Neighborhood: Waterfront
Address:  1 Marina Park Drive
Website: http://www.stregawaterfront.com/
Date of Visit: Sunday, August 26, 2012
Bartender Name: ”PM Bar”

The Vibe

We strolled into Strega as our last stop on the Waterfront and sat down at the bar, which had a few regulars sitting around it. The dark space embodies the North End feel one would expect from an Italian restaurant, but the high ceilings, walls of windows, and modern details and lights give it the contemporary feel one would expect from a newer establishment on the Waterfront. The bartenders and the rest of the staff were all very friendly and well-versed on the menu, and our bartender quickly complemented us on our choice of cocktails and made them to perfection.

The bar area itself is spacious and the round space allows for a great view at the magic happening as cocktails are mixed and served.  There is also a wall of TVs in this space, showing various sports games.  While that may sound like your typical array, these TVs are all different sizes with some images split up on three screens, or even turning onto the corner – definitely a unique touch. Looking for outdoor seating? Strega Waterfront features a nice outdoor space complete with music coming from the trees and a full bar on the patio – perfect for groups, especially if you’re just doing drinks and apps and don’t want to split a tab 25 ways.

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: Anguria 
Ingredients:  Grey Goose Citron, sweetened watermelon juice, coconut water, pineapple juice, grenadine
Cost: $12.00

Review: I originally ordered this drink because I was intrigued by the “sweetened watermelon juice.” the bartender informed me that they were out, but that she could instead make it with strawberry instead.  (This being out of a drink ingredient has sure happened to me a lot lately). I was disappointed, but as soon as I had a sip of the revised Anguria, my opinion soon changed as the drink was phenomenal   Thinking about it now, I’m not sure I would have liked it as much with the watermelon flavor. The flavor was very unique, which I attributed to the use of coconut water. It was thick and milky and was the perfect dessert beverage (even though I had already had dessert at our Restaurant Week Dinner!).  I was even look past the few ice chunks and give this drink five cheers.  That’s two winners in one night!  Check out our Morton’s review for the other pink drink that earned this achievement.

Cheers: 

Eric’s Drink of Choice: Mandarino e Cognac 
Ingredients: Courvoisier vsop, tangerine juice, lemon juice, ginger
Cost: $13.00

Review: I needed to mix up my drinks a bit this time, and something I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed is any type of cocktail containing cognac. As mentioned before, our bartender was quick to complement my choice and expertly free-poured the cognac and other ingredients and mixed it up, only stopping for some quality control (using a small straw, of course). After giving the libation her approval she slid it across the bar and waited expectantly  only walking away after gaining strong approval regarding the drink’s deliciousness.

The cognac was perfectly balanced with the other ingredients, but not overwhelmed in that its distinctive flavor remained. The drink was just strong enough to encourage sipping, despite being delicious enough to want to consume it faster. All in all, for my first cognac-based review, this one was a hit!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: The full 432 page (holy cow) wine list is view-able online here. The Cliffs Note?  Strega has fourteen whites and twenty four reds available by the glass for $7 to $25 each, with most being in the $9-11 range.  They also have several varietals available by the half bottle starting at $28. Champagne/Sparking wine is also listed by the glass starting at $8. 

Beer Prices: Beer offerings are by the bottle only, including eleven regulars and a rotating flavored beer of the month.  No prices were listed on the menu.

Other: Strega offers six martinis and eight specialty cocktails – no prices listed on the menu.  The offerings here are distinctive and unique, including concoctions like “Estremo” made with Ultimat Vodka, Patron Cintronge, raspberry puree and lime juice, as well as the White Cranberry Gimlet made with Hendricks, white cranberry juice, fresh lime, and rosemary.  Their cocktail list is seasonal, so expect some variation if you visit often.  The full cocktail list is available online here.

Neighborhood: Waterfront
Address:  270 Northern Avenue
Website: http://www.legalseafoods.com/restaurants/boston-legal-harborside
Date of Visit: Sunday, August 26, 2012
Server Name: Kristen M.

Exterior View Photo Courtesy of Legal Harborside

The Vibe

Valerie absolutely hates seafood (sorry seafood lovers), so we had to be sure we wouldn’t be hungry when we visited Legal Harborside. Upon entering, Eric immediately decided that he wanted to visit the rooftop lounge and deck, which we had both read about in various publications. Each level of the establishment has it’s own vibe, which seems as if it would lend to a different experience if one sat on a different floor each time. The rooftop was going for swanky, featuring New York lounge-style seating along the edges with low-but-comfortable couches and coffee tables, high-top tables in the middle, and an expansive under-lit bar. Perfect for groups, we made friends and sat at a large high-top table on tall stools as opposed to heading to either end of the deck to the smaller tables, and it was a good decision. Our new friends quickly summoned their waitress over to take our order and made conversation throughout the night, and also provided a ton of entertainment (thanks for that margarita!).

