My litlle sister bad a brilliant idea for her birthday evening- - hot yoga and dinner. Good call sis. We ordered french fries with duck confit and gruyere, oysters, and a veggie panini. I think the oysters were my favorite. It was a random Monday night, so it there was no crowd, but loved the cozy cool atmosphere. Â Maybe it wasn't the healthiest dinner after yoga, but we still enjoyed it. :)
Review Source:I love this place!!
I have been here a couple times for a casual drink on a week night and have had a great time every time.
My recent visit prompted me to review this gem because it was so wonderful! I celebrated my birthday here on a summery Sunday evening. I called in advance to reserve a table (for about 10 ppl) and the assistant manager who spoke to me on the phone was patient, attentive, and super nice.
I got there and there was a corner reserved for us! My drink was served in a special bday cup, which was really nice and the drink itself was awesome! (I think the drink was called Temporary fix).
My guests trickled in and our waitress never skipped a beat bringing over menus and glasses of water. I was worried because they serve the Central Kitchen menu on Sundays which I had never tried before. Their regular menu is wonderful but boy was I in for a pleasant surprise.
We all ordered food that arrived quickly and was amazing!! I had the only vegetarian dish on the menu- vegetable maqluba and my only disappointment was that I couldn't finish it! From what I remember my friends had the steak frites, sauteed ramps, the french fries, and the steak tartar and raved about them all.
Throughout the night the drinks and food were brought over quickly and with a smile. I brought my own cake- because they didn't offer a desert- and they brought it out with lit candles that they provided!
I can't say enough about the staff, the food, the atmosphere, the decor, and ambiance- a true gem!!
I think I came here for dinner and drinks at an off-hour. 6pm on a Sunday. But we got seats right away. Even though they offer food, and the food is really good (with a rotating menu) the table are clearly only meant for drinks and not for eating. The food is impressive and the drinks were great. Â Some of the best cocktails I've had in Boston.
The cool thing is that the entrance is completely unmarked. Its fun to take people here as it makes it feel like this is a Boston secret.
Yum! The tall "Gentleman's Buck" is a good choice for bourbon fans who like summer drinks. This place in general is a wonderful spot to go to when you are looking to have a well-made cocktail in a more sophisticated location in Central Sq. The staff are extremely friendly and will help you figure out what type of libation is perfect for you!
Review Source:Finally I visited Brick & Mortar last night after two months living in the area. OK cocktails and long glasses. The cocktails, however, are very short. I had one with gin and aperol, which for my taste was lacking some kick. Then I went for a long glass, the Ryan Gosling, which was too sweet and too much ice.
The place looks really good but the music is too loud to talk and too quiet to dance crazy. A little confusing
Long wait. Cacophonous environment. Nasty Drinks. Unfriendly Staff. Super late service.
"Meh" is a far better expression for this experience.
The waitress spilled drinks all over (that's OK, things happen) and did not even offer a napkin or an apologetic expression.
I am never going there again. Just stick to the Central Kitchen and get out of there.
Locals only because this place is off the map.
Although it's pretty small, there are some wicked cool vibes going on in this place. The whole atmosphere from the lighting to the (obviously) brick walls to the seating arrangement, Brick and Mortar is cool and intimate.
A tiny menu selection but not disappointing in the slightest bit. I tried the Corn 'N Oil based off of former reviews and it really good! I tried the Ryan Gosling solely based on the name, no shame here. It tasted like a juice version of a bloody mary in my opinion, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there wasn't anything tomato based in it so I thought that was slightly intriguing. Two drinks and this girl was tipsy- that's impressive.
I'll definitely come back and try out some apps.
Also- shout out the the waitress who was laughing it up with everyone and having a good time. People who actually look like their enjoying their job get big ups from the whole crowd fo-sho!
How long has this been here? My friends and I were hanging out in central on a friday. We were going to go try this place first, around 9pm. But there was a LINE. Ok cool kids I get it. So we come back at like midnight and once we found the place (no sign/upstairs - also cool kids) And i'm unsure how to describe it. Is this a restaurant? Is this a bar? Is this a lounge? High tables in the front. by the time we got here no food, so people were half sitting/half standing at these tables. Big bar at the back so it was easy to get drinks. There was a LOT of people but it wasn't so crowded that we could get a drink or felt smushed. This place is kind of a weird addition to central. I feel it's like upscale hipster.
