Brasserie Zapp

My partner and I happened upon Zapp the afternoon of the Kentucky Derby. I expected a very pewter and ye olde kind of pub, but was pleasantly surprised by the level of gastronomy coming out of the kitchen. The cheese platter was covered with an interesting collection of imported and some locally purveyed artisanal cheeses, with fresh baked baguette and interesting sauces for smearing. I had the steak fritte  which was cooked to perfection. Above all there was Crystal, the bartender, who was training 3 new servers but never missed a beat. She was personable, professional, and very knowledgeable about the menu. Zapp is by far your best choice in Cohasset.

Went here for lunch - it seems the reviews for dinner are great, so maybe we will give it another try. The restaurant itself is super cozy and rustic, definitely worth just hanging out at the bar here, but the food was just average. We split the beet salad, which was...one beet cut into quarters and served on a pretty platter? I had a chicken caesar wrap, which was fine -a little bland. My husband had the buffalo chicken sandwich, which I thought was pretty good - he didn't love it. The fries that came with the sandwiches were decent, but most of all, it's the atmosphere and the presentation of the food that get the stars. The flatbreads looked delicious - will have to go back to try one of these.

After having been a few years ago upon finding a seasonal coupon, I figured it was time I set foot back in this charming Resto/Pub in the lovely seaside town of Cohasset.

Upon coming back, I noticed the lighting had greatly improved, with a really cool flare scheme going that creates a sexy vibe on the bar side, yet downplayed on the dining room side to evoke a relaxed family friendly vibe. This place should win an award just for the interior design, but of course, I went for the food first and foremost.

The last time I was there, we ordered a great sampling of the menu: Beet Salad, Lobster Bisque, and a Mushroom Flatbread for starters, alongside the Zapp Burger and Prime Rib for the main course. I can enthusiastically recommend all of the above (except for the Bisque, which was good, but not great). The meat especially was extremely well cut, and the thin garlicky fries were a nice touch.

This went down well with the cocktail menu, from which I sampled a Blue Magic, which made me forget it was December, and further stirred up my appetite.

This excellent decadence would not be complete without desert, where we ordered Deep Fried Oreos, served with cream in a nice espresso cup. A+ for taste and presentation.

The staff is attentive and friendly, as is the head chef Rachid, who often comes out of the kitchen to talk with patrons.

All in all, Brasserie Zapp gets my money for best restaurant on the South Shore. A true hit for a wide variety of tastes and crowds.