Not only did the design team enhance the  romance by adding in a gas(or was it electric?) fireplace on the far side of the bar-area, the view from the rooftop is spectacular, from watching boats float by to scoping out planes as they land at Logan. Sitting up here in a nice breeze was  perfect on a late summer night!  The whole area can also be enclosed by the glass walls which you can see in the first picture, making a great destination any time of the year.

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: Rum Runner 
Ingredients:  Berkshire Ragged Mountain Rum, Smith & Cross Rum, pineapple, orgeat, lime, Myer’s Dark Rum float.
Cost: $11.00

Review: So originally I ordered the Caribbean Cobbler, which I was informed they were “out of,” so under pressure “I’ll have a Rum Runner” came out of my mouth.  I don’t know how it happened, and I kind of wish it didn’t.  From the first sip I was instantly transported back to my days at UNH.  After Grey’s Anatomy on Thursday nights, we would trek down to Libby’s and order $2 well drinks made with cheap rum for the remainder of the night.  Well, ladies and gentlemen, at Legal Harborside I paid $11 for essentially the very same drink with the overabundance of crushed ice and all.  The only real discernible differences were that I doubt Libby’s carried orgeat (which, according to Wikipedia is “a sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar and rose water or orange flower water”), and I wasn’t covered in sweat from dancing for hours in heels on a teeny tiny packed dance floor (love you though Libby’s). If you’re looking for a strong drink that makes you reminisce  this is a go-to.  While it may seem fitting for a rooftop bar, I’d prefer next time to class it up a bit and skip right to the margaritas.

Cheers: 

Eric’s Drink of Choice: Castle Island Iced Tea 
Ingredients: Tangueray Ten, Marie Brizard Peach, black tea, sugar, lemon
Cost: $10.00

Review: Once again I tried for some variety in my ordering, and stayed away from some of the more traditional drinks that were recommended by our new found friends (the pitchers, which would be a great deal for thisarea if split amongst friends, but are certainly no King’s-style
FSDs). I struggled between two cocktails but eventually settled on the
Castle Island Iced Tea.

For those who know me, I’m not a huge fan of regular iced tea, nor am I the biggest peach enthusiast. I found this cocktail to be pretty well balanced in terms of alcohol-versus-mixer flavor, as in it was good, and not too strong. The drink was very punchy, and I could picture a bowl of this at an 80s high school dance…you know, after someone spiked the punch? My only complaint is that the drink was
almost too peachy. It was like peach, on top of peach, on top of peach. Some kind of acid, like some lime juice, would have done well to cut the supple peach flavor.

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Wines by the glass start at $9.50 and go up to $14 each.  Bottles begin at $31.  Champagne/Sparkling wine also available by the glass starting at $11 and by the bottle starting at $39.  Some half bottles available. 

Beer Prices: Eight beers are on draft at the Rooftop (no bottles listed on the menu), priced at either $5.50 or $6.50 each.  They even have a bit of local flavor, featuring Cambridge Brewing Company’s seasonal beer.

Other: Legal Harborside offers six pitchers for $20 a small pitcher and $40 a large pitcher (also served as single drinks for $10 each) – options include White & Red Sangria, Margarita (a bit more expensive at $28 and $55 for a small and large, respectively), St. Germain Cocktail, Seaport Spritzer, Purple Jesus (fruity mixture) and Love You Long Time (saki mixture). Five specialty drinks offered as well as a selection of Saki. The full menu is online courtesy of Scribd, here.

Neighborhood: Waterfront
Address:  2 Seaport Lane
Website: http://www.mortons.com/bostonseaport/
Date of Visit: Sunday August 26, 2012
Server Name: Melinda

The Vibe

Morton’s Waterfront is different from many of the other local steakhouses, mainly because it is so bright due to all of the natural light distributed throughout the establishment coming in from the huge windows that are typical to the Waterfront. Valerie felt as is the “old” Morton’s on Boylston Street was better situated and offered a better atmosphere, but Eric did enjoy the open air that the room offered. What would normally be a traditional steakhouse was offset by chalkboards featuring fresh seafood as well as an environment that was less-than-private. While we were close enough to the table next to us to eavesdrop  we didn’t feel as if we had to. The bar area is up a few steps and gives a cohesive but similar vibe to the rest of the restaurant. Morton’s does offer patio seating, but the water view is limited  and the tables are close to the road. There is also a fairly large private dining room in the back of the restaurant. Perhaps our favorite part of the entire place was the wine boxes in the foyer belonging to Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton from the Bruins.

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: French Raspberry Mortini 
Ingredients: Grey Goose le Citron Vodka, Chambord, Pineapple Juice
Cost: $14.75

Review: The French Raspberry was utterly delicious.  It was light yet creamy, and sweet without being overwhelmingly sugary.  The froth on top from shaking gave it a unique texture as well.  I think that the Chambord paired with the tartness of the Citron vodka helped to achieve this perfect balance.  It was a strong drink and I found myself slowly sipping it while enjoying some of the amazing bread that Morton’s serves before the main course. It would also do well as an after dinner treat.