But somehow I still like it.
WORST.SERVICE.EVER.
This was my second attempt at Brick & Mortar. Â The first time was on a Saturday night. Â I was in a group of 5 and there were no tables but the hostess said we could stand by the bar along the drink rail and that we'd have waitress service. Â We waited about 10 minutes for a waitress and when one finally came over, she yelled at us for standing where we were standing. Â So we left. Â But I was willing to give the place another shot.
This time I came in after work on Friday. Â The place was crowded but not overflowing and my wife and I were able to scoop the last two seats in the middle of the bar. Â As soon as we sat down, we were greeted by the bartender and given waters. Â Then we proceeded to wait...
The bartenders were at the sides of the long bar, one appeared to be filling all the orders for the tables/waitresses, the other had his back turned to us and was serving the guests opposite us as the bar kind of wraps around in a circle. Â So we continued to wait...
12 minutes since sitting down and not even a glance, I got the attention of a bar back and asked if he could get the attention of one of the bartenders for me. Â He shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Â Nice. Â So I literally got up and walked to the other side of the bar and immediately the bartender noticed me and asked if he could get me a drink. Â Actually, you can serve my wife and I in the spot we were sitting at!
I ordered their version of a negroni and the wife her usual old cuban. Â And we waited some more... Â
A negroni has 3 ingredients, an old cuban 4. Â I watched the bartender pour the gin for my drink over rocks and let it sit while he made my wife's drink. Â 7 minutes later, he finally finished making our drinks. Â He strained my negroni into a double old fashioned and there couldn't have been 4oz of beverage in the glass. Â Have a look for yourself. Â Of course, 90% of the drink was water since it had been sitting for 7 minutes over ice.
If you're scoring at home, that's 20 minutes for two cocktails, one totally watered down.
Also to note, a couple of ladies sitting next to us had been nearing the end of their drinks when we sat down and had finished them shortly after. Â You'd think the bartender would attend to them next after they waited for 20 minutes. Â Nope. Â He went back over to the other side of the bar.
Also, a group of guys who had arrived shortly before us and were seated at a table behind us hadn't been served their drinks by the time we had finally received ours. Â One guy even attempted to get a drink at the bar and was yelled at by the waitress.
We took down our meager drinks in about 5 minutes, walked over to Cuchi Cuchi which was no less busy, where we were greeted and served great, tasty, boozy, and complex drinks in 8 total minutes.
The bartenders here used to work at Drync, and hence the drinks here are amazing. The place has a great vibe, and awesome (strong) drinks. It's classy, but not arrogant. It's laid back, but well put together. There is a coat check out front as well. The place is not big, and will fit ~100 people comfortably. Central Kitchen is downstairs, and I've heard that it's a good night out to have dinner there and then head upstairs for some after dinner revelry.
There's always something appealing about walking into an unmarked door and discovering a drinking hole with fantastic beers and creative cocktails. Drinks are a little on the pricey side but for the occasional upscale splurge I don't have a problem with it. The wait staff is uber-knowledgeable about the cocktails and the rotating menu was far better than I would've thought. The interior brick is drastic and a bit harsh but the vibe is alive and upbeat. You won't find any TVs on unless there's a Boston game on, which adds to the pure-bar feel.
Highly recommend!
I LOVE this place. Â The venue is great and the drinks are sublime! Â It is truly a classy gem in Central Square.
Let's start with the drinks - very creative assortment on the menu and if you don't like what you see, you can always ask the bartender to make you something based on what you do like. Â They have the more speakeasy type of man drinks as well as delicious sweet and fruity drinks (my personal preference). Â I especially enjoy the Temporary and Fix as well as the Corn n' Oil. Â Both come with a triangular mountain of shaved ice, so it's like eating/drinking a sweet, fruity, alcoholic snow cone. Â What adult doesn't enjoy that? Â And I like that they put a good amount of alcohol into the drink so you're not just drinking watered down syrup. Â I haven't had the food there but looks typical.
