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Precinct
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Nightlife Bars Lounges Music Venues, Lounges [Edit]
70 Union SqareSomerville, MA 02143
(617) 623-9211
- Nearest Transit:
-
Somerville Ave @ Stone Ave (85, 86, 87, 91, CT2)
Webster Ave @ Washington St (85, 91)
Somerville Ave @ Union Square (85, 87)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4 pm - 1 am
Fri 4 pm - 2 am
Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 11 am - 1 am
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
105 reviews for Precinct
Review Highlights
"The sweet potato fries were very good as well - simple and..."
(in 8 reviews)
"their outdoor seating area is awesome."
(in 11 reviews)
"Next time I'll have to try their mac and cheese."
(in 6 reviews)
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105 reviews in English
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Review from Damien S.
The subterranean bar that you've probably never seen, but have heard your friends chatting about how they "totally hooked up there once."
Aside from an interesting layout constituted by a very divided bar that creates a Jets vs Sharks left and right sides of the space, the dark everything and mild lighting work for a cozy cavernous feel.
Ten or so specialty cocktails, decent wines and a rotating set of regional taps means tasty tippling for everyone in your crew and at $4-10 each, the standard is met for a hard day's night. My Mayflower ($9) featured the delicious Bulldog gin, fresh grapefruit juice and muddled+strained sage. Topped with the herb's leaf, it looked, tasted and made me feel pretty. Nice work, drink.
The star of our bar stretch? Artichoke and spinach souffle with roasted garlic crostini ($8). Sure, the "crostini" is really just thinly sliced french bread, but the souffle ain't kidding. Baked with acres of spinach, the slightly gelatinous mold is topped with a buttery crust, then flipped on to the plate before being doused in a buttery sauce. Defying the dip MO to be a vat of cheese with some chunks, this is domed veggie mass with just enough fat and protein to hold it together. Quite the excellent snack, especially when split between two. On your own, it's a meal in itself.
Friendly bartender tried talking baseball with me, until gracefully realizing it ain't my bag, while the crowd around were conversational but not obnoxiously so. I can dig it. -
Review from Janice T.
Somerville, MA
12/30/2011
I love the fact that you have to go *down* the stairs to get inside this place. I feel like a Baggins entering into a Prancing Pony type of establishment. Minus the scary hooded wraith people. Such a perfect place to go when the first snow falls, enjoying a plate of fish and chips and washing it all down with a pint of Old Chub Scotch Ale.
P.S. They pulled pork sandwich here is really, really good. -
Review from Christopher S.
Somerville, MA
12/16/2011
While I can't speak to what Precinct is like on any given night, I CAN say that these guys hit it out of the park when it comes to private parties - our agency had our annual holiday party there last night and the entire staff completely knocked my socks off.
They were enthusiastic, helpful and completely on-board with our plans. The space is great for an intimate, winter/cozy type gathering and I highly recommend you look them up if you're looking for a good place for a gathering. -
Review from Wilson W.
Somerville, MA
1/19/2012
I had last been to the Precinct a few years back. While nothing had been wrong with the service, I had felt that it was a bit too quiet and conservative for me.
On Jan. 15th there was a Patriots game on. I popped in for the rest of the Union Square seemed really quiet. To my surprise, it was quite lively at the Precinct bar. And the bartenders were polite and attentive. I've always loved cozy-feeling bars. The Precinct definitely has a coziness to it.
However, what really impressed me was when one of the bartenders (I believe his name is Spencer--head-shaven, tough-looking) had to step out of the bar for something. The place was crowded and I was one of the people standing as all the seats were taken. As he squeezed by me, he said, "Excuse me, Wilson." In other words, he remembered my name from when I handed him my credit card so that he could start a tab. That's eyebrow-raising attentiveness.
After the game, the bartenders kept the spirit up with a lively choice of music. It ended up being a really cool night.
Have to check it out again since I live only a few blocks away. -
Review from Kitty G.
Littleton, MA
1/3/2012
I used to be a regular here because I loved the food and the music! The steak tips are unbelievable, vegi burger delicious! The staff is great too!
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Review from Erin B.
Somerville, MA
1/7/2012
Precinct. I used to love you, but now I feel your food has gone downhill, the live music is hit or miss and you attract an older crowd. Service is still good and the brunch is delicious.
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Review from Monique S.
Somerville, MA
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is cool. The veggie burger is delicious, and the staff is laid back and friendly.
There is a ton of space here and extra space for live music. I haven't checked out the live music, but I will definitely be back! -
Review from Meredith S.
