Last week, I was invited to attend a blogger dinner at Beat Hotel, which recently opened in Harvard Square. The same folks from The Beehive are behind Beat Hotel, a hippie-inspired music venue and restaurant in the former Tannery space.
My evening started with an American Breed ($11), made with Maker's Mark, St. Elder elderflower liqueur, and apple cider. It was a fantastic fall cocktail - refreshing, yet comforting.
After sipping on our cocktails, we were all seated for dinner. I sat with Richard, Kerrie, and Jil. Beat Hotel invited us to try anything on their regular menu, so we really got a feel for their food and what they offer.
Our dinner kicked off with some standard bread and butter (the bread is from Hi-Rise Bread Company).
For an appetizer, I went with the Crispy Veggies ($11), which were cut and fried to resemble calamari. Well-seasoned and served with two flavorful sauces, this was a much more impressive starter than it looks like.
For the table, we ordered the Raw Bar Platter for four ($80; the option for two people is $40). Now, normally I would never recommend spending $80 for an appetizer, but the Maine oysters on this platter were the freshest oysters I've ever eaten. The plump Gulf shrimp were also fantastic, and the accompanying smoked tuna and fresh salmon tartars were also delicious when smeared on crispy baguette slices.
For my entree, I went with our waiter's recommendation and ordered the Tandoori Spiced Halibut ($34), which was served with red lentils and cucumber raita.
Although it's the most expensive entree on the menu, this plate was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The Indian flavors and spices were spot-on, and the halibut was cooked perfectly - my fork easily cut into its moist, flaky texture.
For dessert, my table decided to try one of each (I like them). On the dessert menu that day (all desserts are $8): Maple Bread Pudding with Brûlée Banana and vanilla ice cream; Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with raspberry coulis and salted caramel ice cream; and Apple Strudel Cheesecake with Chantilly whipped cream.
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| Maple Bread Pudding. |
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| Apple Strudel Cheesecake. |
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| Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. |
All of the desserts were great, but our favorite as a table was the bread pudding. Moist, gooey, and ideally sweet, it was a fantastic way to end our meal.
A few more things about Beat Hotel that are noteworthy:
- Their menu highlights seasonal ingredients and global flavors
- They have live music every night, and the acoustics are ideal - you can have a conversation without yelling
- They have wine on tap, and you can order a half glass, full glass, or carafe
- They have plenty of vegetarian (and even vegan) options
Although the prices are a little more than I'd normally pay, I'd definitely return to Beat Hotel for a date night - or a cocktail and some appetizers, to keep it economical. The vibe there is lovely, the food really blew us away, and the cocktails are inventive and impressive.
Have you been to Beat Hotel yet? If yes, what's your review?
This meal was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.