The entrance is hidden and there is no sign. Â It's to the immediate left of the door for Central Kitchen. Â You go in the door, walk up the stairs, and behold a sizable room with a bar area and tables. Â If you go for happy hour, you'll have no trouble finding a seat. Â But as the night wears on, more and more people take up space. Â I sat at the bar, which was awesome. Â It never got really loud so I could have a normal conversation. Â However, if you go really late at night and especially on the weekend, it's hard to find space AND to hear your companions talk. Â Â
Bottom line: best place in Central Square, hands down. Â Classier, tastier and more inventive drinks, and perfect atmosphere. Â Go, you won't regret it.
Nice change of pace from the pubs in Harvard and Central Square - definitely classing it up. The door is unmarked - but it's right above Central Kitchen. Great place for a date or a very small group. I came recently with 4 other people on a Monday evening, and the best we could do was find 5 stools against the wall. It was in the corner, but still VERY difficult to hear each other. I came one other time on a weekend with a larger group, and we got super lucky with a big table in the back - it was a fun environment but still impossible to hear anyone not sitting right next to you.
The drinks are delicious though, the servers are friendly and attentive and give good drink recommendations, like you'd expect from a place like this. Better than making the trek to Drink!
Came here based on a recommendation from my friend who's a bit of a cocktail snob (e.g., will only have Hendrick's gin with a gin and tonic). In her opinion, Brick & Mortar is better than Barbara Lynch's Drink. As a result, even though I'm definitely not a cool hipster, I found myself searching for the unmarked entrance of this place one Saturday night. Brick & Mortar is located literally right between Central Kitchen and an Indian convenience store near the Central Square T station. Since the entrance is unmarked, your only clue that a bar exists is the bouncer right outside. Once inside, you head upstairs to the hip, sort of old-fashioned industrial looking bar.
One thing I found really refreshing about this place is it is possible to actually find a place to sit down. In the event you can't get a table right away, the hostess takes your name and notifies you when one opens up. The bar area has little hooks under the table to hang your coat, so you don't stand around awkwardly cradling a drink in one hand and holding a huge down jacket in the other. I've been here a few times and have found the wait staff to be extremely nice. One time after waiting over 20 minutes, our hostess finally found us a table, but just as we were walking over, someone else accidentally took it. She felt terrible and apologized profusely, and then the waitress brought us some free treats.
The drink menu has some pretty amusing and whimsical items, like the "Sentimental Gentleman", and "Home by Ten". I really enjoy the "Temporary Fix" and ordering your own cocktails directly isn't bad either. Haven't had the food, but the menu looks decent: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brickandmortarbar.com%2Fmenus%2Fbrick-and-mortar-foodbeverage.pdf&s=2486d95062b23ac22fab3880f3308361d7625046e365c183fb8edf6016569238" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.brickandmorta…</a>
Finally, this place is great for people watching. Lots of larger groups and couples on dates. I've seen some pretty amusing blind dates here.
I am a huge fan of this place! It's a got a cool hipster vibe without being too hipster where I feel unwelcome. The drinks are creative and the bartenders keep it interesting. I like that it's kind of like Drink downtown but in my eyes, cooler. You can tell them what you like and they will get wild behind the bar making your drink.
Fun after work place to grab a drink of 5 with friends or even solo. Get here early and sit at the bar and people watch. Prime spot to watch blind dates happen.
An acceptable replacement for the former Enormous Space, with a larger, coolly uplit bar at the back of the space, and lots more seating. Â Food is decent here [easy to mess up mussels...but you really have to not be paying attention], and the drink menu is diverse with some really good whiskey cocktails. Â The room is dark enough for a good first date impression, similar to the Enormous Room, in the heart of Central Square.
Review Source:This is a pretty regular spot for me. If you're willing to spend some money for a good drink, there really isn't anywhere else you should go in Cambridge but Brick & Mortar. The food is quite good too, though portions are small so don't expect a complete meal.
The service is what you would expect for a place like this: polite staff who are reasonably knowledgeable. One neat this is that they don't seem to be afraid to say "I don't know" and go ask the bartender.
Go during the week or early on the weekends to avoid a wait.
