Hi Y'all,
Ordered a Caesar Salad last Saturday evening. Â After delivery to the bar, asked Spencer the Bartender (grew up in the UK) if they had any anchovies. Â "No -sorry".
Boom - within 3 minutes out from the kitchen comes a person with a serving of anchovies! Â Asked Spencer: "thought you didn't have any?"
Spencer: "I texted the chef, he sent someone next door, and there you have it!"
LEGENDARY SERVICE!!!
cheers
Dan
Food only rating: In fairness to the Precinct, my group and I only came here beceause we were waiting out the estimated hour and a half wait for Bronwyn next door. That said we ordered beer and a few side dishes and dessert. The side dishes were all bland and unimpressive. The strawberry shortcake was also just ok. I may come back to give it a proper second chance though. Service is great and it does seem like a chill place to hang, bit the lack of flavor in the food just didn't do it for us.
Review Source:solid garden level bar and music venue with good food, great craft beer selection, several big TVs, and outdoor patio seating in the summer - all tucked into the old somerville police precinct. i recommend the half portion of the baked mac and cheese and a draft of pretty things or notch. precinct's sister bar - the indo - is next door and has an equally delicious menu, but no live music.
Review Source:Loooooove this place. Super chill atmosphere. The bartenders are down-to-earth and very friendly. On low-key nights, they rotate their own playlists, and their music selection is pretty awesome. The bartenders are very on top of drink refills. I do find that servers generally take longer, but I chalk that up to them working ten tables at a time.
And the food. I could go for a little more variety in the menu. Maybe a couple filling salad options. Maybe some steak tips? But for what they do have, it's all very good. And your order comes from the kitchen pretty quickly. I get the wings just about every time, so that's my recommendation.
This converted police station (get it? Precinct? I'll wait.) easily became a regular spot for me and the beau when we arrived in Somerville. It's underground, but there's still cell service. The bartenders are ornery, and the beers on draft are delicious. The cocktails are expertly mixed, and on special occasions some of them have punny names!
And very importantly (and recently learned), you can bring your dog inside!
Unfortunately, there are a few niggling doubts that keep that fifth star out of reach. For one, the price disparity in the dishes is kind of silly. $18 for a pasta plate, $8 for a burger? $10 a cocktail? The pricing is all over the place, and, like Canary Square in JP, I often forget about how costly my meal might be until it's too late. It's a bummer--this place is classy, but I wish the prices weren't.
The food's fine, though. Like, it's good for bar food. Maybe not for regular food. I'm partial to the mac and cheese and the black bean burger with goat cheese, although they seem to have changed the burger recipe of late.
If you're in the Union, you'll probably find me here. Unless I'm next door at Independent (same owners) having some Tiki 'tails.
When it's cold and you need to hibernate, what better cave to choose than this underground bar?
I spent many hours here recently for a friend's birthday bash, and though we took up two tables and half the bar, the space is conducive for mingling, and mingle we did, with lots of other groups too. Loud, fun carousing - can't beat that.
The bartenders are great, and there are some unexpected taps here. TVs were set to the Xgames (ugh - what?) but other than that no complaints.
I had a super yum BLT, which came with a mound of delicious sweet potato fries. That was $10, enough to share.
I've also been to the precinct in July, when you can sit outside and enjoy some people watching.
Definitely make this place your next stop if you're nearby.
I guess my star count depends on what I'm rating:
As a venue, I'd give the Precinct somewhere between a 4 and a 5. Â It can be pretty crowded, but people are generally able to squeeze into little nooks to catch a show, and the shows I've been to there have always had a very familial crowd-feel. Â It's a good place for more alternative events, too - a few years back they hosted the local beard and mustache competition (before the event outgrew the space). Â Who can say no to prize-winning facial hair? Â Not this girl, that's for sure.
Only recently did I check out the Precinct for actual food. Â If I were rating the incredible Kentucky beer I nursed alone, the bar would get 5 stars. Â The food, though, was only about 3-stars for the price. Â The veggie burger was good, but the bun was cheap. Â The tater tot poutine was ok, but all the cheese curds were melted, so it really just tasted like tots covered in gravy with a little bit of goo.
Will definitely be back for shows and events or just to grab a beer, but I probably wouldn't come back here for the foods. Â 4 stars, good sir, 4 stars!
