Silvertone Bar and Grill is one of the worst-kept secrets in Boston. This basement bar is like a popular indie rock band: You love them because you’re the only one who does; but next thing you know, they’ve won a grammy. Alas, Silvertone is packed with people all week long.
If you can find a time when you’re not standing shoulder to shoulder, this neo-speakeasy has a cool art-deco vibe. The vintage posters, antique radios and the jazzy standards from the Rat Pack heighten the welcoming atmosphere. Tables are at a premium—there are approximately 15—but it's to Silvertone’s credit that people are willing to wait an hour or more for their upscale comfort food with bistro flair. It is one of the cheapest places to eat in Boston proper.
Peruse the menu for cheap salads, appetizers and entrees. The calamari is some of the best anywhere in the city. The goat-cheese crostini comes with thick slices of toast and a heaping pile of warm cheese. The mac and cheese is a crowd favorite, as is the half-chicken entrée. Unfortunately, the chicken sells out quickly. I settled for a crusty grilled cheese and fries for about $6. It was a little disappointing they didn’t have enough chicken to last the night. All told, you can spend about $60 and get drinks, appetizers, entrees and wine for two people.
Every bottle of wine is priced at only $10 above cost. You can find a truly excellent vino for no more than $25. They also have several half-bottles of wine, in the $10-$15 range. The cocktails are delicious and inventive. The bar is known for its raspberry-infused vodka martini, essentially a twist on the conventional cosmo; even better is the lemon-drop martini. It’s not really a martini, but rather a drool-inducing cocktail that tastes like lemonade saturated with vodka. Most cocktails top out around $8. The beer selection is very good, but not very expansive. They offer Brooklyn Lager on draft and Anchor Steam in a bottle, which is a nice touch, but nothing else truly unique.
Silvertone is only enjoyable if you can grab a table. Even then, servers tend to rush you through your meal. Avoid the crowds by getting there right when it opens for an after work drink. It’s the kind of place to meet up with acquaintances, knock back a cocktail and start your night off right before moving to the next bar.
Silvertone Bar and Grill
69 Bromfield St. (map)
Boston MA
617-338-7887
Jim Furbush
can be reached at jfurbush@theoysteronline.com
03/22/2006 | Permalink
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