The atmosphere is great for a date or small groups but not for mingling. If you're with just one other person, try to avoid sitting at one of the tables. Otherwise groups of 4-5 will be seated next to you and that can make it difficult to talk.
I love this place. I have been here a few times and they always deliver. The Temporary Fix is delicious and I LOVE the crushed cubes of ice they serve it with (great snack to munch on, kidding...sort of) and I discovered my lemon peel could be used as an ice scooper while I crunched on ice. I have had some other drinks there and they are always great.
So, here is the low-down: Fellas, if you have a fine, foxy lady (or dude) that you're waiting to take out on an intimate date, this is the spot! This is probably one of the best date spots in Boston -- dim lighting, good drinks, and good crowd. BUT - it is not so much the best for meeting people/mingling because people tend to come here in groups & sort of stick together. That being said, the caliber of people that come to B&M is pretty good -- I'd summarize it by saying it is sort of upscale hipster-ish...if that makes sense. There will be guys in plaid flannel and scarves but they are not douchey. It definitely attracts a more young professional crowd overall, which is fine by me. You won't see dudes getting into fights w/each other and people don't get sloppy. This is def. a place w/a good vibe.
I love the bartenders -- they are great. They are always efficient, friendly and make good drinks! What more do I need?
You should be prepared to wait in line and it gets packed early. But, the bouncer was charming soooo that helps.
Hungry? Well their "snacks" menu is pretty small & they don't have a ton of options so if you are looking for a meal, Central Kitchen downstairs may be a good place to go first. Otherwise, they do have some small plates you can order from. The wings are good.
Not gonna lie: I love a good secret resto/bar that makes you feel in-the-know when a friend shows you the unmarked door to its establishment. Brick & Mortar was just that, and it didn't disappoint.
The cocktails were small but tasty, and the food was a quality interpretation of typical American bar food. The menu was not extensive but it seems to change often. The service was not stellar but it wasn't upsetting. The atmosphere was great, and the crowd was a mix of younger professionals and Cambridge locals. I would go back, for sure.
Pretentious, over-priced, and the bartenders ignore you. I waited for a good 10min to order my drink order which included two waters. The waters were the size of shot glasses and, although it was poured from a pretty bottle, it was obviously room temp tap water. The drink menu is few and shitty. If you're going to take away the dancing of Emormous room at least make it worth my while.
There was a dj set up but no dj at all. Pretty sure it was just for decoration and they played someones Ipod.
So why 2 stars? The waitresses were friendly and helpful. The bouncer had a sprained ankle but was very entertaining. They lift this place to a full extra star. But I'm absolutely not coming back here. But they were great.
Love the ambience and bartenders were super friendly. A very nice place to relax and get a drink with good people.
One more star if they had a sign outside to help you find it! But then again, maybe now that I know where it is I'll prefer that there isn't a sign so it doesn't get too busy.
Good: the food was pretty good, but not consistently. Many are upscale takes on standard american pub fare. Chicken wings and feta dipping sauce was great. The meat could have used a little more TLC in the pork sandwich, but my tastebuds appreciated the heaping cilantro. Corn on the cob was smothered with too much cheese.
Better: while the atmosphere (unmarked door, overly obscure playlist, not enough seating) reeks of hipster-pretentiousness, our server was genuinely kind and attentive. She definitely ups the experience from three to four stars.
Best: cocktails, hands down. They're innovative and expertly balanced. Bartenders keep things interesting with daily specials and off-menu drinks mixed to your liking. Bonus points for freshly squeezing the juice mixes.
The menu is short, but I believe it changes often.
For those not into cocktails, they have a very decent beer list as well.
To locate, look for the door next to central kitchen and walk up the stairs.
Dollars: all cocktails are $10 and draft is $6. We had six drinks and three menu items, totaling $90 including tax and tip.
I liked this bar because
1) It was nice to look around and see adults; and sort of normal looking ones
2) There was fun beer on tap, and good food to go with it
3) The bar was visually appealing
4) Obnoxiously loud music didn't start until later
5) There were enough bar-staff members to ensure I never went long without a drink
Go for: A date (early in the evening); or meet friends; try some of the food!
