The Lansdowne Pub's New Menu

A few weeks ago, The Lansdowne Pub invited me and a guest to try out their new menu. Thanks to my bike accident and some other engagements, it took Z and I few weeks to finally make it to this Irish pub in Fenway – but last week, we finally had a free night to take them up on their offer.

It was a surprisingly warm night, so we opted to sit outside. The Red Sox just happened to be playing the Yankees a few feet away, so it was also fun to see (and hear) the baseball fans walking up and down Lansdowne Street.

We started our meal with cocktails (naturally). I went for the Queen Bee ($9), which was made with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, blood orange bitters and honey. It was slightly sweet and dangerously thirst-quenching.

For an appetizer, Z and I split the Blue Cheese Potato Cakes ($8), served atop a scallion cream. The potato cakes were wonderfully plump, chocked full of creamy, whipped potato and just enough blue cheese.

For an Irish pub, the Lansdowne has an impressive amount of vegetarian options, so Z and I didn’t have a hard time choosing what to order for our meals. I went with the Grilled Cheese ($9) and Z went with the Portabello Burger ($10). I washed my meal down with a Guinness ($6). 

My grilled cheese consisted of Irish cheddar on soda bread, and was served with a side of tomato chutney. Let’s just say this was the most decadent grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever eaten (not to mention the most filling). The side of chunky, sweet chutney was the perfect complement to the heavy cheese and bread.

Z’s portabello burger was also a success. Served with blue cheese, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions and greens on brioche, this sandwich was much lighter than mine, and packed with flavor. Z’s burger was served with thick-cut fries, while my sandwich came with crispy, salty house-made potato chips.

Although we were stuffed at this point, we knew we couldn’t leave without getting dessert. Our friendly waiter recommended the Warm Bread Pudding ($7), which was served with whiskey caramel and whipped cream. We took his word for it, and we were so glad we did. 

The bread pudding was cooked perfectly, and served with the gooey, whiskey caramel and obviously homemade whipped cream? The only word that comes to mind is sinful. Wonderfully sinful.

Just a warning: It was Thursday night when we dined there, and karaoke/a live band started right as we were leaving (9 p.m.). It was loud, so I’d recommend getting there before 9 on a Thursday if you want to eat a peaceful meal.

All in all, our meal at The Lansdowne was a successful one. We were delighted to dine at an Irish pub and still have plenty of meat-free options to choose from. It was also nice to enjoy a cocktail on their patio and watch the Fenway fans walk (or, stumble…) by. The waitstaff was also attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and accommodating. We will definitely return to The Lansdowne for food and drinks in the near future.

Have you tried The Lansdowne’s new menu yet? If so, what’s your review?

Our food on this particular evening was complimentary – we just paid for tip and drinks. However, as always, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Unapologetically Unimpressive

I used to go to Side Street Grille for the free, stale, buttery popcorn…and the free buffalo wings (which, by the way, most likely led to my eventual vegetarianism, given the mass quantities I ate).

I also used to go for the $2 beers (during happy hour), the quirky menu, and the perfectly dive-y atmosphere.

But last weekend, I went to Side Street Grille with some college friends for lunch – a real, adult, sit-down meal - that I actually paid money for. Oh, how times have changed.

Located in Hamden, Connecticut – about 10 minutes outside of New Haven – Side Street Grille is one of the few bars/restaurants located within walking distance of Quinnipiac University, my alma mater. I used to frequent this establishment at least once per week during my college days, so it was fun to go back and see what has changed. Or, in this case, what hasn’t. The place is still a dive – but clean and safe enough to be enjoyed by families and college kids alike. They’re also still serving up complimentary popcorn (which is still wonderfully stale and buttery, mind you). And while the menu has changed slightly, it’s still pretty much the same. The only big change this time around is that I only had one beer, and I paid full price for an actual meal there.

For my entrée, I ended up going with one of their specials that day: a tomato, arugula and mozzarella sandwich on ciabatta bread, served with fries and a pickle (sandwiches range from $9.99-$10.99).