Why is it that everytime I walk past here on my way somewhere else it is jam packed but everytime I actually go to Precinct I feel like I open the door to this subterranean space and the needle jumps, an eery version of 'Hotel California' plays softly and I look around to see a handful of regulars scattered between the bar stools and high tops. I like the look of the full patio and high energy but I end up loving the lowkey vibe on the weeknights I've been here.
Our first visit introduced me to the spinach and artichoke souffle, served like a tower with fresh Iggy's bread. This last time saw a change in chefs and I was a little sad that the spinach and artichoke dip was in fact...a dip- and not the architectural feat we'd sampled before. It was still tasty but if they were open to suggestion- I'd urge a return to the earlier rendition.
Drink list impressed. A good selection of cocktails and rotating beers on draft. As a cider fan, I dig that they have a few different kinds of Angry Orchard (crisp apple on tap and the ginger version in bottles the night we were there).
Our meals were delicious and the food struck me as more high quality gastropub fare than I was expecting. D's turkey chili was delicious- flavorful and spicy. We had to check with our waitress that it was actually ground turkey because the taste seemed so much meatier than usual. I went for the burger topped with cheddar and bacon and wasn't disappointed. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare and the crisp bacon added a smoky kick.
It was the best combination- equal parts lowkey dive and tremendous food. This last stop in just might have catapulted Precinct into my top spots in Union.
This is a good, standard bar. nice and loud on the right nights, bartenders that don't pry, no light whatsoever. If not for the girls waiting tables outside and the modern, red-backlit sign this place could be a dive. it's the Midway's sister bar.
Precinct is nothing special but you keep going back. Precinct is your plain-looking best friend, and you know you would be much more at ease and, let's face it, happier with her than with the firebrand who looks and bangs like a goddess of fertility but screams and throws things and will blow your best friend if you cross her.
The shows here are usually pretty good and though they have a guy at the entrance charging for entry you can very easily sneak in by pretending to go to the bathroom. I got calamari here once that was pretty good, but you know, whatever.
One of the best times I have had in a long time
Went for Deep Heaven Now 5. Â Had drinks and dinner first. Â Our bartenders (including the amazing Ashley) Hooked us up with a Bourbon Smash and "gansett; some tasty burgers and GREAT service! Â Seriously, some of the best service we have had in ages.
On to the show. Â The performance space is in the back. Â Its cozy, and loud, just what you want to see a show. Â Sound is excellent and the two bartenders in the back offered similar excellent service.
PS: Hats off to the Deep Heaven folks who put on a tremendous event.
The subterranean bar that you've probably never seen, but have heard your friends chatting about how they "totally hooked up there once."
Aside from an interesting layout constituted by a very divided bar that creates a Jets vs Sharks left and right sides of the space, the dark everything and mild lighting work for a cozy cavernous feel.
Ten or so specialty cocktails, decent wines and a rotating set of regional taps means tasty tippling for everyone in your crew and at $4-10 each, the standard is met for a hard day's night. My Mayflower ($9) featured the delicious Bulldog gin, fresh grapefruit juice and muddled+strained sage. Topped with the herb's leaf, it looked, tasted and made me feel pretty. Nice work, drink.
The star of our bar stretch? Artichoke and spinach souffle with roasted garlic crostini ($8). Sure, the "crostini" is really just thinly sliced french bread, but the souffle ain't kidding. Baked with acres of spinach, the slightly gelatinous mold is topped with a buttery crust, then flipped on to the plate before being doused in a buttery sauce. Defying the dip MO to be a vat of cheese with some chunks, this is domed veggie mass with just enough fat and protein to hold it together. Quite the excellent snack, especially when split between two. On your own, it's a meal in itself.
Friendly bartender tried talking baseball with me, until gracefully realizing it ain't my bag, while the crowd around were conversational but not obnoxiously so. I can dig it.
I love the fact that you have to go *down* Â the stairs to get inside this place. I feel like a Baggins entering into a Prancing Pony type of establishment. Minus the scary hooded wraith people. Such a perfect place to go when the first snow falls, enjoying a plate of fish and chips and washing it all down with a pint of Old Chub Scotch Ale.
P.S. They pulled pork sandwich here is really, really good.
