The Winner’s Circle

The pizza is really good, thats why i go there. I do get pissed off at the place having ash trays at the door going in! State law is 25 feet from entrance you can smoke !! They shouldn’t be smoking at the door!

The «Circle» is definitely a unique type of sports bar. The strange setup here can be very confusing for someone coming here on their first visit. But it definitely has a laid back feel to it. They have a takeout food system near the front door where you place your order, get a number ticket, and pick it up when it’s called. The food is okay. It’s nothing too fancy but decent bar food. My favorite is the pepperoni pizza. I usually order the small pizzas because they seem to cook better than the large ones. The beer selection here is pretty good. They have a good selection for everyone from the very affordable American classic PBR to some craft beers that they serve on a rotation schedule. Plus a couple fruit beers and ciders. They have free pool on Mondays, free comedy on Tuesdays, cornhole tournaments on Wednesdays, and make sure to check out their trivia on Thursdays!

Maybe some of this is due to nostalgia. We used to come here when I was a counselor at Camp.
You kind of have to know what you’re getting into here. It’s a Boston sports bar and you can play Keno from every table.
It’s cash only, and your order your food when you first walk in. You’re going to have to listen carefully for your number to be called over loudspeakers.
All that being said, there are some gems on the menu. Pizza is doughy, but good. My personal favorite is The steak and cheese sandwich with a side of steak fries. These are some of my favorite steak fries of all times.
There’s also a small arcade in a bunch pool tables outback. Great place to watch the game.

We stopped in for a beer and some dinner on a Sunday night after traveling all day as this place was close to our hotel and looked like a nice sports bar from outside in the dark. What a total disappointment. When we walked in we noticed that the kitchen was a small area near the front door and there was a window to order your food, similar to being at a roller rink as a kid. We sat at the bar and ordered a couple draft beers. The bartender told us as he set them down that the whole place was cash only, and the beers that were $ 5 each were served in clear plastic cups. Really?
We asked if we could order food and he agreed to place the order. I ordered the fish soup, my wife a chicken sandwich. After he took the order he walked it over to the window and every few minutes we heard them calling numbers over a loud speaker. It was extremely annoying. We had to ask to have the bartop in front of us wiped down when our food arrived, as it was dirty with crumbs of food from the last patrons. He came back with a wet rag and wiped it down leaving it dripping wet. Our food came out in disposable dishes with cheap plastic silverware. We had to ask for napkins and the bartender brought back a stack of cocktail napkins from the bar.
The chowder was ok, although consistency was very thin almost like warm milk with butter. The chicken sandwich was small and on a cheap grocery store hamburger bun, we probably would have had a better one at the Burger King next door.
After he dropped off the food he ignored us until I flagged him down to pay the bill. Total disappointment, don’t waste your time!

Perfect bar food! The fries and pizza are awesome! Most of all we love the company. We are from out of town and it is a great place to go to feel like home. 5 years we have been stopping in to this bar for a bite to eat and a couple of drinks and the service is always outstanding. I recommend this place to any one who loves a sports bar with a good atmosphere!!!

I love it here. I have never been to a bar but when I walked in and told the bartender she know what to make. They are vary nice and friendly. And not just the people that work there. The guest there are so nice. We played pool with a couple for hours. I would go back any day

This is a good dive bar. I saw someone mention it earlier. TV’s/Arcade/Gambling/Pool. That’s exactly what it has and what its trying to offer.
I don’t eat there very often, occasionally something to snack on while watching a game or playing pool. I have been there when they have actually put out free food. If I need a real meal I go to Sylvan before or after.
Impressive beer selection and very reasonably priced. The arcade is big enough to keep your kids busy for a while.
My gripes? The bar layout is a little awkward (nothing you can do now), there is only one television down in the pool room, and the cash only thing is silly.
Go there to have a drink and watch a game or shoot some pool and play Keno. Enjoy it for what it is.