Somerville, MA
9/13/2011
I JUST HAD THE BEST DESSERT IN THE CITY!!!
The game special "mounds" dessert was amazing, tasting like a sophisticated mounds bar that melted in your mouth with every bite and left you wanting more. I always thought the Sunday brunch was killer especially paired Spencer's spicy Bloody Mary. The only heartbreak was knowing that the mounds was a game special, because I would become the most avid sports watcher knowing that the mounds was around. -
Review from Josh W.
Somerville, MA
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
A rare treat. I can drink my beer outside AND smoke my cigarette.
All I need. -
Review from Betts C.
7/8/2011
I have to say that the Precinct really has two things in its favor: Old Speckled Hen on tap and outdoor seating. When it comes to food and cocktails, I prefer its darker, pubbier neighbor, The Independent. But when one is looking for a decent burger, of great size but sort of oddly flattened, and a nice outdoor space, the Precinct is a good spot. It's not usually overwhelmingly crowded, and the food is good, if not amazing. The prices are also decent, which is handy. But it's not as if you're going to be blown away by anything food-wise.
Still, I've got to say that their beer selection makes things a bit better. This could just be because they have one of my favorite beers on tap.
The service we have experienced has been fine, without any issues and timely enough. It also has a nice, relaxed atmosphere: babies, dogs, etc. are present without that "Oh my God, baby in a bar" sense that one can occasionally have. It's a friendly and easy-going atmosphere, good for a stop for a snack or quick dinner on a bike ride or walk around good old Somerville. -
Review from Alexandra B.
Brookline, MA
8/26/2011
Great beer selection.
Average food.
Sitting outside - yes please! -
Review from Elizabeth H.
Merced, CA
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Music venue: 5 stars
Bar: 5 stars
Food: 3.5.
I enjoy drinking here and listening to live music. The food is so-so. The turkey burger was not good-- over-grilled buns and no flavorful sauce (ketchup doesn't cut it). The dessert selections are all pretty heavy, especially during the summer. But I did like their flatbread (pizza). Would definitely order that again. So far, bartenders have been awesome- knowledgable and friendly. -
Review from David V.
Updated - 4/3/2011
Note: the rating adjustment in this review has nothing to do with the music venue, which remains great and has probably improved slightly in terms of show quality in the past year.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the kitchen. There's still some entrees that look appetizing on the menu, however their once robust steak sandwich has grown rather anemic recently. The old one was a large roll stuffed with high quality meat, cheese, mushrooms and onions. The new version is basically a step up from Steak Um's. One sad little strand of red pepper replaces the mushrooms and onions.
The fries are still tasty, as is the mac and cheese - a small but respectable portion is still available for $5. The potato leek soup was good enough to stop the drop in starrage at one. The beer list is still solid as well. Next time I attend a show here, however, I'll probably dine upstairs at the Independent first.Listed in: sNOMerville, Union Square - The Fluff and…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/12/2010
A great companion to The Independent in Union Square. The food is fairly similar - not overpriced… Read more »
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Review from Dorothy W.
Cambridge, MA
2/24/2011
On a cold winter night, down the stairs we stumble into a dark and somewhat cozy space, Precinct, looking for a warm meal and some drinks. We were well taken care of, with all expectations met, but I wish we had stayed longer in order to hear the musicians who were setting up in the back room. This place has a very relaxed feeling to it- so relaxed that our waiter left a dirty dish rag on the seat next to me and it sat there for most of the meal. Even though it was under his nose each time he came by, he must have felt it had found its destination for the night.
The bar is welcoming and there are tables along the perimeter of the room. The space for music is in the back and looks just fantastic. And I do look forward to experiencing the patio when the snow melts and it gets warmer than twenty degrees.
We started with the tuna tartare which was surprisingly good- it came with a rather sweet sauce that we all liked. Then we all had the veggie burger, which is house made, with sweet potato fries. (Note that we had the vegan version- there are a few vegan items on the menu.) It's a massive burger and very rich and flavorful. Not bad at all. Limited amount of ketchup in one of those small dipping cups was a bit annoying. Bread sticks came with the meal- we asked for olive oil to go with them and they were light and fresh. Lots of beer on tap and some decent wine made for a pleasant evening. Union Square is really turning into a very cool place. Just don't want the dish rag as my closest dining companion next time.Listed in: Vegan eats
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Review from Jules H.