Now that my palate has matured a little bit since college, I could tell that not much on this plate was fresh – meaning, the fries were clearly pre-frozen, and the bread was a little too chewy. However, realizing this gave me some comfort, knowing that the soon-to-be QU alumns would get to experience Side Street Grille for what it is: unimpressive, and unapologetic for it. I can’t wait to go back the next time I’m in Hamden.

Do you have a favorite dive bar/restaurant?

Sunday Funday

The reason I didn't blog yesterday: I had a little too much fun on Sunday.

I spent the beginning part of the weekend with some of my immediate family in New Hampshire. It was a glorious day and a half filled with drinking chilled white wine by the fire, sight-seeing around New Hampshire's beaches, and just spending quality time with the fam dam. When I arrived back in Somerville on Sunday, however, I was in the mood for some comfort food and cold beer - so I called up my cousin, Carolan, and we went to Joe Sent Me.

Carolan had a gift certificate to Joe Sent Me, so we decided to get a few appetizers to share - and spend the rest of the money on drinks. Over the course of the afternoon, I had several BBC Steel Rail Extra Pale Ales as well as a Whale's Tale Pale Ale. 

BBC Steel Rail #2...or #3?

To eat, we had Bazooka Joe's Fried Pickles with ranch dressing on the side ($7.95)...

...As well as an order of Joey Bag O'Donuts Basket O'Fries - Freshly Cut Regular ($3.95) (you also have the choice of Cajun or Sweet Potato fries).

I've met very few fried pickles I haven't liked, and Joe Sent Me's version is one of the many I've enjoyed. The pickles were delightfully zesty and slightly spicy, and the cool ranch dressing helped to tame the vinegar from the pickles. The fries were also a notch above most bar's French fries - they were wonderfully crispy on the outside, and well salted. 

Overall, it was quite a fun weekend. I was sad to see it end!

What are you looking forward to this week? Z and I are going to a beer dinner at 5 Napkin Burger tonight - I'm excited for that!

Simple Food and Winter Brews at Beer Works in Salem

Sometimes, the simplest of places can consistently fill your belly with a satisfying meal and a few cold beers. For me, Beer Works is one such place.

I've been to the Beer Works' locations in Boston, Lowell and Salem, and for some reason, the Boston spot has fallen flat for me. The other locations, however, have always delivered decent pub grub and brews - nothing outstanding, but affordable and tasty. On Saturday night, I met up with two of my cousins for dinner and drinks at the Salem location.

I started with the Beantown Nut Brown Ale (12 oz., $4.50), which was surprisingly light, and full of toasted nut flavor.

I can never go to Beer Works without starting my meal with their Fried Pickles ($6.95), which are served with a zesty ranch dipping sauce (please excuse the terrible photo).

The fried pickles at Beer Works are consistently crunchy on the outside with a still-snappy, juicy pickle on the inside. The crispy exterior also clings to the pickle, preventing a messy, greasy disaster.

Beer Works unfortunately does not have too many vegetarian options (pizza and a portobello sandwich are just two of the few other choices), so I went with the Garden Burger ($9.95). This burger usually comes garnished with mushrooms, honey Dijon mustard, lettuce and tomato (and served with a garden salad), but I changed my order completely. At Beer Works, you can pick from a variety of sides and toppings for your burgers, which makes the ordering process a little more fun (for the customer, at least) - and only slightly more expensive ($1 for each topping and $1 for some of the sides choices).

I ended up topping my garden burger with avocado, sauteed onions and Cheddar jack cheese. I also got sweet potato fries on the side.

Served on a fluffy, buttery, slightly sweet roll, this burger was downright enjoyable. The toppings were also generous, and complemented the veggie and grain burger quite well. The bun was so big, though, that I ended up eating the second half of my burger sans bread. The sweet potato fries were simply seasoned with salt, and were beautifully crispy without being overly greasy.

To end the meal, I drank my dessert - and enjoyed a Black Bat Stout (12 oz., $4.75).

Beer Works' stout was smooth and creamy, and had flecks of oatmeal, coffee and chocolate flavors. This was a great way to end the meal.

