Thunder Road Music Club & Rock n’ Roll Bistro

Reviews

• Lauren J.

  star star star star star_border 21 June 2026

  My family made very last-minute Easter brunch reservations at Thunder Road and I'm glad we did! The full story is that my parents were flip-flopping on whether to go out or to cook at home. Once they realized it was going to be 80 degrees on Easter, they decided to go out (a decision made at 11 PM on the Friday before Easter...).
  
  My mom made the reservation at Thunder Road and I was very surprised that she wanted to go there as the was a Pop Icon brunch. It was pretty awesome! The Easter theme was Jesus Christ Superstar (haha) which played at a medium volume over our brunch.
  
  The place wasn't too packed at 1:30. Tables were set with flowers and plastic eggs of candy. My family ordered the biscuits with cinnamon butter and the cornbread with bacon butter to share. The biscuits and both butters were really good. The cornbread was a bit to hard/crumbly for my taste.
  
  We all loved our beverages. My dad and I got passionfruit mimosas (yum!), my mom got fresh-squeezed OJ and my brother got a bloody mary with the bartender's homemade spice mix (he was also offered tabasco, but went with the homemade mix which pleased the bartender - and my brother!).
  
  Both mom and bro went with the lamb brunch dish and really liked it. My dad got one of the benedicts and was a bit disappointed that they didn't fry his eggs hard like he asked (the yolk was still gooey so he scraped it out). I got the mushroom and egg on toast dish and it was amazing. The marinaded mushrooms were to die for. I had to stop my mom and brother from eating them off my plate! I also got a side of delicious cheese grits. They were perfectly seasoned and hot - I didn't even need to add salt or pepper!
  
  The staff was very attentive and super friendly. My mom ordered one of the special desserts of the day (a strawberry custard pie). The waitress brought out 4 mini pies and said they were on the house! Woo-ee!
  
  I will definitely come back here for brunch again and would love to see some of their live music nights as well!

• Dave R.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 20 June 2026

  I came here to see a friend's band and the turnout was admittedly not great. The bartenders were rudely whining about how they weren't going to make any money to anyone who had ears. It was tacky and professional. Don't shit on bands that exactly you hired. The manager with the bad tattoos seems like a miserable human.

• Jamie L.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 18 June 2026

  You will never get someone on the phone at this venue.  The patronizing voice message says they cannot answer because there is probably a rock show in progress (they say this twice), even if you are calling long before any show you are hoping to go to later (I called over 30 times in a 45 minute window, between 5:45 and 6:30).  The voice message said you could leave a number for a call back, but the mailbox was full.  The website recommended calling in advance because the kitchen opening times may vary dependent upon sound checks.  The website said they served food until 11, I got there at 10:30 and was told the website never got updated and that I couldn't get food.  That's bad for business, I cannot drink with an empty belly, besides the fact that lying about your kitchen times is rude.
  
  The sound was way louder than reasonable and the quality of it varied throughout the room.  The stage is super high and made to give old ladies neck cramps.  
  
  I thought it was weird advance tickets cost more than at the door (once fees are factored in).  They say you can come early for dinner and use your advance tickets for a small dinner discount (between 5 and 8).  I guess that could be nice enough to make up for the difference, however I buy advance tickets when I know I will be running late not if I plan to go hours before the door guy even gets on duty.
  
  While I can't say anything about the food, drinking out of plastic cups is not my favorite.  The room is weird, I have been here a few times wondering what is wrong with the space, I wish I could pinpoint what makes it awkward.  Luckily the bartenders are nice at least!
  
  I will go here if I have to, but it makes me sad to have a music venue in easy walking distance that I have no desire to frequent but begrudgingly cave into if there is a show I know I am not likely to see soon anywhere else.  The Middle East is running like 3 shows every single night and I can always get someone on the phone when I call, though sometimes persistence is required, and yes even during the rock shows.  The Sinclair is a much larger venue that better manages warm, neighborly, and welcoming vibes.  I am surprised Thunder Road has lasted as long as it has already quite frankly, there's way too much competition in this area to put up with such unapologetic disorganization.

• David J.

  star star star star star 9 June 2026

  Great brunch and acoustic guitar!!!!
  Loved the pulled pork Benedict.  You should start a movement and come here.  Great people.

• Justin L.

  star star star star_border star_border 2 June 2026

  As a place to eat:
  
  The menu link on their website is broken and when I was at a show last night, the only food available was from the pizza window in the basement. Which, to be fair, had *very* tasty pizza. But I suspect this venue no longer offers food, at least on show nights, despite their slogan ("Great Food, Great Drinks...").
  
  As a place to drink:
  
  Mixed drinks were poured weak even before the show started; stick to beer (or shots, if you're more concerned with efficiency). There's a decent selection on tap. There were only two bartenders but service was generally quick as the venue was only maybe half-full during the show.
  
  As a music venue:
  
  Thunder Road is a nice music space. Much cleaner than the venues I'm used to in Austin. Nice seating, many good sight lines, plenty of standing space. The audio mix sounded well-balanced and volume levels were unusually comfortable for a rock show. Lights were nothing impressive. The bands never looked cramped onstage.
  
  Getting there:
  
  The buses don't run late and parking in Somerville is atrocious. How do people get home from here after shows in the winter? If I hadn't snagged a parking space after several loops through the neighborhood, I might've missed my show.