Boston, MA
6/5/2011
ANNOYED. I showed up here with the Boyf on Friday, to see four servers/bussers/dunno standing around outside. No one greeted me, so I had this awkward moment of "uh can I eat dinner please?" I chose to sit inside because it was cold out, only to find out all the fans were on inside, so I was actually chillier in than out. There was only one waitress working inside (what were those four folks doing outside?), so of course the service was slow and she was scatterbrained (but very sweet, just for the record. I don't blame her a bit). So it took a long time to get her attention, the bread (which was actually really good) was given to us with no plates, and no butter or oil... we got tired trying to flag her down so we just went without.
The food, frankly, sucked. I got pulled pork, which was actually very dry grilled pork, no sauce, that had been chopped, not pulled. The Boyf's burger was charred on the outside and not cooked properly inside. Our fries were, in his words, burnt and cold at the same time. Plus, his lame salad of a few lettuce leaves and some onion and tomato cost $7, which was really ridiculous because it was also small.
Also, as the night wore on past the dinner hour, the restaurant area started to fill with drunk and loud folks, so the nice dinner atmosphere was kind of ruined -- Precinct apparently does live music in the back, so I think people were arriving fo that. But it wasn't that late, and it was a bummer to have our dinner taken over by the really rowdy "bro"-y bar crowd.
I'm not going back. -
Review from Mary G.
Cambridge, MA
4/6/2011
I am rating this solely on Precinct's standing as a restaurant.
I picked up Precinct's "Buy with Me" coupon, coz that is what I tend to do when they are for some place I have never been before.
My date and I got the potato pancakes appetizer topped with sour cream and smoked salmon, the steak frites, the veggie burger, and the chocolate peanut butter torte.
The potato pancakes were thin, mushy, and burnt/blackened on both sides. There was nothing wrong about the sour cream and smoked salmon, but not a whole lot right, either. At 9 dollars for four, or over 2 dollars apiece... no thank you, really, I'm O.K.
I can't say much about the steak, my friend said the portion was quite generous but the bites I had didn't leave much of an impression. According to him, they cooked it quite well (ordered medium rare).
The burger, however... I asked the waiter what they made their veggie burger out of, and he went and listed well over a half dozen vegetables (summer squash, spaghetti squash, winter squash, broccoli, black beans, etc.). I then asked "So it isn't some sort of mushy grain mash, like many house-made burgers?" He responded that it wasn't like that, it was quite solid.
So, I get the veggie burger with the sweet potato fries. The burger is a mush of things with no discernible texture (or much flavor). The slice of cheese they charge you extra for is so thin that it is transparent. As for the fries? Both the sweet potato fries and the steak frite fries were soggy and floppy... but unlike the potato pancake, not burnt.
Because I had some cash on the coupon left, I got the chocolate peanut butter torte, which was a large, dense cyllinder of cream cheese and peanut butter, topped with chocolate and bottomed with cookie. Way too dense, rich, and cream-cheesy... Traditionally I thought these things were peanut butter and cream cheese, with whipped cream folded in to cut the density of the affair.
Again, my friend liked it.. Me? No thanks.
Finally, come billing time, the waiter did not include the $10 discount the BuyWithMe ticket offered for people who got there before 6:30 P.M. in the bill, when we pointed this out he just kinda said "Oh, I didn't think you got here before 6:30." We did get there at about 6:15, and there was no "Oh, sorry about that, let me take care of that right away."
Anyway, the bread sticks were quite tasty and aside from that the service was decent. Maybe this place is a good bar or concert venue, but place for eating? Pretty poor, and not all that cheap, either.. 70 dollars with tip for 1 appetizer, a 7 dollar burger, 1 entree, 1 dessert, and 2 beers. -
Review from Erica T.
Boston, MA
5/2/2011
I'm giving 3 stars because I went to a show here and the drinks are really, really good. The back room is a nice little venue, great bar.
The food, however, leaves much to be desired. A hell of a lot to be desired. Amy K and I still share a horrified joke from our awful experience last year with cheeseburger ravioli. Fried cheeseburger ravioli. I gave them a chance, and well... I wished I hadn't. But everything else we ordered-- soups and dip-- were particularly lack luster.
I wouldn't go back for the food, but I would definitely like to catch another show there and drink their cocktails. -
Review from Julie F.
Somerville, MA
5/15/2011
I'll admit that I only frequent Precinct once the weather is warm enough for outdoor seating so that my husband and I can sit with our dog, which has only been the past few Fridays, but it's a great venue for outdoor seating.
I remember a year-ish ago when I moved to Somerville, I thought Precinct did not have the greatest beer selection. Well, things have changed since then and although it's not OMG stellar, it's improved and very well priced. There is now a decent selection of local drafts extending beyond Sam Adams, which pleases me greatly.
