live music Archives - A Little Bit About a Lot of Things http://www.dgrubs.com/tag/live-music/ A lifestyle blog with a focus on my food adventures Sat, 12 Aug 2017 03:30:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 Falmouth Raw Bar http://www.dgrubs.com/2017/08/11/falmouth-raw-bar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=falmouth-raw-bar http://www.dgrubs.com/2017/08/11/falmouth-raw-bar/#respond Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:00:12 +0000 http://www.dgrubs.com/?p=19357 When we are at the Cape, we rarely go out to eat, but when we do, I always like to try new places. We decided to take the family to Falmouth Raw Bar, located right by the Island Queen. The deck looks out over the harbor and they have a DJ or live music playing […]

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When we are at the Cape, we rarely go out to eat, but when we do, I always like to try new places. We decided to take the family to Falmouth Raw Bar, located right by the Island Queen. The deck looks out over the harbor and they have a DJ or live music playing most nights. When we went for dinner, there was a live duo playing music from the 90’s – the music was a bit loud, so we opted to sit outside on the deck. It’s a great place for a casual bite or to hang out at the bar and watch “the game” on one of 5 large screen televisions.

I’m all about seafood in the summer, and everything fried, so I had the shrimp plate with fries. Prefer raw bars? They have littlenecks, oysters, peel and eat shrimp, poke ahi tuna, and ceviche. Just looking for some apps while watching the game or waiting for your ferry? They’ve got you covered with mussels, steamers, crab cakes, fried pickles, stuffed quahogs and chicken wings. What can you expect for entrees? Grilled chicken sandwiches , lobster rolls, clam bakes, fried clam rolls and more. We ordered the slider trio, a lobster salad, a chicken salad and a tuna salad sandwich. It was just ok, I think I would stick to the fried food or the raw bar.

Service was on par with summers on the Cape. Don’t feel like dining in? They do take out. Parking is right out front, but during peak times, you will have to park in the nearby lot.

Where’s your favorite place on the Cape to get fried seafood?

Falmouth Raw Bar

56 Scranton Ave., Falmouth, MA

www.falmouthrawbar.com

Falmouth Raw Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Brunch at Club Passim http://www.dgrubs.com/2017/03/12/brunch-club-passim/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=brunch-club-passim http://www.dgrubs.com/2017/03/12/brunch-club-passim/#respond Sun, 12 Mar 2017 13:00:35 +0000 http://www.dgrubs.com/?p=18666 I went from brunching to never brunching…and now it seems as though I’m back on to brunching. I couldn’t be happier about it. Last weekend I headed over to Harvard Square to Club Passim to listen to some live music while brunching on some tasty treats. Brunch is served on Saturday AND Sunday. The venue […]

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I went from brunching to never brunching…and now it seems as though I’m back on to brunching. I couldn’t be happier about it. Last weekend I headed over to Harvard Square to Club Passim to listen to some live music while brunching on some tasty treats. Brunch is served on Saturday AND Sunday. The venue offers an up close experience with the artist on the stage – the listening room is very intimate. They don’t take reservations, so come early if you want to grab a table.

Brunch included items such as the Brioche French Toast ($9) (pictured top middle) with vanilla egg battered brioche, topped with whipped butter, berry compote and VT maple syrup (they have a stuffed version too); a Passim breakfast sandwich ($10) (pictured middle left) with an over easy egg, has browns, cheddar and VT bacon with chipotle aioli on riddled brioche served with berries and banana; the avocado toast ($6)  (pictured middle) topped with tomatoes and herbs; or the avocado eggs benedict ($14) served with poached eggs, avocado, cherry tomato, herbs and olive oil on a black pepper biscuit and served with hash browns (bottom left).

I think that the sides were the dark horses of brunch. The BKK street bread ($5) (pictured bottom middle) looks like toast – but it’s so much more. A nice light sweetness to it, it is not to be missed. I also loved the chiang mai sausage, which is house made and has a serious kick to it (but not right away). Make sure to try it with the herb sour cream!