Cheers:

Eric’s Drink of Choice: The Morton’s Mortini
Ingredients: Hendrick’s Gin, shaken and served with a slice of fresh English cucumber
Cost: $15.00

Review: In the spirit of Restaurant Week steakhouse dinner’s, I of course needed to order the signature drink of our chosen establishment. In this case, I was blessed to enjoy the Morton’s Mortini. This martini-glass of perfectly balanced deliciousness was smooth and chilled perfectly. There was no broken pieces of ice in the glass, meaning that either I got lucky, it was melted, or, that the bartender truly cared about this cocktail and stirred it rather than shaking it.

The base of this drink was Hendrick’s Gin, one of my favorites and one that I write about almost every time I order a gin drink and call my gin. Lacking a strong juniper taste, the smooth and crisp cucumber and rose accents made this so very amazing as I sipped on it. While not listed on the ingredients list, I did think I tasted a bit of vermouth, as expected; but, what say you Morton’s? Vermouth or sans vermouth?!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Morton’s has an extensive wine list. They have six house wines by the glass for $10 each, as well as fourteen reds and eight whites by the glass for $11 to $22. Four sparking wines are available by the glass for $12 to $19.  Four half bottles are on the menu as well as a countless numbers of bottles. More info on the wine list is available online, here.

Beer Prices: Eighteen bottled beers, including “Ultra Premium Crafts” like Fuller’s Vintage Ale are available starting at $6.  Most range from $6 to $12, but the Fuller’s will run you $21 for a 16.9 oz serving.

Other: Morton’s has an extensive cocktail list, including three signature Mortini’s (the other two being The Double Cross Mortini and the Ultimat Mortini, both $18) as well as five “spa-tinis” for $14 each  which are all under 200 calories, such as the Skinny Blood Orange Cosmopolitan. There are nine “classics” for $15 each, which are, well, classics, such as a Manhattan, Bloody Mary, and Gin Martini. Finally, there are nine cocktails on the “features” list for $14 each, including an Appletini, Mojito, and Lemon Drop.

Neighborhood: Financial District
Address:  72 Broad Street
Website: http://www.vlboston.com/
Date of Visit: Wednesday June 13, 2012
Bartender Name: David

The Vibe

The Vintage Lounge is the epitome of swanky. The front door opens straight into a hotel-esque lounge bar with a small seating area off to the left (watch your step on the way in and out…there’s a bit of a step up between the lounge and the street). A few TVs adorn the wall making watching the game easy when seated in the plush bar stools, but that isn’t really the point of the space. The modern feel is abundant in the tiny seating area, and accentuated by the bar top being under lit. Tea lights are placed around the bar giving a somewhat softer, romantic feel in an otherwise “cool” space. The establishment is deceptively large. When you first walk in, the lounge area is surprisingly small; however, if you head back to the restaurant area you’ll find the restrooms and a second bar.

While one wall in the lounge is mostly windows and the other is mirrored and the home of the spirits, shadow boxes are strategically placed to display top shelf liquor, which is a nice touch. The staff here was quite friendly and quick to make recommendations off of their cocktail menu. The only downside to the space was the closet in the corner of the bar housing the security equipment – it became pretty awkward to watch ourselves on TV and made us look around for all of the “hidden” cameras. The Vintage Lounge features regular fun events, such as “Make your Own Martini” on one Friday this summer, and is the perfect place for drinks with friends in the lounge or tapas downtown.

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: Tiramisu Martini 
Ingredients:  Shot of Chilled Espresso, Vanilla Vodka, Baileys Irish Cream, Captain Morgan, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
Cost: $13.00

Review: The bartender had recommended the Espresso Martini to me, saying that it’s different from most, but given that I’ve reviewed my share of espresso-esque martini drinks here on the blog, I decided to get the Tiramisu Martini, something I hadn’t seen elsewhere.  I love me some Tiramisu, and hoped this drink wouldn’t disappoint.   While the drink wasn’t bad, it tasted like, well, an espresso martini, thus leaving me to wonder what the actual espresso martini tastes like (return trip may be in store here).  I couldn’t really taste the Captain Morgan at all – perhaps that bite may have made it taste more like the dessert it’s named after.