Last Friday I tried Precinct's veggie burger, which I'll admit is the first time I ate here and not just drank a few post-work-it's-Friday-night-thank-goodness beers. The veggie burger is house made and, though lacking salt, is still very, very tasty. Dr. Pruegger's veggie burgers are the closest I can make for comparison, with the ability to see and taste many vegetables contained therein. Warning though - this burger is fried! I am a veggie enthusiast, not a strict veggie, and upon ordering the veggie burger I assumed I was saving myself some calories from the beef equivalent, which I didn't! The sweet potato fries were very good as well - simple and tasty. I would definitely recommend this dish for anyone not counting calories but looking for a delicious non-meat alternative.
I've had the same server the past few weekends in a row and he's gracious and attentive. He'll even bring out a takeout box filled with ice water for my dog!
Overall, this place is nice, not pretentious in the least, and has some of the best outdoor seating Somerville has to offer. I enjoy making Precinct a regular weekend haunt of mine. -
Review from jessie k.
Somerville, MA
2/4/2011
Back when I lived in Prospect Hill, this was my go-to place for drinks. Reading some of the comments I see that people aren't too thrilled with the food and I can't say that I've ever had BAD food here. It's just not AWESOME, but I always assume that bar food will generally be on the "meh" side. I do remember having a pretty delicious flatbread pizza last summer, though.
I love the atmosphere here. It's not where you go if you want to get blackout drunk with a huge group of people (or at least it wouldn't be my choice for such an activity). But it is a nice place to go to get some drinks with friends or even just sit by yourself at the bar with a book (I've seen plenty of people doing so!). -
Review from Amy K.
Somerville, MA
10/28/2010
My friend and I were in Union Sq and we had really high hopes for the food here. We came in for a late lunch and were seated promptly and served quickly, though the waiter was awkwardly aloof the entire time, never really engaging us and only nodding in response to things we said. Still, it takes all types.
The food, however, was a total turnoff. The split pea AND the tomato soup were both incredibly runny and thin with little flavor. The tuscan bean dip was bland and came with barely toasted chunks of bread that seem to have been topped with sprinkled garlic powder-- dry and oversalted. The cheeseburger raviolis sounded adorable and delicious, but ended up being little grease sponges full of pre-chewed McDonald's burger flavor. Gross to the max.
The saving grace was an excellent order of sweet potato fries. I found myself stealing them from my friend just so I wouldn't go hungry.
Perhaps they are better for dinner + drinks, but as a meal place it was definitely so-so, at best. -
Review from curt w.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 4/2/2011
Yikes!!!! I think the chef changed, but the menu is the same....weird...the vegetarian shepards pie, which was flawless, is "not so much" goodness, on a recent visit. And the risotto also took a nose-dive, waaaaaay to much salt!
But the bands they get and the consistently good customer service they have puts them at 3 stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/15/2009
Decided to try their BRUNCH and wow, what GREAT food and GREAT prices.
This place is a little… Read more »
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Review from Tamarleigh G.
Belmont, MA
4/18/2011
The cocktails here are oooooh so good. The bartender is a mad genius, and I love it. I have actually gotten to the point where I can just tell him, "Make me something I'll like..." and he comes up with some new awesomeness nearly every time. Seriously, for cocktails, the success rate for me is about 99 percent, there have only been a couple I wasn't crazy about in the past few years.
The food is ok, and the $5 mac and cheese appetizer is my usual order. Great value, and combined with a salad or an app is a good dinner for me. The weekend brunch, I have also found to be quite acceptable. They used to have this other bartender on weekends who made the most AMAZING bloody marys, but she's been gone awhile now, and no one will probably ever do it as well as she did. But it's still a solid brunch choice.
The back bar is a showcase of exciting local music talent, and well worth visiting. -
Review from Marcy L.
9/28/2010
Everyone I know who lives in and around Union Square said, "OH! I loooooove the Precinct! You should tootally check it out!" Well, friends....I DID check it out, and I was left in neutral. Very cool vibe - you walk downstairs to enter the narrow bar which used to be the old Police station. The place is dimly lit (I can't say I really noticed what the decor was like...because I could barely see). The front was pretty crowded - it seems like a lot of groups of people come together here. I sat at the back bar with the other castaway's (ie: people sans an entourage - it felt almost like the kiddie table at Thanksgiving) and waited to be "wow"-ed.