Service was good, our server was attentive. Parking is on street or in nearby garages.

Disclaimer: I was invited to Club Passim as a guest of New England Food Bloggers. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Club Passim

47 Palmer Street, Cambridge, MA

http://www.clubpassim.org/

https://newenglandfoodbloggers.com/category/passim/

The Kitchen at Club Passim Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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New Lunch Menu at Beat Brasserie http://www.dgrubs.com/2016/11/01/new-lunch-menu-beat-brasserie/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-lunch-menu-beat-brasserie http://www.dgrubs.com/2016/11/01/new-lunch-menu-beat-brasserie/#respond Tue, 01 Nov 2016 13:00:47 +0000 http://www.dgrubs.com/?p=18010 So you’re probably familiar with Beat Brasserie in Harvard Square – they have a great brunch and live music Thursday – Sunday nights. But what you might not know is that in June they started serving lunch on the weekdays from 11am-3pm. If the weather is nice, you can grab a seat on the patio, […]

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beat-brasserie-1So you’re probably familiar with Beat Brasserie in Harvard Square – they have a great brunch and live music Thursday – Sunday nights. But what you might not know is that in June they started serving lunch on the weekdays from 11am-3pm. If the weather is nice, you can grab a seat on the patio, or you can sit inside – I love the decor here.

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Just look at those chandeliers!

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We started off with the crab cake deviled eggs. These are not your grandmother’s deviled eggs!

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We also had the buffalo cauliflower with blue cheese yogurt dipping sauce ($11) which was just the right amount of spicy.

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You won’t find this on their regular menu, it was a special the day we were there – but it was too good not to share. A brat on a pretzel bun with sauerkraut and dijon mustard served with a side of house made potato salad and a second kind of sauerkraut. Perfect for a fall day!

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Beat Brasserie is known for their bowls, natural grain and salad bowls, with your choice of toppings. We went with the bowl azteca ($14.50) adobo spiced quinoa, tomatillo salsa, corn, squash, green beans, avocado and baby spinach. You can add a protein on, we chose the slow cooked pork shoulder (+$3) but you have a choice of artichoke falafel, roasted free range chicken, seared all natural shrimp, seared salmon, grilled skirt steak of seared za’atar spiced ahi tuna.

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I wasn’t so sure about the artichoke falafel, but our waiter said that they were delicious, and we HAD to try them. Great recommendation on his part.The flavor was very subtle and really, the artichoke was put in the food processor, so it just added some moisture to the falafel.

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How can you pass up a burger that sounds this good? “Prime natural beef hamburger ($18) with port wine aioli, crispy fried onions, and served with a side of fries”. We added on some cheddar and bacon for $1 each more. The bun was buttery and delicious and the burger had all the right  textures and flavors. The fries were crispy and sprinkled with just the right amount of salt.

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Desserts are my thing. I love a good apple crisp and this one did not disappoint – served warm in a cast iron skillet, topped with vanilla ice cream and a nice oat crust, I gobbled up the majority of this even though we were ‘sharing’.

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Generally I don’t waste my time with anything chocolate at a restaurant, let alone a mousse, but this one was excellent – I may have even liked it better than the apple crisp. It was light as air and the perfect texture so that it melted the second it hit your tongue. It was just the right amount of sweetness and you never wanted it to end.

Disclaimer: I was invited to Beat Brasserie to try their new lunch menu. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Beat Brasserie

13 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

http://www.beatbrasserie.com

Beat Brasserie Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Loretta’s Last Call http://www.dgrubs.com/2016/01/14/lorettas-last-call/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lorettas-last-call http://www.dgrubs.com/2016/01/14/lorettas-last-call/#respond Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:00:47 +0000 http://www.dgrubs.com/?p=17061 I haven’t been to Lansdowne Street since my college years. I was excited to check out Loretta’s Last Call, a country bar, for their bluegrass brunch. Every Sunday they have a bluegrass brunch from 11-4 with live music. They do other fun events like free line dancing lessons on Sundays and Tuesdays and Bourbon tastings […]

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I haven’t been to Lansdowne Street since my college years. I was excited to check out Loretta’s Last Call, a country bar, for their bluegrass brunch.