The Winner’s Circle is good for keno and a beer. The food isn’t wonderful, but it’s cheaply priced, so you get what you pay for there. It’s one of those places where the locals go drink and get trashed, trashed mouth too; them and the bartender. So if you’re looking for some entertainment on the side with keno; this is the place to go. Otherwise, buy your keno ticket there and eat next door.
I’ve had their clam roll for about ten bucks and it was delicious, but it wasn’t all that big, but again, neither was the price. I had their onion rings too and did not feel they were taken out of a freezer as suggested above, although that person thought it was weird there was no malt vinegar on the table. Hello… this is New England! You won’t find vinegar at too many restaurants up north.

I met my boyfriend for a beer after work here one night. The place was unusual when you walk in and all I felt was stares from everyone in the place. People literally stared until I sat down. I could tell it was like a regulars type of place but just wanted a beer and then go home. The first bartender on was okay, she got us the beers and asked u to cash out right away because she was leaving. We wanted another beer and the next bartender ignored us while our beers were sitting there empty. we also wanted a app and once we got his attention we were wondering about the fries. There was quite a few different options. The man spoke to us like we were idiots very unprofessional and very unfriendly. Food was brought to us at a good amount of time and was okay. Took forever for him to pay attention to us to get the check. We could have just left that is how much he cared, and it was a Monday night so it was slow.
I felt like it would be a fun place to go with your friends to watch the game but defiantly felt like a place you had to be a regular. But who wants to become a regular when your first experience is so uncomfortable.

Better choices around. Dirty tables, outdated, poor quality pool tables and got sick with the food.
Staff also was unpleasant and witnessed the manager confrontational with a customer. Will be going elsewhere, better off with sylvan street grill next door.

I’ve been frequenting the Winners Circle for 15 years, and everytime I visit it seems like they have have made some sort of improvement. Its a great place to watch a game with your buddies, grab a bite to eat and have a beer. They have great pub food, pizza, wings, burgers, etc. They also have many beers on tap, keno, pool, darts, and a game room. Best sports bar in the area.

I walked through the bar and seen chicken wings that might be good. …When. I got them they where a reheated fried old order with the teriyaki sauce fried on them and they where dried black from frying them with sauce on them. I returned them and got wing dings. I’ll never go back and am thinking about calling the board of health.

I been coming here for years and yes it’s not Fancy but it a great place for Pizza and few Beers and watch a game and the Prices are Great Too

If you’re looking for a neighborhood dive bar, this is your place. As mentioned by another reviewer, it’s an awkward set up for a dine in restaurant. I had to ask the girl stationed at the lottery machine if we should wait to be seated, where to order.
On our visit on 2÷16÷14 I ordered a fried clam plate $ 16 and a fried haddock plate $ 11. On their white board I saw that they had homemade onion rings; one order is $ 5. I asked that the fried haddock plate have the onion rings in place of the french fries. They added $ 5 onto my bill. Our total was $ 32.
We waited a reasonable amount of time and our order number was called. You have to pick up your order at the same place you placed it. No table service. My husband returned to our table with the two plates of food. There was a good quantity of fries and onion rings. The fried food was greasy, but once I absorbed the grease, the food tasted hot and fresh. The was a good amount of fish, my pieces were thin, not a fillet piece; the clams were good but not fully breaded. No malt vinegar to be found. The fries were frozen, and I knew immediately the onion rings were frozen. I went back to the ordering counter and said «These onion rings aren’t homemade are they?» The counter person reluctantly and a bit embarrassed, said «No». I didn’t ask, nor did he offer to refund me the $ 5 extra that I paid for homemade onion rings. I didn’t eat the onion rings.
The restaurant itself has a dark, cluttered sports memorabilia atmosphere, in need of updating. Space between some benches and table is narrow, so if you’re stout you might want to opt for a table. The condiment bottles and salt and pepper shakers were sticky (tried several). Tables were clean and wiped down. Based on what I observed from the clientele, the Winner’s Circle appears to be a great neighborhood hangout to have a few beers and play the lottery that also happens to serve food.
The upstairs is a place you can have a private party. Full bar and bartender available for drinks. High top tables, mini booths for seating and they provide long tables where you can take in your own party food and/​or have them bring up pizza or wings. Tried both, as Unilocal suggests for a two star rating; «I’ve experienced better» Also: No Credit Cards Accepted

Yuk. Can I get a non disposable glass? I’m paying the same price for a drink at a nicer bar. I also felt like an old fart at the age of 32 drinking out of a solo cup at a frat party I was too old for.