*Server seemed STRESSED out (even though it was only me and three other loners at the bar....that's it)- it took about fifteen minutes for her to notice me, then I had to ask for a menu, then I had to wait for her to return from wherever she disappeared to, then I had to wait while she decided if she could make the drink, then she plopped it in front of me and asked me to taste it and then disappeared again... ? huh
*....why don't people talk here? The people in groups didn't want a straggler joining and the people who were alone didn't want anyone disturbing their pity-party. It's a PUB - as in: "PUBlic" - as in: SOCIALIZE! sheesh
*There was outdoor seating which looked like it would be great in the summer! I'd love to come back and try it out.
*Prices weren't bad, but I didn't stick around to try the food (regular bar-fare).
Maybe it was an off day - maybe I should go with a group of friends - maybe I should check it out when there is live music . . . but this experience wasn't stunning. I actually picked up and moved to the neighboring Independent (a VERY good time, especially if you're single and are looking to meet new people).
I'll give it another go with you, Precinct . . . but if you had been my blind date and we had met at a place like you, the first impression would have been left me wondering if I was just settling for my "Mr.Meantime." I just hope that, between you and the Indo, you're not the cheap, unattractive, antisocial sister of the two... Maybe I just need to get to know you. -
Review from Steph L.
Brighton, MA
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is solely based on the beer, the bar, and the fact that I was there at 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday evening (What? It was cold and I was thirsty).
The beer:
Solid draft choices - local and not so local breweries.
The bar:
Dark and moody - how I like my bars. The bartender, Spencer was chill and sparked up conversations (in that non-obtrusive way) with most of the folks sitting at the bar.
I would love to come back in the summer to hang out in the patio area. -
Review from Marissa D.
Somerville, MA
6/6/2010
So in all honesty, this was my first time at Precint so I don't have too much to go on. I felt I had to add to the conversation, however, after reading what others had said about the service (pretty damn terrible) and the food (promising, but nothing to warrant a return trip). I understand that Precinct is primarily a bar/pub and that the food and 'dining experience' aren't of the utmost importance here, but I wasn't expecting to be treated like I was a complete afterthought (and inconvenience) because I arrived at dinner time.
I was hoping our rude waiter was an anomaly at Precinct, but it looks as though other reviewers have had similarly dismissive or ignorant servers. Apparently servers aren't expected to respond to questions about menu items, because when I had the audacity to ask about what was in the veggie burger, the response (delivered with a smarmy grin and an eye roll, of course) was "uh, veggies." Nice. And asking for something more to drink? Not an option, considering the complete and total absence of any waitstaff during the 40 minute interval between the receipt of food and the delivery of the check.
The food, as mentioned above, was 'eh' at best. The vegetarian shepherd's pie sounded promising on the menu, but turned out to be pre-chopped frozen veggies in a bath of cream sauce. My husband seemed to enjoy the mounds of whipped potatoes topping the plate, but consuming more than a few mouthfuls of the pie itself was out of the question. The veggie burger I ordered wasn't so bad, but it tasted a bit...too creamy or undercooked or not 'veggie' enough... to be satisfying. It was almost like a patty of creamed spinach had formed a crust, warmed over, and served up on a bun.
All in all, not exactly the type of dining experience I expected or paid for. If I wanted to be treated like an annoying idiot, I'd have called the customer service line for my insurance company or argued over a parking ticket with the traffic cops. -
Review from fraulein v.
Salem, MA
1/12/2011
This place surprised me. Iv known about their sister bar "The independent" as a great beer place for sometime.
The layout is really nice. Iv been when its been dead or pack, doesn't seem to be an in-between. The room in the back is for bands, its a really nice separate area with a bar.
Drinks have always been generous with a decent beer, wine and a whiskey liquor selection. I'm not one for mixed drinks.
The food is pretty good. Iv had the veggie burger which is made in house, much better than other places whom just put a veggie puck on a bun. This one has identifiable veggies and lots of seasoning. In my top 3 in Boston. Iv also had the salmon wrap and shared a artichoke spread as and app which were awesome. The fries are rugged and amazing! -
Review from Joshua P.
Pembroke, MA
2/22/2011
This place has pretty much been my go to place for a few years now. I really like the Staff. They are all good people. Sitting around chatting and getting a beer is great.
So why the 3 star rating you say. Well recently they have completely changed their menu. It wasn't the greatest food to begin with but that had a pretty good selection, you could find something you would like and the prices were reasonable. I loved some of the apps and was a big fan of the fish sandwich.
I have been there a number of times since this change and I have been pretty disappointed. The portion size is smaller the prices seem higher and the quality of food is lower. This goes for the apps too.
If you are looking for a place to chill out, have a drink, and listen to some music or watch a game then this is a great place to go. -
Review from Julia F.
