Asgard

Reason for going out
Myself, the girlfriend, and another couple shot out to this Irish restaurant for a double dinner and a night of trivia. It was on a work night, so we were looking to stay pretty low key and just enjoy ourselves at a table.

Atmosphere
The Asgard has a very lofty, almost old castle or manor type feel to it. Everything is made of hard dark wood, and the massive tables and chairs stick with that Braveheart-esque feeling. The place is dimly lit and the view out to Central Square isn't amazing, but adds a little to the buzz of the place. The Asgard is put together better than your typical Boston pub, and one would almost feel bad booting on the hardwood/tile floor (almost). But the decor ultimately inspires a classy feel that can not be said about other Irish places in Boston.

Drinks
Asgard is mostly a beer drinking venue. They are packed with a well stocked bar of liquors, but stick to the drafts if you really want to fit in here.

Menu Category: Irish American Mix
I wouldn't classify the food as entirely Irish or entirely 'merican. It's sort of a convenient mix between the two, especially since I didn't see leprechaun feet or ribs on the menu.

Service: Medium
There was nothing special about the service, but there wasn't anything bad either. The waitress let a few of us try samples of different beers before having to decide on our choice.

Personality: College/Young Professional
With this place being only steps from Central Square in Cambridge, it is not uncommon to be admist a swarm of college (mostly MIT) kids. This isn't normally a huge problem, unless you are in a competition...like lets say trivia.


Cash Monies: Medium
Average prices, average quality. I wasn't disappointed at all with the size of my wallet when I woke up the next morning.

Chick Talent: Low
Trivia night + close to MIT = not a good night to be searching out the Hunnies. I wouldn't expect this place to be hopping with ladies like Hayden Pantteerria(odd that spell check couldn't fix that one) on a normal night anyway. This place definitely lends itself to more of a bro hangout than a chick hunting ground.

Chick Friendliness: Low
Especially with the low number of ladies in the joint, the friendliness is going to be extra low at a place like this.

Group Friendliness: Medium
Trivia night probably fudged this factor a bit, but the people in this place were talking between tables even with the fierce battle of wits raging in the background.

Would I bring a date here?: No
Although the place is pretty well put together, it just isn't quite classy enough. If your girl is that into Irish food, you may get away with bringing her here.

Would I hang out here with my guy friends?: Yes
Plenty of good brew, and no one is going to look at you funny when you order 9 shots of jager for your group of three. However, this isn't a place to stay for the night. Would be best for a hearty dinner outside the city and a quick pre-game for a big night out in Boston.

Would I hang out here with my lady friends?: No
There is no dancing and fruity drinks may actually be illegal to order in this place. Keep this as a bro place only for sure.

BLUF
Although a classy Irish place, the Asgard is still just a run of the mill place. The decor is pretty cool and has a subtle dark ages feel to it, but other than that there is nothing terribly special about this place. But on a day where you are looking for nothing special, this restaurant is the perfect place to come for some good food and beer.

Did I have fun?: Yes

350 Massachusetts Ave

Cambridge, MA 02139

Get Directions

(617) 577-9100
www.classicirish.com

Fuji 1546

Reason for going out
When the boys and I are looking to have an epic night on the town, we always start that night at Fuji. This was one of those nights. We were looking for some good food and strong drinks before we took downtown Boston by force.

Atmosphere
Fuji was a very trendy place, and aside from the sushi bar tucked in the back (and karaoke stage), it looks nothing like your typical Japanese restaurant. The walls were a pale red and yellow with pieces of abstract art of the same color. The place was lit with track lighting, and as the night progressed, the lights were turned down to give the place a more intimate feel. The ceiling duct workwas exposed, and you could usually find the latest pop hits coming from Fuji's sound system. The tables were large and wooden, leaving plenty of room for all those sake bombs and plates of sushi. Fuji was young, hip, and exudes classiness without being pretentious or stuffy. It's the Justin Timberlake of Japanese places.

