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
(617) 577-9100www.classicirish.com
