Boston: The Regal Beagle

posted by Katie

I'm a little embarrassed to report that I've been in Boston for a good 2 months now and still have yet to go to a happy hour here. I did, however, meet some friends for drinks and appetizers at a newly opened restaurant on Friday and so even though it wasn't technically a happy hour, there were food and drinks involved so I'm going with it.


The Regal Beagle opened last Tuesday and is a welcome addition to Coolidge Corner as the bar scene previously consisted of the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse and...well, that was about it. I didn't catch the reference on my own, but if you are for some reason a Three's Company buff, you might recognize the name as the gang's favorite hangout. Yes, that is where owners Chris Tocchio and Kristian Deyesso (who also own Church in the Fenway) got the name, but other than that, the restaurant has no connection to the show.

The Beagle, with its red damask walls and low lighting, might feel a little fussy when you walk in, but the perky staff definitely lends the restaurant a more laid-back atmosphere than you would guess at first glance.

Katie H. and I arrived before everyone else so we decided to start off with cocktails ($9-$10) and the pumpkin hummus dip ($4). While the drinks were strong (always a plus), the other flavors in the cocktails were weak, which was a bit disappointing. I'm hoping that since we went so soon after the Beagle opened, the bartenders are still getting the hang of things. I thought the pumpkin hummus was bland as well. Strike two.


Not long after our drinks arrived, we were joined by the rest of our party. Sara and Tom went for cocktails while Bryan and Luke opted for beer (boring).

photo by Nicolas Torres Pardo

We decided to stick to the appetizer menu for the most part as the entrees are a little pricey, especially for us grad students (we're talking in the $18-22 range). Sara, Tom, Katie and I all tried the tempura sweet potato fries ($5) which were much thicker than expected but were quite tasty.

photo by Nicolas Torres Pardo

Katie and I also split the mac n cheese ($12). It had a nice flavor to it but it was also one of those stringy types of mac n cheese while I prefer the creamy sort. Still good though.

photo by Nicolas Torres Pardo

Nico ordered the caesar salad ($7) which he pronounced "good" and Bryan and Luke chose the dates stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and wrapped in bacon ($4). The boys were pretty generous when it came to sharing the dates and I can see why. Those things are delicious but so rich that you really only want to have one. Definitely more of a "let's get it for the table" item.

Oh yeah, there was some olive ($4) action going on too...

While most of the food was pretty good, I have to say I was a little disappointed with the Beagle. I think I was hoping that it would be my Boston version of Kelly's Elephants in Portland in that it would be a nearby go-to spot for ridiculously good appetizers and innovative and tasty drinks. In reality, however, it was the company I was with that made the night, not the food and drinks. Nonetheless, I am giving The Beagle the benefit of the doubt and plan to try it again in a couple of weeks to see if things have changed for the better after it's been open for awhile. Plus, there were some very tempting-looking desserts that we didn't get to, so I think that also warrants a second trip.

Portland Happy Hour: Branch, A Whiskey Bar

Posted by Kelly

The last time my Aunt Polly and I went to 50 Plates we asked about her fav waiter/bartender Evan. To our surprise he had recently left to work at a new restaurant on NE Alberta and 29th. Branch a whiskey bar was opened two months ago by Andrew Finkelman, formerly of both 50 Plates and the Alberta Street Oyster Bar. He brought with him Chef Larry Tavernetti and our waiter Evan.

The happy hour, from 5 to 7, offers $5 glasses of house red and white wine, $3 well drinks, discounted beers and $2 off all appetizers and their house ground burger, with house bacon. Ben and Adam joined Polly and I and both ordered the burger. It was was a thick, fresh tasting burger with the option of cheddar or swiss cheese. Polly and I shared the "neighborhood special" written on the black board by the bar. Today it was a fall salad, a baked pasta, squash, and kale dish, and a glass of house wine, we chose white. The best part was the squash in the baked pasta, so good! Finally, for food, we ordered the white bean puree which was good but nothing special.

For drinks the boys had happy hour priced PBR ($1.50 pint) with a good glass of whiskey. This is a whiskey bar after all so someone had to order it and it wasn't going to be me! Andrew, with a vast knowledge of whiskey, was able to lead Adam to a nice whiskey selection of Corner Creek ($8) while Ben went for the Booker's ($12). Polly stuck to their house white, the Altozano ($6), which was great. While I chose to test the cocktail menu and order "The Beet Goes On" ($7), a combination of beet infused vodka, lemon juice, and sugar served up. I wouldn't say that it was better than the Ruby at Mint or the beet drink Kelly made at Elephant's, but it was very enjoyable and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again. Finally, my last drink was made by Evan and is known as an Aviator. I did like this gin, maraschino liquor, and lemon juice drink, but I probably would not order it again.

Branch offers great drinks, a wide variety of whiskey, an $8 happy hour burger which isn't expensive when paired with a $1.50 PBR and a baseball game (the Yankee's were playing that night). The atmosphere is great and the staff is friendly, but there is no exceptional happy hour deal. Regardless I would definitely check it out if you are ever on Alberta, remember to check the black board for specials!

Read more from Andrew here!

Portland Happy Hour: The Alameda Cafe

Posted by Kelly

It is obvious that the happy hour trend is spreading and Portland restaurants are all over it. Recently I went with my grandparents - Mimi and Papa - and Adam to one of their regular dinner spots and to my surprise it was happy hour time. The Alameda Cafe recently started offering a daily happy hour from 4 to 6pm.

The food menu's cheap eats include sweet potato fries, pretty tasty and made with real sweet potatoes instead of yams, chicken skewers with a Mediterranean salad (very good), soup, chorizo sliders, and caesar salad. For their drinks they focus on traditional cocktails for $5-$5.50, listed on their menu with a description of the drinks origin. They also offer discounted beer and wine. If nothing on the happy hour menu is quite hitting the spot, they have a great dinner menu as well. I would highly recommend the scallops ($9) listed under the appetizers!

Portland Happy Hour: Mint Revisited

Posted by Kelly
Last Sunday Mary, Adam, and I hit up Mint's all night happy hour and I was reminded why I used to go there every Wednesday night! Great drinks and the BEST sweet potato fries. Delish!

Sunday and Wednesday are all night happy hours which include $6 drinks, sweet potato fries ($3.50), calamari ($6), spicy caesar salad ($6), lamb burger ($8), and daily soup ($4). Change it up and try their Avocado Daiquiri ($6) or go for some of my favorite drinks: Bella, 816, Ad Lib, Guava Cosmo, Ruby...really you can't go wrong.

Photos by Adam Tenuta