Canadian Tuxedo's Profile
Your favorite gin for classic cocktails?
I understand you now and fully agree.
Though I will admit to being tempted by certain bottles just for the pure joy/ridiculousness of the packaging. But a recent move has drastically reduced my bar space so such indulgences cannot be tolerated when I need the room for the stuff I actually like...
Your favorite gin for classic cocktails?
All I have to say, especially considering your remarks about how bottles look, is so what?
In terms of vodka I like the taste, no matter how they market themselves. Haven't we already established marketing as the real price mover in vodka?
It is this same reason that I'm against Plymouth. Started out relatively cheap, but once it became popular in cocktail bars they increased the price by $10. Yet in terms of taste, for me at least, it is not a solid London dry or a new aromatic product. It's the closest thing I've come to tasting a gin that tastes like vodka...but just my opinion.
But I find that it became a "cool" gin and as the price went up so did the accolades...not unlike vodka.
Your favorite gin for classic cocktails?
Not to get into the general vodka argument, but I just moved away from Boston a few months ago and at least in late 2011 Tito's was definitely not what I would call a "pricey" vodka. In fact, for a while I could find the 1.75L bottles for under $20. Though near the end of my residency that price only held for the standard 750mL.
Still, while not as cheap as Sobieski (I think what's his name (Aaron perhaps?) at Russel House Tavern used to be an ambassador of some type for that brand), not in the category of pricey (which is an indication of the power of marketing). And perhaps my favorite vodka to have on hand in my bar.
What are your favorite new gins?
Hard to find outside of Massachusetts, but the gins produced by Berkshire Mountain Distillers (both the Greylock and Ethereal) are pretty special.
Best "cheap" gin?
I absolutely agree. Never been a huge fanboy for Plymouth, but thought it was solid when it was available for under $20. Now that it's pushing $30+, not so much.
anniversary dinner in DC for vegetarian and meateater
Corduroy. My girlfriend recently took me there for a celebration and we got the tasting menu. She is vegetarian (not vegan but definitely no fish), but since she called a few days in advance for the reservation despite it not being on the menu the kitchen was happy to do a vegetarian tasting menu. (I should mention mine was definitely NOT vegetarian.)
And she absolutely loved it (apologies for not remembering exactly what she had). The service was excellent as well.
And it's not even 5 minutes from the Mt. Vernon/Convention Center Metro stop. (And you can always swing by the Passenger or make reservations at the Columbia Room for pre or after dinner drinks).
A Good Negroni -- why so difficult?
Silvertone has always been a free-pouring type of establishment. Not a knock, just the way it has been, and how I suspect it will remain.
One will get the occasional measured pour, but that has been rare occasion depending on either the bartender (none of the long time regulars measure on a regular basis) or particular drink.
Still a great bar for a variety of reasons.
Suggestions for restaurant in Penn Quarter/Chinatown/Mt. Vernon Triangle?
I have no idea about PennQ's motivation, but having recently moved to the Mt. Vernon neighborhood and only having walked through Sixth Engine and looked at the menu I do have one quibble about Paul from No Va's description. The beer prices alone (Racer 5 for $8 and nothing below $6) disqualify the "great price point" comment when it comes to drinks. In addition, the Post review had them pricing their cocktails around $12 to be in the same neighborhood as Buddha Bar across the street.
An even worse price point when one can go to the Passenger in the same neighborhood and get many a fine cocktail at $10 (they get up to $12 depending on the type and number of ingredients). Never mind Mandu's happy hour where their interesting (if small) entire draft micro brew selection is $3.
Looking for stylish dining options for a DC Foodie
Having been a couple of times now, I can confidently say there is nothing in Boston like the Columbia Room.
This includes not just the actual drinks but the entire experience. Drink and/or Eastern Standard do not come close.
Having lived in DC between years in Boston, unless the OP wants a drink I would not suggest going out of way just for cocktails. When it's an added bonus, great. But DC is Boston's equal in terms of craft cocktails.
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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Boston restaurants with a service shtick?
I'll throw out Cuchi Cuchi, though more for the specific look (big pieces of costume jewelry and sexy dresses) than attitude.
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Cuchi Cuchi
795 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Recommendations for old school/divey/gritty Boston spots - restaurants and bars (w/ or w/o food)
I just wanted to second the Galway--they have a pretty good beer selection and the food can be surprisingly good...
...and it's not lacking in gritty.
Chowhound "bum steers"
Perhaps not "Chowish," but realistic.
This was the general point I was attempting to get at in our previous back-and-forth about the practicality of people with dinner reservations in Central Sq. going for cocktails pre-dinner in "Kendall." A short walk of over ten minutes is still occasionally not comfortable in terms of dining plans...there are issues with parking or public transit in addition to the potential walk that usually means most people (even Chow-leaning) will not consider cocktails at Hungry Mother is much of an option pre-Craigie (regardless of potential waits...and whoever thought that Green St. Grill was farther from Craigie than HM...check Google Maps...).
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Hungry Mother
Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA
Interesting development in a divey Allston bar
Thanks for the interesting reply. I got defensive because many dump on Yelp on this board while I feel there is a good deal of group think here.
I tend to to trust Chowhound for a newish place or one with few reviews elsewhere (in town). Yelp I consider a good resource given enough reviews that "friends of the establishment" are unlikely to have swayed the ratings. In other words, a lot of good votes will influence me to take a chance while a ton of bad will probably lead me to skip a place (this really is useful out of town in cities where Chowhound is lacking but I'm trying to figure out what bars and restaurants to take a chance on).
