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 In Downtown Boston.
Less than a block from Symphony Hall.
Is a restaurant offering a whole lot more than meets the eye.
Its name is Symphony 8.
Symphony 8 is a brand new spot featuring three distinct dining experiences, all under one roof. It's one part bistro, one part Irish pub, and one part Prohibition-style speakeasy that's so secret the entrance is hidden, and you need a password to get in. But more on that in a minute; first let's get to the food.
The main attraction at Symphony 8 is the one-hundred seat dining room and incredibly affordable bistro menu that's the perfect beginning to any night out.
Joshua Davis - Executive Chef, Symphony 8: "You're going to the Symphony, you have a date, you want to come in here and have a bottle wine and nice food, this is the place to do it."
Entrees include flat-top chicken with extra crispy skin, the Tuxedo Halibut, all dressed up with black and white sesame seeds, and an eight ounce, center cut Filet Mignon served with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach for only nineteen bucks!
Joshua Davis - Executive Chef, Symphony 8: "Just because it's forty dollars everywhere else, doesn't mean it has to be."
Attached to Symphony 8's main dining room is an Irish pub named Siansa 8. Here, the atmosphere is more laid back, and there's plenty of Irish beer, and Irish fare, like Beer Battered Fish and Chips with Homemade Fries and a Shepherd's Pie big enough for two.
Taylor London - Bartender, Symphony 8: "It's warm and hearty, you know, topped off with warm mashed potatoes and cheese, and it comes out to you bubbling. It's fantastic."
The food for both dining rooms comes out of the same kitchen, and there is some overlap on the menus, including three dishes that are not to be missed: A pair of Chili Dogs with a side of Tator Tots, Braised bone-in pork shanks called Hog Wings, and juicy golden fried Chicken and fluffy Waffles served with plenty of syrup to pour all over the top.
Joshua Davis - Executive Chef, Symphony 8: "It's sweet, savory, crispy and salty at the same time, which is a beautiful thing."
Now back to that secret speakeasy; it's named Prohibited, and because the entrance is hidden behind a sliding bookcase, many customers in the dining room don't even know it exists.
Taylor London - Bartender, Symphony 8: "If you're lucky enough to find out about Prohibited, or to wander down here and get the password, then it's kind of a little bit of a lucky surprise for you."
That's right, you really do need a password to get in, and it changes every day. But those who get past the gatekeeper, and head downstairs to this basement bar, are in for quite a treat. With its speakeasy vibe and a cool cocktail menu, Prohibited feels like part bar, part time machine.
Taylor London - Bartender, Symphony 8: "You come down the stairs, and you catch sight of the bar and you catch sight of the Christmas lights, and we're dressed up down here... it just gives you a chill when you walk down the stairs."
A secret bar, hidden below a bistro, attached to an Irish Pub. It's all at Symphony 8, a Phantom Gourmet... Hidden Jewel.
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Review Date:
1/23/2010 |
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