Cheers:

Eric’s Drink of Choice: Sweet & Spicy Martini 
Ingredients: Cazadores Resposado, Ginger Liqueur, Mango Puree, Fresh Cilantro, Dash of Spice, Lime Juice, Honey Simple Syrup
Cost: $13.00

Review: This surprising cocktail started out watery and could have used more some simple syrup to enhance the mouth-feel, but the layers of flavor that slowly built after the first sip were complex, interesting, and well balanced. The sweet was abundant up front, but not overwhelming, and literally made me think of an umbrella drink on a beach; however, the spice kicked in before I could even mention the feeling to Val, and the finish was all heat, which stayed on the palate in between sips. Honestly, the ending flavor left me wondering if they somehow distilled Red Hots at the movies. If I had one complaint about this little wonder besides mouth-feel , it would be the pulp at the bottom of the drink – nothing a trip through a fine strainer wouldn’t fix!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Seventeen whites and seventeen reds are available by the glass from $7 to $18 each. The full wine list by the bottle is view-able online here.

Beer Prices: Twelve bottled craft beers and eight regular bottles are available, along with eight beers on tap.  No prices were listen on the menu.

Other: When we were in they were featuring their Summer seasonal menu, including concoctions like the Lychee Pisco Sour, Pomegranate Martini, and Grapefruit Margarita, all for $12 or $13 each. The full Autumn drink menu is online here.

Neighborhood: Financial District
Address:  33 Batterymarch Street
Website: http://www.batteryparkboston.com
Date of Visit: Wednesday June 13, 2012
Server Name: Kristen

(Source)

The Vibe

Battery Park is a great location that reminds us of an upscale venue with quirky bar qualities. The bar is expansive and covered by two bartenders who make sure their patrons are topped off and the bar top is squeaky clean. Despite being swamped with patio parties (we have to schedule one, seriously) that had been moved inside due to potential rainy weather, our waitress was absolutely great. The bartenders seemed on top of the rush at the bar and didn’t seem to be in the weeds at all.

While more intimate than it’s sister location, Sweet Caroline’s, Battery Park does offer an almost identical menu for both food and drink. When we first got there,  it was incredibly loud, and we had to scream to hear each other across the table. But, once a couple of the patio parties tapered down the noise became more manageable. The waitress explained that it doesn’t usually get super loud in the area, but that there was just so many large groups due to the rain washing out the outdoor parties making it noisy and crazy – something we didn’t expect for a Wednesday evening. The music is mostly Top 40 and the bar is well-adorned with televisions featuring a variety of sports games (not Boston-centric like other area bars). Overall, a great spot for drinks after work in the Financial District or to head out with a group of friends.  They also have trivia on Mondays at 7pm and offer brunch on Sundays with a Bloody Mary bar.

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: Clementine Mango Mint Cooler
Ingredients:  Svedka Clementine, Cruzan Mango Rum, fresh muddled mint, orange juice, fresh squeezed limes
Cost: $9.00

Review: In full disclosure, this was  not the drink I wanted.  At first I ordered the Carrot Cake Martini, having never seen anything like it elsewhere, but unfortunately the bar was out of Goldschlager. So, under the pressure of having the bartender hover over me while I picked a second choice, I opted to go with the Clementine Mango Mint Cooler. It tasted slightly like Hi-C’s Ecto Cooler (which I learned is no longer made?!?!), which makes sense given the orange juice/clementine combo. There was a lot of flavor in this drink, likely due to the number of ingredients, and Eric called it “botanical” when he took a sip (of course he did…have you  read his reviews?)  One downfall – it could have been colder, maybe it would have helped if served in a chilled glass or shaken before it was served as I’m not a fan of lukewarm fruity drinks.  Maybe I’ll have to go back for that Carrot Cake…

Cheers:

Eric’s Drink of Choice: Black Cherry Manhattan 
Ingredients: Jim Bean Black Cherry Infused Bourbon shaken with Sweet Vermouth and muddled cherries
Cost: $9.00

Review: This was a very well-made manhattan, my one critique is morse so with the whiskey manufacturer…for something labelled as cherry, the only hint of it is on the nose. My hope was for a unique flavor that would really set this cocktail apart from other Manhattans – so I felt kind of let down. Despite the lack of cherry flavor, the flavors were well-blended and balanced, which would have left me satisfied if I had simply ordered a straight up Manhattan.

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Nine reds, one pink, and nine whites are available for $7 to $15 a glass and $32 to $60 per bottle. The full wine and beer list is view-able online here.

Beer Prices: Nine bottled beers at $4 and $5 each and  five regular drafts from $4.50 to $7 each (including Woodchuck!).  There are also eleven “specialty drafts” from $4 to $6 each, including Magic Hat, Narragansett, and Wachusett Blueberry.

Other: Battery Park has eleven cocktails and eleven martinis listed on their drink menu, ranging from $9 to $12. Options include an Effen Bloody Buddy (similar to a Bloody Mary), Peach Melba Martini, and a Caramel Appletini.

