Nevada. But the selection of single-malt Scotches vies with the best you’ll find anywhere, including Dalwhinnie, Oban, Balvenie, and the true Scotch connoisseur’s favorite: smoky, peaty Islay malts, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. The bartender, Linda Garvie, mixes up a superb Sidecar, in line with the Old World character of the bar, and martini lovers can ask for Hendrick’s or try the California-made No. 209 gin, which fuses the traditional juniper berry with citrus, exotic fruits, and spices.

Owner Ned Smith serves up no-frills fare that includes a Mediterranean salad composed mostly of chopped tomatoes and feta with a blend of Kalamata and Spanish green olives and artichoke hearts on a bed of lettuce, all drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Classic finger-friendly appetizers and heartier options like burgers, fish and chips, and “better than your mom’s” meatloaf help sustain the Herring’s casual aura and fuel the late-night crowd.

While the Red Herring is off the beaten path (in the alleyway off of Spring Street), loyal patrons flock regularly to this northern Berkshire nightspot, finding it ideal for undisrupted socializing and sound food and drink. [SEPTEMBER 2009]