652346 Mon Sep 14 14:24:05 -0700 2009 54 12 Boston Area 0 5029497 In anticipation of the Pats on Monday Night Football tonight, I was thinking again about places to eat and watch the game. I have my usual rotation of places to watch the Sox, Pats, Cs and Bs, but was looking for fresh ideas. A decent view of the TV from the bar or bar seating and respectable chow are the essentials. It doesn't need to be a 70-TV kind of joint, just one that can be relied to be showing the Boston pro team if they're playing. I'd like to limit this search to within, say, 5 miles of the State House. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Mon Sep 14 14:24:05 -0700 2009 10143 MC Slim JB 1 5029527 Olde Magoun's Saloon. Bar food yeah - but done a little bit better. Also, great beer selection and they have that locally made hot sauce. Mon Sep 14 14:35:08 -0700 2009 5029497 223386 rknrll 2 5033697 Old Magoun Saloon is my go-to spot as well to watch the games. Lots of TVs, better than average food and a great beer selection. I am also a little biased because it happens to be very close to my house! :) Wed Sep 16 07:16:33 -0700 2009 5029527 108377 TomH 3 5038492 I'm sorry, but what kind of self-respecting Pats/football fan is going to watch a game at effing Chez Henri, Green Street (fill in the blank for any other BoBo place as gini so wisely writes about...)?! If we don't watch at home, I second Tom H about Magoun's (are they doing the audio this season? I hope so). Or, like Hidden Boston, I go to Spirit. Or Pj Ryan's, but that's way local. Saturdays for college football at Spirit (but only if Nebraska isn't playing at the same time. We hate Big Red.) Thu Sep 17 19:21:58 -0700 2009 5033697 121319 digga 4 5038561 Ouch. Although I've never claimed to have any self respect. I'd argue PJ Ryan's has a few too many microbrews to count as "way local". Regardless, I love that place as a bar, but the chow is only ok. Thu Sep 17 19:59:52 -0700 2009 5038492 11344 finlero 4 5038579 ("Bobos"? Ugh. David Brooks is a dink: just awful.) The kind of places that are full of hardcore sports fans eating lousy-to-mediocre food are legion in this town. I think Chez Henri fits spirit of my original request (though it is problematic in other ways, like TV sightlines from many seats.) I'm a sports fan and a self-respecting Chowhound. I want to watch the game *and* eat and drink well. I'll gladly endure whatever this says about the quality and depth of my sports fandom in the eyes of other fans. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Thu Sep 17 20:08:45 -0700 2009 5038492 10143 MC Slim JB 5 5040835 Didn't mean to offend, MCSJB. From reading this board, I know you are a sports fan. I've watched games at places that are not the typical sports bar/pub and have gotten looks from the skinny jeans/ironically hirsute/tat-covered/pseudo intellectual/(fill-in-the-blank with your pet peeve) crowd when I have perhaps exclaimed too loudly about a play (see Nahant Native's post below). My sincere apologies. I'm with YY - I wonder if Joe McGuirk is tending bar at Game On! How fun would that be?! Otherwise, Highland Kitchen has a good-sized flat screen at the bar. Most folks seem pretty indifferent to the TV so you could probably ask for a game. Fri Sep 18 16:37:15 -0700 2009 5038579 121319 digga 6 5041171 Actually, no offense taken. I'm just saying: two of my obsessions have crowds that don't always overlap, but I won't apologize to either for the other. I think I empathize with what you're getting at here. If some hipper-than-thou type wants to sneer at me for hooting at the game, I will say, "Please: if that's so offensive to your tender sports-deriding sensibilities, find a place with no TVs." Likewise, I'm not buying the notion that self-styled hardcore sports fans must endure crap food for the sake of 100 TVs. All you need to improve on either scenario is research and a certain brazenness about having two loves, hence my inquiry. To put this in perspective: I spent tonight watching the Sox at my