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Bukowski Tavern
- Nearest Transit:
-
Cambridge St @ Prospect St (69)
Cambridge St @ Hampshire St (69)
Cambridge St @ Springfield St (69)
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
351 reviews for Bukowski Tavern
Review Highlights
"Their beer selection is out of this world."
(in 103 reviews)
"White trash cheese dip is addictive."
(in 15 reviews)
"but the sweet potato fries were delicious."
(in 32 reviews)
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351 reviews in English
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Review from Dor Z.
Cambridge, MA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you are young, want to grab a drink, and live near Inman Square, you will probably frequent Bukowski. This place has a cool, slightly-hipster/artsy vibe, complete with a tattooed staff and Bukowski-inspired art painted on the walls. They have a wonderful beer selection and great service. I prefer to come here on the later side, when it's not packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
Be forewarned, they play their music pretty loud (even for a bar) and they are CASH ONLY.
Reason why I'll come back: their giant "wheel o'beer" that will help you out if you can't decide on a drink order! -
Review from Lucy B.
Somerville, MA
10/23/2011
I've been to Bukowski's three or four times now just because it's convenient and it's the only restaurant in Inman square with semi-outdoor seating. The food is mediocre, but the service is terrible!! I was there yesterday for lunch and despite the fact that we were one of three tables in an empty restaurant, the waitress was unfriendly from the start and acted annoyed and put upon the whole time.
We had our dog with us and tried to tie her to our table because we were sitting right next to the street. At first we couldn't get the waitresses' attention to ask if this was ok, but then she came over and, instead of letting us know nicely, she told us to move our dog in the bitchiest way possible. She only started trying to smile and be semi-polite closer to the time that we paid because she wanted a tip. It was really the worst service I've ever experienced. Not coming here again! -
Review from Jessica B.
West Newton, MA
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I think my IRL Yelping friend Eve L. summed it up well in her review, "Go to the fucking suburbs if you want it to be quiet." Thanks, Eve, I will do my best to stay in the suburbs, I hate ear bleed. ;)
I'd love to review the beer or food but with 60 degree temps and the bartender intent on keeping the entire street-facing wall open, I froze my butt off and split. I asked the bartender when he closed the wall and he said, "When enough people complain." Nice.
I am that person who wears black, leather, a ton of eyeliner and who has read all of Bukowski, but I bailed. -
Review from Dan T.
Somerville, MA
1/30/2012
If I was 25, I'd love this place. But then again...if I was 25, I wouldn't be able to handle a cash only place. Food is good. Couple of surprises, but generally do the standards.
There is one reason to go here: The beer list. Amaaaaaazing beer list.
If you want to wash some Nachos down with a fantastic beer or three, this is the spot to go. -
Review from Andria L.
Cambridge, MA
2/3/2012
Great beer bar with constant rotating high end drafts! Each time I step foot in here I am the furthest away from disappointment possible! The only downfall is that it's a cash only bar! Other than that with the windows lifting up during the nice weather and the best vegetarian chili cheese nachos I've ever had the privilege of tasting.. This place is solid!
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Review from Ed M.
10/17/2011
CASH ONLY
So remember that time you went out with a group of friends and you were that jerk who had no idea the place was cash only until the check came? That was funny a couple days later, but man, what a jerk you felt like, am I right?
CASH ONLY
So they are cash only, as I learned the hard way. I totally paid those guys back and stuff.
They have a lot more space in there than you would think while walking by as you wander through Inman Square. The beer selection is nice and normal prices for said beers. The staff was pretty good about coming back to the table as someone finished a beer and seemed nice enough. Will have to go back and try the food, and totally stop at an ATM on the way there. -
Review from Josh W.
Somerville, MA
12/1/2011
Mediocre food, gross bathrooms, a lingering odor of farts and a good beer list. That is all, I doubt I will return.
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Review from Sarah G.
8/22/2011
You can almost always find some space to grab a beer at this bar in Inman. There isn't anything really too special about it--it is a bar, with food and booze. Their food is supposed to be quite amazing including $2 burgers every weekday until 8pm, so that is my next how to eat out on a grad student stipend eating experience, but their menu does look to be a little more inventive than the average bar, so they have that going for them.
