The Gallows | Low Country Boil

The Gallows has long been one of my favorite Boston restaurants. So when the invite came in to attend their first Low Country Boil paired with Long Trail and Otter Creek Beers, I happily accepted. The night was a crab-claw smashing success; we started with soft cornbread and creamy cinnamon honey butter, plus cans of boiled peanuts. These were followed by buckets of crawfish, mussels, clams, sausages, corn, potatoes and the aforementioned crab claws. The Long Trail and Otter Creek beer selections included some of my favorites - like Long Trail's Green Blaze IPA - their newest release featuring big pine, tropical fruit and resin hop notes. We continued to devour crawfish and drink all 6 beers (10 oz pours though - a smart way to sample but still feel like you're getting a solid taste) well into the evening. Thanks to everyone at The Gallows for having us in and hosting such a fun Monday night dinner!! 

Union Bar & Grille

Last week I paid a visit to the South End's Union Bar & Grille to check out their summer BBQ Prix Fix menu and enjoy some cocktails. The renovated warehouse space on Washington Street is inviting as it strikes a balance between simplicity and sophistication, incorporating a neutral color scheme where glossy black tufted booths juxtapose exposed wood beams and clean plank floors. Handsomely designed cork-board menus are placed before us and shortly after cocktails are ordered - I started with the refreshing meets spicy Mexicali Muddler made with el capo tequila, cucumber, lime, thai chili bauchant and a mezcal rinse.

The BBQ prix fix is a fantastic deal - $30 for three courses, plus their signature warm cornbread skillet alongside salted butter and a glass of red or white sangria. Appetizers were a nice, light precursor to a heavier main course; the blistered shishito peppers with parmesan and a ranch dipping sauce were remarkable, easily my favorite bite consumed this evening! The radish and baby turnip crudite with soft herb butter was a lovely presentation of fresh vegetables. 

Main courses up - there was a grilled swordfish sandwich with smoked tomato remoulade and heirloom tomato on a brioche bun, and Princeton family farms pulled pork with a slice of white bread. Tasty sides chosen included brown sugar and bourbon sweet potato, cole slaw, and summer beans with bacon and onion. There was some well made (fruity and not to sweet) sangria, too.

They do a fantastic job in the sweets department at Union. Not pictured was the chocolate decadence cake with vanilla mascarpone, cocoa nib and hazelnut. Pictured, twice for good measure, because it was so gorgeous, the frozen Meyer lemon soufflé with vanilla infused blueberries and pistachio mint. Those blueberries were something else. Firm yet springy, at once sweet and tart, remarkably juicy and all else aside an exceptional marriage with the also tart but mostly sweet Meyer lemon in frozen form. I drank a glass of ruby port alongside. Dessert is always better with dessert wine. 

Having previously only been in for drinks at the bar, it was really nice to finally have dinner here. The service was spot on and the polished atmosphere with a warm neighborhood vibe makes it a place you can easily relax and linger over good food and drink.

*This meal was complimentary. All opinions are my own

 Union Bar & Grille