Maybe not the wisdom of the crowd, but at least the canary in the mine.
The walking comment was obviously prompted by another thread where we disagreed about getting drinks near the Kendall Theater before Craigie On Main, but I've also always been amused by the regular advice on this board to get pre-dinner drinks at Drink if the restaurant was anywhere within Boston's city limits...but just my opinion.
Interesting development in a divey Allston bar
Thanks. And too bad. I was young and didn't have the most developed of tastes, but when I lived around the corner the Avenue was a decent destination for decent bar food. I haven't been there in well more than five years, but it sounds like it took a serious nose dive (interesting in a business sense when the a lot of the surrounding neighborhood picked up their game...).
Interesting development in a divey Allston bar
I'm honestly curious about what neighborhood combines the best of all worlds. Allston has Deep Ellum and a host of inexpensive, ethnic restaurants that most neighborhoods lack.
So what neighborhood compares in that regard and has an ample number of pub fare destinations as well?
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Deep Ellum Bar
477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134
Interesting development in a divey Allston bar
I would argue one should can take the object lesson of being wary of (Boston) Chowhound reviews that suggest destinations for pre or post drinks or desert due to their "chowiness" that are not actually within most people's comfort zones in terms of distance.
And I say that in defense of Yelpers while never having posted one review on Yelp in my life...I'm assuming you are including Chowhound in the category of "amateur site?"
Interesting development in a divey Allston bar
Okay, while I haven't been there for years, I can't imagine that the place degraded into one of "Allston's scariest bars."
Not a "chowhound" kinda place, but did it really get worse than the Model, the Silly, or even Our House (when it was still open)?
In their Roggie's days it wasn't a horrible place for some decent bar food and a beer. I have fond memories of their house salad dressing from many years ago...
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Our House
1277 Commonwealth Ave, Allston, MA 02134
Place to get a drink close to Craigie?
While I love Hungry Mother, like Blue Room, and have never been to Think Tank, I do have to say that none of them should be considered in the "close vicinity" to Craigie.
I used to live around the corner from Hungry Mother et. al. and have done the walk from Craigie/Cuchi Cuchi back (previous) home many times, and while it is not a particularly long walk for what most consider close in terms of dinner plans they do not fit the bill.
Though I suppose it is a relatively cheap cab ride, if cabbing rather than walking is within the OP's planning set.
Otherwise I support the numerous other calls to attempt to get a seat at Craigie's bar pre-dinner. Otherwise, Rendezvous than Green Street in order of proximity.
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Hungry Mother
Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA
The Blue Room
Hampshire and Portland streets, Cambridge, MA 02139
Think Tank
1 Kendall Square, lower level, Cambridge, MA 02139
Let's make a list of bars without TVs
It usually has soccer on, and if there is no match, then a movie. The handful of times I've been to the Haven I can't recall ever seeing a local sports team on the TV.
Let's make a list of bars without TVs
The Behan not only has the pull-down screen, but they also have a small flat screen in that same corner. Fortunately it is only on during local games (so no ESPN just because something has to be playing), but it is there.
Similarly, Silvertone has a TV that I think is only on for local games. But that still doesn't get to the point of this thread.
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Silvertone
69 Bromfield St, Boston, MA 02108
Chimis
For an even better experience, grab a Chimi and take it to the Brendan Behan for any one (or more...) of their extensive craft beers.
Habesha vs Fasika
"eating yekik alicha while listening to "Rocket Queen" by Guns N' Roses"
Personally, I think that sounds awesome.
Affordable JP eat-in or take out
The Galway House has surprisingly decent traditional American tavern food (not sure what else to call it) for reasonable prices. The fish is especially good and there is pretty wide ranging beer selection as well.
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Galway House
720 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Craft cocktails near Symphony Hall?
In terms of cocktail geeks and basics, don't you mean stirring anything with just alcohol (like Manhattans, Martinis, etc.) and shaking drinks with citrus juice?
I've never heard the stirring drinks with bitters, even if they contain citrus juice, direction before...
Cocktails
But I would not put Green Street's food in the "great" category. Not even close. Perhaps Rendezvous when Scott is working is an option.
I actually would call Craigie's food "traditional." Just not American traditional. It's not cheap, but it is laid back.
Cocktails
Craigie on Main in the Central Square neighborhood of Cambridge would also work. Fantastic food and drink.
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Craigie on Main
853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Is Deep Ellum on par with ESK and Drink?
If you are already in Allston, I would say stay in Allston in settle in at Deep Ellum. The service at Drink can be so hit and miss, regardless of the crowd, that it is not really worth your travel time when you have the wonderful drink options Ellum provides along with the fantastic food options available to you in the nearby neighborhood.
Drink basically does not live up to the reputation it has achieved.
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Deep Ellum Bar
477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134
Why aren't more bartenders up on their game?
Agree about the pickle aspect, but wouldn't call Jameson a crummy whiskey. Certainly not the most complex or interesting, but I think it has positive attributes.
But to each his own...
February restaurant deals and promos
That is a good point. Plus there is the whole issue of proving residency...but I suppose that is VeeVee's problem. I'll still go regardless because I enjoy the food.
February restaurant deals and promos
I actually like it. I used to live in Cambridge (Kendall area) and now am in JP, and in both cases it was hard to motivate to leave my neighborhood. Especially since I don't have a car.
But when I did I often found it was well worth the effort. So good for VeeVee for trying to get people out of their comfort zones. The Boston area isn't that big and I think it is a shame when people almost never leave their neighborhoods to try something new.