Neighborhood: Faneuil Hall
Address: 175 North St
Website:  http://www.anthem-boston.com/
Date of Visit: Monday, June 4, 2012
Bartender Name: Jason

Interior Facing Bar

Exterior Facing Bar

The Vibe

The vibe in here is great, a very large bar split between the dark interior and light and bright sunroom is tended by knowledgeable and friendly bartenders. We actually have been meaning to come in here for a while, as our friend Jay works the bar occasionally and happened to be there this evening. There are a couple of TVs placed strategically throughout to ensure no one is missing anything, and the bars spherical shape allows the bartenders to keep a good view on either side of the bar despite it being divided down the middle. Small touches like the martini glasses being on display in an ice trough really made this bar feel like someplace where the staff takes pride in their work, and were busy but not so much that they couldn’t keep the bar clean and stocked. With hard to find beers (okay, we’re not talking super-craft limited-edition beers, but Eric loves when he can find Magic Hat #9 on draft) and spirits, this place is a great stop for an after work drink or a cocktail during an afternoon stroll. Not only that, but the food looked DELICIOUS. Flatbreads and interesting apps are reasonably priced along with salads and burgers in the $10-20 range with the entrees coming in between $20-35, making this a great place for food with a group.

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: Charlie + the Chocolate Factory 
Ingredients:  Chocolate Vodka, Creme de Cacao, Godiva Dark & White Chocolate Liqueur
Cost: $12.00

Review: After ordering the Gobstopper Martini at the Yardhouse, and now this concoction, it’s beginning to look like I have an unhealthy obsession with Mr. Wonka, but in fact the movie kind of creeps me out.  This drink was served in a chilled glass and topped off with some shaved white chocolate, both great touches that only increased my like for the cocktail. The smooth chocolatey taste reminded me quite a bit of one of my favorite drinks, the Von Otto Express at 6B Lounge. It was sweet, but not overpoweringly so, balanced out nicely by the kick of the vodka.  More than one probably would have been overkill, but it was a great after dinner beverage.

Cheers:

Eric’s Drink of Choice: South Market Collins 
Ingredients: G’vine Gin, St. Germain, Yellow Chartreuse, Lemon juice, Soda
Cost: $13.00

Review: This cocktail is quite attractive, served over crushed ice and garnished with a fresh lemon. The aroma around the drink was heavy, and made me want to dive right in for the first sip. The blend of flavors is intense and complex – the chartreuse plays really well with the St. Germain – coming off first as herbal with hints of sweet, but with a slightly spicy finish. This cocktail, like many of the clear-spirited versions I tend to lean towards, would be perfect out in the Anthem sunroom and on a roof deck or patio someplace on a hot day. I let both Sarah and Valerie take a taste, and they were both really impressed with the flavor and kick that this libation provided (if Val is impressed, that says something – she does not like Gin one bit).

The real kicker to this cocktail, though, I couldn’t figure out until I re-looked at the menu and saw it, is the G’Vine Gin. G’Vine is a premium gin that is fairly hard to track down in Boston and is actually distilled from grapes, which gives it less of an astringent flavor and is altogether more mellow on the palate. During the process the gin is infused with a blend of botanicals, one of which includes juniper – so you’re not losing that traditional gin flavor altogether, it’s just more subdued- and also berries, ginger root, liquorice, cassia bark, green cardamom, coriander, cubeb berries, nutmeg and lime. The final ingredient is the Vine Flower, which seemed to really enhance the floral tastes of the St. Germain. Essentially, this gin is perfect for any number of mixed drinks, as the various tastes are amplified or muted depending on what other items are used in the drink. In the case of the South Market Collins I found the gin amplifying the St. Germain on the nose, but the Chartreuse in the finish, so while being truly cool and refreshing, the cocktail had me constantly trying to figure out what was coming next!

My one complaint about the cocktail would be the fact that it’s served over crushed ice, which left the end of the drink more water than flavor. If I had it mixed up again, I’d be sure to ask for it in a rocks glass or highball shaken with cubed ice instead to slow the dilution, although I’m curious to see how this would impact the overall flavor – especially with such robust flavors present in the drink.

Cheers:

Guest Blogger Sarah’s Drink of Choice: Persian Tea 
Ingredients:  Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, muddled mint and raspberries
Cost: $12.00

Review: The drink menu offered a variety of options and I was pleasantly surprised to find an option beyond the traditional Arnold Palmer that uses Sweet Tea Vodka. However, I’m not partial to mint and almost steered clear of this delicious drink. The flavors were a good blend and while the drink presentation was very impressive, the crushed ice did get a bit in the way of the beverage itself. Overall, this drink makes for a refreshing and expensive treat!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Nineteen white wines and thirty four red wines are available by the glass for $8 to $14, and by the bottle starting at $36.  Six sparking wines are also available – two by the glass for $10 each, and the remaining by the bottle only, starting at $40.  The full wine list is available online here.

Beer Prices: Sixteen bottled beers available including a PBR Pounder served in a brown paper bag. Fourteen craft beers and thirteen beers on tap are also offered, including a beer of the month on tap.  No prices listed on the menu.