Drinks
Fuji has the ultimate assortment of group pre-gaming concoctions. The favorites amongst our group were the sake bombs (a shot of warm sake, dropped into a glass of Sapporo beer, which is then promptly finished...chugged) or the scorpion bowls ( half gallon bowl that contains more alcohol than mixer). The drink menu also contained a long list of cocktails that fit with the trendy atmosphere of the place. Don't expect to see less than double after leaving this place.

Menu Category: Japanese
Fuji's menu encompassed a wide range of well cooked, classic Japanese cuisine. The sushi menu was longer than most normal menus and contained a wide variety of classic and creative (Philly Cheese Steak?) Maki. The restaurant also prepared a number of non-sushi dishes, such as beef teriyaki or New York sirloin. Each dish not only tasted divine, but thought was given to the presentation, making your Sapporo filled table feel more like a classy dinner, and less like a table of outrageous drunks (or at least we thought so).

Service: Medium
The drinks came quick and the food was out in less than 15 minutes for a party of six. The entire staff was very friendly. Overall nice experience.

Personality: Classy
Show up in that pair of red sweatpants that you haven't washed in years and you will probably be laughed out of there faster than Pee-wee Herman was laughed out of the Alamo (or court for that matter... public masturbation...really?...really?). No one was at Fuji wearing a full tuxedo, however, the ladies do dress up a bit. So feel right at home by throwing on a collared shirt and clean jeans.


Cash Monies: Medium
The food and drinks do not come cheap at Fuji, however, the price is more than reasonable for the quality. Expect to spend $30-$50 depending on how much alcohol your group can slosh around in.

Chick Talent: Medium
Every time we come into this place, there always seems to be a table of good looking chicks dressed for a good night out. That table is usually a bit older than the college crowd, but decent looking nonetheless.

Chick Friendliness: Low
Even with sake bombing toasts and a nice atmosphere, the girls like to keep to their hot chick table.

Group Friendliness: Low
Groups are the same as the chicks. No one ventures out from their table.

Would I bring a date here?: Yes
Great place to impress the new chicka. It's an intimate setting and offers plenty of privacy from other tables. It'll make you look cool and trendy without destroying your wallet. Plus if things aren't going well, share a scorpion bowl and turn the night right back around.

Would I hang out here with my guy friends?: Yes
This is the reason I started coming here in the first place. You can fill up on great Japanese cuisine while getting plastered and arguing over the best free porn sites. One of the best ways to begin an outrageous night.

Would I hang out here with my lady friends?: Yes
The ladies will love the tasty drinks and delicious food. It's definitely a place where all sexes can have a great time.

BLUF
Fuji 1546 is a great place for any occassion. Whether you are looking for a quiet night with a special lady or an irresponsible night with a bunch of friends, take the short trip out to Quincy. Not only will the food keep you satiated and the booze keep you thoroughly toasted, but you'll enjoy the ambience of getting plastered in a classy establishment.

Did I have fun?: Yes

1546 Hancock St
Quincy, MA 02169-5205
(617) 770-1546
www.fuji1546.com

P.F. Changs Bistro

Reason for going out
Headed to PF Changs (Prudential Center) on a Friday night to grab dinner and catch up with a female friend. I was headed to the Cape after dinner, so the mood was more relaxed and I was looking to stay mostly sober.

Atmosphere
PF Changs does present itself with an aura of fine dining. The walls are dark and adorned with classy pieces of Asian art and decor. The ceilings are high, giving the restaurant a lofty, almost cathedral feel to it. The place is absolutely spotless. Even the chick from the old pine sol commercials (Diane Amos) would have been at a loss for words when it came to PF Chang's janitorial prowess. The one problem I had with the place was the amount of tables. The table arrangement was tight and didn't leave much room for private conversation. However, problems aside, PF Changs does have a very nice, elegant feel to it.

Drinks
PF Changs does offer a select menu of specialty cocktails that looked appetizing and even a bit fun, but not the stereotypical array of sake bombs and scorpion bowls. They had a medium sized wine list, and the usual collection of domestic and imported beers. Come prepared to pay a premium for your drinks, but you definitely won't leave dissatisfied (or completely sober).