Many of Beer Works' brews are seasonal and vary by location, but you can find the full menu for each location right on their website.

All in all, I had another successful meal at Beer Works - that was also extremely affordable. My two cousins are part of the Beer Works' VIP program, which took $30 off our entire bill. Score!

Have you ever been to a Beer Works? What's your review?

Rum and Deviled Eggs at Highland Kitchen

After hearing rave reviews about it from folks at The Chocolate Tarte tasting, Z, my cousins and I decided to have dinner at Highland Kitchen in Somerville this past Wednesday evening.

Highland Kitchen is randomly set in a residential area right outside of Davis Square. On this finally warm, sunny day, Highland had their front restaurant windows open, inspiring people on the sidewalk to come in and join the bustling dining crowd inside.

Despite the amount of full tables when we got there, there was no wait (although you do need your complete party present in order to be seated). Upon sitting down, I was immediately impressed at how creative Highland's cocktail concoctions were. Their beer list is OK, and their wine list is also fairly impressive, for being more of a bar/grill type place.

For our drinks, I ordered the Monsoon ($7), made with Mt. Gay rum, mango and ginger beer.

Z got the Mark N Stormy ($8.50), made with Makers Mark, spicy homemade chili-infused ginger beer. My drink was refreshing and not overwhelmed with the sweet mango (thankfully), while Z's cocktail was spicy and strong. A little too spicy for my liking, but that's only because I'm not a fan of drinking spicy - despite the fact that I adore spicy food. 

For an appetizer, Z and I split the Deviled Eggs ($3.50).

The deviled eggs were good, but they definitely don't compare to Deep Ellum's (they make the best deviled eggs). 

My cousins ordered one of the specials for their appetizer: Fried Green Tomatoes, served with bacon and a blue cheese sauce. I, obviously, didn't try any of this, but my cousins devoured it and loved it. 

Dinner for me was the Black Bean Veggie Burger ($8.95), served with guacamole, pico de gallo, and jack cheese. Side options included house-made fries or mixed greens, and I went with the fries. One of my Twitter peeps told me Highland Kitchen had the best meatless burger in the city, and it was definitely delicious - and the "meatiest" meatless burger I've ever had (it was huge!). The flavor fell a little flat, however, and the burger was a tad dry - but all in all, it was satisfying, and I loved the house-made pickles that came on the side.

Our meal at Highland Kitchen overall was a successful one, and our waiter was fantastic. The prices were also reasonable, especially for the portions you get. I'd definitely go back, especially considering how close it is to The Chocolate Tarte - chocolate rosemary tartes for dessert, anyone?

Have a fun and safe Memorial Day Weekend! Anyone have any fun plans for the long weekend?

Waxy O'Connor's in Lexington

Last night, my friend Paul - who lives in Connecticut - was in Burlington for work. Z and I planned to meet him somewhere close to where he was so we could catch up over a few drinks. After a little deliberation, we stumbled upon Waxy O'Connor's, one of the few bars in Lexington.

Z grew up in Lexington, so on the way to Waxy's, I got the tour of his childhood hometown. It was great to learn a little bit more about his old stomping grounds. However, neither of us expected to find Waxy's where we did - tucked away in an industrial park, Waxy's is a large, obviously-newly-renovated colonial home. Odd, but inviting - and the massive parking lot was packed at 9:30 p.m.

Z, Paul and I were seated at a booth in the crowded, yet spacious, bar. Waxy's beer menu was so-so, with draft and bottled varieties (they also have a red and white wine list). I decided on a Shipyard Export for my first (and second) drink.

I love Shipyard Export. It's a lighter beer with some great body, and a very smooth finish. 

Since Z and I had already eaten dinner, we split a (giant) cone of Waxy's Fries ($2.95).

The fries were tasty and perfectly salty (I like my fries to have obvious salt on them), but were a little too under crispy for my liking. Paul ordered the Corned Beef Reuben ($8.95) with sweet potato fries, which he really enjoyed.

