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Greater Boston Area

Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in Boston (and suburbs)

Union square pub?

Does anybody know anything about this place. How is the food and tap choices.

20 Replies

  1. For Chowhounds not in the know, this post refers to "Union Square," the bar that recently opened in Somerville in the location that formerly housed the Tir Na Nog pub (at 366 Somerville Ave.).

    Haven't had the food yet, but I've looked at the menu. It's pretty basic bar food, with a few slight twists: chicken quesadillas, nachos, sloppy joes, burgers, salads, etc.

    The tap selection is quite good. Last time I was there they had: Dogfish Head Brewing 60-Minute IPA, Dogfish Head Brewing Pestina Feche, Stone Brewing Pale Ale, Narragansett Ale, Sam Adams Summer, and a few others.

    1. re: huuvola

      That would be Festina Peche, not Pestina Feche.

      1. re: Truh

        Is that Narragansett as in 'Gansett (now brewed in the midwest) or something more microbrew like Buzzards Bay golden ale??

        1. re: itaunas

          It's Narragansett Beer. Now contract brewed by High Falls Brewing Company in High Falls, NY.

          1. re: huuvola

            I think I read somewhere (might have been the WSJ) that the current owner is planning on reopening the brewery, maybe down in Providence or something.

            I had a grilled sandwich that was decent enough. Also, pretty good sweet potato fries. Steak fries were a little mushy (I think the fryer wasn't hot enough).

            1. re: nfo

              I thought the Nantucket Nectars guys were taking it over.

    2. They still seem to have very iffy hours (I passed by last night, a Wednesday, @ 10, and they were dead closed), and no signage. While that formula has worked for at least one of my favorite bars of all time, I don't get a permanent vibe from this place. I'm rooting for it, as it's in my 'hood, but I think they alienated a lot of the nOg-ers, who are now going elsewhere.

      1. re: franksnbeans

        We're all at Toast. There was much more to the Tir than the space ... the community is live and well across the square.

        1. re: yumyum

          I'm dating myself but I miss Chapter 11 (pre Tir Na Nog) a lot.

          1. re: Sal Monella

            Was it named the Chapter 11 in the period that the Fringe members (George Garzone) played there after the Willow got shut down for drug dealing? It was never the same when they went to the Lizard Lounge, but the Nog certainly more than made up for that particular loss.

            1. re: Sal Monella

              Well, I used to go to Chapter 11 too. *right before it became the nOg.* Please let's not discuss how long ago that was.

        2. Has this place closed already? I went once and it was okay, but quite empty for a Thursday night, and then I recently drove by on a weekend night and it was closed...seemed odd, especially since it was a night the Sox were playing. It's too bad if it closed, since I was looking forward to having a new place to go to in my neighborhood.

          1. re: italyinmind

            Sure looked like it to me. Went past yesterday (Sunday) @ 4:30 and there was a CLOSED sign up on the window. A shame. It's a great space; would love to see it lively again.

            1. re: kron

              This spot (as I read in the union square news) is going to be called "Bull McCabe" and was bought by the people who own Spirit Bar.

              1. re: kron

                Interesting. Did the article give any sort of timeline? I haven't noticed much action in the space...

                1. re: italyinmind

                  I think bull mccabes should be done in less than a month. union square is hosting a "six pack" pub crawl and i think bull mcCabe's will be the last on the list for the evening. that's slated for may 14th i believe. as for action on the space, you've probably noticed some by now...they've boarded in the old window, are refinishing the old sign with their new name, etc...looking forward to them opening their doors!

                  1. re: kron

                    I've noticed some progress in this space again...anyone have a current update? The Bull McCabe sign went up some time in the last week, but there is still a non-inviting piece of plywood over the old window.

                    1. re: italyinmind

                      Just wanted to make some corrections to the posts above. Bull McCabe's was owned by the Tir Na Nog's former landlord (who unceremoniously pushed TNN out of the space). Union Square Pub, which replaced BMcC's, is now owned by a couple of former Spirit employees, one of whom we know from many Saturdays watching college football at Spirit (friendly bartender Brian). We ran into Brian on Sunday - he is trying to get the word out that they are not at all related to BMcC's. The Johnny Come Latelies are playing a gig there on, I believe, this Sunday. (I am not associated with the bar in any way.)

                      1. re: digga

                        I'm confused. Do you have Union Square pub (now gone) and Bull McCabe's (currently in that location) backwards?

                        1. re: nfo

                          Oops. That's exactly what I think I did. Thanks for the correction.

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