local, which has solid but not transporting food. But it's my local, which aggregates many charms: staff, regulars, atmosphere, stumbling distance from home, the game always on, and the advantages of semi-regular status. Great food isn't always paramount. But someone who dines out a lot, watches a lot of sports, and isn't careful about how they combine the two is in danger of eating a lot of not-transporting food. I tend to give a bit on each end to satisfy both joneses. I also bark at the notion that loving one must somehow diminish your appreciation of the other. I think you can simultaneously be a serious sports fan and a Chowhound; you just have to work a little harder than your friends. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Fri Sep 18 19:34:54 -0700 2009 5040835 10143 MC Slim JB 6 5041723 One oddity that I found pleasant when I moved here was that one could go to punk-ish type shows and there'd probably be a TV with the game on, people wearing local sports team garb, etc. Where I had come from, it was anathema to be a sports fan if you were an underground music fan. Sat Sep 19 06:55:23 -0700 2009 5040835 111910 jgg13 4 5039219 Hah, I haven't heard the term "BoBo" since Buff's Pub was a bucket of blood (people there used the term almost as often as "Barneys"). Thanks for the trip down memory lane! :-D Fri Sep 18 07:10:00 -0700 2009 5038492 14771 hiddenboston 4 5039271 It is definitely one of the better places in the area to watch a game, but I just wish they could rebrand Spirit. They name is just awful, someone else has to suggest it for me to go there. I can't bring myself to say "let's meet at Spirit". FWIW there are plenty of BoBos at Spirit as well (at least when I have been there). Fri Sep 18 07:26:50 -0700 2009 5038492 13687 Gabatta 4 5039357 I think there are pros and cons to watching a game at that kind of place. One being your chance of a seat is better (and of course the food) and sometimes you don't want the typical atmosphere. I've watched games at Sidney's in the Central Sq. Meridien, La Verdad, Audobon and had a good time. Got a pizza at Tony's in West Roxbury on Wed. (okay) and that seems like a good place with 3 TVs and very friendly people to yap with while the game's on (at least during PTI/Sports Center it was). Have gone to Game On and it's insane there, the one across the street was busy too of course. Fri Sep 18 07:56:20 -0700 2009 5038492 14253 Joanie 5 5040442 Is Joe McGuirk still tending bar at Game On? That would be a draw. Fri Sep 18 13:34:43 -0700 2009 5039357 10232 yumyum 6 5045400 Don't know the bartenders there at all. I thought of a couple other decent places. I know Soulfire has its detractors, but I think it's good and you can always get a seat (which surprises me, and worries me). They've got one large screen and a couple TVs at the bar. Another place you can always get a seat is Cambridge 1 in the Fenway. Obviously limited menu but an option. Mon Sep 21 05:54:19 -0700 2009 5040442 14253 Joanie 2 5079551 Thanks for the recommendation of Magoun - watched the Pats game there yesterday and I have to mention the pulled pork sandwich - really, a giant mound of carnitas-style braised pork, not really pulled as in bbq, which is totally fine by me - topped with a mound of not-too-sweet house-made-seeming cole slaw, on a buttered bun - came with vinegar sauce and horseradish creme on the side - slathered some of that horseradish on the slaw and wow...the game kept me from lapsing into a coma, but I was darn near close. Don't want to forget the generous serving of onion rings which had some green onions sprinkled about - a nice touch - good fry job. All this for $9? Holy cow. Also bearing mention - they have six or seven different Oktoberfest brews from the usual domestic producers, but also a really nice one from Spaten. Service behind the bar during the game also was truly professional. Thanks for the tip. Mon Oct 05 06:27:50 -0700 2009 5029527 11172 Bob Dobalina 3 5079684 I was there yesterday as well. Too funny. There