While I can't speak to what Precinct is like on any given night, I CAN say that these guys hit it out of the park when it comes to private parties - our agency had our annual holiday party there last night and the entire staff completely knocked my socks off.
They were enthusiastic, helpful and completely on-board with our plans. The space is great for an intimate, winter/cozy type gathering and I highly recommend you look them up if you're looking for a good place for a gathering.
I JUST HAD THE BEST DESSERT IN THE CITY!!!
The game special "mounds" dessert was amazing, tasting like a sophisticated mounds bar that melted in your mouth with every bite and left you wanting more. I always thought the Sunday brunch was killer especially paired Spencer's spicy Bloody Mary. The only heartbreak was knowing that the mounds was a game special, because I would become the most avid sports watcher knowing that the mounds was around.
I am rating this solely on Precinct's standing as a restaurant.
I picked up Precinct's "Buy with Me" coupon, coz that is what I tend to do when they are for some place I have never been before.
My date and I got the potato pancakes appetizer topped with sour cream and smoked salmon, the steak frites, the veggie burger, and the chocolate peanut butter torte.
The potato pancakes were thin, mushy, and burnt/blackened on both sides. Â There was nothing wrong about the sour cream and smoked salmon, but not a whole lot right, either. Â At 9 dollars for four, or over 2 dollars apiece... no thank you, really, I'm O.K.
I can't say much about the steak, my friend said the portion was quite generous but the bites I had didn't leave much of an impression. Â According to him, they cooked it quite well (ordered medium rare).
The burger, however... I asked the waiter what they made their veggie burger out of, and he went and listed well over a half dozen vegetables (summer squash, spaghetti squash, winter squash, broccoli, black beans, etc.). Â I then asked "So it isn't some sort of mushy grain mash, like many house-made burgers?" Â He responded that it wasn't like that, it was quite solid.
So, I get the veggie burger with the sweet potato fries. Â The burger is a mush of things with no discernible texture (or much flavor). Â The slice of cheese they charge you extra for is so thin that it is transparent. Â As for the fries? Â Both the sweet potato fries and the steak frite fries were soggy and floppy... but unlike the potato pancake, not burnt.
Because I had some cash on the coupon left, I got the chocolate peanut butter torte, which was a large, dense cyllinder of cream cheese and peanut butter, topped with chocolate and bottomed with cookie. Â Way too dense, rich, and cream-cheesy... Traditionally I thought these things were peanut butter and cream cheese, with whipped cream folded in to cut the density of the affair.
Again, my friend liked it.. Me? No thanks.
Finally, come billing time, the waiter did not include the $10 discount the BuyWithMe ticket offered for people who got there before 6:30 P.M. in the bill, when we pointed this out he just kinda said "Oh, I didn't think you got here before 6:30." Â We did get there at about 6:15, and there was no "Oh, sorry about that, let me take care of that right away."
Anyway, the bread sticks were quite tasty and aside from that the service was decent. Â Maybe this place is a good bar or concert venue, but place for eating? Â Pretty poor, and not all that cheap, either.. 70 dollars with tip for 1 appetizer, a 7 dollar burger, 1 entree, 1 dessert, and 2 beers.
On a cold winter night, down the stairs we stumble into a dark and somewhat cozy space, Precinct, looking for a warm meal and some drinks. We were well taken care of, with all expectations met, but I wish we had stayed longer in order to hear the musicians who were setting up in the back room. This place has a very relaxed feeling to it- so relaxed that our waiter left a dirty dish rag on the seat next to me and it sat there for most of the meal. Even though it was under his nose each time he came by, he must have felt it had found its destination for the night.
The bar is welcoming and there are tables along the perimeter of the room. The space for music is in the back and looks just fantastic. And I do look forward to experiencing the patio when the snow melts and it gets warmer than twenty degrees.
We started with the tuna tartare which was surprisingly good- it came with a rather sweet sauce that we all liked. Then we all had the veggie burger, which is house made, with sweet potato fries. (Note that we had the vegan version- there are a few vegan items on the menu.) It's a massive burger and very rich and flavorful. Not bad at all. Limited amount of ketchup in one of those small dipping cups was a bit annoying. Bread sticks came with the meal- we asked for olive oil to go with them and they were light and fresh. Lots of beer on tap and some decent wine made for a pleasant evening. Union Square is really turning into a very cool place. Just don't want the dish rag as my closest dining companion next time.
