True West
Some of the best Buffalo Wings outside of Buffalo. A Roast Beef Sandwich like you’ve never tasted before. And award-winning craft beers brewed right on site. If this sounds like your kind of destination, then set your GPS for True West.
Located just off Route 2 in the MetroWest town of Acton, True West is an 80-seat spot that’s gained a loyal following of locals who love good food, good beer, and a good time. And the menu here goes well beyond standard pub grub.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “We like to think of ourselves as like a modern American brew pub style menu, we have a lot of pub classics. But we like to make sure that our food is approachable, affordable, has a really high quality and shows dominant technique in order to create the best possible product.”
Jonathan Gilman is the Executive Chef at True West, and his kitchen takes pride in offering food that goes great with the beer here.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “I think we do a really good job in our kitchen making the best possible food to pair with the freshest possible beer. And so we take the approach of everything is made from scratch, we put the same amount of focus and craft into our food that the brewer puts into his beer.”
That beer is made in a 10-barrel brewing system located right behind the bar. The entire brewing operation is powered by a giant solar array on the roof of the building. And no matter what style of beer you’re into, Head Brewer Todd Charbonneau probably makes it.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “I think the beauty of Todd's brewing here is that he brews something for everybody. We don't have 15 taps with 14 of them being IPAs, we have a large variety of taps, and all of them have different styles so that no matter what your preferences are, we probably have a beer style that's perfect for you.”
All of True West’s beers are available exclusively at the restaurant, where customers can belly up to the bar, relax on the sun-soaked patio, or in the open and airy dining room. But if you head down the back hallway, you might just stumble upon a secret space.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “As you walk through the back hallway, you do probably think that you're headed basically nowhere. But if you see this giant stack of what seems to be kegs in the corner, there's actually a secret door. And behind that secret door, we have this amazing event space, great private bar, that if you have a private event or a party, it really allows you the ability to have your own space. So it's one of the unique parts of the restaurant that not many other places have.”
The menu at True West is full of beer friendly food, especially when it comes to appetizers like Malted Butter Pretzels with beer cheese and mustard; Birria Nachos piled high with mounds of slow braised beef; and addictive Cheeseburger Rangoons.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “As you bite into the Rangoon you're going to notice it doesn't just taste like beef and cheese. It tastes specifically like a burger. The addition of a little bit of mustard and pickle juice to the mix differentiates between just a beef and cheese Rangoon and a cheeseburger Rangoon that really ties the flavors together.”
Of course Buffalo Wings might be the ultimate beer food, and True West takes theirs very seriously. Because the owners are actually from Upstate New York.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “I think our wings are the best in the MetroWest area bar none. We get our wings brined and then we fry them until very crispy and we use a buffalo sauce that’s added in with a couple of signature spices, homemade blue cheese. Yes, it's a classic but we feel as though our execution is second to none.”
In addition to the wings, there’s another Buffalo specialty on the menu here, a version of a roast beef sandwich known as Beef on Weck.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “If you haven't had Beef on Weck, it's the roast beef sandwich that Massachusetts has been missing for years. Everyone talks about North Shore roast beef. And those sandwiches are delicious. But western New York has an iteration of its own out of Buffalo called Beef on Kimmelweck, short for Beef on Weck. And what that is, is a really slow roasted beef cut. And then we dip it in au jus, and the bun itself is a differentiator. A Kimmelweck bun is a bun that's been slightly brushed with some of the beef jus and then cooked with caraway seeds and pretzel salt to give it a nice flavor on the outside and some crunch. Add that to just the beef and a side of the jus to dip it in and you've got a really hearty sandwich that you will never think twice about ordering again.”
A good brewpub needs to have a great burger, and True West definitely delivers one, topped with melted Vermont Cheddar on buttery brioche. There’s also a Mushroom Burger so good you might not miss the meat. If you love a good Reuben, check out this version made with duck confit. And if you’re in the mood for a Fried Chicken Sandwich, theirs has a delicious twist.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “We really pride ourselves on having a somewhat of a unique fried chicken sandwich. I grew up my dad used to always make this really awesome pepper jelly. It's one of my favorite things. And so was inspired by that, we decided to make a chicken sandwich that combined pepper jelly and hot honey and we made a hot pepper chutney that we top on top of the chicken. We add a little bit of creaminess with pimento cheese, a little bit of arugula for freshness, and you've got a really salty, spicy and savory chicken sandwich all at once.”
You can also get some Fried Chicken as an entrée, served with Pickled Dilly Beans and Kimchi Mac and Cheese, or go for the classic Grilled Steak Tips.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “I've been I've been obsessed with steak tips for some years now. So we buy the best quality, sirloin that we possibly can. We tenderize it in house, we use a signature marinade we get some great caramelization when it's on the grill, really big depth of flavor, and something that you really can't substitute with a regular steak.”
And from the food coming out of the kitchen, to the beer flowing from the taps, you will definitely enjoy taking a trip to True West.
Jonathan Gilman – Executive Chef, True West: “We have great food. We have incredible beer. It's all under one solar powered roof. This is the place you want to be whether you're with your family, bringing just a date out, or just coming up to catch a game. It's something for every situation. Gotta come check us out.”
