Good Cocktails Near North Station?

[pollystyrene]

A visiting LA friend and I are meeting an old buddy of ours before he hops on the train home from work at North Station. I don't know that area, only that there are some pubs nearby. LA friend wants great cocktails (so do I), buddy wants direct train access to get home to tuck the kids in after we've had a couple. Does anyone know if good cocktails can be had right near North Station, or directly en route from the financial district (where said buddy works) to No. Sta.?

[Joanie]

Didn't some people like DJ's at the Garden, or whatever they call themselves (where Anthem used to be)? I see they have trivia on Thurs. at 6 and $.50 oysters on Fri. And what about that Flatiron place?

[Pegmeister]

I like DJ's, but just to clarify, it's located at the old Hooters location. Johnny's on the Side is at the old Anthem location. I always liked Anthem, but don't have any experience with Johnnys.

[Bob Dobalina]

I've been to Johnny's, but only for beer on a weekday. Certainly plenty of space and it's attractive enough of a space. Here's a link to their cocktail list - http://www.johnniesontheside.com/inde...

[Pegmeister]

The Blue Suede Shoes sounds delicious. I didn't know that Stoli made a blueberry vodka.

[Bob Dobalina]

I don't follow vodkas much, but did you know that Polar makes a blueberry flavored seltzer? Found that the other day at the Market Basket in Union Square the other day - a couple of other flavors that don't apparently make it to the big retailers. Who knew! For a local beverage co., Polar pretty much rocks the world.

[Taralli]

Their pomegranate is good too.

[Pegmeister]

Thanks for the tip on blueberry Polar. I always stop at the Market Basket in Corncord when I go to NH on the weekend, so I'll check for it there.

[beetlebug]

I had some really good cocktails at Flat Iron on Merrimac. It's just around the corner from NS. The bartender was friendly and attentive. I know one cocktail I drank was the Ruby Tuesday - Rye Whiskey, Benedictine, Black Cherry Purée (pulled from the web site). I don't remember the other one because it isn't listed.

The menu looked interesting too but I had other dinner plans already.

http://www.flatironboston.com/index.php

[beetlebug]

Edit - I was at Flat Iron at the beginning of July so the information is a little dated.

[ritcey]

I can't speak to anything else there, but I think the caipirinha's at Flat Iron are truly excellent (albeit pricey).

[Rubee]

I haven't been since last year, but also really enjoyed the cocktails at Flat Iron.

I noted some of my favorites on the Places link:

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Flat Iron Tapas Bar & Lounge
107 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114

[Lynnrookie]

I could be mistaken, but I think the executive chef who opened the place has left. I don't regard that as a good sign.

[Lynnrookie]

Probably the biggest in that area is The Harp. How are the cocktails there?

[kate used to be 50]

Harp is a beer before the event at the garden kinda place. Last time I was there my drink was ice and no scotch.

[MC Slim JB]

I didn't love the cocktails on my recent visit to the Flat Iron Lounge, and the food was even more disappointing. The Ruby Room at the Onyx Hotel has some barely competent cocktail making. (I haven't been to Johnnie's on the Side, and DJ's is a knockoff of its sister restaurant The Junction in Southie, not a cocktail lover's haven). Almost every place else around there I would stick to beer or highballs. If I want to get a real cocktail before I hit the Garden, I generally go to the bar at Prezza or Lucca in the North End. Depending on how you're dressed, Silvertone or the bar at No. 9 Park are less than 15 minutes away on foot.

[pollystyrene]

You guys are the bollocks. And while you were diligently helping me find cocktails in the beer bong ghetto, I was busy luring the buddy a bit off his usual route, and we'd settled on Kingston Station. That was before I know about Johnny's on the Side, though. Their cocktail menu's heavy on vodka, which I don't like, especially Stoli, but there are some odd, intriguing drinks. They do have a Sidecar, albeit made with Calvados, but I can be open-minded. I've never been to either, so any opinions on Johnny's vs. Kingston Station?

(I did consider Flat Iron, but looking at the picture on the website, the ambience seems a bit sterile for this giddy occasion. But those pics can be deceiving....)