Z and Paul were embarrassed with my picture-taking for the evening, but a blogger's got to do what a blogger's got to do, am I right?

I would love to go back to Waxy's to try more of their menu - the place was spotless (minus the bathroom...ahem), the service was decent, and the atmosphere is just laid back and fun. Plus, my Irish blood can never not enjoy a local pub!

On the subject of beer...do you have a favorite spring/summer-time beverage you love to sip on? I'm looking for a new drink this year! 

Tandy's Top Shelf in Concord, New Hampshire

Whew! I don't know about you, but I am coming down from one crazy awesome/busy weekend. It all started when Z and I drove down to Connecticut Friday night to see some of my closest friends from college, followed by a mad dash back to Cambridge Saturday afternoon to attend a cooking class (more to come on that later this week). Finally, on Sunday, we went up to Loon Mountain for a day of snowboarding in the sunshine. It was a fantastic, albeit very packed, weekend.

With that being said, on our way home from snowboarding yesterday, Z and I were both famished and exhausted. We Googled a few restaurants on the way home, and finally decided to check out Penuche's Ale House in Concord, N.H. After walking around downtown Concord only to find Penuche's looked a little too sketchy for our liking, we (thankfully) stumbled upon Tandy's Top Shelf.

I didn't have my camera on me, but this place is definitely worth a mention. When we got there, we realized all drinks and appetizers were half off (until 7 p.m.), and spent just over $10 for two beers and an appetizer. We both enjoyed a Red Hook Mudslinger - which, despite it's delicious description, is a pretty flat-flavored brew - as well as Tandy's appetizer sampler. For the sampler, you can choose any three appetizers to share, so we opted for the Red Pepper and Artichoke Dip, Onion Rings, and Mozzarella Sticks. Nothing very healthy about this meal, but everything was tasty and well seasoned - and surprisingly, not overly greasy. The onion rings also came with a creamy horseradish dipping sauce, which I thought was a unique (and successful) accompaniment to the onion rings.

I'd love to go back to Tandy's to try their Veggie Wrap (served with an avocado ranch sauce) and Veggie Burger. After trying just a few of their appetizers, it's clear these guys know how to make some good, nothing-fancy pub grub.

Did you try any new restaurants this weekend?

Friday Night at PJ Ryan's

My cousin, Carolan, and I made plans Friday night to catch up over dinner and some drinks. After a few emails back and forth debating where to go, Carolan suggested meeting up at PJ Ryan's in Teele Square in Somerville. I had never been to PJ Ryan's before, and gladly agreed to meet there.

Parking was easy to find in Teele Square, and I was pleasantly surprised at the casual, pub-like atmosphere at PJ's. The crowd in the place was mixed - older men sipping brews with who seemed like their life-long buddies, as well as plenty of twenty-somethings stopping in for a quick bite or just a beer. Carolan and I made ourselves comfortable at the bar, and I ordered a Guinness to start the cold, wintery night off right.

The smell of golden, crispy fries filled the air at PJ Ryan's, which inspired me to order the Sharp Cheddar sandwich (about $8) - which came with fries - and was dressed with beef steak tomatoes. The sandwich was also supposed to have a beer and mustard spread, but that seemed to be missing - but I wasn't too disappointed. This was the best damn grilled cheese I've had to date.

That may sound like a heavy statement, but when the cheese is high quality, the bread tastes freshly baked, and the tomatoes are at their freshest, nothing beats it. And alongside those crispy, almost-perfect fries, I was in pub grub heaven. Plus, the cost of this sandwich and fries was less than some of the appetizers on PJ's menu - so it just made more sense to get the high quantity of food for less money. 

All in all, it was a great night filled with great conversation, delicious food, and a fun atmosphere for a casual Friday night. 

Carolan and I.

What did you do this weekend?

Dinner at Olde Magoun's Saloon

The other night, my cousin, Carolan, and I met up over some long overdue beers and dinner. Since she had a Groupon to Olde Magoun's Saloon in Somerville, we decided to meet up there.

