Liberty Tavern
Quincy, Massachusetts has seen a lot of changes over the past few years, but one thing every city needs is a reliable neighborhood tavern — the kind of place that combines a blue-collar bar with some fresh, upscale eats. And this has become the go-to spot for dining and drinking in Quincy. So let’s get a taste of the Liberty Tavern.
Liberty Tavern opened in 2020, and it has been popular from day one because it has that perfect look and feel of a local spot. You’ve got the wood floors, high industrial ceilings, a long bar, exposed brick walls, and TVs everywhere so you can catch a game. It’s owned and operated by three guys: Nick, Michael, and Evan. Evan also happens to be a full-time Quincy firefighter, but here at Liberty Tavern, the only fires he’s putting out are in their dual wood-burning pizza ovens.
The kitchen is run by Chef Andrea. She has a fine dining background, but here she’s created a menu with a little something for everyone, from comfort food to some more upscale surprises.
The number one dish to start with is the stuffed pretzel. It begins with their pizza dough, filled with smoked Gouda cheese. Then it takes a dip in a lye mixture, which gives it that distinct pretzel flavor, and goes straight into the wood-fired oven. It comes out piping hot and crispy on the outside, finished with flaky pretzel salt and plated over a five-cheese sauce. It’s hot, it’s toasty, it’s salty — and I can’t wait to eat it.
That is a seriously delicious mouthful right there. I’m a certified French onion soup aficionado, so I had to try their version here, and it did not disappoint. It’s made with slow-cooked onions in a traditional beef broth, topped with slices of Swiss cheese. You take a spoonful and you get the steam, the cheese, the sweetness, and the beefiness. It is just so insanely satisfying.
I wouldn’t call Liberty Tavern a pizzeria, and yet they make a really good pizza here. If I had to recommend one, it would be the spicy meatball burrata pie. Instead of tomato sauce, they use a spicy vodka sauce and sliced meatballs that go straight into the oven. When it comes out, they crumble on a big ball of fresh burrata, add a little basil, and drizzle it over the top. You’ve got a nice sturdy crust and a great cheese-to-sauce ratio. You can see just how creamy that burrata is. Great crunch on the undercarriage, super creaminess from the cheese, and that spicy vodka sauce — so, so good.
If you’re coming in for beers or to watch a game, you’re going to want a burger. The Liberty Burger is the signature item here and the number one seller. A house-ground beef patty, farmhouse cheddar, sweet bourbon onions, and a fresh sesame potato bun. The key is the garlic thyme aioli. It’s the kind of burger you pick up, take one bite, and it doesn’t hit the plate again until it’s gone.
Even better is the brunch burger. They serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, and instead of just ground beef, they use a blend of beef and bacon in the patties. These are smash burgers with American cheese, a fried egg, bacon, and special sauce on a brioche bun. It’s like the best bacon, egg, and cheese you’ve ever had — plus a burger.
If you want to take things up a notch, go a little more upscale and try the steak frites. This is an eight-ounce hanger steak, seasoned to perfection and very tender. They finish it with garlic butter. The shoestring fries get truffle oil and Parmesan, and it’s served with a fresh arugula salad. Steak, fries, and salad — what more could a guy want?
On the comfort food side, I recommend the macaroni and cheese. This is a truffle chicken mac and cheese made with fried chicken and a truffle sauce that combines buffalo sauce and truffle oil. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and definitely earthy. The cheese sauce is a blend of five different cheeses. It’s an entire cast iron skillet full of comfort and flavor, and that is hard to beat.
The city of Quincy has a long history and a lot of great places to eat, but if you’re looking for consistently good food that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, you should come here for some unexpectedly great eats at Liberty Tavern.