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Every Sunday they have a bluegrass brunch from 11-4 with live music. They do other fun events like free line dancing lessons on Sundays and Tuesdays and Bourbon tastings (the next one is coming up on the 20th).

Check out Down in The Attic, who was playing that afternoon and you can check out the video I took on my Facebook page. They were awesome!

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The walls are covered with photos of country legends and the beams are draped in colored Christmas lights.

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First order of business…coffee!

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The chef brings over some Jalapeno poppers with blue cheese, wrapped in bacon for us to try. They are not too spicy and the blue cheese didn’t overwhelm the popper – great way to start the meal.

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The house smoked turkey and sweet potato hash ($12) is one of their most popular dishes. It comes topped with 2 fried eggs and a biscuit on the side. Not only is this great for hangovers, but it is some serious comfort food. The dish was flavorful and it had a little bit of everything on the plate, a little protein, some carbohydrates and oh boy do I love a good biscuit.

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We also tried the hicken and waffles ($14) served with maple bbq such and whipped butter. The chicken outshines the waffle for me, it was sweet and crunchy and tender inside. I could eat this for days!

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And just to throw something sweet into the mix, we hd the peanut butter and banana stuffed French toast ($10), smothered in syrup and topped with a healthy dose of bourbon whipped cream. Certainly satisfied our sweet tooth and who can resist the peanut butter and banana flavor combination? We sure can’t.

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Peanut buter pie ($7) was first on our dessert list, it wasn’t too sweet which we really liked.

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We also tried the fried biscuits ($6) which we wished were just a touch sweeter.

Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to sample the brunch at Loretta’s. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Loretta’s Last Call

1 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA

http://www.lorettaslastcall.com

Loretta’s Last Call Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Bel Ari and Les Zygomates: A Progressive Dinner – Part 2 http://www.dgrubs.com/2015/10/16/bel-ari-and-les-zygomates-a-progressive-dinner-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bel-ari-and-les-zygomates-a-progressive-dinner-part-2 http://www.dgrubs.com/2015/10/16/bel-ari-and-les-zygomates-a-progressive-dinner-part-2/#respond Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:15:37 +0000 http://www.dgrubs.com/?p=16288 We continued our evening over at Les Zygomates – for part 1 of our progressive dinner, click here. Les Zygomates is open for lunch and dinner and has $1 oysters, Mondays 4pm-9:45pm, Tuesday-Friday 4pm-7pm. On Tuesday – Saturday nights they have live jazz during the evening. Les Zygomates’ wine list is impressive and at any given […]

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We continued our evening over at Les Zygomates – for part 1 of our progressive dinner, click here. Les Zygomates is open for lunch and dinner and has $1 oysters, Mondays 4pm-9:45pm, Tuesday-Friday 4pm-7pm. On Tuesday – Saturday nights they have live jazz during the evening.

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Les Zygomates’ wine list is impressive and at any given time they have 40-50 wines available by the glass.

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For our main course of the progressive dinner we had the choice between a pistachio crusted striped bass, served with roasted potato, sautéed kale, caramelized onions in a lemon brown butter sauce or what I chose, the beef flat iron rossini. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and was served with pomme puree, wild mushrooms, foie gras, truffle and madeira. The wine pairing for the striped bass was a 2013 Chateau La Dame Blanche from Bordeaux and the pairing for the steak was a 2010 Chateau Trill, a Grenache/Syrah blend, from France.The steak was impressive in size, by this point in the meal I was already full and ended up taking most of it home. To me, there is nothing better than a steak and mushroom flavor combination.

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For dessert there was a choice of a vanilla creme brûlée, a chilled chocolate cake and what I chose, the poached apple Napoleon. The dessert was delicious, light as air with a taste of honey – such a perfect fall choice.

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The art in both Les Zygomates and Bel Ari is by Janice Eve Dale. The art is from Dale’s “In the Garden Series” and is in sync with the re-design of the interior.

