Want to have a drink after class, before class, or instead of
class? There are four bars around Dorchester Avenue that are worth
checking out: The Banshee, The Harp & Bard, Tom English’s, and
Savin Bar and Kitchen.
When choosing a watering hole there are three basic things that
must be taken into consideration: location, price, and quality.
Location and price are pretty self-explanatory, but quality can
mean a couple different things. In this instance it will refer to
service and products. There are dozens of other categories on which
a place can be judged–like crowd type, aesthetics, and music
selection, to name a few–but the three basic ones are the most
important when picking a bar you where want to become a
regular.
The Banshee
The Banshee is located at
934 Dorchester Ave., a ten-minute walk from the JFK train station.
The façade is probably the most aesthetically pleasing, but when
you’re just looking for a drink, who cares what the building looks
like? The bar could use more seating, but if you’re fine with
having to stand for a bit you’ll be ok. The Banshee doubles as a
sports bar and a semi-club, and offers refuge for any soccer fan,
with games on every television. If you go to their website you’ll
see a full listing of the events that will be on the tube. Also,
there is a small, walled-in patio that can give some much-needed
fresh air to anyone feeling flustered.
The Banshee’s staff is friendly and courteous, the prices
are decent, and the location is excellent. My one squabble with
this place is the food portions seem a little small. If you like to
eat while drinking, this bar might not be the one for
you.
Harp and Bard
The Harp & Bard is located at 1099 Dorchester Ave., a
15-minute walk from JFK, or you can take the train one stop to
Savin Hill and significantly cut down on walking time. The Harp is
much more of a sit, drink, and eat bar. You can choose to be seated
in the dining area or just walk up to the bar. The Harp & Bard
is a little more expensive than The Banshee but the portions are
more than enough. This is most definitely a sports bar, multiple
sports on multiple televisions. The Harp is an acceptable place to
take a casual date, especially if your date loves sports and
beer.
The staff is nice but can sometimes be a little sparse due
to how busy it can get. The food is good and the prices are
moderate. The location is ok. The crowd can get rowdy during a big
game so be aware of them if you want to avoid that type of
atmosphere.
Tom English’s
Tom English’s is located at 957 Dorchester Ave., a
ten-minute walk from JFK. Tom English’s was recently renovated but
don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s not a dive bar. If
you’re looking for fancy drinks with assorted fruits look
elsewhere. When you want beer, beer, and more beer this is
definitely a bar you should visit. It’s very spacious with lots of
seating and lots of regulars. The best thing about this bar is the
prices. You can’t go wrong when you can get three beers for around
ten bucks. The cheapness of the beer does introduce a problem for
those who like to drink and eat. I’ve never seen a menu at Tom
English’s but even if they do have food I’d suggest you stay away
from it.
Tom English’s has a mix of great and standoffish staff.
I’ve never seen food served at Tom English and there’s probably a
reason. Both the location and prices are excellent. Keep in mind
that you might get some strange looks if you order a
cosmo.
Savin Bar & Kitchen
Savin Bar and Kitchen is located at 112 Savin Hill Ave.,
about a 15-minute walk from JFK. You might be better off taking the
Red Line to the Savin Hill stop because it’s right across the
street. Of these four bars, Savin Bar is probably the best choice
to take a date. The atmosphere is classier than the others. That
being said, higher price doesn’t make for a better experience. Out
of all the options, this is by far my least favorite. The price of
beer is on par with anywhere else, but the food prices seem a bit
high, especially for the lackluster quality of the food. The best
thing I’ve tasted at Savin Bar is a bread roll and they aren’t
worth going through the entire experience.
The service is good but other than that it seems like
you’re paying for the atmosphere. Yes the art is nice, yes they
have some cool light fixtures, but does that really matter at a
bar? It’s overpriced and not convenient enough to make it worth
your while. I’d suggest avoiding it all together.