I've been to Olde Magoun's once before for Trivia Tuesday, and I loved the pub-style atmosphere, diverse craft beer selection, and friendly service. I only ate some of their Saloon Nachos ($8) the first time I went, so I was excited to actually have dinner there this time around.

After catching up and perusing the menu for a few minutes (while sipping on Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ales), I finally decided on the Portobello Melto ($9.95), which consisted of a marinated portobello mushroom with grilled veggies, goat cheese and pesto between two slices of ciabatta bread.

This sandwich was surprisingly flavorful, and the thick, marinated mushroom complemented the tangy goat cheese and subtle pesto flavor beautifully. The bread to veggie ratio was a little off, but it was a delicious sandwich nonetheless.

At Magoun’s, you get your choice of side with your sandwich or burger (options include nacho chips, potato chips, homemade coleslaw, Cajun pasta salad, French fries, onion rings or a side salad). I opted for the French fries. The fries were definitely nothing special – clearly pre-frozen and ultra deep-fried – but I also wasn’t expecting hand-cut, gourmet potatoes. Plus, they were tasty – sometimes, bad food just tastes good.

Before Carolan and I parted ways, I enjoyed another beer: Mayflower Porter, one of my current favorites. I love how Magoun’s has a chalkboard above the bar of their current draft beers, too – it just adds to the local charm of the place. 

After having a decent dinner there, I think Magoun's is creeping up my list of favorite Somerville bars. I'm eager to go back, enjoy another delicious brew and sample some of their other pub fare (Beef Guinness Stew, anyone?).

Have you ever been to Olde Magoun's Saloon? If yes, what's your review?

Dinner at Cambridge Brewing Company

By now, most of you know how much Z and I love Cambridge Common and Lord Hobo. But one local microbrew spot I fail to frequent is Cambridge Brewing Company. After my most recent dinner there, however, that will change.

Z and I met some friends at CBC for dinner and drinks a few weeks ago, and I immediately fell in love with the cozy, family-friendly atmosphere. For a restaurant that's known for it's homemade beer, I was pleasantly surprised at how focused it was on sit-down dining (versus just being a "beer bar"), and how the menu embodied pub grub with a fresh, unique twist.

To start the meal off right, I ordered CBC's Great Pumpkin Ale (4.2% ABV).

The flavor of this beer isn't like those pumpkin beers that can be almost sickly sweet and chocked full of nutmeg. This beer tasted like how it was made - with fresh, real pumpkins. The flavor was reminiscent of traditional pumpkin beers, but without the unnecessary sweetness.

For an appetizer, the four of us split the Hand Cut Fry Basket ($5), which was topped with Romano cheese and sage, and served with pumpkin ketchup. 

The fries were delicious, and were clearly made from fresh potatoes (versus frozen). The tangy, slightly salty cheese also added a wonderful, additional flavor to the mix. The pumpkin ketchup, on the other hand, sounded intriguing - but it was nothing more than cold pumpkin puree. Regular tomato ketchup would have been a much better accompaniment to the fries.

For a meal, Z and I both got the Autumn White Bean and Barley Burger ($11), which was meant to be topped with local squash, kale and cranberry herb mayo served on Biga Harvest Bread, with a house-brewed 1/2 sour pickle. For sides, we had our choices of French fries or mixed greens, and we both went for the greens.

The burger itself was a unique, well-seasoned twist on your average veggie burger, but was missing the kale and local squash. While I loved the addition of the locally-made bun, I missed the veggies that would have really made this burger something special.

Overall, our meal (and brews) at CBC were good, although when I pay $11 for a burger, I do expect it to come as it's described on the menu. The atmosphere, friendly service and local brews will keep me coming back for more, though.

What's your favorite spot in the Boston area to enjoy a glass of beer (or two)?

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway for The Real Food Diet cookbook! You have until midnight tonight to enter.

Lackluster Service and Forgetful Fried Pickles

A few weeks ago, some old co-workers and I met up halfway in Manchester, N.H. for dinner and drinks. I had been to Wild Rover Pub before and loved their bangers and mash, so I suggested we all meet there for dinner.

