The Acoustic Coffeehouse

Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

415 W Waulnut St
Johnson City, Tennessee, 37604-6713
United States

(423) 434-9872 | map
acousticcoffeehouse.net
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.89
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
7
pDev:
7.97%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by mntlover:
Photo of mntlover
Reviewed by mntlover from Tennessee

4/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Was suprised to find this wide of a selection in Johnson City strange it was at a little coffee house. They have several beers on draft and in bottles I have not even seen in the Ticities before it was very nice. I discovered it because they are offering Depot Street Brewings beers only one of two bars as of now. My wife and I had a sandwich they were good only downside was the service was lacking, but they might of just been having a bad day. It is a small little place just a few tables, bar stools and couple of couches. Hard to believe its not overflowing everynight. I will be back for the beer and hope service improves hopefully they have more help at night.



Have returned several times since my first review and service has been better when it was busy they have had two people working the counter instead of the one I experienced on my first visit, hence service speeded up to acceptable levels. Selection is still the best I have found in the Tri-cities area. So upping service from 2 to 3.5
Sep 30, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.3 by Bugcatcher from Tennessee

Mar 20, 2016
Photo of SmasNadroj
Reviewed by SmasNadroj from Tennessee

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
The acoustic was once my bar of choice in the tri cities- its just changed a little too much over the years. I have such fond memories of drinking oatmeal stout out back by a firepit til 3am, someone always playing guitar, writing obscene messages on the chalkboard bathroom wall, and accidentally (sometimes intentionally) hurting hippies feelings. I like some hippies, don't get me wrong.

The acoustic is a refuge, a very good place to hang out. Good food and good music- I wish they had a better beer selection, they used to switch their kegs out all the time but now they usually have the same choices (albeit most are good) but I wish they had better variety.

They usually have some highland beers, yazoo, terrapin, guinness etc etc. That selections becoming a bit too standard for the tri cities area.

If you get the chance they have the best rueben I have ever had in my life. And I get a lot of ruebens.
Apr 12, 2010
Photo of kwdavis
Reviewed by kwdavis from Belgium

3.96/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
As a former resident and now semi-frequent visitor to Johnson City I have visited the Acoustic several times. The place is a former butcher shop that is now a coffee shop/bar. I will say that I have always seen more people drinking beer than coffee. Overall the place is not bad. Think second and third hand miss-matched furniture set around a homemade bar. Often there are a wide range of patrons usually friendly if a little crunchy.
The beer selection is not bad; in fact it is pretty good for Johnson City. The service can be hit or miss. Beer has to be picked up at the tiny bar area and it can become backed up quick. Also, don't expect a great deal of knowledge about the beers that are available.
Feb 17, 2010
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Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This was a pretty cool place. Its weird to see a place like this, here in Johnson City. Some stores and restaurants dont fit their surroundings, and this is one.

Located on a side street, kind of out of the way of everything. There is a laundramat next door and a bookstore, I think, next door as well. Outdoor seating as well as indoo seating. The indoor area is very rustic cafe looking with a tiny little area for live music. Small bar with about 5 seats and about 6 or 7 other tables.

Service was very attentive. The guy working the bar seemed to love his job and it shows. He was entusiastic about the coffee and beer and food. He offered suggestions on what to eat as far as soup and salad. Very helpful.

Selection was awesome for the area. This isnt exactly Boston when it comes to craft beer availabilty. New Belgium, Kona, Depot Street, and plenty of others that escape me at the moment.

I may have had the best chefs salad ever. The cook/bartender cooked the bacon fresh and even cooked the turkey fresh. Throw in eggs, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and carrots, and you have one delicious salad.

For sure, next time I am in town for business, this will be the first place I go.
May 25, 2009
Photo of IBUnit63
Reviewed by IBUnit63 from Massachusetts

3.64/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Mid-afternoon stop for a quick pint after lunch on vacation...

Stage set up in middle of room. Looks like just a floor with a bunch of tables and a couple of couches - definitely more coffeehouse than bar. Bar is 5-10 seats of formica. Atmosphere at that time of day is a little mellow and twisted - wondering if plasma donors from across the street are spending their $ here.

Service was OK - more counter cashier than bartender - felt a little rushed to make selection - not easy to see taps way in back.

Selection is about 15-20 taps - mostly local (TN, Carolinas, etc.) stuff - not bad.

$3.75/pint - not bad.

Would be interested in seeing this place in prime time, but it'll play for now. A little more dingy and austere than expected, I must admit, but not hopeless by any means.
Feb 18, 2009
Photo of Globetrotter
Reviewed by Globetrotter from Virginia

4.09/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Thanks to Mntlover for turning me on to this place. Now that Johnson City's only brewpub is history, this is, surprisingly, the best place in town to get a good beer on tap. The sign out front extols the great coffee and the microbrewery beer. A small place, there's only enough room for a bout 50 inside. Sparsely decorated, with cheap metal furniture. A small bar fills the left corner at the back, while a very small stage is centered on the left wall. The front is plate glass, with a small seating area outside next to and in the parking lot. A few chess sets adorn the tables.

11 taps - 8 of them craft. The bottle list was also quite impressive. Much of the craft stuff is from North Carolina, but they also have two TN brews and at least one beer from Colorado. Styles range from Belgian pale through IPA to Milk Stout. The beers were served at the right temperature, in plain pint glasses. No table service - go to the bar to get what you want.
Oct 25, 2004
The Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City, TN
Place rating: 3.89 out of 5 with 7 ratings