Back when I lived in Prospect Hill, this was my go-to place for drinks. Reading some of the comments I see that people aren't too thrilled with the food and I can't say that I've ever had BAD food here. It's just not AWESOME, but I always assume that bar food will generally be on the "meh" side. I do remember having a pretty delicious flatbread pizza last summer, though.
I love the atmosphere here. It's not where you go if you want to get blackout drunk with a huge group of people (or at least it wouldn't be my choice for such an activity). But it is a nice place to go to get some drinks with friends or even just sit by yourself at the bar with a book (I've seen plenty of people doing so!).
My friend and I were in Union Sq and we had really high hopes for the food here. We came in for a late lunch and were seated promptly and served quickly, though the waiter was awkwardly aloof the entire time, never really engaging us and only nodding in response to things we said. Still, it takes all types.
The food, however, was a total turnoff. The split pea AND the tomato soup were both incredibly runny and thin with little flavor. Â The tuscan bean dip was bland and came with barely toasted chunks of bread that seem to have been topped with sprinkled garlic powder-- dry and oversalted. The cheeseburger raviolis sounded adorable and delicious, but ended up being little grease sponges full of pre-chewed McDonald's burger flavor. Gross to the max.
The saving grace was an excellent order of sweet potato fries. I found myself stealing them from my friend just so I wouldn't go hungry.
Perhaps they are better for dinner + drinks, but as a meal place it was definitely so-so, at best.
Everyone I know who lives in and around Union Square said, "OH! I loooooove the Precinct! Â You should tootally check it out!" Â Well, friends....I DID check it out, and I was left in neutral. Â Very cool vibe - you walk downstairs to enter the narrow bar which used to be the old Police station. Â The place is dimly lit (I can't say I really noticed what the decor was like...because I could barely see). Â The front was pretty crowded - it seems like a lot of groups of people come together here. Â I sat at the back bar with the other castaway's (ie: people sans an entourage - it felt almost like the kiddie table at Thanksgiving) and waited to be "wow"-ed.
*Server seemed STRESSED out (even though it was only me and three other loners at the bar....that's it)- it took about fifteen minutes for her to notice me, then I had to ask for a menu, then I had to wait for her to return from wherever she disappeared to, then I had to wait while she decided if she could make the drink, then she plopped it in front of me and asked me to taste it and then disappeared again... Â ? Â huh
*....why don't people talk here? Â The people in groups didn't want a straggler joining and the people who were alone didn't want anyone disturbing their pity-party. Â It's a PUB - as in: "PUBlic" - as in: SOCIALIZE! Â sheesh
*There was outdoor seating which looked like it would be great in the summer! Â I'd love to come back and try it out.
*Prices weren't bad, but I didn't stick around to try the food (regular bar-fare).
Maybe it was an off day - maybe I should go with a group of friends - maybe I should check it out when there is live music . . . but this experience wasn't stunning. Â I actually picked up and moved to the neighboring Independent (a VERY good time, especially if you're single and are looking to meet new people). Â
I'll give it another go with you, Precinct . . . but if you had been my blind date and we had met at a place like you, the first impression would have been left me wondering if I was just settling for my "Mr.Meantime." Â I just hope that, between you and the Indo, you're not the cheap, unattractive, antisocial sister of the two... Â Maybe I just need to get to know you.
We went back to the Precinct after visiting their first week of business with high hopes because: 1) there's outdoor seating now, and 2) the Independent has such a fine new chef that we figured maybe the owners (same people) had upgraded the P's staff, too.
Wrong.
Yes, it's wonderful to sit outside on a warm summer evening, but not when the waiter never comes back with more water. He spent all his time flirting with the hostess instead. We had to strong-arm him to get the check, too.
The food also hasn't gotten any better, I'm sorry to say. Limp overcooked veggies, subpar meat, strange aftertastes and gritty textures. Blech. I wonder if the owners are deliberately using the Precinct to drive business to The Independent? If so, in that respect only, the Precinct scores.
I strongly encourage all people visiting Union Square to skip the Precinct. If you want winning American pub-type food, go to the Independent.
