Bar 19 - Pugs Bar and Grill

On this nice October afternoon I had to make a trip to the dreaded Cambridge Galleria to get a dress shirt. After going to do an unpleasant task I treated myself to a beer at Pugs Bar and Grill. It is a nice little neighborhood stop on this fine afternoon. Locals were the only ones in there everyone seemed to know each other but didn't make me feel unwelcome. The place smelled like smoked meats because of a Rib contest that was going on the next day with all the Cambridge Street restaurants. For the beer I had the OPA OPA Pumpkin Ale which was very underwhelming. It was very light with not much beer taste or pumpkin taste. I was upset because I have liked what I have had from the OPA OPA Brewery.

Here is a little history of Pug from their website pugsbarandgrill.com
Pugliese's Bar and Grill has roots in Cambridge. In 1933, Prohibition had come to a close, Oreste Farina had a dream. A barber by trade, he envisioned a trattoria reminiscent of those he loved in his homeland, the province of Puglia, Italy. The foundation of his dream included a warm, rustic envioronment where neighbors and friends could gather over a drink and a meal. His dream became a reality when he was able to purchase the property at 635 Cambridge St. called the Madden Shoe Building. Farina worked hard to model his restaurant, Pugliese's, after those located in the heel of the Italian boot. His homemade wine and parmagiana brought Puglia to a city whose populaltion yearned for the food and beverage of its roots.

In 1979, Farina retired, passing his business on to his son. The building and the business remained a gathering place for many.

In 1989, Farnina's grandson, Robert Salines, purchased the restaurant from his uncle. Salines, who had always shared his grandfather's passion and entrepreneurial spirit, made it a new and modern reality.

Bonus Photos:

BAr 18 of 52 - River Gods

Bar 18 takes me to this little bar in Central Square Cambridge called River Gods. We got there after work and it was pretty empty but within a half hour the place was packed. For tiny place they get a lot of tables in there. The place is decorated with old church pews and crosses. So if am going to go somewhere to worship it will be a bar so I fit right in here. At night they have DJs, there is a little loft above the bar where they play their records. The food here is really good but I found it to be a little over priced. Beer section wasn't anything all that great just your typical draft and bottle selection. A first for 52 bars am going to review my beer and my friend Abby's beer! I went with the Belhaven. Nothing too fancy just a nice Scottish Ale. Abby had they Ithaca Apricot Wheat which was very apricoty more so than the Magic Hat #9. Our waitress wasn't the best in the world she had really ordered the Irish Apricot which was this and Guinness. This is defiantly worth a stop in if you are in the area.

Bonus Photos!

Bar 17 of 52

OK after a WAY too long hiatus am going to try and keep this going again. Actually I went to the bar over a month ago and never put it up here. So without wasting anymore precious Boston area bar hop time I bring to you the Littlest Bar. Well it ain't so little anymore. This place used to be the littlest bar ever it had like 5 stools but Boston thought there was a need for more condos so the old Littlest Bar is no more. So the charm of the old place didn't transfer to the new one. Looks like your average Financial District after work spot. Not the best of beer selections so I went with a pilsner urquell which you can't really go wrong with when on tap. Nice clean tasting pilsner. So now on to the next bar which hopefully won't take me months to post.

Bonus photos!

Bar 16 of 52 - Precinct

Stop 16 is the Precinct in Union Square in Somerville. I stop in her the day after Union Square was flooded. Thankful they got all the water out of the bar because I like this place. I have only been here a couple times which I am not sure why. They have live music in the back room but i have yet to see a show here. They have a pretty good beer selection here and some good food. Tonight I went with the Gritty McDuff's Vacationland. This is my favorite summer beer.

Bar 15 of 52 - McFaddens

I have been going to too many places in my new hood and I don't want to burn out the new digs too quickly I had to visit a bar somewhere else in the area. Since I had to go to the bank and cash a check (I know who has to do that these days? Well this gal does) and since I also belong to the world most inconvenient bank I figured good time to kill to birds with one beer. McFadden's is a bar right next to my bank I have avoided this place for years. It is in the financial district and I used to walk by the place everyday when I work on State St. After going in now I know why. I order a beer and as soon as the bartender put it down she is like WAIT! A bug just flew in you r beer. OK normally I wouldn't think too much about this BUT then as I am noticing the bar is actually an ad for blackberry it is also so dirty. BBQ sauce that looks days old the bottom of the tops is filthy. I felt gross just sitting at the bar. So when the bartender asked if I would like food I just said NO. I can't remember what this place was before this bar but the inside is actually pretty nice. There is some awesome moldings along the top of the bar. The beer I had was Goose Island IPA. The tap handle is real cute (a goose head!). The beer an OK IPA nothing I would sing home about but I would drink that beer again going to McFadden's again HELL NO.

BOnus photos:

Bar 14 of 52 - Michael's

You knew it wouldn't take me long to find a dive bar in my new neighborhood. For a week or so I have been walking by this place called Michael's and I thought it was a resturant. The outside has a feel of a fancy pizza joint in my hometown of Hazleton PA. Lucky one day they had the front door open and I saw the not only was this a bar but a DIVE. As I first walk in all I can notice is almost every TV is on the horse races, another one on KENO and just one TV on the news. I got carded when I ordered my Bud (I don't think they have anything other than Bud everyone at the bar was either drinking Bud or Light). The guy next to me and laughed and said "If I was working the bar I wouldn't of carded you because obviously you have to be of age if you walk into this place." I am sure I will be stopping in here again to watch a Sox game or if I have a hankering for some gambleing. I will leave this review with a joke the bartender told. Why did the Greeks give up sex? It was a real pain in the ass!

Bonus Photos:

Bar 13 of 52 - Charlies Kitchen

One of the staples of Harvard Square for me is Charlies Kitchen which is also lucky 13 for 2010. Where else can you get a old school grilled cheese? This bar has more of a dinner feel than of a bar but I really do enjoy stopping in here on my way home. I think the only times I have come here on purpose is to see a band on a MOnday night. Other than that it is to kill time waiting for a bus or to use the bathroom on my way home. They do have a really good selection of beer but yet I can't get passed the Ballantines. It is the best cheap beer outside of Northeastern PA since everyone knows the best is Yuengling but when you can't have Yuengling Ballantines is the go to beer for me.

Speaking of the Ballantines one of the best things about the bottles is you get a puzzle! This puzzle once caused great confusion at a BBQ.

Bonus Photos!