Menu Category: Classy Family Style Chinese
This is the mother of all awesome classy food places. (Dorothy Mantooth is a saint!) First, the food is delicious. Second, the dishes ride the line between traditional American-Chinese food and innovative dishes that should be traditional American-Chinese food. Finally, they bring out enough for everyone to share. I have eaten at PF Changs numerous times with anywhere between 2 and 5 people. Never have I sat at a table where all the food could be eaten. It is a glorious feeling and you will definitely feel like you have received your money's worth. (even when they call an ambulance to get you out of your food coma.)

Service: Medium
Our waitress messed up a few times, but was very apologetic and corrected the mistakes promptly. The entire staff is very friendly, and waiting time for food is quite short.

Personality: Classy
Leave your ripped jeans and Rolling Stones t-shirt at home. This place requires a little more elegance and class, but don't feel the need to get too dressed up. Most people sported nice jeans and a polo shirt. I'm sure in the warmer months you could also get away with shorts.

Cash Monies: Medium
Expect to spend around $35-$40 per person. Yes a bit pricey, but not the priciest.

Chick Talent: Low
The wait staff is cute, but don't expect you're waitress to sacrifice tips to try and get your number. Save your cheesy one liners for the after dinner activities. (How much does a polar bear weigh?)

Chick Friendliness: Low
See above

Group Friendliness: Low
I'm a friendly guy, but even I would get upset if someone tried to barge into my dinner. If you're short on friends, you might want to take your dinner elsewhere.

Would I bring a date here?: Yes
Great place to impress the date and keep things fairly intimate. Close proximity to your neighbors might make flirty conversation awkward, but a natural exhibitionist should feel right at home. PF Changs also has a four course dinner for two that makes family style dinner feel even homier. (wow really surprised that word didn't come up in spell check)

Would I hang out here with my guy friends?: No
Too classy, expensive alcohol, and an atmosphere that isn't very conducive to a loud and obnoxious crowd. Unless you are looking to start the night off slow, which you and the bros aren't, then bring the dude dinner party somewhere else.

Would I hang out here with my lady friends?: Yes
Classy, delicious alcohol, and an atmosphere that isn't very conducive to a loud and obnoxious crowd. Also, I find my lady friends really enjoy the family style aspect of this place. Great place to bring the friends without having to worry about running interference on the creepy old dude with a Cape Cod t-shirt.

BLUF
PF Changs is a sure thing if you are looking for a great, affordable, classy dinner in downtown Boston. Personally, I'm a bigger fan of local places, but Changs does a great job of providing excellent quality as a chain restaurant. You'll be satisfied with every bite of your meal, and you get to share each portion of it with your company. Look for PF Changs the next time you are looking for an excellent dining experience.

Did I have fun?: Yes

Prudential Center
800 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02199

Get Directions

(617) 378-9961

* approximate times

- pfchangs.com

Pour House

Reason for going out
This was stop number three on an all-night bender with a mixed crowd of gals and guys. Although it was the third, we still managed to drag ourselves to another venue.

Atmosphere
Dive, Dive, Dive, Dive, Dive. The place itself is really cramped if you are trying to stand, but there are plenty of tables around if you can get there early enough. I don't specifically recall how the place was decorated, but there was definitely random stuff hung up over the walls. It was dimly lit and kept pretty clean, but a classic dive bar for sure.

Drinks
Nothing but the usual assortment of booze here.

Menu Category: Bar
Again, nothing out of the ordinary here. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, you're better off looking for a Yankees' hat at Fenway park.

Service: Medium
Drinks came fast at the bar, and the food came fast to our table. The place was crowded, so there wasn't much interaction with the wait staff, but they kept things moving.

Personality: College
Definitely a younger crowd hangs out at this place. Probably not the place for you if you were born before Animal House came out. ( July 28, 1978)

Cash Monies: Medium
This isn't a place that will force you to start cutting corners for beer money.