So in all honesty, this was my first time at Precint so I don't have too much to go on. I felt I had to add to the conversation, however, after reading what others had said about the service (pretty damn terrible) and the food (promising, but nothing to warrant a return trip). I understand that Precinct is primarily a bar/pub and that the food and 'dining experience' aren't of the utmost importance here, but I wasn't expecting to be treated like I was a complete afterthought (and inconvenience) because I arrived at dinner time.
I was hoping our rude waiter was an anomaly at Precinct, but it looks as though other reviewers have had similarly dismissive or ignorant servers. Apparently servers aren't expected to respond to questions about menu items, because when I had the audacity to ask about what was in the veggie burger, the response (delivered with a smarmy grin and an eye roll, of course) was  "uh, veggies." Nice. And asking for something more to drink? Not an option, considering the complete and total absence of any waitstaff during the 40 minute interval between the receipt of food and the delivery of the check.
The food, as mentioned above, was 'eh' at best. The vegetarian shepherd's pie sounded promising on the menu, but turned out to be pre-chopped frozen veggies in a bath of cream sauce. My husband seemed to enjoy the mounds of whipped potatoes topping the plate, but consuming more than a few mouthfuls of the pie itself was out of the question. The veggie burger I ordered wasn't so bad, but it tasted a bit...too creamy or undercooked or not 'veggie' enough... to be satisfying. It was almost like a patty of creamed spinach had formed a crust, warmed over, and served up on a bun.
All in all, not exactly the type of dining experience I expected or paid for. If I wanted to be treated like an annoying idiot, I'd have called the customer service line for my insurance company or argued over a parking ticket with the traffic cops.
I can't speak for the food but the Precinct is great place for drinks and live music. The restaurant/lounge area is pretty good sized and the decor is dark and sexy. I love basement bars and the candles, dark red drapes and dark wood millwork every where is a great touch. The bar is pretty big and the bartenders are friendly. The drink prices are good--not too high but average. Cool crowd-good mix of 20's and 30's and everyone looked to be having a good time.
They have a great room in the back that's used for live shows. My self + 3 other yelpers went to a Sat. night show. 4 Bands- $10 cover- Good deal! One Fine Morning was our favorite band that evening--they put on a great show.
I've been here a couple of times for drinks & music and it's always been enjoyable. Next time I will check out the food too! Minus 1 star for no convenient public transit in the area--other than that it's a cool place.
I grabbed a bite with my friend Julia here the other night. Â Sunday night to be exact. Â It was cool yet lovely out. Â We show up, sans reservation, and are immediately seated outside. Â The waitress and hostess were courteous and attentive and while I've only been once, I can't wait to go back.
The food? Â Real tasty. Â I got the Shepard's Pie which came with a side garden salad. Â It was delightfully nomtastic with heaps of mash and a solid base of beef, corn and even some onions. Â I was a happy lassie. Â What really sold me is when I was perusing the extremely solid beer and wine list and, PROVIDENCE, what's this? Â They have PBR tall boys...in cans...for $3. Â
Well color me Pink and call me the Energizer Bunny! Â I could have stayed all night after that discovery! Â But I'm broke so I didn't. Â Point is, I SO WOULD had I the means.
Onward. Â
My Friend Face got the Shepard's Pie of the Vegetable Variety of which she said, "Oh my God. Ahaul cheqou zpoi," Which is Mouth Full of Yum for "Oh my God. Â Amazing stuff here," Â She too was very pleased. Â The portions were generous but not outrageous. Â You definitely get your money's worth.
And that brings me to my next exciting point: Â the price is so right. Â Extremely manageable for some really tasty sounding items. Â The menu was amazing. Â Everything looked so good. Â I wanted a sampler platter of everything I saw. Â Just a little nibble, just for a minute, just to see how it feels. Â And, like I said, $3 PBR Tall Boys. Â
I can't give it a Five Star yet because I need to go back again - maybe for some of that live music I've heard about - in order to make the proper judgment call on their rating. Â However, believe you me, I WILL be back and I WILL be getting more than one of those Icey Blue Ribbons this time.
My boyfriend and I frequent this place A LOT. Partially because we live about 3 blocks away and partially for the food and beer selection. The bartenders and staff are great and super friendly.
