Unusually I have a free early evening so stop at Spoke (Davis Square Somerville) for
first time ever. Should have come here before and don't have a good excuse.
I got there about 6:30PM, much, much earlier than I usually go out. The
place is small and quiet and seems to qualify as a bar as much as a
restaurant, one of the reasons I hadn't stopped in before. The
bartender was Chris, formerly of Westbridge (Kendal Square Cambridge) a
place that has hidden TVs that are usually, but not always off. He was,
as always very friendly and makes excellent cocktails, started with a "Boulevardier" a drink I have been wanting to try - Bourbon, Campari and Dolin Rouge, it was excellent. I followed that with a "Fort Point" which is take on a "Manhattan", made with Rye, Benedictine and Punt e Mes which was even better. The bar seats about 15 and had several free seats
while I was there, most of the tables seemed occupied.
Later that night, around 10:30PM, I went out to Back Bar (Union Square
Somerville) and had the best Egg Nog in years. I believe it had both
brandy and bourbon but could be wrong. As always you must be assigned a
seat by the person at the front of house, as there are only about 8
seats at the bar it is hit or miss, I got the last one that night and am
not sure there was even a table for 2 available. They are still doing an
excellent business, which means I don't often stop as it is too dim to
read and doesn't seem like the right environment to read anyway plus
seats are hard to come by until late at night.