Avoid: arriving too late; people are freaking vicious about getting a seat
Try: the Crostini app (3 different types come; all are pretty nom nom nom)
I love this place. Â What a shame I only knew how awesome it was right before I leave Boston.
Came here with a friend who raves about this place and finally him and I went. Â Firstly, I love the interior and yes it's exposed brick. Â Very nice. The bar is in a u shape, but there are tables scattered around as well. Their limited menu features fancier dishes such as duck confit, wood grilled crostinis with anchovies, and oyster po boys. Albeit I didn't get a chance to have the food.
On to the drinks, they have as limited selection of cocktails and a few shots which didn't quite appeal to me.  I asked the bartender about a tall drink with mezcal and gin. I believe it was a Gail Collins. Thankfully, I asked about it and the bartender gave me an idea of how it tasted and good thing I didn't go for it not.  Instead, I told him my drink of choice is an aviation (gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice) and he did a damn good job of making me a refined speech cocktail. I wish I remembered what was in it..but it was delicious.  By all means, I'm not a cocktail snob (I'm trying to be I guess), but I do love a good cocktail and this was a good cocktail.
Prices are standard and service was great. Â If you're looking for a great, chill, great cocktail place - definitely come here.
Oh and there are no tvs in this place, sorry you can't catch the game here. This is my kind of bar especially since 95% of bars in Boston have a tv.
This place has a really good atmosphere. Â The food menu is small, but it's great stuff, served late, with a gourmet twist (example: instead of wings with buffalo sauce and blue-cheese dressing, it's apricot-habanero glaze and feta-cream dip). Â The cocktails are great and the beer selection is small but well-chosen.
The only notable disadvantage is that there can be a long wait, and it can take a long time for the staff to get back around to you. Â Not that the staff is unhelpful, they're a friendly bunch. Â It's just hard for them (or anyone) to see anything through the crowd.
I do wish I'd visited more in its previous incarnation, though. Â I suppose that can't be helped.
You know you're found a solid place when you are talking with your friends, trying to analyze the expert layering of flavors in your cocktail...and you may be forced to override the basic human urge to understand what is happening here, but you trust your faith in a greater being and accept that the drink is good.
I had the Sister Mary. Sweet with smoky and tangy notes, the convent's rebel. Another notable drink was the Sentimental Gentleman and the Corn n' Oil. The cocktails rotate daily.
Food was equally on spot. French fries with duck confit for the classy glutton. Tomato and mozzarella salad with heirloom tomatoes. Wood grilled crostini (we got the smoked eggplant); the bread was very very thick but high quality, so I didn't quibble.
Atmosphere is sexy and exclusive, a speakeasy feel. Great crowd, great night.
I haven't had the food, but I have had drinks here a bunch of times, so I will make this review short and sweet.
1. Â The drinks are absolutely amazing. All of them. Â They have plenty of off-menu drink as well, so make sure to point and ask, "what is that that person over there is drinking" if you see something that looks tasty.
2. The atmosphere is super cool. Â This is a great destination spot to bring people. Â It's hip, it's funky, it's classy, it's mysterious, it's impressive. Â They even spin records.
3. For what it's worth, I see bartenders from high-end spots all over the city (ES, Drink, Hawthorne, etc.) drinking here on their off nights. Â Pretty good endorsement, I suppose.
Try it out!
So...yes it was better when it was E. Room! Â But now that its a "Me Too" of Green Street or Park...its up to par...I just wish someone could get creative and be individualistic....but alas it is the era of the hipsters...
So, go here have some cocktails...just like you would at Park St, Central Kitchen, Green St...etc...the same old same old...but hey its something different than the usual rotation.
Drinks are good and service is excellent...BUT it was better when it was E. Room....
Everyone I mention Brick & Mortar to seems to retort, "I preferred it when it was Enormous Room". Sure, it's different, but it's kind of like Enormous Room had a quarter-life crisis, hit rock bottom, then re-emerged as a slightly more grown up version of its former self, while maintaining its subdued flare and laid-back je ne se quois.