We did have a few rough nights there early in the summer but it was the same girl both nights and she was on the patio and I think new to the gig. We've had her again since and she's been great.
Almost all the food I've had there is great. Sweet potato fries are not that great (kinda crinkled up too much). Although, sometimes the quality isn't consistent (different chefs?) Once, I had the seafood risotto and it was amazing and when I ordered it again it was like a ball of sticky rice with very little flavor and way overcooked shrimp and scallops. BUT, Overall the food is great. BBQ Chicken pizza is a favorite of ours as is the grilled cheese with tomato basil cream soup. Mac and cheese also excellent. I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE the chicken marsala and it went away. :-( Please bring it back!
Anywho, there's almost always great music playing and the patio is wonderful! Keep rotating those great beers!
They sure were nice to the big group of Yelpers that showed up. Â Great selection of drafts, too.
My nachos had olives on them. Â I never understand that. Â What about Olives screams Mexican to you? Â It's not even that I dislike olives. Â They don't belong on Nachos. Â I flick them off...Otherwise the nachos were just fine....
The Margherita Pizza was awesome, too. Â Lots of fresh basil..Mmmmm!
Having a patio area is why we picked the place. Â Now, I have other reasons to go back...
Yay Precinct! Went here tonight for an unofficial yelp event and had an amazing time. The server was ON point. I wanna say his name was Dave.. but I cant be sure. I had teh margherita pizza which was yum yum nom nom. My drinks were stiff and the bill wasnt absurd. They had a great patio and we had a good group there so I guess that helps too. The Manager sent us a round of shots on him which was more than appreciated. Thanks! Whoever you are...
Its nestled in with some other bars and is right next to The Independent. Wouldnt mind hitting the area up and hopping a bit. Nice service. Good drinks. Yummy pizza. I will be back....
My food was incredible The salmon and asparagus omelet was really yummy and reasonably priced.
The service SUCKS. My friend and I were constantly looking for our server and found her chatting away on her cell when we needed our bill. We eventually had to ask the hostess for it. We were really polite and thanked her at the end of the meal and all she said was "uh huh" with an attitude.
I should mention a table of two next to us left before they could order and it was probably from her not coming around.
I also made sure I got her name so I could mention it in this review but now I'm feeling a bit guilty.
Anyways, awesome brunch, crappy service.
This little neighborhood joint is tops! Great food for the price, with none of it tasting as if it was taken directly out of the freezer and nuked for 30 seconds. There's a wonderful selection of booze and beer behind the bar, which is staffed by some of the most spot-on and friendliest bartenders this side of the river, that's priced not to break your bank card if you arrive at five and decide to perch.. We've been going in for just over a month now and it's to the point where as soon as we get situated, Â we get a sincere greeting along with our drinks and menus before our coats are off - a far cry from "appalling service". Â Now I don't know what's up with the only two one-star reviews below - maybe that couple and their party were already having a bad evening and had been surrounded by poor spellers - but I feel that even a bad night at the Precinct would justify a rating of 3 stars.
Highly recommended.
Why haven't I been here yet? I live in Somerville, I love a good drink and a fun bar...
Finally last night I remedied that and made my way to Precinct. What a great little bar! First it helps to be out with fun friends, but second a great waitress/bartender helps as well. She was funny an attentive and kept the drinks coming. Looking at our bill our crew of 9 drank about 120 beers (yikes!) plus a few mixed drinks.
Food was ok - we just did a bunch of apps and they were all decent - basic bar food: potato skins, nachos, fried calimari....
This was, hands-down, the worst service and food I've had in a long time. I've only eaten here once, so okay, maybe just one waiter is more of a colossal fail than the others, but since the food was piss poor too I won't be coming back, and here is what went wrong.
I had never eaten in Union Square before and was excited to try a new place. At the same time, I do have low expectations for bar food but this was so far below the "bar" that I had to go for the low blow -- Â one star.
The man who eventually became our waiter brought us waters, so he  knew my party of 8 existed, but we were subsequently ignored and not passed by a waiter for over a half hour. And we were staaaarving. I kept reading the menu to occupy my time and though things sounded good, they were simply too cheap to be made with quality ingredients.