The small dining room at Wild Rover that Friday night was dimly lit and crowded. The few tables they have were packed with large parties of local diners. While we waited for our party of six to be seated, we sipped cold beers in the bar area and caught up with one another. I ordered a Sam Adams Octoberfest.

The hostess  - who also happened to be our waitress - informed us that the wait would be about 45 minutes. As 45 minutes came and went and tables were emptied, we all got a little impatient as we were starving and now were two cocktails deep each. One of my fellow diners, Jessica, had to literally go up to our waitress and see if we could sit down. Soon after, we were seated for dinner.

Unfortunately, our waitress was nothing short of unfriendly. Not a single smile graced her face the entire evening, and our party was treated more like a nuisance to her than a table full of hungry customers. We also mentioned at the beginning of the meal that we'd be paying with separate checks - and she was sure not to hide her annoyance.

Despite the lackluster service, the food was decent. I ordered a simple Vegetable Quesadilla ($7.99), which was chocked full of broccoli, black beans, onions, peppers and Jack cheese. The quesadilla came with salsa and sour cream on the side.

Now, I know what you're thinking: She ordered a quesadilla at an Irish pub? But Wild Rover's menu isn't very Irish. Besides the Grilled Irish Bangers, Shepherd's Pie and Kinsale Fish and Chips, there are few other traditional Irish entrees offered. Plus, I wanted some affordable "drinking food," and this quesadilla did the trick.

As far as quesadillas are concerned, Wild Rover's was quite impressive. The tortilla was perfectly crispy and refused to become soggy from the melted cheese and copious amounts of vegetables stuffed inside. I also loved the addition of the broccoli - it added more "meat" to the quesadilla, versus the usual tomatoes or jalapenos (although this quesadilla could have used some more heat).

Before the night ended, my former co-workers and I also made a pit stop at Strange Brew. In previous years, both my friend and I (on separatre occasions) got food poisoning from Strange Brew's chili, but I figured the Fried Pickle Chips ($6.50) were safe.

I didn't end up getting sick from their fried pickles, but probably because I only had one or two - the only thing I could taste was stale grease from an under-cleaned fryalator.

Which local restaurant/pub serves your favorite "drinking food?"

Glenview Pub & Grill: A Hidden Gem in North Chelmsford

One of my favorite things about being a food writer is finding restaurants that are off the beaten path that end up being incredible dining establishments. Last week, I found one such restaurant: Glenview Pub & Grill in North Chelmsford.

I met my college friend, Paul, halfway between Boston and New Hampshire for dinner, and he had heard rave reviews about Glenview from one of his colleagues who grew up in Chelmsford. Upon pulling into the parking lot, I immediately realized that just about everyone had heard the same rave reviews, as the parking lot was packed and there was a line almost out the door.

We waited about an hour for a table, and decided to get a beer while we waited. I opted for a Sam Adams Octoberfest, which was ice cold and delicious after a long day of work.

Paul and I chatted while we sipped our beers, so our hour wait went by fairly quickly. Before we knew it, we were seated for dinner - hungry and eager to see if Glenview's reviews were accurate.

Our waitress brought us some complimentary warm rolls with butter while Paul and I perused the lengthy menu. There were a variety of options, all reasonably priced, including burgers, sandwiches, entrees (like Homemade Jumbo Shepherd's Pie), and Italian specialties, to name a few. I finally decided on The Glennie Burger, which came with my choice of French, Cajun, or country fries, onion rings or chips. I opted for the Cajun fries, and also got cheese and guacamole on my burger, in addition to the lettuce and tomato it came with. 

(Yes, I took a bite before the photo was taken. I did have to wait an hour for this burger, after all).

The burger, which I had cooked medium, was juicy, without being greasy, and absolutely ginormous. I barely ate 3/4 of it, but was impressed with the what tasted like homemade guacamole, and the crispy, also not overly greasy, fries. The Cajun fries weren't very spicy, but I will let that go as the rest of the meal was well worth the hour wait.

Glenview's service was organized, quick and friendly, and the food definitely lived up to its reviews. I'll definitely be back to Glenview for dinner - especially because they have so many menu options that I'd love to try.