Other: Anthem has 22 cocktails on their menu, priced from $11 to $14 each. Some of their more interesting offerings include a Jalapeno Margarita, Pina-Rita, and Mexican Mojito.  The full cocktail menu is available online here.

Neighborhood: Theatre District
Address: 49 Temple Place
Website:  http://www.49social.com/
Date of Visit: Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bartender Name: Unknown…but she was great!

The Vibe

49 Social is a cool hidden gem, and is perfect for a fancier meal in the area around Temple Place, which is full of higher-end pub-type bars (Stoddards, jm Curly, Max and Dylan’s). 49 Social definitely has a wine-bar feel, but also made us want to sip on martinis or similar cocktails. 49 is the Grey Goose or Hendrick’s to jm Curly and Stoddard’s Basil Hayden or Oban 14.

While the restaurant was basically empty, the bar was pretty full, with only one bartender behind the bar and another server hanging around learning various cocktails (fairly entertaining – cheers to anyone who knows what a Buck Fizz is). Despite the groups at the bar, the bartender stayed out of the weeds and didn’t groan when we both ordered muddled cocktails, and was very friendly and personable, hanging out and chatting with us for a while as we sipped our delicious drinks.

The menu here stays true to the high-end appeal of the establishment, which is partly the reason we ate across the street at Stoddard’s (Valerie wasn’t down with a $17 burger, the frogs legs and waffles or the tuna tatare on the bar menu, although for a fancy night out we may have checked out their entree menu). Don’t head in here in a t-shirt and jeans, as we were the most dressed down in the entire place and we were dressed business casual.

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: When Life Gives You Lemons  
Ingredients:  Stoli Blueberry, Nuvo Lemon Sorbet Liqueur, muddled blueberries and mint, lemon juice, simple syrup
Cost: $12.00

Review: I was a bit surprised when this drink came out pink…and in a champagne flute.  The color I can attribute to the muddled blue berries, and while the flavor of the cocktail probably lends itself better to a rocks glass or highball as it is more mojito-esque, but I never turn down the classy/dainty feeling that comes with using a flute.  I’ve never even heard of Nuvo Lemon Sorbet Liqueur, but I’d sure like to get my hands on a bottle as this drink was great. At 25% alcohol, when mixed with the Stoli, it made for a strong, but sweet drink. Every sip lent itself to a different flavor due to the muddling – this is a perfect spring cocktail.

Cheers:

Eric’s Drink of Choice: Green With Envy 
Ingredients: Gin, Basil, Cucumber, Ginger Beer
Cost: $12.00

Review: Woo! I just got smacked in the mouth with basil! This delicious cocktail intrigued me after having a great meal and Haverhill Out the Window Cask Pilsner across the street at Stoddard’s, so even though Valerie said, “that’s just like you ALWAYS get,” I went ahead and ordered it anyway.

The basil-y flavor really did hit me hard on the first sip, but after letting it play on the palate a bit I quickly began to appreciate the smooth cucumber finish and the great mouth feel generated by the gentle muddling of the basil and the beat down that was put on the cucumber. My only complaint about this refreshing and tasty libation would be the pieces of cucumber that were present, leading to chewy surprises in the cocktail. Even straining the cocktail through a basic Hawthorne strainer would have eliminated this issue and made this a 5 cheers drink!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: A plethora of red and white wines are available by the glass starting at $8 and the bottle starting at $28.Five sparkling wines are also listed on the menu. The full wine list is available online here.

Beer Prices: Four beers are on tap for $6 each, one of which is a rotating “49 Social House Pour.” There are also thirteen bottled beers ranging from $5 to $16 (most are in the $6 area).

Other: 49 Social has a cocktail list that rotates seasonally. The spring list has ten concoctions, all for $12 each, including a Strawberry Fields Forever and New Fashion. The full cocktail list is available online here.

Neighborhood: Fenway
Address: 1260 Boylston Street
Website:  http://sweetcarolinesboston.com/
Date of Visit: Monday, April 30, 2012
Server Name: Unknown

(Source – another bad night for photos!)

The Vibe

We really enjoy Sweet Caroline’s whenever we stop by. As one of the newer locations in the Fenway, opening in the past year, it’s the perfect low-key sports bar that Fenway needs to offset the craziness that often ensues at Remy’s, Bleacher Bar, Game On!, and Boston Beerworks. The bar and adjacent seating area at the top of the restaurant are great for mid-sized groups, watching a game, or grabbing a couple of beers before a game (which happened to be what we were up to!). The restaurant-seating area on the way in is home to a smaller bar and ivy-covered walls that give this establishment an uncharacteristic North End-type feel. The staff at Sweet Caroline’s are extremely attentive, and the food here is great for your typical bar fare. What’s interesting is that despite taking months to establish the bar’s cocktail menu (we were in RIGHT when they opened), the list is identical to that of Battery Park (much of the food menu is the same, too…review coming soon!).