When we finally flagged down the guy, he mumbled something to me trying to make it seem like it wasn't his table or that he didn't have the responsibility to find out whose table it was and his expression tried to say that he wanted me to be grateful that he would take us and our orders on. He asked me what I wanted and since he didn't seem prepared to take drink and food orders for 8 people, I asked him if he could memorize it all, and he said 'Yeah, no problem'. Then, after just 3 orders, during which he asked us all to repeat our requests, he left to go get paper.
Our waiter did not bring enough waters for the group, and then did not bring enough plates for the group, and when they brought our food they forgot someone's dinner entirely. The waitstaff switched people's cocktail orders. Plus, my friend that ordered a chicken parm sandwich, received a chicken parm dinner over pasta. After she brought this mistake up, the waiter came back with the sandwich and said "oh, it was back there I must have missed it" but the two pieces of pasta she found in her sandwich proved that they just slipped the same cold chicken from the plate onto a bun. I knew that they would do this, but the waiter didn't have to lie about it to cover their mistake and bad form.
The food itself was bad. My boyfriend and I split chili, which came out so cold that the shredded cheese on it didn't melt. My pulled pork sandwich was ehhh but the sweet potato fries were an abomination. Seriously. I was expecting the quality of frozen fries but these were so wrinkled that they must have been fried with the wrong oil not up to the correct temperature and left out for a very long time. No one at the table finished their meals so I can easily say that it wasn't just my personal plate that missed the mark.
Sarah G. said the food "would have to be pretty awful" to make her change her 5 star rating. Well, the food was pretty awful. But I wouldn't suggest she or you go and try it.
I discovered this place when we were trying to find somewhere to get Sunday brunch that didn't have a 2-hour wait... outside... in the rain... We stumbled upon Precinct because of a sign outside that said "We Serve Brunch" and decided to check it out.
I'm so glad that we did, because we had an excellent brunch experience. There was no one else in the place, but I can't figure out why because the food was excellent. The menu is small-ish, but it has all the basics and everything is very affordable and tasty. The eggs benedict were incredible, and the bananas foster french toast were also delicious, if you prefer sweet over savory.
Sometimes it can be awkward to be the only table in an otherwise empty restaurant, but the server and bartender were very adept, friendly and thoughtful that we didn't feel rushed or inconvenient at all. The location is awkward if you don't have a car, but it's completely worth the trip if you are sick of the insane crowds for weekend brunch. I actually debated leaving Precinct a bad review just so I could keep going there without the crowds... but alas, they earned my 5 stars so I have to give it to them.
This place is pretty cool and I would definately hang out here if it was more accessible for people to get to.
A friend of mine was playing in the backroom, which was a pretty cool space except that due to the layout there are only about 3 places you can stand without someone running out from the kitchen and barreling in to you. Otherwise, the set up is neat and I like that there seems to be some hidden spots if you want to get all romantic and more open spots for larger socializing groups.
The food was pretty good as well. Not a lot of choices, but they do the best with what they've got. The beer list is really where it's at though. Local brews and others are available. And all are tasty.
I cannot say enough good things about this place.
The food is outstanding.
The service is fantastic.
Great atmosphere.
Live music with no cover.
It's like you get the upscalish feel and cuisine of a shee-shee restaurant without the pretentiousness or price. Â I have never been dissapointed at Precinct.
Came here with my bf to have a few pints and check the place out as a new possible place for his band to play. People were crowded around the bar watching multiple football games, but the atmosphere was still pretty chill. The dark wood decor and the little booth nook in the corner reminded the Dave of a hotel bar, and I agreed.
We looked at the back room where they hold live shows and liked that there was a separate bar there. Finding the bathrooms was a bit tricky though - walking through a hallway maze past the manager's office was weird.
I think we were impressed enough to come back again soon, and the Dave is going to see about getting his band to play here. Next time, we'll try the food out but the excellent beer menu was all we needed at the moment.
Sea Monsters Sunday nights!!! Â (That alone earns this place 5 stars.)
Of course I've seen some other great music as well. Â Being a social smoker, I love that they have an outside area to drink and smoke. Â I had begun to disassociate the two which is unfortunate because they really go hand in hand - that's why I have two right!?!
Also it seems they have added an even larger outdoor area with a white picket fence (hopefully this'll get dirty enough not to blind me so) and bistro style tables. Â They say Union Square is up-and-coming, and this place should help!