wasn't a seat to be had so I was standing down at the end of the bar by the kitchen. Once the crowd cleared after the game I was able to snag a seat at the bar and to order some food. Great game! Mon Oct 05 07:26:58 -0700 2009 5079551 108377 TomH 1 5029528 I like watching games at O'Leary's in Brookline (decent food, great bartenders, laid back vibe), O'Sullivan's in Somerville (most seats have an ok view of the TVs), and Spirit in Cambridge (huge TV by the front windows, mostly good grub). And after checking out Tavern at the End of the World in Charlestown yesterday, I'm thinking that'll be another good spot to watch a game, as the food seems really good (the burger was outstanding) and they have a projection TV along one wall of the dining room. Mon Sep 14 14:35:49 -0700 2009 5029497 14771 hiddenboston 2 5032080 Spirit is a favorite of my group of friends, although you need to get there early in order to get a good seat. With my group though, if we're going to a bar to watch a game the priorities end up being: #1 good vantage point of large (or numerous) HDTVs and #2 the game sound (not 'nothing', not 'music', etc) loud enough to hear over the din. There aren't a whole lot of places that actually fit that profile as it turns out, Spirit happens to be one that's convenient to most of us. Good call on the Tavern - until I saw your line about the projection I was picturing the crappy little TV they normally have going, but hooboy. That chipotle burger they have is really good, and they have a nice beer selection (with some of the beers having standout prices, like their price on La Fin du Monde) Tue Sep 15 13:03:50 -0700 2009 5029528 111910 jgg13 2 5032185 My new favorite place for good beer and above average pub food. Tue Sep 15 13:44:15 -0700 2009 5029528 16672 phatchris 3 5032193 Which one, phatchris? http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Tue Sep 15 13:45:46 -0700 2009 5032185 10143 MC Slim JB 4 5032198 Tavern at the End of the World. Tue Sep 15 13:47:59 -0700 2009 5032193 16672 phatchris 5 5032252 I think the burgers at Tavern at the End of the World are better than O'Sullvan's. Really nice flavor to them. Tue Sep 15 14:05:36 -0700 2009 5032198 14771 hiddenboston 6 5032599 I haven't tried the burger yet (looks great though), so far I've had the fish&chips(excellent), fish curry (very good), curry fries(very good), tuscan wings( good), and the toasties(good). Tue Sep 15 16:22:52 -0700 2009 5032252 16672 phatchris 7 5032681 The two things I had that I didn't care for was the chicken curry and the cuban. For the curry chicken was good, the curry was good, but htey didn't really work together. On the cuban, I dunno what it was, but I think I just wasn't feeling so well that way anyways, so I won't blame them for it. Tue Sep 15 17:07:36 -0700 2009 5032599 111910 jgg13 3 5032194 A good or bad thing depending on one's viewpoint, thursdays tends to feature local indie rock bands. Tue Sep 15 13:46:04 -0700 2009 5032185 111910 jgg13 2 5032275 Do you know if the projection tv is just for pats games, or will they do it for key sox games? I know they don't do it for normal sox games. Tue Sep 15 14:12:44 -0700 2009 5029528 111910 jgg13 3 5040463 Not sure. I'll ask them this weekend if I swing by. Fri Sep 18 13:40:35 -0700 2009 5032275 14771 hiddenboston 1 5029698 Corner Tavern on Mass Ave in the Back Bay. Food specials (1/2 off apps and sandwiches) this month until 8. Better than average bar food (see recent reviews). Couple tv's over the bar and 4 others through out. They promise to not show only Boston teams (which is good for out of market fans). Mon Sep 14 15:47:05 -0700 2009 5029497 14495 viperlush 1 5031187 Too late for last night but I ended up watching much of the game at the bar at Stella. It had been years since my last visit and I'd forgotten how much I love their food and how reasonable their wines by the glass are. TV is quite nice as well and visible from every seat in the bar area, I believe. Tue Sep 15 08:21:45 -0700 2009 5029497 