Black Raspberry Pub
Some restaurants are family friendly, and some are actually run by one.
“It is truly family run. My daughter Alexa is on the bar, my daughter Kylie is working in the kitchen, and my son Nicholas is also helping. My husband Tom can usually be found around too. We are all hands-on seven days a week. It’s our second home,” says owner Diane Garofalo.
And when you walk into The Black Raspberry Pub, you’ll instantly feel like part of the family too.
Tucked away in the Cordage Park section of Plymouth, The Black Raspberry Pub has been a local favorite for decades. According to Diane, it’s become the kind of place where everyone knows each other.
“A lot of our customers now call The Black Raspberry the local Cheers because everybody comes in and says hello to one another. We have a lot of repeat customers, so hopefully we’re accomplishing that hometown feeling.”
The space works for just about any occasion. You can grab a seat at the lively bar with friends, enjoy a date night, or bring the whole family. And the menu is packed with comforting pub favorites that feel both familiar and satisfying.
“The menu is typical American pub fare. We offer everything from a ten-inch bar pizza all the way to steak tips and pasta. We take pride in our food, and if you don’t see something on the menu, our motto has always been: we’ll make it for you.”
The starters at The Black Raspberry are a lineup of crowd-pleasers. There are crispy garlic parmesan tenders served with ranch, buffalo wings that are baked and then fried for extra crispiness, and buffalo chicken egg rolls packed with chicken, cheese, scallions, and blue cheese, all deep fried and served with dipping sauce.
The smashed skins are another standout — baked potatoes cut into quarters, fried until crispy, and loaded with jack cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and scallions. Served with sour cream, they’re basically a loaded baked potato you can eat with your hands.
If you’re craving cheese pulls, the mozzarella bites deliver. Hand-cut mozzarella is dipped in batter, deep fried until golden, and served with marinara sauce. They come out piping hot and perfectly gooey.
Then there are the poke nachos, which are absolutely piled high with crispy wontons topped with sushi-grade tuna, avocado, scallions, red cabbage, and sriracha aioli.
“It is a generous portion,” Diane says. “That’s one thing we feel has really put us on the map. The Black Raspberry Pub gives you great portions. We want you to take food home.”
The handhelds section features favorites like the towering Wild West Burger stacked with fried onion strings, bacon, cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce, along with the indulgent Steak Bomb sandwich.
But what truly made The Black Raspberry famous are the South Shore-style bar pizzas.
“Our pizza is a ten-inch bar pizza. It’s definitely crispy, and you can get those laced edges where the cheese melts over the side of the pan and crisps up around the edge.”
The specialty pizzas are loaded with flavor. The Ciao Bella comes topped with a whole ball of burrata, prosciutto, arugula, and balsamic glaze. Then there’s the fan-favorite Fig and Pig.
“The Fig and Pig is so good. It’s topped with prosciutto, bacon, fresh jalapeños, and our shredded cheese. It’s salty from the meats, spicy from the jalapeños, and sweet from the fig jam. You have to try it.”
The entrée menu sticks to comforting classics, including hand-cut steak tips marinated in bourbon and grilled to perfection. They’re served with rice, vegetables, peppers, onions, and mushrooms for a hearty plate packed with flavor.
The buffalo chicken also finds its way into the rich and cheesy mac and cheese made with three cheeses, cavatappi pasta, breadcrumbs, and just enough spice to balance out the creamy sauce.
And if you want something unexpected for a pub menu, there’s the chicken pad thai — a dish customers apparently become obsessed with.
“If you get it once, it’s something people order over and over again. I’ve even had customers tell me they can’t stop thinking about the chicken pad thai.”
To finish things off, there’s the coffee and donuts dessert: four mini donuts in assorted flavors served with Oreo coffee ice cream. It’s the perfect mix of hot and cold and a sweet way to end the meal.
Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a regular ordering “the usual,” you’ll find huge portions, welcoming personalities, and a real sense of community at The Black Raspberry Pub.