It was a hard adjustment going from such a warm, cozy, and suggestive name as Toast to Precinct. Â I understand the reference, but it sounds so cold. Â Fear not, the layout is weird, but the times to be had are fabulous!
Plus, did I mention how cool the Sea Monsters on Sunday nights are!?!
UPDATE: Â Watch your drinks, 3 different times (different bands, different nights) now I have turned my back for one second (or two) only to turn back around and find someone else drank it - but hey, I guess its better than getting slipped a roofie!?!
Dispite the Tir Na Nog sign tucked away in the back room, this place has little of that beloved establishment's heart and/or soul. Â But it does feature some pretty good, free, live music and offer up a better than average selection of beer and food.
At one point a good beer bar was something of note whereas nowadays they're popping up all over over the place. Â Aside from the frequent free music, The Precinct doesn't do much to set itself apart and the difference between when they have the back room open and the band a'rockin is palpable. Â The place is huge and it actually has a second bar in the back that gets used when there is a band. Â When there isn't a band the place seems empty and as you're walking past this vast empty space when you're trying to find the tucked away bathrooms there's an odd feeling of wasted space.
But the food is all right, the pizza's pretty tasty and the beer list is well chosen. Â A place like this can be forgiven for its early stage awkwardness (I'm not sure the bar in the back is set up to actually handle big crowds well) but there's some inherent flaws in the cookie-cutter design of the place that keeps it from being anything special. Â With places like these I feel like they need to go through ten years of abuse before it can achieve any sort of character. Â Highland Kitchen, by comparison feels completely lived in already.
I'll stick with the Independent for the most part and pop in here every once in a while -- which is probably ok with them since I think they're both owned by the same people. Â God I miss the Nog.
Not too bad. Â Dorian and I came in here, and I suspect we'll be going here a lot more when it's cold and damp. Â The setting is really warm, with the dark woods, dim lighting, and lots of seating. Â They get major points for the environment. Â Also, I will be excited to see if they get some additional patio space in the square, and that would totally make us go there a lot more. Â The little space along the entryway is nice, but I'd love to see some actual tables and seats outside.
Props for lots of televisions and live music. Â We went early in the evening, so it was in total sports bar mode. Â They serve a wide selections of beer on tap, which is always an awesome thing. Â I got a Longtrail, and the waiter kept my glass for of water to hydrate. Â We ordered some spinach and artichoke dip, which came with really tasty assortment of tortilla chips. Â I went for a chicken Caesar wrap, which came with fries, and it was really good. Â The wrap was great, and the fries were clearly cut and battered in house, so they had the perfect amount of crispness to them. Â Yum! Â Only downside is they should have ketchup bottles, or fill the little condiment cups that come on your plate all the way up.
The service was slightly weird....it seemed like the waiter was new, which would make sense as the restaurant opened back up as Precinct just recently. Â I will update my review on the service again once we go back. Â
It was a solid dining experience, and the place to go in Union for beer aficionados and sports nerds alike.
Great little spot - i had never been to this place when it was known as Toast... but having Long Trail on tap?!?
Sold. 4 stars, right off the bat.
I wish i could speak highly about the food, but it was really nothing too special. It'll fill you up and i've certainly had FAR worse bar food, but i'll be back for the beer selection over the food.
Precinct is the newly renovated Union Square bar that used to be Toast Lounge. The place looks great, with a fancy mahogany front bar, back room for live music, and another dimly lit side room to chill out in.
The bad news is they seem to have canceled Dyke Night, formerly on Friday nights. However, they still offer live music and other events 7 nights a week. They also plan to show all major sports games here, which doesn't excite me, but you might like. No cover. Plus, a they have a full menu, although be warned, it is definitely not veggie friendly.
They are still in a transitional stage so it's hard to say how Precinct will end up, but so far I like it. Perhaps I am biased because their beer selection ROCKS! On tap, they have some amazing beers for $5 each, including: Allagash White (one of my favorites of all time), Long Trail, #9, Dogfish Head 60 minute, Wolaver's Organic, Belhaven... I mean, the list just goes on and on. I'm impressed.
Best part is, Union Square is still up and coming, and reminds me of what Davis Square was probably like 5+ years ago... a great bar with no crowds? Only in Union. For now.
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