14710 heathermb 1 5031194 Was back in town last week, and saw Sox games at the bars at Green Street and Chez Henri. The TVs are a little ghetto at each, the food...isn't. Tue Sep 15 08:24:35 -0700 2009 5029497 11344 finlero 2 5031457 Seriously? Chez Henri for a game? Maybe a chess match. I'd say that the Corner tavern is a good option and I always like RFO's once the fall hits for a mid season football. Tue Sep 15 09:40:28 -0700 2009 5031194 291712 NahantNative 3 5031516 The big plus for Chez Henri is Rob tending bar on Monday nights and amazing food. I have to admit I've gone about a hundred times over the years and never noticed that they have a TV. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Tue Sep 15 10:01:27 -0700 2009 5031457 10143 MC Slim JB 4 5031646 Yeah, the TV is pretty small; if you're facing the bar, it's up and to the right. Chess match may be a little unfair (I'm thinking hipster roller derby), but NahantNative is certainly right in that it's not the place to go if you're the kind of sports fan who can't watch a Pats game without painting your stomach red and blue and shouting at Belichick until you go hoarse. That said, if there's a Sox, Pats, B's, or C's game, they'll have it on, and there will be a few people watching it (especially the staff). And as MC Slim JB said, the drinks and chow are pretty damn excellent. Tue Sep 15 10:40:19 -0700 2009 5031516 11344 finlero 5 5032495 I think I would be "shooshed" into oblivion if I were to watch the Pats game at Chez Henri. Go there for a cuban and a mojito, not the game. Chez has a special place in my heart. Tue Sep 15 15:45:57 -0700 2009 5031646 291712 NahantNative 5 5032676 Come on you know the BoBos at Chez Henri would benefit from a Massacre (roller derby) game at the Shriner's auditorium. The beer is beer and the food is...crap. Tue Sep 15 17:05:09 -0700 2009 5031646 15217 gini 1 5031397 Ironsides in Charlestown. Tue Sep 15 09:22:37 -0700 2009 5029497 126590 Matt H 1 5032141 The bar area in the revamped Cityside in Cleveland Circle has been a really fun spot to watch the game with my friends. Although I haven't tried much of the food, I did have an awesome salad-- the Panko crusted goat cheese salad. The nachos looked pretty good here too.... next time! Tue Sep 15 13:27:10 -0700 2009 5029497 268475 Snoop37 1 5032934 Waterfront Cafe Bar at Highland Kitchen Morton's Bar (bar menu is good value) (though nothing beats home on the couch if you really want to follow the game) Tue Sep 15 19:04:47 -0700 2009 5029497 13687 Gabatta 2 5032950 I gotta say- I was at Waterfront for the game last night- and you couldnt do anything BUT watch that game in that place. Ive never seen a group of people more into it. Great time- I love that place! Tue Sep 15 19:15:00 -0700 2009 5032934 180029 fmcoxe6188 3 5033083 I agree, it is the best place to go out and watch a game. If only they had a full liquor license. Tue Sep 15 20:14:30 -0700 2009 5032950 13687 Gabatta 4 5033896 Masa in Woburn has a big screen over the bar and and even bigger at one end of the room, and they play sports events live. A good option, I think, as the small plates there are excellent for game watching. I don't think the Boston site has the same setup. Anyone know? Wed Sep 16 08:28:06 -0700 2009 5033083 196033 justbeingpolite 3 5034843 Shhhh! The Waterfront gets crowded enough without all the love. Wed Sep 16 13:10:25 -0700 2009 5032950 16672 phatchris 4 5036879 I've been to the waterfront before a ton of celtics games, but never been there for an NFL game. Does anyone know what time one would have to arrive there to get a seat for a 1pm game? (Sorry to rehash the Waterfront) Thu Sep 17 09:23:16 -0700 2009 5034843 291712 NahantNative 5 5037041 Id shoot for noon?? We got there at 7:30 for Monday's 7:00 game and didnt even have to wait for a table...but that was definitely some sort of fluke Thu Sep 17 10:14:51 -0700 2009 5036879 180029 fmcoxe6188 5 5037705 It normally doesn't get too packed for a 1'oclock game till just about 1. Thu Sep 