Brunch with a free alcoholic drink in Boston?

[ymartins]

I'm new to Boston - any suggestions for brunch places that offer free drinks or all you can drink?

[ymartins]

Thanks for all the responses - glad to learn more about MAs drink laws.

[Berheenia]

I just had one at Joe's American Bar and Grill. There was a gratuity drink included in the price of the brunch - several contained booze.

[Beachowolfe]

There's really no "free". They're charging you for the drink whether you take it or not. Along these lines of logic your french fries are free when you pay $10 for a cheeseburger.

[robwat36]

This is why I tend to not bemoan the lack of happy hour either. The customer never really comes out ahead. Discounts on watery domestic beer and whatever's in the well? Gee, thanks, I'm all set.

[opinionatedchef]

YOU are funny. thank you for my daily laugh!

[Beachowolfe]

There is nothing like a Cossack and flat seltzer at 5:05. And it only gets better with " dry aged" limes from the previous night.

[rknrll]

In the states which allow happy hour...good places actually have discounts as well.
Like brewpubs and beer bars, among others.

I've been to many of each which offer $1-2 off draft pours of their (brewpubs) beer during happy hour...and some beer bars which offer 2 for 1 bottles of whatever they decide to put in the happy hour cooler for that day (actual good beer.)

While there are places like you describe, there are also places which offer a better quality product at a discount.

[opinionatedchef]

ym, forgot to say- Welcome to Boston. Hope you find these to be helpful links:

ONE CHOWHOUND’S GUIDE to Boston areas and restnts:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781155

Boston Food Profile:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781156

Ideas for Food Souvenirs;

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781171

[C. Hamster]

Against the law. And supposedly they are waking up to the fact that so many establishments out and out flaunt the law.

[C. Hamster]

Maybe someplace will offer a free brunch with a $20 bloody Mary.

[dlavery99]

C.Hamster,
That would be a great loophole!

[NE_Wombat]

It's only a valid loophole if a Bloody Mary costs $20 every day (or for at least 7 days in a row)

[emannths]

This happens all the time. The restaurant will offer a discount on food with a drink purchase. So if they want brunch + bloody mary to be $20, and a bloody mary is $10, they'll says brunch is $10 with a bloody mary purchase.

[NE_Wombat]

I agree - but that isn't what C.Hamster was suggesting as an offer - which was a FREE brunch and a $20 Bloody Mary. The drink prices (i.e. the $20/each) has to remain the same for at least seven consecutive days.

[phatchris]

Free mimosa or Bloody Mary with Brunch at Joes Waterfront.

[bclarke25]

Stats in Southie includes one drink with the price of brunch.

[hotoynoodle]

that's a flagrant violation of the licensing law, unless that promotion is available for 7 consecutive business days.

[rknrll]

Ha...yeah.
Looks like they've promoted it on their twitter.

Not Your Average Joe's started doing a happy hour with half price apps and cheap cans of beer ($2-3)...but of course, those cans are available at those prices all the time...but I don't think they are on the menu.

[MC Slim JB]

It's illegal to make an official practice of giving away drinks or doing all-you-can-drink promotions in Boston and most surrounding communities. In general, the City cracks down on any practice that they think might promote binge drinking, like their recent move to ban beer towers. No happy hour promotions for alchohol, either: only food specials are allowed. It dates back to a successful campaign by MADD in the early 80s to cut down on drunk driving; I believe statistics have borne out its efficacy.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[Fly]

This is actually true of all of Massachusetts. It's not a city law, it's a state law.

[purple bot]

No such thing here, sorry. Happy hour law prohibits free or discounted booze.