And on nice days, the whole front of this bad boy is open air, and if you are lucky enough like I am to snag a table there, you are made for a nice little drinking session. Too bad they are cash only....I just don't see how a bar this big with food that is not all $2 in price like their burgers could be cash only....True they have an atm in the back, but most banks charge, and that just adds onto the prices of their drinks, which is no bueno. But you can tell that everyone in there is definitely having a good time, and for a new inman square transplant, I know I will definitely be drinking here quite a bit :-) -
Review from Ben E.
Cambridge, MA
8/15/2011
It's a cool bar/tavern but could we please please please take credit cards. This place is a Cambridge staple and is always packed. I know it's not for lack of funds that you guys don't take plastic.
Seriously what is it with these hipster places in cambridge that are cash only.
Cash only really irks me! -
Review from Jacque M.
Watertown, MA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool place, although the original in Back Bay is cozier.
I haven't eaten here, but they have a great beer selection.
Cool crowd. Mix of people. -
Review from Anne W.
9/8/2011
This is a place that I know well as it is around where my friends live. I have been here a few times. Somehow, I am just not a fan. I am reviewing this place based on their drinks.. and when I say drinks, I am saying their alcoholic drinks. They are all pretty lousy.. not too alcoholic, not tasty, and the service takes forever.
I just like places that have a nice balance of beer and alcoholic drinks.
Oh.. and cash only. Euw. -
Review from Mary M.
Boston, MA
10/11/2011
If you like:
*Remedial art work by local painters
*Slow, distracted wait staff
*Not being able to pay with a credit card
*ATMs that charge you $2.00 to use
*Paying a disgustingly high price for sub-par food (EIGHT DOLLARS FOR A BASKET OF FRIES???)
*Not being able to hear anyone because they're playing beauties like REM and BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
*Foul bathrooms
...Then this is the place for you!
They get two stars because I've seen worse. I've gone back several times and every time I always promise myself never again. This place needs to get their act together. Charles Bukowski would NEVER step foot in this place that reeks of overpriced beers and college students. -
Review from Maggie P.
San Luis Obispo, CA
9/19/2011
As a person from California, I get pretty excited when I find beer on the menu that I can't get on the west coast. I get pretty excited when a place sells half pints so that I can try more than one beer before a friend needs to carry me away from the bar.
Service. A little slow.
Atmosphere. A little dark and loud. I think they had two TVs, but they played good movies like the Shawshank Redemption (or at least had it on a channel that played good movies). And this was pretty distracting. I mean, I don't want to go to a bar to watch a movie. I want to drink beer and chat with friends, otherwise I would stay home.
Food. Well, sweet potato fries smelled good, but I didn't have any.
Downsides. It's named after a not-so-nice man, so I hear, beat poet aside. Cash only, and an ATM with extortion fees. -
Review from Greg D.
Middlesex, MA
8/27/2011
This place would be 5 stars if the took credit cards and used a bug bomb to clear out the hipsters.
They have a wide menu of beer, which ranges from the high end to Delicious cheap beer that I am such a trashy whore for.
This is defiantly more of a local hang out then a destination bar, it is a good starting out point in the night ( a really good date place if you have another one later in the night or late night friend).
The location is pretty good, if you are in that hood. It has a kind of diners feel with the booths, but the long bar and high tops defiantly give this place plenty of room.
I love coming here to make fun of peoples bad tattoos and skinny jeans which enjoying some tasty beer. Defiantly try the Beer Wheel. -
Review from Jared S.
6/28/2011
Came in on a Friday around 7PM on my walk back to Union Sq with the wifey from Central Sq where we went to the fabulous Green Street Grill. So we were already a little buzzed when we arrived. We were hoping to grab a seat in East Coast Grill, or really anywhere else in Inman, but Bukowski was the only place without a line out the door. And now I know why.
The interior reminded me of a Bennigans. Nothing about this place says "serious bar" at all. The bar stools were even bolted to the floor. Ugh.