17 13:50:00 -0700 2009 5036879 16672 phatchris 1 5039195 Here is an odd option - Jae's in the South End. I have watched many events from the bar, on small but close TVs. You can usually get the staff to turn up the volume to a moderate level. Bar seats are almost always available and my friends and I are (or were if people like this idea) the only ones watching. Fri Sep 18 07:01:55 -0700 2009 5029497 249399 WTF51 1 5042434 I just cut through the Copley Marriott for the first time in months and was amazed by the changes they've made. Most notably that crappy old Champions has been moved upstairs and now occupies the entire floor where the hotel meets the mall. It looks beautiful...huge bar, ample high tops and tons of TV's with game sound in stereo. I can't vouch for the food but I'll be checking it out on Sunday. Sat Sep 19 13:58:48 -0700 2009 5029497 24147 Monty 2 5043103 I have to say I had high hopes for Champions, too, but that new location, as you come up the escalators from the pedestrian flyover from the Prudential mall, is awful. It looks like a big, cheaply-done trade show booth. It's about the most uninviting space I can imagine to watch a game. Chintzy, flimsy, tacky: it looks like it will fall apart in six months. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Sat Sep 19 20:54:59 -0700 2009 5042434 10143 MC Slim JB 3 5043348 Alrighty then. ; ) Sun Sep 20 05:02:48 -0700 2009 5043103 24147 Monty 1 5043007 Deep Ellum in Brighton/Allston -- the food is pretty good, the beer selection is excellent (albeit fairly expensive), and the environment is pretty relaxed. Granted they only have 2 TV's set up, but I've always liked coming here. Sat Sep 19 19:31:00 -0700 2009 5029497 209411 Otm_Shank 1 5044823 Interesting thread, I often find myself looking for both but rarely find good food and a nice place to see the game. I know the guy that books bands at Tavern at the End of the World, he plays guitar in the local band Red Quiet. I guess I'll have to get over there to try out the food and catch the game. Upon reading this thread the first time I didn't think of anything to add but after thinking about Union Sq, I recalled that I have had good food at both Precinct and The Independent. While I haven't watched the game there before they both have good TV setups in the bar areas. Sun Sep 20 19:07:12 -0700 2009 5029497 150305 Aphex 2 5045649 Went to Tavern at the End of the Square over the weekend to watch a Sox game. They didn't have the projection TV up in the dining room (the bartender said it's more for Monday Night Football and stuff like that), but we watched in the bar area and the TV was plenty big enough to see the game well. And the food was mostly very good, with the chili and truffle fries being the standouts. The grilled pizza was just ok--nothing special. Mon Sep 21 07:41:08 -0700 2009 5044823 14771 hiddenboston 3 5045717 A friend of mine is over there pretty constantly (he's not in the red quiet, but one of the other groups in that posse) and said that he'd ask if they plan on having the projection up for MLB playoff games. I know from experience they don't have it up for day-to-day type games. Mon Sep 21 08:04:34 -0700 2009 5045649 111910 jgg13 4 5046710 I like the Common Ground in Allston for football Sundays, they have multiple TV's, the NFL package, multiple groups routing for multiple teams, projection TV's for the Pats and then other big games, and a good beer list. I can usually get in at 10 of 1 and grab a seat, and seats open up at for late games. I like the food, pretty standard bar food but well done . I stay away from the chicken fingers/tenders (always find them tough) Like the untraditional ceaser salad and a few pints. It's a rowdy but friendly vibe, it is all about football though and for the last few years they had Miller Light promos at half time that I found distracting. Mon Sep 21 12:53:26 -0700 2009 5045717 1110919 yermo 5 5081202 what about in boston downtown area? Mon Oct 05 17:21:54 -0700 2009 5046710 113896 jimmydingle