Disclaimer: I was invited to be a guest at Bel Ari and Les Zygomates. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Les Zygomates

129 South Street, Boston, MA

http://winebar129.com

Les Zygomates Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Bel Ari and Les Zygomates: A Progressive Dinner – Part 1 http://www.dgrubs.com/2015/10/16/bel-ari-and-les-zygomates-a-progressive-dinner-part-1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bel-ari-and-les-zygomates-a-progressive-dinner-part-1 http://www.dgrubs.com/2015/10/16/bel-ari-and-les-zygomates-a-progressive-dinner-part-1/#respond Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:14:07 +0000 http://www.dgrubs.com/?p=16243 Last week I attended Blog and Tweet Boston’s first progressive dinner. We started off at Bel Ari and moved over to Les Zygomates next door later in the evening. Bel Ari used to be Sorriso, but the restaurant went through a major renovation just about a year ago. The new space is amazing, with a private […]

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Last week I attended Blog and Tweet Boston’s first progressive dinner. We started off at Bel Ari and moved over to Les Zygomates next door later in the evening. Bel Ari used to be Sorriso, but the restaurant went through a major renovation just about a year ago. The new space is amazing, with a private room in the back,. Their attention to detail with the design work is just lovely. The used the artwork of Janice Eve Dale in both the Bel Ari and Les Zygomates space, but more on that in part 2.

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Owner Mark Tosi was at the dinner, walking us through both restaurants. We started off the evening with a whipped ricotta, made with honey and pistachios which was served with a crispy sunflower and cranberry bread. The ricotta was light as air and I love the honey and pistachio flavor combination – it’s one of those things I could have eaten all night!

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Next on the menu was the Arancini Di Riso, a goat cheese stuffed risotto ball with basin and served with an onion marmalade. The onion marmalade made this dish for me. I usually don’t love goat cheese, as it can be too “goaty”, but this had a very subtle flavor that I really enjoyed.

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For the pasta course, we had our choice of penne a la vodka or shrimp and lobster gnocchi. Of course I went with the gnocchi. The dumplings were light as air and it was served in a lobster cream sauce that was comforting without being heavy. The dish paired nicely with the 2013 Terre di Tufi, Toscano Bianco.

Check back tomorrow for part 2 on the progressive dinner!

Disclaimer: I was invited to be a guest at Bel Ari and Les Zygomates. My meal was provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Bel Ari

107 South Street, Boston, MA

http://belariboston.com

Bel Ari Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

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Seasons 52 http://www.dgrubs.com/2015/06/11/seasons-52/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seasons-52 http://www.dgrubs.com/2015/06/11/seasons-52/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2015 14:00:08 +0000 http://www.dgrubs.com/?p=14407 Seasons 52 is a chain restaurant that came to Chestnut Hill after opening its first Massachusetts location in Burlington. They focus on fresh ingredients that are seasonally inspired and every item is 475 calories or less. There is a bar/lounge area in the front with booths surrounding the large bar in the center of the […]

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Seasons 52 is a chain restaurant that came to Chestnut Hill after opening its first Massachusetts location in Burlington. They focus on fresh ingredients that are seasonally inspired and every item is 475 calories or less. There is a bar/lounge area in the front with booths surrounding the large bar in the center of the room, and a main dining room at the rear of the restaurant. We sat in the lounge and to our surprise, there was live music – a gal with a great voice who played the piano.

We start with the warm roasted tomato caprese salad ($9.25). Tomatoes are healthier when you roast them, so we were excited about this option. It came with fresh mozzarella, basil pesto and bruschetta. I loved the presentation and the rosemary was a nice addition. The flavors were bold and the “salad” was excellent – I love the new take on a caprese.IMG_7790

For my entree I had the shrimp cavatapi ($18.95), broccolini, roasted roma tomatoes, mushrooms, fire roasted peppers in an herb tomato broth. The sauce didn’t taste a whole lot like tomato – it had a warm cajun spice that felt a little out of place with the rest of the dish.