The Winner’s Circle is a Sports Bar that’s been around since 1973. They haven’t changed much but that’s what gives it its character. Prices are CHEAP CHEAP. A 24oz PBR is $ 3.25. Try getting that deal in Newburyport. Food is great and they have daily specials. Fish Chowder is OUT OF THIS WORLD good and the seafood is from David’s Fish Market down the street. They’ve got tons of tvs, pool tables, keno, pull tabs, and a game room for the kid inside of you. It is CASH ONLY and self-​serve but that means no one bothers you to hurry up and leave. Love free pool mondays, hilarious free comedy on tuesdays, and free trivia on thursdays ($ 100 CASHHH prize!). Can’t beat that. Favorite bar in the area for sure

Well. It’s happened again. Unilocal has rejected my original review because it wasn’t substantive enough and didn’t describe my actual experience.
It read like this: «Winner’s Circle»? More like «Loser’s Circle»
Which is the most obvious joke ever for a sucky dive sports bar and I used it IRONICALLY too. Which makes me cool. Right?
So, more expansively I might say the place is dirty and disorganized. The food counter is awkward and the ATM always busted. The food is disgusting. Nachos? A nasty, soggy mess of cheese and beans… but in a bad way.
With about a billion places with tvs that show every sporting event that happens everyday why would anyone come here unless the lived within walking distance?
This place makes Sylvan Street look good but still wins out over Buffalo Wild Wings.
FAIL

This place is an okay place for a night out with friends to watch a game but not a destination spot for dinner. The food is not bad but there is nothing special about it either… pub food (and not great pub food)
Service is okay at the bar… not very social if you aren’t a regular and if you sit at a table you go to a counter to order and wait for your number to be called. The bartender seemed irritated when I ordered soda and informed him that I was tonight’s driver. He actually called me lame. You would think that they want people leaving responsibly from their business. Had to flag him down to order some mozzarella sticks and didn’t bother trying to order anything else after that. He didn’t offer either. Whatever, we came to play keno anyway.
Pool tables, keno, scratch tickets, video games, dart boards and tons of tv’s are everywhere for your entertainment. Not a bad place but I think there are much better places for food if you want a nice dinner and much better places for company if you are seeking conversation. I only come for the keno.

So, yeah it’s a little divey and could use a good cleaning, but this place has THE BEST fish chowder in the area. You can only get it on Saturdays and its fresh fresh fresh!
I come here with my mother. It’s a good place for food, a couple pints, and some keno and scratchers.
The oddity here is that they have like a «concession stand» area where you go up and order your food– then go to a booth and go back up when they call your number. It works though. Most of the food is pubbish.
It has a game room for kids (and kids at heart) and tons of big screen sports.
If they cleaned up this place a bit, it would be a solid 4 stars.

we went here to watch the celtics with some friends last night. we got there early and got a table right in the front, the main TV is big enough so even if you sit near the back you can still see pretty well. We decided to order some food/​drinks while waiting for the game to start… there are no waiters/​waitresses at this place. You go up and order your food and they call your number when it’s ready. We ordered pizza, seasoned french fries and mozzarella sticks.
While waiting for our food, we went up to the bar. Most of our friends got beer, however I don’t drink beer. Once I realized that wine was probably not an option, I asked for a long island iced tea. which they don’t make. The bartender said they wont make a drink with more than two types of alcohol in it… swell. I then looked at their drink menu, picked another type of drink… which they also couldn’t make because they didn’t have the right ingredients…(sigh)… about to give up I asked the bartender for a recommendation, he replied «i never make these drinks». fabulous. I ended up paying $ 6 for some random tiny drink that was filled to the brim with ice.
We waited about 15 minutes for our food then our number was called. I was overall impressed — especially for bar food. the pizza was good, the crust was my favorite part. The seasoned fries were excellent too.
The overall experience was good; the crowd was great and very diverse. older&younger people mixed. all respectful of one another. parking is pretty ample and we didn’t have to pay a cover. I’d probably return to watch another game, I’d just bring my own wine or something lol
**NOTE: This place is CASH ONLY. no credit cards! come prepared.