The Fat Cat, 24 Chestnut Street Quincy

August 20, 2010

Every time I go by this place its always packed. I finally decided to wait it out and see what the crowds were about. Sonya and I grabbed dinner and we both loved the place. Great beer and wine selection with reasonable prices. They had a bunch of bottles of wine for $25. We chose to explore the beer selections. A lot of Belgian beer, Sonya got the Wells Banana Bread beer...Yumm! The food came fast and in huge portions. With beer, an app and two dinners we got out of there for $50 bucks!

Definitely have to keep this on the list.

3.5 Stars

http://www.fatcatrestaurant.com/

The Burren, Davis Square Somerville

August 19, 2010

We were out in Davis Square to see a screening of the original Jaws at the Somerville Theatre and stopped into the Burren after the movie. BTW - First time seeing Jaws for me and Mel - We LOVED it!!

The Burren is the real deal. A true Irish bar down to its core. We walked in to the fiddle players at the front and ordered a round of Guinness plus a Magner's for me. They have a long list of beer on tap and a good selection of bottled beer including my new favorite summer drink Magner's Pear Cider. If you can find it, buy it!

The crowd was a mix of people all ages, even a group of runners still in workout gear. Overall a great atmosphere and a place I'd like to go to more often. The Burren might have gotten a 5 if I tried the food.

Special guests this week - Derek, Mel, Nate, Mike Budz and Courtney

4.5 Stars

www.burren.com

Trump Plaza Beach Bar, Atlantic City NJ

August 7, 2010

Welcome to the Jersey Shore!! Nicole and I stopped in for a drink at the Beach Bar right off the Atlantic City Boardwalk. You would think this place would be great...palm trees, sand, a live band, and frozen drinks with umbrellas. Everything about it was wrong. The service was horrible, the band was from 1997 with acid wash jeans and the crowd, well you can take a guess.

The "Situation" and Snooki would have classed up the place. The bar gets 1 Fist pump because the weather was so nice!

1 Star

Coppa 253 Shawmut Ave Boston

July 28, 2010

Nicole and I walked over to Coppa after work. Coppa is another restaurant from Ken Oringer who also owns our last 52 in 52 winner - Toro. Coppa is on a quiet South End street in a mainly residential neighborhood. They have seating outside on the sidewalk and only a dozen or so tables inside. When you visit a Ken Oringer restaurant you have to be willing to go outside the norm. You won't know what a lot of things on the menu are, you just have to trust that it will be amazing. Coppa centers on italian small plates with fresh Salami, cheeses, pizza, and pasta.

I had the special which was a seafood Ceviche, not sure what was in it but is tasted a lot like flowers...in a good way. Nicole wimped out with a chicken and pasta dish, oh and some Risotta balls. Everything was delicious. Coppa is know for their pizzas which we'll have to try next time. They have an inventive cocktail menu, anything you order is good.

My complaint with the place is the atmosphere. It was way too bright and the decor just looks like it was left over from the previous restaurant. The bathroom was covered in a 1/4" of dust and didn't look like it had been cleaned for months.

I was a little disappointed with this place, I was hoping for more.

The food gets a 4 and the atmosphere gets a 2.

3 Stars

www.coppaboston.com

The Port Tavern, 84 State Street Newburyport, MA

July 24, 2010

Dennis, Kerry, Joe and I stopped into the Port Tavern after a great day at the Yankee Homecoming Brewfest in Newburyport. We probably didn't need more beer, but were cabbing it, so we decided to keep going.

First, congrats to Libby on a great event for Yankee Homecoming. The brewfest was a ton of fun and the beer vendors were great!

The Port Tavern was a nice place. Friendly staff, good beer and food selection. Sorry this review is kinda lame, but I don't remember much from this place. It looks like I had a good time!

3 stars

http://www.theporttavern.com/