The Fountain — Restaurant in Essex

TLDR: Retro soda fountain in the back of The Drug Store Pharmacy/Liquor store that serves up handmade sodas, floats and cocktails. Also has a lunch/dinner service with tasty daily specials.

Vibe: 5/5. Tucked away in the back left corner of The Drug Store Pharmacy, The Fountain is thoughtfully decorated to make you feel you're back in the 50's. A beautiful wood top bar occupies most of the parlor with ample stool seating. There are a handful of 2 tops as well as a couple booths for larger groups.

Service: 5/5. The wait staff at The Fountain did a fantastic job in providing top notch hospitality from start to finish. Our server was quick to get us seated and beverage orders taken. Food and specialty drinks from the soda jerk came out quickly considering the extra time they take to prepare.

Food/Drink: We ordered several things from both the food and drink menus and everything came out fantastic. Beverage wise, we ordered a black cow (root beer with vanilla ice cream mixed in) float, an old fashioned egg cream and a toasted strawberry milkshake. All ice cream based drinks are made with Taharka ice cream which is a local favorite based out of Hampden. On the food front, we ordered the reuben and the all American club. Both sandwiches were piled high with deli meat and came with a side of chips which can be tossed in an array of seasonings by request. Overall, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu and with most items below $8, the value...

The Fountain at Drug City in New Baltimore is an absolute treasure for anyone passionate about great spirits. What truly sets this spot apart is the unbeatable value they offer on their pours. The selection is staggering, with an array of bottles that range from rare finds to timeless classics—and all at prices that make exploring the menu an absolute joy. It’s a rare chance to try some truly elusive bottles without breaking the bank.

The bartenders and servers are exceptional. Not only are they warm and welcoming, but their knowledge of the spirits they serve is remarkable. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or a curious beginner, they’re always ready to recommend something special, share stories about the bottles, or guide you through a tasting.

For those of us who dream of sampling whiskies or spirits we may never otherwise get our hands on, The Fountain is a dream come true. This isn’t just a bar—it’s an experience, and one that I can’t recommend enough. Whether you’re looking for a casual drink or a deep dive into something rare and wonderful, The Fountain at Drug City delivers...

I've been bothering my bf to go for months and we finally decided to stop by on a whim. We went past 6, right before the kitchen closed which was fine since we hadn't planned to eat. We opted to try their handspun sodas instead which were DELICIOUS. My bf tried the regular cola and I had the root beer with an added twist recommended to me. Both included a refill and were generous portion sizes.

What really impressed me, though, was the service. Each person on that shift worked seamlessly and seemed happy to be there. The woman behind the counter who helped myself and the other customers was very customer focused. She even used and was working on her asl to communicate with a regular patron (something we happened to observe and inquire about when I noticed her signing).

Overall, I loved this place. It's tiny but mighty and I'm looking forward to becoming a...