What's your favorite "hidden gem" restaurant?

Disappointing Fare at Joe Sent Me

A few months ago, I featured Joe Sent Me as the Best Deal for the week, and was really intrigued by how the restaurant got its name - not to mention the eatery's delicious-looking menu. Ever since I wrote that post, I've been wanting to visit Joe Sent Me, and finally got the opportunity to do so last week.

Before my roommate and I moved out of Waltham for good, we had a light dinner and drinks at Joe Sent Me's Waltham location (they have another spot in Cambridge). It was a gorgeous day outside, so we opted to sit on the outside patio which was packed with a young, after work crowd.

We started our meals by perusing the short beer list, and we both decided on Samuel Adams Summer Ale.

For dinner, I ordered two appetizers: Josefina's Vegetarian Black Bean Soup ($4.95) and Jose's Grande Quesadillas with "spicy" chicken, instead of the roasted veggies option ($8.95).

Since the quesadilla was the most impressive of the two dishes, I'll start there. I loved how the dish was served on a plastic plate, playing up the outside patio/summertime atmosphere. The guacamole was fresh and flavorful, too, as was the salsa - although I wish it had been a bit spicier. The quesadilla itself was nothing special (I could make a better one at home), and the "spicy chicken" was bland and under seasoned. 

The soup was no better. Although you get a heaping serving for under $5, the soup itself was lacking flavor of any kind - and the appearance was pretty sad, too. Joe Sent Me serves their black bean soup with sour cream, which had been mixed in and looked like it was curdled throughout the bowl, which made it increasingly hard to eat. Huge disappointment.

The interior and exterior of Joe Sent Me's Waltham location, though, was perfect for getting together with a friend for a few brews and affordable fare, and since this was my first time there, I do plan to give them another shot - just not anytime too soon.

Where do you go in the Boston area for good pub grub?

Heavenly Hummus and Soggy Bread at Beantown Pub

A few weeks ago, Z and I went out for dinner the night before I was leaving for a business trip. Z had just purchased a bunch of deals through Living Social for Beantown Pub, so we hopped on our bicycles and rode into the city for some beer and pub grub.

Beantown Pub's atmosphere is nothing fancy, but rightfully so - the restaurant is dimly lit, perfectly casual, and scattered with bar stools, pool tables, and diners who just want to eat good, affordable food in a laid back environment. We picked a table right next to a large window that overlooked the street outside for optimal people watching and necessary additional lighting.

Although Beantown Pub's beer list is limited, I started with a delicious, delightfully chilled Sam Adams Brick Red.

For an appetizer, Z and I split the My Mom's Homemade Hummus ($6.95), which was served with fresh pita bread.

Mom's Homemade Hummus was probably the best hummus I've had at a restaurant to date. The hummus itself was wonderfully smooth and well seasoned, while the garnish of olive oil, herbs and spices added an unexpected (albeit highly welcomed) flavor. 

Since I put away a good amount of hummus, I decided to get something small for my entree. I opted on the Beantown Bruschetta appetizer ($6.95), which is a more recent addition to the Pub's menu. The menu describes the bruschetta as "Toasted Garlic Bread Topped with Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, Diced Tomatoes, Basil, Red Onions, with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinaigrette." What I got was unfortunately a soggy, unimpressive mess of bread, tomatoes and oversalted Parmesan cheese.

I was extremely disappointed, because I was really in the mood for some thin-sliced crusty bread with fresh tomatoes, fragrant basil, and creamy mozzarella, but instead I received four oversized hunks of bread that became increasingly soggy thanks to the mountain of tomatoes carelessly thrown on top of them. The Parmesan cheese was also unexpected and uninvited to the dish. 

Overall, Beantown Pub is a relaxed, no frills bar that has a fairly diverse menu and very affordable prices. Although my bruschetta was a disappointment, the hummus tells me their food has to be, for the most part, well-made and enjoyable - so I plan to give them another chance in the near future.

Have you ever eaten at Beantown Pub? What was your experience?