I haven't been on a weekend, but on a weeknight, it's the perfect locale to catch up with friends, share recent/past stories of horrible boyfriends/dates, your new Wednesday evening volleyball/softball/some sport that proves you're not old and dead yet - league, etc. All while talking with your hands, animated Italian-style, and dressed in your best "I sort of dressed up because I just f-ing wanted to" outfit.
Plop your butt somewhere around the roundish/oval-ish bar in the land of exposed brick and metals, and you have yourself a semi-chic night out. It's like the girl who dons her little black dress out, but pairs it with trendy flats instead of sky-high heels. Sorry, small moment of weakness that turned into a segue in thinking about walk-in closets...
In short, it's unpretentious, yet classy, and they have some killer drinks and food. Get the pork and peach dish. Sounds disgusting, but is a party--no, rave--in your mouth.
I was honestly sad to see the beat down couches of Enormous Room hit the curb not long ago, so I went into B&M with a skeptical eye.
But..
My expectations where surpassed. On three occasions, Kenny (nice dude, half sleeve) made the best cocktails I've had in the area (but I still love you Green Street). I'm sipping on a fascinating Fears & Failures right now after a god damn perfect Sentimental Gentleman. Add those up with a deliciously unconventional small plate menu and you earn yourself some stars.
I miss enormous room. I don't really know why they took such an awesome and cheap dancing venue that had such character and changed it into yet another classy bar...We have lots of these around the area, so I was hoping that if you were really closing Enormous room that you would reopen it still just as awesome.
Don't get me wrong. This is a nice bar. They have a beautiful copper bar that is ten billion times bigger than the tiny bar that was here before, and they also have quite an interesting cocktail menu too, but the cocktails are cheap, but you can tell that they did upgrade the bartender's skill levels. There are some standing tables and stools and whatnot around this bar, and the food that I saw next me was a selection of little mini sandwiches/bites which looked actually pretty good, but all in all, I was just sad that this place lost the character that was the Enormous Room--the rugs are gone, the awesome dance music is gone, the pillows on the floor...
BUT it is now a nice spot to grab a drink with friends in an ambiance that is definitely classier than some of the other bars in the Central area so they definitely have that going for them.
10:30 pm-ish, the bouncer has to check to see if there is room for me and two of my friends. Now I'm thinking, wow, this place must be the new hotness. So glad my lipgloss is popping. Couldn't wait to get my bod up those stairs.
Approaching the top of the staircase, I was haulted by the hostest who was now directing us to our designated stading area. Yes. You heard that correctly.
The 'limited' space was due to the small amount of designated standing/sitting/looking pretty areas. FINALLY. A bar that sets rules so I don't have to carelessly wander and socialize. Suddenly I'm having flashbacks to third grade multiplication dances. I stood there waiting for someone in charge to tell me what I needed to do next.
They replaced the character and energy of the Enormous Room with rules. Absurdly bizarre.
I'm sure the food is good, so maybe ill go there to eat, but I'm devastated this is another late night hang out I need to kiss goodbye. Hey, you did a great job cleaning it up, but lose the stuffiness and bring back those good dj's and you'd be all the rage. Oh and slap some hard ciders on the menu for us gluten-tards. I'm not a cocktail kinda girl. Till then, I'll be elsewhere.
Oh and as for the 1 star? That's for those few babesicles I saw around the bar. Too bad I was constrained to my designated drinking area.
I REALLY LIKE WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THE PLACE. Seriously, I hated Enormous Room, so I was very impressed when I saw the new look in this space. Big, copper bar and a few table spaced comfortably. I wish they had invested in chairs instead of stools though. (/nitpick)
Cocktails are apparently the star of the show here, and they know what they are doing. I had some tequila drink that wasdelicious. A Bullet for Fredo was a pretty intense experience. Glad I tried it but I probably wouldn't do it again. Andrei had a couple whiskey drinks that I liked a lot. BUT. Everything we tried from their drinks menu was very sweet. Maybe that was just luck of the draw. I dunno. And at $10 a pop, they are about 50% more expensive than the drinks at Green Street and not noticeably better in any way. So there's that.
