Visiting Boston Guide (Summer '14 Edition)

By the way, you're doing fine humanitarian work here, Auror!

 

I'm visiting a very good friend in Boston for 5 days starting this Friday, so this is a very helpful post. Thanks!

 

We used the Uber app during the ACBF and were very pleased. Would use it again. From going to school in Boston the T is quite easy to use/navigate. Maps of routes are easy to find in the stations as well as searching Google.

 

if you're heading down that way, i think Curtis Liquors -Weymouth and [/URL]Luke's Liquors - Rockland are more worthwhile spots

 

unless something has changed over the last year or 2? maybe i'll stop by granite and see what's going on there. i live in rockland and have lots of weymouth friends so it's not a trek of any sort.

 

so i went to granite today and they've definitely upped their game. big time. i was impressed! i apologize for doubting that recommendation haha

 

Night Shift's new tap room gets my endorsement for a good way to spend a Friday afternoon.

 

Updating my thoughts as a weekly traveler to Boston (M-Th each week). No car, work in Downtown Crossing, stay by MGH, so bound by public transportation and an occasion taxi. I usually arrive between 7-8pm. My last update was on the 2013 thread in January of this year.

Updates from last time
jm Curley - I've been back several times, but unfortunately haven't been able to get a seat. It's usually 2 deep at the bar so I don't stay.

Stoddards - When I can't get into Curley I go across the street to Stoddards. Much larger tap list, higher end food. You can't sit at a table unless you're eating, so keep that in mind. If you're a solo diner you can ask that they save you a seat at the bar, and the next spot that opens up they'll save for you (unless it was last night where they had a 30 minute wait for tables and the bartenders wouldn't save a seat for the hostess). I don't go as frequently as I used to, but there are usually several beers on tap that I don't run into other places.

Meadhall - I've been here quite a few more times since it's one stop on the Red Line. I usually wind up with the fish and chips or the burger, but the chili/prezel self-made-combo is pretty good as well (the mustard is excellent!). Huge tap list, although I've seen fewer and fewer "new" beers show up (that probably says more about me than them...) The menu advertises a cask beer, but they tap that on Thursdays and I've never had the chance to taste it. Very busy earlier in the evening with the happy hour (if only Boston allowed happy hour specials..) crowd, I've rarely had a problem getting a seat at the bar after 7pm.

Cambridge Brewing Company - If Meadhall is full I walk a few blocks here, but I've also made this a destination in its own right. With the warmer weather they've added outside tables which has helped things out. They generally have 4-6 "special" beers, and I've always found something that I've liked. The fish and chips here is a few bucks cheaper than Meadhall.

Coda - I had to stay over a Thursday night so tried to get into Salty Pig (full), so wandered over to Coda. Had the burger that I used to love, but it fell apart on me, so I haven't been back. The tap list didn't have anything that I hadn't run into elsewhere in town already.

Tip Tap Room - I've been here a lot, although it has gotten a lot busier with the nicer weather (they have garage door windows that roll up). One night it was wall to wall and the guy manning the door said the mayor was in the house. They're now on beermenus, which is nice. Willing to give samples. They are carrying the "special" Bukowski beers as well. Food prices seem to have gone up a couple of bucks since the weather got nicer as well.

New places I've been
Row 34 - Loved it. Need to go back, but haven't been able to find a reservation except at 5pm or 9pm, and I'm not willing to wait an hour+ for a table otherwise. Some night I need to cut out of work early, put my name in at Row 34 and then stop next door at Trillium before they close at 7pm.

The Merchant - I've been here 3-4 times. Very busy right after work, thins out significantly after 7pm. Decent tap selection, generally has Trillium, Idle Hands, and Harpoon 100 Barrel on tap (although no Trillium last night). I have a love/hate relationship with the burger. The description combines a lot of things that I love (bacon, black pepper, cheese), but the execution never quite works. I went here after I couldn't get into Curley and Stoddards.

Lord Hobo - Finally made it here last week. Based on the web site (new?), I was expecting something upscale but the vibe was more of a dive bar (not in a bad way). Varied tap list, many things that I hadn't seen elsewhere in Boston. I need to go back.

Kinsale - If Tip Tap is full, I'll walk another two blocks here. Both the tap list and the food is a step down from Tip Tap, but not bad. More traditional bar food. Standard tap list, with ~6 rotating taps that show some variety.

Saus - Great sandwiches and frites. Very small tap list, 2-3 beers on tap, more in bottles. I don't know that I've seen the beers on tap here anywhere else in my frequent haunts. Spend the extra money to get a sauce other than ketchup to go with your frites. Is going to be on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives at some point (was already filmed, air date TBD).

 

Just a quick note - I don't think they offer any Open Table reservations between 5 and 9, but I had a good experience just showing up at 7 last Wednesday and putting my name in for a table (for 3) - ordered one beer at the bar (standing, but by a column with a shelf to put down my drink) and we were seated before I could order my second. I think you will get seated quickly enough if you head over there after work any day M-W.

 

Watch City Brewing is closed, has been for quite a while.

 

It's amazing to take a look at your Summer 2014 list and see how many changes there have been in less than 12 months. I'm thinking American Fresh Taproom, Aeronaut, Enlightenment, Downeast Cider, Wormtown, & Brewer's Fork but I'm sure there are more.

Obligatory nitpick: Bantam Cider is in Somerville, not Cambridge

 

Maybe mention the Cambridge Bukowski tavern has been completely re-done and is now open. Hops and scotch pretty soon to open across the street in Inman.

 

Need to edit out samples from Trilium

 

Hopsters in Newton too. It's on the 57 and 502/504 bus lines so I guess it would go under MBTA accessible breweries?

 

Has there been any update (or needed updates) to this guide? It proved extremely useful last July when I was visiting. I will be up again in early August for 9 days and would love to use this resource again. I just was not sure if there are any worthy additions, removals, or edits. Cheers!

 

Thanks @Auror !

 

Could add Wine Press on Beacon Street. They get local beers (Night Shift, Enlightenment, Pretty Things, MBC, etc.) regularly and are a decent local bottle shop for that area.