They have a good selection of local beers on tap. But the prices are pretty outrageous @ $5+ per draught. And NOTHING from Portland, ME. I love me a Shipyard or Peak Organic or Allagash. They even had NY and PA beers. But nothing from ME. Disappointing.
The wifey, not being a beer drinker, ordered her usual rum and diet, and got a glass of diet coke with ice. Definitely no liquor in it. Now, I know, it's a beer bar...but they have a full bar. If they don't intend on mixing a proper cocktail, they shouldn't even bother stocking liquor.
Oh yeah, cash only. I hate that. Especially at a place that serves food. It's 20-freaking-11, get with the program, no one carries cash anymore. And it's not like they are passing the savings from CC commissions on to you, the customer. If it was cash only and $3/beer, I'd go for it...maybe.
My suggestion is to avoid this place. -
Review from Kacie M.
Boston, MA
This is more like a 3.5 star review. First off, it is LOUD in here. I had a hard time hearing my friends, and we were seated at a table at 7 pm on a weekday. I knew that they didn't take credit cards because of Yelp and got some cash beforehand, but if I hadn't known I would have been very annoyed at having to use the ATM in the restaurant. Our service was good, until we wanted to get our bill. Then it took about 15 minutes to find our waitress.
The food itself was pretty good. I had the macaroni and cheese with bacon and it was very rich and cheesy with a good amount of bacon in it. One friend got the fish and chips and the soup of the day, which was chicken and egg noodle soup. The fish was massive and would definitely have been enough of a meal on its own. He said that it was good, but that the breading was too thick. We all tried the soup, which was good but very spicy. It's not normally what you'd expect from chicken noodle soup, and it would have been nice if the menu had mentioned the spiciness.
All in all, the food was good and I wouldn't be opposed to returning, but I wouldn't exactly put up a fight to come back. -
Review from Steve K.
Somerville, MA
8/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Bukowski's may be your generic looking "bar" from the outside, but they have an amazing craft beer selection, a full "beer wheel" if you are confused or want to roll the dice, and a great "big beer" gimic going on inside. I love their beer selection, they have all my favorite whiskeys and the service at the bar is always quick.
They are getting 4 stars from me for the bar, bar staff, and drink selection alone. Not to mention their drink prices are great for the location.
I have yet to eat here, so until I do and have a chance to review the food I will say this...
If I'm going to be drinking in Inman Sq, this is the place I'm going to be. -
Review from Nick L.
Cambridge, MA
6/10/2011
I have very fond memories of Bukowskis from a few years back, but it seems to be going seriously downhill. Service was slow, but that's somewhat excusable for a Friday night. Several beers on their beer list were not available, but the waiter didn't know that until we ordered and waited for 10 minutes for drinks that never came. Then of course we consulted the menu again, waited for our server to reappear, and waited for the beer. Rinse and repeat throughout the evening.
Prices on drinks are on the high side, especially considering they advertise specific volumes (serving size: 16oz.) on the menu and then serve beers with 3-4 fingers of head. I complained to the bartender about the pour, who said it was company policy to serve drinks that way, and pointed me to the manager. The manager tried to convince me that 3-4 fingers of head in a pint glass was a proper pour. I can't blame the bartender if their boss is ridiculous, but I can't believe that the management is trying to sell a cost saving measure (15-20% less beer per pour) as a feature of their extensive beer knowledge.
Whatever. There are too many good places around to waste my time here. I am sorry it's not what it used to be, though. -
Review from Haley T.
6/20/2011
Awesome veggie-friendly bar food? check.
Awesome beer selection? check.
Sweet huge window they take down in fair weather? double check.
But the downside is that this place is seriously LOUD. I don't mind a bit of loud music, but this place is loud enough that a shouted conversation isn't possible on weekend nights. So I skip it. -
Review from Wendy K.
Somerville, MA
7/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Before I say anything else, Bukowski is a CASH ONLY bar! I always forget...