Seasons52They offer mini desserts (and the price is right) and with these single serve options, it feels ok to get more than one (don’t worry we shared!) L-R: Toasted almond amaretto ($2.95), Key Lime Pie ($2.95), S’mores ($2.95). Super cute presentation, especially on the amaretto dessert! All we delicious, ending the meal with just the right amount of sweetness.

Seasons 52

220 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA

www.seasons52.com

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Bostonia Public House http://www.dgrubs.com/2014/06/18/bostonia-public-house/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bostonia-public-house http://www.dgrubs.com/2014/06/18/bostonia-public-house/#respond Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:00:09 +0000 http://dgrubs.com/?p=10687 Bostonia Public House took over the space that was formerly Kitty O’Shea’s (2 floors) and has been open since April – packing the house both at lunch time and after work. The restaurant has a really great vibe, and the decor is fabulous – from the dark wood to the mustard colored seats to the […]

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IMG_1330Bostonia Public House took over the space that was formerly Kitty O’Shea’s (2 floors) and has been open since April – packing the house both at lunch time and after work.

IMG_1331The restaurant has a really great vibe, and the decor is fabulous – from the dark wood to the mustard colored seats to the amazing bar. HGTV’s Taniya Nayak designed the space. The team and I took Mark out to celebrate his upcoming wedding.

IMG_1333We started with the pickle pot ($5) that was lip puckering good. Love the presentation.

IMG_1334Most of the team had the burger, which did look delicious. I had the housemade ricotta dumplings ($22) that came with shrimp, peas, carrots and a crispy prosciutto cracker. A great dish, really nice bright flavors – very summery. With lunch entrees ranging between $16 and $29, the prices are a bit steep for lunch, but the food was delicious and Mark was happy.

IMG_1341They offer 38 wines by the glass (check out how cool that is!) and live music in the evenings. They are open late night, 11:30am – 2am daily.

Bostonia Public House
131 State Street, Boston, MA
http://bostoniapublichouse.com

Make a reservation with Open Table

Bostonia Public House on Urbanspoon

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Beat Hotel http://www.dgrubs.com/2014/05/28/beat-hotel-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beat-hotel-2 http://www.dgrubs.com/2014/05/28/beat-hotel-2/#respond Wed, 28 May 2014 13:00:42 +0000 http://dgrubs.wordpress.com/?p=8901 We loved Beat Hotel so much the first time, that we decided to go back again for another meal. This time, we ate before the music started for the evening. The restaurant is much lighter and it has a very different feel to it. We have the smoky chipotle ribs ($14) which were delicious as […]

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IMG_2375We loved Beat Hotel so much the first time, that we decided to go back again for another meal.

IMG_2365This time, we ate before the music started for the evening.

IMG_2366The restaurant is much lighter and it has a very different feel to it.

IMG_2367We have the smoky chipotle ribs ($14) which were delicious as ever – the meat is so tender and the frozen grapes are a nice contrast.

IMG_2370We have the crispy tuna spring roll ($12) which was pretty tasty, the tuna was super fresh.

IMG_2371We ordered the Inca bowl with skirt steak: Quinoa, Kale, Carrots, Sweet Potato, Avocado, Soy Beans, Hominy, Tomato Posole, Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette ($27). A large portion of food – every bite is delicious – some really nice bold flavors here.

IMG_2372The prime hamburger with bacon and cheddar cheese ($16) was delicious – well season meat and the fries were just the way we love them, thin and crispy.

IMG_2374We also had the chicken picatta ($23) served over gnocchi. I didn’t love this dish as much as my last meal. The gnocchi was tasty, but I wasn’t wowed by the flavoring of the chicken. Again, the portion was generous, I ended up taking half of this home! The service was good tonight. We have been telling all of our friends about Beat Hotel and how it is a “must try”.

Beat Hotel

13 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

http://www.beathotel.com/

Beat Hotel on Urbanspoon

Make a reservation with Open Table.