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: The Ultimat Blueberry Freeze
Ingredients:  Ultimat Vodka, Patron Citronge orange liqueur, fresh blueberry and orange juices, garnished with blueberries
Cost: $10.00

Review: It was a hot day and we were headed to the Red Sox game – looking for a way to stay cool, I ordered the Ultimate Blueberry Freeze expecting a chilly blender creation.  In looking at the photo, clearly that’s not what I got. I was disappointed in more ways that one with this drink – it was a weak drink that tasted like fruit juice.  The blueberry flavor was ever so slight, and the garnish, although listed as blueberries on the menu, was a slice of lime. Lime and blueberries?  That’s not the best combination.  In short, it was a $10 drink in a tiny glass filled mostly with ice that didn’t taste all that great.

Cheers:

Eric’s Drink of Choice: Perfect Storm
Ingredients: Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka, muddled oranges and limes, simple syrup, Drambuie, topped with ginger beer
Cost: $10.00

Review: My first reaction when I saw the Perfect Storm on the menu was visions of George Clooney captaining a boat, and that this reminded me of a vodka mojito on steroids (even though I knew that the Perfect Storm was Sweet Caroline’s version of a Dark ‘n Stormy). I have to admit, I was a bit underwhelmed with this cocktail. I was expecting something truly amazing – knowing full well I wasn’t getting anything even close to a true Dark ‘n Stormy as there was no rum in the drink (so this means no Gossling’s, who owns the trademark for the name Dark ‘n Stormy – but I digress) and that the libation was much more complex than the original version. I was expecting layers of light flavors, but unfortunately the fruits were completely overwhelmed by the Drambuie (even the ginger beer flavor was masked). The only hint of any citrus in the cocktail was from the pulp present in the bottom of the glass. This drink got better as it went along and my palate adjusted to the intensity of the Drambuie, but it was truly one of those cocktails that I was drinking quickly just to get out of the way. The Perfect Storm gets some points for creativity, but loses out on execution; that being said, I still love Sweet Caroline’s!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Six whites are available for $8 to $16 a glass and $32 to $64 per bottle (one of these bottles was Flip Flop Pinot Grigio, which Valerie likes, and can be purchased in store for $8.99).  Somehow, we missed the list of red wines…sorry!

Beer Prices: Twenty beers are on draft and fifteen canned beers are listed on the menu, but no prices!

Other: Sweet Caroline’s has a selection of cocktails and martinis, all ranging from $10 to $12 each.  Options include the Falling Pear Martini, Raspberry Cheesecake Martini,  a Mojito, and an Hand Shaken Daquiri. They also have a large selection of scotches.

Neighborhood: Fort Myers, Florida
Address: 1131 1st Street
Website: http://nervousnellies.net/
Date of Visit: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Server Name: Lisa

The Vibe

Nervous Nellie’s tag line is “crazy waterfront eatery,” and while you can find some crazy places in Boston, this restaurant is not something that you would necessarily find up here in the Northeast – it’s a down to earth bar right on the water with dockside access for boaters and fishermen. Literally, we watched folks pull up on party boats, jet-skis, yachts, and the Sheriff’s boat as we sat dockside and enjoyed an amazing meal and a great face-sized drink! The casual atmosphere brings us back to something like the Ground Round (okay, for those of you just turning 21, this was like a local TGI Fridays), but without the chain-y feel (and popcorn), and with a ginormous Cheesecake Factory-sized menu full of creative items. Speaking of menu, their drink “list” is extremely lengthy, and while not quite as large as the book at Clio, it’s a good contender – see all of the drinks listed below!

The Drinks

Valerie & Eric’s Drink of Choice: Nervous Nellie 
Ingredients:  Seven Tiki Spiced Rum, Banana Rum, Pineapple Rum, Cherry Rum, Coconut Rum, Orange Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine, Cranberry Juice
Cost: $18.95

Review: We couldn’t resist ordering this cocktail for two – one, because of Val’s parents encouragement; and two, because it sounded like the 8 days of honeymoon (and tropical cocktails) at the Excellence Playa Mujeres  rolled into one! Also, you can’t get more of a signature drink than the one that’s named after the restaurant. It’s listed as a “Photo-Op Drink” so of course lots of photos were taken – thanks Mom for this one!

This drink is essentially 60 oz of rum – seven types at that! It didn’t seem overly strong, but it definitely packed a punch and allowed us to enjoy our time in the big huge chair a bunch! Let’s just say it hits you after awhile The fruit-flavored rum concoction seemed to shout, “GIVE ME AN UMBRELLA,” and was the perfect way to cool down from the hot Florida sun. Surprisingly, the drinks flavor didn’t clash whatsoever with either of our meals, and we would definitely recommend this giant cocktail while listening to some Buffet while sitting with friends on the outside deck overlooking the marina!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Twenty four wines are available by the glass for $5.95 to $7.95. Two kinds of sparking wine are available by the split for $9.95.