I have been to Bukowski a handful of times, and have only ordered one thing the past few times: the Peanut Butter Burger. Bukowski does it right with the peanut butter all melty and delicious on the burger patty (I've been elsewhere where they spread it on the bun, but then it just sticks to the roof of your mouth and doesn't melt :( ). If you love PB, get this burger, and put a little ketchup on it. You won't regret it - the salty with the sweet is fantastic!
Today, I ordered a delightful beer as well - the Blanche de Bruxelles. It was light and had a nice clean finish. Citrusy and perfect for summer. -
Review from Shendi X.
Boston, MA
9/27/2011
I've not read much Bukowski, and I doubt I will begin: this "tavern" was certainly more commercial in appearance than I had anticipated it would be, though the original artwork and retro design was charming - you might call it kitschy cute.
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Review from Kathy W.
Boston, MA
7/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love Bukowski's! Pretty good food, AWESOME beer list, and Hank is all over the walls, what's not to dig? It's a lot of fun and the staff is pretty awesome to boot.
The only real drawback is how loud the place can get. -
Review from Nick P.
Fitchburg, MA
6/23/2011
WARNING: Walking in here expecting anything in the vain of Charles Bukowski besides the fact that they have alcoholic beverages is A.) An automatic disappointment. and B.) The wrong way to go about life anyways!
Bukowski, the man, jokes aside, this trendy tavern is not worth the hassle it involves to experience it. The food IS creative and enjoyable for the most part. As most of my fellow Yelpers have already divulged, the service is daycare level, it can get unbearably crowded, and the prices don't do much for the overall score.
I'm not a "scathing review" type of guy...I would still recommend Bukowski's to people if they are in the area.
P.S.- It would have taken them way to long to get Charles another drink to keep him there very long. -
Review from Jeremy S.
Somerville, MA
6/4/2011
I used to be down on Bukowski because the beer was overpriced and the service was consistently slow. But, last week was the first time I ever tried the food--other than the cheap burgers and hot dogs they churn out during their secret happy hour, that is.
Turns out, Bukowski fires up some delectable treats. The unique items on their "specials" menu are truly deserving of the adjective, which is more than you can say about most Boston pubs. My girlfriend and I shared the Korean-ish wings, which were full of original flavor and came served with a side of tasty kimchi that was far better than the standard celery and blue cheese fair.
The turkey sausage on a bun with plantains and pepper jack cheese is as ludicrously scrumptious as it sounds. The plantains were crispy, the cheese had some kick, and the sausage dripped with flavor.
This brief dinner completely altered my feelings about Bukowski. The beer is still a bit too pricey, but at least they've got a great selection (and some awesome food to boot). -
Review from Liz A.
Boston, MA
4/21/2011
I'm a big fan of Back Bay location - great beer list, good food, nice people. 4 stars for them.
Inman was a huge disappointment. The drinks and food were fine (when we could get them) but the service was the worst I've ever had, anywhere. Period. No silverware, no condiments offered for our burgers and hotdogs, no refills for water, no coming by to see if we wanted a second or third round of beers, and no check for so long that we seriously considered walking out (something I've never done in my life). No courtesy either: we finally had to ask for the check and it got slammed down on the table without a word. Two cokes *finally* got refilled after we asked and we were charged double for the refills. I know times are tough in the restaurant business, but come on!
If you're seated at one of Ali's tables, you might as well save your money and walk right back out the door. Spend it at Back Bay instead - take my word for it. -
Review from Christine S.
Cambridge, MA
7/10/2011
Bukowski's is a fun bar! It's got good bar food and good drinks- tons of beers. My personal experience was underwhelming, but others in my party (which was large to begin with and much to the dismay of the very accommodating waitstaff continued to grow as the night progressed) loved it.
I ordered the veggie burger because I'd heard rave reviews. It turned out to be sub-par. Actually, it was pretty terrible...soggy and flavorless. Also, they brought out one meal 15 minutes (no exaggeration) before all the others, which was sort of awkward.
Great place for groups or to grab a drink with friends. Not a destination for good food. However, if you've gotta eat while you're there, I recommend the chilli! Yum! Not the veggie burger. Ick! -
Review from Sara S.