Chick Talent: Low
Don't come here looking for a 10. Although the chicks were there in decent numbers, they weren't terribly pleasing to the eye.

Chick Friendliness: Medium
While ordering a drink, I was able to strike up a convo with a lovely lady standing next to me. Around the bar it seemed like most of the chicks were doing the same.

Group Friendliness: Low
Pour House is primarily a sit down type of bar. Therefore, interactions between tables is very limited.

Would I bring a date here?: No
Dive bar = no second date. Unless you are trying to scare off a future clinger, stay far away from the Pour House.

Would I hang out here with my guy friends?: No
I'm not too picky when it comes to where I hang out with my friends, but this place just doesn't do it for me. There is nothing special about the drinks here, and sitting at tables makes it difficult to interact with the ladies. In addition, there are a handful of other bars within walking distance that could accomplish the desired outcome under better conditions.

Would I hang out here with my lady friends?: No
This place doesn't have a single quality that I would want my lady friends to experience.

BLUF
Overall a pretty unimpressive bar. It offers nothing that sets itself apart from any typical bar on Boylston. If I had the choice between staying home and going to Pour House, I would still go to the bar, but would make my exit as quick as possible. Stumble yourself to another venue if at all possible.

Did I have fun?: No

907 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02115-3139
(617) 236-1767
www.pourhouseboston.com

* approximate times

-

Whiskey's

Reason for going out
My roommates, some of my boys, and I were looking to celebrate the start of a three day weekend. Naturally, that meant we were out to hit the bars, and the booze, pretty heavily. The night ended with me gouging my hands and one knee on a cement sidewalk after thinking it was a good idea to run through a field of sprinklers...Mission Accomplished.

Atmosphere
Whiskey's is definitely a college dive bar. The classic recipe is there. Combine a dimly lit room with poorly cleaned floors and tables, add random decorations and spice things up with some arcade games. Bake at 350 degrees and in a half hour you'll have unlimited servings of a typical dive bar.

Drinks
Nothing out of the ordinary here. The usual beers are on tap, and they have enough hard liquor to concoct any sort of wild alcoholic creation you may be contemplating.

Menu Category: Bar
Their menu is slightly larger than the typical bar boasts. On top of the burgers, nachos, and other greasy options, Whiskey's does offer each hungry patron a small variety of sandwiches, steaks, fajitas, and some interesting BBQ dishes. The menu skirts the line between classic bar and classic restaurant, but my gut feeling says to keep it under the bar category.

Service: Medium
Service is good. Drinks can be retrieved rather quickly, and on busy nights, cocktail waitresses walk the floor bringing prompt drinks to the lazier bar dwellers.

Personality: Preppy College
If you want a glimpse back into your glory days at college, throw on your polo and sox hat and stumble your way down here.

Cash Monies: Medium
Woke up the next morning with the usual hole in my pocket.

Chick Talent: Low
This place had serious ratio issues. You could barely see the dudettes in this sea of dudes.

Chick Friendliness: Low
Even the few that dragged themselves into this dude-fest were not pleasant enough to make up for a lack of their gender.

Group Friendliness: Medium
I was surprised by how open the people at Whiskey's were to engaging other people. Don't expect to make best friends at this place, but come here with a small group and you will never be short on conversation.

Would I bring a date here?: No
This place has less charm than the Double Deuce from Road House. (It's not that bad, but you get the point) So make sure to keep this, and Patrick Swazye's mullet, out of your next date.

Would I hang out here with my guy friends?: Yes
This is a great place to get hammered and not feel out of place. The food is greasy, they have enough liquor to take down an army of bros, and the place is loud enough to mask your drunken toasts to the fake things you will never do to hot celebrities. Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage's Sloan) beware!

Would I hang out here with my lady friends?: No
The last word that comes to mind when I think of Whiskey's is classy. Bring the girls somewhere else.