Updated - 9/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
They serve Magners, get yer black velvets here!
I used to live about three minutes walking distance front door-to-front door. This may have been a dangerous thing, but I honestly was never crazy about the atmosphere here. My roommates and I used to come down here for a few drinks, but it seemed stuffy- like it was one of those bars where, if you didn't go all the time, what were you doing there?
They have those bar games on the bar in the back room. I spent almost more money on them than drinking, nah- that's definitely a lie... I like picture hunt a lot, is really what I'm saying.
Interesting set up, with the patio that takes over the sidewalk, and the seating outside, filled to the brim with butt smoking individuals. Sometimes they had really good live music, other times I left purely cause the music was too loud, or obnoxious for me to stay.
Now that I live about a mile and a half from Precinct, I haven't been back. It's just not really my style, I guess...Listed in: Watch the game here,
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/8/2008
They have Magners in the bottle. Check.
They gave me ice to chew on. Sweet.
They have funky music… Read more »
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Review from Sarah G.
8/11/2010
I just love smaller more intimate venues and this spot in Union Square definitely does the trick for me. It has a cool decor and ambiance to it that I feel a lot of other places don't have in the Boston area.
The front area is a separate bar too, which I like because in case you don't want to pay the small cover to see a couple of local bands perform in the back bar and stage area, you can still grab one of their beers on tap or a drink and hang out in this pretty much all wooden pub style bar. Beers are average price here and this place also serves food--their fries are pretty tasty if I do say so myself!! There are not a ton of tables to eat at in the stage/bar area but around the side there are some couches which you can use to grab a bite to eat or rest your feet if you are there during one of their 3-4 band sets.
Overall this is a great place to see a show or a friend's band play--it is small enough that you can be right up in the action and big enough that you still feel like part of a crowd. And the size is perfect for the acoustics that they have set up here too. I just wish there was a T stop closer to this square! Then I would be at Precinct much more often!! -
Review from Jeremy P.
Somerville, MA
7/20/2011
Overall:
So-so. I would come back to have a drink or two outside with some friends or maybe to check out the music downstairs, but I would not come back if I wanted a good meal. I was really disappointed by the quality of the chicken in my pasta dish, see below.
Drink:
Beer selection was good, although not as good as their next door neighbor, The Independent. Prices were average.
Eat:
Buffalo wings appetizer. It was okay. The chicken was dry - not cardboard, but not great. I don't think 4x 4-5" chicken tenders for $8 was worth it.
My friend had the fish and chips - nice big portions and very good. The fish and chips get a 4.5/5. Curiously it didn't come with tartar sauce, but rather ketchup for the fries and a mustard-ish sauce for the fish. I assume you could get tartar sauce if you wanted so no big deal.
I had the jerk chicken pasta special - penne, chopped tomatoes, artichoke hearts, wild mushrooms, pesto. The dish was okay, I give it a 3/5 for flavor and a 2/5 for value. Chicken parts were poorly selected (a lot of cartilage). Lots of artichokes were a plus, but very few mushrooms. I have made more flavorful pesto at home.
Service:
Waitress was good, not obtrusive. No complaints at all and she got a full tip.
Atmosphere:
We sat outside which was nice. The neighborhood in that area of Union Square isn't picturesque but there's nothing wrong with it either. There is just a lot of road and some lower-end restaurants nearby. -
Review from Ken M.
8/21/2010
The appetizers (pizza and nachos) were really good. The pizza was surprisingly good.
The drinks were hit and miss. The male bartender was super good and the female bartender was awful. I ordered two raspberry mojitos. The male bartenders was smooth and delicious. The female apparently didn't muddle it at all and it just tasted like rum with stuff floating in it. -
Review from Somers K.
Allston-Brighton, MA
12/5/2010
Last night, I was expecting to walk into this place and for it to be a mob scene. I was with a couple friends who didn't know each other, and all we wanted was to grab a quiet drink and have a chat. Fortunately for us, Precinct came through and provided the perfect environment. We walked down the stairs and into the bar and were able to sit in our own, dimly lit, private booth right away. My boyfriend ordered not one, but two orders of fries (normal and sweet), and was in seventh heaven. I didn't try them, so you'll have to take his word for it. I had two glasses of wine ($8 each, not bad) and my girl got a double Magner's. She was a little put off that it was served with a glass of ice, but I've been told that some people like it that way. The music was just loud enough to get me swaying as the wine kicked in, but not loud enough to disturb our conversation.