Boston, MA
8/17/2011
This place is TOO EFFING LOUD. Please do something about the acoustics and stop playing the music so loudly on a random Sunday at 3 pm. It makes no sense. Are you trying to get people to stand up and dance? It's not 10 pm. It's not a Saturday night. People are there to TALK. Sunday is the Lord's day and She is pissed at you!
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Review from Erin C.
Somerville, MA
12/25/2010
Fun theme, good burgers, and great selection of beer.
Not-so-secret secret: They have a wheel o'beer you can spin if you're not sure what you want to drink. Just watch out for the PBR!
More-secret secret: You can get a happy hour burger until 8 pm on weeknights*. A decent burger for under $2? Awesome.
*Note: Unfortunately, this is just a plain burger, not any burger off their menu -
Review from April S.
Allston, MA
12/8/2010
The worst service I've EVER had. Rude and bad at everything. Don't go here. Ever.
Didn't try the food because of being treated so poorly. First by the douche doorman and then ignored by the bartender. Want to sit and eat? Too bad, no one here cares.
Have some self respect and do your job well.
The bukowski's in back bay could teach you a thing or 1000.
Charles Bukowski would have wasted his time writing about you. -
Review from Theodore D.
Cambridge, MA
4/7/2011
Good brunch and they have a forty with a hot dog special. Some more funny food combos that make it original. The serve captain crunch based deserts :-)
THEY HAVE A $2 BURGER!!!! The wait staff hates telling you about it and you basically have to force it out of them but its a great burger. I had my with Plantains. So good. Plus the beer kicks ass. Now that its getting warm out the open the side of the building so it has an outdoor vibe. Love this place.
I don't have tattoos but I think if I were braver I would. But alot of regulars here do. I like to hang around there and feel like I have a bunch of tattoos. The late night scene isn't ideal to be honest but its not bad. More of a chill scene. -
Review from Elaine L.
Boston, MA
3/11/2011
This place looks like a saloon on the outside (due to its lettering mostly) and looks like a retro diner on the inside -- I wasn't really a fan, but the poor lighting could've been to blame (mood lighting != turn the lights off in one section).
Decent selection of beer and mixed drinks, so one extra star for that. A little pricey -- I was especially sensitive to this fact since I was at another bar earlier serving the same stuff at a slightly lower price.
Service was good -- was warned that there might not be whipped cream for the mixed drink I ordered (Daisy Banana something-something?) but turns out they still had whipped cream so that was nice. Incredibly stiff drink, but small in size so it evens out. -
Review from Kate S.
Bolton, MA
2/2/2011
Great beer selection (There are some sweet beers that I actually like.)
I threw up in your bathroom once (sorry.)
Food is decent.
I just don't like the vibe. Maybe it's too big....feels to restauranty and not bary enough. -
Review from alice d.
Las Vegas, NV
4/25/2011
I'm really amazed at the reviews on this place, since they all seem to complain about the service. I moved into the neighborhood about a month ago and Bukowski's has become my go-to spot because the service is so awesome. The bartenders and staff are chill and fun to talk to. This is not a sit-down, stuff-your-face, get-out-face kind of place. This is an establishment that you chill in and the service attitude reflects that.
I think the bar staff here is fabulous. The beer list is to die for. And while the food is a little pricey, the specials are http://thebomb.com and there's nothing better than tiny cheap plate of noodles or a small sammy for a few bucks at the end of the night. -
Review from Sam P.
New York, NY
9/23/2010
I do not understand the draw of this place. And that's from somebody who lives around the corner and tends to cut some slack to any bar that's close to his house.
Everything's overpriced, it's cash-only, the staff are generally (though not universally) annoyed by your presence, the food isn't very good, the floor is sticky, it smells, and it's loud as hell.
There are really only two circumstances under which I'd occasionally consider going to Bukowski's. 1.) On a summer afternoon, it is, admittedly, kinda nice to drink a beer by one of the large open windows, especially since there's nowhere to sit outside in Inman. 2.) On weekday evenings, the buck burger ($1.89) is a decent deal.