BLUF
College dive bars are good for one thing and that is making sure you don't remember what happens at the bar. Whiskey's is the perfect venue for that. Because of this, it doesn't lend itself to attracting the type of women we all want to make bad decisions with. However, this is a great place to start your Friday night conquest of Boylston.

Did I have fun?: Yes

885 Boylston St

Boston, MA 02116

Get Directions

(617) 262-5551

* approximate times

- www.whiskeysboston.com

Sunset Grill

Reason for going out
The bros and I were looking for a crazy night of drinking. We hoped to do some yards of beer at the Sunset Grill and then move on to something else. However, we were hooked by their food and beer selection and ended up spending our whole night there.

Atmosphere
The Sunset grill has the perfect dive vibe to it. A pink neon sign beckons to its customers to come inside for a cornucopia of beer. Once inside, the bar is packed with as many tables that the fire code may (or may not) allow. The place is dimly lit, and the walls are adorned with random stuff, ranging from a picture of the original little rascals to large beer posters and you can even find Kramer's ass-man license plate from Seinfeld. (Don't expect to find any proctologists at this place)

Drinks
The Grill boasts a selection of 112 beers on tap, and even more in bottle. The beer menu is pages long, and represents a wide variety of countries and brands. The bar also contains many novelty glasses and apparatuses for consuming your liquid dinner. Drinking yards of beer (a long, plastic container that measures a yard long and contains the equivalent of about 3 1/2 beers) was popular at our table. Most other tables enjoyed the economical beer towers that are the legal form of drinking from a keg in public. The hard liquor assortment is very limited (no Captain Morgan), but don't come here if you're not in the mood for beer.

Menu Category: Bar
There is one reason to eat the food at the Sunset Grill and that is portion size. The menu offers nothing special that is interesting or original. However, I was speechless when they brought out the plates of food. For a group of five, we ordered one plate of nachos and one plate of onion rings. We were hammered, hungry and ready to stuff our faces, yet we could not even finish half of either plate. The legs of the table were buckling under the weight (figuratively), and the food was piled up about 3 inches high (literally). At this place, don't be afraid to order a few things for the group. Your wallet and stomach will thank you later.

Service: Low
I don't have high standards when it comes to bar service, but there was not enough wait staff working. It took forever to get a drink at the bar, and once we sat down, I could recite the script from both Ghostbusters before we saw our waitress. (We've been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay Puft's okay! He's a sailor, he's in New York; we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble.)

Personality: Neutral
I didn't see one type of person that dominated the crowd. Seems like a neutral, every person's bar.

Cash Monies: Medium
Lots of beer and lots of food and I wasn't horrified the next day when I took out my wallet. Pretty standard Boston prices.

Chick Talent: Low
It was a bigger sausage fest than the one held in Verboort, Oregon every year. (Apparently, when it started in 1934 they served 198 lbs of sausage) The few females in the place were not enough to bring the overall testosterone level of the place down.

Chick Friendliness: Low
If you can't hear the girls in the forest are they still friendly. I'm going to say probably not.

Group Friendliness: Low
Even with fun toys like yards and towers of beer, everyone still liked to keep to their own tables. I had higher expectations from a bar like this, but apparently even large vessels of beer weren't enough to thaw some friendliness into this place.

Would I bring a date here?: No
I like to think of this place as the anti-date location. In no way does this place offer a nice, romantic respite from city life. Plus the yards of beer may instill feelings of inadequacy.

Would I hang out here with my guy friends?: Yes
Perfect place to bring the boys to start a night out. Not only can you shower yourselves in greasy bar food and an overwhelming amount of beer, but the goal of drinking a yard adds a nice challenge for the night. You can hurl lines from Beerfest back and forth all night and not even worry about creeping out a group of hot chicks. An excellent bromantic get-away.

Would I hang out here with my lady friends?: No
The Sunset grill has a very limited menu of mixed drinks. It isn't the cleanest bar in Boston, and there is absolutely no dancing. I have a feeling any lady friends would quickly turn on you if you brought them to this place.