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Beat Hotel http://www.dgrubs.com/2013/12/23/beat-hotel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beat-hotel http://www.dgrubs.com/2013/12/23/beat-hotel/#comments Mon, 23 Dec 2013 14:00:13 +0000 http://dgrubs.wordpress.com/?p=8743 I usually agree with Devra First’s reviews, but a few days ago she gave Beat Hotel 1 1/2 stars. Located in Harvard Square, Beat Hotel, inspired by the hippie movement is a new venture from the group that brought you the Beehive. Located below ground level, Beat Hotel feels a little like your friend’s basement. […]

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IMG_1979I usually agree with Devra First’s reviews, but a few days ago she gave Beat Hotel 1 1/2 stars. Located in Harvard Square, Beat Hotel, inspired by the hippie movement is a new venture from the group that brought you the Beehive. Located below ground level, Beat Hotel feels a little like your friend’s basement.

IMG_1980The only thing here that feels “hippie” are the cement poles that are painted with flowers in bright colors. The purple velvet curtain behind the band feels more like your friend’s basement circa 1990 than hippie.

IMG_1986The restaurant, named after a run down hotel in Paris, is anything but – chandeliers and distressed wood give this place an upscale feel.

IMG_1981We were glad that we made a reservation, because at 8pm on a Monday night, it was crowded. Note that tables are only for patrons eating dinner, the bar area has stools and high top tables for those who are just grabbing a drink. It can get a little noisy here at times, with the band and the people trying to talk over the band.

Bruce Bears and Duke Robillard were playing the night we were at Beat Hotel. Here is what the website says about them, “Bruce currently plays keyboards with two time Grammy Award nominee Duke Robillard and the Duke Robillard Band, and can be heard on Duke’s Grammy nominated albums Guitar Groov-a-rama and Stomp! The Blues Tonight as well as many of Duke’s other albums. He has been touring internationally for 20 years, and formed the original Toni Lynn Washington Band in 1998.”

IMG_2005They have wine on tap that you can order by the glass or the half glass. I grab an Electric Sidecar ($12) Clear Creek apple brandy, fruit lab orange organic liqueur, and sour with a sugar rim. It was just what the dr ordered after a long day at work!

IMG_1987Of course we start with the butcher’s plate ($22) that comes with pates, smoked meats, cheese, pickles, and olives.

IMG_1988Here’s the other side of the plate, the pate had pistachios and was accompanied by spicy mustard and cranberry chutney. The pickles were tart and the picked onions packed a punch.

IMG_1989We ordered the chipotle bbq ribs ($14) that come 4 to a plate and are served with frozen grapes. I equate this a little to creme brulee. The best part of creme brulee is when you crack the sugar on top – the best part of the ribs is that first bite when you “crack” into the glaze. The meat is tender, it just falls off the bone and the flavor has me dreaming about this dish for days afterwards.

IMG_1992For dinner, we order the brisket ($24) that comes with sweet potatoes and Brussel sprouts. This is a stick to your ribs kind of meal, the serving is enormous, and the meat has a nice smoky flavor.

IMG_1993The French Dip sandwich is the biggest sandwich we’ve seen! Our waiter jests that he has never seen anyone finish it. We take this as a challenge, but fail miserably…well, we just bring the other half home, but feel defeated.

IMG_1996The eggplant parm ($21) does not disappoint, and we take home half of this meal as well. The emphasis here is on the eggplant, not the pasta which I am a little (pleasantly) surprised at. The pasta comes in a little bit of a peppery/spicy tomato sauce and is piled high with thin layers of eggplant.

IMG_1999For dessert we had the chocolate cheesecake ($8) with home made whipped cream. It was good but not crave worthy. The cheesecake was very dense and after a filling meal, like we just had, it was probably a mistake to order dessert in the first place. We left full, but in a good way, with lunch for the next day – and walked out feeling completely satisfied. I’ve spent the days since raving to all my co-workers and friends about this place, and can’t wait to return for those ribs!

Beat Hotel

13 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

617.423.0069

http://www.beathotel.com/

Beat Hotel on Urbanspoon

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