A Kafkaesque anecdote: a table full of friends ordered buck burgers with various modifications (cheese, veggie, etc). Naturally you pay extra for the additions. Then it was my turn:
Me: Can I get a buck burger with avocado?
Waitress: We can't add avocado to a buck burger, because we're already losing money on the burger.
Me: Oh, but I'll pay for the avocado. Like whatever it would cost to add avocado to a normal burger, I'll pay that.
Waitress: Sorry, we can't do that.
Huh? -
Review from Josh K.
10/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
I just wanted to briefly chime in about my very recent (today) experience at Bukowski and say that we had very polite and useful service, though the wait for the food could definitely try a nun's patience. As far as I can tell it has a great variety of beers from around the world, compared to other places in the area which only serve Irish beers or Sam Adams and Coors.
IMO, the beer is what you should be going for. The food is just OK but I'm ignoring it for the purposes of my rating because it really doesn't matter. Try spinning the beer wheel if you feel like a gamble (I was told that the most costly option on that wheel is $10.50, which isn't bad.)
The prices are a mite steep though, but perhaps I'm just spoiled by the affordable bounty of Toronado back home in California. I'm still a fan though.
P.S. I know the food doesn't matter, but I'm pretty sure this place is the only one within a 10 mile radius or so that has something resembling Korean anju food... oddly enough. They had tongdak (double fried chicken) served with really dubious homemade kimchi, and a kimchi quesadilla (ripped straight off of the Kogi menu!)Listed in: My Trip to Boston
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Review from Alex V.
Cambridge, MA
11/14/2011
Service was great, beer was good, food was disgusting.
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Review from Scott B.
Somerville, MA
12/22/2010 1 photo
Bukowski's is where you want to go if you appreciate a fine and extensive selection of beers from all over the world. Lagers, stouts, IPA... whatever your desire, you can find it here.
The food... pretty good. Burgers are the way to go here, and they've got some very creative options. Try the White Trash burger... 6 oz patty stacked high with onion rings (see picture) and doused with white trash cheese sauce. It's my favorite choice.
The service is slightly above average, and the atmosphere is a little more spacious than its Back Bay counterpart.
Remember though, it is cash only... so come prepared and leave full and tipsy. -
Review from Nikki F.
Somerville, MA
3/22/2011
Stopped here when we realized East Coast Grill doesn't do lunch & was really pleasantly surprised!
Great beer list & surprisingly creative & tasty food.
I got the vegetarian meatball sandwich with plantains. The sandwich was pure comfort food -- tasty & filling. The plantains, slightly sweet & salted, were perfect.
My husband got the tuna burger -- rare tuna steak -- and it was delicious! Flavoring was just right & the tuna was high quality.
For a pub, the menu is creative & different from what you typically find around Boston. Also a plus that it's vegetarian-friendly! -
Review from Alison F.
Arlington, MA
11/11/2010
The burgers are very good, but I hate this place anyway. The music is too loud (at lunch -- loud music is an evening thing) -- it's weird to be in a restaurant with your buddy and every other table is empty and still you can't hear each other.
And Bukowski was a drunken misogynist.
I guess he was a drunken misogynist whose legacy includes good burgers. -
Review from Jolene S.
Updated - 9/13/2010
I was famished last night and lost track of the time. So I ended up walking out at 11:30pm on a Sunday in search of food. I was expecting to have to settle for something greasy/tasteless but filling.
To my delight, Bukowski had spicy "grilled" chicken (10) and an asparagus salad (9-with lots of goat cheese, balsamic dressing + tasty warm tomatoes). The pineapple mojitos are also supposed to be excellent (though that might be a seasonal drink).
The kitchen is open 'til 1am, but the quality and portion size are better than what you'd get at Tremont 647 (in the South End--I like their food but the grilled chicken was better at Bukowski's in Inman).
I would definitely go back. Totally wipes away my memory of a dry jerk chicken sandwich last year.
Remember, cash only***1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/21/2010
I've been here a few times--for drinks, food, or both--while hanging out with friends. The best… Read more »
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