That being said, as of yet I've seen nothing special about Precinct. I looked over the menu, and nothing stood out as something for which I would return. As we were leaving, the live music kicked in. It might be fun to come back for a show (depending on how steep the cover is), but I can't yet offer an insight. If you're in the mood to hang with friends over some decent pub food, and you're in the area, Precinct is perfect. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, and I wouldn't say that it's anything special, but I would definitely considering returning in the future under the right circumstances. -
Review from rose n.
Somerville, MA
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mehhhh, I like their drinks but their menu isn't good. I went to order a mixed drink, only to be told that they didn't have the ingredients to most of the drink menu items because they were updating it. Uhhh, how about you offer me an alternative not just say "No drinks." Bah. We've gone a couple times and their mixed drinks are good, if you can get them. The food was tasty, not memorable. I didn't think they had a lot of good bar food items. They were trying to be more "upscale" but it wasn't good enough to be that upscale. Give me some nachos and fries, make 'em cute and classy and I'll be happy. It's a very quiet cute spot to go on a date if there isn't a show on.
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Review from Michelle K.
New York, NY
3/1/2009
This was, hands-down, the worst service and food I've had in a long time. I've only eaten here once, so okay, maybe just one waiter is more of a colossal fail than the others, but since the food was piss poor too I won't be coming back, and here is what went wrong.
I had never eaten in Union Square before and was excited to try a new place. At the same time, I do have low expectations for bar food but this was so far below the "bar" that I had to go for the low blow -- one star.
The man who eventually became our waiter brought us waters, so he knew my party of 8 existed, but we were subsequently ignored and not passed by a waiter for over a half hour. And we were staaaarving. I kept reading the menu to occupy my time and though things sounded good, they were simply too cheap to be made with quality ingredients.
When we finally flagged down the guy, he mumbled something to me trying to make it seem like it wasn't his table or that he didn't have the responsibility to find out whose table it was and his expression tried to say that he wanted me to be grateful that he would take us and our orders on. He asked me what I wanted and since he didn't seem prepared to take drink and food orders for 8 people, I asked him if he could memorize it all, and he said 'Yeah, no problem'. Then, after just 3 orders, during which he asked us all to repeat our requests, he left to go get paper.
Our waiter did not bring enough waters for the group, and then did not bring enough plates for the group, and when they brought our food they forgot someone's dinner entirely. The waitstaff switched people's cocktail orders. Plus, my friend that ordered a chicken parm sandwich, received a chicken parm dinner over pasta. After she brought this mistake up, the waiter came back with the sandwich and said "oh, it was back there I must have missed it" but the two pieces of pasta she found in her sandwich proved that they just slipped the same cold chicken from the plate onto a bun. I knew that they would do this, but the waiter didn't have to lie about it to cover their mistake and bad form.
The food itself was bad. My boyfriend and I split chili, which came out so cold that the shredded cheese on it didn't melt. My pulled pork sandwich was ehhh but the sweet potato fries were an abomination. Seriously. I was expecting the quality of frozen fries but these were so wrinkled that they must have been fried with the wrong oil not up to the correct temperature and left out for a very long time. No one at the table finished their meals so I can easily say that it wasn't just my personal plate that missed the mark.
Sarah G. said the food "would have to be pretty awful" to make her change her 5 star rating. Well, the food was pretty awful. But I wouldn't suggest she or you go and try it. -
Review from Erica S.
Media, PA
5/26/2008
Precinct is the newly renovated Union Square bar that used to be Toast Lounge. The place looks great, with a fancy mahogany front bar, back room for live music, and another dimly lit side room to chill out in.
The bad news is they seem to have canceled Dyke Night, formerly on Friday nights. However, they still offer live music and other events 7 nights a week. They also plan to show all major sports games here, which doesn't excite me, but you might like. No cover. Plus, a they have a full menu, although be warned, it is definitely not veggie friendly.
They are still in a transitional stage so it's hard to say how Precinct will end up, but so far I like it. Perhaps I am biased because their beer selection ROCKS! On tap, they have some amazing beers for $5 each, including: Allagash White (one of my favorites of all time), Long Trail, #9, Dogfish Head 60 minute, Wolaver's Organic, Belhaven... I mean, the list just goes on and on. I'm impressed.
Best part is, Union Square is still up and coming, and reminds me of what Davis Square was probably like 5+ years ago... a great bar with no crowds? Only in Union. For now.Listed in: Beer Enthusiast
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Review from R T.
Somerville, MA
6/19/2010
We went back to the Precinct after visiting their first week of business with high hopes because: 1) there's outdoor seating now, and 2) the Independent has such a fine new chef that we figured maybe the owners (same people) had upgraded the P's staff, too.