Beer Prices: With the lengthy menu – we must have missed the beer list…sorry!

Other: Along with the Nervous Nellie, there are 2 other “Photo-Op” drinks, including a Bahama Breeze and a Tiki Beach. Four flavors of mojitos are available for $8.95 (one of which is Dragonberry), six “specialty cocktails” are listed for $7.95 including the Arctic Dragon and Huckleberry Lemonade. Nine martinis are also on the menu for $9.95 each, such as the Chocolate Raspberry Martini and Marvelous Melon Martini, and nine margaritas from $7.95 to $12.95

You can get a regular Bloody Mary for $7.95 or “upgrade” to the Shrimp Cocktail Bloody Mary for $15.95 which gets you a drink “sporting plump cocktail shrimp, Absolut Vodka, olives and more!” There are also four specialty shots for $7.95 each, one of which is the Pickle Knocker which is a shot of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey with a shot of pickle juice (yum?).

One of our favorite parts of Nervous Nellie’s was this over-sized chair by the front entrance! 

Neighborhood: Venice, Florida
Address: 1600 Harbor Drive South
Website:  http://www.sharkysonthepier.com/
Date of Visit: Saturday, April 14, 2012
Bartender Name: Unknown

The Vibe

Sharky’s is the epitome of beach bar. Make sure to head this way for a sunset (well, like an hour or so before). Take a walk on the pier and grab some photos of pelicans and people-watch (you’re more than likely going to see someone in a wedding dress), and then hit the bar on your way upstairs. The bartenders are uber-efficient (mainly due to the pre-made frozen drinks that they shell out – you won’t often hear the whir of a blender here), and after checking our IDs (we were pretty sure Eric’s was going to get confiscated – he must’ve grown more handsome since his last picture), shelled out our “Bait Buckets” quickly before we made our way up the sprial staircase to the upstairs deck.

Upstairs it’s pretty much seat yourself. There were a couple of large parties (birthdays we think), so we grabbed a table that we ended up sharing with a local couple and grabbed an app. The waitresses on the deck were super attentive, grabbing us another round just before offering to take a picture of the group in front of the sunset (a beautiful silhouette shot!) - people sure are friendly down here!

The Drinks

Valerie’s Drink of Choice: Miami Vice  
Ingredients:  1/2 Deck Runner and 1/2  Piña Colada
Cost: $6.50

Review: I’m pretty sure the picture here says it all, but alas I will elaborate! Although I had already sampled the Baitbucket (see below), I had read rave review’s about Sharky’s Miami Vice. While Miami Vices are traditionally made with half Piña Colada and half Strawberry Daquiri, this version was made with Sharky’s Deck Runner, which is their take on a rum runner, containing light rum, blackberry brandy, and banana liqueur. Needless to say, the Deck Runner aspect gave this drink an added level of fruitiness. Coupled with the view of the sunset, it was perfection.

Cheers:

Eric’s Drink of Choice: Baitbucket Margarita   
Ingredients: Cuervo Gold Tequila, Triple Sec, Blue Curacao
Cost: $6.50

Review: The Bait Bucket was suggested by my in-laws as Sharky’s Signature Drink, so of course I had to try one after hearing them talk about it for MONTHS leading up to our vacation. The cocktail was essentially a frozen margarita, made blue with Blue Curacao and served with a lightly-salted rim. The cocktail surprised me in that despite being somewhat of a novelty (and frozen, which I normally steer clear of), it was suprisingly well balanced between the sweet sugary flavor and the sour of the lime juice. The cocktail gave just the right amount of pucker that paired well with the salted rim (think finely ground kosher salt, none of those big flakes on the rim of this plastic cup). Overall, the Bait Bucket is what it is, a pretty well done frozen margarita, perfect as a party drink, but offering a limited amount of skill by the bartenders. Would I order it again? Absolutely, but I wouldn’t fly down just for this!

Cheers:

The Stats

Wine Prices: Nine whites and eight reds (including two Sharky’s exclusives) are available by the glass for $6 to $9, and by the bottle for $21 to $31.  Five champagnes are also available – two by the split only for $5 or $9 and the other three by the bottle for $32, $69 and $169 (Dom Perignon).

Beer Prices: Five beers are on tap, including Yuengling, and fifteen beers by the bottle – no prices listed on the menu!

Other: Sharky’s offers up seven “Famous Frozens,” along with the two above there are a Coconut Palm Colada, Deck Runner, Bushwacker (aka the Adult Milkshake), Mango Bango, and a Virgin Strawberry (alcohol free) .  Written on the sign hung by the bar is “due to the alcohol content, we ask that you limit yourself to either 3 small or 2 large frozens!”