BLUF
This is a great place to hang out with a bunch of guy friends and enjoy some beer, food, and good times. It does make for a great pre-game for another bar, but if you are just looking to chill, this is also a great place to spend your night. Also, you get to keep any yards that you order, so the Sunset Grill becomes a place that keeps on giving if you are willling to take on the difficult task of refilling that glass.

Did I have fun?: Yes

130 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-1331
www.allstonsfinest.com

The Greatest Bar

Reason for going out
After a Friday night dinner, I headed to this sports bar to catch the tail end of the Pens winning the 2009 Stanley Cup. I was accompanied by a mixed group of dudes and dudettes, and we were all looking to party hard.

Atmosphere
The Greatest Bar is intimidating when you first meander in. There are several floors, each with its own fully stocked bar and plenty of plasmas to catch whatever game you're looking for. The first room is actually two levels with the second level being a cat walk above the ground floor. Right behind the bar is a daunting wall of TVs. The most impressive is the gigantic flat screen that sits front and center and is always playing the most popular game of the night. That screen is then flanked on either side by four more TVs that are showing other games that night. The rest of the plasmas are scattered throughout the bar, so you will never be left searching for a good view. The ceiling is also adorned with a mural of Boston sports painted by Michelangelo himself. (or probably some die hard, artistic fan) The other floors are nothing special and have a typical sports bar feel.

Drinks
Typical bar assortment of beer and hard liquor. Nothing special about the beers on tap. They do sell pitchers.

Menu Category: Classy Bar
Don't come here planning on a long, quiet dinner. The Greatest Bar still serves the typical quick, greasy bar food (burgers, fries, nachos) that we all love to hold down after that shot of goldschlager. However, the food is high quality, and they do throw a couple curve balls, such as the spicy shrimp tacos.

Service: Medium
The bartenders are friendly and it usually takes less than 10 minutes to get a drink, even when the place is packed. On the busier nights, the bar will also have a few cocktail waitresses on duty.

Personality: Preppy
Collared shirt, curly haired frat boys mixed with summer dresses and plenty of cleavage. This scene is definitely tailored to the young college/recently graduated crowd that likes to dress up a little for the night out.

Cash Monies: Medium
Prices are about average for a Boston bar. Each pitcher cost us $12.

Chick Talent: Medium
The Greatest Bar attracts a wide range of women to the bar. Some are nice to look at, others looked nicer after a few pitchers. At no point was I blown away with the talent in this place, but there was plenty to keep me interested.

Chick Friendliness: Low
The girls in this place thought they were cooler than Iceman and Slider. (only Mav and Goose are that cool) So if it's girls you want, prepare yourself for the challenge of melting down a bar full of ice queens.

Group Friendliness: Medium
The group dynamic is a bit better than the chick factor. This section may be inflated because people were a bit friendlier with the Pens winning the Stanley Cup. However, this is a sports bar and sports celebrations are its forte.

Would I bring a date here?: No
You can barely hear a thing over the sound of the game/music. There are a ton of drunk people stammering all over the place, and you'd probably end up watching the game instead of her. Take her someplace else and check out the highlights of the game later in the night.

Would I hang out here with my guy friends?: Yes
Definitely a place to bring your bros. Plenty of alcohol, plenty of greasy food, and enough TVs for everyone to watch a different screen. This is a great place to spend the night watching the game and having plenty of chicks to lay game on.

Would I hang out here with my lady friends?: Yes
I would opt to bring the guys here before bringing a group of girls, but the top floors of the place can lend itself to dancing. Don't expect this place to break out into an all out grind-fest though. If you're looking to keep the ladies busy so you can catch the game, then this is the place to do it.

BLUF
This place is a great, flashy sports bar. If there is more than one game on in one night, make this your destination to keep track of each one. The Greatest Bar is more of a hang out place than a scam on chicks place, but the bar does try to foster a good mix of both. Next time there is a championship on the line, you should probably think about checking this place out.

Did I have fun?: Yes

Near TD Bank North Garden
262 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 367-0544
www.thegreatestbar.com