Wrong.
Yes, it's wonderful to sit outside on a warm summer evening, but not when the waiter never comes back with more water. He spent all his time flirting with the hostess instead. We had to strong-arm him to get the check, too.
The food also hasn't gotten any better, I'm sorry to say. Limp overcooked veggies, subpar meat, strange aftertastes and gritty textures. Blech. I wonder if the owners are deliberately using the Precinct to drive business to The Independent? If so, in that respect only, the Precinct scores.
I strongly encourage all people visiting Union Square to skip the Precinct. If you want winning American pub-type food, go to the Independent. -
Review from Emily W.
Belmont, MA
2/24/2009
I discovered this place when we were trying to find somewhere to get Sunday brunch that didn't have a 2-hour wait... outside... in the rain... We stumbled upon Precinct because of a sign outside that said "We Serve Brunch" and decided to check it out.
I'm so glad that we did, because we had an excellent brunch experience. There was no one else in the place, but I can't figure out why because the food was excellent. The menu is small-ish, but it has all the basics and everything is very affordable and tasty. The eggs benedict were incredible, and the bananas foster french toast were also delicious, if you prefer sweet over savory.
Sometimes it can be awkward to be the only table in an otherwise empty restaurant, but the server and bartender were very adept, friendly and thoughtful that we didn't feel rushed or inconvenient at all. The location is awkward if you don't have a car, but it's completely worth the trip if you are sick of the insane crowds for weekend brunch. I actually debated leaving Precinct a bad review just so I could keep going there without the crowds... but alas, they earned my 5 stars so I have to give it to them. -
Review from Jocelyn C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/10/2008 1 Check-in Here
Came here with my bf to have a few pints and check the place out as a new possible place for his band to play. People were crowded around the bar watching multiple football games, but the atmosphere was still pretty chill. The dark wood decor and the little booth nook in the corner reminded the Dave of a hotel bar, and I agreed.
We looked at the back room where they hold live shows and liked that there was a separate bar there. Finding the bathrooms was a bit tricky though - walking through a hallway maze past the manager's office was weird.
I think we were impressed enough to come back again soon, and the Dave is going to see about getting his band to play here. Next time, we'll try the food out but the excellent beer menu was all we needed at the moment. -
Review from Devon M.
7/6/2008
Not too bad. Dorian and I came in here, and I suspect we'll be going here a lot more when it's cold and damp. The setting is really warm, with the dark woods, dim lighting, and lots of seating. They get major points for the environment. Also, I will be excited to see if they get some additional patio space in the square, and that would totally make us go there a lot more. The little space along the entryway is nice, but I'd love to see some actual tables and seats outside.
Props for lots of televisions and live music. We went early in the evening, so it was in total sports bar mode. They serve a wide selections of beer on tap, which is always an awesome thing. I got a Longtrail, and the waiter kept my glass for of water to hydrate. We ordered some spinach and artichoke dip, which came with really tasty assortment of tortilla chips. I went for a chicken Caesar wrap, which came with fries, and it was really good. The wrap was great, and the fries were clearly cut and battered in house, so they had the perfect amount of crispness to them. Yum! Only downside is they should have ketchup bottles, or fill the little condiment cups that come on your plate all the way up.
The service was slightly weird....it seemed like the waiter was new, which would make sense as the restaurant opened back up as Precinct just recently. I will update my review on the service again once we go back.
It was a solid dining experience, and the place to go in Union for beer aficionados and sports nerds alike. -
Review from Jamie L.
Somerville, MA
8/15/2008
Sea Monsters Sunday nights!!! (That alone earns this place 5 stars.)
Of course I've seen some other great music as well. Being a social smoker, I love that they have an outside area to drink and smoke. I had begun to disassociate the two which is unfortunate because they really go hand in hand - that's why I have two right!?!
Also it seems they have added an even larger outdoor area with a white picket fence (hopefully this'll get dirty enough not to blind me so) and bistro style tables. They say Union Square is up-and-coming, and this place should help!
It was a hard adjustment going from such a warm, cozy, and suggestive name as Toast to Precinct. I understand the reference, but it sounds so cold. Fear not, the layout is weird, but the times to be had are fabulous!
Plus, did I mention how cool the Sea Monsters on Sunday nights are!?!
UPDATE: Watch your drinks, 3 different times (different bands, different nights) now I have turned my back for one second (or two) only to turn back around and find someone else drank it - but hey, I guess its better than getting slipped a roofie!?!