We tried a couple things off the small plates menu and were not super impressed. The steak sandwich ($11) was good, but that is full-sized sandwich price for a small-sized sandwich with nothing on the side. I had the wings, which apparently were sauced with "Apricot Habanero Mustard", but they just tasted like cumin. And they were kind of soggy and the sauce had a gritty texture (probably because they put so much cumin in it).
So, I don't recommend coming here for food. I might come back to try more drinks, but with Green Street right around the corner I'm just not sure I have room for this place in my rotation.
Pretty bar, though.
To say this spot may be my new favorite joint would be saying too little. Well worth searching out, this unmarked second floor cocktail and small plates lounge sits adjacent to and upstairs from Central Kitchen. Not even the address let alone a sign reveal the identity of Brick and Mortar. Winding your way up two sets of stairs, adventurers arrive at the hostess who quickly determines that we can have a drink while a table will be opening up shortly, she will come get us. Rows of what cannot exactly be called  tables, more like high counters with tall chairs, jut out from the real bricks and mortar that are the walls. Old four by fours and bolts affixed to steal beams form the low, dark ceiling.
The brass bar in the rear of the small room arcs it's way to form a protrusion around which huddle hungry and thirsty patrons. The stools are chair like, comfortable and spaced well around the wide, gleaming bar. Affixed to the walls surrounding the bar are arm height shelves at which drinks can be had while waiting for a spot at the bar or a table. The dim lighting of the entire space is cozy. Light shoots up the walls on one side of the room while streaming down the walls on the other. Exciting shadows are formed and interesting tricks to be had while placing fingertips against the bricks.
Spots open up at the bar, we decide to forgo the table and sit at the bar. That's when it gets fun.
Just the listing of cocktails is enough to  get the blood flowing: a bullet for Alfredo is mixed with grappa, blanc vermouth and campari, served straight up from an ice cold frosted bottle of the premixed potion. As the bartender notes, very cold and zero dilution. Dry, fruity, not sweet and slippery smooth. The "Sentimental Gentleman," a mixture of scotch, benedictine and Nux alpin, a walnut liquor was thick, syrupy and subtly strong - almost reminds me of alcoholic moxie. The "Low Rider," combines Siembra azul (tequila), Cacao and another ingredient that has slipped my mind. All price in at $10.
The "Double Wide," ($6) is ordered from the shot menu and mixes old #7 (whiskey) and coke, served iced. Order four shots and get 'em for $20.
The menu consists of sandwiches and plates ranging in price from $7-$12 and include oyster po'boys served on brioche buns, shaved steak sandwich, waffles and chicken, duck hash, Calamari and a couple others.
The bruschetta, "choose two for $9," is well executed. The crisped chicken liver atop apricot moutarde and tobacco shallots turned rich liver into a smooth and sweet, crunchy bite. Â The roasted tomato, white anchovy and goat cheese, wood fired in preparation is complex. Subtly salted anchovy offsets the sweet tomato and the creamy goat cheese pulls in the crispy bread. Two decent sized pieces piled high with well chosen ingredients.
The sides menu includes Spiced fried brussel sprouts, fried polenta sticks, devils on horseback and several other choices. The brussel sprouts were crispy, salted well and tender through the middle. The devils on horseback combine a well done piece of bacon speared into a date. Sweet, crisped and salted.
A cozy atmosphere staffed with competent servers and drink mixers, a great spot that is focused on items it does well: creative and alcohol rich drinks and unique combinations of small plates, appetizers and other bite sized morsels of "bar food." A complete success.
Brick & Mortar is fantastic, a more-than-worthy successor to the Enormous Room that continues the trend of top-notch cocktails making their way to Camberville.
It keeps the exposed brick and dim lighting of the old Enormous Room, but does away with the opuim-den couches in favor of a large copper-topped bar and a few hightop tables. Not the best place for big groups, but an ideal destination for groups of 2-4.
The drinks are more strongly focused than has been the case at other Boston-area cocktailing establishments, with a strong slant toward straight spirits and bitter liqueurs, making B&M a bit harder to be universally adored as some of the Boston cocktail standbys like Drink or Eastern Standard.
Still, if you dig badass, boozy, possibly bitter drinks served up by exceptionally knowledgable bartenders (including alumni from Drink, The Independent, and other Bostonian favorites), you'll be in heaven.
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